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[lockload]

what's the point of having a ship in the galaxy if the galaxy is just a series of rooms. They need to learn from bethesda.

ever been to downtown in fallout 3?

 

[DogWelder]

The opportunity is there for pretty much every party member to leave or stay.

Spoiler

Garrus: Wants to become a Spectre and last I checked 2 spots just opened up (Nihlus/Saren). Of course he could still stick around.

Ashley: Could still be there if she isn't dead in your group after ME1...there will almost definitely be an alternate soldier available as a result.

Kaiden: Again could be dead...probably an alternate sentinel available.

Wrex: Isn't his business pretty much over? Sarens involvement with the Krogan is obviously done, though I suppose there is motivation for him to stick around. He's still possibly dead though...alternate...vanguard available?

Liara: Probably a good chance of her staying, though Benezia is dead and she now knows what actually happened with the Protheans. I suppose she could have an interest in the Reapers and of course want to stick with the crew.

Tali: I really don't see the motivation for her to stay.

I hope more customization options are available...my dudes black short hair is actually gray and the lineup is awful.

Spoiler

Wrex, Kaiden, Ashley: Can't really see these three being in the game (atleast as party members); ME1 had a set number of total party members, and they'll only be in alive in half the gamesaves.

 

[Papercuts]

Tali should stick around cause her voice is awesome.

Its weird. Half the cast it really interesting (Wrex, Tali, Ashley) and the other half I cant remember anything about them (Kaiden, Garrus, Liara).

Also you know they are gonna have more pointless, poorly focused romances to please the people who are there for lesbian action. All 20 seconds of it...

Also NPC shipmates should get more dialogue. Its like I exhausted all their character half way through the game.

I agree with the NPC shipmates, though I also felt like I knew/cared more about Joker by the end than Kaiden.

 

[HK-47]

Spoiler

Wrex, Kaiden, Ashley: Can't really see these three being in the game (atleast as party members); ME1 had a set number of total party members, and they'll only be in alive in half the gamesaves.

Wrex is the most popular character in the game. In fact my reasons to play the game would be reduce from 4 to 3 if he wasnt there.

 

[HK-47]

I agree with the NPC shipmates, though I also felt like I knew/cared more about Joker by the end than Kaiden.

Joker got a lot more dialogue than the rest of the crew NPCs. Probably cause they didnt want to waste Seth Green

 

[Basileus777]

Kaiden was an awfully boring character made worse by the fact that he was voiced by the same guy who did Carth, which is the only thing I can really remember about his character.

 

[Foil]

Tali should stick around cause her voice is awesome.

Its weird. Half the cast it really interesting (Wrex, Tali, Ashley) and the other half I cant remember anything about them (Kaiden, Garrus, Liara).

Also you know they are gonna have more pointless, poorly focused romances to please the people who are there for lesbian action. All 20 seconds of it...

Also NPC shipmates should get more dialogue. Its like I exhausted all their character half way through the game.

Out of the entire original crew I hope Garrus, Tali, and Ashley stick around. Maybe Wrex as well. Hopefully the overall squad is bigger this time. 10 characters or so with much deeper and more intersting dialogue/interaction, plot lines, and side quests.

Also hope the Normandy weapons officer gets replaced with a Volus dealer.

 

[Enduin]

Kaiden was interesting and had a rather sad and hard past, but the way it was all presented was rather poor. It was far too easy to learn all the shit about him, which wasnt a whole lot, and then that was it, it was just too short and undeveloped.

 

[HK-47]

Out of the entire original crew I hope Garrus, Tali, and Ashley stick around. Maybe Wrex as well. Hopefully the overall squad is bigger this time. 10 characters or so with much deeper and more intersting dialogue/interaction, plot lines, and side quests.

Also hope the Normandy weapons officer gets replaced with a Volus dealer.

The more characters you add, the harder it is to make them all compelling. One of the reasons I dont want Fallout 3 style Mass Effect

I agree about the Volus. They look so fucking awesome. I have a desire to hug them...when I should want to shoot them for being worthless meatbags.

 

[HK-47]

Kaiden was interesting and had a rather sad and hard past, but the way it was all presented was rather poor. It was far too easy to learn all the shit about him, which wasnt a whole lot, and then that was it, it was just too short and undeveloped.

Yeah. Its was about biotics experimention and army training, right?

 

[polyh3dron]

Holy shit the website has the whole "Killzone 2 Loading Screen" thing going on... pretty cool.

Also, I saw no MGS logo, just an EA one... multiplatform???

 

[Basileus777]

The more characters you add, the harder it is to make them all compelling. One of the reasons I dont want Fallout 3 style Mass Effect.

Ten characters is too much, but I don't really think you need to worry about Mass Effect becoming Fallout 3. Bethesda doesn't really even seem to make much of an effort at creating a story or developing characters. Bioware pretty much makes it the main focus of most of their games.

Yeah. Its was about biotics experimention and army training, right?

Yeah, but they never really made much of it. It almost felt like they only finished half of his arc, there was no real conclusion or climax to his storyline.

 

[Foil]

The more characters you add, the harder it is to make them all compelling. One of the reasons I dont want Fallout 3 style Mass Effect

I agree about the Volus. They look so fucking awesome. I have a desire to hug them...when I should want to shoot them for being worthless meatbags.

True. It'll be hard to keep favorites in the squad and at the same time add in other races and characters while keeping them deep. I wonder if they would even consider having a Batarian as a squadmate in Mass Effect 2? The trouble and trust issues that could bring would be an interesting plot line. Ashely would probably try and stab him.

They have to put a Volus on the ship. They've got such a great design and speaking pattern. Far more interesting than that boring weapons guy from the first game. Even a Hanar would be better, or they could just add a bar in the Normandy and have the jelly run that while the Volus sells the weapons.

 

[∀ Narayan]

Kaiden was interesting and had a rather sad and hard past, but the way it was all presented was rather poor. It was far too easy to learn all the shit about him, which wasnt a whole lot, and then that was it, it was just too short and undeveloped.

You could say that about every character in the game. This was extremely disappointing, considering that KoTOR had great (lengthy) depth to its characters.

 

[HK-47]

True. It'll be hard to keep favorites in the squad and at the same time add in other races and characters while keeping them deep. I wonder if they would even consider having a Batarian as a squadmate in Mass Effect 2? The trouble and trust issues that could bring would be an interesting plot line. Ashely would probably try and stab him.

They have to put a Volus on the ship. They've got such a great design and speaking pattern. Far more interesting that that boring weapons guy from the first game. Even a Hanar would be better, or they could just add a bar in the Normandy and have the jelly run that while the Volus sells the weapons.

Since I love AI characters (duh!) I wouldnt mind them coming across a friendly AI. Or hell get a Geth and transplant an AI in there. Probably more along the lines of a T3-M4 though a rampant AI like GO-TO would be cool too. I just dont think an HK would work. Too well defined, through two characters already, me and the 50s, which where actually quite interesting despite there being multiples of them and being completely inferior to me.

Especially if you have seen the Droid Factory content

 

[Enduin]

You could say that about every character in the game. This was extremely disappointing, considering that KoTOR had great (lengthy) depth to its characters.

Basically. Some were better than others, but pretty much overall every characters story consisted of about 4 dialogues and only half actually had a sense of originality and worth. I was severely disappointed that you could only talk to them on the Normandy and never during missions.

Yeah. Its was about biotics experimention and army training, right?

Yeah

Spoiler

with him killing his Turian teacher with a biotic blast to protect a girl he liked

it was a good story but quite shallow and ended abruptly.

 

[Coxswain]

Half the cast it really interesting (Wrex, Tali, Ashley) and the other half I cant remember anything about them (Kaiden, Garrus, Liara).

I thought it was almost the exact opposite, personally. I thought Wrex came off as really lame and one-note, like a Gears of War character in my RPG, complete with a really awful complexion and trash-can body shape. And I kind of liked Tali, but apart from nice voice acting, was there anything interesting about her specifically, and not just the Quarian race's backstory?
On the other hand, I thought Garrus was the most interesting portrayal of a Renegade NPC in the game - the guy who thought about it intelligently, tried playing the straight arrow, and still ended up thinking that was the way to go, and I thought Kaiden was the most straight-up likeable guy on the crew, with the most interesting conversations every time you did get the chance to talk to him.

I can't disagree with Ashley or Liara, though. Ashley was a well-written enough character that I thought she was interesting even though I really actively disliked her and her sob story background. Liara was just embarrassing though - "Oh Shepard, I'm so shy and socially awkward, please teach me sex."

 

[HK-47]

You could say that about every character in the game. This was extremely disappointing, considering that KoTOR had great (lengthy) depth to its characters.

I dont know. Zalbaar and T3 were really poorly defined (you could even skip T3 entirely with high enough skills) and most people find Carth and Bastila annoying (I like Carth actually). Mission was fun in a Tali sort of way, I was great, Jolee was great (gray jedis are the best kind). Juhani...was too light side for me, but I realize the need for the character, especially to position her opposite Bastila.

 

[∀ Narayan]

I hope they make the galaxy map as cool as it was in the initial trailers for ME1 (or even cooler). You guys remember that shit? IT LOOKED AMAZING! Go watch some of the early trailers if you don't know what I'm talking about.

I dont know. Zalbaar and T3 were really poorly defined (you could even skip T3 entirely with high enough skills) and most people find Carth and Bastila annoying (I like Carth actually). Mission was fun in a Tali sort of way, I was great, Jolee was great (gray jedis are the best kind). Juhani...was too light side for me, but I realize the need for the character, especially to position her opposite Bastila.

I suppose. Maybe it was just the pacing for the character development that seemed better to me? In ME1, I felt like I could speed through everyone's development.

 

[HK-47]

I thought it was almost the exact opposite, personally. I thought Wrex came off as really lame and one-note, like a Gears of War character in my RPG, complete with a really awful complexion and trash-can body shape. And I kind of liked Tali, but apart from nice voice acting, was there anything interesting about her specifically, and not just the Quarian race's backstory?
On the other hand, I thought Garrus was the most interesting portrayal of a Renegade NPC in the game - the guy who thought about it intelligently, tried playing the straight arrow, and still ended up thinking that was the way to go, and I thought Kaiden was the most straight-up likeable guy on the crew, with the most interesting conversations every time you did get the chance to talk to him.

I can't disagree with Ashley or Liara, though. Ashley was a well-written enough character that I thought she was interesting even though I really actively disliked her and her sob story background. Liara was just embarrassing though - "Oh Shepard, I'm so shy and socially awkward, please teach me sex."

Wrex says a lot of things he doesnt mean and means plenty of things he doesnt say. He's sarcastic and rude, but he actually cares about his fate and his people, he just doesnt show it. He also has the best wit in the game. At least thats what I remember. I'm playing through again right now to feel out the characters better.

The problem with most of the aliens outside Garrus is that they fall victim to info dispenser syndrome. Their answers to these questions, especially to things that would probably be common knowledge to a seasoned veteran like Shepard, should be less like an explanation more like their opinion on it. KotOR II did this a lot

 

[HK-47]

I hope they make the galaxy map as cool as it was in the initial trailers for ME1 (or even cooler). You guys remember that shit? IT LOOKED AMAZING! Go watch some of the early trailers if you don't know what I'm talking about.


I suppose. Maybe it was just the pacing for the character development that seemed better to me? In ME1, I felt like I could speed through everyone's development.

That I agree with.

 

[HK-47]

Basically. Some were better than others, but pretty much overall every characters story consisted of about 4 dialogues and only half actually had a sense of originality and worth. I was severely disappointed that you could only talk to them on the Normandy and never during missions.



Yeah

Spoiler

with him killing his Turian teacher with a biotic blast to protect a girl he liked

it was a good story but quite shallow and ended abruptly.

Thats why they should have optional character development on flights in between planets. Like you could skip directly to your destination, or you could talk to people on the ship or hell even have some minigames (Pazaak!)

 

[Lakitu]

I can see us infiltrating Cerberus. Wearing a Hooded Cloak and meeting our informant on Omega in the Terminus Systems

 

[Randy Lanzarote]

Ohhhhhhh fuck me sideways.. what an awesome start to Saturday!

Not going to jump to any conclusions as to what the KIA message means, I have faith in Bioware that no matter what happens they have done the right thing. Even if Shepherd has been transmorphed into a space weasel, I'm sure it'll be for the good of the game.

Spoiler

Maybe Shepherd has gone undercover as a Geth, his personality, experience, memories all downloaded into a captured unit. You start off deep in Geth space and have to get back to the Citadel with urgent information and of course to reclaim your body, at which point you might have an option to change appearance.

 

[Lakitu]

I've got a feeling this is how it's going to work:
Mass Effect DLC #2 Space Casino - Summer
Mass Effect DLC #3 (Gives us an Idea at why he is being potrayed as dead and leads into ME2) - Winter
Mass Effect 2 - Early 2010

 

[Enduin]

I've got a feeling this is how it's going to work:
Mass Effect DLC #2 Space Casino - Summer
Mass Effect DLC #3 (Gives us an Idea at why he is being potrayed as dead and leads into ME2) - Winter
Mass Effect 2 - Early 2010

Basically, though I dont think it will actually deal with Shepard pretending to be KIA or anything like that since it will have to occur before the end of the main game, I think it will be an decently extensive mission dealing with more Cerberus research that will expand upon who they are and what they do for people who havent read ME:Ascension which follows the events after ME1, to reveal some of the reasons why Shepard, the Alliance and the Citadel would want to go after them once Saren and the Reaper conflict was out of the way.

 

[Lakitu]

Basically, though I dont think it will actually deal with Shepard pretending to be KIA or anything like that since it will have to occur before the end of the main game, I think it will be an decently extensive mission dealing with more Cerberus research that will expand upon who they are and what they do for people who havent read ME:Ascension which follows the events after ME1, to reveal some of the reasons why Shepard, the Alliance and the Citadel would want to go after them once Saren and the Reaper conflict was out of the way.

Very niiiiiiiiiiiiiiice.

 

[CosmicGroinPull]

Tali should stick around cause her voice is awesome.

Oh yeah. So hot.

 

[`Moe Joe.]

I need to create the perfect Shepard in ME 1 to lead into ME 2. Bioware will do the right thing, and that teaser gave me chills as I love the ME universe so much. Only one more year! *sigh*

 

[Randy Lanzarote]

Tali should stick around as I think that Shepherd needs to stick her this time around

(Anyone else curious as to what she looks like under that suit.... I know I am)

 

[HK-47]

Tali should stick around as I think that Shepherd needs to stick her this time around

(Anyone else curious as to what she looks like under that suit.... I know I am)

You will never get her.

 

[CabbageRed]

Shepard becomes a Geth who is under investigation and enduring a court hearing for failing to stop Shepard.

 

[HK-47]

Shepard becomes a Geth who is under investigation and enduring a court hearing for failing to stop Shepard.

Phoenix Wright will defend him!

Also I hate the romances in this game. The relationship are just cheap gimmicks in order to show 30 seconds of bare ass. Its insulting to be honest. There is nothing there yet you are suddenly bedding people. Childish. I could endure it in The Witcher cause it was optional in regards to story and its wasnt as a result of passion. It knew what it was. Plus that universe is shewed toward that kind of lewidness.

 

[Dead Man Typing]

I look forward to hearing more about the game, but I hope Bioware does a good job of keeping the story line and consequences of your actions from Mass Effect 1 secret.

 

[Kill Your Masters]

my expression was literally

:O

That pictures is just so awesome. I immediately downloaded the wallpaper when I saw it. Love the art of Mass Effect so much.

Also I hate the romances in this game. The relationship are just cheap gimmicks in order to show 30 seconds of bare ass. Its insulting to be honest. There is nothing there yet you are suddenly bedding people. Childish. I could endure it in The Witcher cause it was optional in regards to story and its wasnt as a result of passion. It knew what it was. Plus that universe is shewed toward that kind of lewidness.

It was optional in ME too. Just tell both to fuck off.

 

[Lakitu]

My theory on the concept arts:

The first 1 is the former Quarian homeworld which is no inhabited by the Geth. The reason I think this is the sort of ancient broken Geth Colossus in the background.

The second one, is probably Earth or something. I was thinking it's maybe Omega but going by the description of it in the 2nd book, I don't think so now.

 

[PjotrStroganov]

She is dead?

Spoiler

lol @ people playing with a male Shepard.

 

[Lakitu]

Ummm, I'm not a romance buff but I loved the romance in ME1, whereas other games you just get your leg over straight away (cough GTA IV) in this game you just TALK to them then you get your leg over.

I hope my romance with Ashley-poo continues in ME 2.

 

[∀ Narayan]

It was optional in ME too. Just tell both to fuck off.

With my female Shepard, I courted both Liara and Kaidan - but ended up choosing Kaidan. During the mission on Virmire, I left Kaidan behind. He never got a taste of my Shepard's ass. No one ever will! :lol

I hope the armor glitch stays in. Female Adept with heavy armor? Yes please!

 

[CiSTM]

Didn't really like first game but I'm still hyped of ME2 x_x

Lots of missed potential in first game I hope they get everything out from the second game.

 

[Hesemonni]

I hope Bioware finds the money to hire an another level designer to design more base layouts instead of just copy-pasting the one existing design over and over again.

And I hope somebody over at Bioware goes back to basics, replays Star Control 2 and realizes what makes maket exploration fun.

 

[Dr. Acid Avatar]

Fuck yes, I hope we get to see what's being shown at GDC.

 

[Killthee]

I hope Bioware finds the money to hire an another level designer to design more base layouts instead of just copy-pasting the one existing design over and over again.

And I hope somebody over at Bioware goes back to basics, replays Star Control 2 and realizes what makes maket exploration fun.

We should know more about the new level design process in a month.

The Iterative Level Design Process of Bioware's MASS EFFECT 2
Speaker: Corey Andruko (Project Manager, BioWare), Dusty Everman (Lead Technical Designer, BioWare)

Session Description
This session examines the BioWare Mass Effect team’s new level-creation process, which is focused on maximizing iteration for quality while minimizing rework and cost. This approach to building levels strives to integrate the Design, Art, and Production teams such that the highest-risk level-creation issues are addressed early in the development cycle. Lessons learned from Mass Effect lead to a detailed description of the new level-creation process, and graphical examples of a level illustrate its progression through the necessary phases. The discussion also examines how BioWare is currently implementing this process using elements of Scrum and Lean Development.

Takeaway
Attendees will: - Gain insight into some of the major issues the development team encountered while building Mass Effect at BioWare; - Get a detailed look at the Mass Effect team’s new approach to creating levels while avoiding these issues; - Find out how this new process is working for the Mass Effect team; - Learn about new pitfalls the team discovered that can potentially be avoided on future game projects.

 

[∀ Narayan]

It would be really sweet if the people responsible for the level design in Dead Space had a hand in the level design for ME2. Level space was used EXTREMELY well in that game. Despite being in a closed off ship, everything looked different and meaningful. There was very little repetition, if any at all.

The designs in Mass Effect were very lifeless and repetitive. A lot of things you see posted on the walls had no meaning to the player at all. It's really important that they nail design down, this time. Man, if they really end up addressing everything I've been complaining about, this could seriously be the greatest game ever made.

 

[Lakitu]

It would be really sweet if the people responsible for the level design in Dead Space had a hand in the level design for ME2. Level space was used EXTREMELY well in that game. Despite being in a closed off ship, everything looked different and meaningful. There was very little repetition, if any at all.

True but Dead Space is a totally different game, if that level of detailed was applied all over Mass Effect's universe it would take unbelievably long.

 

[Darklord]

I think I've seen too many trailers or something because the instant it started with the birth date I thought "It'll say he's dead" and at the end it did.:lol

 

[∀ Narayan]

True but Dead Space is a totally different game, if that level of detailed was applied all over Mass Effect's universe it would take unbelievably long.

But it would be OH so worth it. You know this. I'm willing to wait.

 

[Hesemonni]

We should know more about the new level design process in a month.

Interesting

 

[Uncle]

Ooh, I missed the 8 other video slots on the site at first. Or is it 7, the first one doesn't get the [data file] classified thing under it.

 

[methane47]

Hype rising... I can't wait.