Mass Effect 3

[Lantyssa]

Well, we all know in ME2 she got... implants.

[tmp]

YEEEEAAAHH

[cironian]

Part of the default Cerberus package: A "Volume+" button on every soft body part.

[kaid]

They had the technology they made her stronger,faster, boobier!

[Sjofn]

Haha, man, I had totally forgotten how flat she was in ME1.

[Jeff Kelly]

One thought about the whole end disaster that nobody got to.

Everybody focuses on Bioware now because their whole marketing spiel of the last year basically backfired horribly and their focus on markets and flavor of the year gaming (multiplayer, microtransactions, Kinect and DLC) caused them to sacrifice not only a good single player game but a whole franchise.

Yet this will also be a disaster for game mags and game sites when the dust settles and people have time to think about all of this more clearly.

Of all the reviews currently listed on metacritic only 4 (out of 55) mention the end explicitly, those 4 reviews are coincidentally also the reviews with the lowest score.

Most of the rest rates the game at 90 - 100 out of 100 and they all make it seem like they played it to the end ("a great final to an exceptional series" and so on) but obviously never did.

Right now you also see the same shitstorm you have on the bioware boards on the gaming sites and boards of the magazines. Yet they don't simply vent their frustration about the game, they actively lay blame at the editors and writers for not telling them that it was bad and for suggesting that it was a fitting end or a great experience.

Bioware screwing up basically exposed the mechanics of game reviews to a whole audience that didn't know how the industry worked and just how little most reviews are worth if you actually use it as consumer advice or think it's similar to movie or book criticism.

A lot of publications basically exposed themselves as frauds and accomplices of the publishers, at least in the mind of the readers.

Some scarmble to jump on the bandwagon before it runs them over but most haven't even realized that the whole controversy doesn't only make Bioware look bad but that it makes them look even worse.

Bioware somewhere down the line could simply claim that they had made a shitty ending, that they'd run out of time, that they'd bitten off more than they could chew and were to proud to admit it. The majority of game journalists have been caught with their pants down though because they basically unconditionally endorsed a game that had major issues. Either because they didn't play it or because they knew and wouldn't tell. Not that it matters because it makes them equally look bad.

[LK]

Well, that's more people informed that "game journalism" is compromised and part of the marketing machine, if they haven't figured that out already.

That just means more potential fans for the Penny Arcade Report.

You're seeing trust be violated first-hand and the vicious response to that.

[Ingmar]

That just means more potential fans for the Penny Arcade Report.

The PA Report that posted 2 articles praising the ending?

[Sjofn]

Dear multiplayer pack things:

I DON'T USE SHOTGUNS

STOP GIVING ME SHOTGUNS

Kisses,
Sjofn


Amusingly, Ingmar WANTED shotguns and, of course, got not a single blessed one. I have FOUR kinds to choose from, plus the default one got an upgrade.    I was going to totally ignore multiplayer, but it tricked me by being fun. Silly multiplayer!

[TheWalrus]

The multiplayer is badass. My friends and I are having a damn fine time with it.


PS, fuck primes that sneak up on you.

[LK]

That just means more potential fans for the Penny Arcade Report.

The PA Report that posted 2 articles praising the ending?

*reads*


I feel he's taking advantage of a hot-button issue to drum up more exposure for the Penny Arcade Report, and jumping on the bandwagon won't generate the hits or keep a good business relationship with Bioware.

I like why Penny Arcade Report was founded -- but Ben's article doesn't appear to be a good piece of journalism. The jist appears to be "The Fans Are Wrong and They Shouldn't Be Upset", which is super awesome that's he's trying to use logic to defuse emotion. Good luck with that!

The comments emphasize that he's missing the point. I agree with the commentators, I'm seeing him prop up some straw men for his argument. I also found Gabe's post to be insensitive and targeting his customers, which can do more harm and good. It was fine for the fans when Gabe was being the bully against a bully. But turning that arrogance and snarkiness on the viewers of the site... maybe not so wise.

"The notion that somehow there aren't any smart, rational, reasonable, sharp, and thoughtful people who play and love mass effect but hate the ending to mass effect 3, is just absurd."

---

"I keep seeing one argument pop up over and over again: "the entire third game is the ending."

This is not an argument, it's a semantic dodge. Those dissatisfied with the ending are, for the most part, being clear about what they mean when they say "the ending." They mean the post-elevator/hologram kid parts."

---

"I'd much rather the game didn't present me with a choice at the end, that X, Y or Z ending happens solely based on the choices I've already made."

[rk47]

The multiplayer is badass. My friends and I are having a damn fine time with it.


PS, fuck primes that sneak up on you.

Surely you meant Geth Hunters.

[Sjofn]

Banshees are the ones I hate. I hear them and I already know I'm doomed.


My engineer is fun, my little drone is totally the MVP of everything ever.

[Surlyboi]

Banshees suck bigtime.

I find out we're fighting reapers and pretty much know right around wave seven, shit's gonna get real.

[Merusk]

Really, Lorekeep?

"All those other places posted praise because they're on the dole, but PAR - who has a business relationship they don't want to damage - isn't defending Bioware because THEY'RE on the dole.  No, it's done from a place of integrity!"

Really?  That's the position you're taking?

[rk47]

Banshees are the ones I hate. I hear them and I already know I'm doomed.


My engineer is fun, my little drone is totally the MVP of everything ever.

Overload is pretty good to be honest. I find the damage is pitiful, but the taser effect incredibly useful when you chain 2-3 target evolve the power.
Try it with a heavy pistol build. Things just stand still while you blast them.

[Jeff Kelly]

Multiplayer is more fun than I thought, well if people keep their headsets off and you don't have to listen to some douche telling everybody how to play the game.

The packs are seriously unbalanced though. I have a whole shitload of shotguns and all of the character unlocks but haven't gotten a single sniper rifle, assault rifle or sniper rifle upgrade and I cannot trade or convert items. I'm basically almost always being put into silver or gold settings (because I'm Level 20 now and have a decent rating) without the ordnance to support it.

3 shots for Geth troopers on Gold just because you'll still have to use a Level 1 Mantis Rifle due to your luck of the draw is somehow a bit frustrating. Especially when later waves somehow manage to throw a dozen pyros, missile troopers and two Geth primes or Banshees, Rachnii and stuff by the truckload at you.

[Velorath]

I think I've only ever heard somebody actually talk once (this is on the PC version) even though most people seem to have mics.

[Sjofn]

I very occassionally say something but I have yet to hear a stranger (I spent last night playing multi with Ingmar and another friend of mine) pipe up.

[Sky]

I very occassionally say something but I have yet to hear a stranger (I spent last night playing multi with Ingmar and another friend of mine) pipe up.

You say 'neener', don't you?

[Sjofn]

The only thing I remember specifically saying was something along the lines of "I just lost my fistfight with that cannibal." I like to think everyone could hear the :((((((((( in my voice.

I reserve "neener" for TF2. 

[Lantyssa]

After you kill your sister, I bet.

[Stormwaltz]

"It's lunch time... FOR MY FIST!"
- Chet, OMM

[Trippy]

The packs are seriously unbalanced though. I have a whole shitload of shotguns and all of the character unlocks but haven't gotten a single sniper rifle, assault rifle or sniper rifle upgrade and I cannot trade or convert items. I'm basically almost always being put into silver or gold settings (because I'm Level 20 now and have a decent rating) without the ordnance to support it.

You can limit yourself to Bronze challenges if you want.

[Hoax]

Really, Lorekeep?

"All those other places posted praise because they're on the dole, but PAR - who has a business relationship they don't want to damage - isn't defending Bioware because THEY'RE on the dole.  No, it's done from a place of integrity!"

Really?  That's the position you're taking?

PAR the place that follows up Kotaku sensationalist bullshit with more of their own? That site is fucking worthless.

[Trippy]

I think I've only ever heard somebody actually talk once (this is on the PC version) even though most people seem to have mics.

Following up on my previous post, for my very first MP game I end up in a Gold game lobby because the default setting on the PC for a quick match allows for any challenge level. Fortunately at least two of the players in the lobby had mics and mentioned this to me and I quickly dropped from that lobby. I've only ever heard one other person use their mic since that very first match.

[caladein]

The first night or two I was in some really chatty games but since it's been quiet.  I might say something if someone's way far out with 10s left on extraction or something, but that's it.  And most people do have the mic enabled, whether they actually have one is another matter.

[Ingmar]

The speed at which you can get equipment upgrades seems way out of whack with the speed with which you level.

[LK]

Really, Lorekeep?

"All those other places posted praise because they're on the dole, but PAR - who has a business relationship they don't want to damage - isn't defending Bioware because THEY'RE on the dole.  No, it's done from a place of integrity!"

Really?  That's the position you're taking?

PAR the place that follows up Kotaku sensationalist bullshit with more of their own? That site is fucking worthless.

I feel you are overexaggerating and simplifying my position. If my comments implied that I thought PAR was from a position of integrity, then that wasn't my intent. I feel they are biased to not offend their business partners whether they realize it or not.

Also... who else is praising the endings independently? The stuff I've read has been comments from Bioware staff. I don't check out all the news sites, I'd be interested in seeing who else is independently praising the endings.

Again, I like why it was *founded* (and I'm beginning to question that now), but I haven't followed their article trends as closely to see if they've lived up to that mission. This article shows to me that they are not. So my position is "Huh. OK, I don't see how this is good journalism."

[Rokal]

The speed at which you can get equipment upgrades seems way out of whack with the speed with which you level.

The level cap is only 20 and they encourage you to 'promote' your characters (restart at 1), so it makes sense that the rate you obtain weapons isn't as fast.

Really frustrating to keep getting stupid useless shotguns in every pack I open. And then you open another pack and find that it is an upgrade for the shotgun you just got and didn't want.

The packs could do with a little less randomization. I.e. have one pack that is guaranteed to give you 1 shotgun or SMG. Have another pack guaranteed to give you 1 sniper rifle, assault rifle, or pistol. Another guaranteed to give you 1 character. etc.

[Ingmar]

Which pack is the best bang-for-buck, the 20k one? 3x as many things, but way lower chance of a rare - but how much lower?

[Velorath]

Which pack is the best bang-for-buck, the 20k one? 3x as many things, but way lower chance of a rare - but how much lower?

Think only the 60k pack has a chance for an ultra-rare (like the black widow).

[Sjofn]

I got a revenant in mine, Ingmar BURNED with jealousy.

[rk47]

I've still yet to unlock Asari Adept & Salarian Infil.
But last night Falcon was totally rocking. I'll never use sniper ever again on infiltrator.

[Sjofn]

The only race I've unlocked (aside from the turian soldier, which I think everyone gets in their noob pack?) is krogan ... something. Vanguard?

Speaking of krogans, I can't help but notice whenever I get in a match with one, all that krogan does is punch people. It's pretty funny. <3