EDIT: Mass Effect 3 indoctrination theory?

[DANEgerous]

Get out you credit cards here come a FREE ending?

 

[RJ 17]

Can someone please explain what this is? I know it has to do with the endings but other than that I have no clue.

This video explains the Indoctrination Theory better than anything I've come across thus far. It is very well made and put together, I highly suggest watching it to make better sense of the endings.

<spoiler=Obviously this video contains ending spoilers, watch at your own risk>
My only problem with the Indoctrination Theory is that if it's true, it implies that the Mass Effect series ends before the war with the Reapers is even over. >.>

 

[Texas Joker 52]

*snip*

Now you know, that's exactly how I was hoping it would end. Not with the rather bullshit options we were given, with the Catalyst being some Star Brat.

That end would have made perfect sense, and would have fit the series like a well-tailored glove. It would have taken the players choices into account, given closure, and depending on some of the endings, would have left things wide-open for continued adventures in the universe.

What astounds me is that they didn't do that for the ending(s), because... I mean, that's sort of the obvious thing to do for the end in Mass Effects case. Oh sure, it may not be as 'memorable' as the current ones, but the current ones just feel off and out of place. The ones in the diagram in your post would have been a logical and formulaic conclusion, but that isn't a bad thing.

The best analogy I can come up with the problem with the endings as they are, is that they're like a joke, and not in the way you're thinking. This is what I mean: Delivery. Its how you do it, not just what you do. And depending on how they executed it, even a logical and formulaic ending can shine and be memorable.

 

[xchurchx]

Can someone please explain what this is? I know it has to do with the endings but other than that I have no clue.

video for you
good watch for those curious

 

[arjan79]

I think the indoctrination theory is the best explanation to the fuzzy ending scenes. I'm betting the real ending will come as DLC but i would find it a low punch if it wasn't free.

Check the video above and the endings become a lot clearer

Some points in the video

Check the kid the godkid represents. Only Sheppard seems to notice the kid at the start. Anderson doesn't hear or see the kid when Sheppard spots him in the ducts and when he boards the shuttle none of the soldiers apparently sees him or lends the kid a hand. The kid was created by the Reapers in his mind to dent his resolve and willpower. It would leave him more vulnerable to their influences.

Remember the 3 different choices:

Control -> Illusive man's solution -> indoctrinated
Synthesis -> Saren's solution -> indoctrinated
Destroy -> Sheppard' s plan -> until then not fully indoctrinated.

Also the renegade choices with "Anderson" points to the sequence being wrong and thus a dreamstate. How the hell did Anderson get to that console before you. Last time i checked Anderson is an old warhero and not that quick on his feet and he can outrun Sheppard? The wound Sheppard has after he shoots the Illusive man is the same one he inflicted on "Anderson" just moments ago and Sheppard wasn't shot as far as i know.

Just watch the video and play the endscene again. You will notice the subtle hints at the indoctrination attempt.

The free DLC will confirm this and Bioware may have pulled out the biggest plot twist in game history

 

[ResonanceSD]

I'll try to explain it the best I can w/o going into too much detail (spoilers, obviously).

In short, the Indoctrination Theory is the belief that by the end of Mass Effect 3, Commander Shepard has become indoctrinated. The main points for this theory are as follows:

- Shepard seems to be the only one to have ever seen the boy from the beginning of the game. Also, no one is seen interacting with him other than Shepard. According to the Codex, indoctrinated people do see ghostly apparitions of people that they and they alone see (which could also explain Shepard's dreams of the boy).

- The Catalyst (also known as Vent Boy and King Reaper) makes the options that don't destroy the Reapers seem far more favorable than the option to destroy them. Shepard doesn't (nor can) question the options, and agrees with them, which hint at indoctrination since Shepard is going along with it, rather than questioning it like they usually do.

- After being blasted by Harbinger, Shepard seems to see things and move in a dream like state. Also, some believe that the scene showing Joker & co. escaping is Shepard trying to reassure themselves that they're Ok. The same is also sometimes said about the mass relays exploding but not destroying the systems - it's all in Shepard's head and is their way of trying to assure themselves that things will be fine. No relays, no Reapers going through relays to kill everyone.

I've simplified this I know, but I'm rushing though this a bit.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2012/03/21/mass-effect-3-ending-the-indoctrination-theory-is-the-easy-way-out/

Forbes, on precisely that theory.

IT WAS A DREAM LOL!~

Isn't a real ending.

 

[Goofguy]

snip

Wow, endings that are based entirely on the multitude of decisions the player made throughout their playthrough, whodathunkit. I don't think it unreasonable that most people expected something along these lines (hell, I did).

 

[lemiel14n3]

snip

Wow, endings that are based entirely on the multitude of decisions the player made throughout their playthrough, whodathunkit. I don't think it unreasonable that most people expected something along these lines (hell, I did).

Especially since that's what we were promised.

 

[boag]

I'll try to explain it the best I can w/o going into too much detail (spoilers, obviously).

In short, the Indoctrination Theory is the belief that by the end of Mass Effect 3, Commander Shepard has become indoctrinated. The main points for this theory are as follows:

- Shepard seems to be the only one to have ever seen the boy from the beginning of the game. Also, no one is seen interacting with him other than Shepard. According to the Codex, indoctrinated people do see ghostly apparitions of people that they and they alone see (which could also explain Shepard's dreams of the boy).

- The Catalyst (also known as Vent Boy and King Reaper) makes the options that don't destroy the Reapers seem far more favorable than the option to destroy them. Shepard doesn't (nor can) question the options, and agrees with them, which hint at indoctrination since Shepard is going along with it, rather than questioning it like they usually do.

- After being blasted by Harbinger, Shepard seems to see things and move in a dream like state. Also, some believe that the scene showing Joker & co. escaping is Shepard trying to reassure themselves that they're Ok. The same is also sometimes said about the mass relays exploding but not destroying the systems - it's all in Shepard's head and is their way of trying to assure themselves that things will be fine. No relays, no Reapers going through relays to kill everyone.

I've simplified this I know, but I'm rushing though this a bit.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2012/03/21/mass-effect-3-ending-the-indoctrination-theory-is-the-easy-way-out/

Forbes, on precisely that theory.

IT WAS A DREAM LOL!~

Isn't a real ending.

well I agree, its not real ending but it certainly does address the stupidity of the last 10 minutes

 

[Dalek Caan]

Actually I suspect that Bioware's plan from the beginning was more along these lines

I wish they had just used that idea from the beginning. Then this whole mess could have been avoided. Here hoping this is used as the replacement ending.

 

[captaincabbage]

SNIPPERS

http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2012/03/21/mass-effect-3-ending-the-indoctrination-theory-is-the-easy-way-out/

Forbes, on precisely that theory.

IT WAS A DREAM LOL!~

Isn't a real ending.

I really think you've got to picture the whole of Mass Effect 3 as the story of Shepherd fighting indoctrination, not as Shepherd fighting the Reapers themselves.
The entire ending sequence is the climax of Shepherd's indoctrination and to try and break the hold of the Reapers on his mind.
If you think of it in that light, it makes the whole game much more personal and as a result it doesn't really matter that much about what happens to everyone else, since it's the culmination of Shepherd's story and his own personal battle.

OT:
I personally do believe that the ending and the entire game heavily symbolizes the story of indoctrination, as it fits in perfectly with the story of the games.
Besides, after the massive initial fan outcry, Bioware stool silent at it all, and when they did announce DLC for the game they made very clear that is was for closure of the other characters and that they aren't going to change the ending, because it symbolizes everything that they have worked on and they're really proud of it.
Now correct me if I'm wrong, but if you think of the ending as played straight (no ID Theory), it COMPLETELY goes against everything Bioware has created and everything the Mass Effect series stands for. Played straight, it's bland, constricting and just downright to simplistic a way to end such a deeply involved and complicated series.
Does it really make sense to people that Bioware would do that? There are no indications of being rushed anywhere in the game, up until that instant you're hit with Harbinger's beam, at which point the whole ID theory can be perfectly slotted into the game's logic.

Besides, you know the best part? the consequences of ID theory mean that the Mass Relays aren't destroyed, the Reapers aren't blown up and the whole mass effect universe isn't ruined!
I honestly can't imagine anyone at Bioware would write an ending that decimates everything they've put their hearts and souls into over the last six years. There's no way a company would completely ruin and stomp on a universe that they love so much.

For anyone who wants a little more solid evidence, have a look at this thread on the Bioware forums and this youtube video. They both explain the whole theory better than I ever could.

http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/355/index/9727423
This thread holds just about every ounce of detail about the ID theory that can be found in ME3, not just at the ending, but throughout the game.


I know this video's been posted before, but it's really good and properly walks you through and explains all of the elements of the final sequence in the game.

 

[boag]

After this I don't think Bioware will be doing anything potentially controversial for some time and hopefully other developers/publishers look at this and realize we aren't just walking wallets that will eat up any thing they throw at us and can really make some noise when we need to.

nope.

EA/Bioware and a majority of the Gaming "journalists" think that people that disliked the ending and voiced their opinion and discontent, are just a vocal minority made up of entitled, whiny, homophobic brats.

They believe that the 75 PERFECT SCORES they got from various Gaming Sites and Magazines are enough for them to ignore any Criticism that isnt positive towards their game.