465 réponses à ce sujet

[Sailears]

RandomPot322 wrote...

Curunen wrote...

RandomPot322 wrote...

Curunen wrote...

Voicing my opinion makes me an ****?
I'm not insulting anyone am I?

Well, you didn't voice your opinion.
You basically corrected someone elses to reflect yours. So you an ****.
See, doing that cheeky little Fixed isn't cute, or clever, it's dickish. So yeah. If you had said "ME1 is better then ME2 for the following reasons" you're not an ass. Changing what other people wrote to fit your view makes you an ass.

Ok, let me clear this up.
I thought I was being a little humorous.
I liked how that person had worded their opinion, so honestly I'm hardly deriding it.
I apologise if I seem like a **** to you, but I don't come on message boards trying to provoke conflict.

Yes, humorous, cause i haven't seen that fixed joke done before. Also it certainly doesn't imply that "my opinion is better", oh know, not at all. Yeah, you liked how they worded it, except that it was not about something you liked. So you know, instead of just taking the wording and use it yourself, you quote them, saying what you like. See how that's a little dickish?

Ok, maybe how I see the 'fixed' joke is not how it actually is, and I misinterpreted it's meaning.
What do you want me to do? Am I supposed to do penance for coming across as a ****?
I apologised, I didn't realise my post would provoke this, so can we just leave this be.

[RandomPot322]

Curunen wrote...

Ok, maybe how I see the 'fixed' joke is not how it actually is, and I misinterpreted it's meaning.
What do you want me to do? Am I supposed to do penance for coming across as a ****?
I apologised, I didn't realise my post would provoke this, so can we just leave this be.

Never said you should do penance. Just saying you're acting like one.
Let it be, i have no interest in this back and forth.

[Ozymandias23]

jlb524 wrote...

Wow, people are really missing the OP's point. It's clear that the OP isn't opposed to mature themes and isn't upset that Bioware wanted to show us the darker parts of the galaxy. The OP is just unhappy with the way Bioware did it. Their manner of presenting these things was tasteless and sometimes even offensive. That's the point the OP is making.

Worth posting again I thought.

[Doug84]

I can't tell if this is serious or merely a troll. If its serious, well, ok, thats your opinion, I disagree completely, but its still you're opinion. If a troll, return to the depths of 4chan! Out, demon, out!

[jlb524]

RandomPot322 wrote...

I see, magic words that let me shove my opinion as more important than yours. It doesn't change that the OP is trying to display highly subjective beliefs into an objective light.

Some of you seem to be more offended by the OP expressing an opinion than the OP is at some of the content in the ME2 game.  You're offended by someone being offended. 

So, this tells me there must be something substantial in the OP's opinion.  If not, no one should care about it.

[Lmaoboat]

jlb524 wrote...

RandomPot322 wrote...

I see, magic words that let me shove my opinion as more important than yours. It doesn't change that the OP is trying to display highly subjective beliefs into an objective light.

Some of you seem to be more offended by the OP expressing an opinion than the OP is at some of the content in the ME2 game.  You're offended by someone being offended. 

So, this tells me there must be something substantial in the OP's opinion.  If not, no one should care about it.

Well you're offended by people being offended by people being offended. See where this is going?

[Skilled Seeker]

Who cares if you took offense. Good job Bioware I say. You want a nice happy world go play Barbie or something. The world isn't fair nor PC and I'm glad Bioware had the balls to show that in ME2. I was very impressed by its darker theme when I initially doubted that ME2 would be much darker than the first due to complaints like this one.

[Striker1246]

The OP's most interesting comment was how women were apparently given negative connotations by bioware. This is laughable. Yes, there are alot of asari on omega that are pole dancers and strippers, but guess who is in charge of the whole shibang? an Asari. You found Jacobs loyalty missions sickening? GOOD, thats how Bioware WANTED you to feel. learn the difference between addressing an issue and ignoring one.

[RandomPot322]

jlb524 wrote...

RandomPot322 wrote...

I see, magic words that let me shove my opinion as more important than yours. It doesn't change that the OP is trying to display highly subjective beliefs into an objective light.

Some of you seem to be more offended by the OP expressing an opinion than the OP is at some of the content in the ME2 game.  You're offended by someone being offended. 

So, this tells me there must be something substantial in the OP's opinion.  If not, no one should care about it.

That might make sense if humans were rational. People argue and get offended over unsubstantial things too.
Some people like to get pissy to get pissy. I know I do. And I don't care about the OPs opinion. I care that the OP wants to act like it's objective fact.

[Crowwalker100]

Not every race thinks or has the morals and ethics as humans.. So why do people get so bent out of shape about about how women of another race act etc.. Several times when you talk to Asari matriarchs, Samara and the Bartender in Eternity they both talk about how when the where younger they danced in clubs or where mercs.. Seems to be part of their culture. And the Batarians are suing the Council over their restrictions on slavery, because it is a part of their culture.
It seems even in games we human think our morals, ethics and ways of thinking are suppose to be the right and only way.. Sorry to burst your bubble but if we are not alone in the universe when we do find other life we are going to be in for a big surprise..
But the bottom line is.. This a game, a fantasy game and I enjoyed it more than any other game I have played.. No game is perfect. But this one comes close.

Modifié par Crowwalker100, 03 février 2010 - 05:05 .

[Doug84]

Striker1246 wrote...

The OP's most interesting comment was how women were apparently given negative connotations by bioware. This is laughable. Yes, there are alot of asari on omega that are pole dancers and strippers, but guess who is in charge of the whole shibang? an Asari. You found Jacobs loyalty missions sickening? GOOD, thats how Bioware WANTED you to feel. learn the difference between addressing an issue and ignoring one.

Agreed. Just saying "The Asari are pole dancers, BIOWARE HATES WOMEN" seems alittle odd, given that Asari runs Omega, and the Asari founded the Citadel council with the Salarians. And given the Asari are often shown as leaders and warriors throughout both games.

As for Jacobs mission, also agreed - the whole point was that the situation was for it to be sickening - and to illustraight the corruptions of even small amounts of power.

[Doug84]

Crowwalker100 wrote...

Not every race thinks or has the morals and ethics as humans.. So why do people get so bent out of shape about about how women of another race act etc.. Several times when you talk to Asari matriarchs, Samara and the Bartender in Eternity they both talk about how when the where younger they danced in clubs or where mercs.. Seems to be part of their culture. And the Batarians are suing the Council over their restrictions on slavery, because it is a part of their culture.
It seems even in games we human think our morals, ethics and ways of thinking are suppose to be the right and only way.. Sorry to burst your bubble but if we are not alone in the universe when we do find other life we are going to be in for a big surprise..
But the bottom line is.. This a game, a fantasy game and I enjoyed it more than any other game I have played.. No game is perfect. But this one comes close.

Agreed - And I think the vast range of ethical positions taken by humanity over the course of human history shows its abit silly to even think of applying Western Human values to aliens. If anything, the aliens aren't alien enough to be realistic! (not that I mind - I like the Mass Effect universe as is).

[Melisenta]

In USSR it's been prohibited to publish Bulgakov's "The Master and Margarita" for nearly 20 years. Reasons - offensive *cough* portrayal of a soviet woman (Margarita), sensuality and sexuality being dominant themes in the novel (considered dirty at the time), satanic propaganda and what not... Still, some consider it to be one of the greatest novels of the 20th century...

Just an example.

[RandomPot322]

That anything like Huckleberry Finn being removed from libraries for the N-word?

[Camo5050]

Alright, I'll bite.

I've read the entire thread as it has evolved over the past day or so. And, although I do not share the OP's dislike of the thematic representations, I do have one nagging question about the expressed indignation. Is it possible that you're looking for a sense of cultural edification in the wrong place?

From what I can see, electronic games, by and large, are meant to amuse. On rare occasions they will also provide a sense of bemusement; however this is not typically the nature of this entertainment genre. I'm not saying that the only way to make a successful impact within the genre is to provide a visceral and gritty experience that presents dark and uncomfortable themes, but rather, that electronic gaming media isn't exactly purposed to be a socially edifying genre.

I think what bothers me most about your original post (and perhaps some of your following ones) is that you seem to be asking for Mass Effect 2 to adhere to socially uplifting and personally edifying presentations. To that end, I get the sense that you're feeling as though the writers are pushing some sort of personally held debasement agenda in how they've presented their second installment of the story.

Perhaps it could be that all of the visceral and uncomfortable situations you observed were purposefully presented not for the sake of being vulgar for vulgarity's sake, but rather for the sake of providing a seething setting of corruption and debasement from which a hero can emerge. You said you enjoyed the hero's journey as it was presented in the first title, but perhaps this second installment of the story is typical of trilogy second parters. In that, it's meant to be part of a larger story with a purpose and not just a seeming act of tearing at the sensibilities of personal virtue.

Without getting too much into unnecessary specifics, yes - some of the story writing was uncomfortable and at times very dark. But, I never got the sense that it was presented casually or gratuitously. It all seems to have a purpose in telling a larger story that is not yet finished. However, this strays a bit from my original point. Which is, regardless of the present story here, why are you looking for socially responsible presentation of moral and ethic within a video game?

Given titles like Grand Theft Auto, God of War, Postal and a veritable flood of other games that do indeed present dark and visceral content in a casual and gratuitous way, I'm somewhat surprised when people are upset that a video game didn't present itself as socially responsible, most of which miss that mark entirely. Rather, they are typically a vulgar and amusing form of escapism and base entertainment. Their purpose is to amuse, rather than bemuse.

Is it that you enjoyed the story of the hero's journey so much in it's presentation in the first game that you are disappointed with the story as its evolving thematically? If this is the case, then all I can offer is that it's not over. The story is yet to be complete and I get the distinct impression that this second installment is a prelude to a far more climactic and satisfying end.

All I'm asking is that you take a step back and look at the idea that perhaps the themes that made you uncomfortable and upset were not presented for the sake of just being vulgar, but rather for the sake of attempting to tell a larger story. And, if it turns out that it was indeed vulgar for vulgarity's sake, don't you think you might be barking at the moon just a bit?

Thanks for reading.

Modifié par Camo5050, 03 février 2010 - 07:52 .

[blazer619]

Camo5050 wrote...

Alright, I'll bite.

I've read the entire thread as it has evolved over the past day or so. And, although I do not share the OP's dislike of the thematic representations, I do have one nagging question about the expressed indignation. Is it possible that you're looking for a sense of cultural edification in the wrong place?

From what I can see, electronic games, by and large, are meant to amuse. On rare occasions they will also provide a sense of bemusement; however this is not typically the nature of this entertainment genre. I'm not saying that the only way to make a successful impact within the genre is to provide a visceral and gritty experience that presents dark and uncomfortable themes, but rather, that electronic gaming media isn't exactly purposed to be a socially edifying genre.

I think what bothers me most about your original post (and perhaps some of your following ones) is that you seem to be asking for Mass Effect 2 to adhere to socially uplifting and personally edifying presentations. To that end, I get the sense that you're feeling as though the writers are pushing some sort of personally held debasement agenda in how they've presented their second installment of the story.

Perhaps it could be that all of the visceral and uncomfortable situations you observed were purposefully presented not for the sake of being vulgar for vulgarity's sake, but rather for the sake of providing a seething setting of corruption and debasement from which a hero can emerge. You said you enjoyed the hero's journey as it was presented in the first title, but perhaps this second installment of the story is typical of trilogy second parters. In that, it's meant to be part of a larger story with a purpose and not just a seeming act of tearing at the sensibilities of personal virtue.

Without getting too much into unnecessary specifics, yes - some of the story writing was uncomfortable and at times very dark. But, I never got the sense that it was presented casually or gratuitously. It all seems to have a purpose in telling a larger story that is not yet finished. However, this strays a bit from my original point. Which is, regardless of the present story here, why are you looking for socially responsible presentation of moral and ethic within a video game?

Given titles like Grand Theft Auto, God of War, Postal and a veritable flood of other games that do indeed present dark and visceral content in a casual and gratuitous way, I'm somewhat surprised when people are upset that a video game didn't present itself as socially responsible, most of which miss that mark entirely. Rather, they are typically a vulgar and amusing form of escapism and base entertainment. Their purpose is to amuse, rather than bemuse.

Is it that you enjoyed the story of the hero's journey so much in it's presentation in the first game that you are disappointed with the story as its evolving thematically? If this is the case, then all I can offer is that it's not over. The story is yet to be complete and I get the distinct impression that this second installment is a prelude to a far more climactic and satisfying end.

All I'm asking is that you take a step back and look at the idea that perhaps the themes that made you uncomfortable and upset were not presented for the sake of just being vulgar, but rather for the sake of attempting to tell a larger story. And, if it turns out that it was indeed vulgar for vulgarity's sake, don't you think you might be barking at the moon just a bit?

Thanks for reading.

great post. hope the OP reads this

[Ozymandias23]

Camo5050 wrote...

/snip

All I'm asking is that you take a step back and look at the idea that perhaps the themes that made you uncomfortable and upset were not presented for the sake of just being vulgar, but rather for the sake of attempting to tell a larger story. And, if it turns out that it was indeed vulgar for vulgarity's sake, don't you think you might be barking at the moon just a bit?

Thanks for reading.

Thanks for your comments. I'll keep this short as I'm in work.

Mass Effect 2 is a game that has little or no story, what little plot there is, is significantly inferior to the first game in my opinion. Bioware's goal seems to have been to attract a certain type of audience to this game and from what I can see they have callously used certain historical events for the sole reason of creating a 'dark and edgy' feel. I find that inappropriate and consequently posted my thoughts in this forum.

As for barking at the moon, I choose not to adhere to the school of thought that says 'why bother, what's the point, no one will listen'. I'd rather offer my opinion on something I feel strongly about than remain silent and consequently give the impression that I approve.

[Fhaileas]

Ozymandias23 wrote...

Mass Effect 2 is a game that has little or no story...

"we are agents of the supervillains. and we're doing bad things. oh look. you stopped us. now you're essentially back at the end of ME1... little has changed, other than you have a new crew."

[Nozybidaj]

Fhaileas wrote...

Ozymandias23 wrote...

Mass Effect 2 is a game that has little or no story...

"we are agents of the supervillains. and we're doing bad things. oh look. you stopped us. now you're essentially back at the end of ME1... little has changed, other than you have a new crew."

Really the whole game feels like it was just a big side mission or really expensive DLC instead of an actual sequel to the first game.

[Camo5050]

Ozymandias23 wrote...

Thanks for your comments. I'll keep this short as I'm in work.

Mass Effect 2 is a game that has little or no story, what little plot there is, is significantly inferior to the first game in my opinion. Bioware's goal seems to have been to attract a certain type of audience to this game and from what I can see they have callously used certain historical events for the sole reason of creating a 'dark and edgy' feel. I find that inappropriate and consequently posted my thoughts in this forum.

As for barking at the moon, I choose not to adhere to the school of thought that says 'why bother, what's the point, no one will listen'. I'd rather offer my opinion on something I feel strongly about than remain silent and consequently give the impression that I approve.

Thanks for the reply.

It's not my intention to provide some fatalistic or cynical argument that video games will never change or ever differ in social edification and thus should not be voiced to make an attempt here and there. Instead, I mean to say that given the vast lack of such content or intent, I find your expression of disatisfaction not at all unnecessary but rather perhaps a bit disporportionate considering the genre.  It seems as though you took some of the dark and uncomfortable content expressed in the game a bit personally and found it neither amusing nor bemusing.  Instead it seems to have incited a bit of personal anger on your part.

But, I don't think that even for those that do enjoy the story for how it's been presented that Bioware is asking for our personal approval (silent or otherwise) of the reprehensible actions as portrayed by fictional characters made of pixels.  It's part of a story that does seem to have direction and purpose and not just an incedental gratuitous presentation of debasement and cruelty.  Expressing (or not) that you like or dislike this title really shouldn't be a reflection of personal moral or ethic, nor should it be a litmus as to your approval of base and cruel behavior.  After all, it is a work of adventure fiction, not cultural propaganda.

The expression that Bioware was attempting to attract a "certain type" of audience with ME2's content is true but it's also a somewhat cynical and disparaging expression.  Of course they tailor the product toward an audience and demographic in a manner they feel is compelling, marketable and entertaining.  They want people to want to buy what they're selling.  However the manner in which you express this sentiment seems more intended to be personally disapproving of people who appreciate things that you may not.  If someone can enjoy fictionalized violence and the presentation of dark and visceral entertainment in a way that you may not, it does not necessarily mean that in any way that they're any less capable of personal kindness, generosity, compassion or strong moral and ethical choices regardless of how they're being entertained.  To assume so, seems unnecessarily unkind.

I'm sorry you haven't enjoyed or been entertained by this game.  But, I must point out that as an audience, we're not being asked to personally condone the dark themes of the story as it has been presented.  Rather, we are being asked to be merely an audience.  And as for the diversity of that audience, I hope you'll agree that those that do appreciate it are not just a teeming mass of morally bankrupt or socially stunted individuals.

Modifié par Camo5050, 04 février 2010 - 09:24 .

[Ozymandias23]

As I said



"Mass Effect 2 is a game that has little or no story, what little plot there is, is significantly inferior to the first game in my opinion. Bioware's goal seems to have been to attract a certain type of audience to this game and from what I can see they have callously used certain historical events for the sole reason of creating a 'dark and edgy' feel. I find that inappropriate and consequently posted my thoughts in this forum."

[Average Gatsby]

To the OP: While you may have used plenty of words, you gave almost zero evidence for any of your claims. Your talk about the story having disgusting elements betrays your naivety. Just today on the news it was reported a Turkish girl was buried alive for talking to boys. So when Mass Effect has child experiments and the Asari foolishly stripping for the first couple hundred years of their life, all I can say is drive out of your suburb for a moment and look around at the world you live in.

[AngryTigerP]

Ozymandias23 wrote...

As I said

"Mass Effect 2 is a game that has little or no story, what little plot there is, is significantly inferior to the first game in my opinion. Bioware's goal seems to have been to attract a certain type of audience to this game and from what I can see they have callously used certain historical events for the sole reason of creating a 'dark and edgy' feel. I find that inappropriate and consequently posted my thoughts in this forum."

Funny.

Ever heard of History repeats?

Well-known axiom (okay, perhaps not that definite, but certainly an existant phenomenon). If people are supposed to be so offended and disgusted (such as yourself) by the concept of a 'non-productive' story, what say you of Empire Strikes Back? It's not so much as returning to where they were at the beginning of Ep. IV, so much as continuously losing ground -- Han's been kidnapped, Luke is emotionally torn by the famous realization, the Rebels have no base of operations... Arguably, this is much the same as happened in ME2. For every minor 'victory' (and I would include defeating the Collectors among this, since you do), there remains a massive force of Reapers out there, moving to crush the much-inferior Milky Way.

[Llandaryn]

[quote]Ozymandias23 wrote...

Unfortunately I cannot say the same for Mass Effect 2. I found it crass, tasteless and deeply unpleasant. Bioware seems to have forced every nasty thing they could think of into Mass Effect 2 and in doing so utterly destroyed the feel of the Mass Effect universe. Mass Effect 2 is not a sequel to Mass Effect 1. It is a spin off. The moments where I actually felt I was playing Mass Effect were all too brief.

[/quote]

Evolution.

[quote]

I have never played a Bioware game that had such a weak, threadbare story,

[/quote]

Haven't played the vanilla NWN? For shame.

[quote]

such stilted dialogue or borrowed so heavily from other sources such as Babylon 5, Star Trek, and Terminator etc. The final battle was absurd. I won’t spoil it for anyone who hasn’t played the entire game; all I will say is that a cameo from Governor Schwarzenegger would not have been out of place. It was ridiculous and utterly inferior to the end game of Mass Effect 1 in every possible way.

[/quote]

There are no new ideas in fiction. Everything has been done before. I found the end-game of ME1 to be a let-down. Too easy, too much of a "to be continued".

[quote]

Having Shepard die, be rebuilt and be upgraded throughout the game with more and more synthetic parts was pointless and only served as a flimsy attempt to force the player to accept working with Cerberus.

[/quote]

I thought it was poignant. Then again, I have a very good imagination. I can do things with it. I can work with it. It gives me either a tabula rasa, or something to expand on from ME1.

[quote]

It didn’t work on any level in my opinion. The two year gap was a transparent excuse to off load the original squad mates whose personalities did not fit into the type of game Bioware wanted to make. This might have worked better if they had been replaced by characters with equal charisma. They were not, in my opinion, with the only exception being Legion and EDI.

[/quote]

You jest? Ashley, Kaidan and Liara were generic and boring. Their personal struggles, whilst interesting at the time, quickly grew tired. I'm only half-way through the game, and I don't have all of the team-members yet, but when you compare seriously conflicted characters like Jack and Garrus to characters like Kaidan and Liara... well, there's not much comparison, TBH.

[quote]

Once Shepard was alive again and the Collectors had been identified as the enemy the ‘plot’ then took on the appearance of a grocery list. Gather specialists, do loyalty missions, gather minerals to upgrade the Normandy and then do the final mission. Personally I found it slow moving and monotonous and frankly I was bored.

[/quote]

I found the multiple BG2-style "errand-boy" quests of ME1 to be boring.

[quote]

There were too many new squad mates and it made it difficult to feel any attachment to any of them, even if I had found their personalities appealing, which I didn’t. And whilst the new Normandy was beautiful, I had the overwhelming urge to off load the crew and fumigate the ship.

[/quote]

Shame. I enjoy many of the characters. Mordin is seeminly cold and aloof yet displays sorrow and anger that you wouldn't associate with him unless you get to know him better. Garrus is locked in conflict between wanting to make the galaxy a better place and being angry over the 'injustice' of the Council's law system. Jack puts up an amazing bad-ass front to keep people at several arms' reach, clearly too afraid to let people close to her because of the inevitable using of her. Quite tragic.

[quote]

Though out this period of the game, there was little or no story progression.  The conversations with the squad mates seemed designed to railroad the player into embarking on a new romance. After one conversation with Jacob the flirting and innuendo began, and I could find no dialogue option that simply said I’m not interested. Shepard’s lines were also delivered in a forced flirty tone over which the player was given no control, not one option for her to speak in a normal tone of voice.

[/quote]

I agree that a female Shepard's tone with Jacob is far too coy. But you can always choose renegate options with him, which seem to make him care less about you. Deep down, he wants to be a good guy. He wants the system to work.

[quote]

As for the crew, even the NPCs, speak to them at all and you had to listen to crass, lewd, suggestive comments.

[/quote]

This isn't an Alliance ship anymore. Don't expect people to kiss your feet and throw palm-leaves in front of you wherever you walk.

[quote]

Wander though the bar on Illium and it was the same, crass, tasteless remarks and of course sexual innuendo. Perhaps that is titillating if you’re 15, however as an adult with a life it became incredibly tedious incredibly quickly. Mass Effect 1 didn’t need to resort to this sort of thing to garner sales.

[/quote]

Right. Sha'ira was a figment of my imagination. The title of 'consort' was something I just randomly came up with.

Keeping in mind, we're not in Citadel-run space anymore. Omega, Illium, are fringe societies where almost anything goes. The conversations fit the setting. If you don't like the setting... well, you don't like it. Tough luck.

[quote]

I also found the portrayal of women in Mass Effect 2 offensive at times. On Omega the Asari seemed to have been assigned the role of strippers, pole dancers and prostitutes. There seemed to be a recurring theme that
suggested women were play things, to be used and abused when opportunity permitted.

[/quote]

Whereas in Chora's Den, the scantily-clad Asari dancers were there to dispense wisdom.

[quote]

This theme carried through to Jacob’s loyalty mission, a mission that I found disturbing on an emotional level and absolutely sickening.

In that mission we were presented with a scenario where a ship had crash landed, the captain had separated out the female crew members and placed them in a camp. He then gave these women to his officers to be used
as play things. The idea was horrific. Perhaps Bioware feel that the suggestion of rape is suitable content for their ‘dark and edgy’ video game but I don’t.  It was uncalled for and I found it sickening and disturbing. For me it evoked parallels with some of the atrocities carried out in ‘camps’ across Europe during World War 2.

This feeling continued into Subject Zero’s loyalty mission where we’re provided with a story about the abuse of children. Children bought or stolen, ripped away from home and family, transported to a facility in crates, half starved and experimented upon, injected with substances to see what effect it would have.

[/quote]

My game box has an age-rating of 15. I don't expect to play The Sims, where you can simply wander off with your love-interest and then randomly have a stork deliver a baby. This isn't Disney. Why gloss things over? Life can be really crap for a lot of people.

It's poignant. The game is delivering a message. "Hey, we're 150 years in the future. We've advanced our technology, extended our lives, and kicked alien ass. But we're still just human. Look at the despicable stuff we're capable of. Don't let it come to this."

Seriously. Jack's story is the key to understanding her. Without her loyalty mission, you think "God, what a ****." Then you visit the place, see the blood stains, see the world through the eyes of a terrified child, and suddenly you understand what it's like to be Jack. Remember, it wasn't Gene Roddenberry who wrote this game.

[quote]

The parallels with history are hard to ignore. The children of Bullenhuser Damm, brought from Auschwitz to Neuengamme for experimentation.  Is this really suitable for inclusion in something that is supposed to be a source of entertainment?

[/quote]

Maybe we should ignore them, instead. Ingorance is bliss, after all. Also, boycott any books that detail this sort of stuff. Books, as a source of entertainment, should be all about fluffy bunnies and evil witches being shoved into ovens by ginger-bread kids.

[quote]

I remember watching the E3 reveal trailer and Derek Watts, the art director, talking about how nasty ME2 was in parts and asking his colleagues ‘have we gone too far?’.  Well my answer would be yes, you did.

[/quote]

Nope. ME1 was candy. ME2 reveals a dystopia, a hidden underworld, hiding behind the façade of Coruscant.

[quote]

Why would this make her a freak? Why? Intentional or not, there is a suggestion there of homophobia.

[/quote]

It's a young girl, afraid and alone, questioning her sexuality. Nowhere does it suggest that homophobia has been wiped out in 2183.

[quote]

Ultimately I loved Mass Effect 1 and I want to genuinely thank Bioware for producing such a fantastic game that gave me many hours of enjoyment.  As for Mass Effect 2, it has been a disappointment on almost every level.  Its tone, the story quality, the squad mates, all vastly inferior to Mass Effect 1 in my opinion. I’m afraid it has killed this IP for me and I truly regret my decision to purchase it.

[/quote]

Hope ME3 doesn't become bubble-gum flavoured crap.

Modifié par Llandaryn, 06 février 2010 - 12:28 .

[Rilke21]

Camo5050 wrote...

 Is it possible that you're looking for a sense of cultural edification in the wrong place?

I hope not. Video games have always had the potential to engage and immerse an audience in ways that other media can't. Developers tend to think about their bottom line, but games like Mass Effect are starting to bridge the gap between entertainment and art. Compared to most of what`s on the market Mass Effect 2 is hardly a bad game, but it`s very bad art.

I share the OP`s concearns about the sexual politics in the game. A male paragon Shepard is offered sex twice within 2 minutes of stepping foot on Illium. Is this really necessary? It does nothing to add to the story, and it actually takes away from any sense of realism. On a side note, isn't it interesting that BioWare games are starting to include lesbian love interests, but male Shepard is about as hetero as you can get? (Or IS he...Susanna Patchouli, anyone?)