FemShep's Voice Actress Talks Mass Effect 3 Ending

[Hevva]

FemShep's Voice Actress Talks Mass Effect 3 Ending

Jennifer Hale, the voice of Mass Effect's Commander Shepard, has revealed that we won't be hearing new lines from the Commander anytime soon.

Whether you spent Mass Effect liaising with aliens in a male or a female body, the name Jennifer Hale hopefully means something to you. As the woman who voiced Ms. Commander Shepard for all three games, Hale developed as strong a connection to the Commander as many of her fans did. With the trilogy now at an end, Hale has revealed that she too misses Shepard - and that she hasn't been informed of any future plans for the character which would require her voice.

Talking about the prospect of Commander Shepard's story being truly over in an interview with Edge [http://www.edge-online.com/news/jennifer-hale-weighs-mass-effect-3s-ending], Hale said, "I prefer to live in denial about it because it makes me too sad."

Hale added that she would be more than happy to lend her talents to the role in the future if developer BioWare asked her to. At time of writing, however, Hale says that she has not been approached for any work by the studio and knows nothing about the controversy [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/116438-BioWare-Co-Founder-Promises-Closure-For-Mass-Effect-3] over Mass Effect 3's ending.

It would appear that Hale does not envy the writers tasked with the challenge of bringing an end to the series which would satisfy all of its fans. "I have mixed feelings about [the prospect of a new ending]," said Hale. "I really respect the team and what they did and how hard they worked. And endings are hard! They're cutting new ground; the players are so involved in this game that to come up with an ending to something everyone's got their hand in is a huge challenge...Maybe it's going to take a little work to get everything sorted in a way that's going to make everybody happy."

"I was surprised about the level of passion about the ending," added Hale. "But there's something really great about that, too: It says people are invested and they really care and they don't want to let go, which is awesome because I don't, either."

When asked if she had any ideas on how the series should, could, or will conclude, Hale admitted, "I don't know. Thank God I'm not a writer!"

While it's not surprising that Hale hasn't been called back to record more lines for Commander Shepard, the news is a little disappointing in its own way. Many fans hold her performance in the games up as a highlight (personal favorite: "What do you need me to do?"). What's the deal with this post-ending content if Commander Shepard isn't in it? Or maybe she is, and Hale's just obeying the terms of a non-disclosure agreement or similar. Either way, one thing remains clear: Not even Commander Shepard envies the predicament facing BioWare's writing team.


Source: Edge [http://www.edge-online.com/news/jennifer-hale-weighs-mass-effect-3s-ending]


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[Saviordd1]

Well...there go my hopes and dreams of the series getting fixed.

Time to never buy from bioware again.

 

[Zen Toombs]

This one finds it unlikely that Jennifer Hale would speak of the subject at all of she was "just obeying the terms of a non-disclosure agreement".

I also have an issue with something she said: that it would be hard to make everyone happy with the ending to a series as loved as Mass Effect. While it would be hard to make EVERYONE happy (we have more than a few mad people in our player base), it should have been easy enough to make a halfway decent ending. All of the resources were there - show scenes in the background of our War Assets doing stuff, when the army amasses at the Sol Relay, have there be more variation than "did you save the Destiny Assention or not?", have our War Assets help in some way that is beyond in the background. Oh, and keep the writers from taking a page out of the worst of M. Night Shyamalan's work.

Note: Much love and appreciation to Jennifer Hale for her work for [fem]Shep. Her work has been fantastic.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Well, it's not like she's going to be short for work without Femshep. Still, she's offered more clarity than Bioware has, and I applaud her for being blunt about it.

 

[martyrdrebel27]

""I was surprised about the level of passion about the ending," added Hale. "But there's something really great about that, too: It says people are invested and they really care and they don't want to let go, which is awesome because I don't, either.""

my god, another person that just DOESN'T GET IT! it's NOT that we don't want to let go, it's NOT that we want an ending that will satisfy everyone. WE JUST want an ending that makes sense, that doesn't break the lore entirely, and that ACTUALLY gives a little closure.

 

[Korten12]

No offense, but is it just me or is that picture really really creepy?

Also this sucks. D:

 

[Awexsome]

I've always loved Hale's work. Femshep is one of her most famous roles but I'll always attribute that voice to my most favorite character ever.

Spoiler

 

[Kapol]

I'm not going to comment about the ending because I'm not stupid and know what I'd say would bring me into an arguement I don't want to waste my time with. I will, however, say that that picture makes her look completely insane to me. That isn't sarcastic. That picture makes her look as though she's plotting the murder of those who look at it.

 

[Frostbite3789]

""I was surprised about the level of passion about the ending," added Hale. "But there's something really great about that, too: It says people are invested and they really care and they don't want to let go, which is awesome because I don't, either.""

my god, another person that just DOESN'T GET IT! it's NOT that we don't want to let go, it's NOT that we want an ending that will satisfy everyone. WE JUST want an ending that makes sense, that doesn't break the lore entirely, and that ACTUALLY gives a little closure.

And you 150% missed the point of her quote. You're being applauded and you still complain.

 

[Zhukov]

Well, if they don't need her to do voiceovers they could put her in charge of PR.

Seriously, there is someone who knows how to give a diplomatic answer, and I don't mean that as a jibe.

Although that picture makes her look like she's about to stab someone.

 

[PrinceOfShapeir]

""I was surprised about the level of passion about the ending," added Hale. "But there's something really great about that, too: It says people are invested and they really care and they don't want to let go, which is awesome because I don't, either.""

my god, another person that just DOESN'T GET IT! it's NOT that we don't want to let go, it's NOT that we want an ending that will satisfy everyone. WE JUST want an ending that makes sense, that doesn't break the lore entirely, and that ACTUALLY gives a little closure.

RAAAAAAAAAAEG

Seriously, read what she says before you flip your shit.

 

[Flailing Escapist]

Much respect Jenny and Ima let you finish but:

-endings aren't that hard to write, even Casey Hudson can do it
-I don't think anyone is "passionate" about the ending because the couldn't let go, they're passionate because it sucks
-what writers? I thought all the good ones left or weren't involved

"the players are so involved in this game that to come up with an ending to something everyone's got their hand in is a huge challenge"

-you don't mean to tell me they didn't think about this before the released da game! oh noes!
-Finished Eternal Darkness last night, saw you voiced Alex. Nice

Please continue

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

No no no. Not this again. The ending is what it is. Accept it. I also accept and understand why people are bitching and moaning about the ending, i also wasnt that happy about it. But also I dont want changes made for the sake of changes. I dont need bullshit written just because fans are unhappy. You played all three games, do you really need to be spoon fed what happened to Grunt or Garrus? What if what they say happened to Grunt doesnt match what Grunt was to you? What if Grunt opens a flower shop on earth and gives up fighting?

Thing is everyone has a different take on the characters. You had a male and female shep. Also you could date different character that could be straight or gay dependant on your choices. You could also date 3 different characters over the games or stay loyal to the one character in ME1. Some characters you were more friendly to than others. Im sorry but there are way to many variables to make an ending to keep everyone happy, use your imagination.

As for choices, people bring up "Oh my choices i made didnt matter to the ending", guess what, non e of your choices matter in all 3 games, only cosmetically so. Any character that died in ME2 is replaced with a substitute in ME3, same as Wrex was replaced in ME2 with that other Krogan. In ME3 there is a Rachni Queen regardless that you killed the last one in ME1, that event alone told me that choices didn't matter. Having Conrad, the reporter or random characters from ME1 or 2 pop up isnt choice as they don't matter to the game.

All i want is a dlc addon in which you can discover what happened after ME3, i would be fine with. What happened to earth and the other aliens and characters, even if it was heard in conversations or data logs and emails. Mostly i want a final fight with Harbinger as he was your main protagonist in ME2 and The Arrival dlc - we should of had to fight him to get to the choices we wanted.

I think the endings were cheaply done and would have been better received if all looked different. I think they should have had you talking to Harbinger instead of starchild - that would have made things better, you dont add new characters at the end of a trilogy. If Harbinger stated he respected you for getting this far, further than every other race and decided to speak to you as an equal. Told you what was happening and which race he used to be and maybe he is happy as a Reaper? Then offered the choice, then maybe things would be different.

But for me, even with changes and new DLC they will not keep everyone happy. We all have imagination, we all have different ideas on the characters based on the choices we made in the game. Im sure there will be official add ons that explain stuff if you give them time and maybe books that will explain stuff. Maybe a new ME game set in the universe as it was after ME3 but will have information on the aftermath and mention the characters.

Give it time people. Bitching and moaning will just get you another rushed and shitty ending. An i know you dont want that.

 

[Zhukov]

But also I dont want changes made for the sake of changes.

Nobody wants changes for the sake of changes.

People want changes for the sake of improvement.

What if Grunt opens a flower shop on earth and gives up fighting?

That would be awesome.

 

[Fr]anc[is]

I'm really gonna miss Femshep. So many renegade interrupts, so much shouting, so much awesome. I look forward to the day TOR goes free to play so I can basically do the same thing as a trooper.

 

[CrazyGirl17]

Good for her. Jennifer Hale is one of my all-time favorite voice actresses ever, so it was good she was able to do this role.

Again, I'm forcing myself to deal with the ending, with no comments on whether or not the ending deserves changing. It's over, people, deal with it.

 

[Fappy]

While this news is pretty much more poop on the poop-filled parade I am happy to see someone involved with the game who is treating the fans with respect. You go Hale!