126 réponses à ce sujet

[Iakus]

Saren is a vision of the future.

It cannot be...forced 

[KaiserShep]

Seems to me that genetics engineering and cybernetics were already embraced; it's just that it was more for practical application than to be something that came off as fashionable, like if a house wife on Bekenstein decided to fly off to Space Brazil to have her arms replaced with bedazzled prosthetics.

[Quarian Master Race]

Uhhh....they already are? Sure, they're done in a manner that doesn't make the end user look like General Grievous (except Saren and his geth arm), but every military profession involves cybernetic augmentation if you read the class descriptions. Also, take a look at the descriptions of any health/ melee upgrades in ME2. The quarians in particular seem to have an affinity for cybernetics, partially as a counter to weakened physiology (read codex entries or Tali's class descriptions)

 

As for genetic engineering, you have individuals like Miranda, Oriana and Grunt being designed and grown in test tubes, and no one seems surprised, as if it is accepted and relatively normal practice. Then there's all the NPC dialogue referencing its uses in military and correction of birth defects at least (as has been mentioned).

[KaiserShep]

I particularly liked Rafael Vargas' dialogue on Noveria, and his explanation about gene therapy and its application for space travel, made less necessary since mass effect field technology made it somewhat redundant.

[Iakus]

Uhhh....they already are? Sure, they're done in a manner that doesn't make the end user look like General Grievous (except Saren and his geth arm), but every military profession involves cybernetic augmentation if you read the class descriptions. Also, take a look at the descriptions of any health/ melee upgrades in ME2. The quarians in particular seem to have an affinity for cybernetics, partially as a counter to weakened physiology (read codex entries or Tali's class descriptions)

 

As for genetic engineering, you have individuals like Miranda, Oriana and Grunt being designed and grown in test tubes, and no one seems surprised, as if it is accepted and relatively normal practice. Then there's all the NPC dialogue referencing its uses in military and correction of birth defects at least (as has been mentioned).

Genetic engineering is accepted within certain limits.

 

From the Codex:

 

Genetic Engineering 

In the 22nd century, manipulation of the human genome became commonplace.  Techniques for genetic engineering advanced to the point where the rich could custom-build fetuses that grew into stronger, smarter, and more attractive adults.  In more permissive regions, custom-designed life forms and "uplifted" animals occupied an ill-defined niche between "property" and "sapient being".

Travel to planets with unique forms of life brought an awareness that Earth's biodiversity could be lost if it spliced and hybridized to gain useful alien qualities.  The Sudham-Wolcott Genetic Heritage Act was passed by the Systems Alliance Parliament in 2161.  It imposed sharp restrictions on controversial uses of genetic engineering, but provided government subsidies for beneficial applications.

 

Screening and Therapy: Most governments provide free assessments and corrective therapy for genetic diseases in prospective parents.  This has nearly eliminated everything from cystic fibrosis to nearsightedness.  The earlier screening and therapy is performed, the more comprehensive the results.  Though ideally performed on artificially fertilized zygotes in a lab, procedures are available for embryos in the womb and newborns, out of respect for personal beliefs.

 

Enhancement: Improvements of natural human abilities is legal, but adding new abilities is not.  Treatments to improve strength, reflexes, mental ability, or appearance are permitted; adding a tail or the ability to digest cellulose is not.  Some genetic enhancement is provided for free to Alliance military recruits, but the average citizen must pay for the privilege.  The process can take years to reach fruition in an adult.

 

Engineering: Artificial hybridization of genes from compatible non-human species with human genetic code is illegal.  Creation of designed life is broadly legal (and mainly used for terraforming and medical applications), but sentient creatures are heavily regulated, and creation of sapient life is outlawed by both the Systems Alliance and the Citadel Council.

[Tex]

Damn that sucks stupid human laws.

[SwobyJ]

I have a friend who wants to add a tail. She would be very disappointed in the Mass Effect world. Seriously.

[Inprea]

It cannot be...forced 

 

The heck it can't! Choose the green option.

[katamuro]

Why do people want to be less human? I understand getting enhacements that simply increase the abilities but extra limbs, more animalistic appearance? I dont get that.

[Inprea]

Why do people want to be less human? I understand getting enhacements that simply increase the abilities but extra limbs, more animalistic appearance? I dont get that.

 

I don't define humanity by the physical body but rather as a state of mind or spirit if I'm getting a little spiritual.

 

Those extra limbs you mention could also serve many practical purposes. I'm thinking something like a sci-fi mechanic with arms that can separate into three weaker limbs each. As long as her brain could handle working four additional limbs at once she could really improve her productivity. If we're talking about a military mechanic this could save lives.

 

She gets the armored vehicle repaired and out on the field in two hours and in doing so saves six lives and kills two additional enemies. The all natural mechanic with his inferior productivity takes five hours which isn't in time for it to be of us.

 

As for why you'd want the cybernetics or genetic tweaking showing. Well I'm sure it'd differ from person to person. It could be similar to tattoos, piercings or other body art. It could also be that this person sees no reason to hide what their body is.

[jstme]

As long as it is based on science and not the rediculous ascientific concept of synthesis ,sure. Cybernetics and genetic engineering is our inevitable inescapable future. But if there will be leafs with electrical circuits embedded or droids with emotions because someone jumped into beam,count me out.

[Iakus]

As long as it is based on science and not the rediculous ascientific concept of synthesis ,sure. Cybernetics and genetic engineering is our inevitable inescapable future. But if there will be leafs with electrical circuits embedded or droids with emotions because someone jumped into beam,count me out.

 

All scientific advancement due to intellegence overcoming, compensating, for limitations.  Can't carry a load, so invent wheel.  Can't catch food, so invent spear. Limitations.  No limitations, no advancement.  No advancement, culture stagnates. Works other way too. Advancement before culture is ready. Disastrous.

 

Mordin Solus

 

Geth build our own future. The heretics asked the Old Machines to give them the future. They are no longer part of us

 

Legion

[SwobyJ]

Why do people want to be less human? I understand getting enhacements that simply increase the abilities but extra limbs, more animalistic appearance? I dont get that.

 

So she can use a tail. That's as simple as it is to her. She wants a tail so she can use a tail. It doesn't even need to look exactly like any other animal tail.

 

And aesthetic beauty isn't confined to the human form.

 

Some people have more body, mind, soul emphasis. And how they interact with each other. We're just more familiar with body emphasis (and we think the mind exists and debate whether the soul exists).

 

People who want what you said, tend to allow more of what the mind wants, to happen if physically/technologically possible.

 

'Endless possibilities'. We just need to make sure we don't eliminate our capacity to imagine those possibilities in the process. (And to imagine, requires limitations. Limitations we try to break in the effort to explore these endless possibilities.)

[SwobyJ]

As long as it is based on science and not the rediculous ascientific concept of synthesis ,sure. Cybernetics and genetic engineering is our inevitable inescapable future. But if there will be leafs with electrical circuits embedded or droids with emotions because someone jumped into beam,count me out.

 

Ha, its why I like to consider Synthesis a dream.

 

Could we one day have every leaf with circuits (more or less)? Yep.

 

Could we one day have 'droids' with what appears to us as emotions? Yep.

 

Could we have a situation where jumping into a beam does weird stuff? Um, sure, yep?

 

But the exact scenario of synthesis is.. rather unbelievable. Even for space magic Mass Effect.

[Vortex13]

Why do people want to be less human? I understand getting enhacements that simply increase the abilities but extra limbs, more animalistic appearance? I dont get that.

 

 

Maybe some find the human body to be limiting?

 

 

 

 

Getting to the extreme ends of transhumanism though is something outside of Mass Effect's scope (IMO); that would be more in line with a game like Eclipse Phase. I wouldn't mind to see more touches on it though; as some others have mentioned in this topic the new XCOM games, especially Enemy Within touched upon this element quite nicely. How far are we willing to distance ourselves from baseline humanity in order to protect it? 

[Nitrocuban]

No mandatory sun glasses please.

I'd pick mandatory sunglasses over stupid breathing masks in vacuum any time.

[Wulfram]

I have a friend who wants to add a tail. She would be very disappointed in the Mass Effect world. Seriously.

 

I'm sure she could pick up a nice tail somewhere outside of Alliance jurisdiction.  Illium, maybe.

[katamuro]

I guess I just am more of a technical guy, I like exosuits, tools, all kinds of gizmos that do the job. I think its in our nature to make tools to make our lives better and adapt everything around us rather than the other way around.

[Inprea]

I'm sure she could pick up a nice tail somewhere outside of Alliance jurisdiction.  Illium, maybe.

 

It could be amusing if the next protagonist came from the terminus systems and thus had some alterations that are illegal in council space.

[SolNebula]

I would prefer the game not to take tge deus ex path. We saw derperus using implants and it didn't end well for them. So as long as it's a minor thing i have no problem with it but please avoid it being something of a major theme because i don't want to play yet another dark sci-fi. I would prefer this ME to be of a lighter tone like ME1.

[Inprea]

I would prefer the game not to take tge deus ex path. We saw derperus using implants and it didn't end well for them. So as long as it's a minor thing i have no problem with it but please avoid it being something of a major theme because i don't want to play yet another dark sci-fi. I would prefer this ME to be of a lighter tone like ME1.

 

I don't believe cybernetics have to mean dark. Ghost in the shell for example uses them quite often and I wouldn't call it too dark. Well the brain hacking is a bit messed up but we've already seen that can happen with the current level of ME cybernetics in project overlord.

[katamuro]

I don't believe cybernetics have to mean dark. Ghost in the shell for example uses them quite often and I wouldn't call it too dark. Well the brain hacking is a bit messed up but we've already seen that can happen with the current level of ME cybernetics in project overlord.

 

That only happened to shepard because he has extensive cybernetic implants keeping him alive. Shepard is actually a cyborg, he has huge amounts of synthetic and cybernetic parts fused with his organic ones. 

Also in Ghost in the Shell the world has come out of a war and people turned to cybernetics because the medical and combat applications of them were too good to pass up, after all they didnt have medigel or regeneration tech or the armour with shields of ME so it was really the only option for them. 

[SwobyJ]

I guess I just am more of a technical guy, I like exosuits, tools, all kinds of gizmos that do the job. I think its in our nature to make tools to make our lives better and adapt everything around us rather than the other way around.

 

To some, 'everything around us' includes our bodies. Depends on how much of you you consider you - the unalterable. Considering how much of our body grows, changes, dies, etc...

[Inprea]

That only happened to shepard because he has extensive cybernetic implants keeping him alive. Shepard is actually a cyborg, he has huge amounts of synthetic and cybernetic parts fused with his organic ones. 

Also in Ghost in the Shell the world has come out of a war and people turned to cybernetics because the medical and combat applications of them were too good to pass up, after all they didnt have medigel or regeneration tech or the armour with shields of ME so it was really the only option for them. 

 

There is also indoctrination throughout Mass Effect and we even get to play with it some ourselves if you purchase the leviathan DLC. That and the husk. Given that ME has things like the reapers lurking in the darkness I really don't believe cybernetics could make it any darker.

 

As for the need. Humanity nearly got whooped by the Turians and then had its military development stagnated for decades when the number of dreadnaughts they were allowed to make was limited. They also had significant trouble with the baterians while receiving limited assistance from the alien races. Then the reapers attack and severally reduce the human population. I would say that's plenty of motivation to remove the old restrictions and try to be more. Now in synthesis that doesn't matter as it's already been decided for everyone.

[Vazgen]