163 replies to this topic

[Ogul]

That was fun. People are too harsh on the ME writers though. Say what you will about the ending, but you have to admit that the first fifty hours of the game or so was ones of the most brilliantly written games of all time.

[Ogul]

Hey, about the ending:

Spoiler

To those doom and glooming about the destruction of the mass relays, and how that means the end of practical space flight, I did some pseudo-math. Remember that they still have FTL drives. According to the ME Wiki, these drives are capable of around a dozen light-years per day. At that rate of travel, it would take only 27 years to cross the entire Milky Way. Not nothing, but not outrageous for the lifespans of the average galactic citizens, especially those like the Asari that live for centuries. The Migrant Fleet could get back to Rannoch within 20 years or so, the other major races could be home within ten or fifteen, given that they live fairly close to Earth.

Also, since standard galactic communication used mini-relays that were built post-Prothean, it's no stretch to believe that ship-sized relays could conceivably be built, it perhaps not as many as before. Also, quantum communication would allow for instant communication between major population centers, so everyone could keep in contact until they get home. The only real trick would be fuel, they'd need regular refueling to get such long distances, so they'd probably need ships sent from colonies along the way.

[Ogul]

I got my SalEng to 19, he's doing pretty great at the moment, I almost got through a silver but we wiped halfway through wave 10. I also got to 7 on another Silver. I tried out a Human Vanguard with a Geth Shotty (my "Victory Pack" reward ), but didn't like either too much. I couldn't figure out how to get the dash move to fire when I wanted, it seemed to only work some of the time, and only when an enemy was around, rather than whenever. The shotgun was way too slow and low on ammo for my tastes, although it did hit like a freight train.

[Ryan Landau]

Yeah Charge can be very particular (especially in multiplayer, where server lag can kill you). It HAS to be directed AT a target, there's no way to "dash on demand" (I think Asari Adepts can do that though). When picking a hostile to Charge, always look for the ones that are separated from the group somehow--last thing you want to do on ANY difficulty is charge headlong into the middle of a pack.

The Geth Shotgun is actually not a great weapon for Vanguards in that it fires slow and needs to be charged for maximum output (I've seen Sentinels and Infiltrators use it to great effect, however). I'd recommend going with the Katana or Scimitar instead--the Scimitar in particular is a full-auto weapon with a relatively big clip. If you're lucky enough to get a Disciple at some point use that, it is the Shotgun of Kings.

[Ogul]

It HAS to be directed AT a target, there's no way to "dash on demand" (I think Asari Adepts can do that though).

Oh, that's what I want. There was one Asari dashing through walls and stuff. If I do continue with the Vanguard I'm going SMG, I have a nice SMG. It's annoying though, because the game thinks I looooooove shotguns. Of my limited arsenal I have the Geth shotty, the default one leveled up a few times, and I think an Eviserator II, and an Accuracy V mod for shotguns.

I'm sticking with my SalEng until I can get a lot of cash together, He kicks ass. The pistol works great, but with the scope it can be bad news in that tight little lab. The SalEng just lays unholy death with or without it though.

[Ryan Landau]

Incredibly even-handed statement by Ray Muzyka on fan reactions to ME3:

http://blog.bioware....012/03/21/4108/

Very impressed by his comments. I think he hits all the right notes here.

[Mikha'il Tegler]

Incredibly even-handed statement by Ray Muzyka on fan reactions to ME3:

http://blog.bioware....012/03/21/4108/

Very impressed by his comments. I think he hits all the right notes here.

"Hits" like a wife beater

"give us to april, baby. we'll seek out help. then you'll see we'll never hit you again"

[Ryan Landau]

I think the fact that they're considering the possibility at all is pretty cool. Not a lot of companies would do that, even in the face of this kind of fan outcry.

Spoiler

Hopefully whatever they come up with won't make things worse...

Coming soon: MASS EFFECT: CATALYSM! Play as the fan-favorite character CATALYST in the galaxy's ancient past as he conceives of--and builds--the armada of living ships that would someday be known as THE REAPERS!

P.S. it's a puzzle game now! Hope you guys like Sudoku!

[Mikha'il Tegler]

it's just impossible to believe that the same people who made this fantastic game, came up with the conclusion like this. we all make mistakes. but this feels foreign to the rest of the game. like an EA exec came up with it to sell us more DLC or something.

[Ryan Landau]

it's just impossible to believe that the same people who made this fantastic game, came up with the conclusion like this.

That's because

Spoiler

that's not what happened here.

From what I've gathered, Mac Walters--with the blessing of Casey Hudson--came up with the ending by himself, then picked two guys who were not involved with any of the other writing in the game to write it. Then, when they were finished, Walters approved their work without allowing the rest of the writing staff to review or discuss it, in direct contradiction to how the rest of the story was produced. So imagine how all of THOSE guys must feel right now; all of that hard work over three games and they get railroaded by their boss at the very end.

[Mikha'il Tegler]

i suppose that sheds some light on drew karpyshyn's departure and the horrible reviews for the last ME book

[Hank Cannon]

I've been running across this in a few places online and it has been getting on my nerves and I just need to vent. I do not like being effectively told "Don't like the ending? Suck it! Play multiplayer!"

I don't do shooter multiplayer. I buy Bioware games for the single player offline experience. If I do multiplayer, it will either be superhero stuff in DCUO or Ship battles in STO.

Multiplayer is no substitute for an experience that turns me into a bumbling invalid when I succeeded in the same challenge a few hours earlier. I could probably come down from irritation at the ending, there's plenty of other stuff to replay, but being told to do something that I flat out do not enjoy as a means to dismiss me, pisses me off.

[Hank Cannon]

Ugh...I left off City of Heroes...I can't quit you CoH.

[Ben the Obiwomble]

Those behind-the-scenes details read like corporate insanity, entirely believable but still, absolutely insane.

[Rory Abel]

I haven't watch this yet since I haven't beaten the game yet but maybe it will solve some of your complaints:

[Ogul]

I've been running across this in a few places online and it has been getting on my nerves and I just need to vent. I do not like being effectively told "Don't like the ending? Suck it! Play multiplayer!"

I don't do shooter multiplayer. I buy Bioware games for the single player offline experience. If I do multiplayer, it will either be superhero stuff in DCUO or Ship battles in STO.

I empathize, as someone who rarely bothers with multiplayer in these sorts of games (haven't even touched it on AC or Bioshock), and mutlitplayer is no excuse for any dissatisfaction you may have with the single player experience, but you really might want to give it a try anyways, completely separate from your opinions of the single player game. The MP is fun for this one, it's co-op only, it's basically the N7 missions from the single player only you get to try out all sorts of power and weapon combinations, and you play with three other people. Even if you suck at it (like I did with my ShottyVanguard) the rest of the team can carry the slack and you can at least contribute. My character stunk up that round, but we still beat it.

Seriously, give it a shot (but don't let it effect your impression of the single player game if you don't want to).

[craggy]

MP in ME isn't a whole lot like the main game. Controls changes and options make it seem very different. It's also the only place to play a Krogan or a Turian and run around going "rar! I am a space-dinosaur! rar!"

[Rory Abel]

MP in ME isn't a whole lot like the main game. Controls changes and options make it seem very different. It's also the only place to play a Krogan or a Turian and run around going "rar! I am a space-dinosaur! rar!"

What do you mean? I do that in my bedroom all the time.

[craggy]

well, yeah. But I mean, in a videogame. Where other people must hear you! (I don't really play with my mic unless it's with friends, but I have been tempted)

[Rory Abel]

well, yeah. But I mean, in a videogame. Where other people must hear you!

Oh believe me when I say it, other people hear.

(I don't really play with my mic unless it's with friends, but I have been tempted)

It always drives me crazy when people leave their mic open when they're not talking but there's enough sound to activate it. There's nothing more annoying than listening to someone else's music or their parents arguing.