EA/Bioware in Full PR Damage Control Mode v3 *UPDATED 5/7/12, 12:34 PM UTC/GMT -4 hours*

Sorry for linking another thing from our forum.

But it is a nice find by SeventyOne

http://www.holdtheline.com/threads/...-of-innovation-and-change-communication.1535/

In my opinion, the gaming journalists, that played the artistic integrity card first (before EA/BW picked it up), are preoccupied with the question if games are art. And they are thinking only they are allow to criticize games.

Interesting take. What I get out of it is that EA/BioWare either decided to use the game journalists "artistic integrity" argument as an "out" to take the easiest option of dealing with the situation, or they were afraid of looking dumb in the eyes of the media.

I think his speculation near the end of the paper is probably spot on - EC will likely make nobody happy, and BioWare will end up being just as bad off as if they'd done nothing at all (assuming that "clarification and closure" (ie: turd polishing) is all we'll be getting). That's what happens sometimes when you try to carefully walk the center line - it's often a better idea to pick a side.

it's a nice find but I think SeventyOne's interpretation is flawed. I've copied my response from that thread to here:

That is an inaccurate interpretation of the events and this paper, but I can fully understand why you think it. I think it was more the fact the controversy was so widespread and that the discourse was becoming so divided that Bioware risked alienating both sides of the coin. Instead of continuing to alienate both sides of their fanbase (those who liked the ending/those who did not) they found a compromise as a result of both our influences and the professional reviewers.

When debate becomes so polarised there is only ever the option for a compromise and even that risks both sides rejecting the compromise even if they ultimately have to accept that it is the only viable course of action.

I really would like to ask @atghunter for His opinion:
till Monday we had Turn ON/OFF campaign and then, after long BW silence, immediately on Tuesday and Wednesday, we have leak about DLC for multiplayer and few Merizan's tweets about hard work, answers in DLC EC and so on (I posted these tweets in other thread - here link). It means that BW ensured during this campaign that we are truly the minority? Or it's only coincidence?

That doesn't make sense....why would it be a non-option DLC if people could choose not to download it? lol. but i get what you mean man.

I don't think I agree with your assessment, Luke. What it seems like we'll be getting is more along the lines of the illusion of compromise. That's what I meant when I said that the "artistic integrity" argument gave them an "out" - what they're doing is creating end-game content completely on their terms, which is pretty much the antithesis of compromise.

Very few people that I've seen are simply asking for more "clarity", and a lot of the articles and videos regarding the failure of the ending spell out very clearly just how much the narrative collapsed in the last 10-15 minutes. Granted, some of the failure is due to lack of explanation, but a fair chunk of it comes from the introduction of a literal "god in the machine" in the final moments of the story. Yet the Star Child is apparently staying put. I don't think that's what I'd call a compromise - it's essentially paying lip service and little else.

I'd also take issue with the idea that the ME3 ending fiasco has been "polarising". Unless you count Casey Hudson, a few dozen BSN trolls, and a handful of game "journalists" as being a pole unto themselves. When a large majority seem to agree on something, "polarising" is a serious misnomer.

And I know I'm preaching to the choir to an extent, otherwise you wouldn't be here. But if the star child has taught us anything, it's that more explanation is always better than less, right?

I don't disagree with your assessment, i was merely commenting on Seventy One's reaction and analysis more than anything else.

With regards to polarising, I think it's hard to quantify the true numbers....many people just arern't that bothered, which are often grouped in with those who liked the ending, this is what distorts the perception of us (along with negative coverage) and makes us seem like a minority.

Indeed, there are various subgroups which you began to suggest such as those unable to express their opinions, those who aren't familiar enough with the online world to seek out people witih similar views, and so on. It certainly wouldn't surprise me when (and IF) true numbers are obtained (via download figures of the extended cut vs those who chose not to) that those figures are skewed to be indicative of a majority having no negative views on the ending.

Ofcourse referring to us as a vocal minority is a bad move, but as far as PR 101 goes, it's standard practice. I expect we will continue to be portrayed as a minority unless the download figures are too high to be used to manipulate the public at large.

I completely agree with this - I also think BW has set out on paper with this ending it would end up something like this.....up to 25% hating the ending....50% roughly wouldn't care and 25% would like it - giving them polarisation and also time to create the real endings.....

They weren't expecting the shift in the scale they created.......its more along the lines of 50%+ I'd say even as high as 75-80% actually hate the ending........and rest lumped together; the do not care and those that like it. They didn't expect us to gather so quickly; to beat the game so fast *which honestly was dumb* and how we keep out manuvoring them.

We've changed the rules of PR with this one - and also forced the gaming industry to actually take a step back and go crap.

Nearly a month ago I had a conversation with a statistician on another thread, and I can't remember for the life of me who it was. I'll see if I can find the thread later, but the numbers he had come up with suggested around 49% hated the ending.

I'd figured its at least 50% - honestly I honestly haven't met or talked to with someone that actually likes the ending; most of these people don't do BSN - I got a few hundred gamer friends on facebook; not one of them actually like it - all my gamer friends; people I used to lan with; which again over hundred people.......none of them like it....

Entirely possible. The math worked out to 49%, but it's very possible, or even likely, that you're correct. I was actually agreeing with you. Having connection issues with a thunderstorm tonight, having trouble editing posts to clarify.

Ah np lol

I could see around 50% being accurate - with about 35% not giving a shit either way, 14% liking it and 1% being delusional BioWare/EA apologists.

It's worth pointing out that "vocal minority" doesn't mean it's a minority opinion (contrary to what the PR wants people to believe). It means that a minority is vocal, only a portion of the players are voicing any opinion. Whether it's a representative sample, I have no idea.

I was part of the "silent majority" before the controversy. Completely nonexistent in BSN. I wonder how many people were like me, that started to take up the stand when this happened? I believe that they were many and that is easily explained if one can remember the amount of traffic BSN got, and still gets.

I was one of them.

The only time I pipped on BSN was to answer to one of the mods. Said mod had just moaned "It hurts me and the dev team that players seem to believe that our game came out unfinished, when it's not true.". I had then to pip in and answer "I'm sorry you and the rest of the devs are sad. However, if THIS was the best you could do, and did not actually rushed a half-baked product out the door... that makes everything so much worst. Because if this is your BEST..."