@Decessus -- It shows a terrifying lack of respect for someone's creative vision. If you don't like it, make fun of it until your fingers turn blue. But demanding change compromises visions and dilutes the potential for games to go beyond mere entertainment. Future developers may fear an outcry and go with safe, boring stories, and that would be bad for everyone involved. I want the industry to grow. There will be stumbling along the way, but I'd rather play a few setbacks than see everything turn into homogenized blandness.
@darth_mage -- The decision I made was informed by the hundred hours I had spent playing the previous three games. Remember, this is a story in which you exist in -- not control -- so you're not going to be able to have a drastic impact on the events that unfold. Without having sunk in all those hours to learn how the galaxy and its species operate, I wouldn't have made the same decision. Bioware is not guilty of false advertising.
@Capt_Strife -- My position is that it doesn't matter if I liked the ending or not. That's the ending we have, and it warrants discussing it further and trying to figure everything out. I accept that ending for what it is, and have no problem reading people praise or rip. I just think demanding change is crossing a line. And Bioware wilting under the pressure? Unforgivable.
@commando1992 -- I agree that it's extra deplorable to cut online connectivity less than two years after release. But, really, it really doesn't matter when a game came out. Microsoft provides a service for every publisher, and keeps games released this generation online indefinitely. If EA wants to go their own way, they better live up to the standard that has already been set.
@Grimkillah -- I have little to no vested interest in ongoing online communities. I rarely play competitively. So, EA turning off access to the online components of games doesn't personally affect me at all. But I think it's an abhorrent business practice.
Kendall Boyd understands that trailers shouldn't be misleading (either from a visual or thematic standpoint) and yet stands by the Gears' trailers? Great piece, Laura. I love seeing the hypocrisy spelled out.
@bekyuubi -- The hate for Mass Effect 3 started long before people knew what the ending was. In this editorial, kevin looks at the aspects of the game that might have soured people before they even picked up a controller.
@PinnacleGamingP -- Off the top of my head, I can think of two reviews I wish I could write over again: With Braid, I was so worried about potentially spoiling parts of the game, I never really dove into what made it special. It deserved a more thorough analysis than I offered. Reading responses to my Infamous 2 review, I clearly didn't explain my position clearly enough. I found serious problems in that game and I wish I had communicated my position better. @hickabickabooya -- I was referring to people in my office who had played Super Meat Boy, not the industry at large. Super Meat Boy has a 90 on Metacritic, but before the embargo lifted, no one in GameSpot realized just how beloved it would become to both the press and consumers.
@krazken The Vita launch seems better than the 3DS one, but, yeah, it's the future that matters with new systems. Both should eventually have great libraries. @Leir_Bag Totally understand where you're coming from. Different people have different needs, though. For me, I have a smartphone but carry a 3DS for gaming because I vastly prefer those types of games. For other people, they may like smartphone gaming enough that a dedicated gaming handheld has to do something really special. I'm just glad there are options.
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