Dear Dr. Muzyka,in•teg•ri•ty [in-teg-ri-tee] noun
- adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.
- the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished: to preserve the integrity of the empire.
- a sound, unimpaired, or perfect condition: the integrity of a ship's hull.
I have spent some time thinking about your recent statement regarding the ending of Mass Effect 3, especially the following:“I believe passionately that games are an art form, and that the power of our medium flows from our audience, who are deeply involved in how the story unfolds, and who have the uncontested right to provide constructive criticism. At the same time, I also believe in and support the artistic choices made by the development team. The team and I have been thinking hard about how to best address the comments on ME3’s endings from players, while still maintaining the artistic integrity of the game.”
I share your beliefs, but I feel as if those convictions might be leading us to different conclusions.
We know you. Some of us know your personal story, and have drawn inspiration from the courage you and Dr. Zeschuk showed in leaving the security of the medical profession to follow your hearts and dreams in an entertainment and artistic field. Some of us have read about BioWare as a business and taken lessons from the way you empower and reward your teams. All of us here, however, know you and BioWare best for your work. We came here because of your games and stayed here for your games. Your games, including Mass Effect 3, are unlike anything else on the market in terms of the quality of the narrative experience and the attachment and participation they invite from the player.
That’s what I would like to talk about, in the context of integrity—artistic and otherwise. You and your company, and Casey Hudson’s Mass Effect team in particular, have proven beyond any shadow of a doubt that you’re capable of phenomenal work. The Mass Effect games aren’t just art, they are often what is held up to prove the point that video games are an artistic medium. They make the player feel and think; they draw us in on an emotional, visceral level so that our level of engagement and suspension of disbelief is without parallel. You guys know good storytelling, you know good game design, and you know good art in this medium.
You know that the end of Mass Effect 3 does not measure up to your standard.
The amount of analysis of the ending of your most recent game done by its fans is staggering, detailed, and often well researched, but it is nothing that you and your very talented professionals didn’t already know. Frankly, a panel of industry professionals discussing how to tell effective and immersive stories through an interactive game would seem strangely empty without someone from BioWare on it. You guys are as capable of evaluating the shortcomings of the Catalyst segment as anyone, so you know full well the ways in which it fails to do justice to your game, your series, your team, and your company.
This is where integrity comes into play.
First, be honest. We understand deadlines and pressure. We don’t need specifics, we don’t need blame to be placed, we do not need a “pound of flesh.” We do, I think, need a simple acknowledgement that the Catalyst ending does not reflect the standard of work from BioWare or Mr. Hudson’s exceptional team, does not meet the expectations of your consumers, and does not represent the artistic choices the development team would have made under normal circumstances. We already know it, but admitting it respects and re-establishes the artistic integrity to which you referred.
Second, finish the game. Your fans, who love BioWare and Mass Effect, have given you an opportunity where re-completion of this game is something that makes sound business sense. The Catalyst ending as it currently stands diminishes the entire game and the entire series, and the integrity of your art demands a conclusion that matches it in quality and character. The overwhelming dissatisfaction from consumers has brought sound business practice and the issue of integrity into alignment.
You didn’t get into making video games for the money. Your passion for this industry and pride in your work which has helped to shape it are what I hope to appeal to today. You know, as well as anyone, whether explanation and clarification will be enough to bring Mass Effect 3 and the Mass Effect trilogy into something like a sound, unimpaired condition. You and your team are best qualified to judge whether padding out the existing ending will best reflect the principles and character of BioWare and provide a whole and undiminished product for your fans.
Much has been said about your fans’ reaction to the Catalyst ending, both sympathetic and scornful. Some insist that your fans want a happy ending, others claim that your fans want closure. Your team has invited and received a torrent of feedback with general and specific suggestions for the ending, but I fear that it might be obscuring the truth which I hope you and the development team never lose sight of: We want a BioWare ending. We want a Mass Effect ending. We want an ending that reflects the ability and talent of Mr. Hudson’s team. We want an ending that embodies the principles and character of your company. We want an ending that that matches the game, so that, whole and undiminished, it preserves the integrity of the Mass Effect experience.
You made reference to “a number of game content initiatives that will help answer the questions, providing more clarity for those seeking further closure to their journey.” I fear that this implies an unwillingness to admit, perhaps even to yourself or within BioWare, that the Catalyst ending might be fundamentally flawed. My hope is that I can appeal to your integrity to make an honest appraisal of the ending and these proposed initiatives, and to make decisions that stem from the same motivation that inspired the creation of BioWare. It might not be an easy decision to fundamentally change the ending and discard certain elements, but if that is what is needed to produce an ending you are proud of then I think you will agree it is the right choice to make. BioWare and Mr. Hudson’s team have produced amazing work that has earned an unparalleled reputation. They deserve the chance to preserve the integrity of their reputation, their art, and their principles by finishing this game with a true reflection of their artistic choices and ability.
Whatever those true artistic choices are, I have no doubt they will be greeted with respect and enthusiasm when we finally have the opportunity to experience the new ending content.
Sincerely,
Richard Smith,
BioWare Fan
Modifié par durasteel, 28 mars 2012 - 07:43 .
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