BioWare Splits Difference with Reversible FemShep Mass Effect 3 Cover

Greg Tito

PR for Dungeons & Dragons
Sep 29, 2005
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BioWare Splits Difference with Reversible FemShep Mass Effect 3 Cover

After the brouhaha over the female Commander Shepard, BioWare ships ME3 with a reversible cover page.

Like many games, Mass Effect allowed the player to select the sex of the protagonist. While the number of players that played with a female Shepard may have been less than the male counterpart, those who did select what the default FemShep would look like [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/111732-BioWare-Exec-Blown-Away-By-Support-for-Mass-Effects-FemShep], but still more fans were upset that the Shepard on the cover of the Mass Effect would have a different sex of their beloved heroine. BioWare revealed today that all copies of Mass Effect 3 ship with a reversible sleeve so that, if you so chose, you could proudly display your preferred sex on the cover of your game.


Continuing with the current trend in console games, you also will get several slips of paper with codes printed on them to enter when you get the game. BioWare Edmonton Marketing Director David Silverman cheerfully explains there's an online pass needed for multiplayer, a Kingdoms of Amalur tie-in outfit and two free days of Xbox Gold. You know, at first I didn't have a problem with all of this day-one stuff, but having consumers enter three codes when they just want to start playing is pretty lame.

Still, the executives at BioWare get my respect for putting their money where their mouth is. Printing double-sided covers with both male and female Shepards on every standard copy of ME3 is not a small expense. That they did so just to appease a tiny but vocal group of fans was a great PR move.

Now, if only people stopped crucifying poor Jennifer Hepler. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/115950-BioWare-Supports-Beleaguered-Writer]

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Vrach

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Jun 17, 2010
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Cool - I hope they don't make all copies with maleShep as default though, would be nice to see femShep on the shelves (imagine it would attract some buyers as well [in the "female protagonist on the front cover", not the "eye candy cover" way)
 

vrbtny

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Sep 16, 2009
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Well..... this is kinda cool.

Good job, Bioware. Femshep 4 l1f3!!!
 
Dec 14, 2009
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Still kind of disappointed that the place I buy my games from weren't stocking the CE of this game.

I refuse to buy from GAME though, it's a matter of principle.
 

Vuljatar

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Sep 7, 2008
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Huh. That's cool I guess.

Too bad I hate the "official female Shepard". She's too young.
 

Jaeke

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Feb 25, 2010
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I don't like the femshep that they ended up choosing for default but that is a damn good idea. good job EA (for once)
 

mad825

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Mar 28, 2010
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Some people are easily pleased.

Kinda makes you think why it should even matter. In the world of Freud, we can now say that digital female avatars have their very own penises.
 

Fappy

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Jan 4, 2010
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Jaeke said:
I don't like the femshep that they ended up choosing for default but that is a damn good idea. good job EA (for once)
I liked the femshep that won the vote... didn't really like how it was adapted in the actualy game >.>
 

Bolt-206

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Dec 6, 2010
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Wow, that's something you don't see often...
When was the last time I saw something like this... Was it with Halo Wars (SE), or Dawn of War: Dark Crusade?
 

AnarchistFish

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Jul 25, 2011
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Does this online pass code mean only one person out of my brother and I will be able to play multiplayer, since we share the same 360 and all its games?
 

Ilikemilkshake

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Jun 7, 2010
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AnarchistFish said:
Does this online pass code mean only one person out of my brother and I will be able to play multiplayer, since we share the same 360 and all its games?
Like with most things that come with codes, im guessing it'll be tied to one account.
So if you and your brother share the same XBL account then you wont have a problem, if not i think one of you will have to buy a new code to play the multiplayer.

OT: Yay Femshep.. its always jarring for me when i see ads or even look at the cover of my ME games and see a character that isnt in my game (obviously its not a dealbreaker or anything) so this is nice

Im guessing the fact that they havent got a physical manual makes up for the cost of the double sided cover.
 

Ferisar

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Oct 2, 2010
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Time to wait some time and sneak around my local game store switching pictures around.
 

ShadowsofHope

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Nov 1, 2009
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To be honest, the FemShep model when it is created In Game is ugly. On the cover, it doesn't look too bad, but stil..

It can never replace my personal FemShep, however. And no, I don't have screenshots at this time.
 
Mar 26, 2008
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While I'm MaleShep all the way I think it's great that they've included an equal option for thos who choose FemShep. Well played Bioware.
 

scnj

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Nov 10, 2008
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The cover isn't really important, but as a FemShep fan I'm pleased the option's there.
 

Vulpis

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Jan 18, 2011
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They'd better check those pack-in codes with a fine-tooth comb. Imagine if *those* get screwed up, as they have with some other games...