The Official Mass Effect Thread

[DarthSkywalker]

To you it is flawed, to me there's no need to give the next ME game a subtitle for being under the ideal that it would be a disservice to shepard giving it a number.

I think you misread what they said. It isn't a disservice to Shepard, but a disservice to the next game. It puts ideas and constraints on what it could theoretically be. Hence the discussion and when and where it happens, what storyline it picks up, the style of gameplay, etc.

http://epn.tv/all/type-of/news/biow...mass-effect-as-mass-effect-4-is-a-disservice/

BioWare doesn’t want fans to refer to the next Mass Effect game as Mass Effect 4 because that would imply that it is a continuation of Commander Shepard’s story.

“To call the next game Mass Effect 4 or ME4 is doing it a disservice and seems to cause a lot of confusion here,” said BioWare community manager Chris Priestly. “We have already said that the Commander Shepard trilogy is over and that the next game will not feature him/her. That is the only detail you have on the game. I see people saying ‘well, they’ll have to pick a canon ending’. No, because the game does not have to come after. Or before. Or off to the side. Or with characters you know. Or yaddayaddayadda.”

The "IT" being referred to is the new game, not Shepard's story.

I didn't avoid your question. Once again, I saw the point you were making, and I simply disagree! All famous franchises work differently. One can't always be used as a perfect example to explain the works/mechanics of another. I appreciate you giving a brief explanation of star wars but it doesn't change anything. Not here, anyway.

Not really. They all sort of work the same way. Though now that we live in the era or the prequels, reboots, etc. we just add more and more layers.

some franchises, like for instance the one you mentioned, dragon age, also made by bioware, never had numbers in the title, iirc. ME always did. so again, here it's not the same. However, usually at this point in time (after a trilogy I suppose) when a franchise releases a title without a numerical title, the upcoming installment is seen as a spinoff, or a prequel, or just a derivative game of sorts. That much is true here, or the latter is at least since shepard won't be a part of it.

And this is my point and what you seem to not be able to understand. Dragon Age is anthology series. Do you know what the means? The entire idea is based around having new main characters. That is the idea, which explains the reason why they went that way with it.

You say Mass Effect always has had a number, which is true. But what you also seem to be forgetting is that Mass Effect has also always been Shepard's story. That is why it is called the Mass Effect Trilogy. That hasn't changed yet, and won't until a new game is released.

But what's not true (what I don't agree with you/bioware) is that still giving it the name Me4 is not a disservice to the protagonist of the first 3 games. They can do it if they want or not, either way nothing is wrong the naming; it is after all the fourth mass effect game, they can very well name it that and it wouldn't be inappropriate, period. I already said before that I'd appreciate if they do something like mass effect: subtitle, mass effect: same subtitle 2, and then 3 etc. Again, giving each and every new game from here on out makes it seem like whatever protagonist they intend to have stick around of less vitality than shepard had to his games.

Read above. Also Shepard came first, of course the character has a special place. The character stopped the annual extermination of the galaxy and set it on a brand new path. Yeah, I think the character is a bit special and will also be the most "vital" character in the series. He is their Master Chief, their Harry Potter, their Luke Skywalker. You are never going to get bigger then that. But in terms of vitality? That is all about writing.

To you, it is wrong to disagree with them, calling them stupid & illogical (not sure if I even used those exact words!). But that doesn't mean only you (or even bioware) have the right answer here. I'm not saying you have to be wrong about all this, I'm saying you can't convince me I'm wrong for going against agreeing with what bioware stated about their Me4 naming. And once more, others here have stated it wouldn't be a big deal to them for bioware to name it Me4 as well, with a story away from shepard's. and i'm sure there are tons of others who wouldn't mind it either. it's not an isolated thought.

You are arguing two different things. Whether Bioware is right, which they are, and whether they have to do it a certain way. If they want to label the next game Mass Effect 4, that is up to them. Well them and their shareholders. But if they want to make a clean break from what has come before, not naming it Mass Effect 4 makes all the sense in the world.

If your last two statements were true, all they'd have to do is say the new game is Me4 and also state "shepard is not a part of this." They wouldn't be breaking any rules or laws by doing that, perhaps a few hearts though. But how many more hearts can they break after Me3's ending? Most have moved on I'd presume at this point.

This is actually giving consumers a bit too much credit. We are talking about a public that has trouble telling the difference between MCU films and the other Marvel properties. Most do not look into these things.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

I think you misread what they said. It isn't a disservice to Shepard, but a disservice to the next game. It puts ideas and constraints on what it could theoretically be. Hence the discussion and when and where it happens, what storyline it picks up, the style of gameplay, etc.

http://epn.tv/all/type-of/news/biow...mass-effect-as-mass-effect-4-is-a-disservice/


The "IT" being referred to is the new game, not Shepard's story.

That was me paraphrasing. I still disagree with their statements that naming the next game Me4 would be a disservice on any front.

Not really. They all sort of work the same way. Though now that we live in the era or the prequels, reboots, etc. we just add more and more layers.

sort of, but not really. obviously stories work with part 1s, 2s, 3s, but every story spins it in their own way. if one mega franchise does things a little differently they aren't breaking any rules. there's no one to say, 'hey, they can't do that!' and this era of prequels and reboots and what not, it's been around since at least the 90s, hasn't it?

And this is my point and what you seem to not be able to understand. Dragon Age is anthology series. Do you know what the means? The entire idea is based around having new main characters. That is the idea, which explains the reason why they went that way with it.

So what? you called gta an anthology series too and it didn't always have numerical titles, it also had subtitles for certain installments and usually the subtitles were MORE directly tied to the numerical title that preceded it. Every couple of persona games also have new settings and characters but almost all of the games have numerical titles. the rules of literature are not absolute. the creative authors can take whatever liberties with their works that they want. bioware feels that it's wrong to go forward with naming the game Me4, and I disagree with their reasoning.

You say Mass Effect always has had a number, which is true. But what you also seem to be forgetting is that Mass Effect has also always been Shepard's story. That is why it is called the Mass Effect Trilogy. That hasn't changed yet, and won't until a new game is released.

But... there is still nothing wrong with calling the next game Me4. I don't care that much what they name it numerical or not, but just because shepard won't be a part of it doesn't mean they should leave out a number.

Read above. Also Shepard came first, of course the character has a special place. The character stopped the annual extermination of the galaxy and set it on a brand new path. Yeah, I think the character is a bit special and will also be the most "vital" character in the series. He is their Master Chief, their Harry Potter, their Luke Skywalker. You are never going to get bigger then that. But in terms of vitality? That is all about writing.

I read the above, all things still apply. if that is the way bioware is making it, then I'll perceive any ME game without shepard as the main character as a less major installment and less significant entry to the series. And i'm sure that's not what bioware is intending with the continuation of ME and its next game. if shepard will always be the most pivotal anchor to MEverse's steering, then they shouldn't be planning out the future of the series with him largely being absent from it.

You are arguing two different things. Whether Bioware is right, which they are, and whether they have to do it a certain way. If they want to label the next game Mass Effect 4, that is up to them. Well them and their shareholders. But if they want to make a clean break from what has come before, not naming it Mass Effect 4 makes all the sense in the world.

The only thing I'm arguing is that all things considered, there is nothing wrong with bioware naming their next game Me4. It's not nonsensical; all they need to do is make it clear that shepard won't be in it, which they've already done. Anything else I've argued is to further explain to you why I think bioware is giving an unnecessary explanation for giving the next ME game, probably a subtitle instead of a 4. Once more, I'm not discrediting you for all that you've said, but it does not convince me at all that I'm wrong about what I've said. I've played all the ME games, and this is the opinion I have of the series and the potential title of the next game. And once more, it seems at least two others in this thread alone does not see it a big deal either if they named it Me4 without connection to the previous games. Either way, like I said in my first post in response to zenith's, it's whatever. It does not and should not matter that much what they name it but I wouldn't want them to not name it Me4 just because they feel it is a disservice. It's their franchise so they'll name it whatever the hell they want.

This is actually giving consumers a bit too much credit. We are talking about a public that has trouble telling the difference between MCU films and the other Marvel properties. Most do not look into these things.

we're talking about the hardcore fans, which I think most of us probably are. casuals will always be paying less attention, so much that they sometimes may not even discern completely new succeeding products (wii u perception of an add on). If a public can't tell differences like the ones you're suggesting, that's their problem. Most of the core audience doesn't, and things like box office and reception shows for it.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

That was me paraphrasing. I still disagree with their statements that naming the next game Me4 would be a disservice on any front.

How is that paraphrasing? By definition, that was not paraphrasing. It is the complete opposite of what they said.

sort of, but not really. obviously stories work with part 1s, 2s, 3s, but every story spins it in their own way. if one mega franchise does things a little differently they aren't breaking any rules. there's no one to say, 'hey, they can't do that!' and this era of prequels and reboots and what not, it's been around since at least the 90s, hasn't it?

You do realize this renders your entire argument moot right? That whatever way they choose to do it, whatever their reasoning is 100% right?

So what? you called gta an anthology series too and it didn't always have numerical titles, it also had subtitles for certain installments and usually the subtitles were MORE directly tied to the numerical title that preceded it. Every couple of persona games also have new settings and characters but almost all of the games have numerical titles. the rules of literature are not absolute. the creative authors can take whatever liberties with their works that they want. bioware feels that it's wrong to go forward with naming the game Me4, and I disagree with their reasoning.

GTA is an anthology series. That is why you have the games set in specific groupings. Like how you have the GTA3 games grouped together, the GTA 4 games grouped together and now GTAV. Again, do you understand what an anthology series is?

Also, the rules of literature are absolute. That is why they are the rules of literature. Not sure what that has to do with this.

But... there is still nothing wrong with calling the next game Me4. I don't care that much what they name it numerical or not, but just because shepard won't be a part of it doesn't mean they should leave out a number.
I read the above, all things still apply. if that is the way bioware is making it, then I'll perceive any ME game without shepard as the main character as a less major installment and less significant entry to the series. And i'm sure that's not what bioware is intending with the continuation of ME and its next game. if shepard will always be the most pivotal anchor to MEverse's steering, then they shouldn't be planning out the future of the series with him largely being absent from it.

Here is why I find this argument frustration. You are making up arbitrary rules to make your argument. You say there is no way to label or list installments in a series, and then you say if they do it a certain way you feel like they are devaluing the next game. If creative authors have can take whatever liberties that way, How the hell does that make sense?

The only thing I'm arguing is that all things considered, there is nothing wrong with bioware naming their next game Me4. It's not nonsensical; all they need to do is make it clear that shepard won't be in it, which they've already done. Anything else I've argued is to further explain to you why I think bioware is giving an unnecessary explanation for giving the next ME game, probably a subtitle instead of a 4. Once more, I'm not discrediting you for all that you've said, but it does not convince me at all that I'm wrong about what I've said. I've played all the ME games, and this is the opinion I have of the series and the potential title of the next game. And once more, it seems at least two others in this thread alone does not see it a big deal either if they named it Me4 without connection to the previous games. Either way, like I said in my first post in response to zenith's, it's whatever. It does not and should not matter that much what they name it but I wouldn't want them to not name it Me4 just because they feel it is a disservice. It's their franchise so they'll name it whatever the hell they want.

When did I say labeling the next game Mass Effect 4 is nonsensical? You are the one who just literally contradicted your own though process. Just look at this post. You are literally arguing out of both sides of your mouth. It is astonishing really.

And have you really played all the Mass Effect games? You go down with iOS games? Really? t:

we're talking about the hardcore fans, which I think most of us probably are. casuals will always be paying less attention, so much that they sometimes may not even discern completely new succeeding products (wii u perception of an add on). If a public can't tell differences like the ones you're suggesting, that's their problem. Most of the core audience doesn't, and things like box office and reception shows for it.

Hardcore fans don't pay the bills for these games. The casuals do. It is the same for all high priced entertainment. MCU isn't built on people who have read Marvel comics even for part of their lives.

But I am curious, why do "hardcore fans" take precedences?

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

How is that paraphrasing? By definition, that was not paraphrasing. It is the complete opposite of what they said.

huh? it's not the opposite of what they said. the complete opposite would be them saying for sure 100% the next ME game will be titled Me4.

You do realize this renders your entire argument moot right? That whatever way they choose to do it, whatever their reasoning is 100% right?

No it doesn't. Dude, you just really want me to give up this debate & tell me I'm wrong. My argument is that there is no need to not name the next ME game Me4 for reasons stated over and over again. Its their property, so they decide what to do, but that doesn't mean it was right. They've gotten a lot of things wrong in handling their franchise if you ask me.

GTA is an anthology series. That is why you have the games set in specific groupings. Like how you have the GTA3 games grouped together, the GTA 4 games grouped together and now GTAV. Again, do you understand what an anthology series is?

GTA4&5 were set in the same universe. All other numerical titles were standalone. Gimme another example of an anthology and tell me how it follows all the rules.

Also, the rules of literature are absolute. That is why they are the rules of literature. Not sure what that has to do with this.

So if I follow the rules of a certain poem and then break some of the rules and finish the poem, is it no longer a poem?

Here is why I find this argument frustration. You are making up arbitrary rules to make your argument. You say there is no way to label or list installments in a series, and then you say if they do it a certain way you feel like they are devaluing the next game. If creative authors have can take whatever liberties that way, How the hell does that make sense?

I'm not making anything. All I've been saying was this: there has been 3 games set in the MEverse, Mass Effects 1, 2, and 3. This next game will be the fourth major installment and if it takes place place after the events of Me3, then there's nothing wrong with giving it the title Me4. That's been my bottom line this entire time. If you don't understand what I was trying to say about introducing a new protagonist, you don't understand your own examples because that's what I was responding to. If shepard is the main character not only of the first 3 games but of the series overall (like all the characters are to their respective franchises you mentioned) that tells me that the next protagonist introduced will be of less vitality to the franchise and thus, the installments they were introduced in.

When did I say labeling the next game Mass Effect 4 is nonsensical? You are the one who just literally contradicted your own though process. Just look at this post. You are literally arguing out of both sides of your mouth. It is astonishing really.

eh, you're not getting what i'm saying. if we were to go back 4 years and Me3 was still in the making, and bioware decided to pick a select few ME fans and fly them to canada for their input on the game, explaining to them how the game would end, those fans would probably say "no don't end the game like that" but ULTIMATELY, since this is bioware's property, they are the ones who write the ending and decide the ends of everything that happens in regards to ME. aside from release dates I think EA handles that.

what's astonishing is how you're taking my words and deciding to go on a back and forth debate trying to tell me how i'm so wrong about my thought processes, but all you're doing is making me think that that is your agenda; trying to make me feel as though i've been contradicting myself and not making sense, but I stand by everything I said. neither one of us has to be wrong but I get the sense that you have this undying urge that only you can be right about all this. yet, once again, a few others have already said they don't see a problem with it being named Me4.

And have you really played all the Mass Effect games? You go down with iOS games? Really? t:

I played infiltrator and I didn't like it.

Hardcore fans don't pay the bills for these games. The casuals do. It is the same for all high priced entertainment. MCU isn't built on people who have read Marvel comics even for part of their lives.

But I am curious, why do "hardcore fans" take precedences?

Because we are the ones who pay more attention to these things. My friend who knew nothing at all about ME until we were roommates one summer played through Me2 and Me3 and was fine with the ending. Do you think it was the voice of the casuals that forced bioware to come up with the extended cut? If you do, then I beg to differ.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

huh? it's not the opposite of what they said. the complete opposite would be them saying for sure 100% the next ME game will be titled Me4.

No. Just no. You said they were arguing it would be a disservice to the character of Shepard. They said it would be a disservice to the new game. You wrote the exact opposite of what they were saying.

Paraphrasing is taking what someone else said, and saying it in a different way, using different words. It is still the same fundamental idea.

No it doesn't. Dude, you just really want me to give up this debate & tell me I'm wrong. My argument is that there is no need to not name the next ME game Me4 for reasons stated over and over again. Its their property, so they decide what to do, but that doesn't mean it was right. They've gotten a lot of things wrong in handling their franchise if you ask me.

You are completely ignoring what I am writing. That, or you don't understand it. You keep saying you do, but it is getting pretty clear you don't. Look at what you wrote:

sort of, but not really. obviously stories work with part 1s, 2s, 3s, but every story spins it in their own way. if one mega franchise does things a little differently they aren't breaking any rules. there's no one to say, 'hey, they can't do that!' and this era of prequels and reboots and what not, it's been around since at least the 90s, hasn't it?

some franchises, like for instance the one you mentioned, dragon age, also made by bioware, never had numbers in the title, iirc. ME always did. so again, here it's not the same. However, usually at this point in time (after a trilogy I suppose) when a franchise releases a title without a numerical title, the upcoming installment is seen as a spinoff, or a prequel, or just a derivative game of sorts. That much is true here, or the latter is at least since shepard won't be a part of it.

Do you really not understand the contradiction in what you are writing? If there is no hard and fast rules how can giving the game a subtitle make it lesser just by giving it a subtitle?

GTA4&5 were set in the same universe. All other numerical titles were standalone. Gimme another example of an anthology and tell me how it follows all the rules.

Fargo, True Detective and American Horror Story are all anthology series. Final Fantasy is an anthology series. Elder Scrolls is an anthology series. Dragon Age is.

Games/Stories being set in the same universe has nothing to do with what an anthology series is. Numerals do not matter.

So if I follow the rules of a certain poem and then break some of the rules and finish the poem, is it no longer a poem?

There is free form poetry. But if you are trying to write certain style of poetry and you break the rules, yes it stops being that kind of poem.

I'm not making anything. All I've been saying was this: there has been 3 games set in the MEverse, Mass Effects 1, 2, and 3. This next game will be the fourth major installment and if it takes place place after the events of Me3, then there's nothing wrong with giving it the title Me4. That's been my bottom line this entire time. If you don't understand what I was trying to say about introducing a new protagonist, you don't understand your own examples because that's what I was responding to. If shepard is the main character not only of the first 3 games but of the series overall (like all the characters are to their respective franchises you mentioned) that tells me that the next protagonist introduced will be of less vitality to the franchise and thus, the installments they were introduced in.

Based on what? The lack of a number?

And I am not sure you are using vitality correctly.

eh, you're not getting what i'm saying. if we were to go back 4 years and Me3 was still in the making, and bioware decided to pick a select few ME fans and fly them to canada for their input on the game, explaining to them how the game would end, those fans would probably say "no don't end the game like that" but ULTIMATELY, since this is bioware's property, they are the ones who write the ending and decide the ends of everything that happens in regards to ME. aside from release dates I think EA handles that.

What does this have to do with our discussion? This is red herring.

what's astonishing is how you're taking my words and deciding to go on a back and forth debate trying to tell me how i'm so wrong about my thought processes, but all you're doing is making me think that that is your agenda; trying to make me feel as though i've been contradicting myself and not making sense, but I stand by everything I said. neither one of us has to be wrong but I get the sense that you have this undying urge that only you can be right about all this. yet, once again, a few others have already said they don't see a problem with it being named Me4.

You are contradicting yourself. Read your post. I reread what I write on here, which is why I edit so much. You can stand by everything you wrote. But you are still writing against yourself.

And here is the thing, I never said there is anything wrong with labeling it Mass Effect 4. You are the one who said there is a problem with using a subtitle. My point is, they have clear reasoning if they decide to give it a subtitle.

I played infiltrator and I didn't like it.

More then me. t:

Because we are the ones who pay more attention to these things. My friend who knew nothing at all about ME until we were roommates one summer played through Me2 and Me3 and was fine with the ending. Do you think it was the voice of the casuals that forced bioware to come up with the extended cut? If you do, then I beg to differ.

This reeks of entitlement.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

No. Just no. You said they were arguing it would be a disservice to the character of Shepard. They said it would be a disservice to the new game. You wrote the exact opposite of what they were saying.

No I didn't. The exact opposite would be them saying that Me4 would be the title of the next ME game.

Paraphrasing is taking what someone else said, and saying it in a different way, using different words. It is still the same fundamental idea.

that's what I did. If you don't see that, fine. It doesn't matter.

You are completely ignoring what I am writing. That, or you don't understand it. You keep saying you do, but it is getting pretty clear you don't. Look at what you wrote:





Do you really not understand the contradiction in what you are writing? If there is no hard and fast rules how can giving the game a subtitle make it lesser just by giving it a subtitle?

I'm not ignoring what you said. you're trying hard to make me think i've contradicted myself when the only thing i've done is say different things to make the same point. but, perhaps I was a little confusing to you because I'm not great with explanations. all the mass effect games have had numerical titles. the next one will be a major installment and if it'll be as major as the rest and the new protagonist will be as vital as shepard was, then shepard isn't the same representative as harry potter and master chief and sky walker are to their respective stories.

Fargo, True Detective and American Horror Story are all anthology series. Final Fantasy is an anthology series. Elder Scrolls is an anthology series. Dragon Age is.

Games/Stories being set in the same universe has nothing to do with what an anthology series is. Numerals do not matter.

final fantasy's had direct sequels, so does that automatically not make it an anthology series anymore?

There is free form poetry. But if you are trying to write certain style of poetry and you break the rules, yes it stops being that kind of poem.

But it doesn't stop being a poem. That's all I was getting at. My explanation wasn't well put when I was brought up the rules of literature

Based on what? The lack of a number?

Yes, otherwise bioware would have no problem naming the game Me4. Is this not the entire reason we're having this discussion?

And I am not sure you are using vitality correctly.

can we agree that shepard was vital to the story of mass effects 1-3? sounds like you're trying to say i don't anything i talk about.

What does this have to do with our discussion? This is red herring.

my point is that bioware has final say on whatever goes on with the ME projects because it is theirs. whether it be how the story is told, or how the installment is named.

You are contradicting yourself. Read your post. I reread what I write on here, which is why I edit so much. You can stand by everything you wrote. But you are still writing against yourself.

And here is the thing, I never said there is anything wrong with labeling it Mass Effect 4. You are the one who said there is a problem with using a subtitle. My point is, they have clear reasoning if they decide to give it a subtitle.

i'm not contradicting myself, you are misunderstanding me. i think the next game should be titled Me4, and i don't care that much if it isn't, BUT I don't agree with bioware's reasoning for not naming it Me4. I also never said there's a problem with a subtitle.

More then me. t:

huh? you mean you disliked infiltrator more than I did?

This reeks of entitlement.

you can look at it any way you want dsw, I don't really care. it's not like the casual consumers aren't aware that hardcore consumers exist. if you disagree with what I said then you disagree but once you try to subliminally say something about me without knowing who i am is when there's a problem.

I'm willing to continue discussing this with you as long as there remains a mutual respect.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

No I didn't. The exact opposite would be them saying that Me4 would be the title of the next ME game.
that's what I did. If you don't see that, fine. It doesn't matter.

I do not know if English is not your first language, but you seem really confused. This is what you wrote:

To you it is flawed, to me there's no need to give the next ME game a subtitle for being under the ideal that it would be a disservice to shepard giving it a number.

This is what they said:

BioWare doesn’t want fans to refer to the next Mass Effect game as Mass Effect 4 because that would imply that it is a continuation of Commander Shepard’s story.

“To call the next game Mass Effect 4 or ME4 is doing it a disservice and seems to cause a lot of confusion here,” said BioWare community manager Chris Priestly. “We have already said that the Commander Shepard trilogy is over and that the next game will not feature him/her. That is the only detail you have on the game. I see people saying ‘well, they’ll have to pick a canon ending’. No, because the game does not have to come after. Or before. Or off to the side. Or with characters you know. Or yaddayaddayadda.”

The opposite of saying it would be a disservice to the new game, is either saying it would actually be a good thing for the new game or saying that it would be a disservice to Shepard. Those are actual opposites.

You did not paraphrase. Paraphrasing would be something like, "Labeling the new game Mass Effect 4 would undercut the new game."

I'm not ignoring what you said. you're trying hard to make me think i've contradicted myself when the only thing i've done is say different things to make the same point. but, perhaps I was a little confusing to you because I'm not great with explanations. all the mass effect games have had numerical titles. the next one will be a major installment and if it'll be as major as the rest and the new protagonist will be as vital as shepard was, then shepard isn't the same representative as harry potter and master chief and sky walker are to their respective stories.
final fantasy's had direct sequels, so does that automatically not make it an anthology series anymore?

I am trying to explain to you how these things work. You have taken on this discussion with your head down, unwilling to even consider what is being put to you.

You say that the author gets to label an installment and put together a series anyway they want. That there are no hard and fast rules. And then you say it would be a problem if it isn't Mass Effect 4.

final fantasy's had direct sequels, so does that automatically not make it an anthology series anymore?

Did you ever notice that when they want to do a sequel with the same characters, they continue to use that Final Fantasy number? It was Final Fantasy X-2, not Final Fantasy XI or XII. That is how they divide the stories, by the characters and worlds, that is why it is an anthology.

But it doesn't stop being a poem. That's all I was getting at. My explanation wasn't well put when I was brought up the rules of literature

So what is your point? Who is disagreeing that the next Mass Effect game will be a game? Because no matter the title, the next Mass Effect game is still a game. Heck they could release the next Angry Birds and call it Mass Effect 4, and it would still be a game.

Yes, otherwise bioware would have no problem naming the game Me4. Is this not the entire reason we're having this discussion?

They don't have a problem naming it or not naming it Mass Effect 4. They do seemingly want to separate it with the title though. You do have a problem with them not naming it Mass Effect 4. You are the one saying that the game is somehow lowered if they don't name it Mass Effect 4.

can we agree that shepard was vital to the story of mass effects 1-3? sounds like you're trying to say i don't anything i talk about.

Vital and vitality are two different words, with two different meanings. Yes, Shepard was vital to Mass Effect 1-3. It was his story.

my point is that bioware has final say on whatever goes on with the ME projects because it is theirs. whether it be how the story is told, or how the installment is named.

So whats the issue?

i'm not contradicting myself, you are misunderstanding me. i think the next game should be titled Me4, and i don't care that much if it isn't, BUT I don't agree with bioware's reasoning for not naming it Me4. I also never said there's a problem with a subtitle.

Except you did. You have repeatedly tried to say it makes the games spin offs or lesser games.

I'm not making anything. All I've been saying was this: there has been 3 games set in the MEverse, Mass Effects 1, 2, and 3. This next game will be the fourth major installment and if it takes place place after the events of Me3, then there's nothing wrong with giving it the title Me4. That's been my bottom line this entire time. If you don't understand what I was trying to say about introducing a new protagonist, you don't understand your own examples because that's what I was responding to. If shepard is the main character not only of the first 3 games but of the series overall (like all the characters are to their respective franchises you mentioned) that tells me that the next protagonist introduced will be of less vitality to the franchise and thus, the installments they were introduced in.

But... there is still nothing wrong with calling the next game Me4. I don't care that much what they name it numerical or not, but just because shepard won't be a part of it doesn't mean they should leave out a number.
I read the above, all things still apply. if that is the way bioware is making it, then I'll perceive any ME game without shepard as the main character as a less major installment and less significant entry to the series. And i'm sure that's not what bioware is intending with the continuation of ME and its next game. if shepard will always be the most pivotal anchor to MEverse's steering, then they shouldn't be planning out the future of the series with him largely being absent from it.

Can you at least acknowledge this? I mean come on, you actually wrote it multiple times.

huh? you mean you disliked infiltrator more than I did?

I mean I never played any of the iOS games.

you can look at it any way you want dsw, I don't really care. it's not like the casual consumers aren't aware that hardcore consumers exist. if you disagree with what I said then you disagree but once you try to subliminally say something about me without knowing who i am is when there's a problem.

I'm willing to continue discussing this with you as long as there remains a mutual respect.

I am all for mutual respect. That includes hardcore and casual gamers.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

I do not know if English is not your first language, but you seem really confused. This is what you wrote:



This is what they said:


The opposite of saying it would be a disservice to the new game, is either saying it would actually be a good thing for the new game or saying that it would be a disservice to Shepard. Those are actual opposites.

You did not paraphrase. Paraphrasing would be something like, "Labeling the new game Mass Effect 4 would undercut the new game."

oh okay, I get what you're saying - that originally I was saying naming it Me4 is a disservice to shepard but that they're saying naming it Me4 is a disservice to the game itself. English is my first language, I'm just not always good at explaining stuff. But it doesn't really change my stance on the topic. Naming the next game Me4 is not a disservice to anything.

I am trying to explain to you how these things work. You have taken on this discussion with your head down, unwilling to even consider what is being put to you.

You say that the author gets to label an installment and put together a series anyway they want. That there are no hard and fast rules. And then you say it would be a problem if it isn't Mass Effect 4.

ugh. no I haven't. I've said several times here that neither one of us has to be wrong. it seems that you're just perceiving it as me rejecting what you're saying, simply because I'm not telling you what you want to hear. I didn't say there was an inherent problem with them not naming it Me4. This all started when I said I did not like their reasoning for not naming it as such.

Did you ever notice that when they want to do a sequel with the same characters, they continue to use that Final Fantasy number? It was Final Fantasy X-2, not Final Fantasy XI or XII. That is how they divide the stories, by the characters and worlds, that is why it is an anthology.

My point here was that the FFS franchise still included direct sequels, that's all I was saying. no literary work is bound to all the rules of literature.

So what is your point? Who is disagreeing that the next Mass Effect game will be a game? Because no matter the title, the next Mass Effect game is still a game. Heck they could release the next Angry Birds and call it Mass Effect 4, and it would still be a game.

my point is that having the premise of the new game being kept separate from what happened in the MEverse during shepard's time isn't a good reason for them to not name it Me4.

They don't have a problem naming it or not naming it Mass Effect 4. They do seemingly want to separate it with the title though. You do have a problem with them not naming it Mass Effect 4. You are the one saying that the game is somehow lowered if they don't name it Mass Effect 4.

If this was true, they wouldn't be responding to people discussing it with the tentative 'Me4' title. I don't have a problem with them not naming it Me4 and I said the game could be seen as a less major release only if the ME franchise with shepard in mind falls in line with the examples you gave of harry potter, master chief, and luke sky walker. you're putting words in my mouth. here's my first post

I don't agree with that, this is the next mass effect game. while shepard was a vital part of the story in the first 3 games, he didn't equate to the entire ME universe. Me4 is totally appropriate. but name it whatver the eff you want, bioware.

and I mean every word. if by my last statement you interpreted it as me having a problem with them not naming it Me4, then you misinterpreted because with that I meant its their property so they can name it something else if they like and they will, but I disagree with their reasoning for doing so. You seem to have a problem with that.

Vital and vitality are two different words, with two different meanings. Yes, Shepard was vital to Mass Effect 1-3. It was his story.

I know that, I don't like where you're getting at. you're being borderline condescending.

So whats the issue?

There never was one. I'm not gonna riot for them not titling it Me4, I just don't agree with what they said.

Except you did. You have repeatedly tried to say it makes the games spin offs or lesser games.





Can you at least acknowledge this? I mean come on, you actually wrote it multiple times.

In the quotes themselves, I stated that in the manner that you described, I'd be against it - presenting the idea that shepard is to ME what harry potter is to his self titled story and master chief is to halo and the like. If that is the case, then again it will feel like whatever protagonist they plan to have around will be of less vitality to the series than shepard was and i'm sure that's not what bioware will intend to implement with the new installment.

I mean I never played any of the iOS games.

Oh.

I am all for mutual respect. That includes hardcore and casual gamers.

I meant the mutual respect in this discussion. I'm not knocking casual or hardcore gamers. All I said was that if casual gamers don't see the bigger picture of things, that's their loss. it doesn't make them any less deserving of anything. they pay the same amount of cash to get the merchandise as we do. only difference is they don't look into the lore as much as others and that's part of what makes us hardcore.

 

[Brother Jack]

What is going on here.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

What is going on here.

mass effect discussion.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

I was in bed going to sleep last night, and the arrival mission failure screen crossed my mind. The whole thing was creepy, and some parts of it were disturbing, but there also parts that the indoctrination documentary did not really touch upon.

For instance, this looks like the table in the middle of the crew's quarters level of the normandy, only I can't tell what it is there at the table, if I were to take a guess, they look like keepers

there are shots of our whole entire crew, squadmates and crewmen both, all along a view of illium. but the weird part is, the illusive man is here too, and he also appears to be the only one that moves slightly before the next frame.

and the next frame reveals that...everybody was waiting for the arrival of the reapers, creepy. unless they're all indoctrinated somehow, I wonder what this is all supposed to mean.

alright, so perhaps not all of your crew were there, but it's strange they picked the ones they did including the illusive man.

 

[James]

Is that Ashley? What's she doing there? She died back in the first game

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

Is that Ashley? What's she doing there? She died back in the first game

ah, good point. i'm not sure if that mission failure even took into account for who you decided to save in Me1.

according to pachter...Me4 will release Q2 next year. this time next year.
http://www.videogamer.com/ps4/mirro...ffect_4_to_release_by_april_2016_pachter.html

 

[Iceman]

What is going on here.

When DS and XB argue we all lose.

 

[Frosty81]

I like quotes.

 

[James]

I like quotes.

You're welcome.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

lol

 

[DarthSkywalker]

When DS and XB argue we all lose.

When is the slap on my back for walking away?

 

[Iceman]

When is the slap on my back for walking away?

It was a little late, 3 people died reading those posts. You'll definitely get one next time from me though for an early exit and that goes for XB too, I'll even throw in cash.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

It was a little late, 3 people died reading those posts. You'll definitely get one next time from me though for an early exit and that goes for XB too, I'll even throw in cash.

That is a fair deal.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

RUMORS, again.

Sometimes I take surveys online for a little extra money.

One day last month I got one with this:

The Next Mass Effect Context:

The next Mass Effect game takes place in the Helius Cluster (a cluster of 100s of solar systems in the Andromeda Galaxy), far removed by time and space from Commander Shepard’s heroic acts and the final events of the Mass Effect trilogy. You are a pathfinder, a combat trained but un-tested explorer leading an expedition into the Helius cluster to establish a new home for humanity. As you explore this sprawling series of solar systems (over 4x the size of Mass Effect 3), collecting resources and building colonies, you will encounter the savagery of untamed lands in the form of cut-throat outlaws and warring alien races. To survive and colonize the wild reaches of space, you will need to grow your arsenal, your ship, your crew and make strategic (and often uneasy) alliances to fight against increasingly menacing foes. Along the way, you will encounter the remains of a once powerful and mysterious alien race, the Remnant, whose forgotten technology holds the key to gaining power in this region of the galaxy. As you uncover who the Remnant were, and the mysteries their ruins contain, you are drawn into a violent race to find the source of their forgotten technology that will determine the fate of humanity.

Collect Resources to Fuel your Growth:

Scour solar systems and planets within the Helius Cluster to find valuable resources and blueprints of long forgotten alien technology that will allow you to craft better equipment and weapons, such as improving your leg armor to allow you to jetpack jump, or upgrading your cryo-beam (laser cannon) to target enemies or do area damage around you to clear out close threats. As you build your arsenal and resource infrastructure, you will be able to explore deeper into the increasingly dangerous and resource-rich solar systems of the Helius Cluster.

A Capable Crew:

Throughout the story, you will recruit seven distinct crew members to fight by your side. Each crew member has a unique personality and specific abilities that open up strategic options as you choose which two of them to bring into each mission. For example, Cora has the ability to deploy a biotic shield that protects everyone in the bubble while still allowing you and your squad to fire out of it. Your crew will grow alongside you as you explore the Helius Cluster, and you can choose how you upgrade your crew’s weapons, gear and abilities to increase their individual combat effectiveness. Create the perfect squad to react to any situation and to support your preferred gameplay style.

Your Crew, Your Story:

Your crew members aren’t merely hired guns – they are part of the living universe in the Helius Cluster that develops in response to your actions and choices. Increase each crew member’s loyalty by pursuing missions that are important to that specific character. For example, when a Krogan colony ship has been stolen by one of the outlaw factions leaving the colonists stranded without resources to survive, your Krogan squad mate, Drack, is determined to strike out against them. If you take the mission and help him track down the outlaws’ hideout to return the ship to its rightful owners, Drack’s loyalty toward you and your squad will increase and Drack will unlock a brand new skill tree.

Explore each individual’s backstory and develop your relationship with them through conversations and unique missions. True to Mass Effect, what you choose to say will directly affect your crew’s loyalty and relationship with you, and will open up different conversations and narrative opportunities at the end of the game depending upon how you approach each encounter.

Deployed Strike Team Missions:

The Helius Cluster is 1000s of light years across, and you can’t be everywhere at once. As you develop more colonies, resource bases and settlements, you have to be able to keep them safe. Spend resources to recruit mercenaries and develop an AI controlled Strike Team that you can deploy to take on randomly generated, time-sensitive missions. Strike Team missions take many forms, including settlement defense and Remnant artifact recovery, which will take real-time to complete. Send your Strike Team out on a mission while you continue playing the main game and they will return, 20 – 30 minutes later, having gained rewards such as XP, currency and equipment based on the success of their mission. Spend money and resources to train your Strike Team and acquire better gear for them, which will increase their success rate and allow them to take on more difficult missions for greater rewards.

Active Strike Team Missions:

When you encounter a Strike Team mission in the Single-Player mode, you can leave your Strike Team at their base and decide to tackle the mission yourself with your Multiplayer roster of characters. You also have the option of tackling the mission by yourself, or recruiting up to three friends to play with you. The more friends you bring, the greater the challenge and the greater the reward. These missions will play out using the Next Mass Effect’s multiplayer Horde mode (more details on this later). These missions will include a variety of thematically appropriate objectives, like defending a Settlement against Khet attacks, or recovering a Remnant artifact off of a planet before an outlaw gang gets there first. By taking an active role in strike team missions, you can earn special Single-player rewards in addition to the usual multiplayer specific characters, weapons, weapon mods, and pieces of equipment which can be customized between missions. Additionally, players who join another person’s Strike Team mission will receive bonus in-game currency and multiplayer XP for helping others with their missions.

Multiplayer “Horde” Mode:

The next Mass Effect’s “Horde” multiplayer pits you and up to three of your friends against waves of enemy troops on various battlefields throughout the galaxy. Players fight together to survive increasingly difficult enemy attacks and accomplish objectives, like disabling a bomb near a colony base or assassinating a target. Progress through multiplayer missions to gain XP and earn new multiplayer specific weapons, characters, weapon mods, and pieces of equipment, which can be customized between matches. Multiplayer play will also earn you APEX funds (in-game currency), which can be used to purchase items and gear in the Single Player game.

Establish Settlements:

Search solar systems for rare habitable planets to establish a settlement that could serve as a base for humankind’s new home in the Helius Cluster. As you build permanent settlements, you will make strategic choices on where to focus your new base’s resources. For example: Recon Settlements will clear fog of war from the space map and give the player more strike team missions to choose from, while Mining Settlements will periodically supplement the player’s supply of crafting materials.

Dialogue:

Building upon the rich history of strategic dialogue that has defined the Mass Effect series, you can make meaningful choices in every conversation you have with characters that impact the way your game evolves. The next Mass Effect adds deeper control over your conversations through a greater ability to interrupt and change the course of the conversation as it is happening. During certain conversations, you will be able to take action based choices, such as the option to pull out your gun and force someone to open a door instead of convincing them to do it through conversational guile. Action based choices give you more options for how you approach dialogue with characters in the game and can lead to more extreme outcomes on the story as it evolves around the decisions you make when interacting with a huge cast of NPC characters.

Seamlessly Travel Through the Next Mass Effect Universe:

As you pilot your space ship, Tempest, across the 100s of solar systems that are seamlessly connected in the next Mass Effect, you will encounter new planets filled with valuable resources, intelligent life, conflict, and alien technology that all give you opportunities to increase the power of your character, your ship and your team so that you can build them into a force that perfectly suits your gameplay style. Transitions between activities, like flying your Tempest (space ship) across a solar system to land on a mineral rich planet, then jumping into your Mako (land vehicle) to explore the surface of planet, all happen smoothly without loading screens.

Customize and Share Your Experience:

Discover new things in Andromeda Galaxy, like alien artifacts and natural wonders, that serve as trophies and decorations that you can use to modify the look of your character, Tempest (Space Ship) and Mako (land vehicle). Customize the way your squad and your character look with clothes and aesthetic modifications that you unlock throughout the game. Photos you take from the far reaches of the galaxy can be used to decorate your starship or sold to certain characters.

Remnant Vault Raids: Find and activate Remnant Monoliths to unlock Remnant vaults. Explore abandoned Remnant ruins to find and locate a powerful artifact, but once you remove it you will trigger the vault defenses that will arm traps, activate defense robots and even change the architecture of the vault itself to stop you from escaping. Fight your way out of the vault and you will be rewarded with valuable loot, including powerful gear, crafting resources and Star Keys that can be used to unlock massive orbital facilities in space that grant permanent stat bonuses.

Optional Elite Remnant Vault Raids are scattered around the Helius Cluster located in special orbital facilities that are unlocked by Star Keys. Similar to the standard Remnant Vaults, you enter them to retrieve a special artifact which will trigger the vault defenses that arm traps, activate defense robots and change the architecture of the vault itself to stop you from escaping. However, Elite vaults ratchet up the difficulty of the encounter with increasingly powerful defense robots and traps, as well as roaming outlaws and deadly Khet patrols that are also in search of the elite artifacts. Elite Remnant vaults will test the limits of your combat and puzzle solving acumen, but with greater difficulty comes greater rewards. Gain rare loot, narrative acclaim and huge rewards for completing these daunting challenges.

Khet Outposts:

As you explore planets throughout the Helius Cluster, you will encounter Khet Outposts. These outposts are optional combat experiences where you enter the outpost and fight off waves of enemies. Destroy Khet outposts to earn XP, rewards and thwart their growing power in the region. Your allies will reward you with praise and increased narrative options as you fight to remove the Khet presence from the region.

Drive and upgrade your Mako (land vehicle):

Explore the surfaces of 100s of planets in the Helius Cluster in your versatile land vehicle, the Mako. Whether you are looking for a place to set up a colony, searching for a Remnant vault or attacking a Khet Outpost, you will enjoy getting there in your Mako. Equip and upgrade your Mako in dozens of ways, like adding turbo boosters, upgrading your shield generator or adding a Hostile Detector to your radar to create the ultimate planetary exploration vehicle. Finally, get your Mako looking the way you want with a custom paintjob.

...

They asked my satisfaction with each of those descriptions.

You can choose for yourself whether or not to believe me.

But please look at my posting history first. I'm no troll.

https://www.reddit.com/r/masseffect/comments/32yzxf/last_month_i_took_a_random_survey_about_mass/

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

It was a little late, 3 people died reading those posts. You'll definitely get one next time from me though for an early exit and that goes for XB too, I'll even throw in cash.

I wanted to post the song, but it's eminem, so ya.

 

[SolarTiger]

Sounds great. I love that its a clean break away from the previous trilogy.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

Sounds great. I love that its a clean break away from the previous trilogy.

take it with a grain of salt though. this came from reddit, so it could be bs.

 

[TX85]

Strong chance it's bs but if actually true then I like what I read