523 réponses à ce sujet

[Combine911]

The problem I have is when he shouts I'm expecting "Under the sea" :l

[SXOSXO]

Anyone else irritated by the fact he looks nothing like the Prothean statues from Mass Effect 1? Bioware just loves to retcon, it's becoming very apparent now. They were doing this stuff in Dragon Age, even with the novels, and then in ME2 parts of the storyline started to develop holes. Now we get the whole debacle with the latest ME novel, and this ridiculous character design for a Prothean. It's too much. I think it's painfully obvious we, the fans, care more about the story and continuity than Bioware does.

[daftPirate]

SXOSXO wrote...

Anyone else irritated by the fact he looks nothing like the Prothean statues from Mass Effect 1? Bioware just loves to retcon, it's becoming very apparent now. They were doing this stuff in Dragon Age, even with the novels, and then in ME2 parts of the storyline started to develop holes. Now we get the whole debacle with the latest ME novel, and this ridiculous character design for a Prothean. It's too much. I think it's painfully obvious we, the fans, care more about the story and continuity than Bioware does.

Different fans like different things, and lots of people are pleased with the character. BioWare said they'd never decided til now on a prothean's appearance. It was our fault for cementing in our minds that the statues on Ilos were protheans when nothing said so.

[Juniper Mucius]

Kaz, they have used people of many races in Mass Effect. I don't see how this is pandering. Humans have different accents. Why can't this Prothean have a different accent than Vigil and the multiple voices in the Ilos recording/warning?

The thing I love about Mass Effect is that the aliens feel "real". They don't have strict personalities given to then by their species like Trek does at times. Krogan have the capacity to be gentle and intelligent people. Most of their warlike nature seems to be bred by an post-apocalyptic tribal society, plus being bred and trained as warriors for three Rachni wars. They aren't beholden to that lifestyle, however.

I'm a white guy from Columbus, Ohio, raised in the suburbs, studying anthropology and political science at Ohio State. You can't get more white than me. Yet I see nothing pandering or immersion breaking about this voice decision.

[Zaxares]

I have to admit, it DOES sound kinda like a Jamaican or Kenyan accent, but even so, what's wrong with that? It does not match the Prothean voice we heard on Ilos (not Vigil, the recorded voice saying that "all is lost"), but you can't expect every single human to sound the same either. Who's to say that the Protheans didn't have regional or planetary accents too?

[Xeranx]

KazuyaWright wrote...

The characters voice, while a little jarring is not what bothers me here. What bothers me is Bioware's & EA's attempt at mass market appeal. It seems they are letting the almighty dollar intervene in the way of good story telling for the sake of it. It"s like in EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, George realized there were no black people in STAR WARS so he put Lando in there etc. Now there's nothing wrong with that if it works within the confines of the story, but when i compare Vigils dialogue to this... it really makes me wonder whether Bioware really give a **** about story of just making stuff to sell to all quarters of the market demographic.

It is many gamer's belief that people of color are a small part of any gaming audience.  How you figure the voice is an attempt at mass market appeal is beyond me considering the dearth of protagonists of color in gaming and especially positive ones (read: no obvious stereotypes).

Neal Gaiman did an interview some time ago where he mentioned some people were interested in turning one of his stories into a movie, but they wanted to change the ethnicity of the characters because "black people don't like science fiction."  

I can't even call that statement and yours ignorant because it would be like I'm making excuses for you and them.  It's laughably stupid to even utter such statements.  Who tries to even consider making games or any other form of entertainment with black characters?  Non-stereotyped even?  As much as I like the game Dragon Age: Origins features a group that's known to be nomadic, but none of them are dark skinned.  Not even a little bit.

It's absolutely ludicrous that you felt comfortable making your "mass market appeal" remark.

[Juniper Mucius]

^ This.

[nobunagatron]

I had always imagined his voice to be... colder, and slower, to give the individual words more weight. Kind of like this

[Alchemist4]

Xeranx wrote...

KazuyaWright wrote...

The characters voice, while a little jarring is not what bothers me here. What bothers me is Bioware's & EA's attempt at mass market appeal. It seems they are letting the almighty dollar intervene in the way of good story telling for the sake of it. It"s like in EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, George realized there were no black people in STAR WARS so he put Lando in there etc. Now there's nothing wrong with that if it works within the confines of the story, but when i compare Vigils dialogue to this... it really makes me wonder whether Bioware really give a **** about story of just making stuff to sell to all quarters of the market demographic.

It is many gamer's belief that people of color are a small part of any gaming audience.  How you figure the voice is an attempt at mass market appeal is beyond me considering the dearth of protagonists of color in gaming and especially positive ones (read: no obvious stereotypes).

Neal Gaiman did an interview some time ago where he mentioned some people were interested in turning one of his stories into a movie, but they wanted to change the ethnicity of the characters because "black people don't like science fiction."  

I can't even call that statement and yours ignorant because it would be like I'm making excuses for you and them.  It's laughably stupid to even utter such statements.  Who tries to even consider making games or any other form of entertainment with black characters?  Non-stereotyped even?  As much as I like the game Dragon Age: Origins features a group that's known to be nomadic, but none of them are dark skinned.  Not even a little bit.

It's absolutely ludicrous that you felt comfortable making your "mass market appeal" remark.

Perhaps, it doesn’t apply within the context of Mass Effect, but to completely dismiss the notion that entertainment mediums attempt to appeal to certain groups of the community by placing people of their likeness in their feature as “ignorant” is naïve. It does happen and one only has to look at advertising to see it as clear as day despite the fact that demographics haven’t changed much since let’s say the 80’s. I’m not saying there is something wrong with that by the way.

Modifié par Alchemist4, 26 février 2012 - 02:49 .

[Juniper Mucius]

To suggest an accent is pandering, in a game that hasn't pandered to race or ethnicity before, is ignorant. It shows a lack of attention to the game itself, honestly. I'm sick of everyone crying "pandering" when they are forced with something new. Was Samesh pandering?

[Xeranx]

Alchemist4 wrote...

Perhaps, it doesn’t apply within the context of Mass Effect, but to completely dismiss the notion that entertainment mediums attempt to appeal to certain groups of the community by placing people of their likeness in their feature as “ignorant” is naïve. It does happen and one only has to look at advertising to see it as clear as day despite the fact that demographics haven’t changed much since let’s say the 80’s. I’m not saying there is something wrong with that by the way.

Your response doesn't seem to match what I said at all.  First off, ignorant does not mean stupid.  There are plenty of intelligent people who don't know what's going on in this world.  Some of them are looking into various bits of it and beyond.  We call them scientists.  They don't know, but endeavor to know.

Now, I didn't dismiss anything.  I said that the statement Kazuya made and the statement made in article I mentioned are stupid.  I didn't say that Kazuya or the others were/are ignorant.  

[blueruin]

The voice is hilariously awful. Less so when he's just speaking, but when I heard his yelled lines during combat I winced.

Modifié par blueruin, 26 février 2012 - 07:55 .

[Xeranx]

Kazuya, I felt your comment was stupid because I find the idea of "one" character with an accent intended for mass market appeal to be insulting. Never mind that the Prothean doesn't sound like most black people who grew up in the US (many of whom who took to making fun of me just for my name and background). This will not appeal to them if that's what you're thinking because many, unfortunately, don't have any connection to Africa beyond calling themselves African Americans and some of them (through my own experience) don't want to have any association with Africans. Furthermore, my experience isn't unique by any measure. The very examples of this can be found anywhere and has been displayed in BarberShop 2 (I think that's what it is) and Black/White which are both Ice Cube productions.

If you think this is supposed to bring in African countries, I can tell you that situations (while different in various places) are tough and only the very few would be interested in this. Of course, that is if the Prothean is ever advertised. Up until now I haven't seen any advertisement featuring the Prothean in any way, shape, or form. So how exactly do you figure that he was given the voice he has for mass market appeal when for one to actually find him someone has to actually look up Mass Effect, Prothean, a video connected with Mass Effect, or any combination of those?

I just find it funny (not really) that people have a problem with this as though it's offensive to their sensibilities and then utter nonsense on top of it. No one said a word about Donovan Hock who was said to have a South African accent, but with the reactions made so far the only thing I can imagine is that the Prothean's voice conjured up an image of a black man for all those who want nothing to do with it and that repulses them as a result.

Modifié par Xeranx, 27 février 2012 - 06:08 .

[Juniper Mucius]

Xeranx wrote...

Kazuya, I felt your comment was stupid because I find the idea of "one" character with an accent intended for mass market appeal to be insulting. Never mind that the Prothean doesn't sound like most black people who grew up in the US (many of whom who took to making fun of me just for my name and background). This will not appeal to them if that's what you're thinking because many, unfortunately, don't have any connection to Africa beyond calling themselves African Americans and some of them (through my own experience) don't want to have any association with Africans. Furthermore, my experience isn't unique by any measure. The very examples of this can be found anywhere and has been displayed in BarberShop 2 (I think that's what it is) and Black/White which are both Ice Cube productions.

If you think this is supposed to bring in African countries, I can tell you that situations (while different in various places) are tough and only the very few would be interested in this. Of course, that is if the Prothean is ever advertised. Up until now I haven't seen any advertisement featuring the Prothean in any way, shape, or form. So how exactly do you figure that he was given the voice he has for mass market appeal when for one to actually find him someone has to actually look up Mass Effect, Prothean, a video connected with Mass Effect, or any combination of those?

I just find it funny (not really) that people have a problem with this as though it's offensive to their sensibilities and then utter nonsense on top of it. No one said a word about Donovan Hock who was said to have a South African accent, but with the reactions made so far the only thing I can imagine is that the Prothean's voice conjured up an image of a black man for all those who want nothing to do with it and that repulses them as a result.

Totally agree.  This whole accent thing is total garbage.  When people complain about an accent, all I hear is, "oh no! My worldview that everyone should speak with a Mid-Western American accent is crushed!"  Get over it.  I'm trying to figure out, for the life of me, how this accent could possibly be jarring to anyone.  I though, "maybe it's because I'm an anthropologist that I just don't care".  So I asked my friends and family that love Mass Effect, but aren't anywhere near being an anthropologist.  They all also thought the argument against the accent was ridiculous.

Again, was Samesh an attempt at mass marketing?  No.  It's a stupid, crybaby argument.  You can't make any legitimate argument against this accent choice.  You can say it sounds, "funny", but congrats.  You've just insulted every real-world person with that accent.  Feel better about yourself?  You can say it doesn't "fit" with the character.  So you know everything there is about a fictional species that's been fictionally extinct for over 50,000 years?  Making the "argument" (if you can call it that) that this is an attempt at mass marketing actually shows how little you know about the rest of the world.

Besides the fact, that's a stupid point.  What if they were?  Everyone's against something new, because it's too "jarring" for them.  By the way, I'm a white male from Ohio.  I understand the world doesn't revolve around my Mid-Western accent.  Maybe you should do the same?

[Saints_]

The Free Jaffa wrote...

Xeranx wrote...

Kazuya, I felt your comment was stupid because I find the idea of "one" character with an accent intended for mass market appeal to be insulting. Never mind that the Prothean doesn't sound like most black people who grew up in the US (many of whom who took to making fun of me just for my name and background). This will not appeal to them if that's what you're thinking because many, unfortunately, don't have any connection to Africa beyond calling themselves African Americans and some of them (through my own experience) don't want to have any association with Africans. Furthermore, my experience isn't unique by any measure. The very examples of this can be found anywhere and has been displayed in BarberShop 2 (I think that's what it is) and Black/White which are both Ice Cube productions.

If you think this is supposed to bring in African countries, I can tell you that situations (while different in various places) are tough and only the very few would be interested in this. Of course, that is if the Prothean is ever advertised. Up until now I haven't seen any advertisement featuring the Prothean in any way, shape, or form. So how exactly do you figure that he was given the voice he has for mass market appeal when for one to actually find him someone has to actually look up Mass Effect, Prothean, a video connected with Mass Effect, or any combination of those?

I just find it funny (not really) that people have a problem with this as though it's offensive to their sensibilities and then utter nonsense on top of it. No one said a word about Donovan Hock who was said to have a South African accent, but with the reactions made so far the only thing I can imagine is that the Prothean's voice conjured up an image of a black man for all those who want nothing to do with it and that repulses them as a result.

Totally agree.  This whole accent thing is total garbage.  When people complain about an accent, all I hear is, "oh no! My worldview that everyone should speak with a Mid-Western American accent is crushed!"  Get over it.  I'm trying to figure out, for the life of me, how this accent could possibly be jarring to anyone.  I though, "maybe it's because I'm an anthropologist that I just don't care".  So I asked my friends and family that love Mass Effect, but aren't anywhere near being an anthropologist.  They all also thought the argument against the accent was ridiculous.

Again, was Samesh an attempt at mass marketing?  No.  It's a stupid, crybaby argument.  You can't make any legitimate argument against this accent choice.  You can say it sounds, "funny", but congrats.  You've just insulted every real-world person with that accent.  Feel better about yourself?  You can say it doesn't "fit" with the character.  So you know everything there is about a fictional species that's been fictionally extinct for over 50,000 years?  Making the "argument" (if you can call it that) that this is an attempt at mass marketing actually shows how little you know about the rest of the world.

Besides the fact, that's a stupid point.  What if they were?  Everyone's against something new, because it's too "jarring" for them.  By the way, I'm a white male from Ohio.  I understand the world doesn't revolve around my Mid-Western accent.  Maybe you should do the same?

Your friends and family likely agreed with you because you told it from your perspective.

Why are we talking about Samesh? His voice actually suited him.
The same cannot be said for the Prothean.

This isn't a question of where the accent comes from. Nor the issue.
The only issue is that it feels like a random, unthought of, thrown in voice for an ancient race.

It's like meeting your idol and finding out they're an ass. When you have expectations and they're nowhere near satisfied, you get a little upset.

Again, it isn't about where the accent originates from. It's that it doesn't suit the Prothean.

It's all a matter of opinion.

[Juniper Mucius]

Saints_ wrote...

The Free Jaffa wrote...

Xeranx wrote...

Kazuya, I felt your comment was stupid because I find the idea of "one" character with an accent intended for mass market appeal to be insulting. Never mind that the Prothean doesn't sound like most black people who grew up in the US (many of whom who took to making fun of me just for my name and background). This will not appeal to them if that's what you're thinking because many, unfortunately, don't have any connection to Africa beyond calling themselves African Americans and some of them (through my own experience) don't want to have any association with Africans. Furthermore, my experience isn't unique by any measure. The very examples of this can be found anywhere and has been displayed in BarberShop 2 (I think that's what it is) and Black/White which are both Ice Cube productions.

If you think this is supposed to bring in African countries, I can tell you that situations (while different in various places) are tough and only the very few would be interested in this. Of course, that is if the Prothean is ever advertised. Up until now I haven't seen any advertisement featuring the Prothean in any way, shape, or form. So how exactly do you figure that he was given the voice he has for mass market appeal when for one to actually find him someone has to actually look up Mass Effect, Prothean, a video connected with Mass Effect, or any combination of those?

I just find it funny (not really) that people have a problem with this as though it's offensive to their sensibilities and then utter nonsense on top of it. No one said a word about Donovan Hock who was said to have a South African accent, but with the reactions made so far the only thing I can imagine is that the Prothean's voice conjured up an image of a black man for all those who want nothing to do with it and that repulses them as a result.

Totally agree.  This whole accent thing is total garbage.  When people complain about an accent, all I hear is, "oh no! My worldview that everyone should speak with a Mid-Western American accent is crushed!"  Get over it.  I'm trying to figure out, for the life of me, how this accent could possibly be jarring to anyone.  I though, "maybe it's because I'm an anthropologist that I just don't care".  So I asked my friends and family that love Mass Effect, but aren't anywhere near being an anthropologist.  They all also thought the argument against the accent was ridiculous.

Again, was Samesh an attempt at mass marketing?  No.  It's a stupid, crybaby argument.  You can't make any legitimate argument against this accent choice.  You can say it sounds, "funny", but congrats.  You've just insulted every real-world person with that accent.  Feel better about yourself?  You can say it doesn't "fit" with the character.  So you know everything there is about a fictional species that's been fictionally extinct for over 50,000 years?  Making the "argument" (if you can call it that) that this is an attempt at mass marketing actually shows how little you know about the rest of the world.

Besides the fact, that's a stupid point.  What if they were?  Everyone's against something new, because it's too "jarring" for them.  By the way, I'm a white male from Ohio.  I understand the world doesn't revolve around my Mid-Western accent.  Maybe you should do the same?

Your friends and family likely agreed with you because you told it from your perspective.

Why are we talking about Samesh? His voice actually suited him.
The same cannot be said for the Prothean.

This isn't a question of where the accent comes from. Nor the issue.
The only issue is that it feels like a random, unthought of, thrown in voice for an ancient race.

It's like meeting your idol and finding out they're an ass. When you have expectations and they're nowhere near satisfied, you get a little upset.

Again, it isn't about where the accent originates from. It's that it doesn't suit the Prothean.

It's all a matter of opinion.

No, my friends and family agreed with me because they aren't little children that worry about something like an accent.  You're stating, as a matter of fact, that the accent doesn't suit a prothean.  That's your opinion.  However, the people that created the prothean think differently.  There's not a single thing in canon that says a prothean cannot have that accent, or that an alien can have something other than a Mid-Western American accent.  Nothing in canon says this.

What's wrong here is that everyone had in their minds, this glorious, profound species that spoke with a Mid-Western accent, or something similar.  Every frelling ancient species is exactly like that.  Farscape.  Stargate SG-1.  Stargate Atlatnis.  Star Trek.  Star Wars.  I'm tired of it.  The way people are describing how they saw the protheans is almost exactly the way ancient races/species are shown in science-fiction and fantasy all over the damn place.

What people are pissed about here is that BioWare broke a cliché.  I hope to the gods this prothean doesn't know jack about prothean technology (outside of using it), and is more-or-less a soldier.  The less cliché, the better.  So cheers to BioWare, for not entirely absorbing the ancient species cliché.

[Saints_]

I never once assumed the prothean to have a mid western accent so I'll just halt saying anything more.

[incinerator950]

I vaguely recall Xenos in Star Wars speaking with Voice synthes and some of them having an altogether incomprehensive snarl or melt, and the ones that you can understand are based off the VA.

I'm not against the accent, it sounds more Jamaican then African, but I was expecting something outside the normal voice pattern. Something deep, with an echo or faint from the synthe used.

[overbite]

The Free Jaffa wrote...

To suggest an accent is pandering, in a game that hasn't pandered to race or ethnicity before, is ignorant. It shows a lack of attention to the game itself, honestly. I'm sick of everyone crying "pandering" when they are forced with something new. Was Samesh pandering?

go back and play the first game and listen to the logs on ilos .

remeber the grabled message that said "cannot be stopped!" ah....yeah  the recording didn't sound jamaican.

of course bioware is pandering for market demographic .

which isn't wrong and the voice is ok ,i just wish they went with canon and left the protheians dead cept trying to sell dlc .

Modifié par overbite, 27 février 2012 - 07:41 .

[FRANCESCO84Inn]

i like the African Accent, so, its possible in Mass Effect Universe this fsct :

Prothean was come in Earth, and was building the Piramyds in the world, and give the leguage to the primitive human, like the Hanar.

this is my peronal theory,

and for this i'm in disappointment whit BioWare, for put the Prothean and this mission in a dlc and not in the game base, anyway i'm pre-order my N7 Collector, Fortunately !