55 réponses à ce sujet

[Maria Caliban]

I'd appreciate it. I know you're busy and don't mean to bother you, but I've been wondering...

1) I know you've written Samara and Liara (great job on both) for ME 3. Did you do any other characters or quests?

2) Mass Effect has a very cinematic style, how do the writers, cinematic people, and voice actors interact? Do you just do a regular script with dialogue? Do you put any notes as to actions or gestures? Do you ever do any of your own storyboarding? Do the artists ever ask you opinion on concept art for various characters or show you the work in progress?

You said you were there when Maggie Baird (Samara) did her recordings. Are you just there to make sure everything fits, or does the actor or VA director ask for your opinion on different takes?

3) Favorite pastry?

4) What was the hardest part of working on ME 3? What's your favorite scene you worked on?


Lastly...
5) How do you pronounce your last name?

Again, I'm just curious and understand if you don't answer.

[Maria Caliban]

This got buried quickly. I hope no one minds if I give it a little more time?

[AtlAggie]

 I'm obviously not Sylvf, but in case she doesn't answer this, I asked Mac Walters a question similar to your #2 on Twitter a while back, and this was his response:

"Writers create the "scene" with VO & stage direction, like a screenplay. But Cine/VO teams are free to interpret i.e. Make better."

Link to exchange here:
https://twitter.com/...394554276102144 

And if Sylvf does actually happen to read this thread and/or respond, I agree that the writing for Liara was excellent, so good job with that!

[Sylvf]

Hi there. I'd be glad to respond later today/tomorrow (got to see where my time goes). Just letting you know I see the thread!

[sorentoft]

Sylvf wrote...

Hi there. I'd be glad to respond later today/tomorrow (got to see where my time goes). Just letting you know I see the thread!

Awesome. 

[Maria Caliban]

Sylvf wrote...

Hi there. I'd be glad to respond later today/tomorrow (got to see where my time goes). Just letting you know I see the thread!

I await with bated breath

[Mr. Big Pimpin]

So this is who wrote Liara? Now I know. I really wish there was some reference chart or something so we knew who wrote everyone.

[Maria Caliban]

Sylvf wrote Liara for Shadow Broker and Mass Effect 3. Chris L'Etoile wrote her for ME 1. Not sure who wrote her for ME 2. Maybe Mac as he did the comic as well?

Edit: Actually, Chris doesn't list her as one of his contributions.

Modifié par Maria Caliban, 17 mars 2012 - 12:15 .

[TobiTobsen]

Liara rocks in ME3.

Kudos to you for that! Kudos to you!

[Sylvf]

1) I know you've written Samara and Liara (great job on both) for ME 3. Did you do any other characters or quests?

Thanks. Here’s a brief list of what I’m responsible for (Spoilers in the form of mission names and reappearing characters, for those who haven’t finished ME3):

-In addition to the Monastery and Samara, the “Geth Consensus” and the “Rescue the Admiral” missions on Rannoch.

-Legion’s investigate conversation (the conversation you can keep returning to) on the Normandy.

-Everything Glyph chirps at you.

-Liara on the Normandy, Citadel, and London (Except the Matriarch Aethyta scene, and the clash between Liara and Javik post-Thessia. Those were Patrick Weekes and John Dombrow respectively.)

-About 1/3rd to 1/4th of the Citadel (Including Refund Guy and the Shepard VI. My finest hour.)

-All of the Galaxy At War asset descriptions, some planet descriptions (1/3rd to 1/4th of them?), more than half of the new gun descriptions, the e-mails and intel in Liara’s cabin, new armor descriptions, descriptions of those poetry books in the hospital gift shop...

Writers migrate over to systems like this once the bulk of dialogue creation is over.

2) Mass Effect has a very cinematic style, how do the writers, cinematic people, and voice actors interact? Do you just do a regular script with dialogue? Do you put any notes as to actions or gestures? Do you ever do any of your own storyboarding?

It involves a lot of collaboration. Once our conversations are at the point where we can give them to our cinematic designers, they begin creating what you see in the game. This doesn’t mean lines are set in stone, but they at least have a base dialogue to work with.

Conversations have staging notes, but we talk a lot with cinematic design because they have great ideas on how to create and improve the scenes. This is the point where we make a lot of suggestions on each others’ work. I love bouncing ideas off other people, that’s when the conversations really start coming to life.

Do the artists ever ask you opinion on concept art for various characters or show you the work in progress?

I actually didn’t write anyone who required a new character concept. I spoke more with the level artists/designers about level art. (If it’s not too much of a boast, I think the game’s missions look spectacular thanks to them.)

You said you were there when Maggie Baird (Samara) did her recordings. Are you just there to make sure everything fits, or does the actor or VA director ask for your opinion on different takes?

They do. If I’m at a recording session however, my most useful role is providing context. We give our actors notes but not only are they working without a set, they’re reading from non-linear scripts because of how our dialogue splits. (To me that makes their work even more amazing.)

3) Favorite pastry?

Portuguese Egg Tarts.

4) What was the hardest part of working on ME 3? What's your favorite scene you worked on?

One of the most difficult things I had to learn were expositional techniques. It’s hard to drip-feed just the right amount without being talky, boring, or confusing. A lot of my earliest revisions were focused on finding ways to collapse down or simplify exposition not crucial to the story.

It’s hard to pick a favorite scene. I’m especially fond of some of the work in the Geth Consensus, though, and the confrontation with Legion after you pop back into the real world. I was also very pleased with how well Liara and the time capsule turned out. That’s a scene I knew I wanted to write fairly early on in the project.

Lastly...
5) How do you pronounce your last name?

I have to retain some mystery. : )

Sylvf wrote Liara for Shadow Broker and Mass Effect 3. Chris L'Etoile wrote her for ME 1. Not sure who wrote her for ME 2. Maybe Mac as he did the comic as well?

To be more precise, I wrote Liara for most of the assault on the Shadow Broker base, but only did a few lines of her dialogue after you return to the base. I DID write all of Feron and Glyph. I don’t believe Mac wrote Liara in ME2 (not sure who did). I also don’t believe Chris L’Etoile wrote her in ME1.

Splitting out who wrote what in our games can get really complicated…

[Edit: I keep noticing typos...]

Modifié par Sylvf, 30 mars 2012 - 05:45 .

[devSin]

Whatever you were responsible for, I just want to say I think she came out splendidly.

I never liked Liara more than in ME3.

[Mr. Big Pimpin]

So she did Liara and half of Legion? That's 1.5 of my 5 favourite characters. I think she's now officially my second-favourite ME writer.

I also loved that "Rescue the Admiral" mission. Probably my favourite sidequest.

Modifié par Mr. Big Pimpin, 17 mars 2012 - 10:23 .

[LadyofRivendell]

You wrote the Shepard VI? You deserve a giant ice cream cake for that, has to be in my top five favorite moments of the game!
"I don't really sound like that... Do I?"

[jlb524]

Thanks for the answers, Sylvf!  I loved your work with Liara's character (ofc) and some of the other things mentioned ( Geth Consensus in particular).

Maria Caliban wrote...

Sylvf wrote Liara for Shadow Broker and Mass Effect 3. Chris L'Etoile wrote her for ME 1. Not sure who wrote her for ME 2. Maybe Mac as he did the comic as well?

Edit: Actually, Chris doesn't list her as one of his contributions.

I'm pretty sure Drew Karpyshyn wrote Liara in ME1.

Modifié par jlb524, 17 mars 2012 - 10:35 .

[EmGo]

 You wrote Liara in ME3? Then I need to tell you something, maybe you will even read it

In ME1 I was mostly ignoring Liara, but she was quite irritating. In ME2 I really disliked Liara. But... in ME3 I completely change my opinion. She is like my girlfriend now. Incredible job, I didn't think that was possible - you didn't change the character, you just made some magic (lol no pun intented) and she has some incredible scenes. She is still who she was, yet I really like her and started to feel connected to her. That's the first time something like that happen to me! Amazing work!

<3

P.S. Does anyone know who wrote Garrus and Javik? Because with all the Mass Effect Retake Movement I'm quessing artist and the whole team are not given the credits which they should have been given. Yes, I am holding the line. Yes, my heart was broken completely by the endings. BUT:

Garrus? God... I love him so much, incredible moments! So funny and sooo hot. I cried with a goodbye scene. And I laughed a lot with him.<3 And... those hugs and kisses <3 *melting into puddle* *purr*

Also: Javik? *purr* <3 *melting into more puddle*

Modifié par EmGo, 17 mars 2012 - 10:35 .

[xAmilli0n]

Very cool, thanks for responding Sylvf.

[devSin]

EmGo wrote...

P.S. Does anyone know who wrote Garrus and Javik? Because with all the Mass Effect Retake Movement I'm quessing artist and the whole team are not given the credits which they should have been given. Yes, I am holding the line. Yes, my heart was broken completely by the endings. BUT:

I think Garrus was John Dombrow; I know one of the writers said who was responsible for him on Twitter.

I think the credits for From Ashes said John and Patrick were the writers, so I'm guessing one (or both) of them wrote Javik.

Modifié par devSin, 17 mars 2012 - 10:40 .

[sorentoft]

Sylvf wrote...

-Everything Glyph chirps at you.

I am now a fan, Sylvf.

[Sylvf]

Thanks for the kind words, all! Glad you enjoyed.

P.S. Does anyone know who wrote Garrus and Javik?

They were both written by John Dombrow in ME3 (With the exception of the Eden Prime mission, where you recruit Javik. That was Patrick Weekes). You may recognize John as the writer on the ME2 DLC, Overlord.

Modifié par Sylvf, 17 mars 2012 - 10:43 .

[Robhuzz]

All Dead wrote...

You wrote Liara in ME3? Bravo. I am e-standing and e-applauding!

Wow you did? You deserve a raise for that. Outstanding job on Liara's character:)

[Mr. Big Pimpin]

Okay, so now I've pieced together a lot of who wrote who in terms of squadmates. It seems to be:
John Dombrow: Garrus, Javik
Patrick Weekes: Tali, Mordin, 1/2 Legion
Sylvf (sorry, don't know your first name): Liara, Samara, 1/2 Legion
Mac Walters: Vega

Well, that's about half of them nailed down, anyway. Being able to fill in the blanks would be appreciated.

[sorentoft]

I do think the characters in Mass Effect 3 in general were very well done. Most of them are really coming to life and that is just amazing.

[EmGo]

Sylvf wrote...

Thanks for the kind words, all! Glad you enjoyed.

P.S. Does anyone know who wrote Garrus and Javik?

They were both written by John Dombrow in ME3 (With the exception of the Eden Prime mission, where you recruit Javik. That was Patrick Weekes). You may recognize John as the writer on the ME2 DLC, Overlord.

Thank you!  *turning into stalker* <3

No, don't worry, I live in Poland - you are safe <3


P.S. That scene when Liara came into the cabin? I cried. I literally had to take tissue and wipe out tears. You are amazing!