Mass Effect 3 Spoiler Thread [Spoiler tag free, beware]

[Venkman]

The single player game was ruined by the ending for me, but despite all my mocking and dislike beforehand the multiplayer has turned out to be one of the best games I've played in years.

Yea if not for GW2 I'd still be playing hours a night. Love ME3 multiplayer. In retrospect, I'm glad I jumped to multiplayer before finishing the single player game. I wanted to hit 100% readiness right around the same time the complaints started, and then they announced the DLC that would flesh it out. After months of MP and other games, I didn't hate the ending (see earlier) probably as much as I coulda had I played it through the first time.

[kaid]

Hehe okay apparently the new DLC is out and apparently there are some Volus character kits available now. Funny thing is they appear to be ultra rare first ultra rare character kits. Probably a good thing as groups of four rolly polly volus would probably hurt my brain. Maybe my dream of an elcore will come true some day.

[Maledict]

Opened 9 packs, got both volus (adept times two) but none of the other new characters or weapons!

[kaid]

I got skunked on the new character kits with like 13 psp. I did get the particle beam thing at rank 3 though lol did get the BF3 skin filled out a bunch of weapons. I finally capped out look options on like 6 different kits I had not capped out yet so that should help my odds going forward.

[Venkman]

New post from Bioware. Wasn't sure if this was common knowledge:

Next Mass Effect installment will be done in Bioware Montreal, not Edmonton, and will use a new version of Frostbite based on improvements the DA3 team have made. Casey Hudon still the overall lead, though day to day Project Director is in Edmonton.

As previously mentioned, new story and characters, so presumably no Master Chief Shephard nor maybe even Normandy.

[Fabricated]

If it involves saving the entire galaxy from another cthulu-thing count me out thanks. I'd settle for actual political intrigue instead of spending another whole series trying to convince the universe Cthulu is real.

[Tannhauser]

Completely agree.  They have a rich universe to tell smaller stories.  Personally, I'd like to see a DLC where they do actual exploring and encounter a new alien civilization, etc.

Been playing this a bit lately.  Such a good game before, you know, London. 

[Venkman]

I agree. But I don't want a "meanwhile in another part of the galaxy" expanded universe story. I want a sequel trilogy that talks about after. Having deja vu but think I wondered about this earlier (and too arsed to scroll down...). Set it far enough in the future that any of the three decisions all evolved to some new fulcrum.

Because making it contemporary just elsewhere automatically means you're not a linchpin in any of the goings on, and have no impact on the outcome. Unless the whole plot is about building the promethean device. Maybe that's secretly what Notch's new game is about 

[Fabricated]

My dream new ME title would be a game that was 40 hours of gameplay like the first citadel part of the first game. I imagine people will recoil in horror at that. A handful of gigantic, super-fleshed out environments- no tiny plot hubs with linear shootemup areas. More character stuff and political intrigue. Shit I'd love a Mass Effect version of Cowboy Bebop or whatever; a poor ass group of bounty hunters bopping around the galaxy in the equivalent of a chevy nova. Let me be legit evil instead of a dickhead goodguy. I dunno, something different, anything, please.

[Ingmar]

Set it far enough in the future that any of the three decisions all evolved to some new fulcrum.

I don't see that being possible without it being so far in the future as to render the whole point of using the setting moot since it will have changed so much. If they do a future setting thing it will have to assume one outcome, I think.

[Venkman]

Way I figure it, something could be like:

• Destroy: civilization eventually makes them again because they didn't evolve fast enough to do the things they had AI doing for them.
• Control: AI still around, got more advanced because now you have Reaper tech.
• Assimilation: It was working fine, and then civilization decided to get more efficient: why have one body when you can have multiples, and yet consciousness can only stretch so far, so they invent autonomous AI-style extensions of individuals.

Outcome: physically separate synthetics and organics, though soon enough to keep things diplomatic. Then introduce some new extra-galactic threat that isn't a full on destroy cycle but something which poses a danger to this balance in a different way.

Plot holes abound and I ain't a writer, but it kinda could be a plausible place to start.

My own wish list would include: larger zones with an Assassins Creed 2 levels of density. I like Fabricated's intrigue/Citadel idea. However, I'd also like space flight this time. For a space game, there just isn't a lot of actual space play.

[Ingmar]

I'd much rather see them set it right after and just assume Destroy (or whatever).

[Reg]

If it doesn't take at least 3 years to make I'll be very dubious.

[Stormwaltz]

Please indulge me my once-a-year charity post.

The third and final Mass Effect Marathon to benefit Child's Play is running this weekend. Donate or Starchildren across the galaxy will die/win/assimilate in a veritable rainbow of colors!

http://masseffectmarathon.com/

[TheWalrus]

Good Guys everywhere need a home! Won't you help?

[rk47]

Playing a C-Sec investigator uncovering a political conspiracy would be a start.
Human supremacist, Krogan revival etc.

CSI - in space.

[Riggswolfe]

About ME4:

Casey Hudson asked for input on Twitter and I said set it post-ME3 so we can see the rebuilding of the galaxy we fought so hard for. If it is a prequel of some kind I doubt I'd be interested at all. Why should I give a shit about fighting in a galaxy whose future is so uncertain? Though, a game centered around the First Contact War has potential I suppose.

[Merusk]

My reply would have been: "If you're asking us it means you're out of grand ideas and this is a money grab so whatever will be done will be half-assed and lacking passion. Thanks for the heads up about not buying a few years in advance!"

[Tannhauser]

My input would be please step down.

[Fabricated]

I'll just say it again:

-Don't force me to be a space marine this time around.
-No fucking space cthulu.

[Venkman]

Just give me some action iiinn sppacceee /muppets. The engine is one art swap away from a fantasy-reskin as far as space was relevant. Kinda like Star Wars 

Not sure I go with the asking questions = idea deficit though. Sometimes companies do that just to generate social metrics that help the marketing and sales types justify additional volume ("lookit all the interest!!11/1") which occasionally gets more resources for the developers. Depends on how closely aligned all groups are though, which of course is an open sore question here.

[rk47]

Casey Hudson asked for input on Twitter

Guess they can do a Reaper-spawn storyline.

[Stormwaltz]

I would be extremely surprised if they didn't already have a story (or several) in mind. This seems more like a barometer check for fan enthusiasm.

[Riggswolfe]

I would be extremely surprised if they didn't already have a story (or several) in mind. This seems more like a barometer check for fan enthusiasm.

I took it as "we're getting pressure from upstairs over that fucking ending to 3. So what do you people want? Tell us so that way when you rage we can say 'we gave them what they wanted, not our fault!"

[Paelos]

Design by committee always has great results. 

[Ingmar]

Calling this design by committee is reading way, way too much into it.

[Ceryse]

So long as they stay the fuck away from anime-style endings I'd give a new ME a shot, even if its just NewShepard kicking ass (although.. they'd have to get a good voice actor for the new protagonist; Jennifer Hale's voice acting made it hard to play male-Shepard due to the difference in quality, at least for me).

Except it'd still be Origin only, so.. yeah.

[rk47]

"Where are we going?"
"Listen carefully. If we should ever become separated, it is imperative that you make your way to the Purgatory. There, you will meet Tali and Liara. They have long been my friends, and you can trust them. Wait! There is something wrong. We are in an ambush. Prepare yourself!"
"Ah, Garrus. You're perceptive for an old man. You know why I'm here. Hand over the ward and nobody gets hurt..."
"Run child! Get out of here!"

*Explosions*

EA presents

Mass Effect 4 : Reaper's Gate

[Fabricated]

The reason I want a political intrigue story or at least one that doesn't have the entire universe at stake is that I'd like to see the Paragon/Renegade thing scrapped to allow for being a good guy or a legit badguy rather than a hero who just so happens to also be an asshole.

[Tannhauser]

I'd like two mini-games.  The first is ship to ship combat, the second is exploration.

The starship combat could involve you upgrading the Normandy and fighting pirates, Cerebus and alien ships.  They could lift their space combat from SWTOR with a few changes and I'd be fine with that.

For exploration, I'd like to see mass relays to unexplored systems where you actually fly between planets, scan them and investigate points of interest.  Basically like ME1 but upgraded with the sucky bits kept out.

For the main quest, please no prequels.  Lets pretend ME3's ending never existed and move forward into their universe.

[Fabricated]

If they pull the Deus Ex 2 shit where somehow all 3 endings happened I'm going to stab someone.

Wipe the slate clean and make Destroy the canon ending. If fanboys cry because EDI and the Geth are gone just retcon some stupid shit in saying "well the destructo ray actually missed them" or something.

[Stormwaltz]

They could lift their space combat from SWTOR with a few changes and I'd be fine with that.

I wouldn't, because that's not how Mass Effect space combat works. That's how Star Wars space combat works. :P

[Venkman]

Hehe so exactly how does Mass Effect space combat work then?

[Ingmar]

"Realistically". In other words, large ships sitting hundreds or thousands of km apart, shooting at each other. No dogfighting, etc.

[Lantyssa]

Until you get to cutscenes.

Also EAWare.