I had something else scheduled here…

…but it was kind of mean.  Too mean; God forbid that any of us are ever in that position, ourselves.

So, here.  One of the best sequences from Mass Effect 3.  Spoilers, so don’t watch the video if you haven’t played the game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W7HZkBnB6w

Continue reading I had something else scheduled here…

Update on Bioware’s Mass Effect 3 revised ending DLC.

I originally had a snarkier title, but I don’t want to become one of those guys. So… new DLC ending. Hope it shuts down the controversy…

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–BioWare, a Label of Electronic Arts Inc. announced Mass Effect™ 3: Extended Cut, a downloadable content pack that will expand upon the events at the end of the critically acclaimed Action RPG. Through additional cinematic sequences and epilogue scenes, the Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut will give fans seeking further clarity to the ending of Mass Effect 3 deeper insights into how their personal journey concludes. Coming this summer, the Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut will be available for download on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC for no extra charge*.

“We are all incredibly proud of Mass Effect 3 and the work done by Casey Hudson and team,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, Co-Founder of BioWare and General Manager of EA’s BioWare Label. “Since launch, we have had time to listen to the feedback from our most passionate fans and we are responding. With the Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut we think we have struck a good balance in delivering the answers players are looking for while maintaining the team’s artistic vision for the end of this story arc in the Mass Effect universe.”

Continue reading Update on Bioware’s Mass Effect 3 revised ending DLC.

Bioware throws up hands, will have the Krogan bake a cake.

(Penny Arcade reference)

For lo! – The company has decided that the umpteen billion complaints – of which at least some could be, dare I say, accurately described as whines – represents an opportunity for the company to score an extra six to ten bucks out of all of the complainers’ hides.

The co-founder of Bioware Studios wrote on the company’s official blog that game developers are looking at the alternative outcomes for “Mass Effect 3” following protests that the differences are too minor, depending on choices players make during the course of the game.

The term of art is ‘game content initiatives.’  I suspect that means ‘happy-shiny ending DLC;’ and all I can say is, it better have a lot of spare credits and upgrade scattered through the play-through and not automatically replace the original ending.  Contra this, some of us actually liked the way that Mass Effect 3 ended.

But… fine.  Some people had legitimate reasons for being upset.  I’m happy for their sakes, even if it means less other-DLC down the line.

Continue reading Bioware throws up hands, will have the Krogan bake a cake.

I suspect that this Mass Effect 3 DLC issue isn’t the issue.

Short version: it’s being claimed that Bioware stripped out the  “From Ashes” ME3 DLC (downloadable content) from the main game in order to make more money.  There’s a bunch of stuff about code and a bunch of acronyms and whatnot; personally, I never noticed, mostly because I pre-ordered a physical copy of the game over a year ago after seeing what happened when everybody tried to download the Dragon Age 2 demo at once.  That bit of foresight got me the DLC for free.

Anyway, I think that this is more redirected grieving for a PC than anything else.  Or something.