Hi!
In all three ME there was one thing that bothered me. When I entered a crowded room with many NPC, I always felt if I where surrounded with statues. It was very disappointing that they are just standing there, here and there a scripted guy who walked everytime on the same path. Could not they have a little more life in ME:A? They could have a daily routine or something that they do not look like they were only decoration.
I assume it will be the same as in Dragon Age: Inquisition: Walking statues.
Yes, I am afraid. I am just curious if it was possible to make "living" NPC-s in 2004 why is it that hard in 2015. I do not want real AI with different personality for every NPC, somekind of VI would be enough. 
Just joking, but I would appreciate a bit more unpredictable acting of NPC-s .Does it need more resource, yes I am sure, but in an RPG a believable environment is also an important part, I think.
Funny, but accurate. I'd rather time and money go into more important things, like the story and mechanics. I thought the NPCs on the Citadel in ME3 were OK. Their conversations added a bit more life to the world...until it inevitably looped back to the beginning, haha.
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This topic is somewhat old but deserves repeating. So, I'm with you OP.
Properly done a semi crowded area can truly add to the game immersion, as you and the NPCs move around going somewhere. Add background audio of various NPC chatter and the occasional loud voice or "Stop thief!" and the game truly become alive.
Perhaps Bio can then add this "feature" to future games and become another Bio signature mark. They certainly pushed the romance envelope, why not create " living towns, markets and cities"? .... and please make sure they move out of your way.
Funny, but accurate. I'd rather time and money go into more important things, like the story and mechanics. I thought the NPCs on the Citadel in ME3 were OK. Their conversations added a bit more life to the world...until it inevitably looped back to the beginning, haha.
You are right, the story and mechanics are the most important things, but there is an other important thing: to feel the game.
For example, could you play ME without reading the codex? Yes you could. Is it good that there is a codex? Absolute, it adds a lot of background information, so you feel that the story takes place in a living, breathing universe.
There are smaller things too, for example, when you have finished a mission, you got a message from one of the person you helped. Is it necessary? No, the mission is done, but it gives you the feeling, you really helped someone.
To be carefully I say spioler alert, it is about a side mission in ME2. There was a ship wreckage (MSV Estevanico). As far as I remember it did not give anything to the story, but it was great to run around with the feeling that the wrack could fall down anytime. At least it was great for me!
End of spoiler.
Ok, back to the NPC-s. If you come to an NPC which do not act like a living person and a crowd which does not feel like a crowd, than I think it is done wrong and with the technology of 2015 it could be done better. For several years ago I was absolute ok with standing, sitting NPC-s, but now I think it is time for more and it would be great to see that in the my favorite universe.
I will only accept this if the NPC's are "solid" and don't move out of my way. There needs to be pedestrian traffic jams. no ghosts and no moving out of my path.
You are right, the story and mechanics are the most important things, but there is an other important thing: to feel the game.
For example, could you play ME without reading the codex? Yes you could. Is it good that there is a codex? Absolute, it adds a lot of background information, so you feel that the story takes place in a living, breathing universe.
There are smaller things too, for example, when you have finished a mission, you got a message from one of the person you helped. Is it necessary? No, the mission is done, but it gives you the feeling, you really helped someone.
To be carefully I say spioler alert, it is about a side mission in ME2. There was a ship wreckage (MSV Estevanico). As far as I remember it did not give anything to the story, but it was great to run around with the feeling that the wrack could fall down anytime. At least it was great for me!
End of spoiler.
Ok, back to the NPC-s. If you come to an NPC which do not act like a living person and a crowd which does not feel like a crowd, than I think it is done wrong and with the technology of 2015 it could be done better. For several years ago I was absolute ok with standing, sitting NPC-s, but now I think it is time for more and it would be great to see that in the my favorite universe.
I do not think I have to fully grasp what goes into making AAA video game to have an opinion what I would like to see. For what the devs use their time and resource is their own business. I think bioware showed us that they know what is worth to deal with and what is not. Bioware told multiple times that they are interested in our opinion, so this is mine.
On the other side, I think our opinions are not so far from each other than you might think. Neither I want that important things suffer because of this. I just mentioned, that it would be great to see NPC-s acting more. I think even things that do not look important at first can raise the value of a game. Is this NPC theme such a thing, I think so, but bioware knows better.
I do not think I have to fully grasp what goes into making AAA video game to have an opinion what I would like to see. For what the devs use their time and resource is their own business. I think bioware showed us that they know what is worth to deal with and what is not. Bioware told multiple times that they are interested in our opinion, so this is mine.
On the other side, I think our opinions are not so far from each other than you might think. Neither I want that important things suffer because of this. I just mentioned, that it would be great to see NPC-s acting more. I think even things that do not look important at first can raise the value of a game. Is this NPC theme such a thing, I think so, but bioware knows better.
Sorry, I wasn't trying to knock your opinion! I just didn't think it was realistic from a business point of view. But you're right, we want similar things from Andromeda--and I do think BW could put a little more effort into their enviroment and NPCs and little less into MP. (Sorry MP players.) They took a step in the right direction with ME3 with the conversations on the Citadel and Normandy, and the Normandy crew members moving around.
I'd be happy if main characters would walk around and talk with each other like in ME3 at least. It added my immersion at least. I doubt that can be done for every NPC for resource issues, but it would be nice to get some life on main one's at least other than just "waking up" when PC talks to them.
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