What do you anticipate Bioware will change about the ending in April? Do you think it will satisfy most fans? [SPOILERS given the nature of the topic]
-SPOILERS to follow given the discussion about the ending-
I'm interested to learn what the good people of r/masseffect think Bioware will change about the ending in April. Do you feel these will be major changes that completely revamp the ending or do you think they will be smaller details that help clarify the current ones? Information revealed about the changes seems to indicate that the current ending will stay largely intact and we will just be given clarification. If that is the case, how do you think they will do that? For example, do you feel they take the scene with Shepard and the Catalyst and expand on the dialogue options allowing for more explanation about what each ending means or will it be some post-ending clarifications about the state of the galaxy and the crew missions. Maybe they will follow the indoctrination theory and add details that further support that ending. Furthermore, do you believe that the ending will ultimately satisfy most ME fans (I say most because I think it would be truly impossible to please everyone)?
Personally, I think they will just add some pretty minor changes to the way the ending works. Specifically, I think they will elaborate on some dialogue options between Shepard and the Catalyst kid by explaining what some of these endings mean as well as try to rectify some of the plot holes. I say this because since the new information is supposedly coming out in April, which is such a short time away, I don't forsee them having substantial changes to the ending planned. I'm also anticipating that the changes won't solve some of the major problems with the endings such as the plot holes, the disregarding of key themes, etc. I believe they might try to explain what happens to the crew and what the state of the galaxy is like, but I think this will occur mostly through text and still pictures because I don't think they will spend the resources to bring in brand new gameplay elements and cutscenes when they didn't originally have them planned.
I think they could follow the indoctrination theory because I think a lot of what is currently in game would support that (and I believe this was the original planned ending earlier in development but was then scrapped when it became to difficult to program and the remaining pieces were still used in the ending hence why so much points to the indoctrination ending). However, I think that would require more resources than other alternatives, and I just don't honestly see it happening.
One of my biggest concerns for the new ending changes is that if they are not satisfactory that will spell the end for having the ending changed. At that point, anymore protesting would simply look selfish, and the movement would lose much of its support. Meanwhile, Bioware would have gained support for having already tried to appease fans once, and I think the sympathy would fall on their side.
Anyway, forgive my ranting and pessimism. I'm genuinely curious to read what you guys think the ending changes will be and if you think they will satisfy most of the fanbase!
Posted Mar 25, 2012, 12:07 AM UTC