Mass Effect 3

[Hittanryan]

When you put it that way, you make them sound like the Adeptus Mechanicus, who have famously caused a 10000-year-long period of technological stagnation in the Imperium of Man. Their R&D is paced like an ant pushing a brick across a desert, partly due to the risk of corruption by Chaos, partly due to believing that discovering Dark Age technology will solve any current problems, and partly because of their sheer stubborn orthodoxy.

It makes a certain degree of sense, really. Finding an amazingly advanced piece of technology, and being able to reverse engineer it, only gets you so far. Problem arises in that this creates a situation where you simply will not research into these areas, as there is no point to it. You simply carp off of what is already there. Many technological advances in the real world are piggy-backs off of earlier developments. Further, why would you even bother any more if you have what is apparently "perfect" technology at your disposal. Anything you produce will be outshadowed by anything that is purely a re-purposed piece of advanced tech. In essence, you are wasting resources on reinventing the wheel. But, once again, this creates technological stagnation as your technology is entirely based off of this stuff that you found thousands of years in the past.

So, it's really no surprise that humans are as "advanced" so-to-speak as other species because it's only natural for a species' technology to stagnate after its first initial jump forward. It cannot advance beyond the Mass Relay and other technologies, as these are far more advanced than anything they mustered on their own.

As Sovereign once said, "Your civilization is based on the technology of the mass relays. Our technology. By using it, your society develops along the paths we desire."

[TheRightWay]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPelM2hwhJA

A game series based around choice copy simply changes the colors and basically cuts and pastes the ending for all choices seems like an incredible cop out to me.

[Seangoli]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPelM2hwhJA

A game series based around choice copy simply changes the colors and basically cuts and pastes the ending for all choices seems like an incredible cop out to me.

That is of course if you think this is the actual ending, and they weren't planning the entire time to expand with DLC. Me? I honestly believe the indoctrination theory. There are a few key pieces of evidence which are undeniable, non-subjective, and unexplainable if all there is to the ending is what was shown (And indoctrination didn't occur).

Of course this is a load of crap pulled by Bioware, as what they do have for a game is largely unfinished. If the Indoctrination theory holds true in some form, and frankly I don't see any way that it cannot at this point (As in they actually had it planned out from the start, not as an after-the-fact addition to appease fans; I honestly believe at this point that they were planning on indoctrination), then this game should not have been end of the series. Rather they crammed it all into one game, without sufficient plot devices nor gameplay to actually develop a meaningful and full story.

[Seangoli]

As Sovereign once said, "Your civilization is based on the technology of the mass relays. Our technology. By using it, your society develops along the paths we desire."

Which is absolutely brilliant. Give them enough to follow a relatively predictable path of development, but away enough so that they could never pose a true threat to the reapers.

[Clamparapa]

Dat Indoctrination Theory.

http://uninhibitedandunrepentant.tumblr ... -holy-fuck
Another post on the theory. Good business decision, and as such, I shall be waiting for bundled DLC with the main game and a reduction of at least $20 in the base cost before getting it for Xbox.

[Divair]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPelM2hwhJA

A game series based around choice copy simply changes the colors and basically cuts and pastes the ending for all choices seems like an incredible cop out to me.

That is of course if you think this is the actual ending, and they weren't planning the entire time to expand with DLC. Me? I honestly believe the indoctrination theory. There are a few key pieces of evidence which are undeniable, non-subjective, and unexplainable if all there is to the ending is what was shown (And indoctrination didn't occur).

Of course this is a load of crap pulled by Bioware, as what they do have for a game is largely unfinished. If the Indoctrination theory holds true in some form, and frankly I don't see any way that it cannot at this point (As in they actually had it planned out from the start, not as an after-the-fact addition to appease fans; I honestly believe at this point that they were planning on indoctrination), then this game should not have been end of the series. Rather they crammed it all into one game, without sufficient plot devices nor gameplay to actually develop a meaningful and full story.

I think the indoctrination theory is possible, although I've heard from some people that there are holes in the indoctrination theory.

[Clamparapa]

That is of course if you think this is the actual ending, and they weren't planning the entire time to expand with DLC. Me? I honestly believe the indoctrination theory. There are a few key pieces of evidence which are undeniable, non-subjective, and unexplainable if all there is to the ending is what was shown (And indoctrination didn't occur).

Of course this is a load of crap pulled by Bioware, as what they do have for a game is largely unfinished. If the Indoctrination theory holds true in some form, and frankly I don't see any way that it cannot at this point (As in they actually had it planned out from the start, not as an after-the-fact addition to appease fans; I honestly believe at this point that they were planning on indoctrination), then this game should not have been end of the series. Rather they crammed it all into one game, without sufficient plot devices nor gameplay to actually develop a meaningful and full story.

I think the indoctrination theory is possible, although I've heard from some people that there are holes in the indoctrination theory.

Go on...

[Divair]

I think the indoctrination theory is possible, although I've heard from some people that there are holes in the indoctrination theory.

Go on...

I don't know them, but I've seen others reference some holes.

[Seangoli]

I think the indoctrination theory is possible, although I've heard from some people that there are holes in the indoctrination theory.

Two things. First, the indoctrination theory makes a hell of a lot more sense than the current face-value ending. Second, there is one line of evidence which does prove definitively that yes, Shepard was indoctrinated at the end if you choose Control/Synthesis. Go back to my spoilered post on the page before. The only explanation for that small and subtle event is indoctrination. It was a conscious design choice to actually show Shepard as being indoctrinated. It's an absolute that Shepard was indoctrinated given this event, without any actual question really. Now how close the various ideas people have about the indoctrination theory follow what Bioware was planning I have no idea. But it is absolutely clear that Shepard was indoctrinated if you choose Control/Synthesis.

[Zersium]

I think the indoctrination theory is possible, although I've heard from some people that there are holes in the indoctrination theory.

Two things. First, the indoctrination theory makes a hell of a lot more sense than the current face-value ending. Second, there is one line of evidence which does prove definitively that yes, Shepard was indoctrinated at the end if you choose Control/Synthesis. Go back to my spoilered post on the page before. The only explanation for that small and subtle event is indoctrination. It was a conscious design choice to actually show Shepard as being indoctrinated. It's an absolute that Shepard was indoctrinated given this event, without any actual question really. Now how close the various ideas people have about the indoctrination theory follow what Bioware was planning I have no idea. But it is absolutely clear that Shepard was indoctrinated if you choose Control/Synthesis.

Not to mention The Illusive Man saying "And control of you (Shepard) if necessary."

So yeah. But they better sort this shit out.

I mean, I'm already pissed at the bad photoshopping stuff they did throughout the game. Like giving some half-made photo for Tali, editing the explosions *slightly* differently, etc.

[Imperial isa]

just how high of a rep you need before the option shows to get the Geth and Quarians to make peace

[Deus Malum]

just how high of a rep you need before the option shows to get the Geth and Quarians to make peace

I'm not sure if there is a threshold, but there are certain actions you need to have taken in ME2 and ME3 up to that point in order for it to be an option, regardless of reputation:

Tali must survive in ME2, and I think you also have to keep her from getting exiled
Legion must survive in ME2
You must save Admiral Koris in ME3

There's probably a few conditions I'm missing, and each of those has basically a hidden point value associated with it. If you meet a certain threshold of points, the option to save both the Geth and the Quarians triggers.

[Imperial isa]

so you need a ME2 import ..... great that not going to happen soon till they fix the face bug

[Deus Malum]

so you need a ME2 import ..... great that not going to happen soon till they fix the face bug

Yeah my understanding is it's pretty much impossible to save them both without an ME2 import.

[Seangoli]

Two things. First, the indoctrination theory makes a hell of a lot more sense than the current face-value ending. Second, there is one line of evidence which does prove definitively that yes, Shepard was indoctrinated at the end if you choose Control/Synthesis. Go back to my spoilered post on the page before. The only explanation for that small and subtle event is indoctrination. It was a conscious design choice to actually show Shepard as being indoctrinated. It's an absolute that Shepard was indoctrinated given this event, without any actual question really. Now how close the various ideas people have about the indoctrination theory follow what Bioware was planning I have no idea. But it is absolutely clear that Shepard was indoctrinated if you choose Control/Synthesis.

Not to mention The Illusive Man saying "And control of you (Shepard) if necessary."

So yeah. But they better sort this shit out.

I mean, I'm already pissed at the bad photoshopping stuff they did throughout the game. Like giving some half-made photo for Tali, editing the explosions *slightly* differently, etc.

Don't take my liking of the Indoctrination theory as praise for the game. They did a half-assed job on a good chunk of the game that is rather unforgivable considering the time, budget, and effort they claimed they put into it. Hell, even not considering those factors it was a half-assed job during much of the game. They did a shit job with depicting the actual indoctrination. There is a very fine line between subtle and obtuse. And they went the route of being deliberately obtuse about the entire thing, with the only way to really understand that Shepard was indoctrinated is by paying attention to the smallest minutia of details which can go easily unnoticed simply because they are neither integral plot elements, nor particularly noticeable unless you know what you are looking for. There is a right way and a wrong way to do this kind of thing. Give just enough to make the average player question everything, while holding back enough to make a slightly less than obvious. Frankly they gave cryptic, nonsensical pieces of information as "hints", most of which was unrelated to each other. It was all more or less random elements throughout the game with no build up, no connectivity, and far to subtle for the average player to even register (Not an insult, as I didn't pick it up until after it was pointed out to me. It amazes me that people were able to find the small details at all considering the rather small shift that occurs).

Further, Bioware's insistence that this would be "the end" was a major reason why people took it at face value. They pulled a bait and switch. They said very clearly that ME3 would answer question, rap everything up, provide closure, etc. Instead they pulled a cheap ploy to get people to buy DLC in the near future and destroyed the story and pacing while doing so. Had they continued the actual story in game, this could have been one of the most defining moments in the series. As it stands, it was a cheap parlor trick that they were deliberately obtuse about in order to generate hype and anxiety. That has backfired in their face.

Really, the game is half-finished from every angle you look at it. It's not just story wise, it's gameplay wise (Why the fuck did I just spend 10 hours collecting random War assets if it does absolutely shit-all? Ooooh... another room filled with enemies that is exactly the same as the last room... and the room before that... and before that... etc, and so on), it's development of character personalities beyond shallow pleasantries (Tali: I love you Shepard. This is the end. Goodbye; What the fuck? That's the best you can do for the final moments you are likely to have with your romantic interest? Bullshit Bioware. Even if Liara isn't your interest you can an interesting scene with her at this point that is unique to the character), and it's mood (Jiggly Anderson really is laughable, and Stick TIM is just jarring, it destroys the mood completely of the scene).

What Bioware delivered was a half-baked pile of shit rapped in nice packaging with a bow on top. There is very little excuse for many of the mistakes they made, and many of half-done material presented. Further, without completely fleshing out the story (Which contrary to what they may think is what happened) they completely ruined it. You don't stop a book at the climax when things are just getting really good. Quite frankly, Bioware can shut the hell up about "artistic integrity" because they have absolutely none. Either their plan was to release it as DLC all along, which means that they cut up their "art" for profit, or are being deliberately misleading and unfinished. Either way, they destroyed any "artistic integrity" they have.

[Oterro]

http://kotaku.com/5895215/bioware-is-wo ... t-3-ending

No reactions? o:

Maybe I should have made it more obvious.

[Norstal]

http://kotaku.com/5895215/bioware-is-working-on-a-modified-mass-effect-3-ending

No reactions? o:

Maybe I should have made it more obvious.

Well, BioWare is being vague as always. So, I don't really trust them that much, but I still have some hope left.

[Deus Malum]

http://kotaku.com/5895215/bioware-is-working-on-a-modified-mass-effect-3-ending

No reactions? o:

Maybe I should have made it more obvious.

Saw this last night when I wasn't logged in, didn't feel like logging in to comment.

It's...interesting, but it makes me wonder if the Truth rumors really are just a hoax. It sounds very much like this is something that has spun out of the past week or so of discontent, rather than the couple-weeks that the Truth rumors have been circulating for.

[Trotskylvania]

so you need a ME2 import ..... great that not going to happen soon till they fix the face bug

The new face maker is better, so I had no problem redoing the face anyway.

[Deus Malum]

so you need a ME2 import ..... great that not going to happen soon till they fix the face bug

The new face maker is better, so I had no problem redoing the face anyway.

Yeah I managed to get pretty much the exact same face as I had in ME2 in ME3 with only a bit of work.

[Imperial isa]

so you need a ME2 import ..... great that not going to happen soon till they fix the face bug

The new face maker is better, so I had no problem redoing the face anyway.

that not the point

all the work you done in the other two can't be carried over thanks to the bug

[Norstal]

The new face maker is better, so I had no problem redoing the face anyway.

that not the point

all the work you done in the other two can't be carried over thanks to the bug

I thought the face bug was that you just need to recreate the face...

[Galla-]

so you need a ME2 import ..... great that not going to happen soon till they fix the face bug

lol that's a rly bad reason tbh

[Imperial isa]

so you need a ME2 import ..... great that not going to happen soon till they fix the face bug

lol that's a rly bad reason tbh

may be but a import would make my happy by replacing Wreav

[Galla-]

lol that's a rly bad reason tbh

may be but a import would make my happy by replacing Wreav

you cant import and just recreate the face?