[Lilit Ager]

Spoiler

Aria is so annoying, her and those stupid merc gangs; "The great Commander Shepard on a leash," [censored] off pal you and Aria are two-bit thugs when I have a fleet of the Human, Turian and Salarian navies; you're cannon-fodder for the Reapers.

[Ross Thomas]

Spoiler

Aria is so annoying, her and those stupid merc gangs; "The great Commander Shepard on a leash," [censored] off pal you and Aria are two-bit thugs when I have a fleet of the Human, Turian and Salarian navies; you're cannon-fodder for the Reapers.

I always wanted to tell Aria to screw off. I wish she would attack me or send someone to do it, just so I could put her in her place. Sigh.

[GabiiE Liiziiouz]

I always wanted to tell Aria to screw off. I wish she would attack me or send someone to do it, just so I could put her in her place. Sigh.

Damn right, how about a fire a round frmo my Thannix Cannon right into your precious Omega, what then [censored]. Seriously, where does a lousy criminal get away with acting on a level with Commander Shepard? Especially in ME3 where she got her ass kicked off Omega by Cerberus.

[Nikki Morse]

Well, I just head butted a news reporter after she dodged my punch, no one makes a fool of Commander Shepard, ah, I've been beating up news reporters since 2007.

[Jah Allen]

Retake movement is proving to be a liability. People are going so wild that it really looks like they are doing this just to harass BW out of jealousy or something, not because they had a genuine reason to dislike the ending.

The story is full of plot-holes and the advertised 16 endings was a single ending with 2 minor variations. And that ending depends on a single final choice, ignoring everything up to that point. Why should Bioware not get severe lashback for that?

I've read about 10 - 15 pages of the "Retake Mass Effect" threads, and mostly what I've seen is cordial discussion. Yes, it's a bit wacky to get upset about a game ending, but I'd personally like to see Bioware (and EA) do some serious soul searching, because I think their games have significantly dropped in quality since the EA buyout.

Gamers complain when a vocal "Moral Majority" crowd riots to force game makers to change their content. They laugh at the poor Australians and Germans when games have to be altered to conform to laws that, again, are the result of very vocal groups pushing for games to be the way that they want. We say it's bad when it happens. Make claims of "artistic freedom/expression".

But now, they're doing the same thing - vocal activist group raising a fuss and trying to force a game maker to change their content.

I'm sure there's some hypocrisy in there somewhere.

IMO, not at all.

An external religious or political group that wants to crucify, burn, or cripple a game (or book, etc.) according to a narrow set of personal views that that group thinks of as the one universal truth is one thing. A group of fans that follow the story/lore and want it to thrive, but are unhappy with a particular development in that lore is completely different. ("Did Han shoot first", etc.) Also, in the second case, the continued existence of the "art" is entirely due to the continued interest of the fans. Often fans are upset about internal (to the lore/story) inconsistencies, such as huge, arbitrary changes of character, or other sloppy writing/plotting.

There's also a big difference between artistic integrity and just plain bad or lazy writing. Deus Ex Machinas, for example, have been considered lazy and poor quality writing for the last hundred years, for example.

[GPMG]

Well, I just head butted a news reporter after she dodged my punch, no one makes a fool of Commander Shepard, ah, I've been beating up news reporters since 2007.

In the Lair of the Shadow Broker you can see a video of her trying to interview a krogan. Let's just say she gets headbutted a lot

[Katey Meyer]

In the Lair of the Shadow Broker you can see a video of her trying to interview a krogan. Let's just say she gets headbutted a lot

And kicked by Volus, let's not forget that.

[hannaH]

I haven't played any Mass Effects, but now I'm consider getting the first one(and if I like it, the rest will probably follow) and if someone could give pros and cons of it, I'd appreciate it.

I'm a fan, but not the biggest fan, so keep that in mind.

Pros:

• Mostly good writing
  
• Excellent NPC development and interaction
  
• Good graphics
  
• Excellent lore/background

Cons:

• Combat is somewhat lackluster and repetitive
  
• Mini-games range from bad to truly awful
  
• Morality "system" is fischer-priced to the point of almost being insulting

Overall, I think the good significantly outweighs the bad, but there are a fair number of WTFs where it looks like the designers needed an adjusting kick to the side of the head (or pink slips). For example, the inventory UI in ME1 was really bad, like what an amateur in the 80s would have designed. In ME2, on the way out of the linear space dungeons (and that description includes outdoor environments) barriers and walls would magically pop up to support the required duck and cover combat system. Also, they have some horribly designed mini-games, and Bioware kept acknowledging feedback about them, and then badly redesigned and forced them into the next game.

For me, the good was good enough that I just gritted my teeth and accepted the bad.

[Amy Smith]

Urdnort Dagg gives Krogan a good name.

[elliot mudd]

And kicked by Volus, let's not forget that.

I remember hoping for a shot of a Hanar slapping her with a tentacle.

[Jennie Skeletons]

I remember hoping for a shot of a Hanar slapping her with a tentacle.

"This one finds your nonstop pestering to be rather annoying." And the hanar was the spectre hanar too

[Harinder Ghag]

"This one finds your nonstop pestering to be rather annoying." And the hanar was the spectre hanar too

Blasto! The Hanar Spectre!

[CHARLODDE]

Got 36 back in store credit when I traded in ME3, very happy about that. It's a shame but it needed to be done, now I have closure. Also heard from one of the clerks at gamestop that mostly everybody hated the ending, good news there.

I'm a fan, but not the biggest fan, so keep that in mind.

Pros:

• Mostly good writing
  
• Excellent NPC development and interaction
  
• Good graphics
  
• Excellent lore/background

Cons:

• Combat is somewhat lackluster and repetitive
  
• Mini-games range from bad to truly awful
  
• Morality "system" is fischer-priced to the point of almost being insulting

Overall, I think the good significantly outweighs the bad, but there are a fair number of WTFs where it looks like the designers needed an adjusting kick to the side of the head (or pink slips). For example, the inventory UI in ME1 was really bad, like what an amateur in the 80s would have designed. In ME2, on the way out of the linear space dungeons (and that description includes outdoor environments) barriers and walls would magically pop up to support the required duck and cover combat system. Also, they have some horribly designed mini-games, and Bioware kept acknowledging feedback about them, and then badly redesigned and forced them into the next game.

For me, the good was good enough that I just gritted my teeth and accepted the bad.

I pretty much agree with this, Mass Effect 1's inventory late game is a problem and the mini game is a pain in the ass but the flaws can be overlooked when compared to the story which is excellent. Definitely reccomend Mass Effect 1 and possibly Mass Effect 2 although 2 is different from 1 in terms of combat and the planet scanning game is terrible, worst idea ever. Mass Effect 3 is iffy due to the issues that surround the game. I'd still reccomend it but keep your expections low.

[Richard Thompson]

I wonder what other people's Shepard's look like,http://i41.tinypic.com/o58etx.jpg.

[Jessica Phoenix]

I wonder what other people's Shepard's look like,http://i41.tinypic.com/o58etx.jpg.

http://vometia.com/images/me3/vompout.jpg.

[Racheal Robertson]

http://vometia.com/images/me3/vompout.jpg.

She reminds me a bit of a Salarian .

[Gen Daley]

http://geek.pikimal.com/2012/03/22/controversy-erupts-over-mass-effect-3-writers-forum-post-name-release/ about the supposed ME3 writer that criticized the ending

[amhain]

http://geek.pikimal.com/2012/03/22/controversy-erupts-over-mass-effect-3-writers-forum-post-name-release/ about the supposed ME3 writer that criticized the ending

This comes as a massive relief to me. Glad to see some fifth columnist join the Cause. Now we know who screwed up. For once it isn't EA, at least.

I wonder what other people's Shepard's look like,http://i41.tinypic.com/o58etx.jpg.

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/8840/als1.jpg
http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/9066/masseffect3201203240509.jpg

Not the best angle for the latter picture but I took it for this purpose.

[Neil]

I wonder what other people's Shepard's look like,http://i41.tinypic.com/o58etx.jpg.

I'd love to show you Vigo, but I'm still waiting for the ability to import his face ...

[Cassie Boyle]

http://geek.pikimal.com/2012/03/22/controversy-erupts-over-mass-effect-3-writers-forum-post-name-release/ about the supposed ME3 writer that criticized the ending

If Patrick Weekes really wrote that post, he's the dumbest man on the planet. Unless he's grown jaded with BioWare and doesn't care whether he gets fired. :\

Of course, if he is jaded, and he did write that post, and he does get fired, the anti-ending crowd will have a very vocal spokesperson with inside knowledge of the writing process. So maybe's he's smarter than I give him credit for.

[Avril Churchill]

grr, so lame that me3 didn't keep jerkass!shepards scars...or face :/ Got the game today from amazon, had a nail shoved up into my collectors edition tin box, everything works but its still lame.

[kitten maciver]

So, I just beat it. At first, I was confused, disappointed, and angry, but now, I think the people who came up with it... ARE PURE GENIUSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WATCH THIS VIDEO (obviously spoilers): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ythY_GkEBck

Spoiler

I was able to resist indoctrination! I chose DESTROY!

[Ron]

So, I just beat it. At first, I was confused, disappointed, and angry, but now, I think the people who came up with it... ARE PURE GENIUSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WATCH THIS VIDEO (obviously spoilers): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ythY_GkEBck

Spoiler

I was able to resist indoctrination! I chose DESTROY!

Spoiler

Old news. While many support it I don't consider it a viable theory. For one the entire theory relies on cherry picking. Two, it's not in BioWare's interests to screw over the fanbase and then hope someone realizes what's going on. Third, there is the matter of a BW writer claiming that the ending was written by Casey Hudson and Mac Walters which would explain the sudden drop of quality in the storytelling.

It's just wishful thinking mashed up with denial to provide some justice to the crappy ending. The most likely scenario is that BioWare screwed up. Hudson perhaps wanted to "try something new" which inevitably leads to bloodshed (if you are a Metal fan you know what I mean).
You can make countless interpretations of the ending, Indoc is no different.

[Paula Ramos]

Pass week I been playing ME and I failed my conquest with Ashley. I was talking to her. Maybe left something out. Oh Miranda.
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r11/Gerza71/MassEffect2012-03-2316-02-50-36.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r11/Gerza71/MassEffect22012-03-2320-23-18-92.jpg
Here is Janus ME to 3
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r11/Gerza71/MassEffect2012-03-0722-08-22-56.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r11/Gerza71/MassEffect22012-03-0921-26-31-15.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r11/Gerza71/MassEffect32012-03-1312-54-39-54.jpg

[James Baldwin]

If Patrick Weekes really wrote that post, he's the dumbest man on the planet. Unless he's grown jaded with BioWare and doesn't care whether he gets fired. :\

Of course, if he is jaded, and he did write that post, and he does get fired, the anti-ending crowd will have a very vocal spokesperson with inside knowledge of the writing process. So maybe's he's smarter than I give him credit for.

Thats not the case at all, the article only justifys what people have been saying, and certainly with the posts by Hudson, if i was a writer and had spent hours of work on this id be annoyed as hell, as bioware keeps saying artistic integrity, that my artistic integrity is compromised, and job or not id leak like a sieve, if they didnt like the ending and had said so but had control taken away from them so, someone else could put there stamp on it, then id be annoyed as well, it shows that this guy has the guts to stand up for his work and his artistic integrity.