New BioWare Clue Seems Fishy

Logan Westbrook

Transform, Roll Out, Etc
Feb 21, 2008
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New BioWare Clue Seems Fishy

The latest clue for BioWare's mysterious game announcement is just a decoy. Probably.

What do you do when you're given a clue you know is a red herring? Do you disregard it as the distraction it ostensibly is, or do you examine it more closely to see if it has any hidden significance? That's the question that BioWare is posing to its fans, following the release of yet another clue for its mysterious new game, one that couldn't be more of a red herring if it tried.

The clue arrived in the usual manner, via a grid barcode on the BioWare Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/BioWare] page, which held a binary code, which - when converted into regular text - contained a website address, which led to a stock photo site, and specifically to a picture of a fish [http://hypermania.photoshelter.com/image/I00005rhglS9.5nw]. As you may have already guessed, the fish - not the one seen above, by the way - was a herring, and one with a distinctly red hue. This brings us back to the original question of what you do with a clue that you know is a red herring.

It's possible that it genuinely is a red herring - the kind you ignore, that is - designed to get people speculating about what it could mean. It's also possible that it signifies that one of the previous clues [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/105477-BioWare-Drops-Another-Hint] - which were the lowest temperature ever recorded on Earth, at the Vostock station in Antarctica, the atomic mass of iron, the British Secret Intelligence Service, and a collection of singles by The Clash [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/105650-London-Calling-With-a-Fresh-Clue-for-BioWares-New-Game] - should be disregarded. It could also be a genuine clue, but one that BioWare wants people scratching their heads over more than usual.

The secret will finally be revealed at the Spike Videogame Awards on December 11th, provided that a Russian balbbermouth hasn't actually spoiled [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/105493-Sony-Russia-Claims-BioWare-Reveal-Is-Mass-Effect-3] it for everyone already.




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Aug 25, 2009
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I'm tempted to call this a double bluff.

They know people will assume that with a red herring they're trying to lead them astray, so will put a lot of thought into it, when instead it really is a red herring. Which is why this is in fact a perfect red herring, because it's being attributed more importance than it has, something which a red herring does, and yet has no significance.

They are lampshading the entire process and form of red herrings for all time. This is the best clue yet, and it isn't even a clue. This is also the best example of a red herring ever, because it uses the fact that it is a red herring to make people suspect it isn't.

That's my guess.
 

ImprovizoR

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Dec 6, 2009
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I think the red haring thing was funny. But I really don't believe they were doing all that stuff to troll us. Something is up and I hope it's Mass Effect related.
 

Duruznik

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Aug 16, 2009
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So, the question is: Is this red herring a red herring, does it signify a red harring, or is it merely a red herring?

Ow, my head.
 

Shycte

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Mar 10, 2009
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I just start thinking of Ten little Soldier Boys, damn. It would seem Christie has scared me for life...
 

Lawnmooer

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Apr 15, 2009
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Wow, freaky... Last night I watched a programme that was talking about red herrings... I also discussed them with my brother...

Could be to do with an crime based RPG?
 

sooperman

Partially Awesome at Things
Feb 11, 2009
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That one's a head-scratcher. I should hope that the new game isn't Mass Effect 3, though. If it is Mass Effect 3, there isn't any reason to be so secretive about it. At least, not that I can think of.
 

CleverCover

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Nov 17, 2010
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As long as it's awesome, I could really care less about trying to figure it out.
Although...if it points to a new ME2 explansion or a VS DLC...I'd totally still wait to see what it is on tv.
 

GeorgW

ALL GLORY TO ME!
Aug 27, 2010
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Man, I love Bioware!
They are just having fun, watching us squirm, and I love it!
 

Andronicus

Terror Australis
Mar 25, 2009
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If it turns out to be an RPG in which you take the role of a fish, then colour me interested.
 

Shycte

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Mar 10, 2009
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If it were Mass Effect 3, why make such a big fuss over it. Everyone knows that it's on it's way. I will be dissapointed if it is ME3....
 

Polaris19

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Aug 12, 2010
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Damn you Bioware! Stop teasing me...

Shycte said:
If it were Mass Effect 3, why make such a big fuss over it. Everyone knows that it's on it's way. I will be dissapointed if it is ME3....
I'll disappointed if it IS ME3. I want them to take their time with ME3, we all know it exists, so why waste time announcing it so quickly? If this game is slated for a release before 2012 roles around, I might be concerned. They have a lot of stuff to cover for ME3, and if they're already on the precipice of announcing it, that signals to me that their rushing it. Mass Effect 2 hasn't even been out a full year yet.

And I have a pretty good feeling it isn't ME3 anyway. This just doesn't feel....Mass Effectish...if that makes sense.
 

Jandau

Smug Platypus
Dec 19, 2008
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I think people are overthing about what Bioware was thinking when they thought up this clue and that people should just think a bit less about it.