Indulge me for a bit here, because I'm looking for a little clarity concerning some of Michael Gamble's statements over the past few weeks. This isn't a cold attempt to make some conspiracy theory attack or anything, I'm just genuinely confused based on some of the correspondence I've seen. And please, forumites, don't just pat me on the head and tell me its all PR speak, because I feel like that's a cop-out from addressing the inconsistencies here.
First, we all remember Mr. Gamble's tweet two days after ME3 hit the shelves:
"Hardest. Day. Ever. Seriously, if you guys knew all the stuff we are planning, you'd, we'll[sic] - hold onto your copy of me3 forever."
You may view that original tweet here: twitter.com/#!/GambleMike/statuses/177942797880541185
This fueled a lot of speculation, especially for those arguing for IDT. This statement alone isn't confusing on its own merits, it only gets curious when we consider some of the more recent communications.
Mr. Gamble very recently tweeted that the "Extended Cut DLC" was one of the things he alluded to in the above tweet (can be viewed here: twitter.com/#!/GambleMike/statuses/187928555408211968, it was in response to someone who asked if the original tweet was referring to Extended Cut).
Here's the thing: The Extended Cut DLC has been painted as a response to all of the negative fan feedback received over the endings as they currently stand. Mr. Gamble even said at PAX that they didn't realise there would be a huge demand for clarity and closure in the endings. (I believe it can be viewed here at like five/six minutes in or so: www.youtube.com/watch)
If this is the case, how could you have alluded to that just two days after the game's release?
Even if BioWare had formally began considering the idea of making an Extended Cut DLC based on the very early and limited fan feedback that was on the forums the first two days after ME3's release, the phrase "planning" implies that the DLC would already have been in the works, BEFORE the fans complained about the ending. BioWare also released a statement saying that the DLC schedule was being reprioritized to account for the fans desire for clarity and closure (this statement was quoted from Casey and can be viewed here: investor.ea.com/releasedetail.cfm). This also implies that the Extended Cut DLC was already in the works and got promoted to top priority when the fan backlash heightened.
Another interesting piece of food for thought: Many folks have argued for and against IDT using data from the Final Hours app ("Lots of speculation" page is often used as the criticism for IDT and "Cut gameplay section with Shepard falling under full Reaper control" is often used as the support for IDT). Honestly, the Final Hours app is pretty inconclusive as far as answering the question "Is IDT true?"
The PAX panel was asked whether IDT was true or not, and if I remember correctly Michael Gamble was the one who responded, saying that BioWare didn't want to comment for or against IDT because they wanted the Extended Cut DLC to "speak for itself" (Again, I believe it can be viewed here or in the Part 2 following it: www.youtube.com/watch). Historically, someone only pulls a "I will neither confirm or deny" when the topic in question is still on the table. I'm not trying to assert that BioWare's reluctance to comment on IDT makes it true, I'm just saying that BioWare hasn't ruled out the possibility either.
So my question for you, Mr. Gamble, is this:
Did BioWare have this Extended Cut DLC planned before the fan backlash or not?
Because if they did, do the endings have some yet-to-be-revealed secret that implies "all is not as it seems," whether that be IDT or some other crazy awesome thing we haven't even thought of (because if that was the plan all along, the Extended Cut wouldn't be "changing" the ending to IDT/something else, as that was what the ending alluded to the whole time)? Or did time and budget just get in the way and force BioWare to release the complete ending at a later date? Would that be part of some crafty plan to kill used game sales (Sorry, I said I wasn't going to go conspiracy theory, so I'll stop there)?
If BioWare didn't have the Extended Cut DLC planned when you made your first tweet, Y U NO MAKE SENSE? Call me naive, but I don't want to write this off as simple "bungled PR" or some other B.S. I do honestly believe that you, Mr. Gamble, and BioWare as a whole are a team of incredible, creative individuals who are listening to your fans and doing your best to provide at least some feedback in the midst of the s**tstorm we've put you in. Would it be nice if BioWare was engaging in a more open dialogue with the fanbase? Yes, but I can understand your reluctance reading a lot of the not-so-"cool and collected" fan backlash.
I've seen you comment on these forums before, Mr. Gamble, and I hope my questions and confusions have come across as reasonable and worth responding to. If I had a twitter I'd just ask you this there, but since I don't this is the best place I can come up with.
Modifié par ShadowNinja1129, 10 avril 2012 - 11:08 .
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