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Side Quest, Episode 23: Revisiting the Mass Effect 3 Ending Fiasco (Patreon)

Published:
2018-05-14 17:04:00
Edited:
2019-01-08 23:31:29
Imported:
2022-01

Content

Hard truths.

Files

Revisiting the Mass Effect 3 Ending Fiasco -- CLS Side Quest

Six years ago, famed developer BioWare released the third game in their vaunted Mass Effect trilogy and unintentionally set off a firestorm in the process. For some, the game’s endings were a massive letdown, and new endings were crafted as a result, which caused an industry fray that I jumped head-first into. It was far from my proudest moment, but I think what happened is still incredibly relevant today. So let’s go back to 2012, shall we? Colin's Last Stand: Side Quest is free of baked-in ads, product placement, and other obnoxious forms of advertising because of your support. Please consider subscribing to CLS' Patreon to show your support for independent content: http://www.patreon.com/colinslaststand Listen to the CLS interview podcast, Colin’s Last Stand: Fireside Chats (also available on podcast services): https://soundcloud.com/colinslaststand Listen to the CLS retro podcast, Colin’s Last Stand: KnockBack (also available on podcast services): http://soundcloud.com/clsknockback Twitter: @notaxation Instagram: @clsmoriarty Facebook: /colinslaststand Colin's Last Stand is a product of Colin's Last Stand, LLC PO Box 1233 | Santa Monica, CA 90406 Still imagery via Amazon, Fandom, Consequence of Sound, Game Cover, GameSpot, German DVD Covers, IGN, MirrorDeco, and MobyGames. Additional imagery via a licensed Shutterstock account, using works from the following artists an photographers: Aygun Aliyeva, Kirill Shashkov, spainter_vfx, SVshot, and VectorPlotnikoff. This video features footage from the following sources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBktyyaV9LY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AluTOOCVXVQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7nk13M1H4Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0wM24K1dgU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JocuvZlTb50 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdviCfP8IMs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jhr7RhWj9E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6PJEmEHIaY Bibliography/Reading List: https://www.engadget.com/2011/05/04/mass-effect-3-delayed/ http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-3/mass-effect-3 http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/mass-effect-3 http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/mass-effect-3 https://gamerant.com/mass-effect-3-sales-ea-benk-137689/ https://www.engadget.com/2012/04/13/mass-effect-3-sales-in-us-hit-1-3-million-during-launch-month/ https://www.destructoid.com/mass-effect-3-makes-over-200-million-in-sales-227119.phtml http://www.itechpost.com/articles/80302/20170203/mass-effect-andromeda-sales-expected-hit-3-million-copies-first.htm https://kotaku.com/5898743/mass-effect-3s-ending-disrespects-its-most-invested-players https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqgRP5_YKu0 https://www.gamesradar.com/how-the-new-fallout-3-dlc-changes-the-games-ending/ https://www.engadget.com/2010/08/26/why-infamous-got-a-new-cole-and-why-he-was-changed-back/ https://kotaku.com/5895369/why-im-glad-bioware-might-change-mass-effect-3s-ending-for-the-fans https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/03/13/mass-effect-3-and-the-pernicious-myth-of-gamer-entitlement/#3705433a2517 https://www.destructoid.com/ea-reported-to-ftc-over-mass-effect-3-ending-224101.phtml http://blog.bioware.com/2012/03/21/4108/ http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/03/06/mass-effect-3-review https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mass-effect-3-falsely-advertised-says-bbb/1100-6371157/ http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2012/03/22/mass-effect-3-makers-to-rewrite-soul-crushing-ending-for-furious-fans.html https://kotaku.com/5892676/why-mass-effect-3s-ending-was-so-terrible https://kotaku.com/idiots-fight-to-keep-a-medieval-game-white-1516970808 https://unwinnable.com/2018/04/06/far-cry-5s-paranoid-right-wing-fantasy/ http://www.mandatory.com/culture/1276689-last-night-devs-anti-feminist-tweets-come-back-haunt https://www.polygon.com/2015/6/3/8719389/colorblind-on-witcher-3-rust-and-gamings-race-problem https://kotaku.com/5968336/the-jew-ken-levine-is-making-a-white-person-killing-simulator https://venturebeat.com/2009/04/27/konami-cancels-realistic-six-days-in-fallujah-video-game/ https://www.resetera.com/threads/jonathan-blow-the-witness-braid-thinks-women-are-biologically-less-interested-in-tech-than-men.11742/page-4

Comments

Daniel Rivas

Years later, I still agree that the ending should NOT have been changed.

Joey Finelli

I was one of those people who sank massive hours into 7 different Shepard's in ME1 & ME2. Once i finished the ending of ME3 i thought the game was broken. I loved 99.5% of ME3 but i never ended up playing ME3 again. I am a nerd.

Brett Medlock

Great video! Although, I still largely agree with 2012 Colin when it comes to fans asking for a different ending. I think that’s a bit different then asking a studio to keep a character’s design the same — that choice didn’t make sense at all to me. Either way, keep it up! ♥️ -Brett M

Marc Elfering

They tried to make a game that had a succinct ending for people that had never played ME1 and ME2 while also making it seem that your decisions mattered. They attempted to add a new layer to the impossible task of making those decisions matter effectively. Ultimately they failed on all fronts. But they should not have changed it. I didn't even play the changed ending after over 200 hrs and multiple playthroughs into the series

Marc Elfering
>>12313691

Same exact feelings on ME3, played it once and never returned. Loved the game and felt like it was special but not a good conclusion. Legitimately the only time an ending ruined the entirety of something for me

Michael Ferrari

One of the biggest, if not THE biggest issues in gaming is that fans/gamers think that games belong to them, or is somehow their creation. They overstep their bounds and try and insert themselves into the industry when they are merely observers. The end of Mass Effect 3 sucks, but it is what it is, there are countless other games to enjoy.

strawhatninja

I honestly think this is one of the best videos you have ever made. I may not be objective though as Mass Effect 2 is one of my top 5 favorite games of all time. The series is very special to me and I mostly agree with the positive reviews for Mass Effect 3. I didn't like the ending but Mass Effect 3 may be the best game in the series up to the ending. When I first saw it I was disappointed, but like you I looked back on my memories of the entire series and thought wow what a ride.

Brent Lindquist

I really dislike Mass Effect 3’s ending, but I agree with your feelings at the time regarding the changed ending that came later. I never played that ending, and I don't know how I could have with the knowledge that it only existed because fans had whined about it.

Brent Lindquist
>>12313693

I'm with you on changing the ending, and I don't really see this purported inconsistencies as actual inconsistencies. I mean, Bethesda must have been planning to revive the player character in Fallout 3, right? If they had DLC planned? I don't know. And changing the look of Cole doesn't change the fundamental story of inFamous 2.

Marius Skarsem Pedersen

The ending of Mass Effect 3 is still by far the most disappointed I have ever been by a game. That ending still baffles me. What the hell was going on over there? The “new” ending still wasn’t great, and felt like they were just trying to please the people who didn’t like the ending. Looking forward to watching the video, though! What was actually a great ending was the citadel dlc where you’re hanging out and partying with your crew. That was a fitting end to the series.

Ian (616Entertainment)

There's been a change in you lately, Colin. You mentioned last time you were on Rubin that you had been reflecting on certain things, and you constantly talk about how your mind can be changed because you're not permanently closed off to ideas and concepts, even if they're not the one you gravitate toward. On that Rubin appearance you threw out an "I'm sorry if my tweet ACTUALLY hurt you," you're making appearances on other shows (thanks again, I'll thank you forever for that), and you're here addressing what you see as a mistake from your past. This is really interesting stuff, and its exciting to watch you go through these changes as a long-time follower. The video was excellently crafted, and I appreciate that this isn't an "I'm sorry you were right all along," but instead a "hey, I was an asshole, but we all have things we need to work on with this situation." This was a really interesting glimpse into where your mind is right now. Thanks for opening up on a topic I don't think any of us were expecting.

Ian (616Entertainment)

Also, side note: Cole's initial appearance for inFamous 2 was dog shit, and I will forever stand by Team Fix This Shit in that regard. What the fuck were they thinking? (I know, they were thinking that he should be handsome because that would sell more units, but, come on)

Anonymous

It's great to see you owning up to past mistakes. Takes guts, wish more people would do the same. Also, am I the only one who hated the ME3 ending, not because of ignoring the choices but the sudden inclusion of a magic space baby? :P

LastStandMedia
>>12314556

You got it! I honestly think a lot of the commentary about me is strange, and not really reflective of reality, or of what I put out into the world. That said, I'm happy to reflect on -- and own up to -- mistakes when I make them. As I've been known to say in person to those in my life, I always apologize without reservation when I think I'm wrong.

Eric S

As we say hindsight is 20/20. It’s good to see you reflecting Colin. I feel that people were very frustrated in the ME3 ending because many people when they dedicate so much time and feelings into a series feel robbed when it doesn’t turn out how they thought or envisioned. Which there is nothing wrong with that and I I think they also need to realize that’s what happens when you are not the creator of the project. Looking forward to your e3 content and as always thanks for the great thought provoking content!

Marc Elfering

Not to comment again so soon but I'm curious if anyone shares this sentiment. I felt that this was largely an issue by EA and not Bioware. Dead Space (another of my favorite series) became effectively an action game by 3 with multiplayer and everything largely because EA was unhappy with sales of Dead Space 2 (in my opinion just as terrifying as the 1st but for different reasons). I felt that Bioware was able to fight off EA but had to give in to certain demands (again adding pointless multiplayer) which I believe created an ending that ANYONE could enjoy not just ME fans. Seems it came down to a sales decision possibly overwriting creative vision. They got the patches of new endings out awfully quick when claiming the original ending was the "intended" final product

Owen

I can't stand the term "gamer entitlement" - I agree that you shouldn't tell a creator to change anything. If you wanna hate it or wish it were different, thats fine, but I'm never going to tell an artist to change their work. -- I actually requested a Side Quest on gamer entitlement vs critical consumer. This is pretty close! As usual, keep it up my dude.

Chris Suhre

Until Andromeda, I always wondered if they balked at giving this trilogy definitive endings as a way to potentially revisit one of the open avenues? For example (spoilers), when Joker and the crew landed on the new planet? Because of this, I really was not angry at the ending and still have a sliver of hope. Post Andromeda, my concern is no more ME ever again.

Taylor Laduron

Always have to appreciate somebody who can admit when they were wrong about something. I feel like that doesn't happen enough in this day and age. Great video, Colin!

Will Hahn

What a great video! I thought this was super interesting, especially since I’m not a fan of Mass Effect at all (although I respect Bioware and this trilogy). It was funny to see footage of you back in 2013, you look so much younger without a beard lol 😂

LastStandMedia
>>12316355

I don't believe in the conspiracy theories that all of the drama was baked into the marketing plan.

LastStandMedia
>>12319499

Well, I coined the term, so I apologize about that. =D (For what it's worth, I'm almost positive I coined the term "bro shooter," as well, but I can't prove it.)

Caera Bradshaw

This was such a great video! As much as I loved the subject matter (Mass Effect is definitely one of my most beloved series in gaming) the best part about this was your self reflection on a part of your history and how you've grown from that experience. It is RARE that you ever come across that in the internet landscape it's really commendable. A story both macro and micro.... Kudos!

Hose A Contra Razz

Great video, its up to the creater to do what they want with their game not journalist or gamers, when nintendo showed an early preview of Zelda BoTW people were saying its time to make Link a female. No its not your creation, if you want a female, gay, straight, hispanic or what ever in a game its up to you to create it not force others to do it for you. Anyway great video Colin.

LastStandMedia
>>12356045

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it. Maybe it'll set a sort of precedent for others to follow?