Postcards - Yea or Nay?

Want to make an impression, and tell Bioware what you think of what they've said about the extended cut? Want to give them a piece of your mind before it's too late to change theirs? Why not send a postcard? Read on for more details!

I'm firmly of the opinion that waiting to see what the extended cut is like is the worst thing we can do right now. I believe that Bioware is going to get one shot, and one shot alone, to fix this, and instead of actually fixing it they're trying to take half-measures just enough to placate us. I know a lot of people want to wait and see before we judge it, but the problem is that by then it will be too late - EA isn't going to authorize another expenditure of this magnitude if and when it fails, it will just be the end for ME3, the ME series, and probably Bioware as a studio (their name will be so ruined at that point that they'd be a liability rather than an asset for EA to keep open).

Obviously, what we've done so far isn't enough to get our point across, so I propose that, rather than sit and wait, we press harder. My idea is to make a postcard, on the front of which would be whatever short message we want to send (details to be worked out if people want to do it), and on the back of which, opposite the address panel, we could put either a manifesto detailing, briefly, our objection to the extended cut, or which could be left blank for people to personalize.

Logistically, this could be a bit tricky, but I think I found a good way to do it. Premium Postcard is linked from the USPS website, so I'm assuming it's legitimate, and would allow everyone who is interested to, individually, send their postcard from themselves, for between $1.58 and $2.13 each, depending on what size of postcard (that's including international postage to Canada). Alternatively, it could be done through Zazzle or some other company a bit cheaper, however shipping to each person and then from them would be much more expensive.

The recipients? Casey Hudson, Mac Walters, Dr. Ray Muzyka, and the public relations directors at EA. More people could potentially be targeted as well, but that's my initial idea. My first thought was to send them to their home addresses, but that could be seen as harassment, so instead, these would be sent to each of their work addresses - the ones specifically for them. I don't know what those are yet, but I'm sure we can find them.

So...what are people's thoughts? Concerns? Anything of the sort?


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Postcard

Here's a sample of the postcard - it's not set in stone, so if you have thoughts on it feel free to share them, but it should give you an idea:

Front:




Back:

We oppose an extended cut of the current ending which contains only "clarification and closure". The ending does not need clarification, for we already understand it, it simply does not fit with the themes or established lore of the Mass Effect universe and the previous two games. It does need closure, but given the breach of themes and poor writing of the shipped ending, any closure it can bring would be meaningless.

We will, however, fully support brand new endings that meet the promises you made to us - that they "would not be bespoke A, B, or C endings", that "there would not be a Reaper off-switch", and that our choices throughout the trilogy would "completely shape the way the ending plays out".

We do not want and will not accept a half-step of "clarification" and an extension to the series-breaking, setting-destroying ending we were given, we want brand new endings that give us what you promised us. We want you to succeed, we want to love your games and your company again, and we feel that you are only going to get one chance to make this right - please, do not waste it trying to placate us with "clarification and closure", rewrite the ending entirely to give us what you promised. We will wait for it, we will even pay for it, but commit to it now, before your fanbase deserts you, because once we are gone, you will not get us back.



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Addresses

These are the people to send the postcards to. Send it to as many of them as you'd like - all of them is best, but if you can't afford all of them but want to send it to a few, pick those you think are most important.


Casey Hudson (Producer and Project Director)
Bioware
4445 Calgary Trail NW
Edmonton, AB T6H 5R7
Canada



Mac Walters (Lead Writer)
Bioware
4445 Calgary Trail NW
Edmonton, AB T6H 5R7
Canada



Dr. Ray Muzyka (Senior Vice President and Group General Manager)
Electronic Arts Inc.
209 Redwood Shores Pkwy
Redwood City, CA 94065-1175
United States



Brian Keaster (Director, Customer Service Operations)
Electronic Arts Inc.
11501 Domain Dr
Austin, TX 78758-3483
United States



Michael Lawder (Vice President, World Wide Customer Experience)
Electronic Arts Inc.
209 Redwood Shores Pkwy
Redwood City, CA 94065-1175
United States



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How to Send

1) Go to Premium Postcard (site linked from USPS web site, if you're worried about legitimacy)

2) Click "Start a Mailing"

3) Click 5.5" x 8.5" in the left column

4) Click "Side Address"

5) Click "Upload your own image", then click "Browse" and choose the picture in the preview above (also in the spoiler here; you have to download it to your computer first), then click "Upload"

Show Spoiler Hide Spoiler

6) Check the box labelled "Proceed with this image or select a new image below" and click "Next"

7) Copy the text in the "Back" section of the postcard preview above or in the spoiler here and paste it into the box labelled "Enter your text for back panel here."

Show Spoiler Hide Spoiler

We oppose an extended cut of the current ending which contains only "clarification and closure". The ending does not need clarification, for we already understand it, it simply does not fit with the themes or established lore of the Mass Effect universe and the previous two games. It does need closure, but given the breach of themes and poor writing of the shipped ending, any closure it can bring would be meaningless.

We will, however, fully support brand new endings that meet the promises you made to us - that they "would not be bespoke A, B, or C endings", that "there would not be a Reaper off-switch", and that our choices throughout the trilogy would "completely shape the way the ending plays out".

We do not want and will not accept a half-step of "clarification" and an extension to the series-breaking, setting-destroying ending we were given, we want brand new endings that give us what you promised us. We want you to succeed, we want to love your games and your company again, and we feel that you are only going to get one chance to make this right - please, do not waste it trying to placate us with "clarification and closure", rewrite the ending entirely to give us what you promised. We will wait for it, we will even pay for it, but commit to it now, before your fanbase deserts you, because once we are gone, you will not get us back.

8) Click "Upload new accent" on the left-hand side of the preview, then click "Browse" and choose the HTL logo in the spoiler here (you have to download it to your computer first), then click "Upload"

Show Spoiler Hide Spoiler

9) Check the box labelled "Proceed with this image or select a new image below" and click "Next"

10) Click the arrow next to "Enter Addresses", enter the address of the person you're sending it to, then click "Save Selections", and repeat until you've added all of them that you want to send to. Make sure all of them are selected (click the arrow beneath "Select Names" to make sure) then click "Next"

11) Review the information to make sure everything is correct (make sure the date is correct - sending on May 1st is ideal, but whenever you want to is fine), then check the box labelled "I approve this mailing" and click "Next"

12) In the area labelled "My Cart", make sure to make the numbers in the "Quantity" boxes match the number of postcards you are sending, and click "Update" on that same line if you change it to do so. Keep in mind, the line labelled "First Class Mail" is for US addresses, and the line labelled "International Mail" is for Canadian addresses, regardless of where you live in the world (because they're being sent by the company). Once you have done so, click "Next"

13) Enter your payment information (PayPal is accepted if you don't have a credit card - all 5 of them together should be $8.47 USD), then click "Next"

14) Cross your fingers, wish on your favorite star, and hope Bioware finally gets the message!

I actually like this idea! Better than the letter campaign imo.

It sounds like a letter campaign with a common image on the front.
This could be rough, and one misstep and it's harassment, but overall it's a solid idea.
I could get behind it.

In a way, it is a letter campaign, but specifically targeted to the people making the decisions on this, in a way that's harder to ignore (in my opinion) than simply text. I don't see how it can be harassment if we're sending it to their offices, though - if it was to their homes, I'd be concerned about that, but their offices? Then again, I'm no lawyer, so...if we have any lawyers who could weigh in on that, that'd be great! <_<

I agree that waiting would not be in the game's best interest, and that Bioware (and subsequently us) are likely only to get one shot at this. So I agree that we should take some action as soon as possible, but I'm reluctant to outright reject what they're doing. I would prefer something more constructive. What we DO want, rather than what we don't.

That would be part of the manifesto bit I mentioned, though I think anything in that direction needs to be phrased fairly openly. We're not (at least, I'm not) trying to get them to make my ending, though I'd love it if they did, I just want them to make endings fitting for Mass Effect that meet what we were promised. Telling them that it isn't what they gave us and it isn't what they say they're going to give us gives them room to write something in line with the rest of the game and the rest of the series.

That said...I'd much prefer "here is the ending, now implement it" to what we have now or the extended cut, so if that's what people want to go with, I'll back it, lol.

Good points, it hadn't occurred to me that that might come off "entitled," rather than constructive. I see what you're saying. Either way, I'm sure the community could agree on a wording that would be acceptable, so Imma go vote Yes. I'm definitely in favor of pushing at least one initiative that won't cost people much.

I like the idea. It's cheap and gets the point across. So is this were I tell you to "Shut up and take my money"?

Holding The Line

lol, you can if you want, I'll certainly gladly accept any donations to the "get the poor girl nice new things" fund ^_- But the great thing about using the site I linked is that I'm never holding your money, nor is anyone else - you pay that company, they send the card in your name where you want. So all I'm providing is the idea and, potentially, help with the design of the card.

If we do decide to do it, my thought is that we'd pick a day, or a weekend or whatever, and have everyone send it at that time, much like with a letter campaign. That way they're getting the cards all at more or less the same time, but each card is from a different "sender", and wouldn't be all delivered as a package or whatever, it'd be just the same as all of us individually sending one from home, more or less.

I like this idea, and the use of the company mentioned (or one like it) means it's easy for those that want to join in to do so, and provided the postcards are done right then I'm all for it.

The most important thing is that we don't back Bioware/EA into a corner, we need them to understand that we aren't trying to conduct a scorched earth campaign, and that if they are willing to provide an ending we can be happy with, we will bring our resources to bare and will do our part in promoting the DLC and the company as a whole (Quid pro quo).

We need to be able to enter into a discussion with the company that allows a constuctive dialogue about our issues with the ending (and not have us come across as entitled whiners), and likewise, hopefully results in Bioware producing a DLC that can provide us with an ending we can live with, and one that does not exceed any technical, financial or time constraints Bioware may have.

Yeah, I agree with this approach. It seems more like a diplomatic approach than sending out postcards.

shoot i meant to click yes...oh well ignore one of the 2 no's votes..lolol

Yeah, it would definitely be easy to do with them, we'd just need to come up with a design and all. My thoughts are basically that the front could be the "To clarify: we want new endings" thing I've seen around, with the HTL logo in the background, and on the back opposite the address it would have a message that basically says "we reject the extended cut, and here is why; please reconsider, do what's right for your fans and your previous work, and make all new endings that fit the themes of the series". We could definitely put something in about being on their side if they'll just give the series a proper send-off or something, I'm just not entirely sure how to word that and I just woke up, lol.

lol, no worries.

I actually think that an "extended cut" could work as long as the extension got rid of everything after the teleporter (get rid of star child) but the choices aren't all that bad (a little corny) then throw in all of your past decisions and your readiness score having an effect on how that choice turns out and BAM! you have an ending that would have been better than the one we got and if they did it in a way that made sense and plugged the plot holes and gave us closure we could have a proper ending.

So I don't think we should straight up reject the extended cut because to be honest they really could fix it... at least to the point where it is palatable. Because like Ozbugzy said they will prob only get one shot at it and they will be working with finite time and resources so we need to be more constructive than just saying we reject the thought of it.

Yea.

If we sent it RIGHT to them, they can't ignore it. You have my vote for yes.

Well, rejecting it would also come with a "it needs new endings, which take into account the following:", so there would be constructive suggestions there too. The idea behind this is that the extended cut, at best, can only give us a bad ending rather than the worst ending in the history of storytelling. We want that one shot to be used to make a good ending, not to try a half-measure to salvage the unsalvageable.

Seems like a really good idea. I'm all for it.

We just have to make sure we handle this as tactfully as possible. But obviously we can't act like pushovers

I like this idea!