Confidence Man said:It's all lip service.
I remember in one of the old threads before ME2 came out there was concern about it's direction, and one of the Dr.s posted not to worry, that it was as much an RPG as the first game.
Nirolak said:More Casey Hudson interviews: http://www.gameinformer.com/b/featu...on-interview-mass-effect-s-feedback-loop.aspx
Confidence Man said:It's all lip service.
I remember in one of the old threads before ME2 came out there was concern about it's direction, and one of the Dr.s posted not to worry, that it was as much an RPG as the first game.
AShep said:That whiny, racist bitch Ashley is a Spectre? What the fuck?
After all the pomp and circumstance about Shepard becoming the first human Spectre they go and tarnish the whole thing with THIS?
I haven't finished ME2 so I don't know if this makes me sound like and idiot or not
Ashley is not the only survivor of Eden Prime. Jacob survived just fine.Kitschkraft said:Okay so this is a rant, but it's been on my mind since I read the announcement :
To be fair, we don't know much about what other alliance soldiers are up to, what their abilities are, etc. It makes sense that the Alliance would be pushing for another human spectre, and from what we have seen, Ashley would have to be near the top of the list.
She was the only soldier to survive the attack on Eden Prime. She was an important part of the Shepard crew that stopped the reaper (Or, Geth Dreadnought according to the incompetent council). She knows Anderson and Udina. She's been to meetings with the council and therefore they know of her. She has an understanding of council dealings. She was given the important assignment on Horizon. Beat the kobayashi maru. Etc.
Also, from what we've seen thus far, most of the Spectres seem to be assholes, cynics, tough bastards...even Bioware seems to want Shepard to be a "renegade", so he fits into this as well. Ashley seems like the type of personality that the council would approve of. You might say "but Ashley hates the council", which is true, but they don't know that, and she wouldn't turn down a powerful position that could help humanity further it's influence in citadel space.
I understand why people dislike it, I hate it myself, but I can understand how she became a candidate.
My biggest gripe with it is that by giving her Spectre status, Bioware essentially drops one of her most interesting character themes : her inferiority/persecution complex in regards to her family name being tarnished.
I thought that one of her biggest "issues" was that she was always being looked over for promotions because of her name. Even Shepard comments on this during one of their convo's. She also has that conversation where she talks about feeling small in the universe, and questions what a foot soldier can really do in the age of space flight and all powerful sentient robots. Even her relationship with male Shep (If you choose that route) seems to at least partially be about her trying to validate herself.
Bioware had an opportunity to really give her a decent arc, and they've missed it here. She could have been given Spectre status as an end game cutscene, after her heroism made a difference in the reaper battle. Or maybe sacrificed herself to save people (Preferable aliens, once again, to show some character growth and close out her character arc). Tons of places they could have went with her, but they've taken the most predictable route.
Of course, most of this doesn't really apply to Kaiden, and I personally don't buy him as a soldier, let alone a spectre. Someone a few pages back talked about why he's such a shit character, saying that a realistic arc for him would be retirement, and since games can't really show that type of arc, it creates dissonance. I agree, but that's the risk of writing two separate characters who are meant to fill the same exact role.
tldr : 1) Ashley is one of the better human candidates in the universe that we've encountered. 2) Bioware sucks for fucking up her character arc.
CrazyDude said:Ashley is not the only survivor of Eden Prime. Jacob survived just fine.
Not disagreeing, just pointing it out.Kitschkraft said:You're right, she was the only one to survive in her squad/unit, my mistake. Still, the point was that she has some credentials that probably warrant her for consideration.
He also quit the Alliance and joined Cerberus. Which kind of negates any reasons some one might have had to suggest him for becoming a specter.CrazyDude said:Ashley is not the only survivor of Eden Prime. Jacob survived just fine.
Which is pretty much the whole problem. If they developed and showed this story arc it might have been acceptable. But nope apparently specter status came as a bonus along with her boob job that she got some time during the six months that pass between games 2 and 3.Kitschkraft said:I understand why people dislike it, I hate it myself, but I can understand how she became a candidate.
Jarmel said:Here's a thought, Shepard gets his SPECTRE status yanked and the Alliance pushes for another human candidate as a replacement ending with Ashley.
FoeHammer said:I'm not sure how it played out for others, but I recall regaining my Spectre status in ME2 (although it meant jack shit).
samdavis said:I forget, what did you have to do to make sure that you regain it? I'm pretty sure that I did (don't know how I'd find out now that I've finished the game unless they send you an email) but I don't remember the cutscene that accompanied it (if there was one).
valentine71 said:It is about the decision you made about the Council in Mass Effect or in Mass Effect Genesis (on PS3).
If the Council is saved
From Mass Effect Wikia: Though the Council cannot take any official action, they offer to restore full Spectre privileges to Shepard on the condition that the Commander restricts operations to the Terminus Systems. Shepard can accept or refuse the offer.
If the original Council died, the new Council will refuse to meet with Shepard. If Anderson is Councilor, the Commander can still be granted Spectre status, but this is played down as being a mostly symbolic gesture. If Udina is Councilor, then Shepard will not be granted Spectre status.
No. Mass Effect needs to fix its own god damn problems before dragging in the MP crewLunchbox said:they should release a beta with dragonage2 expansion disc
space ship online multiplayer
perks
killstreaks
prestiging
Scanning is supposed to be making a return, but they said there will be changes.Tylahedras said:I was not a fan of scanning. I'd rather have dead worlds like ME1 then have scanning.
Tylahedras said:Do we know how they are handling planets?
I was not a fan of scanning. I'd rather have dead worlds like ME1 then have scanning.
Tylahedras said:Do we know how they are handling planets?
I was not a fan of scanning. I'd rather have dead worlds like ME1 then have scanning.
Nirolak said:Oh god the Fornax commentary. XD
If they just increase the amount speed and the size upgrades of the scanner reticle it wouldn't be as tedious.Typographenia said:Scanning is supposed to be making a return, but they said there will be changes.
Yeah, even with the additional upgrades you got from the crew it was still agonizingly slow.anonnumber6 said:If they just increase the amount speed and the size upgrades of the scanner reticle it wouldn't be as tedious.
I had to scan the complete surface every planet until it was depleted just for the sake of completion. It probably added a couple of hours onto each playthrough, like most mini games it loses it's novelty the more times you play it.Typographenia said:Yeah, even with the additional upgrades you got from the crew it was still agonizingly slow.
My first playthrough I was trying to mine every planet that sat around moderate or higher. My second playthrough, I'm making note of the areas I either didn't scan, or I only partially scanned, in case I need more minerals later on. I'm attempting to save money and time. Curse my ocd-ness!
Typographenia said:Yeah, even with the additional upgrades you got from the crew it was still agonizingly slow.
My first playthrough I was trying to mine every planet that sat around moderate or higher. My second playthrough, I'm making note of the areas I either didn't scan, or I only partially scanned, in case I need more minerals later on. I'm attempting to save money and time. Curse my ocd-ness!
I'm sorry, this feature only exists in SWTOR.Lakitu said:They should just have some really boring guy stationed on the Normandy and have him do the mining all the time for you.
Wiggum2007 said:They actually released a patch that doubled the size and speed of the scanner at one point; as bad as it is now it was even worse back around release.
Yeah, I have definitely noticed a change, but it still takes me way too long. I know I'm doing it to myself, but I can't help it!Wiggum2007 said:They actually released a patch that doubled the size and speed of the scanner at one point; as bad as it is now it was even worse back around release.
AShep said:That whiny, racist bitch Ashley is a Spectre? What the fuck?
After all the pomp and circumstance about Shepard becoming the first human Spectre they go and tarnish the whole thing with THIS?
I haven't finished ME2 so I don't know if this makes me sound like and idiot or not
valentine71 said:It is about the decision you made about the Council in Mass Effect or in Mass Effect Genesis (on PS3).
If the Council is saved
From Mass Effect Wikia: Though the Council cannot take any official action, they offer to restore full Spectre privileges to Shepard on the condition that the Commander restricts operations to the Terminus Systems. Shepard can accept or refuse the offer.
If the original Council died, the new Council will refuse to meet with Shepard. If Anderson is Councilor, the Commander can still be granted Spectre status, but this is played down as being a mostly symbolic gesture. If Udina is Councilor, then Shepard will not be granted Spectre status.
Ickman3400 said:They really should take scanning completely away or have some npc do it because even on PC where you can make it as quick as you want, it's still extremely boring and tedious.
Lifejumper said:New in Game Informer update. This one is all about Mass Effect 3.
http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/04/28/casey-hudson-interview-mass-effect-3.aspx
Good to know that dead characters stay dead. Was a little worried after DA2.Lifejumper said:New in Game Informer update. This one is all about Mass Effect 3.
http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/04/28/casey-hudson-interview-mass-effect-3.aspx
Darknessbear said:Man, I don't get why Bioware keeps discussing story elements. Do people really want to hear everything that is going to happen in ME3? I mean, we've made it so far (ME1, ME2) we can hold off and experience the story for ourselves.
Mister_Bubbles said:I'd guess they want to make it clear it has a strong story, after the complaints for ME2.
Yea exactly. I could sort of understand heavily discussing the story pre-Mass Effect 2, due to a majority of people not knowing Mass Effect is a trilogy and to get those that enjoyed ME1 coming back. But at this point in time, I'm sure the only people following ME3 are those that complete ME2 (and maybe ME1) and know where the story is headed. No need to constantly explain each element that will make up the story experience - we can do that for ourselves.Ickman3400 said:I hope that's not the case. Short of spoiling the story they can't do anything pre-release that would convince me or anyone else that ME3 will bring the story back. Bioware is infamous for their pre-release hype and bullshit.
We're all going to play it anyway so there's no need to make us angrier by spoiling so much.