- Matt Horn,
employee at GameStop
Mass Effect fans everywhere are celebrating a stunning victory after both preventing an alien invasion and forcing BioWare Corp, the game’s developers, to surrender to criticism over the disappointing conclusion of their latest video game.
In April, after weeks of mounting complaints, BioWare announced the beginning of its principal production on Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut.
The move came after the original version of the game met with controversy and ridicule. Within days of hitting the stores, fans were in uproar over the release, blasting the company’s public forums with complaints.
But the protest didn’t stop there. In an act of digital defiance, a petition created by fans swept the country, demanding that BioWare change the game’s ill-favored ending in which the fate of every fortified city on Earth is decided by the final battle for London, England.
“I think what fans everywhere are disappointed over is that the end results of ME3 do not span the decisions made throughout the trilogy,” said Brett Hodgdon, ISU resident and gamer.
“The entire length of the story may differ depending on whether you began the game as a new character or used one from previous titles. It just wasn’t the ‘final’ game that everyone wanted.”
Matt Horn, employee at GameStop in Warner Robins, Ga. said a better ending would have made a difference to a game that had already developed a compelling storyline.
“Regardless, the game itself has a good story. “ he said. “It’s not that fans are disappointed with the game, just the ending. I mean, if I were defending the earth from a gigantic alien invasion, I would like the battle to take place in more than one city.”
As an avid gamer, Horn added that the sub-par ending to the original ME3 may be one of the worst in gaming history.
“There have been plenty of disappointments in the gaming world. But nothing like this. It’s definitely consumer-friendly for BioWare to address this.”
Whether BioWare would succumb to public pressure and change the controversial climax of the story remained unknown until Dr. Ray Muzyka, BioWare co-founder, issued a public statement just three weeks after the game’s release.
“[Mass Effect 3] concludes a trilogy with so much player control and ownership of the story that it was hard for us to predict the range of emotions players would feel when they finished,” Muzyka said.
“This is an issue we care about deeply, and we will respond to it in a fair and timely way. We are already working hard to do that.”
Muzyka went on to announce that BioWare had already begun working on “a number of game content initiatives that will help answer the questions, providing more clarity for those seeking further closure to their journey. “We’re working hard to maintain the right balance between the artistic integrity of the original story while addressing the fan feedback we’ve received. This is in addition to our existing plan to continue providing new Mass Effect content and new full games, so rest assured that your journey in the Mass Effect universe can, and will, continue.”
Continue they did.
The new content, which expands the final moments of the game through additional cinematics and epilogue scenes, is said to be available for download on X-Box 360, PS3, and PC.
In order to appease the fans whose concerns ignited the movement, ME3: Extended Cut will be available free of charge.
“Since launch, we have had time to listen to feedback from our most passionate fans and we are responding,” Muzyka said.
“With the 'Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut' we think we have struck a good balance in delivering the answers players are looking for while maintaining the[development] team's artistic vision for the end of this story arc in the 'Mass Effect' universe.”
To stay updated on BioWare’s progress on expanding the Mass Effect universe, additional public statements and information can be found at MassEffect.com.