Bioware General (Mass Effect/Dragon Age/Other)

[TheodoricFriede]

So far, unimpressed by what they've shown. Story is all that is important to me. Hell, I'd take a Zork adventure to what they've shown.
Don't get me wrong but, the story better be there or it's no joy for me.

P.S. That asari.... The clip of her reminds me of Oh So Many cartoons. You know, the ones with the 4 year old or younger getting excited and then put down. Old, slapstick comedy? Bioware, you were much better than this.

Pretty much exactly my opinion.

[TheodoricFriede]

By the way, Im pretty sure the asari doesnt have eyebrows in game, so, eyebrow-gate is officially over.

[NCLanceman]

Mass Effect Andromeda's main characters are brother and sister.

Well, this at least simplifies a lot of fan fiction. Also, that N7 guy in the trailers is their dad.

[TheodoricFriede]

It really does just sound like someone at Bioware was reading a lot of fanfiction with MShep and FemShep as brother and sister and were like.

"Yeah...Yeah!! And that throw away character from the trailer? What if he...WAS THEIR DAD?!?!"

[Dragaros]

[Someone With Mass]

It really does just sound like someone at Bioware was reading a lot of fanfiction with MShep and FemShep as brother and sister and were like.

"Yeah...Yeah!! And that throw away character from the trailer? What if he...WAS THEIR DAD?!?!"

I liked the theory that he was a more antagonistic character better. Besides, he's got to be pretty old if his kids are that old too. It doesn't really improve his image either.

[TheodoricFriede]

I liked the theory that he was a more antagonistic character better. Besides, he's got to be pretty old if his kids are that old too. It doesn't really improve his image either.

He still can be. Having to take out your own father is a classic sci fi trope.

[Someone With Mass]

I liked the theory that he was a more antagonistic character better. Besides, he's got to be pretty old if his kids are that old too. It doesn't really improve his image either.

He still can be. Having to take out your own father is a classic sci fi trope.

Oh I know that. I just don't see the point of it in this case. Unless it turns out that it was another of those "you know what'd be cool" moments during the writing stage. Then I know there was no real point in it. Just like how Legion's obsession with Shepard got mentioned and then immediately ditched because it didn't have anywhere to go.

Such things also make me think of that one scene from Tropic Thunder.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8_pxPfURfc&ab_channel=kakaGmail

[TTTX]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5QP8KsSWXM&index=9&list=WL

[Grand Admiral Cheesecake]

It really does just sound like someone at Bioware was reading a lot of fanfiction with MShep and FemShep as brother and sister and were like.

"Yeah...Yeah!! And that throw away character from the trailer? What if he...WAS THEIR DAD?!?!"

It's kind of sad really. Giving the protagonist concrete family can be a huge boon for a story if the people writing it know how to do it properly.

I do not believe that Bioware possesses that skill though.

[Dragaros]

[Someone With Mass]

It is a lot smaller than I thought it'd be.

[TTTX]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKwtUJG1QsA

[Dragaros]

It is a lot smaller than I thought it'd be.

Probably because the Ryder siblings aren't N7s. I bet their N7 Dad has a much bigger ship.

Or the Tempest is more of a scout ship that explores on behalf of a larger ship/space station/ark and its not built for combat or transport.

[Dragaros]

"Mac Walters: Good eye. Not the same structure, but it was built by the same..... Builders."

Builders with a capital B. Hmm.

Possibly the Andromeda galaxy's resident Ancient Elder species like the Protheans/Reapers/Leviathans/Forerunners/Precursors/Xel'Naga/Chozo/Space Jockeys/Engineers/Vorlons/Time Lords/Preservers/Necrons/Those Who Came Before etc, etc?

[TheodoricFriede]

Original!

[Someone With Mass]

"Mac Walters: Good eye. Not the same structure, but it was built by the same..... Builders."

Builders with a capital B. Hmm.

Possibly the Andromeda galaxy's resident Ancient Elder species like the Protheans/Reapers/Leviathans/Forerunners/Precursors/Xel'Naga/Chozo/Space Jockeys/Engineers/Vorlons/Time Lords/Preservers/Necrons/Those Who Came Before etc, etc?

For once, I'd like to see a Mass Effect game that's a more personal story rather than rehashing old sci-fi tropes the previous trilogy used. It sounds lazy as hell.

[DarkStorm]

Its probably those insect things on the citadel that are always repairing it, those are the builders.

[Calinstel]

Seems Bioware is going back to the smaller companion list used in ME1. It does make sense though to me at least. Few people, fewer intership plot lines and conversations. Maybe it will be pick 3 before leaving the carrier the ships attached to and do all missions with just those few until returning to the carrier for resupply/recrew.

Well, would make sense to me.
Just my skewed opinion.

[Alienmorph]

As for the companions... guessing it's gonna be a group of 5-6 again... so Token Human Male, Token Human Female, one Krogan, one Asari, one New Alien and maybe another human and or an AI. Stuff like salarian, turians and more romance options would stay on your ship and be NPCs.

As for the Builders thing... is anyone surprised? Really? Of course there's gonna be a new ancestral race or two, that's the plot of almost every BW game ever! You go around, scout for artifact of some lost civilization and/or try to prevent the return of an ancient evil. Do you really think that they'd change the formula in the game they want to use as both a new start and proof they've still "got it" to the old fans?

[Dragaros]

[Dragaros]

[Dragaros]

[Dragaros]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QLgy-1I3S8&feature=youtu.be

[TheodoricFriede]

Huh, well it probably means nothing, but that script seems to imply that there is relatively frequent communication with the Milky Way, and that it would be reasonable to go there without it taking 100 years.

Its all placeholder, but still, not a terrible sign.

[SciFlyBoy]

My latest ME3 play through I was Femshep and romanced Traynor. I think she slept with Traynor more than any romancable character and I need to confirm it. 1st time is the shower scene when she comes up to play chess. 2nd time is in the hot tub at the apartment. 3rd time after the party. 4th time before hitting Cerberus. Does Shepard sleep with anyone else as much?

[Calinstel]

Huh, well it probably means nothing, but that script seems to imply that there is relatively frequent communication with the Milky Way, and that it would be reasonable to go there without it taking 100 years.

Its all placeholder, but still, not a terrible sign.

Gawd, I hope that theory/thought is wrong. So far, in the Mass Effect Universe, there are only 2 ways to communicate over such a vast distance. Mass Effect comms systems and the QED. If the QED is used then it may have little effect but, if a Mass Effect relay is used, it would obliterate the Andromeda galaxy. Remember, the ending cluster frack of ME3 sent waves/signals/god through to every relay.
A relay capable of reaching between the two galaxies would be citadel size or larger. The ending 'Bend Over' effect of ME3 would propagate through Andromeda as well since having a 'Citadel' sized relay implies other, smaller, relays for normal intersystem travels as in the Milky Way.

I suppose it can all be done but it really seems Bioware wants to wash away the Milky Way rape and start afresh in this new one. Best they cut all ties, at least that's how I see it. Again, just my idiot opinions so please take nothing personal.

P.S. So far, with the races shows, nothing at all draws my imagination and actually stifles it. What is shown so far is just a rehash of the ME plot. Gameplay never meant much to me. And yes, I know it has not shown much up to date but teasers should give us a taste, a tidbit of flavor, to peak our desire, to make us want more. So far, with what has been shown, I feel as if I've been given flour instead of at least crumbs.

It's the story that drives the gameplay that grips me, holds my imagination. To me, ME3 effectively killed that imagination in the ME universe.

[Mazder]

Gawd, I hope that theory/thought is wrong. So far, in the Mass Effect Universe, there are only 2 ways to communicate over such a vast distance. Mass Effect comms systems and the QED. If the QED is used then it may have little effect but, if a Mass Effect relay is used, it would obliterate the Andromeda galaxy. Remember, the ending cluster frack of ME3 sent waves/signals/god through to every relay.
A relay capable of reaching between the two galaxies would be citadel size or larger. The ending 'Bend Over' effect of ME3 would propagate through Andromeda as well since having a 'Citadel' sized relay implies other, smaller, relays for normal intersystem travels as in the Milky Way.

I suppose it can all be done but it really seems Bioware wants to wash away the Milky Way rape and start afresh in this new one. Best they cut all ties, at least that's how I see it. Again, just my idiot opinions so please take nothing personal.

P.S. So far, with the races shows, nothing at all draws my imagination and actually stifles it. What is shown so far is just a rehash of the ME plot. Gameplay never meant much to me. And yes, I know it has not shown much up to date but teasers should give us a taste, a tidbit of flavor, to peak our desire, to make us want more. So far, with what has been shown, I feel as if I've been given flour instead of at least crumbs.

It's the story that drives the gameplay that grips me, holds my imagination. To me, ME3 effectively killed that imagination in the ME universe.

Um, your info is a little old there Calinstel.
As of the updated endings the big wave was changed and wasn't a reuse of the Arrival DLC's effect and they ow only disable the relay and the rings break. No massive explosion, more like an EMP wave tailored only for Mass Relays, so the Andromeda Galaxy would not have gone boom, even if this was assuming there wasn't only one at the time of communication.

This is also implying they're using Relay Tech at all, the New Device/Structure looks similar to a Relay, but not identical.
It might use the same scientific principles but not the same method when it comes to IFF for Relay disabling.

This is also not taking into account if the game is set after the Relays have been repaired as they explain in the Extended Cut endings. If the game takes place at the 100 years after point and not during the 100 years after ME3 it is easy to assume all relays have been repaired and they're back up to snuff.

Now do I find these likely, no, not really, but it beats sitting around saying it's all gone to pot when we don't even know anything yet.
I'm still personally hoping this is more a "Space, the Final Frontier" type of exploration, rather than a bug out.
Wait for confirmation, then get the fires and pitchforks, I'll even provide the boiling oil.

[Someone With Mass]

I have to admit that I'm a little curious to see how they'll make the antagonistic alien race that we're up against so unlikable to the point where we as the invaders are in the right. Especially when we're bringing with us an alien race (the krogans) that's infamous for its rapid expansion in our own galaxy.

Unless we're really going through with the whole "dad turned douchebag" thing. In which case, I'll be horribly disappointed.

[DarkStorm]

I have to admit that I'm a little curious to see how they'll make the antagonistic alien race that we're up against so unlikable to the point where we as the invaders are in the right. Especially when we're bringing with us an alien race (the krogans) that's infamous for its rapid expansion in our own galaxy.

Unless we're really going through with the whole "dad turned douchebag" thing. In which case, I'll be horribly disappointed.

OMFG ITS PERFECT STAR DAD CLAIMS REVENGE!

[TheodoricFriede]

I have to admit that I'm a little curious to see how they'll make the antagonistic alien race that we're up against so unlikable to the point where we as the invaders are in the right. .

Just base them on half of the tribes in the southern United States.

Seriously, im learning about that now, and most of those groups 100% deserved the Spanish.

[Someone With Mass]

I have to admit that I'm a little curious to see how they'll make the antagonistic alien race that we're up against so unlikable to the point where we as the invaders are in the right. .

Just base them on half of the tribes in the southern United States.

Seriously, im learning about that now, and most of those groups 100% deserved the Spanish.

Probably another warrior race that thrives on conquest. Like the klingons if we're still going to pretend that Mass Effect is closer to Star Trek than Star Wars.

[Dragaros]

My latest ME3 play through I was Femshep and romanced Traynor. I think she slept with Traynor more than any romancable character and I need to confirm it. 1st time is the shower scene when she comes up to play chess. 2nd time is in the hot tub at the apartment. 3rd time after the party. 4th time before hitting Cerberus. Does Shepard sleep with anyone else as much?

Just sticking with ME3 or for all romances across the whole series? ‘Cuz Liara and Tali get some action across their romance paths, though they do have the advantage of being in multiple games.

Liara: before Illos, after the Shadow Broker is defeated, implied after date on Citadel, heavily implied after cabin visit showing off her failsafe, before Cronos, heavily implied before the party, after the party, plus other implied cases of sleeping with Shep offscreen between missions

Tali: before the Omega 4 Relay, heavily implied when invited up to cabin after reuniting, heavily implied after reclaiming Rannoch, before Cronos, before party, after party, plus other implied cases of sleeping with Shep offscreen between missions

[Dragaros]

[Dragaros]

[Dragaros]

[Dragaros]

We asked Bioware about Mass Effect Andromeda’s biggest challenge: going open world but remaining true to its roots: Bioware General Manager Aaryn Flynn talks a little about the challenge of Mass Effect’s latest.

Quote from the recent PC Gamer issue: "Dragon Age: Inquisition stands as the only RPG made in the Frostbite engine. While BioWare's Mass Effect team is taking cues from the openness of environments, they're also looking at Inquisition's quests -- both what worked and what didn't. "We learned that there were some quests in Dragon Age that didn’t resonate and were kind of flat – fetch quests and stuff,” says Flynn. “The nice thing is, you take those lessons, you package them all up, and you talk to the Mass Effect team and say, ‘These are the things you should do, these are the things you shouldn’t do.’ And the Mass Effect team get the pencils out and they build all that into it.”

[Vol]

I'm noticing a conspicuous lack of linking "RPG" with the game. Has anyone called ME4 an RPG yet?

[SciFlyBoy]

Tali: before the Omega 4 Relay, heavily implied when invited up to cabin after reuniting, heavily implied after reclaiming Rannoch, before Cronos, before party, after party, plus other implied cases of sleeping with Shep offscreen between missions

I was thinking ME3 on it's own.

I don't think Tali and Shep slept together that much. The implied stuff "I've become adapted to you" has a grey meaning to me, not necessarily meaning constant physical contact. (Then again, sleeping together for Tali just might be sleeping next to someone, which she could have done multiple times, but FemShep and Traynor where physical at least four times, twice involving a soaking wet Traynor). Tali's mask came off maybe three times while her whole suit came off once. So I count that as at least one intimate physical encounter for Tali compared to four for Traynor. (Though I am considering the inability for Tali to have excessive exposure, but that's the story we tell in our heads between scenes and when we're not playing the game as opposed to what was actually shown in game.) In game Traynor had more action.

[Alienmorph]

I've always thought that the "I've adapted" could also mean that they spent some alone time with her out of the suit, without necessarily having sex or just doing anything too stressful for Tali's phisiology, since Tali herself and the codex throught all 3 games imply that even only having a conversation somewhere private without barriers inbetween is quite a big deal for quarians.

But the game doesn't bother to go too much into detail (to be fair, it goes in depth as much as with anyone else) so who knows.

[TheodoricFriede]

Meanwhile I imagine Shepard, Tali, and Garrus were constantly fucking in between missions in new and creative ways.

Romance is open to interpretation.

[DarkStorm]

Meanwhile I imagine Shepard, Tali, and Garrus were constantly fucking in between missions in new and creative ways.

Romance is open to interpretation.

I mean nothing is better than a threeway.

[Someone With Mass]

I'm noticing a conspicuous lack of linking "RPG" with the game. Has anyone called ME4 an RPG yet?

I've seen people call it more of an exploration game than an RPG. As long as they cut down on the forced dialogues that don't match the tone I'll go for with Ryder (that is, unless BioWare gives me a reason to not buy their game), I'm good. Though, I'd like to customize the squad equipment a bit more.

Then again, are there cemented requirements on what makes a game an RPG?

[TheodoricFriede]

I'm noticing a conspicuous lack of linking "RPG" with the game. Has anyone called ME4 an RPG yet?

I'm fairly certain i have heard it referred to as an RPG by people at Bioware.

But id argue that neither ME2 or ME3 were true RPGs, so...

[Spartanburger]

And it does look okay graphically, wondering if they'll allow upgrading the graphics on PC in their construction.

I'm not too up to date on graphics, but they're making it for 4k, is 4k not the best out there right now?

This was more or less a 4k demo for the Nu^PS4 rather than any sort of "hey, the engine is made for 4k!" You could do DA:I at 4k if you had a beefy enough machine. The only thing this gives any indication of is that perhaps HUD scaling at 4k will work right, and that the game will perhaps be well optimized, since the Nu^PS4 is basically a x86 PC with an Rx 470, and it has to run on that at 30fps. Rx 470 performs between an R9 380X (GTX 960 ish) and an R9 390X (GTX 970 ish), depending on the game. So performance wise, I would expect that anyone with a GTX 970 or R9 390 to run it at close to max settings at 1080p. Par for the course, considering DA:I's performance.

It's not even native 4k on the Nu^PS4, too. Apparently, it's "interlaced" 4k.

The thing that gets my attention is the whole HDR thing. It should be noted that it's different than the "HDR" we've seen in current games.
I can't find the discussion thread I read on it, but the general gist of it is that High Dynamic Range is actually a display method that vastly increases the number of colors that can be displayed, kinda like going from 8bit to 32bit color. Past methods of HDR simulated that color, but put the results into the alpha channel as a sort of forced bloom effect. Now, some screens are beginning to support this new color format, along with new GPUs. IIRC, AMDs RX line of GPUs all support it, which is why it's being showcased here, on the PS4PROBRO. Updates might roll out so that older and Nvidia GPUs can also support it, so the only matter is if your screen supports it. If neither does, it won't be an issue. If ME:A is anything like DA:I, they're going to put so much fucking color on screen that I'm going to spend half the game just walking around in a daze at how pretty it is.

Also, the youtube video doesn't really do a good job of showcasing it at 4k. YouTube's compression is such that bumping it up to 4k is more akin to native 1080p than it is true 4k.

YEah no. Rule number one: STAY AWAY FROM GREEN-GLOWING BEAMS OF LIGHT!

Don't read into the color too much. It goes bright red at the end before it gets shut off. It's more just green because anything"alien" and "technical" is obviously green, while shutting down + ambiguous danger incoming = red. That's just the rules. Or something.

It is a lot smaller than I thought it'd be.

I was thinking that too when I saw it. Though, it could just be forced perspective with a large lens. That "Mako" needs to fit comfortably down that ramp. Still, looks like a normal Frigate (Normandy SR2 was considered to be on the large size for a frigate, IIRC) or perhaps a large Corvette class ship.



ALSO, I dunno if anyone noticed it, but if you listen closely to the video without commentary, there seems to be a sophisticated British accent that sounds a tad bit synthetic. Reminds me of Singleton (spoilers) from Grey Goo.

"The source of the system lockdown may yield more information. We appear to be close."

Though the radio vocal effect may be making it sound synthetic, the manner in which it speaks is precisely how I would expect an AI to speak. The general assumption from the subreddit is that it might have been the ship AI for the Tempest.

[SciFlyBoy]

Meanwhile I imagine Shepard, Tali, and Garrus were constantly fucking in between missions in new and creative ways.

Romance is open to interpretation.

I mean nothing is better than a threeway.

If I were Shepard I wouldn't be able to make that happen if my life depended on it. "Can it wait, I'm in the middle of some calibrations." / "Sorry, Shepard, I really need to look at these engines."

[Hackett923]

https://www.engadget.com/2016/09/13/new ... e-studios/

[TheodoricFriede]

If I were Shepard I wouldn't be able to make that happen if my life depended on it. "Can it wait, I'm in the middle of some calibrations." / "Sorry, Shepard, I really need to look at these engines."

Its simple.

Just tell Tali you'll handle her engines, and Garrus that you'll give him something to calibrate. In bed.

Edit syntax as necessary per sexual position.

[SciFlyBoy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QLgy-1I3S8&feature=youtu.be

I'm doing this tonight. I won't make it, but I'm going to give them my best.

[TheodoricFriede]

I'm doing this tonight. I won't make it, but I'm going to give them my best.

If i had a better microphone, I'd try.