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Rumor: Mass Effect 4 details leak through survey

Well said. The folks crying foul at the illegitimacy of the arrangement ought to replay at least the sequels, if not the entire trilogy, I think.

Wormhole, new breakthroughs in cryo, both? It's mass effect, fucking space magic yo

i wonder if ur ship will have fuel... i can't remember if it was ME2 or ME3 that had fuel restraints... it was pretty cool.

Both. 3 was a bit more liberal with auto-refills when visiting the citadel.
 
Hopefully the questing will be different from DA:I. I love DA:I but I cannot for the love of all that is holy get through a second playthrough, fucking fetch sidequests are boring as fuck.
 
Repopulating and colonizing Andromeda would take a large amount and diversity of human subjects (DNA). With that in mind, any Ark ship would need to contain not just a few hundred or thousands, but tens of thousands of people to have proper genetic diversity in a new galaxy.
 
Repopulating and colonizing Andromeda would take a large amount and diversity of human subjects (DNA). With that in mind, any Ark ship would need to contain not just a few hundred or thousands, but tens of thousands of people to have proper genetic diversity in a new galaxy.

Lucky for humans, they're inherently more genetically diverse than any other species, but I do think tens of thousands of Ark colonists is a given.
 
Lucky for humans, they're inherently more genetically diverse than any other species, but I do think tens of thousands of Ark colonists is a given.

And we likes to F*ck.

But seriously on that point ya. Those aren't going to be ships they are going to be asteroids with giant rocket boosters on them to handle the numbers needed.
 
Repopulating and colonizing Andromeda would take a large amount and diversity of human subjects (DNA). With that in mind, any Ark ship would need to contain not just a few hundred or thousands, but tens of thousands of people to have proper genetic diversity in a new galaxy.

No just a couple hundred with tens of thousands of frozen embryos for diversity.

But since were setting up new colonies as part of game mechanics, there will inevitably be a colonist fleet with thousands of people and multiple species.
 
No just a couple hundred with tens of thousands of frozen embryos for diversity.

But since were setting up new colonies as part of game mechanics, there will inevitably be a colonist fleet with thousands of people and multiple species.

Yeah, Interstellar Plan A seems more likely for the sake of immediate colonization, than Interstellar Plan B which would work, but would possibly be boring as shit.
 
The very first Mass Effect couldn't even properly reconcile the prolific representation of humanity throughout the galaxy both in spread and sheer density relative to the time passed since the Pluto relay was discovered. It's a series staple to not make sense.
 
The very first Mass Effect couldn't even properly reconcile the prolific representation of humanity throughout the galaxy both in spread and sheer density relative to the time passed since the Pluto relay was discovered. It's a series staple to not make sense.

I've always found that odd. DA has it's problems but it's so much more coherent lore-wise. Maybe they'll get there via a Fade rift?

So, is the Milky Way like totally fucked beyond repair, or what? The Mass Relays broke right?

Temporarily, but it doesn't really matter for the purpose of ME4.
 
So, is the Milky Way like totally fucked beyond repair, or what? The Mass Relays broke right?

They're repaired in the Extended Cut. But I maintain that'll be irrelevant for Mass Effect 4, which probably wont address the trilogy ending at all.

I've always found that odd. DA has it's problems but it's so much more coherent lore-wise. Maybe they'll get there via a Fade rift?

Might as well converge all BioWare franchises into one molasses.
 
They're repaired in the Extended Cut. But I maintain that'll be irrelevant for Mass Effect 4, which probably wont address the trilogy ending at all.



Might as well converge all BioWare franchises into one molasses.

The remnants are ancient elves, the art of their cities is Arlathan.
 
They're repaired in the Extended Cut. But I maintain that'll be irrelevant for Mass Effect 4, which probably wont address the trilogy ending at all.



Might as well converge all BioWare franchises into one molasses.

They get to Andromeda via fade rift, and then the Glorious Strategist trains the new protagonist to perfection, but with one flaw...
 
The very first Mass Effect couldn't even properly reconcile the prolific representation of humanity throughout the galaxy both in spread and sheer density relative to the time passed since the Pluto relay was discovered. It's a series staple to not make sense.

The size of the colonies aren't too bad, the biggest being like 4 million people 30 years after establishment (mostly emigration presumably). But going from zero to "1/3 as powerful as the Asari; 1/5 as powerful as the Turians in terms of fleet strength" in such a short is majorly implausible. And being such a major political force. Like the citadel defence fleet got busted up in the battle but it's not like that would majorly impact overall strength of all three council races given how spread out and entrenched they are.
 
The size of the colonies aren't too bad, the biggest being like 4 million people 30 years after establishment (mostly emigration presumably). But going from zero to "1/3 as powerful as the Asari; 1/5 as powerful as the Turians in terms of fleet strength" in such a short is majorly implausible.

Even then it's weird. 1/5th the size of the turian military while at the same time having the smallest percentage of people in service.
 
The very first Mass Effect couldn't even properly reconcile the prolific representation of humanity throughout the galaxy both in spread and sheer density relative to the time passed since the Pluto relay was discovered. It's a series staple to not make sense.

Haha, amen. That took me out of things a bit until I made a concerted effort not to care. That effort was sharpened, honed, seasoned and charbroiled until the fated day arrived and I learned of Mass Effect 3's ending and I... shrugged and carried on.
 
As am I. I feel that if we do not hear about it at E3 then it is probably not going to be a thing though.

If it ends up not being a thing, it won't be for lack of trying, at least. Aaryn Flynn doesn't just come here and ask around for pointers on how to make one without some considerable interest in such a project. Only way it falls apart is if EA put its foot down and insisted otherwise.

That was about the time I knew I had to gain an account around here. I sat there posting "man, I wish he asked us, too" on BSN and GameFAQs and at a coffeehouse with my good friends and while staring at the cat I named Garrus until I was blue in the face.

Something is coming... unless it isn't. Mark my words.
 
If it ends up not being a thing, it won't be for lack of trying, at least. Aaryn Flynn doesn't just come here and ask around for pointers on how to make one without some considerable interest in such a project. Only way it falls apart is if EA put its foot down and insisted otherwise.

That was about the time I knew I had to gain an account around here. I sat there posting "man, I wish he asked us, too" on BSN and GameFAQs and at a coffeehouse with my good friends and while stating at the cat I named Garrus until I was blue in the face.

Something is coming... unless it isn't. Mark my words.

Could just be an XBL/PSN port.

edit: DA can just throw blood magic at something until it works, but doing so is literally canon.
 
Could just be an XBL/PSN port.

edit: DA can just throw blood magic at something until it works, but doing so is literally canon.

I'm not so sure that was Flynn's insinuation. He talked at length about the obvious resolution improvements, the conscious decision not to remake ME1's combat, the personal hope to make all DLC far more well-integrated.
 
I'm not so sure that was Flynn's insinuation. He talked at length about the obvious resolution improvements, the conscious decision not to remake ME1's combat, the personal hope to make all DLC far more well-integrated.

Not mutually exclusive to an XBL/PSN port.
 
Can't believe they actually went for the "ancient technology/secrets left behind my a mysterious race" angle yet again, hahaha.

They go to that well a lot.

Protheans in ME trilogy.

Ancient Arlathan in DA:I.

Primeval thaig in DA 2.

Rakatans in KOTOR.

Old Ones in NeverWinter Nights.

Am I missing any?
 
They go to that well a lot.

Protheans in ME trilogy.

Ancient Arlathan in DA:I.

Primeval thaig in DA 2.

Rakatans in KOTOR.

Old Ones in NeverWinter Nights.

Am I missing any?

Well yes; I was kind of hoping that they tried a different angle this time. Like maybe pursuing a highly dangerous criminal that's just that, a criminal, without the involvement of all these mysterious devices/beings/lost technologies thingies.

Though I suppose it's hard to pursue the "threat to all galaxy" angle without the ancient technology blah blah blah.
 
I think people dreading 'Dragon Age Inquisition'-level grinding are forgetting how much more fun, engaging and dynamic the combat in the last two Mass Effect games was compared to Dragon Age's clunky party mechanics.

Hell, the ME3 multiplayer mode is nothing but grinding shooting galleries and it's great fun and satisfying to play. DA:I has a lot of virtues but this is something it couldn't emulate.

I'm all for fleshed out sidequests and meaningful content but, honestly, emergent ME3-style combat in varied environments sounds lovely to me.

I dunno, I thought Dragon Age: Inquisition's battle system was pretty fun (and similar to ME2/ME3 in a lot of ways). The part that made DA:I un-finish-able for me was the fact that I'd sit down, play for 5 hours, and walk away feeling like I hadn't progressed at all. It just didn't respect the player's time at all.
 
"Ancient civilization" is basically their go-to safety net to do it's-magic! cop-out plot progressions and resolutions.

Yeah well, hopefully they don't pull off another one of those "oooo loookieee the ancients actually provided us with a solution to our problems we just have to find it/complete it" bollocks again.

I still kind of hate how they conveniently just found the solution of all the Reapers problem back on Mars in ME3. Like, it's just in those files over there, T'Soni.
 
They go to that well a lot.

Protheans in ME trilogy.

Ancient Arlathan in DA:I.

Primeval thaig in DA 2.

Rakatans in KOTOR.

Old Ones in NeverWinter Nights.

Am I missing any?

To be fair, thats literally the entire concept of the game mass effect is based on.
 
To be fair, the Elves and Dwarves are still around, but you're right.

I think most of the civilizations are still around in some form in all those games.

To be fair, thats literally the entire concept of the game mass effect is based on.

Yeah Mass Effect and Dragon Age incorporate it pretty well into their lore I think, it's just that I wish they do something different this time given they've got a clean slate.
 
I think most of the civilizations are still around in some form in all those games.



Yeah Mass Effect and Dragon Age incorporate it pretty well into their lore I think, it's just that I wish they do something different this time given they've got a clean slate.
Finding ancient ruins unto itself isn't bad, it's the way it's used as a source for modern knowledge, technology, and intellect that bothers me. Dragon Age doesn't have this nearly as much, you learn from the past to know more about the now, but that's how it works in real life.
 
Finding ancient ruins unto itself isn't bad, it's the way it's used as a source for modern knowledge, technology, and intellect that bothers me. Dragon Age doesn't have this nearly as much, you learn from the past to know more about the now, but that's how it works in real life.

Yeah the trope itself isn't a problem, especially in a Medieval Western setting where the idea of technologically superior ancient civilizations reflects reality to some extent.

I'd just prefer to not see another Bioware game where the plot and stakes are shaped yet again by ancient progenitor space magic, given I think the premise otherwise sounds cool.
 
Yeah the trope itself isn't a problem, especially in a Medieval Western setting where the idea of technologically superior ancient civilizations reflects reality to some extent.

I'd just prefer to not see another Bioware game where the plot and stakes are shaped yet again by ancient progenitor space magic, given I think the premise otherwise sounds cool.
Going at a different angle with the Remnants can go a long way. The most interesting thing about the Protheans wasn't their space magic, it was how they shaped and influenced the Asari in the past. Their own tech could have been equal or lesser than the council races, but it would still be fascinating.

The most interesting thing about the ancient elves isn't their superiority, it's seeing the myth unmasked.
 
Going at a different angle with the Remnants can go a long way. The most interesting thing about the Protheans wasn't their space magic, it was how they shaped and influenced the Asari in the past. Their own tech could have been equal or lesser than the council races, but it would still be fascinating.

Javik saved the whole Prothean plot thread in my mind. They went from plot device to fascinating civilization in the span of like 4 conversations with the guy.*

*This is your daily reminder that the guy who wrote Javik - John Dombrow - recently returned to BioWare to be a Senior Writer for ME Next. :P
 
Repopulating and colonizing Andromeda would take a large amount and diversity of human subjects (DNA). With that in mind, any Ark ship would need to contain not just a few hundred or thousands, but tens of thousands of people to have proper genetic diversity in a new galaxy.

Maybe not. From http://genetics.thetech.org/ask/ask113:

"Conclusions. As you can see, this is a tough number to figure out. It all depends on the founders' genes. Too many "bad" genes with too few founders and you end up with a sickly group that probably won't survive. If you increase the number of people or decrease the number of "bad" genes, the group's chances go way up.

So, given the average number of bad genes in people, 160 is about the right number to give a good chance for survival. We'll have to build a pretty good-sized space ship to colonize another planet!

(Or maybe 70...a recent study at http://www.livescience.com/history/050525_america_settlers.html suggests that North America may have been settled by only 70 people!)"

More here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_colonization
 
Going at a different angle with the Remnants can go a long way. The most interesting thing about the Protheans wasn't their space magic, it was how they shaped and influenced the Asari in the past. Their own tech could have been equal or lesser than the council races, but it would still be fascinating.

The most interesting thing about the ancient elves isn't their superiority, it's seeing the myth unmasked.

The problem is the Remnant's impact on the Milky Way would have to be minimal unless they want to feed them back into the Leviathan/reaper business, and I think that's left well enough alone.

And this;

whose forgotten technology holds the key to gaining power in this region of the galaxy. As you uncover who the Remnant were, and the mysteries their ruins contain, you are drawn into a violent race to find the source of their forgotten technology that will determine the fate of humanity.

Does not fill me with confidence that it would be much more than a "collect x artifacts to activate Macguffin war winner'.
 
So, given the average number of bad genes in people, 160 is about the right number to give a good chance for survival. We'll have to build a pretty good-sized space ship to colonize another planet!

How many people have been sent to the gallows?
 
Hype overload.

Thought I would hate another galaxy vibe... seems I was wrong.

Oh wow. All of this sounds awesome. Although it does seem to imply that your main character is once again human.


...and thank the maker for that!

I need some humanity in order to get them 'human exploration' feels in my ME.
 
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