171 réponses à ce sujet

[Neo Hex Omega]

Alright, I work at a video game retailer, so I get to see spending trends on video games firsthand. While I understand there is variation from region to region, I can make some fairly accurate generalizations. I hope someone at Bioware gets to read this, because a big part of my job is talking up games like Mass Effect.

While I think the save import feature from ME1 to ME2 is great, I also feel it is a missed opportunity. Many times here at the forums I have come across statements to the effect of, 'Why should Bioware punish people who did not play ME1?" I say, why not? My store, and all others in entire district, have sold as many copies of ME1 as the sequel since ME2 launched, largely based on word of mouth on the save import feature alone. I have to put customers on waiting lists for ME1 because it is selling out, over TWO YEARS from it's original release.

Let's face it, Mass Effect is trilogy, built with that in mind from the inception. As both a huge fan of the series, and someone who is, for my small part, responsible for helping sell it, I would hate to see Bioware squander a great storytelling opportunity on people who can't be arsed to buy the original game(which retails for less than twenty dollars now, mind you). Gamers almost inevitably buy prequels no matter what anyway... I've seen it over and over, with games like Assassin's Creed, Bioshock, Gears of War... games that don't change at all based on your choices.

In conclusion, I just want to say that, Bioware, I love your games, and I think the work you have done so far on the Mass Effect series has been magnificent. But please, the handholding for series newbs is unnecessary. Players who follow the trilogy through from the beginning should get an experience above and beyond someone who jumps in at the middle, and I would hate to see the potential of ME3(and any expansion for ME2) watered down just to make it "accessible", or, a "good entry point". Because I can tell you, it isn't necessary, and in fact, you probably stand to make MORE money by more strongly encouraging players to pick up each entry for a more complete experience.

Good day.

[superimposed]

Or, they could not be corporate ****s.

It's very easy to make a game 'easily accessible' without sacrificing a thing. Look at Half-life 2. The learning curve is there for new players, but old players don't feel like they're missing out on anything.

[AntiChri5]

You are now my favorite person on these forums.



When i buy the second part of a book trilogy i dont whine that it doesnt make sense, i know it is my own damn fault for not reading the first one.

[Vaenier]

This thread is win. Good job OP.

[Jalem001]

Agreed.



The whole decisions having an impact was poorly done imo. Not the point where I feel totally cheated, but I am far more cynical about any future attempts to do it.



Mass Effect 3 should be a reward to fans. I loved Mass Effect 2, but when I play Mass Effect 3 I want to feel the impact of all my decisions. If that means the galaxy crumbling around me because I made the wrong choices, so be it.

[Mrs Templar]

Very well stated and I agree completely. If you expect to truly enjoy any trilogy you should read/watch/play all three installments, not just the finale.

[Invalidcode]

If you don't import an ME1 save and start a new Shep the default decision kind of suck, but I don't see it as a punishment.

Why should Bioware punish people who did not play ME1?" I say, why not?

But I don't get this... If a consumer spend money to buy a game he/she should get what it's worth, no 'punishment' should be attached just because he didn't bought the first of a squeal. Should UC2 player get punished if he didn't play UC1 at all?



Some bonus for loyal fans would be a better option.

[superimposed]

ME should not be a 'reward to fans'. It should be a game anyone can enjoy based on it's own merits and not fanboyism. Bioware is more than capable of making sequels which don't require playing the original to fully enjoy, and they have done that.

Mass Effect 3 is the final in the trilogy, and seeing the outcome of your decisions is important to people who've played the previous two and were disappointed with the 'consequences' of 2, but there's no reason why people starting 'anew' should miss out.





TLDR: No.

[Skilled Seeker]

Agree with OP. And I can't believe IGN listed this feature as a bad point (new players miss out on the full experience/story elements require knowledge learned from ME1 blah blah). I hate IGN.

[Jalem001]

superimposed wrote...

ME should not be a 'reward to fans'. It should be a game anyone can enjoy based on it's own merits and not fanboyism. Bioware is more than capable of making sequels which don't require playing the original to fully enjoy, and they have done that.
Mass Effect 3 is the final in the trilogy, and seeing the outcome of your decisions is important to people who've played the previous two and were disappointed with the 'consequences' of 2, but there's no reason why people starting 'anew' should miss out.


TLDR: No.

Then why even let you bring saves over?  Its no different then any other sequel (KotOR 1 -> KotOR 2).  The decisions don't matter, so why even bother?  At best you get an email and a few extra lines of dialogue.  Big deal.

[Azint]

Good insight.

[Neo Hex Omega]

superimposed wrote...

ME should not be a 'reward to fans'.

If those fans had not purchased the original game there would be no Mass Effect 2.

It should be a game anyone can enjoy based on it's own merits and not fanboyism. Bioware is more than capable of making sequels which don't require playing the original to fully enjoy, and they have done that.

Mass Effect has been a trilogy since before the first game was released, and should be treated as such. Bioware is more than capable of making a game that stands on it's own merits, but if that is what they wanted from Mass Effect, then it should not have been created as a trilogy. The onus is on Bioware for that.

[GuardianAngel470]

I think that if you step into a game at the final act of a trilogy of games that wax over 20 hours of gameplay then you should be pretty lost. I also don't think Bioware should waste time helping out the newbs when that time could be better spent catering to the people who have already given Bioware $120-130 dollars of their hard earned money. Who is more valuable, some one who is about to spend 60 bucks or someone who is about to complete spending 180 bucks? Monetarily you cater to the more valuable audience, kinda like preferred stocks vs common stocks. One is more expensive than the other and one has more perks than the other, it's just the way business works. If you pay more, you generally get more.

[SF117]

Agreed on all points OP. Couldn't have said it better. I've become a huge fan of Mass Effect, and I don't want to see BioWare waste this opportunity and not go all-out with ME3 just because of people who weren't smart enough to play the first two games first. If something is going to be made as a trilogy, it should be played as a trilogy; they shouldn't sacrifice the one chance they have to end this story on the best note possible.

Modifié par SF117, 04 mars 2010 - 02:04 .

[MyChemicalBromance]

Agreed on all points. (Maybe since I sell it too)

[marshalleck]

Someday someone actually will create an interwoven trilogy of games that works on a deeper level than much of the superficiality of Mass Effect, and this trilogy will exist in its shadow.

[Irenicus10]

good job OP

[Neo Hex Omega]

marshalleck wrote...

Someday someone actually will create an interwoven trilogy of games that works on a deeper level than much of the superficiality of Mass Effect, and this trilogy will exist in its shadow.

My hope is that Mass Effect 3 will at least pave the way for such an event. Bioware has the talent, it's just a matter of execution.

Hell, even just the potential of the Mass Effect trilogy alone, in spite of the execution thus far, has inspired my own desire to enter the game design world. I'd like to think that one day I could be part of helping to actually make deep, interactive stories, instead of just selling the final product.

[Madecologist]

I agree. Sure you don't have to have the sequal go out of its way to be extra confusing for the odd person who decided to join late, but making it "accessable to new fans" should not be taken to the extremes either. You can still be entry level friendly without catering it out to being "accessable to new fans."

But I do fully agree, people buying ME2 played the first game, or knew there was a 1st and understand they are joining in late. There is no need to limit oneself because of it.

[superimposed]

Jalem001 wrote...

superimposed wrote...

ME should not be a 'reward to fans'. It should be a game anyone can enjoy based on it's own merits and not fanboyism. Bioware is more than capable of making sequels which don't require playing the original to fully enjoy, and they have done that.
Mass Effect 3 is the final in the trilogy, and seeing the outcome of your decisions is important to people who've played the previous two and were disappointed with the 'consequences' of 2, but there's no reason why people starting 'anew' should miss out.


TLDR: No.

Then why even let you bring saves over?  Its no different then any other sequel (KotOR 1 -> KotOR 2).  The decisions don't matter, so why even bother?  At best you get an email and a few extra lines of dialogue.  Big deal.

Completely missed the point. Well done.
There's no reason why the only people who should get to enjoy ME 3 are people who bought the first two. That's all there is to it.

It's poor marketing, poor PR, and a poorly created game.

[Jimmy2011]

i agree, just give the people who step into mass effect 3 without playing the first 2 some generic shepard with some neutral choices and make them go on from there. If Bioware did that its not like the people stepping in are getting punished, they just play number 3 with some generic decisions. which is basically just like every other game out on the market.

[Gordo Schumway]

Here's an idea (maybe not a great one): When the third one comes out Bioware could issue a special uber-super-duper collectors edition that packages all three installments along with the downloadable content from all three games and additional artwork. That way the company could cash in big time on newbies and I'm sure a few completionists would fork out the money just to have the "ultimate edition".

[superimposed]

Gordo Schumway wrote...

Here's an idea (maybe not a great one): When the third one comes out Bioware could issue a special uber-super-duper collectors edition that packages all three installments along with the downloadable content from all three games and additional artwork. That way the company could cash in big time on newbies and I'm sure a few completionists would fork out the money just to have the "ultimate edition".

They shouldn't have to pay any extra money to enjoy Mass Effect 3. They may not get the full experience, but there's no reason  why they shouldn't be able to enjoy ME:3 as is. You shouldn't punish players for not being the previous two games.
However, as a bundle deal, this is a pretty good idea. People will buy it.

Besides, as Mass Effect Saves shows us, if you really want the 'full experience' just download a 43kb save instead of paying around $100 for two games you'll have to play through over, and over, just to get all the different combinations of choices and consequences.

[Neo Hex Omega]

superimposed wrote...


Besides, as Mass Effect Saves shows us, if you really want the 'full experience' just download a 43kb save instead of paying around $100 for two games you'll have to play through over, and over, just to get all the different combinations of choices and consequences.

Great, one step away from pirating the game. Why not download saves for every game so we never have to play them? It's for that reason(among other things) that I believe the save import should go beyond a few flagged choices in a saved game file.