BioWare: Next Mass Effect Isn't Mass Effect 4

[Headbiter]

No dude, what Chris Priestly describes there is a spin-off.

For starters, I don't think you know what the words "edgy" or "bizarre" mean. Same goes for the appropriate usage of "son".

Second, the assessment above is interesting, since he didn't just say that Sheppard wouldn't be there, he basically called 'everything' into question. In the first paragraph of the article no less. Again, attentive readership. And considering your self-made definition, Star Trek would actually be a Spin-Off, with Leonard Nimoy playing 'the' Spock and so on.

And last but not least: It doesn't matter (at least not to my statement) wether it's a spin-off, a reboot, a sequel or a bloody "reimagining". The point, again, is that this is nothing but a sodding marketing stunt, where ultimately a lot of space is used to make no statement at all. And such an approach is, according to my experience, rarely a good sign, particulary considering who is making that statement.
Again, this is not about "taking away your pwecious Mass Effect", it was simply poking fun at a - for me at least - blatantly transparent marketing practice and the ridiculousness of avoiding the simple statement "Well, it will have nothing to do with the old Mass Effect, really, but we stick with the title since established franchises are dandy."

 

[kael013]

[quote/]"I see people saying 'well, they'll have to pick a canon ending'," he wrote. "No, because the game does not have to come after. Or before. Or off to the side. Or with characters you know. Or yaddayaddayadda. Wherever, whenever, whoever, etc will all be revealed years down the road when we actually start talking about it."[/quote]

So the next Mass Effect game likely won't be a sequel (yay!). A prequel is also looking unlikely. I doubt we'll be making a midquel either. In fact, I doubt any character you're familiar with will return in the next game. Now NO MORE SPECULATING FROM ANYONE! We don't want you hyping yourselves up for a new game, that's our marketing department's job!

OK, in all seriousness, aside from the "we're not ready to tell you anything about this game" line that I mocked above, I like this. It means they're looking at ME like a writer looks at Star Trek or Star Wars - a vast universe with lots of potential stories that aren't directly related to Shepard. Let's hope they don't botch this.

 

[Tradjus]

Unless this game is taking place in another -Galaxy-, everything this guy is saying is Bull.
If it is going to take place at any point in time after the conclusion of the trilogy, they'll have to pick a canon ending to Shepard's story. Since they're shying away from that, it'll obviously be a game set either concurrently to Shepard's story or at some point in time before it.
My vote is for the first contact war and Humanity's entry into the galactic stage, they touched on it in the novels but there's plenty of material there for combat and politics, my two favorite things in games.

 

[infohippie]

I want to look forward to this, I have been a Bioware fan for a long time, but... I now view their titles with trepidation. DA2 and ME3 have taught me to no longer buy anything Bioware write on the first day. Let it sit a month and see what the general reaction is. I have no desire to waste more money, especially at the bullshit Australian prices.

 

[templar1138a]

There's a word for a non-sequel/prequel: Companion piece.

For those who aren't clear on what that is, here is another set of companions pieces within one universe.
Star Trek
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Enterprise

I would definitely like to see a Mass Effect game built as a companion piece. I'd certainly be interested if they made one based in the First Contact War.

 

[bl4ckh4wk64]

I'm sorry, but this isn't really breaking news. It's been going around that the 4th Mass Effect game would have nothing to do with Shepard since the 2nd game. It's nice that there's some confirmation, but it shouldn't be some new groundbreaking statement. I think it's more time to speculate on what it's going to be about.

I, for one, would definitely love some sort of game about the First Contact War. That would just make my year.

 

[VoidWanderer]

If anyone weants me, I'll be digging two graves. One for Bioware, once EA has 'finished' with them. The other will be for the games that people actually want from Bioware.

*Walks out grumbling something about Spirit Monks, while draggin a shovel*

 

[VoidWanderer]

No dude, what Chris Priestly describes there is a spin-off.

For starters, I don't think you know what the words "edgy" or "bizarre" mean. Same goes for the appropriate usage of "son".

Second, the assessment above is interesting, since he didn't just say that Sheppard wouldn't be there, he basically called 'everything' into question. In the first paragraph of the article no less. Again, attentive readership. And considering your self-made definition, Star Trek would actually be a Spin-Off, with Leonard Nimoy playing 'the' Spock and so on.

And last but not least: It doesn't matter (at least not to my statement) wether it's a spin-off, a reboot, a sequel or a bloody "reimagining". The point, again, is that this is nothing but a sodding marketing stunt, where ultimately a lot of space is used to make no statement at all. And such an approach is, according to my experience, rarely a good sign, particulary considering who is making that statement.
Again, this is not about "taking away your pwecious Mass Effect", it was simply poking fun at a - for me at least - blatantly transparent marketing practice and the ridiculousness of avoiding the simple statement "Well, it will have nothing to do with the old Mass Effect, really, but we stick with the title since established franchises are dandy."

Actually, Star Trek can't be a reboot as the ORIGINAL continuity had to exist because of the fundamental changes. It is new history. Because (original) Spock was involved in the original timeline and the new one, any "It's a reboot" arguements are illogical.

 

[Callate]

Bioware's people have difficulty communicating with the public...? That's not exactly news.

It would be lovely to see a story in the ME universe that doesn't require saving it, but I genuinely wonder if Bioware is capable of such a feat right now. I get the impression they've gotten very mixed messages out of the reception for Dragon Age 2.

 

[Bocaj2000]

Am I the only one around here actually excited about this?

 

[daibakuha]

No dude, what Chris Priestly describes there is a spin-off.

For starters, I don't think you know what the words "edgy" or "bizarre" mean. Same goes for the appropriate usage of "son".

Second, the assessment above is interesting, since he didn't just say that Sheppard wouldn't be there, he basically called 'everything' into question. In the first paragraph of the article no less. Again, attentive readership. And considering your self-made definition, Star Trek would actually be a Spin-Off, with Leonard Nimoy playing 'the' Spock and so on.

And last but not least: It doesn't matter (at least not to my statement) whether it's a spin-off, a reboot, a sequel or a bloody "re-imagining". The point, again, is that this is nothing but a sodding marketing stunt, where ultimately a lot of space is used to make no statement at all. And such an approach is, according to my experience, rarely a good sign, particularly considering who is making that statement.
Again, this is not about "taking away your pwecious Mass Effect", it was simply poking fun at a - for me at least - blatantly transparent marketing practice and the ridiculousness of avoiding the simple statement "Well, it will have nothing to do with the old Mass Effect, really, but we stick with the title since established franchises are dandy."

They've been saying for months, if not years, that Shepard's story is done with Mass Effect 3 and that he will not be returning to the franchise. So the fact that you even bring up the possibility makes me question your ability to read and understand the news.

and if anyone is turning this into a marketing stunt it's the fucking news sites that want to cover this non-news story as news. On the "rarely a good sign" bit, there you go again judging the game before we even know anything about it.

Tell me, how do you get away with insulting every person who calls you out on bullshit without incurring moderator wrath?

 

[Lothreia]

Maybe they will show the events leading after shepard's choice, and the inherent problems that lay within each choice and you will be a new character who has the chance to deal with those problems with at best a passing nod to our dear commander.

Or maybe they will think they need another gold plated airplane and give us Shepard May Cry: The Younger Years.

 

[Lothreia]

Apologies for the double post.

 

[Aggieknight]

I hate admitting it, but I'm still bitter over the ending. That was what...11 months ago?

I just can't convince myself to replay it. I know how much fun the first 85% of the game was, but it just...

Sorry, EA. Can't do it. Direct sequel or in the ME universe, not gonna get me. I feel the same way about Dragon Age 2, so maybe I'm just turning into a bitter old man (the old part is true).

 

[Zen Toombs]

"I see people saying 'well, they'll have to pick a canon ending'," he wrote. "No, because the game does not have to come after. Or before. Or off to the side. Or with characters you know. Or yaddayaddayadda. Wherever, whenever, whoever, etc will all be revealed years down the road when we actually start talking about it."

Brilliant.

This is exactly what I said they should do if they made another game, if they wanted to make it work.

This is reassuring news.


Can't wait

I love your optimism, truly.

As for me, I'm in the "wait and see" camp.

 

[Kaymish]

well im excited about it well ok excited is a bit too far more like mildly interested i have managed to block the story of 3 out ...mostly i still get nightmares about plot holes coming to eat me.... anyway still gonna wait a few weeks after relese to see what the clowns at bioware will do with this one

 

[Phlakes]

You know what I think I'll do for this game?

Not go anywhere near people talking about it.

I think this time I'll just sit back and let myself enjoy it without the EA hatewagon screaming in the background.

And it will be glorious.

EDIT: I'd actually suggest that to all you people out there. It's amazing how much less you hate things when you're not going out of your way to hate things.

 

[Vegosiux]

They've been saying for months, if not years, that Shepard's story is done with Mass Effect 3 and that he will not be returning to the franchise. So the fact that you even bring up the possibility makes me question your ability to read and understand the news.

So they wasted a bit of time and space to say nothing new. That's um...a rather ordinary thing to do in PR and advertising and nothing to get one's knickers in a twist over, that I agree with.

Well; all I have to say at this point is that I shall be keeping a keen and vigilant eye on this (I'll need it back later, mind), but that I do have some trust issues with BW/EA, so I'm a bit lukewarm about the whole thing.

 

[Nantucket_v1legacy]

Is it wrong that I sort of hope it's a tiny-iny bit like Dragon Age: Origins? Just so I can create and play as a Krogan.

 

[Xanex]

I'm not so much in the wait-and-see camp, but more in the wait-and-rent camp. I've decided I'm not going to pre-order or buy Bioware games at launch anymore but rent and see if it's worth buying. After the last few burns thats where I'm at.