Time for Bioware to leave EA.

I was watching a video recently talking about Mass Effect and basically how awful it was.  The video went on to explain how in order to make changes to the way games are made consumers need to hit companies where it hurts (The wallet).

I think its time for Bioware to leave EA. The reason I say this is because when you look at companies like CDPR and Rockstar, they dont have parent companies. Bioware is full of tired, overworked and downright lazy designers, artists and programmers. I tried to convince myself that stuff didnt matter but yet again, I am facing a Dragon Age inquisition scenario where I am forced to admit that the game was less than stellar.

The thing I like about CDPR and Rockstar is they dont really have a time table and thats why they produce great games. It will be done when its done. We'll give you information when we give you information. They dont pander to fans they dont rush.

Bioware have some talented writers and staff but sadly, they keep handing us these half baked cakes and saying "ta-da!" And we keep eating them and giving a fake smile with a big "mmmmmm". They have to work to EA's schedule and its clearly not working. They make changes where there doesnt need to be any and at times just make bizzare choices. At one point during a plythrough of Andromeda I almost felt like I was in a scooby-doo scene.

I love Mass Effect and Dragon Age and I have been forced to take off my fanboy glasses and face the cold truth. It's ugly and it smells like a tramps wet sock.

Firstly, I'm not explaining way anything with crunch. As I have stated before, the OP said that Bioware was rushing things out the door, gave examples of two companies that don't rush things out the door and I counted by saying that both these companies use crunch and crunch is rushing things out the door. 


Secondly, I have had to work with something similar to crunch before and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I'm an Instructional Designer and it normally happens with less than stellar project management or when delays happen and the deadline can't be moved. The fact that game devs plan for crunch time is horrible and the fact that people defend it is even worse. 

Crunch should not be a thing. 

So are you suggesting that companies should invest millions of dollars in a project without any clear set time for that project to be finished?  That is what crunch time is, a project dead line that is fast approaching that is not yet done.  Who's fault is it?  The investors who want to see a return on their money or the people who are not meeting that deal line?  It can be caused by both sides but to except the elimination of dead lines is unrealistic.

With that said, as a consumer I really don't care whose fault it is, EA or Bioware, they are the same company in my eyes so blaming one or the other is just a mute point.