113 réponses à ce sujet

[spinachdiaper]

Well If your created face bugs you too much then I'd just walk around with a helmet on the entire time. It's the closest thing to a bag over the head of the fugly inadequate character you created.

[Killroy]

It negatively impacts my existence, yes.

 

It took me a while, but now I know you're a troll. Nice job.

[AlanC9]

Yeah it does. Having a scanned face in the game makes every custom character of mine look bad by comparison.

Only if you're foolish enough to care what the scanned face looks like. Why are you making that comparison?

[Rainbow Wyvern]

They could always make the default editable. Unless it's a scanned face like Sheploo. Default femshep wasn't face scanned I think.

Being able to edit default!shep's face would've been awesome (she looks like a hamster and has way too much makeup on), but instead I ended up downloading texture mods and a mod for the default hair because custom Shep's textures are soooo flat and the hair is.... bleh. 

 

But I'd rather them have a nice un-editable default than a bunch of crappy presets because sometimes I don't want to spend hours in the CC. Inquisition's CC is annoying and too easy to screw up but all of the presets look like trash - having a hi-res face to select and play immediately would've been nice. 

[LineHolder]

What you should be asking for instead is a better face creator.

[aoibhealfae]

Last Saturday I was at Video Game Live and watch through their chosen montage from the game.

 

ShepardLoo pouting, Zoolander pouting, ShepardLoo pouting... sigh. 

 

Mass Effect's CGI promo should have focus on all the squadmates and make the main protagonist ambiguous as possible. Its a game where you can customize your main character of either gender, let the players have that control.

[Andrew Lucas]

You have that control...

[Jaquio]

Last Saturday I was at Video Game Live and watch through their chosen montage from the game.

 

ShepardLoo pouting, Zoolander pouting, ShepardLoo pouting... sigh. 

 

Mass Effect's CGI promo should have focus on all the squadmates and make the main protagonist ambiguous as possible. Its a game where you can customize your main character of either gender, let the players have that control.

 

The problem with promos like that is that BW doesn't necessarily have a stellar track record at predicting which of their characters will become wildly popular.  And if you're going to build an iconic character to be the face of your franchise, you need to be sure you're getting the right one.

 

I mean, if you think about the Mass Effect series and try to think of a few marquee characters that spring to mind, most of us are going to think of the same handful of characters.  And if you had to choose two squadmates from ME1-3 to put on a cover, most people would probably go with Garrus and a choice between Liara or Tali.  There would certainly be outliers (perhaps Wrex) but I'm pretty sure if nothing else Garrus would be a lock.

 

Yet ME2 actually put two squadmates on the box, and they chose Miranda and Thane.  Miranda I kind of understand, but Thane?  I really like Thane, but it's still an odd choice.

 

It's tough for developers with a game series like this, I'm sure.

[Addictress]

Whoever put Thane on the box is genius, that's why

[Fredward]

Just give us more than one highly detailed scanned face to choose from.

[wright1978]

I never use the pre-determined face as i enjoy the customisation. That said i don't have an issue that there was an iconic default for others to use.

[Xerxes52]

I prefer to use face-scanned characters myself precisely because they're more detailed than the custom faces. Also I'm crap with Bioware's CC, even though I'm pretty good in other games (Saints Row, Dragon's Dogma, etc.).

[JoltDealer]

They did it with Inquisition after going for the iconic look for Hawke in DA2.

 

True and not true.  The Inquisitor on the Box Art was ambiguously gendered and with no face shown -- future Bioware games should definitely follow this trend.  That being, default male and female faces were shown in cinematic and gameplay trailers.  It may not have been on the same level as the Mass Effect trilogy or Dragon Age 2, but it was present all the same.

 

My initial impulse on this thread was to respond with, "Bioware should definitely avoid iconic, default faces in their advertisements."  After thinking about it while typing the first part of this post, I think it would be pretty difficult.  Bioware could get by only showing NPC's and such, but let's be real.  That just won't cut it.  Players want to see their potential character in action -- they want to see him/her run, fight, talk, and more -- and, to avoid showing a face, it would have to be hidden by a helmet.  In which case, I feel like it won't elicit the same personal and emotional connection to the protagonist prior to the game's launch.  The thing about an iconic face is that it's easy to remember, which means easy to advertise and easy to sell.

[MichaelN7]

I get what you're saying, but the "default" face HAS to exist for a few reasons.

ONE:  Brand recognition.  We can look at the default Shepard and we IMMEDIATELY think "Mass Effect".  It's a way to (in this case) literally put a face on the product.

(Basic marketing)

TWO:  Some players don't want to bother with all the customization, they just want to jump right in, so having a "default" appearance allows them this.

(When I first picked up Mass Effect 3, that's what I did, just stuck with the default appearance.  I didn't do all the customizing until a later playthrough)

THREE:  It helps the cosplayers.

(Granted, this reason is the weakest among them, but I felt a third reason was in order)

 

More importantly, there is NOTHING forcing a player to stick with the "default" appearance.  That's the wonder and beauty of customization.

[BobZilla84]

They could always make the default editable. Unless it's a scanned face like Sheploo. Default femshep wasn't face scanned I think.

Being able to edit default!shep's face would've been awesome (she looks like a hamster and has way too much makeup on), but instead I ended up downloading texture mods and a mod for the default hair because custom Shep's textures are soooo flat and the hair is.... bleh. 

 

But I'd rather them have a nice un-editable default than a bunch of crappy presets because sometimes I don't want to spend hours in the CC. Inquisition's CC is annoying and too easy to screw up but all of the presets look like trash - having a hi-res face to select and play immediately would've been nice. 

Its funny if Sheploo would have been editable at least to a basic degree you know Hair,Facial Hair,Hair Color,Skin Color & Eye Color I don't think people would have complained about the Default Face.But the truth is B-Wares track record with CC is bad DAI's was the first decent one and its a step in the right direction but they need to actually put alot more of a effort into the CC thats my opinion anyway.

[Helios969]

While I would very much like a CC that can provide a layer depth and realism we've yet to see from Bioware, having a default character that represents the game, franchise, etc...is much better from a marketing perspective.  Male-Shep is the most identifiable PC from any Bioware game with male and female Hawke being the next most recognizable PC's (which is kind of ironic given it's considered by most the worst game they've produced.)  Taking away any iconic clothing or armor, few if any could differentiate the Warden from the Inquisitor.  I'd also bet most people who play the games outside of BSN simply go with the "default" character offered.  So no, they should not eliminate the "iconic" preset.

[UpUpAway]

While I would very much like a CC that can provide a layer depth and realism we've yet to see from Bioware, having a default character that represents the game, franchise, etc...is much better from a marketing perspective.  Male-Shep is the most identifiable PC from any Bioware game with male and female Hawke being the next most recognizable PC's (which is kind of ironic given it's considered by most the worst game they've produced.)  Taking away any iconic clothing or armor, few if any could differentiate the Warden from the Inquisitor.  I'd also bet most people who play the games outside of BSN simply go with the "default" character offered.  So no, they should not eliminate the "iconic" preset.

 

Why then can't we have both, iconic, detailed scanned faces for the adverts AND some not iconic, detailed scanned faces to pick from that are slightly editable AND a CC (that's more manageable than the ME one) that can be used to create faces from scratch?

 

The problem for me was that there was such a leap between the default and the presets, trying to create a "quick" face felt like falling off a cliff face first and then, perhaps, trying to use bubblegum and spitballs to repair the damage.  What I wanted was a wider selection of reasonably detailed (and reasonably attractive) presets.

 

Also, I just find it a little annoying that a game company that touted so much in their adverts to ME about allowing people to customize their PC's character was so adamant about "their" game face that they wouldn't even allow the player to decide that maybe their "iconic" character might change their hairstyle from time to time or decide to purchase some 22nd century hair dye or grow a beard mid-game. 

 

Which brings me to my last point... I also think the character's face should be editable throughout the game... just like armor was changeable by accessing a terminal.  I shouldn't be compelled to keep restarting the game because I hit a point where I start thinking this face I created just isn't looking quite riight around the mouth, etc.  Once I start playing, my PC ceases to be Bioware's PC and becomes my PC... and if I want that character to undergo plastic surgery halfway through the game, that should be my prerogative.

 

... or else, just be honest about it BW and don't give me an "alleged customization" option at all.

[In Exile]

I get what you're saying, but the "default" face HAS to exist for a few reasons.

ONE:  Brand recognition.  We can look at the default Shepard and we IMMEDIATELY think "Mass Effect".  It's a way to (in this case) literally put a face on the product.

(Basic marketing)

TWO:  Some players don't want to bother with all the customization, they just want to jump right in, so having a "default" appearance allows them this.

(When I first picked up Mass Effect 3, that's what I did, just stuck with the default appearance.  I didn't do all the customizing until a later playthrough)

THREE:  It helps the cosplayers.

(Granted, this reason is the weakest among them, but I felt a third reason was in order)

 

More importantly, there is NOTHING forcing a player to stick with the "default" appearance.  That's the wonder and beauty of customization.

 

Yeah, except, Halo. Insane brand recognition. No face. 

[shodiswe]

You could have an Iconic helmet or something.... What ever your character wears at the start. Maybe a personalised helmet that can be upgraded throught the games and personalized. But the starter one would always be Iconic.

 

Bioware gets to choose though. Their game and all.

[Riven326]

It took me a while, but now I know you're a troll. Nice job.

I'm just being sarcastic. It's not that I don't troll, it's just that I usually save that for my friends or people I know. I created this as a serious topic of discussion and unfortunately it's sort of gone awry. That being said, I think we got off to a bad start and I apologize for calling you a liar.

 

I prefer to use face-scanned characters myself precisely because they're more detailed than the custom faces. Also I'm crap with Bioware's CC, even though I'm pretty good in other games (Saints Row, Dragon's Dogma, etc.).

If they could make custom faces look just as detailed and realistic as a face scan, I'd be all for leaving them in. I just don't think they're going to be able to do that. So my proposal is to not include a 'iconic' face and instead opt for everything being custom. That way everything is on the same level.

[Deebo305]

Yeah, except, Halo. Insane brand recognition. No face.

ME isn't Halo though, Hell Master Chief is literally Xbox unofficial mascot and the if you ask any non gamer they believe Master Chief is actually called Halo

Whereas most non Bioware fan instantly know Shepard from Mass Effect but if you were to show them promo art of the Warden or Inquisitor you'd be hardpress to get an immediate response. Heck I've met guys who confuse the Inquisitor art thinking he was from Elder Scrolls or Dark Souls

[SardaukarElite]

Default Shepard's most recognizable feature is the N7 logo on his armor. People have dressed up as all kinds of Shepards and they're recognized as cool versions of Shepard because they always slap the N7 logo on, carry a carnifex or an avenger and wear Mass Effecty looking armor.

 

The face of some badly shaved bald white guy isn't that memorable in the grand scheme of things. 

[Onewomanarmy]

Default Female Shep was so ugly with that pouty mouth, I wonder what bioware was thinking when they made her. I would have loved to be able to take her hairstyle and put it on to my own custom Shep though, it annoyed me to death that I couldn't do that. So if we were to edit the default faces then I'd be really happy xD

[Statare]

It's funny, some people think Sheploo was "iconic," but he was the complete opposite to me. To me he was b-list white underwear model number #1365. The art style from the series was also not iconic, blurring with star trek, star wars, halo, pretty much any flashy "sexy" sci fi, so I honestly don't believe they did well if they were indeed going for an iconic, easily recognizable characterization for promotional and brand-recognition purposes. It was too much like everything else.

 

I hope the emphasis on N7 indicates they are trying a new way of branding our character by their role and potential, instead of their pre-defined identity, i.e. a bald military jock underwear model man.

[mrjack]

The solution to this is to make the CC more robust so that you can create a face that is as detailed and interesting as the scanned faces of Sheploo and the main cast. It's totally possible but it all depends on BW's willingness/ability to build it.

 

DAI faces came pretty close. Eyebrows and hair still need work but it's getting there.