Lotus72 wrote...
Been following this thread for just a month. So my apologies in case the following was
discussed already. Replaying/probing some of the alternative cut scenes with
her here are my thoughts about her reappearance in ME3:
No apologies required. Most newcomers wouldn't bother reading through a bunch of old threads anyway.
If Sheps answer at the last conversation goes along the ‘glad-we’re-friends’ route, her
answer is ‘call upon me for aid anytime after this. I will come for you’.
Indeed
I think Bioware used Kasumi’s voice to indicate quite clearly that they do NOT plan to
have her as a LI in ME3 – Kasumis statement was actually quite strong in case
you went the attempted LI path. Kasumi was also used in other instances to
voice Bioware’s opinions (in my view). So this does not bode well for
those hoping for a ME3 or romance pack LI … 
But the character may still return even without being an actual LI (in the usual sense, anyway). That would depend on a players interpretation of what is a LI. There's a couple of discussion well worth the read on this topic.
In any case - and despite Bioware’s statements that ME always being planned as trilogy - (Matrix trilogy come to mind as mentioned in other threads): I think they made ME much more of a stand-alone RPG. If it wouldn’t have been as successful as it was, the story would have ended right there.
A reasonable approach for a new, starting franchise. We can argue that, at this time, the ME franchise is a winning proposition who's commercial success is pretty much garranteed. Bioware would have to REALLY screw-up to lose money on ME3. Somehow I don't think they will...
ME2 and ME3 seem to be parts of the same story albeit with different focus. ME2 being the ‘build team’ part, ME3 focusing on the actual mission. So also from that point of view I see options having all surviving team members re-appear in ME3 - and not just as cameos.
There are good arguments either way, but I share your interpretation. I think ME3 is going to be designed as a standalone game for new players but can still bring the ME2 team back. Arguments based on the cost of voice acting are not strong enough: the canon team for ME3 can include everyone for new players, most ME2 players will have at least one playthrough with the No One Left Behind achievement. Characters will be re-introduced with slightly different cutscenes for imported characters (à la Horizon/Tuchanka), with only a couple of extra sequences (like Ashley/Kaidan's hug and reference of Illos) being required to change the "feel" of the scene. It actually makes a Samara romance easier to build up in ME3, as there is none to start with.
BTW - and pure speculation: my impression was also that Samara’s role could have been an attempt at catering more towards ‘older’ players. Why? Her role is very recognisable by those playing traditional/old-style RPGs (lawful neutral (FW:good, if you played in AD&D in the early 90's) Pallies etc.). Her story could make her somewhat believable for those who’ve progressed a bit further in life - and perhaps experienced similar situations. Of course without the killing bit in the end 
. Similar to Thane btw.
And I know quite a few age 40 + players who got very interested in the father-son /mother-daughter backgrounds of those 2. At the same time those folks totally dismissed someone like Tali as ‘kiddie stuff’ or ‘immature’.
Mmm... Being a 45-year old father, I can say I sympathize with these characters but I think players in their 20's can like them too. We may see them differently, however. For example, I've never seen Tali as an LI, because I have this image in my mind of a kid sister to Shepard (like Imoen, in BG). She comes off as way too young... heck I have stepdaughters her age!
So I love the character, just not in a romantic perspective.
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