Bioware’s Bad Week

Since last week’s entry describing my issues with the runaway freight train that is Mass Effect 3′s marketing, a few things have changed.  Somehow, despite my annoyance at the constant barrage of advertising, I am finding myself excited for Mass Effect 3.  So excited, in fact, that I’ve been playing through the Mass Effect 2 DLC, making sure my Commander Shepard has all of his side quests wrapped up in the event their data affects the next game.  This is a feature that I wish more developers would include in their sequels.

However, it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows for Bioware at the moment.  Hit the jump for a look at some of the Bioware news floating around the internet this week:

DLC DEBACLE – Bioware is putting out a PR fire this week after DLC for Mass Effect 3 showed up on XBox Live.  The “From Ashes” DLC is drawing fire for two reasons: it reveals some spoilers for the new game, but it also features a character that many gamers feel would be a vital part of the Mass Effect storyline.  I’ll avoid specifics and spoilers for now, but the storm that has brewed is a result of accusations that the public is being forced to buy additional, essential content that should be included free on the disc.  This is similar to the Gears of War 3 DLC debacle, in which players downloaded new maps from XBox Live, only to find out that they were actually buying a license to unlock content already on the disc.  Bioware is arguing that the content would never have made the certification and mastering deadlines for going out on disc, saying the approval process is so long that they were able to focus on this DLC after the completion of Mass Effect 3.

My personal takeaway: Until we have a game in hand, it is hard to argue whether or not the experience is crippled.  However, no one forces you to buy this DLC.  It isn’t like Major Nelson comes into your living room and threatens you with bodily harm if you don’t spend the 800 Microsoft Points.  If you don’t like it, don’t buy it.  Now, if the game does come out and it is blatantly unfinished, forcing you to buy content just to get full enjoyment out of it, then we can complain.  At the moment, it seems that people are putting the cart before the horse.  What is even more curious is the amount of anger over this content, which comes bundled with the Collector’s Edition as an incentive.  We’ve seen several titles offer more content with the collector’s edition, but it feels like only Mass Effect has drawn this much ire.  I’m also curious why the “day one” approach bothers people so much; would waiting a few months soften the blow?

This next part makes me ashamed to be a gamer – Another issue the developer is grappling with originated on the time sucking website Reddit.  In a post titled “The Cancer that is killing Bioware”, gamers started hurling insults at one of Bioware’s writers, Jennifer Hepler.  Apparently, Hepler isn’t a gamer, and argued for a mechanic that would let people skip combat to focus on the story, much like you can skip cutscenes to get back to combat.  The reaction to this idea was less than kind.  Another quote showed that she doesn’t enjoy playing the games she helps create.  These quotes was coupled with fake quotes, including some concerning Mass Effect.  This would mean something if she had worked on the series; instead, Hepler has worked on both Dragon Age titles and Star Wars: The Old Republic.   The harassment on Twitter had gotten so bad that Bioware GM Aaryn Flynn lost his temper defending her, telling an attacker to “Go fuck yourself”.  Since the post violated Reddit’s rules against targeting an individual, it has been removed.

First off, good for Flynn.  There are times where people need to be put in their place, and this was one.  Honestly, sometimes I’m ashamed to be a gamer, and it is BS like this that bothers me.  Let’s consider the strikes against her: one, the mechanic that lets you skip combat.  I’m sorry, but this is a BRILLIANT idea.  There, I said it.  Come at me, angry Bioware fans, but first consider how much this could help sales.  For one, Hepler never said that we should just remove combat and have only cutscenes, she just asked for a mechanic to make it possible.  Like shooting stuff?  Good, that’s still there.  However, if you’re a gamer that doesn’t really enjoy shooters, but think something like the universe and dialogue system of Mass Effect are interesting, this would be the perfect mechanic for you.  I know people that would use this option.  When I played Mass Effect 2 back in 2010, my girlfriend even asked if there was a similar title that had the exploration and social interactions without all the shooting.

Second, who cares if the woman isn’t a gamer?  Her job is to write stories for the games, an element Bioware has always prioritized.  She is tasked with constructing a narrative, and if that’s her passion, more power to her.  The point is, she was hired to write, not to play games.  To argue that this single woman is a “cancer”, which is an appalling choice of words, is completely blind to the other hundred people working on one game.  I have yet to meet the person that argued that Dragon Age or The Old Republic would be perfect games if it weren’t for the writing.  I’m sure that person exists (hell, Reddit proved they do), but the point is that the vast majority of players don’t find themselves noticing a problem with Hepler’s writing.

Now to be fair, Hepler didn’t help the situation by responding on Twitter, arguing there was jealousy that she was both a woman and had an industry job.  Regardless of her actions though, the fact that this many people jumped on a woman simply because she mentioned some hypothetical features for a game is slightly sickening.

Also, when was it decided that Bioware was in decline?  I’ve seen that sentiment across several forums, and I don’t really agree.  Sure, Dragon Age wasn’t amazing, but The Old Republic had both a strong launch and strong reviews. Gamers as a community are so willing to turn on a developer at a moment’s notice.

Let’s end on some good / wacky news – First, the good:  Old Republic players are playing the game, on average, in shifts of four hours.  That’s pretty impressive.  Supposedly this average would be much lower if our very own Q quit the game.

Now for the wacky news: in a final push for Mass Effect 3, there is now a petition you can sign that asks the UK government to release information regarding alien life.  I am serious.

Better get the tin foil hats ready.

Mass Effect 3 launches March 6th on Playstation 3, XBox 360, and PC.