Mass Effect 3 apology? BioWare co-founder releases statement

Electronic Arts

(CBS News) BioWare co-founder Ray Muzyka has released the following statement on Wednesday afternoon addressing the negative criticism regarding the ending of the popular video game "Mass Effect 3" and day-one downloadable content, "From Ashes." According to CNET News, the video game company says it is "actively and seriously" taking all feedback into consideration, with no decision made yet regarding the end to the science fiction role-playing game.

To Mass Effect 3 players, from Dr. Ray Muzyka, co-founder of BioWare...

As co-founder and GM of BioWare, I'm very proud of the ME3 team; I personally believe Mass Effect 3 is the best work we've yet created. So, it's incredibly painful to receive feedback from our core fans that the game's endings were not up to their expectations. Our first instinct is to defend our work and point to the high ratings offered by critics - but out of respect to our fans, we need to accept the criticism and feedback with humility.

I believe passionately that games are an art form, and that the power of our medium flows from our audience, who are deeply involved in how the story unfolds, and who have the uncontested right to provide constructive criticism. At the same time, I also believe in and support the artistic choices made by the development team. The team and I have been thinking hard about how to best address the comments on ME3's endings from players, while still maintaining the artistic integrity of the game.

Mass Effect 3 concludes a trilogy with so much player control and ownership of the story that it was hard for us to predict the range of emotions players would feel when they finished playing through it. The journey you undertake in Mass Effect provokes an intense range of highly personal emotions in the player; even so, the passionate reaction of some of our most loyal players to the current endings in Mass Effect 3 is something that has genuinely surprised us. This is an issue we care about deeply, and we will respond to it in a fair and timely way. We're already working hard to do that.

To that end, since the game launched, the team has been poring over everything they can find about reactions to the game - industry press, forums, Facebook, and Twitter, just to name a few. The Mass Effect team, like other teams across the BioWare Label within EA, consists of passionate people who work hard for the love of creating experiences that excite and delight our fans. I'm honored to work with them because they have the courage and strength to respond to constructive feedback.

Building on their research, 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. This is in addition to our existing plan to continue providing new Mass Effect content and new full games, so rest assured that your journey in the Mass Effect universe can, and will, continue.

The reaction to the release of Mass Effect 3 has been unprecedented. On one hand, some of our loyal fans are passionately expressing their displeasure about how their game concluded; we care about this feedback, and we're planning to directly address it. However, most folks appear to agree that the game as a whole is exceptional, with more than 75 critics giving it a perfect review score and a review average in the mid-90s. Net, I'm proud of the team, but we can and must always strive to do better.

Some of the criticism that has been delivered in the heat of passion by our most ardent fans, even if founded on valid principles, such as seeking more clarity to questions or looking for more closure, for example - has unfortunately become destructive rather than constructive. We listen and will respond to constructive criticism, but much as we will not tolerate individual attacks on our team members, we will not support or respond to destructive commentary.

If you are a Mass Effect fan and have input for the team - we respect your opinion and want to hear it. We're committed to address your constructive feedback as best we can. In return, I'd ask that you help us do that by supporting what I truly believe is the best game BioWare has yet crafted. I urge you to do your own research: play the game, finish it and tell us what you think. Tell your friends if you feel it's a good game as a whole. Trust that we are doing our damndest, as always, to address your feedback. As artists, we care about our fans deeply and we appreciate your support.

Thank you for your feedback - we are listening.

Ray

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[Vic1105]

I just started playing mass effect, I never played a RPG game before but I was amaze on how much your/my choices had on the story line. I also love how we have an option on our appearance, This has been the only game that I've played 8+ hours straight, my wife hates it lol... My point is that I love what you guys have done and just wanted to tell you guys thank you, because I was playing games once a week if that. I just bought ME3 and i heard the ending sucks lol, but I feel as long as the player has a choice like always we will be happy me personally love happy endings and i'm hoping is not what i think.... Prison break?? i hope not .....Great Job tho bioware/EA!! LOVE the GAMES!! EA has never let me down. p.s. thanks for listening to the fans

[Hreroth]

Further Bioware always given "CHOICES" to players to choose the paths (PARAGON or RENEGADE)which effect the game.

However some players (RENEGADE) found out will LOSE WAR ASSETS in ME 3, try to image that DISAPPOINTMENT that player with the "CHOICES" from the previous ME Series.

If there is the case, why Bioware still let players to choose of which the only benefactor is the PARAGON PLAYERS.

[Hreroth]

I personally very appreciated the great work of Bioware (Dragon age, Dragon age 2, Mass Effect series)

Despite disappointment of Dragon age 2, yet i remain support Mass Effect series. Especially Mass Effect 2, why support Mass Effect 3?

1. Combat system improve
2. Nice Story construction
3. Series Connection (import function)
4. Excellent Graphic

Despite the 4 of advantages can EASILY DESTROYED by 2 MAIN DISADVANTAGES.

1. The ENDING OF THE GAME jeopardize the replay value of Mass Effect 3, forget about rude & harsh words, just listen to what the video try to tell. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFq531vkNOY&feature=related)

2. The players are FORCE TO PLAY MULTIPLAYER just to get a BEST ENDING which is just 22 seconds to explain Shepard is alive.

[bk10124]

The feedback has never been about "clarity or closure" as Muzkya puts it. It has been about accusations about plot holes, false advertising, and DLC fraud. Painting yourselves as the victims isn't going to help your case either.

[Hreroth]

remain calm.

[shinishiro]

As an advid fan of Bioware's work with the Mass Effect universe,I have to say I've thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in the games.

I've had gaming consoles since the early days. No game has ever been as emotionally engaging, thought provoking, visually mesmerizing,or better written. The choices that you are presented with could have a profound effect throughout the rest of the gameplay with your character. That's huge.

Now to the point. The third episode has been polished until it shines. The characters, the game environments, the gameplay itself, has been massively improved. Definitely the best yet. Leagues beyond ANY OTHER TITLE. The addition of the multiplayer option ties in perfectly with the storyline. It adds a whole new perspective to the universe which was a winning idea. I can't say enough about how much the multiplayer option adds to the experience.

But that's the point. This series has always been a adventure with a tactical, military foundation rooted in the game. Bioware has spent much time and effort to attract players that love a great shooter with an amazing storyline. Those facets of the game have been constants through the series.

I completed the ending a few days ago and was completely surprised. Not in a good way. I totally understand Bioware is a company full of artistic talent. That's why I'm a fan. But this ending did not stay true to the story. Playing both of the preceeding games, one would expect the conclusion would involve the same tactical, military based strategy to finish this journey. The climax has been building in such a way, there had to be only one or two possible outcomes. The outcomes presented just weren't feasible.

I never dreamed I'd be feeling disappointment, instead of the same excitement, at the end of the saga. Bioware, thank you for all of your great sacrifices and hard work to entertain us with your incredible story. Just take all of the constructive criticism very seriously.

[KoDee4272]

I Believe Mass Effect 3 was a great game. The Mass Effect series was an unbelievably immersive and well designed story. I think it is because the story is appealing that there have been such strong negative reactions to the ending of the game. I'll even admit that I was initially unsatisfied with the closing scenes of the game. It felt strangely incongruent with the design of the game, because while the game centered around tough choices, there were always consequences felt by them.
However, after a few days of reflection, just because we don't like the options or know the whole outcome of the final choice doesn't mean that Shepard can walk away from it. Ultimately, the game ends with one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make playing a game, which should be what any real Mass Effect fan should have been expecting coming into the game...

That being said, I'm not really sure I understand the decision of BioWare to destroy the Mass Relays in all outcomes of the game as that is probably the major issue of closure in the game--it leaves WAY to many loose ends.

[Charlie1701]

I Love Mass Effect. It is possibly the most intricate and satisfying game ever made. I have sunk over 200 hours into playing through the series over and over. I can understand what BioWare was going for in the current endings, but I believe that they could have done better. I am a bit of a romantic, that being said, I would have liked to have seen a more happy ending, or at the very least, more closure. I was hoping for a more emotional ending involving Shepard's romantic interest. Tali, in my case...

[Scimajor]

I played 1 and 2 but haven't had time for 3 yet. Still, I don't think anyone who has played any of the games can dispute that Mass Effect has been a "game changer" (pun intended) for the gaming industry. It was and still is, standing head and shoulders above the competition.

Let's also remember that the developement team is composed of PEOPLE and that Mass Effect is a GAME. The developers at Mass Effect poured their hearts and souls into this game and to have people spitting fire and brimestone at the developers because gamers didn't like the ending is well .... childish and mean spirited at best.

[Chuck Claude]

My fingers are crossed. I genuinely hope that Bioware is sincere. Bioware is NOT our enemy. The graphics and game play on ME3 are outstanding in my opinion. However, only they have the artists who can really fix this to address the concerns of tens of thousands of loyal ME fans.

Thank you for your article!

[munozyoshi]

It's a start, hopefully we get some good content in April. I love the game but disliked the ending due to the many loopholes. There was no closure at all.