[Jessica Phoenix]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jI2al8D8GGvgVFcOqXpFlnAyamNw?docId=CNG.bb3e00397964429f278e8d9bc89ba3ea.2f1

Hudson, however, noting feedback from players that the ending was too bleak, said BioWare was working on new content that will be made available to download online to extend play beyond the current finish of the game.
"We'll keep listening, because your insights and constructive feedback will help determine what that content should be," he said. "This is not the last you'll hear of Commander Shepard.
"We also recognize that some of our most passionate fans needed more closure, more answers, and more time to say goodbye to their stories," Hudson added.

[josie treuberg]

Not to mention the endings all being the same removes the choice aspect, something that was promised to the fans at the beginning of the trilogy. That your choices were suppose to matter, well I guess that was just PR [censored] talk.

The spin Bioware is putting on this is that the different endings are all there, they're just spread through the game rather than lumped at the end. So you get different endings to the genophage story with different characters dying or surviving based on previous choices. You get different endings to the Quarian/Geth story. You get different stories from the NPC's depending on who's still alive and how you've treated them. You get the different romance stories and their conclusions.

My problem is that the endings invalidate all of that. The destruction of the mass relays and the deaths of everyone on the Citadel occur regardless of your choice. And who knows what to make of Shepard breathing in some rubble somewhere or your squadmates on the jungle planet.

[Neil]

All things considered, it still wasn't as bad as Fallout 3's ending.

[chirsty aggas]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jI2al8D8GGvgVFcOqXpFlnAyamNw?docId=CNG.bb3e00397964429f278e8d9bc89ba3ea.2f1

Don't know where Glenn Chapman is getting this from: "Hudson, however, noting feedback from players that the ending was too bleak, said BioWare was working on new content that will be made available to download online to extend play beyond the current finish of the game." That statement isn't backed up by the quotes in that article.

[Amy Melissa]

All things considered, it still wasn't as bad as Fallout 3's ending.

Although I was one of the people who wasn't a fan, at least FO3's ending made some sort of sense. ME3's ending was just bizarre.

[Racheal Robertson]

Don't know where Glenn Chapman is getting this from: "Hudson, however, noting feedback from players that the ending was too bleak, said BioWare was working on new content that will be made available to download online to extend play beyond the current finish of the game." That statement isn't backed up by the quotes in that article.

I'm guessing just bad wording (or lazy journalism) in that you get to the stage where you can play DLC "after" the ending, even though chronologically it's before you go to have tea and scones with Cerberus.

[CRuzIta LUVz grlz]

All things considered, it still wasn't as bad as Fallout 3's ending.

Top man, which one? The original bad one or the Broken Steel one?

[Marlo Stanfield]

I think the indoctrination video, though crackpot to some is the real deal.

Call me hopeful.

Spoilers in this vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tbghjn7_Byc

[Siidney]

The best case scenario for the Indoctrination Theory means that we were never actually given an ending. They intentionally did not end the game in order to sell it to us as DLC because the best case scenario is that Shep wakes up in the rubble before ever actually entering the Crucible.

[SEXY QUEEN]

The best case scenario for the Indoctrination Theory means that we were never actually given an ending. They intentionally did not end the game in order to sell it to us as DLC because the best case scenario is that Shep wakes up in the rubble before ever actually entering the Crucible.

That does seem to be a popular theory (and one I've suspected myself) though I suspect if it happens, the backlash over "the end-as-a-DLC" will be rather a lot more serious than the widespread discontent over day one DLC.

[Nathan Maughan]

That does seem to be a popular theory (and one I've suspected myself) though I suspect if it happens, the backlash over "the end-as-a-DLC" will be rather a lot more serious than the widespread discontent over day one DLC.

There is a thread or two over at the BW forums that have hundreds of people pledging to pay for an ending, and whats worse they are claiming that "all will be forgiven" ! Its insane! BW has so many wrapped around their pinky.

[Andrew Perry]

That does seem to be a popular theory (and one I've suspected myself) though I suspect if it happens, the backlash over "the end-as-a-DLC" will be rather a lot more serious than the widespread discontent over day one DLC.

Spoiler

As soon as i saw the Illusive Man shoot himself just exactly like saren I knew something was up. It might show how the reapers have delved into his mind finding memories of such events. OR Bioware ran out of ideas

[Facebook me]

Slow decline?

At this stage I'm pinning all my hopes on Kickstarter.

[Prue]

Top man, which one? The original bad one or the Broken Steel one?

The original. It put me off enough that I haven't touch the series since.

[e.Double]

It all depends on how much you have invested emotionally in the series. Generally speaking lots of years and investment into your character is going to lead to more dramatic brain explode at the end. Not to mention as an author

Spoiler

I abhor the crappy story telling. It completely disregards two games in the series and it one of the most literal examples of a deus ex machina ever seen. A literal god from the machine with no hints or warnings. It offends every one of my writing sensibilities. Inspiring me in that I would have to purposely take the time to design an ending so thoroughly poor for my audience. The more you think about it, the more it will fall apart. The biggest one is the hypocrisy. I mean the child tells us they want to stop organics and synthetics form fighting. And yet they're the synthetics we're fighting. I see Geth and Quarian flying by outside shooting Reapers. Not to mention the series has went out of it's way to state that there is little difference between synthetic life and organic. One is merely not constructed of organic material. And that they both have wants and needs. Apparently in the final hour this whole running theme since game two just gets thrown out the window. The idiot child ai just tells as matter of fact that synthetics and organics fight. He sounds so matter of fact it's like he's reporting on the weather. Despite all evidence to the contrary.

I've been following the series since the very beginning, and I still see nothing wrong with the ending. Even as a writer, it seems like a fine way to end the trilogy. And besides,

Spoiler

The Geth or EDI are most certainly not the be-all-end-all when it comes to synthetics. Also, did you not pay attention? The Reapers aren't synthetics, not entirely anyway, as they harvest life to preserve it. Not only were they stopping synthetics from becoming too powerful, but that they were also archiving humans. Almost like the Matrix without the need for a physical body. The child, in my opinion, wasn't actually a child. Rather, that was what he appeared to be to Shepard. Different individuals would see the Catalyst differently.

Edit
It's simple to deride anything as drama without seeking to understand the cause. I honestly didn't expect such a reaction from you Morrowind. Seems almost ironic, in a depressing kind of way.

I don't follow. And I understand the cause perfectly. People built the ending up to a point that no matter what happened, it still wouldn't live up to their expectations. As I said, I've followed and loved the series from the start, but I went into the third game with no expectations because I wanted to see how BioWare would end it. I did, and I was pleased with what I saw.

[kirsty williams]

uh, I haven't played any of the mass effect games, but surely comparing the ending of the series to the holocaust is going a little overboard? okay, the ending is terrible (from what I've read), why not move on then? I don't understand all the hate.

You can comment about every thing in the forum but do not comment on anything that I have not tried/seen. I have the right to comment about this because I been through it. The only right you have to comment about the ME games is to get and play them. Don't do the one play through, do several.

this sounds very militant, are you sure this game series is worth the investment of time and effort? I mean, how realistic is it to expect BioWare to change their ending? Still, good luck with your campaign.

yeah, probably not completely (I've never tried Mass Effect because of the feeling of uncanniness I have with the dialogue scenes I've seen on YouTube)


Thanks for trying to explain. I have to admit, from the outside, this polemic is pretty weird, but your explanation helps me understand all this outrage a little better. Players sure seem to have really invested a lot into these games.

I was thinking of giving mass effect a try, but I'll probably wait until all this unfolds, to see if they fix it the ending. Doesn't sound like a fun experience as it is now.

There are players out there (Including I) are very passionate about our Shepards. I spent about 500 hours on the game and could not wait to see the end to have a closure. Instead I got a slap at the face. I have no problem with the scene with TIM. It remind me with the scene with Saren at the end of Mass Effect. All this bs happen after Shepard hoisted up by the lift. That is when everything went pare shaped. Don't think about DO IT. The game play in not perfect, but its one hell of a journey. You just look at through Y-Tube clips which is not the same as playing it. Why could we not talk to the kid (like I did with Vigel in Mass Effect) to get some answers on WHY is he doing this? On the decisions what we going to make. Why three? Why not six? Why sixteen? Oh that is right The Witcher2 with its sixteen finishes. I hope the makers of The Witcher take note. Don't make promises that you cannot keep Mr BioWare. What's with Joker going through the relies and crash landed on a random planet? Did he took Shepard? Ship cannot go without its captain. Why not (depends on choice) Joker stayed where he is? Near Earth. Or is it the ship went haywire and went through the relies? That planet remind me of the planet in Jacob's loyalty quest. It has two moons or is that Nirm they crashed on? Watch out DRAGON!!!That last scene with the man with the boy. Miss opportunity there. Could we see our Shepard for the finial time no matter where he or she is? Or is it too graphic or too rosy? What happened to the other races afterwards? How did the Aliens coped on Earth when the relies are gone and on the other important planets? The decisions we made through the games. What of those? I don't want a Hollywood finish. I want Michael Caine version of Get Carter finish. There is my take.

[MARLON JOHNSON]

Spoiler

The Geth or EDI are most certainly not the be-all-end-all when it comes to synthetics.

Weren't they? I mean, discounting the Reapers, they're basically the only other synthetics in the game. Certainly the only ones with anything approaching meaningful cognitive function.

EDIT: Beyond that, there were far greater conflicts between organic species. The Rachni and the Krogan both threatened the entire galaxy. The Geth only ever displaced a single race after being backed into a corner.

[Chloé]

Weren't they? I mean, discounting the Reapers, they're basically the only other synthetics in the game. Certainly the only ones with anything approaching meaningful cognitive function.

EDIT: Beyond that, there were far greater conflicts between organic species. The Rachni and the Krogan both threatened the entire galaxy. The Geth only ever displaced a single race after being backed into a corner.

To humans, yes. They would be. The question is, how much farther could a synthetic go? I hardly think the same level of cognitive function as a human is all. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw8dcb8iKSM What I'm getting at is if a synthetic race were to surpass our abilities to a given point, they would more than likely regard us as vermin, possibly ones they think should be exterminated.

[Myles]

To humans, yes. They would be. The question is, how much farther could a synthetic go? I hardly think the same level of cognitive function as a human is all. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw8dcb8iKSM What I'm getting at is if a synthetic race were to surpass our abilities to a given point, they would more than likely regard us as vermin, possibly ones they think should be exterminated.

Organics already do that. Or have you never swatted a bug? Making the argument that sufficiently advanced society A regards sufficiently primitive society B as the lesser says nothing about what biology is present. That's the problem with that particular assertion. There is absolutely zero evidence that synthetics are uniquely capable or prone towards conflict or genocide (other than the Reapers themselves). Organics, on the other hand, regularly engage in genocide against other organics (the genophage, the rachni wars, events from real life). Why then, is the claim that synthetics will necessarily wipe out organics even something we should humor?

[Cathrin Hummel]

Organics already do that. Or have you never swatted a bug? Making the argument that sufficiently advanced society A regards sufficiently primitive society B as the lesser says nothing about what biology is present. That's the problem with that particular assertion. There is absolutely zero evidence that synthetics are uniquely capable or prone towards conflict or genocide (other than the Reapers themselves). Organics, on the other hand, regularly engage in genocide against other organics (the genophage, the rachni wars, events from real life). Why then, is the claim that synthetics will necessarily wipe out organics even something we should humor?

In the context of the game, because what ever race created the Reapers witnessed it. For us? Or for HUMANS in the Mass Effect universe? No, because there is no reason to believe that synthetics would wipe out all organic life, the exception being the Reapers, who appear synthetic.

[Paula Rose]

In the context of the game, because what ever race created the Reapers witnessed it. For us? Or for HUMANS in the Mass Effect universe? No, because there is no reason to believe that synthetics would wipe out all organic life, the exception being the Reapers, who appear synthetic.

I'm confused on the point you are trying to make. Can you explain?

[Kelvin Diaz]

I've been following the series since the very beginning, and I still see nothing wrong with the ending. Even as a writer, it seems like a fine way to end the trilogy. And besides,

Spoiler

The Geth or EDI are most certainly not the be-all-end-all when it comes to synthetics. Also, did you not pay attention? The Reapers aren't synthetics, not entirely anyway, as they harvest life to preserve it. Not only were they stopping synthetics from becoming too powerful, but that they were also archiving humans. Almost like the Matrix without the need for a physical body. The child, in my opinion, wasn't actually a child. Rather, that was what he appeared to be to Shepard. Different individuals would see the Catalyst differently.

Would you agree that you don't have as much emotional attatchment to a book you've read as opposed to a game which proposes to offer a completely unique experience based on choices and requires you to win 3 games?

If it was a book I wouldn't have a problem but it's a bit of a screw you to players, not to mention adding insult to injury by begging you to buy more DLC .


EDIT: It depends on your mindset to gaming as well, do you pretend to be the character or view it as an interactive story/movie?

[(G-yen)]

The entire game proves otherwise. Even the AI on the citadel in the first game is only acting hostile because of laws prohibiting his sentience. Not once do we see an AI attack another being of their own free will or from self defense. The Geth only did it when they were reprogrammed. Via the in game universe, there is zero reason to suspect we can't work together. If this cycle was so different it MUST be for a reason right? Shepard actually made it to the god ai child. So something must have been off the entire cycle. Think about it, the Protheans and all other civilizations developed AI prior to the point in this cycle. They got involved in their own wars with them and then the Reapers stopped them. This means we've made it further into the cycle, and it's different. If we were the exact same we would have already been emroiled in a Synthetic war like the other cycles which "proves" this kids point.

Then going back to the working together argument. Your throwing out all reason to suggest humans and other organics can't socially adapt and learn. That would be like seeing primitive slaver humans massacring each other and saying the species is doomed and never going to learn. Yet we did and we're here form a primitive culture to this. It's suggesting we're incapable of learning and working togeather. Despite the fact that our entire cycle is different right form the get go. It's been made very clear by the Prothean they had their own troubles. The ai kid must not be completely lying because he has to have some basis for a pattern. So then why weren't we fighting synthetics? I believe it's because for once something different happened. Whatever scale that might be.

This is if you believe anything this kid who is CLEARLY a Reaper says. I mean he even goes on to say us and we and it gives him away as being a Reaper. The fact that Shepard can't question any of this is what bothers me. It's just the tip of a big iceberg in why this ending makes no sense. Not one lick. Oh and then blue/red/or green space magic makes everything better. Weeee and your entire gathering of your army was for nothing. Why the hell did we even bother keeping track of that stuff if it didn't matter? The game makes no sense on all levels.

Edit
And another thing, the whole games message is that we can put aside our differences and work together to accomplish great things? So suddenly we're incapable of doing this? We've apparently done the impossible already. If we did it this entire game, then why can't we make friends with the Geth? I don't get it. They've made it adamantly clear they just want to do their own thing. And given the luxurious position they were in (building a dyson sphere) why would they ever care about some inferior organic races? It doesn't make any sense why they would go all ape [censored] and kill stuff.

Did you ever think maybe all the other synthetics are [censored] up in the head because no one wanted to talk and give them the chance? Who said they started the wars? This ending leaves so many unknowns this debate is pointless. Which is why we need a more final ending than this. I never said it had to be happy, just make sense.

[Matthew Barrows]

Also we're winning this http://www.anologhype.com/video-games/playstation-3-news/amazon-offering-a-full-refund-on-already-opened-copies-of-mass-effect-3/. I didn't think I would see this either. While not a full out victory, it only strengthens the movement. Roughly 79-85% of gamers are unhappy with this crap ending. This is a pole conducted on so many sites over and over again. It's a good sample size to extrapolate to the greater population of gamers. Not necessarily casual gamers mind you, though perhaps some of them are mad at the ending too. I'm so happy I want to watch Mordin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj0iJtgHOCI

[Cheryl Rice]

I'm confused on the point you are trying to make. Can you explain?

I'm saying that our cycle didn't witness the synthetics wiping out all life, so we would have no reason to attempt to stop synthetics in our cycle.

Not saying that the Reapers were right in attempting to stop this.

Would you agree that you don't have as much emotional attatchment to a book you've read as opposed to a game which proposes to offer a completely unique experience based on choices and requires you to win 3 games?

If it was a book I wouldn't have a problem but it's a bit of a screw you to players, not to mention adding insult to injury by begging you to buy more DLC .


EDIT: It depends on your mindset to gaming as well, do you pretend to be the character or view it as an interactive story/movie?

Both. It just depends on the game really.

The entire game proves otherwise. Even the AI on the citadel in the first game is only acting hostile because of laws prohibiting his sentience. Not once do we see an AI attack another being of their own free will or from self defense. The Geth only did it when they were reprogrammed. Via the in game universe, there is zero reason to suspect we can't work together. If this cycle was so different it MUST be for a reason right? Shepard actually made it to the god ai child. So something must have been off the entire cycle. Think about it, the Protheans and all other civilizations developed AI prior to the point in this cycle. They got involved in their own wars with them and then the Reapers stopped them. This means we've made it further into the cycle, and it's different. If we were the exact same we would have already been emroiled in a Synthetic war like the other cycles which "proves" this kids point.

I'm not really sure where you got this information, as I don't recall a war with synthetics during the Prothean cycle being mentioned.

Keep in mind it also took entire cycles to come up with the designs for the Crucible, so no other race up to the Protheans may have known what exactly the Catalyst was. And keep in mind that they were too late.

Then going back to the working together argument. Your throwing out all reason to suggest humans and other organics can't socially adapt and learn. That would be like seeing primitive slaver humans massacring each other and saying the species is doomed and never going to learn. Yet we did and we're here form a primitive culture to this. It's suggesting we're incapable of learning and working togeather. Despite the fact that our entire cycle is different right form the get go. It's been made very clear by the Prothean they had their own troubles. The ai kid must not be completely lying because he has to have some basis for a pattern. So then why weren't we fighting synthetics? I believe it's because for once something different happened. Whatever scale that might be.

Not really, just pointing out some possibilities. Humans will always be evolving, but the problem arises when synthetics evolve faster.

As to why we weren't fighting synthetics? Because few had been developed. Sure the Geth have the numbers, but they were just off minding their own business. Keep in mind that they WERE actually hostile to anyone who ventured into Geth space, so we were kinda fighting them, although not in all out war.

Also, a great deal of the Prothean's troubles were due to the nature of their society. Javik mentions that the races never worked together during the Prothean cycle.

This is if you believe anything this kid who is CLEARLY a Reaper says. I mean he even goes on to say us and we and it gives him away as being a Reaper. The fact that Shepard can't question any of this is what bothers me. It's just the tip of a big iceberg in why this ending makes no sense. Not one lick. Oh and then blue/red/or green space magic makes everything better. Weeee and your entire gathering of your army was for nothing. Why the hell did we even bother keeping track of that stuff if it didn't matter? The game makes no sense on all levels.

He really didn't need to question it at that point, since he could either just go with it and stop the Reapers, or let them kill everything. I mean really, the massive fleet you spent the game building is getting destroyed, thousands are dying every second... Why would he stop to chat?

And the shock wave is suddenly magic, but mass relays, biotics, and such make perfect sense?

Edit
And another thing, the whole games message is that we can put aside our differences and work together to accomplish great things? So suddenly we're incapable of doing this? We've apparently done the impossible already. If we did it this entire game, then why can't we make friends with the Geth? I don't get it. They've made it adamantly clear they just want to do their own thing. And given the luxurious position they were in (building a dyson sphere) why would they ever care about some inferior organic races? It doesn't make any sense why they would go all ape [censored] and kill stuff.

Did you ever think maybe all the other synthetics are [censored] up in the head because no one wanted to talk and give them the chance? Who said they started the wars? This ending leaves so many unknowns this debate is pointless. Which is why we need a more final ending than this. I never said it had to be happy, just make sense.

That's the point. The Catalyst specifically states that we cause chaos. We kick the hornets nest so to speak. The Quarians were afraid of their own creations, so they tried to destroy them. If they had accepted the Geth into Quarian society? They would never have had to leave Rannoch in the first place.

Also we're winning this http://www.anologhype.com/video-games/playstation-3-news/amazon-offering-a-full-refund-on-already-opened-copies-of-mass-effect-3/. I didn't think I would see this either. While not a full out victory, it only strengthens the movement. Roughly 79-85% of gamers are unhappy with this crap ending. This is a pole conducted on so many sites over and over again. It's a good sample size to extrapolate to the greater population of gamers. Not necessarily casual gamers mind you, though perhaps some of them are mad at the ending too. I'm so happy I want to watch Mordin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj0iJtgHOCI

The sense of entitlement exhibited by this is staggering, not to mention disgusting.