The Mass Effect 3/BioWare Thread

[racofer]

There's more, much more to her than we initially realized guys.

Q) Do you have an opinion about the current state of the industry with regard to females and gaming? If so, what is it?

A) I think that the biggest detriment to more varieties of games being made which appeal to women and casual gamers, is simply the fact that people who don't love games don't become game designers. A game company tends to be filled with people whose best memories come from the games they played, who spend all their time swapping war stories with other gamers, and it's not too surprising that they end up wanting to make games that recaptures those experiences. A lot of ground has been broken in other media when someone who is dissatisfied with his existing choices decides to try something new (Samuel Beckett comes to mind, as the self-professed playwright who hated drama).

GET OUT OF GAMES BITCH

Although it's sort of good that she's in Bioware, meaning that ship will sink faster with her on board.

 

[Black]

https://twitter.com/#!/search/realtime/@BrandesHepler

Gaider whiteknightin hard there.

No wonder, the fat jokes could also be directed at him. Fat and bald jokes. Heh.
Weird that chris beastly hasn't shown up yet and LOCKED DOWN the twitter.

 

[Azalin]

http://twitter.com/#!/zythyl/status/171583847643885568

Patrick Brown

@AarynFlynn @BrandesHepler Did Hamburger Helper really write this? Explains the bad writing in DA2 tbh. pic.twitter.com/AbadXUtG

Apparently, that's from her book (I wonder if it's shopped or if this is actually real, fucking hilarious if it's real).

 

[Infinitron]

http://twitter.com/#!/zythyl/status/171583847643885568

Patrick Brown

@AarynFlynn @BrandesHepler Did Hamburger Helper really write this? Explains the bad writing in DA2 tbh. pic.twitter.com/AbadXUtG

Apparently, that's from her book (I wonder if it's shopped or if this is actually real, fucking hilarious if it's real).

Not Hepler's: http://www.flickr.com/photos/methodshop/3679970368/

 

[janjetina]

For those that didn't see/believe this, here's confirmation that hamburger helper has... procreated...

What can she give birth to, a bar of soap?

 

[racofer]

http://twitter.com/#!/zythyl/status/171583847643885568

Patrick Brown

@AarynFlynn @BrandesHepler Did Hamburger Helper really write this? Explains the bad writing in DA2 tbh. pic.twitter.com/AbadXUtG

Apparently, that's from her book (I wonder if it's shopped or if this is actually real, fucking hilarious if it's real).

Not Hepler's: http://www.flickr.com/photos/methodshop/3679970368/

Twitteers and 4channers don't need to know.

 

[curry]

For those that didn't see/believe this, here's confirmation that hamburger helper has... procreated...

http://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/ppbt6/lets_have_a_discussion_about_jennifer_brandes/

Q: What is your least favorite thing about working in the industry?
A: Playing the games. This is probably a terrible thing to admit, but it has definitely been the single most difficult thing for me. I came into the job out of a love of writing, not a love of playing games. While I enjoy the interactive aspects of gaming, if a game doesn't have a good story, it's very hard for me to get interested in playing it. Similarly, I'm really terrible at so many things which most games use incessantly -- I have awful hand-eye coordination, I don't like tactics, I don't like fighting, I don't like keeping track of inventory, and I can't read a game map to save my life. This makes it very difficult for me to play to the myriad games I really should be keeping up on as our competition.
And with a baby on the way in a few months, my minimal free time (which makes it impossible for me to finish a big RPG in less than six months already), will disappear entirely. If there was a fast-forward feature on games which would let me easily review the writing and stories and skip the features that I find more frustrating than fun, I'd find it much easier to keep abreast of what's happening in the field.

Who said anything about procreating? Maybe she mail-ordered a baby from China.

 

[CrustyBot]

http://twitter.com/#!/zythyl/status/171583847643885568

Patrick Brown

@AarynFlynn @BrandesHepler Did Hamburger Helper really write this? Explains the bad writing in DA2 tbh. pic.twitter.com/AbadXUtG

Apparently, that's from her book (I wonder if it's shopped or if this is actually real, fucking hilarious if it's real).

Fake: http://www.flickr.com/photos/methodshop/3679970368/

What a shame. Still hilarious that someone actually wrote that to begin with (and got published), though.

There's more, much more to her than we initially realized guys.

GET OUT OF GAMES BITCH

Although it's sort of good that she's in Bioware, meaning that ship will sink faster with her on board.

So, of BioWare?

 

[Ulminati]

We're already getting some of the blame:

http://sanityscraps.tumblr.com/post/17931773979/jennifer-heplers-nick-name-on-rpg-codex-is-hamburger

I can see how her and us sharing a planet would be a bad thing. But since there's a bunch of us distributed all over the world (I mean, the logistics of rounding us up would be a nightmare), wouldn't it be both more cost-efficient and eco-friendly to settle for launching her into orbit? Same end result, less energy and smaller CO2 footprint.

 

[curry]

of BioWare is the of RPG industry

 

[racofer]

Unrelated to HH's discussion, but the entire Mass Effect 3 soundtrack has leaked... through the demo!

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA0DCE24A79B351D2&feature=plcp

Quite a few of them are "emotionally engaging" though, but there are some that reminded me of Mass Effect 1 premise of a sci-fi game.





Bonus:

 

[Infinitron]

ME3: Leakiest game ever?

...well, at least the source code didn't leak.

 

[racofer]

Jennifer's story is already gaining some popularity.

• http://www.destructoid.com/bioware-writer-s-vagina-versus-the-internet-222206.phtml
  BioWare writer's vagina versus the Internet
  
  ...
  By far her greatest "crime" was suggesting that games should let the player skip combat, stating: "Games almost always include a way to "button through" dialogue without paying attention, because they understand that some players don't enjoy listening to dialogue and they don't want to stop their fun. Yet they persist in practically coming into your living room and forcing you to play through the combats even if you're a player who only enjoys the dialogue."
  Whether you agree or disagree, it's not like she cut a toddler's achilles tendons with a rusty scalpel. Still, however, this is the Internet.
  ...
  
  Hundreds of messages have been sent to Hepler, as a simple Twitter search shows. Many choose to attack her writing and ability to craft characters. A staggering number focus on her physical appearance, choosing to call her such delightful names as "fat bitch" and "obese cunt." Some want to know why she's "obsessed with shoehorning homosexual relationships down gamer's throats."
  ...

Maybe she will get fired in the end.

 

[Wirdschowerdn]

Fuck Gabe looks like 20 years older now. Has he lost a bet, or why does he do that?

 

[lulurkinglurkerlurk]

Potato radio, newspaper and TV journalist

 

[Wyrmlord]

We're already getting some of the blame:

http://sanityscraps.tumblr.com/post/17931773979/jennifer-heplers-nick-name-on-rpg-codex-is-hamburger

First of all, this is the 2012th post on this thread.

Secondly, the asperger in question is also a cosplayer.

 

[Infinitron]

Jennifer's story is already gaining some popularity.

• http://www.destructoid.com/bioware-writer-s-vagina-versus-the-internet-222206.phtml
  BioWare writer's vagina versus the Internet
  
  ...
  By far her greatest "crime" was suggesting that games should let the player skip combat, stating: "Games almost always include a way to "button through" dialogue without paying attention, because they understand that some players don't enjoy listening to dialogue and they don't want to stop their fun. Yet they persist in practically coming into your living room and forcing you to play through the combats even if you're a player who only enjoys the dialogue."
  Whether you agree or disagree, it's not like she cut a toddler's achilles tendons with a rusty scalpel. Still, however, this is the Internet.
  ...
  
  Hundreds of messages have been sent to Hepler, as a simple Twitter search shows. Many choose to attack her writing and ability to craft characters. A staggering number focus on her physical appearance, choosing to call her such delightful names as "fat bitch" and "obese cunt." Some want to know why she's "obsessed with shoehorning homosexual relationships down gamer's throats."
  ...

Maybe she will get fired in the end.

She's also received a lot of heat for admitting that she doesn't like to play games -- certainly a requirement if your job is to craft narrative (sarcasm).

Sterling gonna sterl.

 

[Cowboy Moment]

We're already getting some of the blame:

http://sanityscraps.tumblr.com/post/17931773979/jennifer-heplers-nick-name-on-rpg-codex-is-hamburger

Call me Becca. 19. Left-winger, atheistic, bi/ace/demi questioning dork who's unlikely to let your bullshit slide. Doctor Who, Harry Potter, Torchwood, The Hunger Games, Mass Effect, Dragon Age, politics, and feminism abound.

There's more, much more to her than we initially realized guys.

Q) Do you have an opinion about the current state of the industry with regard to females and gaming? If so, what is it?

A) I think that the biggest detriment to more varieties of games being made which appeal to women and casual gamers, is simply the fact that people who don't love games don't become game designers. A game company tends to be filled with people whose best memories come from the games they played, who spend all their time swapping war stories with other gamers, and it's not too surprising that they end up wanting to make games that recaptures those experiences. A lot of ground has been broken in other media when someone who is dissatisfied with his existing choices decides to try something new (Samuel Beckett comes to mind, as the self-professed playwright who hated drama).

GET OUT OF GAMES BITCH

Although it's sort of good that she's in Bioware, meaning that ship will sink faster with her on board.

DID SHE JUST FUCKING INDIRECTLY COMPARE HERSELF TO SAMUEL BECKETT



Fuck it. It's personal now.

 

[racofer]

Aaryn Flynn (EA VP and General Manager of BioWare Edmonton) on Twitter:

Hahaha what a PR hell!

 

[Wyrmlord]

Aaryn Flynn (EA VP and General Manager of BioWare Edmonton) on Twitter:

Hahaha what a PR hell!

It's not PR hell at all.

Members of development studios have insulted fans and players of their games since the days of Derek Smart. This is commonplace behaviour in gaming industry.

 

[meh]

This is awesome.

 

[Wirdschowerdn]

Track 6 sounds like a total rip-off of the Snow White trailer (with Charlize Theron). At least the beginning, just compare it.

What the fuck BioWare, it's like they don't even try to hide their plagiarism anymore.

 

[Infinitron]

Members of development studios have insulted fans and players of their games since the days of Derek Smart. This is commonplace behaviour in gaming industry.

It's funny. Nowadays Derek Smart would be considered 'indie'. He would have sold Battlecruiser 3000 or whatever on Steam. A man ahead of his time?

 

[CrustyBot]

Jennifer's story is already gaining some popularity.

• http://www.destructoid.com/bioware-writer-s-vagina-versus-the-internet-222206.phtml
  BioWare writer's vagina versus the Internet
  
  ...
  By far her greatest "crime" was suggesting that games should let the player skip combat, stating: "Games almost always include a way to "button through" dialogue without paying attention, because they understand that some players don't enjoy listening to dialogue and they don't want to stop their fun. Yet they persist in practically coming into your living room and forcing you to play through the combats even if you're a player who only enjoys the dialogue."
  Whether you agree or disagree, it's not like she cut a toddler's achilles tendons with a rusty scalpel. Still, however, this is the Internet.
  ...
  
  Hundreds of messages have been sent to Hepler, as a simple Twitter search shows. Many choose to attack her writing and ability to craft characters. A staggering number focus on her physical appearance, choosing to call her such delightful names as "fat bitch" and "obese cunt." Some want to know why she's "obsessed with shoehorning homosexual relationships down gamer's throats."
  ...

Maybe she will get fired in the end.

It was gonna happen eventually. I mean, internet's gonna internet, but I get the feeling the tone of the discussion would've been different if it focused on her awful writing (with maybe an example or two, if there's the space) rather than taking pot shots at her. It allows her/BioWare/drones/? to frame the argument as "Hepler v trolls" instead of "Hepler bitches when criticized".

I doubt she'll get fired. If anything, she'll get a raise for fighting the good fight against sexism and misogyny.

 

[Azalin]

Jennifer's story is already gaining some popularity.

• http://www.destructoid.com/bioware-writer-s-vagina-versus-the-internet-222206.phtml
  BioWare writer's vagina versus the Internet
  
  ...
  By far her greatest "crime" was suggesting that games should let the player skip combat, stating: "Games almost always include a way to "button through" dialogue without paying attention, because they understand that some players don't enjoy listening to dialogue and they don't want to stop their fun. Yet they persist in practically coming into your living room and forcing you to play through the combats even if you're a player who only enjoys the dialogue."
  Whether you agree or disagree, it's not like she cut a toddler's achilles tendons with a rusty scalpel. Still, however, this is the Internet.
  ...
  
  Hundreds of messages have been sent to Hepler, as a simple Twitter search shows. Many choose to attack her writing and ability to craft characters. A staggering number focus on her physical appearance, choosing to call her such delightful names as "fat bitch" and "obese cunt." Some want to know why she's "obsessed with shoehorning homosexual relationships down gamer's throats."
  ...

Maybe she will get fired in the end.

It was gonna happen eventually. I mean, internet's gonna internet, but I get the feeling the tone of the discussion would've been different if it focused on her awful writing (with maybe an example or two, if there's the space) rather than taking pot shots at her. It allows her/BioWare/drones/? to frame the argument as "Hepler v trolls" instead of "Hepler bitches when criticized".

I doubt she'll get fired. If anything, she'll get a raise for fighting the good fight against sexism and misogyny.

Considering how retarded the management of EA/Bioware is these days and their target groups that's the most likely outcome