ElectricBlue187
Member
Obsidian laughs at your silly flowchart
Mass Effect 3 SPOILER THREAD: LOTS OF SPECULATION FROM EVERYONE
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Obsidian laughs at your silly flowchart
I don't think it was even that. I really think it was Mac Walters sitting down at 2 am with a really close deadline and thinking, I did it, I wrote something transcendental, something that people will be talking about for years to come, something that is an homage to the greatest Sci Fi stories of my generation and which will give everyone something to think about regardless of how they played the game, etc. and just forgot he had to finish a story and make sense of it in the process. It happens.
No problem. Yeah, I meant more in the vein of business decisions overriding creative ones. Happens all the time. EA just doesn't seem to believe that their stories deserve care, the way Valve does for example.
Yeah that's true, it wasn't a terrible last Act it was just extremely short and didn't have much content like the other ones did.
Meanwhile Bioware still doesn't even know what they screwed up.
In another universe, Mass Effect 3 was delayed for fall 2012 and got a proper ending and most of the fans were satisfied.
;_;
EmCeeGramr
Member
Galactic Fork
A little fluff between the ears never did any harm...
At first I wanted to invent something to cross dimensions to get that version... but then I realized I'd probably abuse the power and still a bunch of money, maybe start taking dimensions hostage. I'll save the multiverse by staying here.
Disheveled_Zen
Member
Man that ending is pretty damn good. It keeps the endings the writers wanted but adds a ton of better dialogue and still gives you the option to end it your way.
I'm sad to think this will never be the true ending.
Absolutely, that's part of the dilemma of creating something, you actually have to stop working on it at some point. But I don't think anyone expects every single choice to come into play. We expect and ending that makes sense from a story perspective, that honors the player investment in the franchise and that provides closure to over 100+ hours of gameplay. And really, that's the least I can expect from them.
I stand by the fact that you should attempt to create the best product possible. Of course there are limits and at some point you need you say: "That's enough, this is the best I can do." But I don't think anyone at Bioware is delusional enough to actually think that it's the case here.
If the current ending is the "best" that Bioware can do, if they come out and say :"We believe that the current ending is a great conclusion to an epic space opera." then so be it. They will have lost my respect as a player and a fan of the studio.
Zomba13
Member
I suppose I can take some solace in the fact that alternate Zomba got the ending he deserved.
Yeah, I forgot to comment on this one. It was really funny.
About the Art controversy, i think the real question is whether Mass Effect 3 even represents Bioware's orginal artistic vision for the game or is simple the result of the compressed release schedule. It just seems blatantly obvious that they cut and changed a lot of stuff from the game in order to make their release date. I dont want a new ending for the sake of getting a better resolution. I just hope that there is more to the game than they have shown / could show us. It's just that i dont want to believe that anybody in their right mind would voluntarily release a game with an ending as incomprehensible as this one.
I would compare the current situation to the Director's Cut of a movie like Kingdom of Heaven where the theatrical cut is reportedly terrible (only saw the DC) but also didnt represent the origal artistic vision. The Director's Cut on the other hand is a genuinely great epic. So if there's somehow a Director's Cut release or DLC of the game / ending i would gladly pay for it.
I would compare the current situation to the Director's Cut of a movie like Kingdom of Heaven where the theatrical cut is reportedly terrible (only saw the DC) but also didnt represent the origal artistic vision. The Director's Cut on the other hand is a genuinely great epic. So if there's somehow a Director's Cut release or DLC of the game / ending i would gladly pay for it.
That's great. Love it.
Let's suppose there is a director's cut DLC with an added ending or a changed ending. How would they implement that without a giant patch(which for console users isn't feasible)? Currently, when you finish the space magic section you are teleported back to before assaulting the Cerberus base. They'd need something to override what they already had in place.
It's like...ten jessica chobots!
Cpt.Underpants
Member
littleworm
Member
That was great.
Randy Lanzarote
Member
With regards to Hudson's comments today....
If Mass Effect is to teach developers anything in the next cycle, it's that when you set out to make a trilogy of games, perhaps you should plan our your story, characters and finale from day one, rather than just writing it up as you go along.
For the most part ME1 and ME3 sync up pretty well, continuation of the genophage issue, Geth/Quarian conflict, impending reaper invasion, indecision of the Council to believe there's a threat, search for Prothean data on the Reapers etc.
It's just ME2 with its Collector/Omega 4 Relay angle that felt shoe-horned in because they couldn't think of how to flesh out the middle part of their story (God knows why, Empire Strikes Back was there for plagiarism), and the complete lack of consequence of your actions involving the rachni queen/rewriting the heretics/destroying the collector base and then of course ending which is 98% the same no matter what you've done or decide at the end.
If Mass Effect is to teach developers anything in the next cycle, it's that when you set out to make a trilogy of games, perhaps you should plan our your story, characters and finale from day one, rather than just writing it up as you go along.
For the most part ME1 and ME3 sync up pretty well, continuation of the genophage issue, Geth/Quarian conflict, impending reaper invasion, indecision of the Council to believe there's a threat, search for Prothean data on the Reapers etc.
It's just ME2 with its Collector/Omega 4 Relay angle that felt shoe-horned in because they couldn't think of how to flesh out the middle part of their story (God knows why, Empire Strikes Back was there for plagiarism), and the complete lack of consequence of your actions involving the rachni queen/rewriting the heretics/destroying the collector base and then of course ending which is 98% the same no matter what you've done or decide at the end.
Yeah, that's fair. And sometimes you think something is a great idea in the creative process and then you put it out there and bombs. Then you have to have the quads to suck it up and say "Well, we had what we thought was a great idea, but it didn't pan out the way we planned".
Barack Lesnar
Banned
Something clearly happened during development that shook things up. I've never seen THIS MANY quotes prior to release that were just DEAD WRONG. Not even ambiguous or borderline, but completely OPPOSITE what we got. Never seen this before.
Amazing haha.
My favorite was Grunt going to college on a full softball scholarship.
I beat Mass Effect 3 last night and took a night to sleep on it before I came up with what I thought happened.
I can see how someone could end up not liking the ending. I went with the synthesis ending. It is disappointing that you don't get more detail as to what happens when Shepard makes his big decision at the end. Then again based on the post credits scene, the entire series was a story told to a child by a stargazer, so really, who knows what happened.
Here is my interpretation of the ending:
The story given to us ended up being told similarly to what was told in the bible. No one really knows what happened by the time you see the stargazer at the end of the story and some of the details of what took place have probably been embellished over time, which explains some of the weird stuff that happened when Shepard got to the Citadel at the end of the game like being able to breathe in open space, the catalyst, etc. From the point that Shepard beamed himself up to the Citadel to enable the Crucible and onward, Alliance lost contact with him.
IMO, nobody really knew what Shepard did on the Citidel. Hackett never made contact with him after Anderson died. The fact that I've heard that "it stops becoming a Mass Effect story when he reaches the Citadel" gives even more credence to my theory. I think the reason the ending becomes so different from what Mass Effect is as a series once Shepard reaches the Citidel is because no one really knew what happened to Shepard. From that point on its a story that was made up by the survivors of the war to explain what happened...a myth passed down for seemingly generations. In that context, the ending itself is pretty cool. We basically witnessed the origin of how a new religion was created.
The story had been passed on for so long,, by the time we see the stargazers after the credits he's known as simply "The Shepard" like he's a god or something.
The fact that the entire series was a story told to a child by his grandfather way farter into the future confirms that for me. That's my two cents.
I can see how someone could end up not liking the ending. I went with the synthesis ending. It is disappointing that you don't get more detail as to what happens when Shepard makes his big decision at the end. Then again based on the post credits scene, the entire series was a story told to a child by a stargazer, so really, who knows what happened.
Here is my interpretation of the ending:
The story given to us ended up being told similarly to what was told in the bible. No one really knows what happened by the time you see the stargazer at the end of the story and some of the details of what took place have probably been embellished over time, which explains some of the weird stuff that happened when Shepard got to the Citadel at the end of the game like being able to breathe in open space, the catalyst, etc. From the point that Shepard beamed himself up to the Citadel to enable the Crucible and onward, Alliance lost contact with him.
IMO, nobody really knew what Shepard did on the Citidel. Hackett never made contact with him after Anderson died. The fact that I've heard that "it stops becoming a Mass Effect story when he reaches the Citadel" gives even more credence to my theory. I think the reason the ending becomes so different from what Mass Effect is as a series once Shepard reaches the Citidel is because no one really knew what happened to Shepard. From that point on its a story that was made up by the survivors of the war to explain what happened...a myth passed down for seemingly generations. In that context, the ending itself is pretty cool. We basically witnessed the origin of how a new religion was created.
The story had been passed on for so long,, by the time we see the stargazers after the credits he's known as simply "The Shepard" like he's a god or something.
The fact that the entire series was a story told to a child by his grandfather way farter into the future confirms that for me. That's my two cents.
brianmcdoogle
Member
Just finished the game last night. While I enjoyed everything tremendously leading up to the very end, I will add my comments to everyone else is that the ending felt rushed, not very explained, and lame.
I really do like the idea of having the choices at the end presented in a way that you don't know the outcome, and they aren't explicitly good and bad like the rest of the game. However, the whole ending is just a rush, plot points from previous games are cast aside, and there is no explanation for some of the really deeper questions. I also really didn't like the end with the illusive man. I never thought the illusive man was a great bad guy to begin with, and the indoctrination plot involving him was already done with in the first game. As a result, it's the same thing as before. I also thought kei lang was a really dumb character as well. Basically, Cerberus, kei Lang, and the illusive man all should've died during the final assault on Cerberus headquarters. The final section of the game should have been only about the reapers. Adding the Illusive man at the very end spoils, to me, the whole point of the trilogy. Also, right after the rush at the very end to the white light when everyone around you dies, the game kind of keeps going and ruins some of the tension. I felt like the Game should have wrapped up much close to that. The whole section with the illusive man slows everything down and ruins the pacing.
I am sure that if I looked on walk-throughs or through this thread and found lots of comments I would realize that a lot of my choices in the first and second game don't matter that much, but this third game really makes you feel like all your choices matter. Maybe that is an illusion, but it works. Seeing the genophage cured, mordin dying, the rachni queen, and the romance with liara all work for me. The ending is just... rushed. And of explained. And contridictory with the series.
I dictated this post so sorry for some of the spelling and gramar issues.
I really do like the idea of having the choices at the end presented in a way that you don't know the outcome, and they aren't explicitly good and bad like the rest of the game. However, the whole ending is just a rush, plot points from previous games are cast aside, and there is no explanation for some of the really deeper questions. I also really didn't like the end with the illusive man. I never thought the illusive man was a great bad guy to begin with, and the indoctrination plot involving him was already done with in the first game. As a result, it's the same thing as before. I also thought kei lang was a really dumb character as well. Basically, Cerberus, kei Lang, and the illusive man all should've died during the final assault on Cerberus headquarters. The final section of the game should have been only about the reapers. Adding the Illusive man at the very end spoils, to me, the whole point of the trilogy. Also, right after the rush at the very end to the white light when everyone around you dies, the game kind of keeps going and ruins some of the tension. I felt like the Game should have wrapped up much close to that. The whole section with the illusive man slows everything down and ruins the pacing.
I am sure that if I looked on walk-throughs or through this thread and found lots of comments I would realize that a lot of my choices in the first and second game don't matter that much, but this third game really makes you feel like all your choices matter. Maybe that is an illusion, but it works. Seeing the genophage cured, mordin dying, the rachni queen, and the romance with liara all work for me. The ending is just... rushed. And of explained. And contridictory with the series.
I dictated this post so sorry for some of the spelling and gramar issues.
It doesn't help that the majority of these quotes and interviews came from 2012 with some of the more egregious ones coming around late February. Either they honestly believe that the current ending is not and A, B, C choice and is uplifting or they were blatantly lying about the ending.
Joker and EDI's twelve iChildren had me rolling.
Because of this video I can forgive the terrible Mary Sue Kai Leng character: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a0CZKbHQsk
I just don't understand why they didn't write the ending first, then go backwards from there. They all knew that the pressure was on the ending, so focus on that, then you can logically put the pieces in play. And I'm not even just talking the actual ending. They should have figured out who was the last boss and what choices should be there, then devise the mechanics to get that stuff to work.
It's how I'd write the game.
It's how I'd write the game.
Holy shit this ending is way better.
Robot Pants
Member
I dunno. I mean starkid even says organics are an accident and really don't have a purpose in the galaxy. So.....why bother saving them time and time again? They don't belong there to begin with according to him. Why not just let the Synthetics wipe it all out.
Dumb.
TacticalFox88
Banned
Holy shit at iChildren! :lol
holy... Thane actually saves the Salarian Councilor if he's alive? Does Udina still show a fake video of Shepard killing her?
Zomba13
Member
Actually... what was the default crucible setting? It has to be control right? I mean no one would make a device that kills the reapers where the only way to get it to kill the reapers is to shoot a big ass pipe and blow the entire thing to shit.
HarryHengst
Member
They might as well have gone full St. Elsewhere and have it all be the fantasy of that kid with the model spaceship at the beginning. End the game with his mom calling 'Shepard, it's time for dinner!', while overlooking a peaceful farm landschape on Eden Prime or so.
Now give me a job Bioware.
Nope. Udina just acts all slimy.
Get thee to hell.
Zomba13
Member
If Thane is dead the Kirahhe saves her and if Kirahhe is dead then I guess the Councillor dies. In mine Thane saved her and Udina was all 'He works for Cerberus! Killz him plz Ashley!'
Nope.
Hasphat'sAnts
Member
One more reason why Kai Leng's such a failure.
Vanderloo shep is the only real shep.
HarryHengst
Member
Look at you being wrong. :lol
bigace33
Member
lol
Getting his ass handed to him by an old man with lung cancer? Yea, Kai is a fucking wimp, and the second that I was actually able to kill him in-game he dropped in less than 3 seconds.
Yeah they probably just didn't have the time to stick to their original vision for the game. As it stands I didn't get the feel it had quite the scope 1 & 2 had in terms of content, which is a shame.
It's pretty insane though that Hudson admitted the ending was rushed during the final stages of development, although it does explain why they're not defendingit as much as I thought they would.
Empty Space
Member
Three people have never been so wrong about the exact same thing at the exact same time.
The only thing I wish I could have done is have Shepard casually pull her pistol and shoot him in the face while he's on the ground without even looking at him.
Because he's not worth the effort. Such a joke.
Hasphat'sAnts
Member
Should've crushed his larynx with her boot heels.
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