It’s such a ridiculous notion that the gamer’s opinion doesn’t matter, especially in the case of ME2 where it’s quite clear that gamer feedback was responsible for a LOT of the changes/updates/improvements.

It’s an element that actual ruins art. I have studied art for the last 5 years at University, and the one thing I’ve learned is that smart and well thought artists would never flat spell out a message. A part of the fun of art, is how it is open to interpretation… whether a poem, a painting, a movie… even a video game. The user contributes their own feelings and experience to the narrative.

It is this reason that when I play and see old 8-Bit and even 16-Bit video games, that I feel they are more art then even games of today (which are apparently trying to achieve art form… looking at you Heavy Rain devs). Why? Simple the games let the user add their own personal feelings into the mix. Link can be whoever the player in visions him to be… Mega Man could be a man… or a kid… it’s perspective right? That’s sometimes the fun of video games.

What does a character stand for, what are their motives, who are they really? Those kinds of aspects are what make really great and engaging games.

It’s why there are such huge and large install fanbases to most original video game franchises… and some new ones. I mean I’m personally not a huge fan of Master Chief, but in the end he is a great iconic character because of the mystery behind him, that players can get into and take on the role. Quote and Ameratsu are other contemporary characters that are good examples of games that allow you bring your own interpretations into a game.

In any case hopefully we will still have games like that in the future. Cause to me they are truly more free in terms of artistic interpretation.