Mass Effect has slowly become one of the most beloved franchises in video games, garnering incredible critical praise and selling millions of copies. The series itself has grown from a single game into a massive media empire, with action figures, books, comics and even board games. As March 6 approached earlier this year gamers were rife with anticipation for Mass Effect 3, the conclusion of the main story saga of Commander Shepherd and his fight against the sentient-life ending Reapers. Part of the reason Mass Effect became so popular was because players were able to choose what their character did and said, which affected how the entire story flowed. Mass Effect slowly became a part of the player, allowing them to become Commander Shepherd, and forcing them to make difficult decisions that were morally ambiguous. This deep connection with players ultimately made ME3 one of the largest releases of the year, if not in video game history. Critical reception from trusted reviewers such as IGN and GameInformer were expectedly positive, giving the game high marks all around. What wasn’t expected though was the backlash that the gaming community had against this beloved franchise. Gamers across the globe began discussing their dislike of the game and how EA and Bioware, the publisher and developer of the game lied and used them. The communities criticisms were focused on three main topics: the inclusion of day 1 downloadable content, the lack of importance of pervious choices, and the ambiguity and poor execution of the ending of the game. Players have been so upset over ME3 that some have actually complained to the Better Business Bureau, and some tried filing lawsuits. Finally, after weeks of criticisms, Bioware finally relented and announced their decision to rewrite the ending of the game. How this will actually be executed is still unknown, though. This decision does no good however, and sets a dangerous precedent for developers in the future. The gaming community serves no purpose in whining over these matters, and is doing themselves a disservice as a whole. It’s difficult for me to completely condemn the detractors of ME3 because I do understand where they are coming from on a few issues, but the way they are going about it is wrong.
With the increasing popularity of Downloadable Content (DLC), it wasn’t unexpected to see that ME3 was going to include content to help prolong the life of the game. What was unexpected however was the timeframe that it was to be released on. The DLC “From Ashes” was unlocked on the same day as ME3 was released, which set off a storm of controversy in the gaming community. Because DLC is regarded as extra content, it is usually a taboo for publishers to release it soon after a game is released. It is looked at as content taken out of the game that could have been included but is slapped with a price tag to make an extra buck. From Ashes itself included a new character and mission that shed further backstory on the game universe. Because Mass Effect is based off of character interaction, many saw this as leaving out a vital part of the main story. I personally do not look at it this way though. I bought From Ashes with the full knowledge that it was first day DLC. But I didn’t just buy it because I felt it was a necessary part of the story. I bought it because I wanted to and because I wanted to support the developer. I also bought it to increase my emotional investment with the game. The same set-up of downloadable characters was included in Mass Effect 2, with the DLC released further after the release date though. When I played through Mass Effect 2 with these new characters, they always felt out of place, as if they really didn’t belong there. This made my experience feel disjointed and awkward. By getting the DLC on day one, I made a better experience for myself.
Another aspect that drew gamer’s ire was the fact that many of the the choices made in the previous games seemed to become hollow and did not have the impact gamers hoped for. On this issue, I feel a tad torn between what I wanted and what I know should have been expected. I was a computer science major for two years, and I know the amount of time that goes into coding small programs that perform basic functions. I imagine programming video games to be astronomically more complex and time-consuming, and the amount of code and time that would have gone into making every choice the person made viable and effective would have meant no ME3. I disagree with the use of the galaxy at war system and the idea of War Assets, but they do serve their purpose. Perhaps a little more closure with characters I met, creatures I saved, or sacrifices I made would have been nice, but in terms of doing the most with the time they had, I feel Bioware performed admirably.
The biggest source of anger aimed at Mass Effect 3 however centers around the ending of the game. This has been the largest aspect of argument and frustration for fans of the series. I won’t ruin the ending of the game for those reading, but I will say that for this argument the gaming community is acting like a group of spoiled children. I myself have been a fan of the Mass Effect series since the first installment. It gradually grew to become my favorite series, not only because it was fun but also emotionally and psychologically stimulating. I really grew attached to characters and struggled with making heart-wrenching decisions. I slowly became Commander Shepherd, acting as a sort of guiding hand for the character in the game. That is why it disappoints me to see so called “fans” so upset over what they feel was a slight against them. Constantly hearing about how Bioware lied to them or let them down has grown tiring and repetitive very quickly. I understand that games mean a lot to people. I count myself as one of those people! But I don’t regard games as something that was made to my specifications. Games are a creative vision of the developer, made to fulfill a story or entertainment aspect they want. Many are upset over the ambiguity of the ending, and I can relate to that. But I also thought about the ending and realized that I don’t have the say over everything I read or watch. Part of the reason video games are so wonderful is because they give people the opportunity to imagine past what they see, and to think up their own connections and meanings. By whining and complaining over this situation, they are ruining the experience of ME3 for no one but themselves. This isn’t to say that Bioware isn’t at fault as well, though. By giving in, they lost a lot of respect in my eyes. They should have stuck behind their story, but now they are placing themselves at the mercy of a group of people that want things to work out their specific way. They showed that their own faith in their writers and designers isn’t as strong as the opinions of the masses, which is a damn shame. I never once felt slighted during ME3, because I knew that (cliche alert!) the journey I experienced was much more important that the destination I arrived at. I took it for what it is, which is a fantastic game and series that still is an achievement of quality writing and gameplay. Because of the community’s sense of entitlement though, and Bioware’s lack of faith, it has become a series of division and ultimately disappointment.
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