ME3: Ending Rewrite vs. Indoctrination Theory

[PaganAxe]

I haven't seen many other people point it out, but the movement to provide a "real" ending to Mass Effect 3 and the fan fiction that tries to make sense of the ending already here are at odds with each other. The general attitude recently coming from the Retake ME3 movement is that extending the game's existing ending is not satisfying enough. However, the Indoctrination Theory that a lot of people have embraced blatantly supports extending from the existing ending rather than scrapping it and bringing in a totally new one.

Now, I haven't looked closely enough at any individuals to see how many people support both ideas, but they are in all likelihood out there; and the way I see it supporting both equally in a fervent manor is hypocritical.

 

[Loop Stricken]

... okay?

Not entirely sure I understand what you're trying to get at here. People would like ME3's terrible ending to be rewritten AND expanded upon?

I propose that it's more of an "if not, then" situation.

 

[Vuliev]

The reason that the Indoctrination Theory has so much weight is that it actually was the ending for a while during development. As it is, the current ending only needs plothole fixing (not a full-on rewrite), which would be possible simply be allowing Shepard to question the Catalyst as much as he does with every other major revelatory entity in the trilogy.

 

[Goofguy]

That's because you're looking at a 'movement' as a whole whose focal point is: "we don't like the ending and want it changed". The individuals within said movement have different those interpretations of the ending. Some think it needs to be replaced because of the gaping plot holes as it stands, others subscribe to the indoctrination theory and feel it does nothing to provide closure to the series. Either way, they want it changed.

 

[AD-Stu]

Personally, I think the Indoctrination Theory is a horrible nonsensical mess that only cherry-picks the bits of game lore that are convenient to it, and I'd prefer a complete rewrite.

But since we're not likely to get either, I guess my opinion doesn't count for squat

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

Can we please stop talking about the ending completely now? Please guys. Please.

*Sigh* Fine then. Heres a simulator of the rest of the thread so you guys wont have to post.

P1: Ending was shit
P2: Yeah, because this
P3: No, it was good because this
P4: Well the DLC is coming up
P5: ARTISTIC INTEGRITY ALSO EXTRA CREDITS HAVE YOU MET MY BRO ARMADILLO YET
P6: DONT FORGET ENTITLED
*The thread descends into turmoil, the word entitled is thrown around a lot*
*EA's shoddy business practices are brought up*
*Someone defends them, is eaten alive*
*MovieBob throws a bitchfit on twitter*
*Jim does another Armadillo episode*

Thank me later.

yup.

OP: The indoctrination theory might be working off the current ending, but it is changing the story, and that's the crucial part. When people argue that they don't just want the ending extended, they mean that they don't even want Bioware to try and make the Catalyst and all the space magic etc make sense, because they think it's a lost cause. However, IT gets round that problem because if it was all in Shepard's head while he was being manipulated than it doesn't have to make sense.

If you ask me the extended cut cannot come out fast enough, even if it doesn't do a very good job of fixing the problems, just so long as all the speculation can stop and, for better or worse, we can lay the whole affair to rest.

 

[Ross Moore]

I think both movements together are what we should be focusing on. use the indoctrination theory to finish up the events of mass effect 3 ( shep wakes up in London after being hit by harbinger.) and they should also make mass effect 4 where the crucible and catalyst did not work. and the only way to beat the reapers is to board them ( the harbinger sized ones ) and plant nukes or overload their mass effect drives. ALL FOR FREE!!!

 

[Vault101]

we arnt getting re-write...what we ARE getting is a confirmation as to weather Indoctrination theory is true or not

I don't have high hopes eather way

 

[Vault101]

P5: ARTISTIC INTEGRITY ALSO EXTRA CREDITS HAVE YOU MET MY BRO ARMADILLO YET
.

I used t like extra credits...but then they (well he) went off and said that

I mean come on...

 

[Freechoice]

P5: ARTISTIC INTEGRITY ALSO EXTRA CREDITS HAVE YOU MET MY BRO ARMADILLO YET
.

I used t like extra credits...but then they (well he) went off and said that

I mean come on...

You didn't get the vibe that Floyd was just being an annoying guy with a voice filter when he started using the term "we as gamers" almost every episode?

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

They should go with the IT even if it wasn't their plan. And I think it was. There is even a texture file in the game with a name of "dream foliage" and it's the foliage used only once - when The Normandy crashes on that random planet in the end. Now, they could have used any name for the texture. They could have used crash foliage, planet foliage etc. but they didn't. They deliberately named the thing dream foliage. Why? Then there are files called "Harbinger death scene" and some other Harbinger files about things that didn't happen in the game. Also, when you finish the game, the save file brings you back before the attack on Cerberus base. Clearly their intention was to make that "extended cut" all along.
There are too many clues for all of it to be just a coincidence. Bioware said the extended cut will clarify the ending, it won't change it. Indoctrination theory doesn't demand the ending to be changed. It would be just a clarification.

 

[Grivahri]

I think that people that are complaining about ME3 discussions are more annoying than the actual discussions these days