Developers reaffirm BioWare's right to leave Mass Effect 3 ending as it is
Irrational Games boss Ken Levine and Mythic creative director Paul Barnett have both defended developers' creative right to tell stories as they choose - regardless of community backlash.
In a question and answer session at the Smithsonian American Art museum, as reported by Vox Games, one audience member asked Barnett and Levine what they thought of call for BioWare to change Mass Effect 3's ending.
"If computer games are art than I fully endorse the author of the artwork to have a statement about what they believe should happen," Barnett said.
"Just as J.K. Rowling can end her books and say that is the end of Harry Potter. I don't think she should be forced to make another one."
Levine said he felt the discussion came at "an important moment" and argued that gamers wouldn't be satisfied with a changed ending.
"I think if those people got what they wanted and [BioWare] wrote their ending they would be very disappointed in the emotional feeling they got because they didn't really create it," he said.
"I think this whole thing is making me a little bit sad because I don't think anyone would get what they wanted if that happened."
A fan campaign to pressure BioWare into creating a new ending has raised over $74,000.