@TheTrueObelus I'm sure they said something similar to Picasso when he came out with his first paintings. Actually, it may have been more along the lines of: "...where're the ears?" Picasso: "...it's an airplane, mom."

As a fan from the first Mass Effect, I understand your point of view. I'd also like to point out that Mass Effect 3 is a conclusion however...and no decision you could have ever made in the third one could have carried over to a non-existent, non-planned title. However, during the transition from Mass Effect 2 to 3...I noticed that it had become less about the choices and more about a single concrete storyline. However, I still wholly support what I've said previously. What "cash grabbing" tactics you're referring to is done by the Marketing division over in Electronic Arts Redwood Shores HQ. If you were about to propose that EA ruined it...I'd completely agree, however, what Bioware made and how they made it still stands as art in my own eyes. I just enjoyed the game, and now that it's over...changing the ending seems like crying over spilt milk to me. To each his own, however. I'd be pushing for larger DLC contents instead of endings though, guys. Could you imagine a sort of Dragon Age Awakening DLC for Mass Effect? Another 30 hours of gameplay? Now that is something I could agree with. :)

@Phange2 You don't have a single source to confirm any of that. Storylines are made BEFORE the game begins production...it's the absolute first step. To state otherwise is...well, silly. I just know that I'm a real artist, unless you would like to insult me personally...and that I hate, absolutely cannot stand, how the hard work and creativity that the writers put into this game is being torn apart. You are, by definition I suppose, a "customer"....clearly not a fan. And thank you glbbg, I appreciate it.

Art: An expression of an artist's self. These pieces are notorious for usually being controversial and unique, yet they are beyond creative. It is NOT in the artist's best interests to obey his audience, unless his primary goal is the collection of wealth. Product: An item tailored to meet the needs and satisfy the audience. Products are not unique usually, and often are far from creative. It's always in the best interests of the merchant to yield to the customer. "The customer is always right" as they say. I'm a writer. I compose "art" as a reflection of my own thoughts, life, experiences...etc. If one of you were to contact me and tell me that you wanted me to change an ending in one of my novels...I'd take offense to say the least. As an "artist," I classify anyone who expresses emotion through writing, video, music, painting, beer can sculpting...whatever, as artists. The second you lose sight of yourself in your art, well, that's the second that you go from the "artist" to the "merchant"... I hate to break it to you guys, as I was rather thrown by the ending as well, but where do you think the Mass Effect storyline came from? It came from writing...writers expressing their own thoughts, emotions, characters from their own experiences...etc into the game. I mean, how the hell could any writer compose from pure fiction? Good writing comes from a connection to the writer himself...and the writers were artists. Now let's be clear, I'm stating only that artists worked together to create Mass Effect. Whether or not Mass Effect itself is art is obviously a heated subject I wouldn't care enough to get involved with.

A whatcast? XD