Level 7 Podcast – 14: End Debate

by Norman Caruso on March 26, 2012 in Level 7 Podcast with 6 Comments
l7_14

Square-Enix teases us with a possible new Final Fantasy, The Art of Video Games exhibit at the Smithsonian museum, and we talk about the Mass Effect 3 ending. Should it be changed?

Music Credits:
Last Chance by OA
Booster Tarantino by djpretzel
Another Winter (cover) by pdude1
Project X 2 by ProjectX

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:32 — 38.0MB)

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    • Metroid

      Considering people from Bioware itself have expressed dissatisfaction with the ending, I’m going to have to disagree with you guys on them sticking to their guns.  The 2 main problems with the ending were that it didn’t give any closure to the decisions you had made throughout the series, and that it was obviously rushed and did not live up to the promises that were made and the ambitions of the writers.  It was essentially the video game equivalent to the last 2 episodes of Neon Genesis Evangelion.  Sticking up for your artistic integrity is one thing, but if neither Bioware or the players are satisfied with the ending, then it should be changed.  If Norman produced a Gaming Historian that had incorrect and missing information, it wouldn’t “violate his artistic integrity” to remake it, it would simply be making his work into an objectively better final product.  Bioware did not do their best work when they created the ending to Mass Effect 3, and they know it.  The ending shouldn’t be completely changed outright, but they should recreate it and fix the problems that it has so that it a least lives up to the standards that they set for themselves.

      On the subject of the pricing of this “new ending” DLC, I honestly think it should be free.  The current state of DLC is bad enough, with publishers forcing devs to cut out material from the main game to sell for extra revenue, and the last thing we need is for publishers to force studios to release unfinished games at full price, and then charge extra for the rest of the game as DLC.  If the ending DLC does cost money, I hope people vote with their wallets and show the gaming industry what they think of these kinds of practices.

      • http://twitter.com/GamingHistorian Gaming Historian

        Good points, Metroid. If Bioware was dissatisifed with the ending, then by all means they should change it (although they should have delayed the game to complete it). I guess my problem lies more with people demanding Bioware change it. I’ve even heard people demanding their money back, and one person filing an complaint to the FTC. Just a little ridiculous to me.

        This brings up an interesting question: If no fans complained, would Bioware still change the ending?

        Also, I don’t think comparing missing information from a Gaming Historian to this situation works. If I am missing or have incorrect information, it would be my responsibility to make a revision / update. There is no artisitic expression in that, unlike the ending to Mass Effect 3.

        Now if I were to deliver my facts in an innappropriate way….. :-)

    • Kevin

      About the ending, I would say that’s a big deciding factor in the flavor that is left in your mouth, thus the reason why it’s so important. Plus, investing so much time into something only for it to leave such a bad taste is also a big kick to the nuts.

      Also, I dislike that NES analogy, as those games were clearly never about a story, or even anything other than the gameplay. With a game like Ghostbusters, you didn’t expect anything at the end, whereas Mass Effects entire experience is story based.

      Yall need more of a dissenting opinion. :D

      • http://twitter.com/GamingHistorian Gaming Historian

        I think the NES comparison is fine (although it was more of a joke than anything else). Even through gameplay you expect a satisfying ending. A lot of people were annoyed about the Super Mario 2 ending.
         
        Also, feel free to come on the show anytime. We certainly could use a dissenting opinion. I guess Steven and I think alike ;) Secret lovers?

        • Kevin

          Oh there’s nothing secret about it baby!

    • mds0014

          sounds like mass effect 3 just got too grand in scale. i think its a common problem with sci fi and fantasy. i remember reading a series where a kid had to save the kingdom, then the world, then two dimensions, then the fabric of reality/time, then really? really? i think most books/movies/tv shows/games should stay away from extremely grandiose deus ex machina endings. bioware should change the ending because from what i heard, it sounds absurd. of course, how will they do that without changing a good portion of the game, so they’re stuck with it. my guess is that they couldnt think of a way to end it well, so deus ex machina. i believe it cheapens the game cause they just werent able to come up with good endings, especially ones that reflect your choices throughout the game. so now mass effect will be the good game with a crappy ending. some legacy.
      i wont watch alien turtles. wait, arent turtles native to earth? and why call them ninjas? isnt that a fighting style from earth? lol going with you guys turtles with guns = the turtles are the next borderlands group!!

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