Saphra Deden wrote...
No, it was not planned from the start. That much is obvious. If I were to concede that is was though then I'd have to say that Bioware did a ****ty job with foreshadowing as usual.
Agreed, it was much too predictable.
Saphra Deden wrote...
However we know that they didn't plan it because everything we've heard about their development process has talked about how chaotic it is. They make it up as a they go along and they do pander to fans. That's why we got Legion. It's why we got Tali and Garrus and it is why we are getting a Prothean and a body for EDI.
If they pander to fans, why are they pissing off huge fanbases at a time? Majority of all of the Miranda, Jack, Thane, Jacob and just about all other ME2 squadmates' fanbases are bummed as hell over not getting them back. I'm sure most fans would much rather have at least one of these back rather than the new additions. Last I checked, EDI isn't ragingly popular amongst fans, even casual ones. More like an afterthought.
Fan-pandering would be including them all, to make everyone happy. Seeing as making everyone happy is clearly not the goal, they are not including everyone. I think the fact they considered the ME2 squad "too large" clearly indicates that they want quality over quantity this go around, at the expense of individual fan factions that would probably prefer the opposite.