Sable Phoenix wrote...
Oh for... You can't really be this dense. I'll try one last time.
If you can't participate in a debate without calling people names, then don't enter one, It's that simple. Not replying to other counter-arguments and going on with your unchanged opinion, makes it even worse.
Again, if you are going to shut your ears during a debate and try to ignore whatever anyone else is bringing to the table, don't even participate in one.
Yes, they introduced one kind of magic with the mass effect and Element Zero. They explained that magic in detail, both in cause and effect. Throughout the first game, they extrapolated all the advanced magical technology (i.e. FTL travel) from it, and also extrapolated its effects on all kinds of existing technologies and applications such as warfare and construction, to say nothing of the societal implications in things like economy, mining, trade, etc. It was impossible, yes, but it was also internally consistent and believable, and that's all we need for willing suspension of disbelief.
No, you are wrong.
Omni-gel, medi-gel, plastic armour that blocks bullets, alien evolution, ammonia-based biochemistry,eggs that can last for centuries.
They said nothing of economy or trade? Really? Didn't you ever read a codex entry about a race?
Mining? Like what, mining lasers, like the one in Liara's Recruitment Mis- oops, oh wait.
You are still defending your point by saying "More than one kind of magic and it sucks!".
Well, nope.
Then, in order to get a quick reset button for the second game, they introduce a second kind of magic that has no relation to the first. They give us no explanation, detailed or otherwise, how this magic could exist. They give us a few lines about organic restoration and cybernetics, both of which could exist today and neither of which could resurrect a dead body. They need to tell us what is so special about this particular process that allows it to break physical laws, and they do not do so. They do not extrapolate it to any other uses, or investigate its impact on society (which would be huge) or on the characters (which would be both huge and interesting). It's a one-off that is not dealt with again after it's used. It's deus ex machina of the worst kind, one that's even more destructive to dramatic tension than normal because it's used at the beginning of the story rather than the end. It is not believable and not consistent with the established universe, and as such, the willing suspension of disbelief vanishes.
I won't comment on your choice not to distinguish a plot device from a deus ex machina, which you should be ashamed of, but I will comment on you deliberately missing the "...
involving cybernetics and organic restoration" part.
That is by definition an explanation, but I'll go on, that element X of the Lazarus Project, the lack of explanation of which you think makes it a "plot hole"?
The only way for Lazarus Project to be a plot hole is to explain it, thoroughly, and for that explanation not to make sense.
I'll tell you what, if a sci-fi book was written in the beginning of the 20th century, and they spoke of genetic engeeniring, would you consider it a plot hole? Hell, you would not be happy with the author (who mistakingly thought, as everyone else, that proteins was where genetic information was stored) telling you that future scientists would swap around aminoacids and change the genetic information. Why? Because the author would be unable to tell you how that would work? And why that is? Because he didn't invent the technolodgy. Not only would you demand of the athor to make an incorrect claim about the future, but you would still be unhappy. And why all of that? Because "Hurr Durr, herp derp being vague is bad writing!"
As for it being inconsistent with the universe? Give me ONE piece of evidence that a scientific breakthrough like that would be impossible, stated in the codex or otherwise.
The explanation that you got was more than enough, and considering that the game has been out for some time, you better start accepting it.
It's bad writing, and unless they do something in the third game to fix it (which will have to be a retcon of some kind), it will be a jump-the-shark moment for the whole series.
Being vague is bad writing, right.
Writing does have to be restrained by rules in order to give us a dramatic, interesting, and believable story.
Writing has to be restrained by "rules"? I can't believe that you are serious. A great story can be told without copy/pasting a "textbook masterpiece". Ever heard of a thing called creativity?
If it just makes up rules as it goes along, it makes for a boring, unbelievable story. It's bad writing.
Doing something that has been done before makes an interesting storyline. I love self-contradictions.
If you still don't think this makes sense, the failing is on your end.
It's people who do not understand the rules of good storytelling who make drivel like Twilight or Avatar a success. Mass Effect, however, started out at a higher standard than tripe l ike that. Mass Effect 2, and the Lazarus Project especially, fell away from that standard, which is what disappointed so many fans. We just want BioWare to use the third game to bring it back up to the level where it started. It's possible, if they can just be bothered to put the effort into it.
Are you serious? Twillight and Avatar don't understand the rules of storytelling?
Both are uninspired stories that follow the rules till the end, introducing nothing new.
I can't think of a single good writer who wouldn't frown when s/he was told that they'd have to follow a ruleset in order to make a good and
creative story.
This acceptance of cliches is what has lead to the state of storytelling that we have today.
Modifié par Phaedon, 26 juin 2011 - 06:02 .
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