Poll: Could you really give up on Bioware?

[dreadedcandiru99]

I don't know how many times in the past month I've been told, "Oh, shut up, pal. You're going to buy everything they make, and you damned well know it." Will I? There was once a time when I thought I couldn't survive without Final Fantasy, but look at me now--another one of those came out a little while ago, and I hardly noticed. So it's not like this is unprecedented, at least in my case.

Why wouldn't I stop buying from them? First, we got the thirty-plus-hour cavalcade of mediocrity that was Dragon Age 2. Then Mass Effect 3 left me feeling like my best friend kicked me in the nuts and stole my car. And now, strike three: the upcoming "clarification" of the ending. Such a thing might be possible, in the same way that I might be able to clarify a train wreck with a feather duster. I can't see how anything but an act of God could save that tangled mass of plot holes and nonsense.

And I somehow doubt that Bioware can get its act back together, or even that their corporate overlords will give them a chance to try. We've all seen what usually happens when a developer winds up in EA's clutches, after all...hey, there's a silver lining, now that I think of it. Dumping Bioware means dumping EA, once and for all. I'm perfectly okay with that.

Anyway, that's me. How about you?

EDIT: I'll just leave this here.

 

[tippy2k2]

Nope because I've yet to play a Bioware game that I didn't love.

Sure, some are worst than others but every one of their games I've played has given me a ton of enjoyment.

 

[Zhukov]

Nah.

There's something about the way that they do characters and dialogue that will keep me coming back.

 

[Fr]anc[is]

Most definitely. Mass Effect as we know it is done, no matter how you feel about the ending. I would love to try TOR but I do not play games that get more expensive over time. DA2 was tripe, and unless DA3 does a complete 180 and go back to Origins, I won't be buying it. There is nothing else on the horizon for Bioware. I won't pretend I can see the future, but from here I'm done with them.

 

[Kahunaburger]

I didn't exactly "give them up" (if they make a well-written game that doesn't use Origin, I'll buy it), but I haven't bought a Bioware game since Mass Effect 2. Between New Vegas, Witcher/Witcher 2, and Human Revolution, I haven't really had much of a need for Bioware games. Other people do the "ARPG with dialogue trees and a story" thing much better these days.

 

[Atmos Duality]

I gave up on them after EA bought them. Once EA gets you, your company is living on Borrowed Time, no matter how good you are.

 

[Vegosiux]

Could and did. My "brand loyalty" has been zero ever since I remember, so it's no surrpise tho.

 

[Strain42]

Seeing as how I never really followed the developers much to begin with, I can say Yes, I can.

I very rarely believe in developer loyalty (with a few notable exceptions who have earned it over the years)

When/If Bioware releases a game that actually looks like something I would like to play, I'll buy it in a heartbeat.

But right now that just hasn't happened yet.

 

[Buzz Killington_v1legacy]

If Bioware's next game gets absolutely glowing reviews from people who didn't like Mass Effect 3, I might consider buying it if it also comes with a coupon for a free blowjob from Christina Hendricks.

Anything short of that, and Bioware is off my buy list.

 

[Harb]

Bioware we knew (Baldurs Gate 1&2, Neverwinter Nights, Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect 1) no longer exists. The mindset the development studio had ceased to exist once they have been sold to Electronic Arts. Like it or not, they are a different company now, with different politics. Name stays the same, but that's pretty much about it.

If customers keep treating it (and keep feelings) the same, they are only blinding themselves.

I said it before, I'm saying it again. There is no "Bioware" and "Electronic Arts" anymore. There is now only "Bioware, division of EA". Treat it as such.

 

[Emiscary]

After the PAX panel, it looks like I am. An epilogue and some more skins for multiplayer? I don't use the term "insulted" very often, but good god. They don't give a rat's ass about artistic integrity, player involvement, complex story telling, nothing. They're well on their way to churning out generic multiplayer shooters with lame product tie ins... actually, they're already at that point.

So yeah, fuck them. Seriously, I'm done being talked down to and ignored. Here's hoping Projekt Red clues in to the fact that if they make their protagonist something other than a walking phallus with a 5 o'clock shadow they could reel in all the disillusioned female gamers who're getting ready to make an exodus from ME. Not that it's a problem for me mind you, but it'd be good for business.

 

[dimensional]

Well I could easily yeah but it wouldnt be a `I am suddenly going to stop buying from Bioware` decision it would and is more or less an unconscious choice I have played and enjoyed quite a few games from them but I have never seen them as a special developer or anything and I certainly havent liked all their stuff.

I do believe it was the beginning of the end as soon as EA took over but I cant say I will be sad or happy to see them go.

 

[Andy Shandy]

Well, I've enjoyed every Bioware game I've played up until now, so no, until they make a game I don't enjoy

 

[Vuljatar]

Yeah.

ME3's ending is the big thing, obviously (and this insulting DLC cutscene they're trying to placate us with makes it worse, if anything). But I'm not a big fan of the dragon age series either (not even the first one) so... I'm not exactly holding my breath for their next game.

 

[dreadedcandiru99]

They're well on their way to churning out generic multiplayer shooters with lame product tie ins... actually, they're already at that point.

Yeah, that too. Didn't they once say they were going after the Call of Duty crowd? Well, that's not me.

Here's hoping Projekt Red clues in to the fact that if they make their protagonist something other than a walking phallus with a 5 o'clock shadow they could reel in all the disillusioned female gamers who're getting ready to make an exodus from ME. Not that it's a problem for me mind you, but it'd be good for business.

I'm not a female gamer, but that would help, among other things. It's pretty frustrating: I like everything I've heard about CD Projekt (their stance on DRM, etc.), but I just got the first Witcher a week ago and I couldn't make it an hour in. The combat was just clicking on tiny guys over and over, the dialogue was clumsily written and awkwardly delivered, and the hero was kind of lame. I think the people who knew what they were doing left Bioware after EA took over; maybe RED could try hiring them.

(Captcha: "am I happy?" Not particularly, at the moment.)

 

[krazykidd]

It's gonna depend entirely on Dragon age 3 . It's biowares last chance for me . They better make it good , damn good .

 

[Sniper Team 4]

I think you mean "Why would I stop buying from them?", but that's just me being my English Major self.
Anyway, I'm not really sure. The only game that is on the radar for me is Dragon Age III. After that, I very well may stop buying games made by them, but at the same time I may not. It really depends on how this new ending DLC is going to work. They scored major points by making it free, so we'll see. I did buy Knights of the Old Republic, but that was back when I didn't know what BioWare was. Also picked up Mass Effect, but only after it had been out for a while because I heard everyone talking about it. Bought Dragon Age Origins because I was looking for something to play, the game had good reviews, and the free DLC was going to expire in about a week. Bought the sequels to those games because I liked the first ones. I don't know if I'd deliberately avoid buying BioWare games because I never deliberately bought them. After this though, there was a time where I was seriously considering to never pick up their product again after Dragon Age III. But they've done a good job of at least trying to make up for it, so my annoyance has calmed to simple mild disappointment.

 

[OSHarlequin]

After dragon age 2, i kinda already did. Its a shame really.