'Mass Effect 3' fans file FTC complaints over game ending
Published Mar 19 2012, 09:53 GMT | By Liam Martin
Mass Effect 3 fans have filed complaints with the US Federal Trade Commission over the game's controversial ending.It is argued that Electronic Arts and BioWare are guilty of making false claims in the game's advertising and PR campaign, reports VG247.
© EA
© EA
"I filed an FTC complaint against EA. After reading through the list of promises about the ending of the game they made in their advertising campaign and PR interviews, it was clear that the product we got did not live up to any of those claims," writes Mass Effect 3 player El Spiko on the BioWare Social Network.
"This is not something I was happy to do, but after the terrible ending that was in no way the product that had been advertised to me and the lack of any kind of response from BioWare/EA to address this, I felt it was one of my only recourses. I'll be returning my copy of the game before the end of my 30-day return policy if the ending still hasn't been addressed by then," adds the user.
A number of other users are planning to make similar complaints with the FTC, as well as with the Better Business Bureau.
The game's director Casey Hudson has since defended the game's ending, claiming that the polarising conclusion makes it more memorable.
Mass Effect 3 shipped 3.5 million copies worldwide during its first week on sale, making it the biggest entertainment launch of the year, according to publisher Electronic Arts.
Mass Effect 3 is available on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.
> Read our review of Mass Effect 3
Watch the launch trailer for Mass Effect 3 below:
One thing that annoys everyone is the fact that there's basically only one and a half endings, when they advertised something like 18+.
Also, I think what you really wanted to know was why they are being sued for it, which no one seems to have answered. The answer is that they advertised information about the ending that wasn't true, they even REVEALED one of the 'endings' early in an interview which was supposed to be an 'ultimate defeat' type ending (the worst possible one). Guess what? That isn't in the game. They falsely advertised, and they made a lot more promises like that that were also lies. One being something like 'our endings aren't linear, they're diverse and can't be labelled A,B and C'. Guess what? *WARNING: Possible slight spoiler alert* You can LITERALLY mark the endings A, B and C. There are many more like that. If you're interested in all the ways that they falsely advertised, someone's made a compilation http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/355/index/10056886
There will most likely be spoilers.
March 21st 2012 at 6:12pm
Sad bastards.
March 19th 2012 at 11:11pm
Ummm... are we going to be filing complaints when the next episode of Eastenders doesn't feature the Queen Vic? Get a grip, people. Art (of the high or low variety) is a creation by someone for an audience to absorb, discuss, deconstruct... Mass Effect was made by a Director, not by a community of gamers. If gamers aren't willing to buy into someone else's vision, they should spend their money elsewhere. I despair.
March 19th 2012 at 10:47pm
This is embarrassing. The ending PERFECTLY compliments what the whole series was about. I had goosebumps for the last 30 mins of the game, it utterly blew my mind.
Thank you Bioware for making the most memorable game series I have ever played.
March 19th 2012 at 8:58pm
Seriously? SERIOUSLY? Grow up.
March 19th 2012 at 8:12pm