The ‘butterfly effect’ could have saved BioWare’s goodbye to Mass Effect

Apparently nobody told BioWare about 'Chaos Theory' and the 'butterfly effect.' Real reasons to consider alternative endings.

[TheSleepyGamer]

I have a real urge to watch the movies again now.

[Godmars290]

I don't care about the mess that is ME3, but rather what its success will do to the RPG genera. The message it sends to devs that they can cheap out on real role playing elements - not just RPGs - when making RPGs.

I mean while something like Skyrim is a great RPG, its not really a good role playing setting. Not when its so ridiculously easy to break what little actual narrative the game offers by putting a bucket on an NPC's head.

And there are many, many RPG fans who have no comprehension of what I just said. Especially Skyrim fans.

@TheSleepyGamer:
The Butterfly Effect or ME cutscenes?

[pangitkqb]

@Godmars920

I haven't really thought of it that way, but you make a reasonable point. Any time something is rewarded monetarily, whether or not the product is good, a precedent is set. Especially if the product is rewarded with a LOT of money. Def food for thought.

[TheSleepyGamer]

I was talking about The Butterfly Effect movie.

I'm not so sure that Mass Effect has sent out a message that devs can skip on some of the more traditional RPG elements, but rather shown that there is room for games that tell a story well.

Mass Effect's story may not have been all that great, but it was shown in a very entertaining and interactive manner that made it rather unique.

In a perfect world we'd eventually get a game that has strong RPG elements and an engrossing story.

[Godmars290]

And I'm not actually talking about "traditional" RPG elements. Rather the potential for the conversation and choices systems which ME promised and have now promptly shat on.

Stat building is great and all, but getting into hot water with NPC girlfriend because you've cheating on her - to the point she becomes a campaign villain - with it all stemming from an organic chain of in-game events Primus would have to print game guide the size of an old phone book just isn't going to happen. No one will even try to get close at this point.

[Baka-akaB]

Yeah we still need games like mass effect , dumbed or not , in a world that wanna pretend , that IA generated fetch quests are progress in storytelling .

Skyrim is great for its strengths , but shouldnt become the standard to go by . Nor should ME mind you

[Godmars290]

That's the thing: Skyrim *IS* the standard many go by. Don't attempt to reach its level but still copy what's preceded to be popular about, rather than take its concept further. Admittedly many can only afford to cheaply copy it. Same will likely apply for ME with the added example of Alpha Protocol which was a copy which apparently did story and choices better, but then flubbed on its TPS aspect.

This is exactly the same reason I'm so cheesed at how FFXIII turned out: generally Square set the JRPG standard, then others tried to emulate it while actually never even trying to get close.

[pat_11_5]

Surprisingly, I actually really like the Butterfly Effect as a film.