Protest in... CUPCAKES?

Okay fans, I believe Bioware has heard you, and if you do not believe me check out my previous post HERE on how they let us know they are doing something about it. Though instead of taking that to heart and trusting BioWare is just as upset about us not liking the ending as we are about not liking it, you instead waste your time and money in sending... cupcakes? lol

I find it a tad silly, but I do indeed get the point. Though check out the post Chris Prestly made HERE and I shall copy and paste it below so you can check out those yummy cupcakes!

I have to say WELL PLAYED BIOWARE, on giving those to a good cause. They were given in a form of protest so would not have been a good idea to eat them, would have sent the wrong signs and the smart people at BioWare saw that. So I have to say great orgainizing and what not, but was it really necessary? Of course you could talk to me till your blue in the face and I still would have saw it as a waste of time and money, considering BioWare already stated they were doing something about it.

They were already doing what they could to help us understand the ending, and perhaps given us a new one. I know it was a kick in the teeth to me to have them give such a cookie cutter ending, but at the end of the day I am still able to put trust in BioWare fixing this situation.

I know many of us have just started to expect BioWare to give us the best of the best and promising 16/17 endings and only giving three with all the same cutscene with semi color changes was not at all what we expected from them.

Let us not lose faith in BioWare they are making great bounds in the gaming industry, did they totally screw up on the ending? YES they did and they should have seen this coming with what they promised and what they gave. I know BioWare will go back and change a few things, but do I need some sugary sweet ending? Hell no! Shepard is a badass and will do what she [or he] needs to, to save everyone from the reapers! so suck on your thumbs and put your money back in your wallet... or better yet give it to someone who actually needs it instead of in cupcakes.

I am proud of BioWare giving them to kids who needed a bit of sunshine in their lives. They had to of seen the waste in those cupcakes and turned it into something golden.

I was impressed in raising over a thousand dollars for cupcakes in just over an hour or so, but to me using that ability to fundraise so well. You should perhaps consider putting those creative talents to better use. help an animal shelter, help homeless kids... but I guess sending cupcakes to a company that is already promising to work on the ending to a game, and that being the purpose in the cupcake sending was a good idea too.

Chris Prestly's Post

Hi Everyone

Today, we received the 400 cupcakes you collectively sent us through your donations to express your feelings about the endings of Mass Effect 3. We want you to know; we are indeed listening to all fan response and acknowledge your feedback. We appreciate creative and thoughtful attempts like this one.

The gesture certainly gained our attention both with its creativity and deliciousness. However, while we do appreciate that fans were creative in how they expressed their views, after a lot of discussion, we decided ultimately the reason that they were sent was not done in the context of celebrating the work or accomplishment of the Mass Effect 3 team. This is a subtle, but important aspect in determining how to pass the feedback to the team.

BioWare regularly works with many deserving charities, as such it was decided that rather than passing out the cupcakes to staff or wasting good food, to donate them on behalf of our fans to a local Edmonton youth shelter. We know that for the kids that have to use this facility, something as simple as a cupcake is a rare treat and would definitely brighten up their day. Thank you to the fine folks at the local youth shelter for accepting the donation and to the fans who donated the cupcakes.

Please keep providing your feedback on Mass Effect 3, we’re still listening.

BioWare Co-Founder Addresses ME3 Ending

So many people are saying that they are changing the ending, and no where in his blog statement, SEE HERE, does it say that they are working on new endings. In fact it tells us they are working on ways to get us to understand what happened. So do not expect a new ending. I never did, but a change on the final cookie cutter cutscene and maybe a touch of closure would help a ton and appease most people.

Now what follows is my own thoughts and constructive feedback to the endings.

I have put countless hours into the Mass Effect world. Playing through one and two a ton of times, just trying to see each ending. Now once I arrived at the ending of ME3, I felt... empty. For lack of a better word really. I just felt that something was missing, not only was that cutscene with the **SPOILER** crash landing of the normandy on some planet somewhere seem completely off the mark, but they promised 16/17 endings and each ending was the same, it was a cookie cutter cutscene. Now this made me feel that they had a deadline they had to meet and put so much work into other things the reveal on Tali's Face and the Ending were put off and then they ran out of time.

The game as a whole was amazing and I loved the feelings it caused in myself. To see these characters I had grown to know so well and some of them died and then saying goodbye to your romanced character knowing you, or they, may not return. We knew this was the end, the battle we came to and worked up to for the past 2 games. Chances of us coming out alive were slim, and I expected that. What I did not expect was the cookie cutter cutscene that was really sorta lost. If they changed that to be atleast on earth, perhaps near london? shepard? anything it would have resolved a lot of this negativity caused by the ending.

Aside from the cookie cutter ending they gave us, they promised us closure and to show us what affect our choices would have. This just came out to being war assets, which totally important, it was not exactly what many of us invisioned when getting "closure" and seeing what our choices caused. So just putting in an ending like DAO [Dragon Age Origins] again would have taken away a lot of the negativity on ME3.

One final thing I know I am still trying to understand is the Multi-Player. I want to take this moment to point out I do enjoy the multi-player it is a lot of fun and building specific character to do combat how you want is fun. Though what I am finding problem with it, is without it you sit at 50%, okay I can deal. I went through my most recent play through and my percent went down to about 65% and I was at the cerberus facility I had all planets and systems scanned to 100%, all quests turned in, and had brought some hard alliances together to bring pretty much everyone together to fight. BUT I still did not have enough of my Efficiant Military Strength to have the ending I wanted. I wanted this playthrough to have shepard live. Which that cutscene still was not what I imagined. <Insert Sigh here> So it is pretty much nearly imposible to get that ending without the Multi-Player.

What are they going to do once they remove the multi-player. They have made no deny they will be getting rid of it at some point. Are they going to remove the percentage all together? Are we going to be stuck at 50%? Will they just bump everyone to 100%? There are some things I would like to know for future reference.

After playing through and realizing the cutscene at the end was confusing and I got no closure it was hard to get myself to want to play again, knowing no matter what I got the same outcome. In the end I could not deny how amazing and moving ME3 was. The voice acting had me emotional, along with the story of course. It was a great game and aside from that ending every little detail I had an issue with could be overlooked.

I hope everyone takes the time to play the game through and really see the amazing game they have created. There is no denying the ending was an issue for most people, but I do hope that some people would keep their issues at a constructive level instead of beating on BioWare and the ME team. They did an amazing job, and yes they should have seen what emotions that ending would have caused.

I am looking forward to seeing what they have instore for us to help clarify the ending and perhaps give us a bit of closure. I hope to have more info around my birthday in April.

Casey Hudson Talks ME3 Ending

So Casey Hudson decided to finally make a statement on the Bioware social forums about the ending of ME3. For me it basically was a polite way of saying, we are not changing it. I just want that cutscene changed, it is not a matter of story writing it is a matter of logic. That cutscene was completely thrown out of left field and if they were to change it, it would stave a lot of the hate that is going on.

I have a "rant" video that will be going up soon to talk more about what I think of that P.O.S. cutscene. Logically Joker would not go AWOL with all the people that were from your squad fighting on earth, and Joker would never have left the fight because he is the "Best damn helmsmen in the Alliance Fleet".

To tell us he wanted it to be an unforgetable ending, kudos to him, he certainly did by making it so outrageously off the mark on that last cutscene. Do not let me keep you, check it out yourself.

There’s been a lot of discussion and debate about the conclusion of Mass Effect 3, so I thought I’d share my perspective with you here. I’ll avoid outright spoilers, but I’d still recommend finishing the game and experiencing it for yourself before reading this.

 

For the last eight years, Mass Effect has been a labor of love for our team; love for the characters we’ve created, for the medium of video games, and for the fans that have supported us. For us and for you, Mass Effect 3 had to live up to a lot of expectations, not only for a great gaming experience, but for a resolution to the countless storylines and decisions you’ve made as a player since the journey began in 2007. So we designed Mass Effect 3 to be a series of endings to key plots and storylines, each culminating in scenes that show you the consequences of your actions. You then carry the knowledge of these consequences with you as you complete the final moments of your journey.

 

We always intended that the scale of the conflict and the underlying theme of sacrifice would lead to a bittersweet ending—to do otherwise would betray the agonizing decisions Shepard had to make along the way. Still, we wanted to give players the chance to experience an inspiring and uplifting ending; in a story where you face a hopeless struggle for basic survival, we see the final moments and imagery as offering victory and hope in the context of sacrifice and reflection.

 

We've had some incredibly positive reactions to Mass Effect 3, from the New York Times declaring it “a gripping, coherent triumph”, to Penny Arcade calling it “an amazing accomplishment”, to emails and tweets from players who have given us the most profound words of appreciation we've ever received.

 

But we also recognize that some of our most passionate fans needed more closure, more answers, and more time to say goodbye to their stories—and these comments are equally valid. Player feedback such as this has always been an essential ingredient in the development of the series.

 

I am extremely proud of what this team has accomplished, from the first art concepts for the Mass Effect universe to the final moments of Mass Effect 3. But we didn't do it on our own. Over the course of the series, Mass Effect has been a shared experience between the development team and our fans—not just a shared experience in playing the games, but in designing and developing them. An outpouring of love for Garrus and Tali led to their inclusion as love interests in Mass Effect 2. A request for deeper RPG systems led to key design changes in Mass Effect 3. Your feedback has always mattered. Mass Effect is a collaboration between developers and players, and we continue to listen.

 

So where do we go from here? Throughout the next year, we will support Mass Effect 3 by working on new content. And we’ll keep listening, because your insights and constructive feedback will help determine what that content should be. This is not the last you’ll hear of Commander Shepard.

 

We look forward to your continued support and involvement as we work together to shape the remaining experiences in the story of the Mass Effect trilogy.

 

Thanks for taking this journey with us.

 

Casey Hudson

 

 You can check the source here

Datacron Locations in SWTOR

Here I will post the Datacron locations as I find them!

Korriban~

Hutta~

Mass Effect 3 Galaxy Map Scanning

Anyone else tired of scanning the Galaxy Map in Mass Effect 3? I know I am, and hopefully this will help!

• Aethon Cluster
• Aru
• Cherk Sab- Volus Fabrication Unit [War Asset]
• Irune- Book of Plenix [Artifact]
• Esori
• Solu Paolis- Volus Dreadnought Kwunu [War Asset]
• Nura
• Oma Kar- Volus Intelligence Archive [Intel]
• Satu Arrd
• Nalisin- Volus Engineering Team [War Asset]
• Annos Basin
• Nothing
• Apien Crest
• Casellus
• Digeris- Banner of the 1st Regiment [Artifact]
• Gemmae
• Pheiros- Turian 79th Fleet [War Asset]
• Argos Rho
• Gorgon
• Camaron- Advanced Power Relays [War Asset]
• Hydra
• Canrum- Haptic Optics Array [War Asset]
• Phoenix
• Intai'Sei- Fossilized Kakliosaur [Artifact]
• Pinnacle Station- Turian Spec Ops Team [War Asset]
• Arcturus Stream
• Arcturus
• Arcturus Station- Battle of Arcturus
• Athena Nebula
• Lalessa
• Trikalon- Asari Engineers [War Asset]
• Orisoni
• Egalic- Asari Research Ship [War asset]
• Parnitha
• Tevura- Asari Cruiser Cybaen [War Asset]
• Tomaros
• Pronoia- Asari Cruiser Nefrane [War Asset]
• Vernio
• Polissa- Heperia Period Statue
• Attican Beta
• Hercules
• Eletania- Interformation Array [War Asset]
• Theseus
• Feros- ExoGeni Scientists [War Asset]
• Exodus Cluster
• Asgard
• Burr- Remains of Reaper Destroyer [Intel]
• Loki- Alliance Spec Op Team Delta [War Asset]
• Terra Nova- Alliance Cruizer Shainghai [War Asset]
• Tyr- Alliance Naval Exploration Flotilla [War Asset]
• Utopia
• Zion- Prothean Data Files [War Asset]
• Gemini Sigma
• Han
• Mavigon- 10,000 Credits
• Ming
• Parag- Alliance Cruiser Nirobi [War Asset]
• Hades Gamma
• Antaeus
• Trebin- 10,000 Credits
• Cacus
• Chohe- 10,000 Credits
• Dis
• Klensal- 10,000 Credits
• Farinata
• Juntauma- Alliance Frigate Agincourt [War Asset]
• Plutus
• Nanuel- Special Ops Team Zeta [War Asset]
• Hades Nexus
• Hekate
• Asteria- Alliance Frigate Hong Kong [War Asset]
• Hoplos
• Kopis- Obelisk of Karza
• Pamyat
• Dobrovolski- Alliance Frigate Leipzig [War Asset]
• Sheol
• Gei Hinnom- Prothean Sphere
• Hourglass Nebula
• Faryar
• Alingon- Shadow Broker Starship Tech [War Asset]
• Osun
• Erinle- 10,000 Credits
• Ploitari
• Zanethu- terminus Freighters [War Asset]
• Sowilo
• Hagalaz- Shadow Broker Support Team [War Asset]
• Ismar Frontier
• Aquila
• Metaponto- Advanced Biotic Implants
• Kepler Verge
• Nothing
• Kite's Nest
• Harsa
• Khar'Shan- Pillars of Strength
• Verush- Weapons Upgrade Kit
• Untrel
• Adek- 10,000 Credits
• Krogan DMZ
• Dranek
• Rothla- Shadow Broker Wet Squad [War Asset]
• Minos Wasteland
• Fortis
• Pietas- 10,000 Credits
• Nimbus Cluster
• Agaiou
• Carcosa- Library of Asha
• Pelion
• Trategos- Intact Reaper
• Ninmah Cluster
• Nothing
• Nubian Expanse
• Dakka
• Pragia- Research Data from Pragia [Intel]
• Kalabasha
• Yamm- Alliance Marine Recon Unit [War Asset]
• Quertassi
• Norehsa- Alliance Frigate Trafalgar [War Asset]
• Shadow Sea
• Nothing
• Sigud's Cradle
• Skepsis
• Watson- Javlin Missile Launchers [War Asset]
• Decoris
• Laena- 10,000 Credits
• Silean Nebula
• Kypladon
• Hanalei- Dr. Jelize [War Asset]
• Loropi
• Yasilium- Armali Sniper Unit [War Asset]
• Nahuala
• Hyetiana- Serrice Guard [War Asset]
• Phontes
• Dekunna- Code of the Ancients [Artifact]
• Oltan- Elcor Flotilla [War Asset]
• Teyolia
• Nevos- Rings of Alune [Artifact]
• Quirezia- 10,000 Credits
• Shrike Abyssal
• Urla Rast
• Talis Fia- Prothean Obelisk
• Xe Cha
• Zada Ban- 10,000 Credits
• Valhallan Threshold
• Micah
• Elohi- Emergency Fuel Pods [War Asset]
• Farlas- Element Zero Converter [War Asset]
• Paz
• Garvug- Prothean Data Drives