Mass Effect 3 being 'tweaked' for a larger market - EA.

[The Human Torch]

--

To be fair, I read a lot of reviews which highlighted some of the issues many players seem to have DA2. Just, they weren't as harsh about it.

Exactly, a good reviewer manages to review a game on it's own merits, not by what it was in a previous part. Don't get me wrong, I have no love for either of the DA parts, since I am not into that kind of game, but I had a crack at both, and could see a good game in either part in the series.

Anyway, before we rekindle the whole DA 2 rage, I still stand by my viewpoint that we should wait and see, there is too much foaming from the mouth in this thread.

 

[Frozengale]

I can understand trying to give a game appeal to a larger audience... but is that really what you want to do with the third part of a trilogy?

I'm wondering if this has anything to do with Dragon Age 2. The fact that they got such a big back lash and so many people trashing it and vowing off Bioware games forever. I think it is going to have the opposite effect of what people wanted. The higher ups are probably looking at that and saying, "Okay if we are going to be losing part of our core market then we have to increase our market." If that is the case then you guys brought this on yourself.

 

[mikev7.0]

Can't wait to explore the same 5 dungeons recycled from different angles over and over... but this time in spaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaace!

Aaaaaactually that would be Mass Effect Uno you're thinking about there. I love the game, but it's true. Maybe they're bringing back the Mako??

I can dream....

On an unrelated note, I'm not usually one to complain about my badges but they got rid of my beautiful question mark and replaced it with a sack o' cash?? What the hell is that all ab-

ahhhhhhh. O' Escapist thou art both clairvoiant AND clever....

 

[Zay-el]

And the outrage machine has started once again...

Seriously people, a lot of you need some heavy anger-management if you lose your shit over everything. We're still more than half a year away from release and after seeing the immense retardation of the fanbase, if I were the developer, I'd just troll you all with fake news.

There is nothing, not. a. damn. thing. that will satisfy most gamers. If the game IS solid, you'll find something to ***** about sooner or later anyway(Portal 2 DLC). It's just how it goes these days, especially with the dawn of angry reviewers. Liking/tolerating/being happy for a game is now a capital sin.

(oh and of course, before someone tries to jam it down my throat, this is not a generalization towards everyone, even if you wish to interpret it as such)

 

[Volkov]

To the tards in charge: We dont want an interactive movie, or a multiplayer FPS. We want a strong shooter-RPG with a signature Bioware storyline. Like ME1, but better, because ME2 felt like an interactive movie with over the shoulder shooting sections thrown into it. Not that the shooting mechanics werent an improvement (Good God they were!)... its just that ME2 lost ME1's enormous sense of scope in a vast alien galaxy. At no stage in ME2 did I park my Mako and look up at an alien, hostile sky and think... FUUUUUCK: this is beautiful and I feel tiny and insignificant and OH FUCK Earth so small and precious and SHIT Saren and the Reapers are coming to wipe us the fuck out.

I mean, I generally agree with you, but, 2 things:

1. "We" don't matter at all. The 12-year old morons matter more, because there are more of them buying games than there are of us.
2. Personally, I DONT'T want "Bioware's signature storyline". Because, and I am in the minority about this, Bioware storylines are awful. They are good for video games, don't get me wrong - but that's like saying "fast for a turtle". Song of Ice and Fire is a good fantasy storyline. Solaris (by Lem) is a good science fiction storyline (OK, best of all time, but you get my point). I want something of similar quality from the medium, I don't want Bioware's cookie-cutter template-based writing to be considered good.

Of course, for that, we'd need writers of the quality of Stanislaw Lem and George Martin going into video game writing instead of book writing. And that just will not happen - because video game writing is rightfully recognized as the refuge of the losers. Because, as state above, the best they can muster in the past 10 years is Bioware's awful attempts.

Other than those 2 points, I agree with you in that it would be great if EA decided to pitch to us instead of to the masses. But they have no reason to. There aren't many of us.

You never did play Planescape Torment or Neverwinter Nights 2 Mask of the Betrayer did you? Bioware's stories may not be good, but they are hardly best in gaming. Otherwise I completely agree.

Planescape was not made in the past 10 years, and while I don't consider Mask of the Betrayer to be that good either - it wasn't even made by Bioware.

And more importantly - while Planescape is some of the best (but not the best, by any means) writing in video games - well, ok, compare it to the best examples of storytelling in other media. Simple truth is, there is NOTHING in video games that comes close to the story telling of Harry Potter, Song of Ice and Fire, Lord of the Rings, Dune, Watchmen, Solaris, Fahrenheit 451... There is also nothing that comes close to conveying or imposing the emotion and thought conveyed by Age of Mercy, Citizen Kane, Fight Club... you could give the argument that the medium is its infancy, and it would be entirely true (but it's not the only reason for video game writing sucking). But that doesn't change anything, really.

 

[BrionJames]

It's EA.

I've never resorted to using such language during times of distraught and anguish, but here it goes.

Mass Effect is FUCKED.

Another franchise bites the dust.

NO! THAT'S NOT TRUE! ...THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!!!

I enjoyed ME2 for what it was, but it had been seriously dumbed down to appeal to a larger audience. I hope for the best, but fear the worst.

 

[etherlance]

I am a little worried that the game might be ruined or even turn out badly like Dragon age 2.

But then I saw these pics and I have renewed my hope for an epic game.


<spoiler=BTW just try and tell me Kaidens armour doesn't look sweet>

<spoiler=I can't wait to visit this place>

 

[ZombieGenesis]

Never was interested in the first two games anyway, didn't like them.
However after looking at the game this will likely follow suit of, namely the new Dragon Age 2 title, I can understand why people might be worried.

EA seems to be of the opinion that less resources and content = more approachable.
And I suppose since lego is more user friendly than machano?

 

[Vie]

How in the world are they going to give it more mass a appeal than ME2 it seems impossible.

Naked Horny Garrus Sex.

 

[Ishiro32]

And the outrage machine has started once again...

Seriously people, a lot of you need some heavy anger-management if you lose your shit over everything. We're still more than half a year away from release and after seeing the immense retardation of the fanbase, if I were the developer, I'd just troll you all with fake news.

There is nothing, not. a. damn. thing. that will satisfy most gamers. If the game IS solid, you'll find something to ***** about sooner or later anyway(Portal 2 DLC). It's just how it goes these days, especially with the dawn of angry reviewers. Liking/tolerating/being happy for a game is now a capital sin.

(oh and of course, before someone tries to jam it down my throat, this is not a generalization towards everyone, even if you wish to interpret it as such)

Just tell me this. After playing Dragon Age 2, and hearing about wider audience etc. How do you think most people react when the same company (diffrent dev team though) says exactly the same statement as before releasing DA2? It's just worrying. I don't know why they said that, most of "wider audience" don't even read those news.
Bioware public image changed after DA2, they lost a lot credibility. I don't see how this statement could help them getting it back.

And as for the Portal 2. Most people agree it's great game. Don't listen to the crowd on /v/, they cry about everything, and those of them who start threads like "there will be no swimming in TOR, this will be terrible game" are minority that just shout loudest. Just trolls.
And most of reviews on IGN Gamespot Escapist, are usually overentusiathic about AAA games. I wonder why... huh?

There is also nothing that comes close to conveying or imposing the emotion and thought conveyed by Age of Mercy, Citizen Kane, Fight Club

Remember that books films music are diffrent kind of media. You shouldn't compare them.
But i agree with you that storytelling in games is average at best. Mostly because game industry was saved by making more games-toys. But even thought we are kinda stuck with image of games as toys, i think eventualy we get more and more complex games (especialy since graphic war is kinda over and because a lot of old gamers grow up and demand better games). Maybe we will get another Planescape:Torment, who knows... We could never get Fight Club, but this is diffrent medium, so we would get something that surely will be Fight Club of games, just wait few years.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

Fuuuuuuuck me!

 

[plugav]

This probably means less dialogue and more "awesome cinematic action," doesn't it?
I liked Mass Effect 2. A lot. Just don't push it...

How in the world are they going to give it more mass a appeal than ME2 it seems impossible.

Naked Horny Garrus Sex.

Well, there's that possibility.

Seriously you have no idea what they are tweaking and you are going nuts. Have faith in Bioware.

True. And I'm far from panicking. However, it's not BioWare that I don't trust, it's EA. You know, the company that mostly aims its marketing at horny [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKGJwjXQy0A] teenagers [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKkPFDEiC6Q].

 

[CleverCover]

We don't really know that many things about ME3 and the things we do know are either little things or vague at best . . . SO THAT MEANS BIOWARE IS DEAD AND EA POISONED THEM! HOW DARE THEY CHANGE THINGS/TRY TO MAKE BETTER GAMES. HOW DARE THEY POTENTIALLY FAIL. OH? DID I SAY POTENTIALLY? FUCK THAT! I ALREADY KNOW THEY FAILED! HOW DO I KNOW THEY ALREADY FAILED? BECAUSE DA2 WAS AVERAGE SO THAT MUST MEAN ME3 WILL BE GARBAGE! JUST BECAUSE ONE GAME WAS AVERAGE AND ME2 WASN'T THE SAME EXACT THING AS ME1 MEANS EVERYTHING BIOWARE DOES NOW IS SHIT! ALL THANKS TO EA! EA'S AND BIOWARE'S HEADQUARTERS SHOULD BURN AND THEY SHOULD BOTH GO BANKRUPT SO PEOPLE WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS JUST BECAUSE I THINK THEIR GAME WAS BAD! FUUUUUU- . . . *starts frothing at mouth and has a seizure induced by hatred*

In other words Escapist, CALM. DOWN. Sure this sounds bad but we don't exactly know what this means. Maybe when we get a few more details all this Bioware cursing will be justified but for now I think we all need to relax a little. The worst thing I've seen is Ashley's redesign but there's only one photo of that so it's not really enough to judge. (I approve of Kaiden's)

Spoiler: A photo with the Ashley redesign

I found it in the thread about the delay over at the Bioware forums. [link]http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/129/index/7294706/3http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/129/index/7294706/3[/link]

I was sad for a moment. And then I saw your post with the lovely picture.
And all around the birds began chirping, the sun broke through, and there was a magical rainbow from nowhere.

Can I pre-order now? I already knew I was gonna plunk down money for this game no matter what. I might as well just make it official.

 

[AlternatePFG]

How can you get any more streamlined than ME2?

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

And the outrage machine has started once again...

Seriously people, a lot of you need some heavy anger-management if you lose your shit over everything.
(snip)
(oh and of course, before someone tries to jam it down my throat, this is not a generalization towards everyone, even if you wish to interpret it as such)

Perhaps if you didn't want it jammed down your throat, you really shouldn't use mass generalizations in your own post? From what I can see, you're outraged against the outrage.

 

[Fret098]

o0 well there goes my preorder, guess Ill wait for around 50 reviews and youtube gameplay videos before I even consider renting it.

 

[Luk3us]

Please don't kill ME3... Please...

*Prays to gaming gods.*

 

[minimacker]

Mass Effect 3, now with even less blood, sex and cursing!

 

[CommanderKirov]

Why when i saw the words "EA" and "Investors" i felt a shiver creeping up my spine?