Mass Effect 3 Writer Allegedly Slams Controversial Ending

[Flailing Escapist]

And to be clear, I don't even really wish Shepard had gotten a ride-off-into-sunset ending. I was honestly okay with Shepard sacrificing himself. I just expected it to be for something with more obvious differentiation, and a stronger tie to the core themes -- all three of them.

^YES! That's perfectly fine. I didn't want Shepard to live either but... the way that they did it... Suuuuccckkksssss

 

[Jitters Caffeine]

Sounds like someone just committed professional suicide... Shouldn't he know the unwritten rule of working in an industry like this? You never criticize the project, no matter how controversial. Did Harrison Ford talk bad about Crystal Skull? No. He went into every interview, put on that big "shit eating grin" and answered the questions he was asked. When Shia LeBouf was quoted as saying the movie was terrible, Ford basically called him an asshole and said you should never second guess the director if you personally don't have the power or pull to do anything about it.

No matter my personal feelings about the endings are, my only response to this is, "Good luck getting another job in the industry asshole".

How does that make him an asshole? Yeah, it's not good for the people making the movie or game, but it's good for the people who are considering watching the movie or purchasing the game. He's warning them not to waste their time and money with it. He's helping more people than he's hurting.

Besides, the movie makers and game makers who produce bad work are not victims. If they get called on doing bad work, that's their own problem. If they want to avoid it, they need only have some actual fucking talent. If they consistently fail to do so, then they need to recognize that they don't belong in that industry.

I agree that he shouldn't expect things to be easy for him after this, but he's doing the consumers a service, and I respect him for having the courage to point out how things went wrong.

I'd like you to consider how different and better the entertainment industry would be for the consumer if this sort of thing were normal before calling him an asshole.

Don't misunderstand me, I'm not saying it's a good thing he got fired. I'm sure his comments were made with the best intentions. But the fact is, you aren't allowed to call the project you worked on shit and continue to work in the industry. Ever hear the phrase about not biting the hand that feeds you? Shit like this is how you get black listed. I genuinilly feel for the guy, you never feel good about hearing that someone may lose their job, especially when it's over a game I loved. But studios don't want their employees talking shit about them or their projects, and this guy just signed his own professional death warrant.

 

[McMullen]

Sounds like someone just committed professional suicide... Shouldn't he know the unwritten rule of working in an industry like this? You never criticize the project, no matter how controversial. Did Harrison Ford talk bad about Crystal Skull? No. He went into every interview, put on that big "shit eating grin" and answered the questions he was asked. When Shia LeBouf was quoted as saying the movie was terrible, Ford basically called him an asshole and said you should never second guess the director if you personally don't have the power or pull to do anything about it.

No matter my personal feelings about the endings are, my only response to this is, "Good luck getting another job in the industry asshole".

How does that make him an asshole? Yeah, it's not good for the people making the movie or game, but it's good for the people who are considering watching the movie or purchasing the game. He's warning them not to waste their time and money with it. He's helping more people than he's hurting.

Besides, the movie makers and game makers who produce bad work are not victims. If they get called on doing bad work, that's their own problem. If they want to avoid it, they need only have some actual fucking talent. If they consistently fail to do so, then they need to recognize that they don't belong in that industry.

I agree that he shouldn't expect things to be easy for him after this, but he's doing the consumers a service, and I respect him for having the courage to point out how things went wrong.

I'd like you to consider how different and better the entertainment industry would be for the consumer if this sort of thing were normal before calling him an asshole.

Don't misunderstand me, I'm not saying it's a good thing he got fired. I'm sure his comments were made with the best intentions. But the fact is, you aren't allowed to call the project you worked on shit and continue to work in the industry. Ever hear the phrase about not biting the hand that feeds you? Shit like this is how you get black listed. I genuinilly feel for the guy, you never feel good about hearing that someone may lose their job, especially when it's over a game I loved. But studios don't want their employees talking shit about them or their projects, and this guy just signed his own professional death warrant.

Ok... now I'm even more confused. If that's your position, why call him an asshole?

No matter my personal feelings about the endings are, my only response to this is, "Good luck getting another job in the industry asshole".

I don't see how I can avoid misunderstanding you when you specifically say that is your position.

 

[votemarvel]

Perhaps the facts are in dispute here but it really would explain how the ending took on an almost completely different tone to the rest of the game.

 

[Jitters Caffeine]

Ok... now I'm even more confused. If that's your position, why call him an asshole?

No matter my personal feelings about the endings are, my only response to this is, "Good luck getting another job in the industry asshole".

I don't see how I can avoid misunderstanding you when you specifically say that is your position.

I guess it was the first thing that came to my mind that seemed appropriate for someone who went out of their way to ruin their career.

 

[Scars Unseen]

I don't see, at this point, why they just don't go, "Oh, It was indoctrination theory ALL THE TIME", even if it wasn't and then 800 BW points for the "Real" endings in two months time. Even if it wasn't their plan, lie and say it was, ME will be know forever for the PR stunt with critical acclaim, more so if it was free.

What gives credence to the writers backlash is that, and i know some would disagree, the endings ATM are so-far-below the abilities of the Mass Effect writing staff, and even if you think that its about on par, then the style is all wrong. Bad guys monologue is interrupted by Shepard's over wrought dialogue, not Shepard going "Eyup".

I cant accept the people who made Liara give me nonstop bedroom eyes gave me that ending, the only answer was that two people were in a room, taking acid, tripping balls and going "Nah man, the endings to awesome, we're gonna blow some minds, change it!"

The true winning move is to claim the Indoctrination Theory as valid, release The True Ending as a free patch that removes the color shifted explosions and continues seamlessly from the point of the choices(kind of like Portal's stealth patched ending changer) , and then sell half a dozen equipment and appearance DLC packs to pay for the development cost of the patch. We get an awesome ending, newcomers have to go to Youtube to see what the big fuss was about, and Bioware doesn't get crucified(more) for selling the ending while still making money off the whole thing. Everyone wins.

EDIT: I've gotten "face the music" as my captcha three times in a row now... I'm scared.

 

[martyrdrebel27]

hahaha, i don't know why, but that picture of the credits from the 3 games really amuses me, and makes a LOT of sense. in my head, it made a cartoon. specifically, Spy VS. Spy.

White Spy is running a succesful lemonade stand and Black Spy's is not doing so well, so he brings his lemons and sugar to the White Spy's table, suggesting collaboration. White Spy agrees, and they make lemonade. Then, Black Spy shoots White spy in the head, keeping all the lemonade. and money.

 

[vxicepickxv]

Perhaps the facts are in dispute here but it really would explain how the ending took on an almost completely different tone to the rest of the game.

I find it more interesting how it actually took the tone of an entirely different game. Not only did it take the tone, but it also happened to actually be part of the story of the other game.

Spoiler: Game named inside

Deus Ex:Human Revolution

The other game actually built the entire plot around getting to the same point as ME3 did, and it worked.

 

[blind_dead_mcjones]

Don't misunderstand me, I'm not saying it's a good thing he got fired. I'm sure his comments were made with the best intentions. But the fact is, you aren't allowed to call the project you worked on shit and continue to work in the industry. Ever hear the phrase about not biting the hand that feeds you? Shit like this is how you get black listed. I genuinilly feel for the guy, you never feel good about hearing that someone may lose their job, especially when it's over a game I loved. But studios don't want their employees talking shit about them or their projects, and this guy just signed his own professional death warrant.

while that may be so, have you considered that he was fully aware of that when he made the decision to criticize the project? sometimes people go 'screw the money i'm doing what's right, no job in this industry is worth this shit'

 

[Lupus80]

I don't care. To me it doesn't matter who wrote the ending. It should matter to the company for creating this fiasco- if I was part of the company I would be getting answers, but as a private consumer I don't need to know, nor do I care. It is a Bioware product- a game that had hundreds (thousands?) of people working on it and a whole team of writers, producers, editors and other people who could have said something about the ending, but they didn't.

Now if one day they want to make some kind of backstage commentary on the creation of Mass Effect 3 and explain the original ending, bully for them- but we arn't going to get a clear answer to the fiasco, nor do we need one.

Just fix the ending Bioware. Don't waste time with finger pointing- just fix the game.

 

[A Distant Star]

Not to be pessimistic but to me this just sounds like an attempt to throw someone under the bus in order to try and shut people up. Theres no way that something as important as the ending to Mass Effect 3 would just be rushed out without the approval of the writing staff. I really don't see that happening.

EA and Bioware have their PR leashes attatched firmly around the necks of all employees at this point. There is no way that something like this could go out without either their approval or without serious reprocussions.

I do not for a second doubt the authenticity of this post. But you are right, you can not write something like this with out repercussions.

And oh, will there be repercussions. Not right now of course, to public. Firing him now would be an affirmation of guilt. But six months, or a year down the road when we have all found something else to be angry at and his contracts up for renewal, he'll find himself in need of a new job, and most triple A studios wont touch him because he dared to be honest. The video game industry is more self serving and cut throat then even Hollywood.