Child's Play shuts down fundraiser aimed at changing Mass Effect 3's ending.

[OmegaFenix]

Recently, part of that whole "We're the Internet and we're upset about Mass Effect 3's ending" thing manifested itself in a Child's Play fundraising initiative called "Retake Mass Effect 3." The movement attempted to combine raising money for the charity with convincing BioWare to change the ending of its game.

BioWare was completely unaffiliated with the fundraiser, however, and no amount of money raised would guarantee a new ending -- a fact severely misunderstood by many people that donated. "We were dealing with a lot of very confused people, more every day, and that told us we had a problem," said Penny Arcade's Jerry Holkins in an update on his site. "Apparently some of the people giving to the cause seemed to think that they were paying for a new ending to Mass Effect."


Holkins also said that Child's Play project manager Jamie Dillion was "buried under mail" about the fundraiser from people wanting to know "what the goal is, and how much they need to raise in order to get the ending produced." The charity was also contacted by PayPal, on account of a "high number" of donors requesting refunds. As a result, Child's Play requested that the fundraiser come to an end.


As an organisation, Child's Play has guidelines regulating how money is raised (Child's Play can't be used to sell anything, for instance). Since Retake ME3 technically fell within the boundaries of the charity's existing framework, Holkins has created a new rule to prevent future misunderstandings: "Child's Play cannot be a tool to draw attention to a cause. Child's Play must be the Cause."

Source: Joystiq

I haven't laughed so hard in Ages

[Hraffnir]

*massive facepalm*

[Graal]

Heh, people can be such morons. Obviously you don't donate to charity to get something in return. But hey, at least it ended up doing some good in the end and Bioware are listening to the disappointed fans.

[OmegaFenix]

Heh, people can be such morons. Obviously you don't donate to charity to get something in return. But hey, at least it ended up doing some good in the end and Bioware are listening to the disappointed fans.

Except for the doing some good part, all the funds raised, as I understand it, was returned due to the confusion. As for the change in the ending... I have this theory that its either A) going to go from Bad to Worse or B) the "fans" still wont be happy.

[Graal]

Well, I think for anyone who can read a little deeper into Bioware's press statements it's quite obvious they're not changing a thing about the endings, merely adding some content to clear up some of the confusion around it.

Either way, it shouldn't matter to anyone whatever Bioware does. If you're satisfied with the endings, don't buy the DLC. If you're dissatisfied, buy the DLC. That way, there's an option for both sides of the fence and nobody has to stand there balling their fists in anger at the other because of a difference in opinion.

[Tsar]

Lol Its so sad.

I never complain about a games ending. If thats how they chose the ending to be then so be it I don't know the ending but you can't expect that they should change it. Its pathetic.

[Coheed]

So, tons of people are more interested in donating money to change a video games ending, instead of giving it to a REAL charity?

[OmegaFenix]

So, tons of people are more interested in donating money to change a video games ending, instead of giving it to a REAL charity?

You seem surprised by this....

[Graal]

So, tons of people are more interested in donating money to change a video games ending, instead of giving it to a REAL charity?

It's nothing new. People don't really give a shit about charity. People will walk past starving children on their way to a strip club where they'll throw 100s of rands at naked women.