@ dbene Better than that, they didn’t even say it was possible, even though everyone is acting like that is what was said. People read a headline and don’t hear what the man actually said, which is: “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.” That sounds like DLC to me. It doesn’t sound like we listened to everyone’s opinion and due to the outcry have decided to change the ending.

@groundzero91 None of those items are entertainment products, but I’ll go with you down that road. You pay for a game, MOST games have a single player component and a multiplayer component. When you sign up to play that multiplayer component they inform you that it can be terminated at any time. That is something you click the little button to accept, that most people don’t take the time to read. There is a thing called reasonable service. Having online functionality for life is not reasonable because it cost money to maintain and at a certain point there is no profit in even making a game with an online element if you are expected to pay to have the server up for life. There is a middle ground here however. All you gamers that are up in arms about these titles being shutdown, get together and petition EA to do what the WoWs of the world have done for years, and create a pay to play model that allows you to get together and pay to keep that server running. If there is a large enough demand they will be happy to take your money and you can play to your heart’s content. The fact is there isn’t demand for these games which is why they are shutting down the servers to begin with. People expect them to keep servers on for games that really aren’t even being played online just for the hell of it. It is easy for people to complain about because it isn’t their money, but I doubt any of them would want to put up money to keep the servers on.

@bucktoothgamer I’m with you. Complaining is fine, but demanding a change is different. If a developer had an idea of their own will and delivered that to the consumer as optional content such as an alternate ending on a DVD, that is one thing. For the fans to coerce them into trying to create something to sate their desire is something different. That isn’t artistic freedom and something that happened organically. It isn’t the same. By the way, anyone who thinks this will be free… smh… What you paid for was in the budget, for them to do extra wasn’t so that is going to be done at your expense. Expect the usually $10 fee for their efforts.

@Apathetic_Prick I agree with you. I stated in an earlier post that I disagree with a publisher shutting down online service in less than 24 months. My discussion was with people who feel that these services should be ongoing and never be shut down. I think it is illogical. We may all have different opinions on how long a product should be supported and I see most people’s view is different than mine, but to think it should be supported forever isn’t reasonable in my mind. I get that different products have limited lifetime warranties, but my point was how many entertainment products have lifetime support. Not to mention support that comes at no cost to the consumer such as an annual fee for continued service. Also, I didn’t see anything that got shut off in less than a year, and even less that had many people still playing. Unless I missed something the earliest I remember reading was 17 months (which I think is a bit shady because like I said, less than 24 months), and they stated these titles are less than 1% of their active user base.

If they make a new ending then I’m sure there will be still plenty of people who don’t like the new ending, so here’s an idea… Make a new ending every month! Sooner or later everyone will find at least one ending they like. I mean you can’t leave a consumer unsatisfied, and everyone needs an ending they can enjoy. Plus at $10 a pop it’ll be like you sold the game 10 times to each person. Seriously this is idiocy. When’s the last time you went to the movies with your friends, enjoyed it but didn’t like the ending, and decided to get together and give money to people other than the one’s you are trying to convince, so that you can get the ending to the movie changed.

@ ThoseSaints Games are just as much art as films or drawings or any other thing you want to look at as art. Art is bought and sold all the time as a product, it doesn’t cease from being art simply because the person allows their creative expression to be sold for profit. Movies such as the Godfather are seen as art even though it was created for the sole intent to be presented to an audience. Your logic is flawed. Games actually can be the greatest form of modern art we have. It incorporates elements of literary art such as what you would find in a novel, with artistic expressions through images like you find in paintings, along with cinematography like film. It all combines to one to make the final product. Just like any other media, some is better than others, but it doesn’t stop it from being someone’s artistic expression just because the execution may be lacking.

It really seems like the gaming community is being hijacked by a bunch of spoiled children who spam metacritic, harass people on twitter, and are just all out annoying pricks if they don’t get their way. It is okay to disagree with someone/something, but to just turn into a tool because something doesn’t live up to your personal expectations is over the line. The fact that people feel that this developer should change the ending of their game for any reason other than technical issues is absurd. It is theirs to do with as they please. If they wanted to pull a Sapronos and go black screen at the end it is their right to do so. You can hate it all you want but the idea that people are trying to demand changes is beyond arrogant.

I think people are overreacting on both sides. Where exactly did he say they are making a new ending? “"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." Those clamoring for a new ending feeling as if they are finally about to get it may be excited for no reason. Those thinking the artistic vision is compromised or that Bioware sold out with the recent comments need to hold off judgment until they actually see what comes of this. I read or heard nothing about anything actually changing or being changed. It sounds like they may just make additional DLC to address some of the complaints. I think people are reading way too much into that statement.

@bignick217 I’m not missing the point I simply disagree. You seemed to miss this part of the article: “Microsoft runs the servers for the vast majority of Xbox 360 games. Publishers pay a fee for this privilege, and then Microsoft ensures that the online components function appropriately.” The servers are going to get paid for one way or another, you do it or you pay to have it done for you. EA chose to do it themselves, which I still don’t have an issue with. And let me clarify, I’m basically talking about console games which was what this article seems to be referring to with the mention of Microsoft running the online servers. PC is something different all together. Tom kind of glossed over the issue of paying Microsoft to host the servers. He didn’t say if this was a onetime fee (which I doubt it is), a monthly fee, or an annual fee; nor did he say how much that fee cost exactly. To me, that fee changes everything. If it is a small onetime fee then EA should be letting Microsoft handle it, but the fact that EA is spending the money they do to run things themselves I’d be willing to wager they consider what they are doing to be more cost effective than paying to have it done for them. Why else would you take on the financial burden? Continued below…

As far as your comment about this being no different than a political issue… We have a difference in opinion on what is your right and what is your privilege. I think there should be a standard for reasonable service. You buy a car, a TV, a console; there is a limited warranty on that item. I can’t think of any other entertainment item that is purchased where the consumer expects lifetime developer support, but for some reason this is different.