Mass Effect 3 makers Bioware have agreed to rewrite the ending following mass protest by passionate gamers.
Ray Muzyka, co-founder of Bioware, responded to "unprecedented" outrage over the ending on his blog, writing: "Exec Producer Casey Hudson and the team are hard at work on a number of game content initiatives that will help answer the questions, providing more clarity for those seeking further closure to their journey. You’ll hear more on this in April. We’re working hard to maintain the right balance between the artistic integrity of the original story while addressing the fan feedback we’ve received."
Muzyka added "...it’s incredibly painful to receive feedback from our core fans that the game’s endings were not up to their expectations," and promised to accept the criticism and feedback with humility.
The gamers' grievances hinge on the fact that the ending - a pretty explosion in a range of colours - seems an ill-balanced reward for having completed three iterations of the game.
In comments on this site, gamers said: "this ending, this game is unfitting of the franchise" and "to have 3 games worth of emotional connection result in the same ending, regardless of the actions you took ... is not only reckless, but a complete kick in the crotch to any fan of the series."
The protests against the ending were channeled into a charity campaign Retake Mass Effect 3. Over four thousand gamers pledged US $78,000 for the charity Childs' Play to draw attention to their petition for a re-make of the ending.
Casey Hudson, Mass Effect 3's executive producer echoed Muzyka's sentiment, when he wrote on the Bioware Mass Effect 3 Forum: "...we also recognise that some of our most passionate fans needed more closure, more answers, and more time to say goodbye to their stories—and these comments are equally valid. Player feedback such as this has always been an essential ingredient in the development of the series."
Chris Early, vice president of digital publishing at Ghost Recon makers Ubisoft, yesterday told The Huffington Post via phone that it's more important than ever to listen to gamers: "Ultimately we make the games for their enjoyment and with so much choice, it's hugely important to listen to feedback and build that into games as they develop."
Both Hudson and Muzyka mentioned that more content and new Mass Effect games will be released in the future.
Jamal Wright: Mass Effect 3 - Why All the Attention?
Loading comments… 
Huffington Post UK | By Melanie Hick Posted: 22/03/2012 09:17 Updated: 22/03/2012 11:15