Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut ~ It's Official :O

[Thoric485]

Huh, it's not even an April Fools joke. Well, congrats to the Mass Effect fans for kicking up enough dust to get EA to do something for free, it's truly a feat.

Wonder if Kotaku and IGN will keep on with their whailing about artistic integrity.

 

[Fappy]

As much as I'm bored with the whole 'games is art' debate, your point is equally stupid. Explaining a piece of work doesn't devalue it.

If this game is considered art, explaining the ending won't change that.

Expanding on it is still changing it. What if the original vision was to have a short, mysterious ending that caused "lots of speculation"? That vision is now dead, replaced by the crass, populist demand for more closure. Following the "art must never be changed" commandment, we are now sliding down a slippery slope towards the doom of all artistic endeavor, forever.

That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. As if this was the first time in history the integrity of art was in question. It has happened countless of times before, not with games maybe but other kinds of art, and from what I've seen art still survives and thrives.

Besides, this change or expansion, call it what you like, does not make Mass Effect 3 "less artistic". Bioware have chosen to do this, it's their choice, just like the original ending was their choice. How can the former be art and the latter not when Bioware made both? The fans did not force Bioware to do this. They did not say "change this or we will kill you". Many said "change this or else I will never buy anymore Bioware game", but that's hardly forcing them to do anything. Maybe the fans' opinions matter much to Bioware, maybe not. Maybe that is why Bioware changed the ending, but Bioware would have survived and thrived even if they had never done this DLC. So maybe Bioware decided that this was the right way to go after all and suddenly that makes their game not art?

He is explaining a side of the argument he doesn't actually agree with. Subtly can be hard to pick up on in text based conversations though.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. As if this was the first time in history the integrity of art was in question. It has happened countless of times before, not with games maybe but other kinds of art, and from what I've seen art still survives and thrives.

Besides, this change or expansion, call it what you like, does not make Mass Effect 3 "less artistic". Bioware have chosen to do this, it's their choice, just like the original ending was their choice. How can the former be art and the latter not when Bioware made both? The fans did not force Bioware to do this. They did not say "change this or we will kill you" (well maybe some did but I don't think Bioware felt threatend much). Many said "change this or else I will never buy anymore Bioware game", but that's hardly forcing them to do anything. Maybe the fans' opinions matter much to Bioware, maybe not. Maybe that is why Bioware changed the ending, but Bioware would have survived and thrived even if they had never done this DLC. So maybe Bioware decided that this was the right way to go after all and suddenly that makes their game not art?

I think it's really cute you're directing this tirade at me, of all people.

Also, I think you should go see the doctor. It seems likely that organ thieves kidnapped you and removed your sarcasm gland.

 

[Raven's Nest]

It's encouraging, but a shame it won't change how shit the ending of the series actually was. Oh well, at least it stands to make some kind of sense at least.

 

[Still Life]

I think it's really cute you're directing this tirade at me, of all people.

Also, I think you should go see the doctor. It seems likely that organ thieves kidnapped you and removed your sarcasm gland.

To be fair, it can be very hard to discern sarcasm from plain old text.

 

[marscentral]

Making it free was the least they could do really, it is their poor ending they're fixing after all. That said, I don't see this really fixing my problems with the ending anyway since they're not changing it just clarifying the mess of the original.

 

[TheCruxis]

I think it's really cute you're directing this tirade at me, of all people.

Also, I think you should go see the doctor. It seems likely that organ thieves kidnapped you and removed your sarcasm gland.

I'd say you should work on your writing sarcasm skills in that case. You do realize I can not hear your voice while I read your post I hope.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

I'd say you should work on your writing sarcasm skills in that case. You do realize I can not hear your voice while I read your post I hope.

My friend, if you couldn't detect a whiff of deliberate hyperbole in the paragraph you quoted, then no amount of "writing sarcasm skills" on my part would've saved you. Regardless, the point that you were screeching to the choir stands. You can just say "whoops, my bad" and we can both go on with our lives. Or you can attempt to blame me for not putting everything in sarcasm tags to save people from breaking their ankles when they leap to conclusions. Your choice.

 

[tendaji]

Now we just have to wait until the summer to find out how the explain it in the Director's Cut. Of course I'm one of those that didn't see the Star Child as "Space-Magic" seeing as we don't even know half of the science of that period, much less one that is millenniums greater than anything we've ever accomplished.

 

[Erttheking]

Eh...I don't know. Lack of closure was only one problem on a very long list. I applaud them for making it free but...I'm honestly starting to beleive that Mass Effect is now forever stuck in the same pit as Lost, Evangelion and Big O, good series with a Whiskey Tango Foxtrox ending that came right out of left field and made no sense at all, by itself or within the contex of the series. For more, click the link below.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GainaxEnding

Screw it I guess, I had some good times with the series, but it's time to move on. "Goes to sit down and wait for Halo 4 and Bioshock Infinite to be released"

 

[Jitters Caffeine]

Wait wait wait, stop. Did I just see FREE and EA in the same sentence? This year really is the end of the world then. Anyway really glad that they are doing something meaningful to fix the situation, I mean I wasn't one of the people who thought the entire game was ruined (ME3 is my favorite out of the lot) but I really did think the ending had a lot to be desired.

It's not unheard of. Mass Effect 2 had about 5 free DLC released to anyone who bought a new copy of the game.

 

[MetalDooley]

4th April - EA wins "Worst company in America" award

5th April - EA announces free DLC for ME3

Interesting 24 hours wouldn't you say

 

[Windcaler]

Im still boycotting the game but Im happy to hear the unhappiness of fans got through to bioware. I dont think this extended ending will calm the storm because its not rewriting the ending, just expanding on it, but then again I could be wrong

Regardless Im very happy that its going to be free and very happy that Bioware got the message from its fans and tried to change things

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Eh...I don't know. Lack of closure was only one problem on a very long list. I applaud them for making it free but...I'm honestly starting to beleive that Mass Effect is now forever stuck in the same pit as Lost, Evangelion and Big O, good series with a Whiskey Tango Foxtrox ending that came right out of left field and made no sense at all, by itself or within the contex of the series. For more, click the link below.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GainaxEnding

Screw it I guess, I had some good times with the series, but it's time to move on. "Goes to sit down and wait for Halo 4 and Bioshock Infinite to be released"

Lost's ending worked (for some people) because while it didn't make a lick of sense on many levels, it provided profound emotional resolution. If ME3 does no better than follow Lost in that regard, I'll be alright with it. I just need SOMETHING I can hang my hat on and say "I guess this is good enough". As the fine link you've provided says, even a Gainax ending can provide some closure.

 

[JesterRaiin]

Well shit, what do you guys think?

I think it's pointless.
I don't play videogames to form some sort of emotional bond with characters only to see them die later mostly because there's no option to save them even if it shouldn't be that hard. No ending or explanation will change the fact that ME3 is highly depressing stuff. :\

In my opinion ME3 designers forgot the purpose of videogaming...

 

[scorptatious]

This is great news. I just hope this DLC delivers. I'll have my fingers crossed.

 

[Quesa]

Well shit, what do you guys think?

In case you don't follow the link it explicitly states it will be free. EA giving out something for free... today's one of those rare sorts I presume.

This outcome has been predictable ever since the full fury of the interwebs was unleashed on them. Their plan to cut out the ending as a means to create must buy DLC (and by extension, keep everyone playing their new Halo-esque multiplayer franchise until the release of Mass Effect 2014 with updated player rosters and a franchise mode) backfired, and sadly this gesture will largely sate the masses, who will forgive and forget for the most part.

 

[Blobpie]

An epilogue is all I've wanted, and now that i'm going to get it.... woohoo!