Why Changing the Mass Effect 3 Ending Would Be Bad for Video Games

"With its compelling cinematic setting, the Mass Effect series stands as an example of how video games can be great works of art. Changing the ending only reinforces the beliefs of video game naysayers, who insist that games are nothing more than mindless entertainment." 

I'll start by speaking frankly: video games are not respected as an art medium. There's no doubt that gaming is on the rise; sales continue to break records year after year. Yet, video games still aren't getting the same recognition from the mainstream as other forms of media entertainment.

I use the word "entertainment" because I think that's how video games are viewed by a lot of people, particularly the older generations. Still, I don't think that gamers can solely blame crotchety old folks for being closed-minded to the medium. It's up to gamers of all ages to prove to non-believers that video games have evolved since the arcade era and are no longer just mindless distractions.

For every game that is made just for fun, there is another game that focuses on creative art direction. For every game with no story, there's another with a compelling narrative, filled with rich characters and themes. Video games are just as much of an art medium as film, music, and literature -- we just have to prove it. The first way to accomplish this is for the gamers themselves to treat video games as art, and not just view them as a commercial product. Yes, I think video game consumers share a huge chunk of the blame.

Recently a petition addressed to BioWare arrived in my inbox. The petition called for a new ending to Mass Effect 3, citing outrage over the game's actual ending. While I wasn't completely satisfied with the Mass Effect 3 ending, I didn't for a second consider signing such an asinine petition.

The idea that some people feel they have a right to change the ending to a game (under dubious threat to boycott BioWare products) really irks me. I can understand a lot of the frustration gamers have with the ending to Mass Effect 3, but changing it under threat of boycott makes it seem like the game is strictly made to fill an entertainment demand.

You're supposed to boycott things that are harmful or made very poorly. In this case people want to boycott BioWare simply because the Mass Effect 3 story didn't turn out the way they wanted it to. There's something kind of pathetic about that. With its compelling cinematic setting, the Mass Effect series stands as an example of how video games can be great works of art. Changing the ending only reinforces the beliefs of video game naysayers, who insist that games are nothing more than mindless entertainment.

This could be the perfect series to point to as evidence of video game art.

Part of the problem here is the existence of downloadable content (DLC) and game add-ons. There is already so much content released to expand video games that changing the ending to a game may not seem like a big deal to some. Yet, it's important to note that most DLC is simply expansive. I can't think of any example where the story in the original game was changed dramatically by add-on content.

It is technically possible to alter the Mass Effect 3 ending fairly easily. With only a simple download from the menu screen, every gamer could play a new ending to Mass Effect 3 within minutes. In fact, BioWare could release a dozen new endings, each catering to the different demands of angry gamers.

While I find the latter scenario to be a little farfetched, it does raise an important question: how could BioWare create an ending that appeases everyone? It seems like none of these petition signers agree on what they want from an ending; they are just united in their dissatisfaction.

The days are over where you just complained to your friend about the way a video game ended. Now you can complain directly to game developers via Twitter, and they can alter their product to suit demand. I can't think of a word more appropriate for a game than "product" if you allow this sort of thing to occur.

It's difficult to call a game a work of art if you're able to get something catered to your liking. While a true definition of 'art' is, to say the least, debatable, an already corporate product that is altered because of fear of financial repercussion definitely does not fit any proper definition.

The developers at BioWare already created the ending they thought was appropriate. If the ending were changed, it would be purely a response to market demand -- nothing more. If you want video games to be respected on the same level as film and literature, you have to start treating them as such. It would be inconceivable to ask an author to change their book, or a filmmaker to alter his/her movie. I'm not sure why the same respect isn't given to a video game.

When George Lucas alters Star Wars I hope you'll join me in feeling outraged. He's changing a classic work of art, re-molding a masterpiece to his liking. I feel outraged when George Lucas changes Star Wars -- and he's the creator of it. I can't image how angry I'd be if all those changes were being made by 20th Century Fox, against the will of Lucas.

If BioWare were to come in and change the ending of Mass Effect 3, it would go against the wishes of the writers, directors, and producers who gave it the ending they thought was appropriate. They created their work the way they wanted, and some guy in a suit is coming in to change it against their will.

In order for video games to get the respect they deserve, we all have to set a good example by embracing the artistic integrity of the games we play. If every time something makes you unhappy you find yourself online demanding changes, you're part of the problem. Discussion and complaining is one thing, but demanding actual changes to an already published game is another thing entirely.

That doesn't sound like art to me. All petitioning BioWare will do is solidify the idea that video games are solely for entertainment. In reality, they are whole lot more than that. Video games are an art form and they deserve to be treated as such. Changing the ending to Mass Effect 3 is not only a silly idea, it's bad for video games. Having such a respected, high-profile series changed just because of an internet petition is not a good way to convince anyone to open their mind to the idea of video games potentially being true works of art.