Excuse Me, Bioware: What The F#*% Are You Doing?

By Lo-Ping - Thu May 05, 10:18 pm

So Western RPG hot-spot Bioware is one of gaming’s Sacred Cows.  They’ve given us such gems as Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knight of the Old Republic, and more recent franchises like Mass Effect and Dragon Age.  So why would a company with such an arguably flawless track record want to screw over their image and isolate their fanbase?  But perhaps we’re getting ahead of ourselves.  Let’s take a closer look at the inner workings behind the scenes of Bioware’s latest work-in-progress: Mass Effect 3.

WHO THE FUCK?!
According to this interview with OXM, senior designer Christina Norman was quoted as follows:

“We want to enrich the role-playing aspects of the game, while making sure that they’re always meaningful in combat,” she said when asked about how the faster, fluider combat gelled with the game’s RPG systems….We don’t want to have any meaningless behind-the-scenes stat games, where the output is very minor in combat. Every single thing you do has a real impact in the battle.”

Essentially it boils down to cut out roleplaying elements…to enhance roleplaying.

WHAT THE FUCK?!

So what does this mean for you, the end user?  In short, an RPG with no stats and tacked on combat powers to keep their street cred.  Lovely…  First Dragon Age 2, and now this shit.  “We want to enrich the roleplaying elements of the game!  By removing them all!”

It’s funny when you think about it, because when they released that chart showing what they learned from player feedback after ME2, more RPG elements was central to it.  So basically, they took everything that the players said they wanted… wiped their ass with it… and threw it out of a FUCKING window.

"Ha! They posted it again!"

What was once chess has become checkers.

WHY THE FUCK?!
At this point, it’s perfectly rational to question Bioware’s logic.  Why change the formula for something that’s garnered them success and critical/fan acclaim in the past?  What’s worth the risk?  In short, a wider audience.  More specifically, Modern Warfare’s audience.  They’re honestly believing that  an overhaul to the system to isolate their finicky yet tirelessly devoted fanbase will appeal to an even more finicky and (let’s face it) unreliable fanbase.

Pictured: Bioware's new target audience.

As if the audience for this game isn’t already huge as it stands…  I mean seriously!  They said DA2’s team was different from ME’s team!

HOW THE FUCK?!
At this point you may be thinking to yourself, “Oh no!  What ever shall I do to rescue my beloved franchise from the clutches of the dreaded Frat-ocracy?”  Here’s where the glimmer of hope glimmers onwards like a glimmering glimmerer.  Although misguided, Bioware is one of the few remaining companies that still takes stock in what their fans say (believe it or not).  So make yourself heard!  Make a rational appeal on their forums!  Hell, if you’re savvy enough, snag one of the developers’ email and pour your heart out to them!  Let it be known that you want to keep the RP in your G!  Hold them to their promise of more robust RPG elements!

We’ve got to draw the line somewhere with developers!  Next thing you know, they’ll be telling us Dark Souls has a difficulty setting.

6 Comments

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  1. 0

    Shoot, who would have tuhohgt that it was that easy?

  2. +1

    Bioware started me1 as a rpg with strong story elements and light shooter elements with the focus being role playing and exploration me2 stripped out way too many of the skills that could be improved with simply leveling up and aplying skill points all that had to be done to improve things in 2 where remove the weapon stats only put in less combat instead of simplifying the level up system remove 1 or 2 skills would have worked and keeping in the planet exploration but on a larger scale with more interesting environments and making the hammer head a part of the core game instead dlcscams anyone from the cod crowd got a nasty response go to hell

  3. -1

    Shooting should never be decided by math. The RPG elements should really only be in play when deciding how you change the story of the game. Can't F'ing wait for super actiony ME3.

  4. -2

    I loved mass effect 1. ME2 was better in every way other than the strength of the main story and the mining in my opinion. I hear fools constantly referencing the first game and their love for the inventory system which was shiiiite. Unlike you losers I have confidence in Bioware to deliver a stunning finally to shepards trilogy and I'm sure just as ME2 was superior in almost every way to the first game, ME3 will be superior to ME2. Case closed.

    1. +1

      dude, please…you are obv part of that MW2 crowd that likes to button mash and enjoys shooting game, cause me2 is just a third person shooter with dialogue wheel…in terms of RPG, me1 destroys me2 in that aspect in every single way….the fact that me3 is going to appeal to the masses only means its going to be dumbed down. Dragon age 2, is biowares worst game to date..pres A and awesome happens, yet that formula has fans raging…so no, Bioware, or now, EAware, is not the studio it used to be…EA rushes them for money and instead of standing up they behave like lil bitches and take it up the butt to please lil ppl like you

  5. +1

    I was intensely disappointed by Mass Effect 2.

    Sure the combat was smoother but the disjointed, loading screen filled design was irritating and a story that seems purely in service of newcomers left me feeling like I wasn't important to Bioware at all.

    Come on Bioware, Jade Empre 2 – No fuckups

  6. +1

    Bioware has decide to destroy ME franchise and itself.

    I was already very disappointed by ME2…
    ME2 wasn't the much promised second chapter in the trilogy… it was an action reboot!
    A spin-off more than a proper sequel!

    They call it EA EFFECT!

    1. +1

      Agreed! Beautifully said.

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