I loved the ending to Mass Effect. I actually hope they do not release anything to change it or "add on" to it because, as you guys said, it would ruin the integrity of the game. I love the ambiguity of the ending and I think the game is kind of revolutionary, and all of the hate it is getting only proves it. "The first one out of the gate is always the bloodiest".

Edit: Spoiler-filled conversation below, so enter at your own risk.

Sounds like it'll be a good episode. Still haven't finished Mass Effect 3, but I hope the ending isn't really as bad as some are saying. Also interested in hearing what the editors have to say about the other 3 games.

I'll just say this:

I never hated the ending to Mass Effect 3( watch Kane and Lynch 2's ending), I just disliked the plot holes and how it seems the indoctrination theory is most likely true (visions of oily figures, people) and how we're gonna have to pay for the ending.

I don't like how everyone went about the ending like a bunch of spoiled children, if WE (yes we) had just complained not bit*h (there is a BIG difference) about the ending like mature gamers then the complainers wouldn't be frowned upon.

I'll speak for the complainers when I say that we spent hours on top of hours of our lives investing in the perfect save file just to get a sad ending, WHY NOT have a care bear ending? We worked for it.

I just got Mass Effect 3 today so it may take a while for me to understand why it seems like everyone on the internet is talking about how it needs to be expanded.

I think the ending is fine. But I agree that there should be much more fleshing out of what happens to everyone afterward. Mass Effect is a series like none other and deserves nothing less than a 20 minute cut scene at the end of the trilogy. Disappointing that BioWare didn't see it that way.

I loved the ending for ME3. I don't agree with new ending DLC. But since they are, it is essential that they make it port like DA: Awakening so we don't have to beat the game again.

I blame everything wrong with Mass Effect 3 on EA. Every time they touch a franchise, it get's bad. Battlefield 3 is a great example and now so is the ending of Mass Effect 3.

I thought the ending was beautiful, and the game was brilliant in general.

I am really happy and surprised that Bioware had the guts to follow their vision.

Too bad an irredeemable and whiny fan base wants exactly the same thing that they have seen a million times before.

This was Mass Effect 3; if you did not like it go play the conventional and formulaic Mass Effect 2.

I really hope that Bioware will stay true to their artistic ambitions in the future; please do not censor or cripple your story telling out of fear of a reprise of this fanboy circus. I have not been this moved by a game since Xenogears back in 98; a game that was almost banned in the states due to sensitive religious content.

I feel that the ending in ME3 showed a genuine drive to create something thought provoking and original. I fear other developers will bridle themselves out of fear of fanboy reprimands. This is a scary development; especially since improved and provocative story telling is one of the final frontiers of gaming, and increasingly important in a gaming world dominated by mediocre and shallow fiction.

ME3 was incredibly well written, and is together with DA: O one of my favorite games of all time.

I didn't understand one thing about my ending, but it was cool. Some people just took things WAY too far. I'm going to play thru ME3 again and ME2/ME3 for my next Shepard. As far as NG3, I think I am going to return the game to Amazon. I'm just things that make the game NOT the Ninja Gaiden I like. Even if Part Two became TOO stuckonstupid with the boss fights.

You shouldn't be speaking publicly about how you thought the ME3 ending was "beautiful" or "good" or "perfect" because it makes you look like a moron that lacks basic comprehension skills. The ending was a lazy, slapdash attempt at sophomoric philosophy and was crammed with enough plotholes and story inconsistencies to fill an empty football stadium with. I've nearly lost faith in the gaming community that so many people are apathetic about the whole thing. "Yeah... it was good enough!" *slaps forehead* Really?! I almost wish I could live a day in your shoes so I could know how it feels to not understand things and just react whenever bright lights flashed in my eyes. C'mon, people. Have some standards.

Personally, I hated the ending. Bursting at the seams with plot holes, not being even close to what Bioware promised, lacking in choice, completely devoid of consequences, and just... stupid. A weak ending to a great series.

Plot holes. Enough said.

OK, OK, OK. Take a deep breath, because this one is going to be long... I want to first address those of you who feel Bioware "lied" to you about the ending because of the comments that state, "Every decision you have made will have an impact on the ending". In ME, every decision you, the player, make are boiled down to one of three options. These are Blue : Paragon, Red : Renegade, or choose not to choose which could easily be interpreted as Null choice. Can we agree on that? OK, Good. SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When you are forced to choose at the climax of ME3, your choices are also one of three, and also are represented by three colors. The Blue, which is to become one with the Reapers, gives you the best chance of saving as many lives as possible with the least amount of death. In other words, the Paragon Ending. The second of the three, the Red choice, is to kill all inorganic life, thus eliminating the threat but also eliminating allies and friends. The Renegade course, which you would take only if you chose Renegade branches throughout your ME experience and did not care about "friends" or "allies". The third choice, the Null choice, is about not doing anything. Breaking the cycle by destroying all that is and all evidence of anything that ever was. All life destroyed and reborn into a new, supposedly better, cycle. If you chose neither Renegade nor Paragon through ME 1-3, in other words playing like one disconnected from the characters and events transpiring like a robot, then this option would be appealing to you. The point I am laboriously bringing to bear here is that each and every choice you have made in ME 1-3 has forged who your Sheppard is. A Paragon, A Renegade, or neither. Your choices at the end of the game are clearly represented as such. Each and every choice you have made has built towards this final, ultimate end choice. I don't see how this ending has cheated anyone out of their experience, or how the statement from Bioware is not represented in the final scenario. Anyone feel free to explain it to me. As for those of you who hate the ending because it did not have enough latitude for you, did you really want to have a choice of 50 endings? That is a little extreme but if that is how you feel then nothing said here or anywhere will change that. A lot of you who feel this way seem to love the Indoctrination Theory, but I argue that would leave you with the same number of choices and your choice would matter even less. Finally, for those of you who felt the ending was too ambiguous or did not explain enough, Bioware has always stated DLC was on the way. Instead of complaining why not have just a little patience and faith? They know what they are doing, despite your concerns. Ever stop to think that the next ME Universe game is about rebuilding the universe with only the skills and resources found on whatever solar system you were stuck in when the Crucible Event happened? Remember, faster than light travel was still readily available if you had fuel, just the Relays were destroyed. If you are still reading this I commend you. Feel free to comment, I would like to hear from you.

I thought the ending was terrible. I don't think Bioware should change it because what's done is done and there's really no changing that, but I definitely thought it was a poor end to a great trilogy.

I don't understand how some people love the ending of ME3. It's in stark contrast with the rest of the game, which is perfection. Just seems like Bioware phoned it in with the ending; plot holes and complete lack of closure for one of the greatest series of all time. It's like the Reapers take off a mask, and underneath it is an Ewok giving you the middle finger and saying, "Betcha wish we put as much thought and effort into this ending as we did the rest of the game."

I hate the ending. But I don't hate it as much as some people do.

I think it's silly to say if they changed or added to the ending that it would ruin the integrity of the game.

Games are meant to be interactive experiences, not just within the game(at least not anymore). Gaming has become interactive beyond just the game and from sequel to sequel a good developer listens to it's fans and goes okay, we can do that. If the fans get to choose what the canon female shepard should look like, (which is relatively a pretty big deal) I fail to see why if enough fans want more meat to their ending instead of this ambiguous Matrix Revolution 's type of ending that it's wrong and hurts Bioware's integrity.

What makes changing a game that's already released any different than fan input while it's in development? I don't think it should lessen one's respect of a developer, it should strengthen it that they are willing to please their audience(within certain limits, we probably don't want Shepard riding around on Wrex on the battle-field as he slaughters Reapers).

Ultimately the fans are the consumers and from a straight business perspective I would imagine you'd want to keep your fan-base happy and not risk losing however many thousands of people have been upset by the ending as customers.

We won't know which side is larger because not everyone voices their opinion, most people haven't whether or not they like it. So we have no solid definition of if those disappointed are truly a loud minority or a majority of the people who have finished the game. So it's wrong for either side to say they are the right opinion because we have no way to determine what the entire audience thinks.

If Bioware deems it worthy to change and makes their product better good on them. If they don't make changes, well maybe I'll just be a bit more wary as a consumer as to where to put my dollar.

I am glad that a respectable outlet in the Gaming community is attempting to have a grown up discussion about the ending to ME3 and not just brushing it aside. Thank you for attempting to make sense of the madness. Yes both sides have taken it a bit too far. I for one was rather pissed at the ending and am glad that Biowear is going to address the issue. My major issue with this podcast is the comment about being sure there is someone around the office who really didn't like the ending. If that is the case why then were they not involved in the conversation. yes everyone did attempt to play devil's advocate for the horrible ending it is not the same as someone there who genuinely has negatived feelings towards the ending. It just seemed a bit short sighted to not include a true advocate for changing the ending in the discussion.

I want to know what people like about the ending. The people who don't like it always list a bunch of reasons why but the people who do like it don't say why. SPOILERS I don't like the ending because you spend the whole game preparing to take down the Reapers but no matter which choice you make you end up leaving the galaxy in a worse state than the Reapers were going to.

I dislike the endings, but I'm not gonna complain like an immature gamer. That's just ridiculous. Besides, an ending DLC is coming soon.