CDPR did something similar not that long ago. During the release of The Witcher 3 and its DLC they didn't utter a single word about Cyberpunk 2077 yet they're currently working on the title. It could be argued they had already announced it though.

Hello Darkness my old friend

I love that song actually.

I suppose I should considerate it ironic and, why not, oddly appropriate that I've received my first warning point ever (I think) for posting a .gif of Supergirl saying, "Hope" in the eve of the BSN's series finale. I think that settles it on whether we can change any minds about keeping this place open.

 

This place is a lot like the Mos Eisley cantina from Star Wars; there is some scum and villainy, but there is also a lot that will catch your interest. Be careful and respectful and you'll be fine (though a good blaster at your side definitely helps).  

 

Hmm... Now that's an interesting name for a forum.

For Twitter-savvy people here, do you know if any BioWare people (devs and otherwise) are talking about this crapfest on the platform they ask that we use from now on? I followed Conal Pierse two days ago, but he hasn't said anything in a day. Can anyone point me towards where this is being brought up, if at all?

It's not afaik.

Personally I find it a shame all these splinter forums have formed. It would have been nice to see an effort on a single site, where the community here could have been kept together. As it is, people are just going to the sites that their friends like.

It's worth pointing out, as I was recently reminded, that most of these sites already existed before this situation arose.

Will it? By that time most people probably won't be here any longer. Unless they'll combe back just to see everything burn that is.

Pabu!

I tried VSN and someone from there even PM'd me, which I truly appreciated, however with that site, like others, real life topics are also found, and, right now, real life is no good. I will check out the second and, who knows, maybe something similar will happen for Mass Effect, alas, not right now.

Um... nothing says you have to participate in those.

Contrary to popular belief, my feelings toward most of them are still neutral. Though I feel like there is a reason they chose to stick up for the two we banned and thus like I said, it's for the best regardless. Though it would appear they have since vacated the premises of even TSG and I am awfully curious to hear the details about that.

Well, they are making Cyberpunk 2077 that I have been really looking forward to.

What's the point of playing an RPG if you can't share your adventure and thoughts with the community? 

While there is a point I get what you mean and totally agree. Sharing our experience with others can be equally rewarding.

VSN already splintered once....

Aye, it was the Year 3434 of the Second Age if memory serves.

No. I've recommended the VSN already for people who want to keep talking to users from the BSN. The VSN isn't fit for Bioware though. The VSN is for off topic stuff.

 

What I'm referring to are other locations that actually discuss Bioware game subjects like DA and ME. They have low opinions of the BSN and don't want us "polluting" their spaces with our "toxicity". Thanks David Gaider.

Well, you could create other boards within VSN for discussions of specific games same as here but I expect moderation would be no easy task.

Nope. Because the other places where you can discuss ME and DA don't foster discussion like this place does. That and those places are aware of the imminent closure of the forum and are actually preparing to ban people who come over there.

 

Which is totally welcoming, by the way. Really feel appreciated, internet.

Are you referring to the VSN?

That reminds me I should probably save some of the posts I wrote a while back. I spent quite a bit of time on them and I wouldn't wish them to fade into oblivion just like that.

We need to decide quickly about where we'd all go once BSN shuts down and people leave every-which-way. Someone mentioned the notion of making our own forums. I think that the best course of action would be to unabashedly and firmly go for that option - to make a forum that's going to encompass all things BioWare with a name that'll be very Google search friendly, including an off-topic subsection - and afterwards, to advertise that forum around the BSN in its twilight days so that people are aware that there exists the ONE alternative that's going to practically be a verbatim copy of these forums, sans the devs themselves.

I'm having a feeling of déjà vu.

So long as it isn't Cerberus...

This should be good.

"but we all know that isn't going to be the case." you can see the future or has a huge ego.

Nice avi. That's all I wanted to say.

But why keep the technological breakthrough of a Mass Effect drive with an unlimited or even exponentially further capability secret? The Ark Project in it's entirety sure, but the Mass Effect drive alone would be huge, both commercially and especially militarily since then the Mass Relays are no longer needed so the Reapers can't trap us in systems and wipe them out one by one(I know they don't do that in ME3, but that's because Bioware had to give them the Idiot Ball so we would have a game). And revealing that doesn't put the Ark Project at risk since they can just act like it was a regular breakthrough, and if anything would make that project even more successful because then more people could escape the Reapers. 

 

A suspension of disbelief could be needed yes(though there is ways to do this within their own lore ie Black Ark Theory), but too much and it shatters that. You mention the Lazarus Project, which in my opinion is still easily the single worst decision they made in the entire Mass Effect franchise. 

You do have a point. Sharing the discovery would increase the likelihood of survival during the events of ME3. On the other hand, maybe they were worried that announcing the discovery would somehow bring the Reapers sooner? They did have agents like the Collectors loitering about. Ah, who knows, I'll let BioWare figure it out.

Found it! My Ark story was a bit different though.

http://forum.bioware...post&p=14360169

 

Why would they keep that secret? That would be the greatest discovery in our cycle's history. There would be no reason to keep it secret. 

Okay, I'll write you a story. Whether it's a good one or a bad one is up to you to decide. Picture this, it's the end of ME1. Shepard's vision about the Reapers seems to be true. This however is known among some circles because the Council is obviously worried about causing a widespread panic. Indeed, they would go on to downplay the Reapers' existence in later games. The Council decides to study the remains of the Reaper Sovereign in the hopes they can develop some sort of countermeasure. Now, whether this next part was part of the Council's agenda or some cabal I leave up to you. The research eventually turns out something useful: the means to achieve intergalactic travel. This in turns fosters the idea of creating an Ark in order to preserve the different species and their knowledge before the Reapers' return. Naturally, none of this can be made public in order not to start a panic. This organization begins the selection process and probably creates some sort of cover story about exploring uncharted territory within the Milky Way (a bit thin, I grant you that, considering we have mass relays). This will be a years-long expedition since they'll be using FTL and not the relays so throw in some cryogenics for good measure. Thus, losing contact with the expedition for a few years may not be such a big deal.

Come to think of it, I recall suggesting an Ark story as DLC for ME3. I'll have to look it up.

In any case, the point is you can make lots of stories to explain this or that. At some stage however, a certain amount of suspension of disbelief is required. How else could we have resurrected Shepard in ME2 after all?