273 réponses à ce sujet

[StealthGamer92]

What I've been trying to say is they have to take into account the butterfy effect(I think thats the right one).

[Lavros]

The more I think about the prequel idea the more I realize it is a poor choice for the next series. It does not work with the save import style that Bioware uses in their games and I think it would weaken the player choice aspect that is such a strong aspect of the previous series.

 

Using the First Contact War as an example, we already know the important aspects of the conflict like the initial meeting, siege and fall of Shanxi and the resolution. Aside from retconning the entire story, which dips a little too close into AU territory, the only real choices the players would have would be extremely minor actions that would have no effect on the war. This would be an abandonment of what makes Bioware games great, the potential of progressing the story and seeing how your actions change the world you are in.

 

In regards to the Krogan, unless it was retconned, they were in a situation where they were fighting for resources in the nuclear age. They eventually broke down into nuclear war and it obliterated a large percentage of the population. The survivors had a higher percentage of Krogan with a distinct disposition for mental instability and hostility. They eventual became the dominate demographic in the Krogan population as the post-nuclear environment was more suitable for to them. This is coming from ME1 lore. 

[shepskisaac]

 there's almost 3 decades of time between the First Contact War and ME1

First adult human biotics don't even exist until rougly a decade before ME1, and you can pretty much bet they wouldn't release ME game without biotic gameplay option (or have you play biotic kid lol). Kaidan is first generation Biotic, remember? So basically we're left with 10 "usable" years prior ME1 for a prequel

[Lee T]

The more I think about the prequel idea the more I realize it is a poor choice for the next series. It does not work with the save import style that Bioware uses in their games and I think it would weaken the player choice aspect that is such a strong aspect of the previous series.

I had huge hopes based on the promise of save imports on the onset of Mass Effect 1 marketing campaign. As it turns out this features is barely used, it seems cost prohibitive to go beyond the mere cameo or a few lines of dialogues. Even if it is one of their current trademark, it would be sad if they felt they had to do it just because rather than doing it because they have a great idea requiring such mechanic.
 

Using the First Contact War as an example, we already know the important aspects of the conflict like the initial meeting, siege and fall of Shanxi and the resolution.

We don't know very much though. Bioware could still make us live a key moment of the conflict, something spanning a few weeks. Moreover, Bioware games are about people, their relationships and how it's tested by events. We don't know the people involved enough that Bioware coulnd't come with an interesting cast with surprises and intrigue that we wouldn't see coming.

The only limit really is Bioware's imagination.

Aside from retconning the entire story, which dips a little too close into AU territory, the only real choices the players would have would be extremely minor actions that would have no effect on the war. This would be an abandonment of what makes Bioware games great, the potential of progressing the story and seeing how your actions change the world you are in.

With the exceptions of ME1 and DAO Bioware no longer present us with game changer decisions anyway. The ending of ME3 is, so far, an exception, one we're not sure how they'll go from there and if they'll even try. I suppose that after having their budget push them into trivialising so many gamer decisions, they probably got cold feet about making new ones they know they won't be able to make it more than a footnote in the next game. They very probably were as devastated as us each time they had to.

They could make a prequel integrating everything they do great, interesting character, illusion of player agency, and gripping narrative. That's all I ask and that's already a lot.

[Mcfly616]

First adult human biotics don't even exist until rougly a decade before ME1, and you can pretty much bet they wouldn't release ME game without biotic gameplay option (or have you play biotic kid lol). Kaidan is first generation Biotic, remember? So basically we're left with 10 "usable" years prior ME1 for a prequel

 my point still stands. They can tell a vast amount of stories in that time frame. Each individual installment of the Shepard trilogy spanned less than a year. The entire trilogy takes place over 3 years. 

 

 

If they make self-contained stories from now on, they can have adventures going on at the same time as other past protagonist adventures and it wouldn't matter. It's a big galaxy and everybody has a story.

[shepskisaac]

 my point still stands. They can tell a vast amount of stories in that time frame. Each individual installment of the Shepard trilogy spanned less than a year. The entire trilogy takes place over 3 years. 

 

 

If they make self-contained stories from now on, they can have adventures going on at the same time as other past protagonist adventures and it wouldn't matter. It's a big galaxy and everybody has a story.

Sure. But if they ever wanna implement some arc with bigger impact on the galaxy, they can't. So it's not like prequels are totally not-limiting

[Mcfly616]

Sure. But if they ever wanna implement some arc with bigger impact on the galaxy, they can't. So it's not like prequels are totally not-limiting

 I never said it didn't have its limits. I've been saying it has more freedom than a sequel without a canonized ending. And that there's potential for plenty of stories in the current MEU. If they ever want to do another end of the world epic trilogy, they can go ahead reboot or start an AU.

[Lavros]

I had huge hopes based on the promise of save imports on the onset of Mass Effect 1 marketing campaign. As it turns out this features is barely used, it seems cost prohibitive to go beyond the mere cameo or a few lines of dialogues. Even if it is one of their current trademark, it would be sad if they felt they had to do it just because rather than doing it because they have a great idea requiring such mechanic.

 

I attribute the weakness of the import function to the creative choice that Bioware took with the transition from ME1 to ME2. If they chose to actually build the story off of the choices made from the first game the resources wouldn't have been wasted as the story would naturally revolve around our previous actions. The problem isn't with the function, it's with how they chose to go forward with the story and how it was compounded into the third game of the series.

 

We don't know very much though. Bioware could still make us live a key moment of the conflict, something spanning a few weeks. Moreover, Bioware games are about people, their relationships and how it's tested by events. We don't know the people involved enough that Bioware coulnd't come with an interesting cast with surprises and intrigue that we wouldn't see coming.

The only limit really is Bioware's imagination.

 

 

We know enough that the mystery of how the story progresses would be utterly in shambles. I agree that Bioware games are about the characters and their interactions to event, but that is just one part of the equation. A story that is gripping, has mystery and has you wondering what the fruits of your decisions will yeild is an equally important aspect of their games. The issue with the cast would be that they would all be human and that in and of itself is problematic as it goes against the diverse species oriented approach of the original trilogy.

 

With the exceptions of ME1 and DAO Bioware no longer present us with game changer decisions anyway. The ending of ME3 is, so far, an exception, one we're not sure how they'll go from there and if they'll even try. I suppose that after having their budget push them into trivialising so many gamer decisions, they probably got cold feet about making new ones they know they won't be able to make it more than a footnote in the next game. They very probably were as devastated as us each time they had to.

They could make a prequel integrating everything they do great, interesting character, illusion of player agency, and gripping narrative. That's all I ask and that's already a lot.

 

As I stated before the choice of altering the story and making ME2 a soft reset is what created such a lack of accepted results from the players actions throughout the series. The ending of ME3 is the perfect reason to prove that the player's choices matter. They could select a canon ending by the amount of players who chose which option they preferred and then build the sequel's story off of it. That would show that player agency is valid and that the next series would be built off of their choices. 

[DanishGambit]

I'd prefer they didn't have the limits of a time frame. Making sure that every little detail fits in the timeline can take forever and games are already expensive and time-consuming to make as it is.

[Feelgood08]

A prequel would be ok if we already didn't have a vague idea of what happened with the first contact war, Krogan rebellion, Geth wars, and the Rachni wars. Personally I would rather a sequel, I want to know what happens to Shepard, the crew, the various races, and the universe itself.

[Nerve-Stim Pro]

For a sequel with import, I don't think they have to marginalise the Krogan and Geth/Quarians. They could freely use them as major characters, and anyone who let them go extinct in the previous game, well boohoo, won't get those squadmates and missions. Or if they want to keep it fair, they might make you choose between Quarian/Geth and Krogan/Salarian squadmate if both races survived.

 

As for the endings, I personally cannot see how you could build a challenging game out of control/synthesis. Both end up with you having the Reapers on your side, so it's hard to imagine an adversary strong enough to pose a threat. Any ideas on this?

I'm thinking they might just make a game that happens after destroy, *without* making it canon. Just say that all endings happened in alternate universes and if you chose techno-Utopia, then techno-Utopia happened. But hey - if you're bored of the easy life, why not visit this different universe where some other Shepard picked destroy and help them sort out new challenges? Do you think players who picked blue and green would object to this?

(I'm not even considering Refuse, as they've already revealed Krogan in ME4, so that can't have happened)

[Navasha]

Generally, I like sequels better than prequels.    However, ME3 honestly destroyed any possibility whatsoever for a sequel in any shape or form.    People are pretty passionate about the choice they made here, so I don't see Bioware making a game where 2/3 of its base customers are already going to be upset by the game's setting by choosing a canon ending.   

 

My guess is that it will be set far across the galaxy with some band of specforces or mercenary company well outside of citadel space.   It would most likely be happening concurrently as the Shepard trilogy. 

[Nitrocuban]

Yeah, we call that "Ark theory" here. ME4 is gonna happen somewhere far away and not affected by the RNG-spacemagic during or right after ME3.

An ark fleet with lots of ships of differnet species on the run from the Reapers, stranded in another galaxy after using some sort of fancy supermassrelay.

As much old stuff from the old ME as the devs want and endless space to explore. And no problems with the ME3 ending.

Sounds almost too plausible for BW to go for it and sure would still cause some ending butthurt though.

[Iakus]

Yeah, we call that "Ark theory" here. ME4 is gonna happen somewhere far away and not affected by the RNG-spacemagic during or right after ME3.

An ark fleet with lots of ships of differnet species on the run from the Reapers, stranded in another galaxy after using some sort of fancy supermassrelay.

As much old stuff from the old ME as the devs want and endless space to explore. And no problems with the ME3 ending.

Sounds almost too plausible for BW to go for it and sure would still cause some ending butthurt though.

Well, I don't recall any mass relays being found that use a seventh chevron...

[StealthGamer92]

Well, I don't recall any mass relays being found that use a seventh chevron...

Was that a Star Gate reference I just saw! Nice.

[shepskisaac]

Or... we could have Leviathans escaping to another galaxy and kidnapping memers of different species to serve them there Don't mind me, I'm just trying to find any excuse to have Levis in next Mass Effect... 'Cause even if they go with ark solution it's pretty obvius whos big ass wouldn't be invited along for the journey...

[Iakus]

  'Cause even if they go with ark solution it's pretty obvius whos big ass wouldn't be invited along for the journey...

 

Leave Miranda out of this!  

[Nohvarr]

Well, I don't recall any mass relays being found that use a seventh chevron...

That's cause you were too busy fighting the reapers to look....

[wolfhowwl]

Generally, I like sequels better than prequels.    However, ME3 honestly destroyed any possibility whatsoever for a sequel in any shape or form.    People are pretty passionate about the choice they made here, so I don't see Bioware making a game where 2/3 of its base customers are already going to be upset by the game's setting by choosing a canon ending.   

 

My guess is that it will be set far across the galaxy with some band of specforces or mercenary company well outside of citadel space.   It would most likely be happening concurrently as the Shepard trilogy. 

 

Do we know that the ending choices are really that evenly distributed or that people wouldn't value getting a sequel in any form over having their particular choice honored?

 

They will be pissing people off no matter what they do. A sequel with a canon setting will anger some people over the choices chosen as well as those that don't want the ending acknowledged at all. A concurrent game will anger those that want a true sequel. A reboot will anger people that don't want the events of three games to be sent to the dust bin to avoid dealing with the ending. A prequel, well, lol.

 

Sure a sequel could anger some people that want their circuit board people but you're confronting the ending blunder and moving the IP past it. You're not running away from the issue either. The Reapers are defeated and a universe of stories await in a post-war setting as the races rebuild their galaxy. You're not abandoning awesome places that we barely got a chance to visit like Omega, Illium, Thessia, and Palaven or the chance to see a new twist on old locales like a restored Citadel, rebuilding Tuchanka, or Quarian Rannoch.

 

Besides if there are "fans" that will actually not buy the next ME game if it is good because they don't get their fascist Shepalyst's dystopia or genocide of the Quarian race be made canon are they really worth coddling? There was huge turnover of fans in the original trilogy as well.

 

If it isn't good it won't matter when it is set anyways.

[Lordus]

Yeah, defiantly a sequel, I'd like to see the aftermath or a type of legacy for Shepard. No doubt he'll be mentioned as a hero that destroyed the Reapers. But, and this will be a BIG BUT; how will he be remembered? As in, what ending will take place to start ME4 off. If the game starts off as the Reapers defeated by Shepard (the red ending) that would mean the other 2 don't matter at all since it never happened or vice-versa.

Nevertheless it'll be interesting how they will make history for Shepard.

[Nerve-Stim Pro]

Besides if there are "fans" that will actually not buy the next ME game if it is good because they don't get their fascist Shepalyst's dystopia or genocide of the Quarian race be made canon are they really worth coddling? There was huge turnover of fans in the original trilogy as well.

 

"There is no time to coddle the feelings of a depressed fascist."

[Ithurael]

Maybe this might help give 'some' perspective on the next game...doubtful but some

https://twitter.com/...495543001321473

 

*fingers and toes crossed for AU!!!

[shepskisaac]

Maybe this might help give 'some' perspective on the next game...doubtful but some

https://twitter.com/...495543001321473

 

*fingers and toes crossed for AU!!!

It definitely confirms they won't pick 1 canon ending, so that's 1 finally confirmed fact. Up until now, we didn't know whether they would possibly do it or not. We can all now just focus on arguing about AU/prequel/ark/reboot lol

[Drone223]

Maybe this might help give 'some' perspective on the next game...doubtful but some
https://twitter.com/...495543001321473

*fingers and toes crossed for AU!!!

Its vey unlikely that an AU/reboot will happen considering that the franchise isn't even 10 years old and there have only been 3 major releases in the series. Then there's the significant issues of having to re-write the entire lore from scratch which is something Bioware most likely aren't willing to do at this stage.

[Kabooooom]

Its vey unlikely that an AU/reboot will happen considering that the franchise isn't even 10 years old and there have only been 3 major releases in the series. Then there's the significant issues of having to re-write the entire lore from scratch which is something Bioware most likely aren't willing to do at this stage.

Which leaves prequel (unlikely) or some semblance of ark/midiquel/side story divorced from the main trilogy.