684 réponses à ce sujet

[Gatt9]

maxpowers2525 wrote...

I'm afraid there's a problem with that article though.

The problem is,  if a campaign for a certain feature or feature's removal is carried out correctly,  you can actually influence the developers despite how many people actually agree with you.

This site's full of it.  You support every decision the developer makes,  make alot of unsupportable claims,  and drive out any opposition through strawmanning and hyperbole,  until yours is the only voice left.

ME2's a pretty good example,  instead of fixing the Mako it disappeared,  instead of improving the RPG elements they were removed,  and anyone who dares whisper a word against it gets a full-out assault.  If you go look at the thread "...More directed at Bioware...",  you'll find Priestly commenting they chose that direction because of the boards.

So if people don't oppose agendas,  we get heavily skewed games.

[shep82]

For god's sake people it's just bad marketing relax!

[Mr. MannlyMan]

Chris Priestly wrote...

onelifecrisis wrote...
I'm not "trying" to do anything. The guy said what he said, I just quoted him. I'm not putting words in his mouth, nor am I taking any out, unless you think that he meant something other than ME1&2 when he referred to "the regular season"? In which case please tell me what he meant.

Yes you are. You are putting words in Aaryn's mouth in your post as he never said what you quoted him as saying. "Who cares what happened in [ME1&2]? " Hewas making a football analogy what you are deliberately misquoteing and misinterpreting.

I am done speaking with you as you are deliberately trying to distort the meaning and claiming you are not. You can tell you are because you couldn't post the actual quote and keep your take on teh meaning to be true.

Well Chris, you could have just tried to allay people's concerns about the way your marketing department is spinning Mass Effect 3 as a completely standalone, isolated story (which is itself understandable, but the implication that holds for fans of previous games & storylines isn't as dismissable).

The fact is that Mass Effect is a trilogy, and the concern is that Bioware may be focusing on streamlining the story in order to accomodate new players and perspectives, as opposed to maintaining a strong connection (and continuity) between each game. Your company's marketing has so far played into that fear, so you coming on here and basically telling people that they're wrong about the marketing, without backing up the game itself, is kind of an odd way to deal with it.

Defend the game, not your marketing. Otherwise, people might get the wrong impression.

[Iakus]

Mr. MannlyMan wrote...

Well Chris, you could have just tried to allay people's concerns about the way your marketing department is spinning Mass Effect 3 as a completely standalone, isolated story (which is itself understandable, but the implication that holds for fans of previous games & storylines isn't as dismissable).

The fact is that Mass Effect is a trilogy, and the concern is that Bioware may be focusing on streamlining the story in order to accomodate new players and perspectives, as opposed to maintaining a strong connection (and continuity) between each game. Your company's marketing has so far played into that fear, so you coming on here and basically telling people that they're wrong about the marketing, without backing up the game itself, is kind of an odd way to deal with it.

Defend the game, not your marketing. Otherwise, people might get the wrong impression.

This.

The whole "trilogy" thing's being swept under the rug faster than Sovereign.

As a trilogy, I expected some sort of tagline similar to Shiala's monologue before giving Shepard the Cipher:

"Reach out to grasp the threads that bind us, one to another.
Every action sends ripples across the galaxy
Every idea must touch another mind to live
Each emotion must mark another's spirit
We are all connected.  
Every living being united in a single glorious existence"

This may be "the Superbowl"  but what Shepard has done over the last two games will affect the roster he has to work with.  Alien or human Council.  Rachni or no rachni.  Kaidan or Ashley.  Samara or Morinth.  Who lived through the Suicide Mission and who died.  The status of Cerberus, the quarians, the geth.  All are ripples Shepard sent through the galaxy.  All are threads connected to Shepard.  The ideas Shepard advocated will affect the societies of the galaxy, for good or for ill.  

This may be the big galactic war that's been building up, but don't condecend to fans by implying that how we got to this point is unimportant or irrelevant. Te journey is as important as the destination.  It shapes the Shepard who arrives.

[Sgt Stryker]

Gatt9 wrote...

This site's full of it. 

I agree completely.

[shep82]

Sgt Stryker wrote...

Gatt9 wrote...

This site's full of it. 

I agree completely.

Same here. How about we all (those who still want ME 3) hop into my delorean and we all get it, play it and ignore these *insert bad name here*.:innocent:

[Bluko]

What we have here is a failure to communicate!

Uh yeah. Look I understand perfectly that Bioware/EA wants to sell ME3 to newcomers and that's fine with me, but this whole:

"LOLOLOL ME1 and ME2 aren't really important  kids! You don't need to play them! They're just the introduction! Besides those games are and old boring! ME3 is teh shiznitz!"

No offense but this sort of stuff is just going to make veterans of the series mad. Normally I overlook this stuff as being "fluff talk" but your continued usage of such rhetoric is starting to leave even me concerned at this point. I mean ME3 is still going to have an import feature right? Your guys continual dismissal of the previous games being relevant to the experience of ME3 is just kind of disheartening.



Honestly who exactly are you hoping to win over?

First off do you really think people who've never played Mass Effect are reading these articles and going "Gee I really didn't know what to think about Mass Effect before, but I'm totally going to buy ME3 now!" Eh I'd say it's more likely existing fans are looking at these articles and going "WTF?! I thought ME1 and ME2 we're important to ME3!" Seriously. You know maybe these interviews and stuff convince a few prospective buyers, but I'd say 90% of the time you're just angering existing fans.

Also for a game series that's all about the story and BIG CHOICES you guys are kind of selling yourselves short when you ridicule the old game as being less important to the story. I mean that's half the apppeal of these games in that your BIG CHOICES carry over into the next game. Do you really think newcomers aren't going to buy ME3 cause they think they need to play the previous games?

I don't think there's anyone quite stupid enough out there to believe that they couldn't create a new Shepard at the start of ME3 or simply enjoy the storyline if they haven't played before. So why are you guys trying so hard to convince folks that: ME3 is the best place to start! Do you really believe that folks have such trepidation to sequels that they won't buy it even if they think it looks fun?

Look if I was someone who'd never played Mass Effect before this is what I'd be thinking:

"Okay so these games are about some Cmdr. Shepard Dude trying to save the galaxy? But apparently the previous two games aren't really important? Well gee if the first two games are that bad... maybe this third one is bad too? Ya know I think I'll just steer clear of this whole Mass Effect stuff and stick to games I already like."


No offense but if I was marketing this game I'd be bragging about the import features and showing off how the Reporter I punched in ME1 remembers that I punched her in that game and then show a case of vice versa. That'll do a lot more to impress people then you might think. Look there's a ton of Sci-Fi shooter-esque games out there already. You need to focus on what makes your games stand out from the rest. Trying to sell this game off as a typical TPS is not going to do you any favors. If I picked up Mass Effect expecting some short intensive action packed campaign, but found out there was bunch of talking an stuff I'd probably take the game back to Gamestop cause all that mumbo jumbo is boring!

Seriously you have have like a good 2-3 million existing fans. Shouldn't your priority be to convince those folks how great a game ME3 is going to be and that they need to go buy it? I think you guys are assuming way too much that everyone who played ME2 or ME1 has no reservations and will buy ME3 no matter what. While I'm sure that's true for some, I'd say there's a lot more  casual folks out there who could easily pass on ME3 in favor of other games.


You wanna get new people to play ME3? Make trailers and ads showing off the cool game features. If that doesn't convince folks... nothing will.

Modifié par Bluko, 03 novembre 2011 - 12:43 .

[Bluko]

maxpowers2525 wrote...

While I find this amusing, it's a bit inaccurate.

Although perhaps the author is making reference to the fact that (a long long time ago) Bioware said you'd be able to take direct control of squadmates in ME1? Sort of like how KOTOR worked. Although that was before EA so I dunno.

[shep82]

Bluko wrote...

What we have here is a failure to communicate!

Uh yeah. Look I understand perfectly that Bioware/EA wants to sell ME3 to newcomers and that's fine with me, but this whole:

"LOLOLOL ME1 and ME2 aren't really important  kids! You don't need to play them! They're just the introduction! Besides those games are and old boring! ME3 is teh shiznitz!"

No offense but this sort of stuff is just going to make veterans of the series mad. Normally I overlook this stuff as being "fluff talk" but your continued usage of such rhetoric is starting to leave even me concerned at this point. I mean ME3 is still going to have an import feature right? Your guys continual dismissal of the previous games being relevant to the experience of ME3 is just kind of disheartening.



Honestly who exactly are you hoping to win over?

First off do you really think people who've never played Mass Effect are reading these articles and going "Gee I really didn't know what to think about Mass Effect before, but I'm totally going to buy ME3 now!" Eh I'd say it's more likely existing fans are looking at these articles and going "WTF?! I thought ME1 and ME2 we're important to ME3!" Seriously. You know maybe these interviews and stuff convince a few prospective buyers, but I'd say 90% of the time you're just angering existing fans.

Also for a game series that's all about the story and BIG CHOICES you guys are kind of selling yourselves short when you ridicule the old game as being less important to the story. I mean that's half the apppeal of these games in that your BIG CHOICES carry over into the next game. Do you really think newcomers aren't going to buy ME3 cause they think they need to play the previous games?

I don't think there's anyone quite stupid enough out there to believe that they couldn't create a new Shepard at the start of ME3 or simply enjoy the storyline if they haven't played before. So why are you guys trying so hard to convince folks that: ME3 is the best place to start! Do you really believe that folks have such trepidation to sequels that they won't buy it even if they think it looks fun?

Look if I was someone who'd never played Mass Effect before this is what I'd be thinking:

"Okay so these games are about some Cmdr. Shepard Dude trying to save the galaxy? But apparently the previous two games aren't really important? Well gee if the first two games are that bad... maybe this third one is bad too? Ya know I think I'll just steer clear of this whole Mass Effect stuff and stick to games I already like."


No offense but if I was marketing this game I'd be bragging about the import features and showing off how the Reporter I punched in ME1 remembers that I punched her in that game and then show a case of vice versa. That'll do a lot more to impress people then you might think. Look there's a ton of Sci-Fi shooter-esque games out there already. You need to focus on what makes your games stand out from the rest. Trying to sell this game off as a typical TPS is not going to do you any favors. If I picked up Mass Effect expecting some short intensive action packed campaign, but found out there was bunch of talking an stuff I'd probably take the game back to Gamestop cause all that mumbo jumbo is boring!

Seriously you have have like a good 2-3 million existing fans. Shouldn't your priority be to convince those folks how great a game ME3 is going to be and that they need to go buy it? I think you guys are assuming way too much that everyone who played ME2 or ME1 has no reservations and will buy ME3 no matter what. While I'm sure that's true for some, I'd say there's a lot more  casual folks out there who could easily pass on ME3 in favor of other games.


You wanna get new people to play ME3? Make trailers and ads showing off the cool game features. If that doesn't convince folks... nothing will.

I admit their marketing stinks but I'm thankfull that they arent directly related to the gameplay decisions. I still have fiath from what I saw in ME 2 and so far of ME 3 that it will be an amazing game.

[AdmiralCheez]

Bluko, stop being smarter and more eloquent than me, damn it.

[TheRealJayDee]

Bluko wrote...

What we have here is a failure to communicate!

etc

Awesome post, completely agree. Promotion for a trilogy finale like this should focus on the series strength and, quite simply, the series. I can totally understand if fans of the first two games feel irritated when reading all these interviews. Then again, I'll probably never understand PR, especially BioWare's.

[Iakus]

Yeah just forget everything I said and go with Bluko's post. It says everything way better.

[LadyJaneGrey]

Bluko wrote...

What we have here is a failure to communicate!

Uh yeah. Look I understand perfectly that Bioware/EA wants to sell ME3 to newcomers and that's fine with me, but this whole:

"LOLOLOL ME1 and ME2 aren't really important  kids! You don't need to play them! They're just the introduction! Besides those games are and old boring! ME3 is teh shiznitz!"

No offense but this sort of stuff is just going to make veterans of the series mad. Normally I overlook this stuff as being "fluff talk" but your continued usage of such rhetoric is starting to leave even me concerned at this point. I mean ME3 is still going to have an import feature right? Your guys continual dismissal of the previous games being relevant to the experience of ME3 is just kind of disheartening.



Honestly who exactly are you hoping to win over?

First off do you really think people who've never played Mass Effect are reading these articles and going "Gee I really didn't know what to think about Mass Effect before, but I'm totally going to buy ME3 now!" Eh I'd say it's more likely existing fans are looking at these articles and going "WTF?! I thought ME1 and ME2 we're important to ME3!" Seriously. You know maybe these interviews and stuff convince a few prospective buyers, but I'd say 90% of the time you're just angering existing fans.

Also for a game series that's all about the story and BIG CHOICES you guys are kind of selling yourselves short when you ridicule the old game as being less important to the story. I mean that's half the apppeal of these games in that your BIG CHOICES carry over into the next game. Do you really think newcomers aren't going to buy ME3 cause they think they need to play the previous games?

I don't think there's anyone quite stupid enough out there to believe that they couldn't create a new Shepard at the start of ME3 or simply enjoy the storyline if they haven't played before. So why are you guys trying so hard to convince folks that: ME3 is the best place to start! Do you really believe that folks have such trepidation to sequels that they won't buy it even if they think it looks fun?

Look if I was someone who'd never played Mass Effect before this is what I'd be thinking:

"Okay so these games are about some Cmdr. Shepard Dude trying to save the galaxy? But apparently the previous two games aren't really important? Well gee if the first two games are that bad... maybe this third one is bad too? Ya know I think I'll just steer clear of this whole Mass Effect stuff and stick to games I already like."


No offense but if I was marketing this game I'd be bragging about the import features and showing off how the Reporter I punched in ME1 remembers that I punched her in that game and then show a case of vice versa. That'll do a lot more to impress people then you might think. Look there's a ton of Sci-Fi shooter-esque games out there already. You need to focus on what makes your games stand out from the rest. Trying to sell this game off as a typical TPS is not going to do you any favors. If I picked up Mass Effect expecting some short intensive action packed campaign, but found out there was bunch of talking an stuff I'd probably take the game back to Gamestop cause all that mumbo jumbo is boring!

Seriously you have have like a good 2-3 million existing fans. Shouldn't your priority be to convince those folks how great a game ME3 is going to be and that they need to go buy it? I think you guys are assuming way too much that everyone who played ME2 or ME1 has no reservations and will buy ME3 no matter what. While I'm sure that's true for some, I'd say there's a lot more  casual folks out there who could easily pass on ME3 in favor of other games.


You wanna get new people to play ME3? Make trailers and ads showing off the cool game features. If that doesn't convince folks... nothing will.

Fantastic.

*Files away for future use*

[100k]

Bluko wrote...

What we have here is a failure to communicate!

Uh yeah. Look I understand perfectly that Bioware/EA wants to sell ME3 to newcomers and that's fine with me, but this whole:

"LOLOLOL ME1 and ME2 aren't really important  kids! You don't need to play them! They're just the introduction! Besides those games are and old boring! ME3 is teh shiznitz!"

No offense but this sort of stuff is just going to make veterans of the series mad. Normally I overlook this stuff as being "fluff talk" but your continued usage of such rhetoric is starting to leave even me concerned at this point. I mean ME3 is still going to have an import feature right? Your guys continual dismissal of the previous games being relevant to the experience of ME3 is just kind of disheartening.



Honestly who exactly are you hoping to win over?

First off do you really think people who've never played Mass Effect are reading these articles and going "Gee I really didn't know what to think about Mass Effect before, but I'm totally going to buy ME3 now!" Eh I'd say it's more likely existing fans are looking at these articles and going "WTF?! I thought ME1 and ME2 we're important to ME3!" Seriously. You know maybe these interviews and stuff convince a few prospective buyers, but I'd say 90% of the time you're just angering existing fans.

Also for a game series that's all about the story and BIG CHOICES you guys are kind of selling yourselves short when you ridicule the old game as being less important to the story. I mean that's half the apppeal of these games in that your BIG CHOICES carry over into the next game. Do you really think newcomers aren't going to buy ME3 cause they think they need to play the previous games?

I don't think there's anyone quite stupid enough out there to believe that they couldn't create a new Shepard at the start of ME3 or simply enjoy the storyline if they haven't played before. So why are you guys trying so hard to convince folks that: ME3 is the best place to start! Do you really believe that folks have such trepidation to sequels that they won't buy it even if they think it looks fun?

Look if I was someone who'd never played Mass Effect before this is what I'd be thinking:

"Okay so these games are about some Cmdr. Shepard Dude trying to save the galaxy? But apparently the previous two games aren't really important? Well gee if the first two games are that bad... maybe this third one is bad too? Ya know I think I'll just steer clear of this whole Mass Effect stuff and stick to games I already like."


No offense but if I was marketing this game I'd be bragging about the import features and showing off how the Reporter I punched in ME1 remembers that I punched her in that game and then show a case of vice versa. That'll do a lot more to impress people then you might think. Look there's a ton of Sci-Fi shooter-esque games out there already. You need to focus on what makes your games stand out from the rest. Trying to sell this game off as a typical TPS is not going to do you any favors. If I picked up Mass Effect expecting some short intensive action packed campaign, but found out there was bunch of talking an stuff I'd probably take the game back to Gamestop cause all that mumbo jumbo is boring!

Seriously you have have like a good 2-3 million existing fans. Shouldn't your priority be to convince those folks how great a game ME3 is going to be and that they need to go buy it? I think you guys are assuming way too much that everyone who played ME2 or ME1 has no reservations and will buy ME3 no matter what. While I'm sure that's true for some, I'd say there's a lot more  casual folks out there who could easily pass on ME3 in favor of other games.


You wanna get new people to play ME3? Make trailers and ads showing off the cool game features. If that doesn't convince folks... nothing will.

End of discussion. I'm sorry, Chris, but that's the end of it.

[Il Divo]

iakus wrote...

Mr. MannlyMan wrote...

Well Chris, you could have just tried to allay people's concerns about the way your marketing department is spinning Mass Effect 3 as a completely standalone, isolated story (which is itself understandable, but the implication that holds for fans of previous games & storylines isn't as dismissable).

The fact is that Mass Effect is a trilogy, and the concern is that Bioware may be focusing on streamlining the story in order to accomodate new players and perspectives, as opposed to maintaining a strong connection (and continuity) between each game. Your company's marketing has so far played into that fear, so you coming on here and basically telling people that they're wrong about the marketing, without backing up the game itself, is kind of an odd way to deal with it.

Defend the game, not your marketing. Otherwise, people might get the wrong impression.

This.

The whole "trilogy" thing's being swept under the rug faster than Sovereign.

As a trilogy, I expected some sort of tagline similar to Shiala's monologue before giving Shepard the Cipher:

"Reach out to grasp the threads that bind us, one to another.
Every action sends ripples across the galaxy
Every idea must touch another mind to live
Each emotion must mark another's spirit
We are all connected.  
Every living being united in a single glorious existence"

This may be "the Superbowl"  but what Shepard has done over the last two games will affect the roster he has to work with.  Alien or human Council.  Rachni or no rachni.  Kaidan or Ashley.  Samara or Morinth.  Who lived through the Suicide Mission and who died.  The status of Cerberus, the quarians, the geth.  All are ripples Shepard sent through the galaxy.  All are threads connected to Shepard.  The ideas Shepard advocated will affect the societies of the galaxy, for good or for ill.  

This may be the big galactic war that's been building up, but don't condecend to fans by implying that how we got to this point is unimportant or irrelevant. Te journey is as important as the destination.  It shapes the Shepard who arrives.

And, less figuratively, a good storyline is not the equivalent of the Superbowl. A good story should have continuity between its installments.

[GMagnum]

dam these starburst r hella juicy any1 want a piece except da red kind cause those my fav

[YouthCultureForever]

Bluko wrote...

What we have here is a failure to communicate!

[/i]You wanna get new people to play ME3? Make trailers and ads showing off the cool game features. If that doesn't convince folks... nothing will.

But theres a whole demo to enjoy. Surely that's worth more than a thirty second teaser trailer. I believe it shows ME3 won't be DOA.

This thread sounds like a collective cry for attention, not a catalog of legitimate concerns.

Modifié par YouthCultureForever, 03 novembre 2011 - 01:30 .

[111987]

Bluko wrote...

Honestly who exactly are you hoping to win over?

First off do you really think people who've never played Mass Effect are reading these articles and going "Gee I really didn't know what to think about Mass Effect before, but I'm totally going to buy ME3 now!" Eh I'd say it's more likely existing fans are looking at these articles and going "WTF?! I thought ME1 and ME2 we're important to ME3!"

Isn't it just as likely that newcomers are saying to themselves "Gee I really didn't know what to think about Mass Effect before, but now that I know I don't HAVE to play the other games to enjoy it, I'm totally going to check it out!"

Bluko wrote...
Also for a game series that's all about the story and BIG CHOICES you guys are kind of selling yourselves short when you ridicule the old game as being less important to the story. I mean that's half the apppeal of these games in that your BIG CHOICES carry over into the next game. Do you really think newcomers aren't going to buy ME3 cause they think they need to play the previous games?

No-one ever said your big choices don't carry over to the next game. Nor did they say they weren't important; check out Chris Priestly's posts near the beginning of the thread for clarification.

Bluko wrote...
I don't think there's anyone quite stupid enough out there to believe that they couldn't create a new Shepard at the start of ME3 or simply enjoy the storyline if they haven't played before.

Really? I'd personally be a bit hesitant to jump straight into the third and final installment a stoy-driven series like Mass Effect. Knowing that I could do that would be a great relief.

Bluko wrote...

"Okay so these games are about some Cmdr. Shepard Dude trying to save the galaxy? But apparently the previous two games aren't really important? Well gee if the first two games are that bad... maybe this third one is bad too? Ya know I think I'll just steer clear of this whole Mass Effect stuff and stick to games I already like."

Yeah, um, I really doubt [i]anyone would follow that line of thought. It makes no logical sense whatsoever.

Bluko wrote...
Seriously you have have like a good 2-3 million existing fans. Shouldn't your priority be to convince those folks how great a game ME3 is going to be and that they need to go buy it? I think you guys are assuming way too much that everyone who played ME2 or ME1 has no reservations and will buy ME3 no matter what. While I'm sure that's true for some, I'd say there's a lot more  casual folks out there who could easily pass on ME3 in favor of other games.

No, the priority is to cater to new fans. Most fans who bought ME1 and ME2 are going to buy ME3. If you gear the vast majority of your marketting towards them, your not going to get many new fans. Besides, they clearly are making changes to appeal to RPG/old fans and advertising those features quite extensively.

[Il Divo]

Gatt9 wrote...

I'm afraid there's a problem with that article though.

The problem is,  if a campaign for a certain feature or feature's removal is carried out correctly,  you can actually influence the developers despite how many people actually agree with you.

This site's full of it.  You support every decision the developer makes,  make alot of unsupportable claims,  and drive out any opposition through strawmanning and hyperbole,  until yours is the only voice left.

ME2's a pretty good example,  instead of fixing the Mako it disappeared,  instead of improving the RPG elements they were removed,  and anyone who dares whisper a word against it gets a full-out assault.  If you go look at the thread "...More directed at Bioware...",  you'll find Priestly commenting they chose that direction because of the boards.

So if people don't oppose agendas,  we get heavily skewed games.

Way to exaggerate his claim to the umpteenth degree. All he said was that they listened to fan feedback, which includes fans from these forums.

Much as your mind would like to pretend that this is not the case, the fans in support of the mako/RPG elements are not invisible and they can be just as violent, relying on hyperbole, strawmanning, etc. That's simply the nature of the internet. No one was driven away from anywhere, despite your weak claims.

Modifié par Il Divo, 03 novembre 2011 - 01:35 .

[Il Divo]

111987 wrote...

No-one ever said your big choices don't carry over to the next game. Nor did they say they weren't important; check out Chris Priestly's posts near the beginning of the thread for clarification.

It's not "will they carry over?" that is questioned, but "how much?" I respect Chris, but the link he is defending results in a logical contradiction. If I'm to believe that the regular season, which represents ME1 and 2, does not matter, can I really believe that choices featured in those games will matter?

Consider the statement regarding how ME3 is the best place to start, made at various other points. Is it really typical for the best place to start be...at the end of a story? I think that can only be the case if the first two installments are superfluous, otherwise they by necessity would possess information which would make that claim false.

Modifié par Il Divo, 03 novembre 2011 - 01:41 .

[111987]

Il Divo wrote...

111987 wrote...

No-one ever said your big choices don't carry over to the next game. Nor did they say they weren't important; check out Chris Priestly's posts near the beginning of the thread for clarification.

It's not "will they carry over?" that is questioned, but "how much?" I respect Chris, but the link he is defending results in a logical contradiction. If I'm to believe that the regular season, which represents ME1 and 2, does not matter, can I really believe that choices featured in those games will matter?

Consider the statement regarding how ME3 is the best place to start, made at various other points. Is it really typical for the best place to start be...at the end of a story? I think that can only be the case if the first two installments are superfluous, otherwise they by necessity would possess information which would make that claim false.

I think the matter of choices making an actual impact is a legitimate concern. While they obviously couldn't make too many branches in ME2, it would have been nice to have seen more changes than slight tweaks to dialogue, or extra lines.

As for the 'ME3 is the best place to start'; while I understand your point, and ME3 is the end of the ME trilogy story, it is also the very beginning of the Reaper War. It's the most exciting place to enter the story.

[crimzontearz]

uh....actually in ME1 ORIGINALLY you were able to control all members of the team as well as being able to tell them EXACTLY where to go with a 3d marker, the very first playable demo videos confirm that (and ME1 also had interrupts but they were cut)