So I saw some movies for it... now, normally I'm a huge KOTOR fan, but Mass Effect just didn't do it for me. The sci-fi galactic thing was too much like KOTOR, but the universe as shown in the movies is kinda generic... it's just like the universe in Freelancer or X2/X3... just this techno club character. <BR><BR>Anyways, the movies were a pretty big letdown.
Mass Effect
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If Mass Effect doesn't "do it" for you (and you're a RPG/KOTOR fan as you say), you might as well say games don't "do it" for you anymore.<BR><BR>Sorry, but you fail. Also your thread is like real omg lttp and brings nothing to the table. Where you you months ago when people actually cared to discuss this?
After reading the prequal novel for the 2nd time, I'd just like to state that they may be creating one of the most amazing sci-fi settings since Star Wars. You lose 2x.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"><BR>it's just like the universe in Freelancer or X2/X3... just this <B>techno club character</B> . <BR> </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Wow, is that the only thing your brain absorbed from the trailer?<BR><BR>That's kind of like saying Splinter Cell is mostly about wearing goggles.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">That's kind of like saying Splinter Cell is mostly about wearing goggles. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Or Wind Waker is mostly about sailing..........wait...
I didn't feel like cracking open hello world's ribcage to shit in his chest, as he's free to his opinion. Plus it looks like you guys already filled the cavity. I too think the art direction looks too generic, although that's arguably a problem for most sci-fi and fantasy RPG settings. What I do like is the conversation system, which looks very whim-based. So if I'm listening to an NPC and he's starting to annoy me, I can quickly gravitate the conversation to another subject, and make him submissive or shut the hell up. I've been waiting to do that to Bioware NPCs for a good decade now. -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif -- <br><br>If the conversation system is as cool as I think it'll be, I call for a remake of Baldur's Gate 2. Being able to backhand Jahiera would be worth the price of admission. Have Jennifer Hale come back to do "please, stop hurting me" lines.
WTF is wrong with you guys (excluding hoyle1911 since he actually tried to post an intelligent response to the OP). He has an opinion on a game and thought he would share it. You guys need to lighten up and stop acting like Mass Effect fanboy assholes. There is no need to shit all over him for saying what he thinks about a game that isn't even out yet.<BR><BR>That being said, the game looks great to me. I am definitely looking forward to it. The conversation system looks like it could be pretty awesome. Here's to hoping the game is as good as I think it will be...
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by hoyle1911:<BR>I too think the art direction looks too generic </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Im curious, what scifi art do you feel is non generic?
non generic... starcraft? redneck space marines were pretty cool. The techno-space thing has been done to death.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">WTF is wrong with you guys (excluding hoyle1911 since he actually tried to post an intelligent response to the OP). He has an opinion on a game and thought he would share it. You guys need to lighten up and stop acting like Mass Effect fanboy assholes. There is no need to shit all over him for saying what he thinks about a game that isn't even out yet. </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Same thing happened to Zelda TP when Jeff G. over at Gamespot gave it a 8.8 for retreading old ground and a slow beginning. Apparently some projects are above reproach, which is patently stupid to assume. Nothing is perfect afterall. <BR><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> Im curious, what scifi art do you feel is non generic? </div></BLOCKQUOTE> <BR><BR>hello world posted a good example in Starcraft. Not remarkably original but a good remix of scifi humans by making them rednecks in a Confederacy with strong in-fighting (democracy turning into a dictatorship, with Rainer and Kerrigan leading the rebellion). Races Protoss and Zerg aren't terribly new, but allowing empathy for each race made the plot richer. No one is truly good or evil, just factions positioning themselves over each other.<BR><BR>I think Firefly is a good series. Good use of the costume department while keeping it just campy enough without it turning into a mess. A mashup of different genres but it works well. Familiar yet better than thrown together. <BR><BR>BSG is good at using believable uniforms and living quarters, and the weird octagonal paper and curse words are throwbacks to the original. Excellent usage of nukes, traditional ammunition, Newtonian physics, and gritty grime and blood. The Cylons are a little too Terminator for me, but the humans are done well.<BR><BR>None of it is completely new, but it doesn't feel generic to me. Until I play the hopefully rich world of Mass Effect, the costume and racial choices look very haphazard and Star Trekkish, which all looked really generic to me except the Klingons and Ferengi. Garish might be a word I'd use.
Once again, the book elaborates on the society much more than the trailers and actually helps me understand the "art direction" which is far from generic. The descriptions of the characters, races, planets/stations etc sound phenomenal.<BR><BR>I felt the trailers were very generic and not a good representation from what I’ve read about the game on their forums and Q&A.<BR><BR>Of course, I'm still holding judgment till I play the game; however, the book is a wonderful sign of the plot to be.
Well frankly, I should have done better with the crapping, instead of any real valid criticisms (imo of course) he just mentioned he didn't like it and that it looked like X, Y or Z from other games. I'm not saying it's bad, I'm not saying it's gonna be good, but offer up some more substantial criticisms please, more than just the crap of wah wah wah I don't like it. I felt that the OP's post was totally devoid of content.
From what I've seen of Mass Effect it seems like they've only revealed a very small corner of the universe they've created.<BR><BR>Some parts of the combat system "SOUND" like they're taken from Brothers In Arms, for example the stop-time view where you can examine the battlefield and give orders while things are paused.<BR><BR>Honestly, the only thing that I've seen that makes it look like it's ripping any other sci-fi is the dark energy powers thingys. They sound just like the Maze Survivors powers from the Deathstalker books.
At the risk of someone tearing off my head and shitting in my neck, I must say that I, too, fear the "generic", although it probably has more to do with Jade Empire than anything. <BR><BR>Some may disagree, but Jade Empire felt a tad dry and I came away uncertain whether Bioware moving away from established, rich IPs is a good thing. Jade Empire instilled some skepticism in me. So, when looking at Mass Effect stuff, I can't help but look for signs that this game will have more life to it than Jade Empire.
Well, the entire game doesn't take place in a 'techno club':<BR><BR>View image: http://masseffect.bioware.com/_commonext/images/me/screenshots/x06/masseffect_03_1280x760.jpg <BR><BR>It's an RPG where characters can change their clothing and this is reflected by their in-game appearance. Its some of the most cohesive, well-designed female clothing/armour I've seen in SciFi:<BR><BR>View image: http://masseffect.bioware.com/_commonext/images/me/screenshots/2007/masseffect_14_1280x760.jpg <BR><BR>View image: http://masseffect.bioware.com/_commonext/images/me/screenshots/2007/masseffect_10_1280x760.jpg <BR><BR>The aliens seem interesting and unique to me:<BR><BR>View image: http://masseffect.bioware.com/_commonext/images/me/screenshots/2007/masseffect_02_1280x760.jpg
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by nikolaihunt:<BR>At the risk of someone tearing off my head and shitting in my neck, I must say that I, too, fear the "generic", although it probably has more to do with Jade Empire than anything. <BR><BR>Some may disagree, but Jade Empire felt a tad dry </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Yup, I'll go ahead and disagree. 'Dry'? Jade Empire was as non-generic, rich, stylised and unique as its possible to get. What other RPG is even remotely like it?<BR><BR>If Jade Empire put you off, frankly there's no hope. Maybe want you actually want is something more <I>familiar</I>? Ie. you actually want the generic and aren't seeing it?
It might depend where he's coming from.<BR><BR>Jade Empire was a somewhat bland and generic fusion of various Asian -- primarily Chinese -- mythologies and themes, with a few nods here and there to some of the classic literature it used as inspiration (Water Margin, etc.)<BR><BR>It would only be extremely unique and fresh to someone not too familiar with Eastern myths and thematic elements.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by insertinanename:<BR>It might depend where he's coming from.<BR><BR>Jade Empire was a somewhat bland and generic fusion of various Asian -- primarily Chinese -- mythologies and themes, with a few nods here and there to some of the classic literature it used as inspiration (Water Margin, etc.)<BR><BR>It would only be extremely unique and fresh to someone not too familiar with Eastern myths and thematic elements. </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>I disagree. Even if you <I>were</I> familiar with them, it could still be unique and fresh given the context: a video game RPG. I've played at least 50x more RPGs that weren't set in Chinese mythology than I've played ones that were.<BR><BR>Anyway, this particular end of the debate is pointless: if someone thinks something is generic the only thing you can do is show them how it isn't (or is, depending on your view). Given the limited amount of ME content available from Bioware, and a limited understanding of why the OP thinks its generic, a few screenshots (see above) is the only meaningful contribution that can be made to the thread.<BR><BR>Which is why its a bad thread: little or no valuable discussion can come of it. So why post it to a public discussion forum?
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I disagree. Even if you were familiar with them, it could still be unique and fresh given the context: a video game RPG. I've played at least 50x more RPGs that weren't set in Chinese mythology than I've played ones that were. </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>The fact that it was a rpg has no bearing on the setting and the personal evaluation of whether or not it was interesting and fresh or bland and generic.<BR><BR>As I said, it depends on his point of origin.<BR><BR>(I'm not going to get into the other weaknesses of Jade Empire, like the still fairly Western interpretation of good and evil in the game.)
I think most of you are not understanding what the word "generic" means. There's a reason sci-fi and fantasy are called "genre literatures." Generic (something from a genre) simply means of a kind. Far future space aliens and galactic conflict? There's lots of other stuff that does that, so it's generic; that is, it is of a type of story that contains certain common elements.<BR><BR>Saying something is generic isn't a bad thing. It's a descriptor of the things included in the story. If it wasn't generic, it wouldn't be sci-fi.
What I liked about Halo was that suddenly here was this original IP that Peter Jackson could produce. Suddenly your own IP could make movies that would conceivably bring in half a billion. <BR><BR>Its a tremendous system shock for games strategists. That's the reason MS bought Bungie. Because it takes really special secret sauce to make IP that lasts and embeds itself into today's short attention span generation.<BR><BR>Bioware is one of the few companies (Blizzard is another) who have the vision depth and secret sauce of their own to create that IP. Mass Effect seems like its headed towards that and certainly that's what Bioware want. It would be interesting to see how this pans out but I would not ever count them out. Based on what I have seen so far the story is epic and engaging and the technology a worthy evolution of a next gen cycle. <BR><BR>If it bored anyone they were either having a boring day or are desenstized enough to think that Natalie Portman and a younger Carrie Fisher naked in a Hot tub shaped like Darth Vader's helmet is just okay and they'd rather have twinkies instead.<BR><BR>Sorry for the meandering post. It's Sunday.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Secondhand Jack:<BR>Saying something is generic isn't a bad thing. </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>You mean, isn't <I>necessarily</I> a bad thing. The OP clearly intended his usage of the word to be derogatory (ie. he desires it wasn't generic: "but the universe as shown in the movies is... generic... the movies were a pretty big letdown").
Really? Starcraft and Halo are being put down in the "not generic" category?<BR><BR>So apparently any world consisting solely of "space marines," "elitist metaphysical aliens," and "hive minded bugs" is not generic. Despite those three things being incredibly cliche seperatly, and those three things being brought together countless times throughout the history of sci-fi.<BR><BR>Come on guys. Those games didn't just "raid the bin" IP wise. They freaking wallowed in it.<BR><BR>The only reason you could call Mass Effect generic is due to the fact that the exact nature of the aliens and environments are not obvious. If they had gone for the obvious and iconic "I'm a nightmarish looking hive minded space monster," "I'm an elitist small mouthed alien with pupil-less eyes and a superiority complex," "I'm a daft princess that you found in a god damn box," and so forth, I guess people would be singing their praises about how bold and inventive their IP is.<BR><BR>It seems as though mass effect didn't hit all the standard go-to sci-fi notes, and it's bullcrap that people are calling them generic for it.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Bammer:<BR>So apparently any world consisting solely of "space marines," "elitist metaphysical aliens," and "hive minded bugs" is not generic. Despite those three things being incredibly cliche seperatly, and those three things being brought together countless times throughout the history of sci-fi. </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>They depict future Human civilisations as having space travel and you think it's somehow clichéd that these civilisations should have a military component? You explain the combat by having the protagonist as a military man; it just wouldn't work if he were a Master Chef rather than a Master Chief... actually maybe there'd be some humour there.<BR><BR>Originality and such doesn't really come from the setting used; it's not <I>what's</I> happening but <B>why</B> it's happening.<BR><BR>That said I too am surprised that there are people out there who aren't wetting themselves in anticipation of Mass Effect.
So far everything about Mass Effect has me psyched.<BR><BR>I don't understand what the OP is getting at. Is ME sharing some things seen in KOTOR? I would hope so because the KOTOR universe was very well made and I am sure they took alot of elements that made KOTOR successful to put in ME.<BR><BR>Is it "Generic"? Quite possibly in that the plot may be similar to other games/stories but you can argue that ME merely takes popular elements in Sci Fi and made a game based upon those elements.<BR><BR>Being that currently there isn't really any other Sci Fi IP out there to compete with it(especially movies/books) I would welcome to see what Bioware can do with the "generic" Sci Fi elements.<BR><BR>This game is actually making me excited about buying a next gen system.
of course I'm eagerly anticipating the game. It's a bioware game, and is more or less KOTOR 3. <BR><BR>yeah, the original post wasn't written very well. I was watching the NBA finals at the time (multitasking...) Suffice to say, I was underwhelmed by the preview trailers, the world seems sterile, it isn't vibrant the way other game worlds like star wars or firefly are. star wars had the cantina and prissy golden androids... firefly had a good dose of irony... mass effect so far looks like it takes itself waay too seriously.
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<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Being that currently there isn't really any other Sci Fi IP out there to compete with it(especially movies/books) I would welcome to see what Bioware can do with the "generic" Sci Fi elements. </div>
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<br><br> -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_confused.gif -- <br><br>Oh, you mean in gaming?<br><br>Fallout 3 is coming out -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif -- But we'll see if Bethesda ruins that or not.
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<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Being that currently there isn't really any other Sci Fi IP out there to compete with it(especially movies/books) I would welcome to see what Bioware can do with the "generic" Sci Fi elements. </div>
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<br><br> -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_confused.gif -- <br><br>Oh, you mean in gaming?<br><br>Fallout 3 is coming out -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif -- But we'll see if Bethesda ruins that or not.
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<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I disagree. Even if you were familiar with them, it could still be unique and fresh given the context: a video game RPG. I've played at least 50x more RPGs that weren't set in Chinese mythology than I've played ones that were.<br> </div>
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<br><br>I agree with insertinanename. Way too generic a KOTOR with bad action gameplay and a "Chinese mod" skinned over a story. I felt the Romance of Three Kingdoms series had a decent treatment of Chinese history, although that focused on a military sim and not an RPG. James Mielke from 1up had a good discussion on Retronauts podcast where he described it best. Take a bad treatment of Chinese history, mix in a weak action game, and you have Jade Empire. Felt too much like white guys from Canada trying to tell a Chinese story. I guess it wouldn't be as glaring if there weren't already a thousand Chinese books and films that do historic stuff better.<br><br>If you're going to crib the Chinese, I think Max Payne and The Matrix did it best. Basically, take elements of what makes the asian content kickass, then change it and make it your own. The end result feels unique yet familiar, and neither of the western producers ended up embarrassing themselves by relying on asian stereotypes. <br><br>Jade Empire felt too Dynasty Warriors and Shogun:Total War to me. There's definitely something to be said about understanding some of the culture and history of the people you're depicting. In other words, Bioware isn't above reproach, and they've had misses in the past. The backstory callaway alludes to sounds promising, but I'm still somewhat skeptical.<br><br> <blockquote class="ip-ubbcode-quote">
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<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> of course I'm eagerly anticipating the game. It's a bioware game, and is more or less KOTOR 3. </div>
</blockquote> <br><br>++ Same here. Although I'd call it KOTOR 2. What Obsidian did was drop the ball, so they don't really count. -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif -- <br><br>Criticism and skepticism isn't always the same as cynicism and hate. There will always be that potential misunderstanding on discussion boards.
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<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I disagree. Even if you were familiar with them, it could still be unique and fresh given the context: a video game RPG. I've played at least 50x more RPGs that weren't set in Chinese mythology than I've played ones that were.<br> </div>
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<br><br>I agree with insertinanename. Way too generic a KOTOR with bad action gameplay and a "Chinese mod" skinned over a story. I felt the Romance of Three Kingdoms series had a decent treatment of Chinese history, although that focused on a military sim and not an RPG. James Mielke from 1up had a good discussion on Retronauts podcast where he described it best. Take a bad treatment of Chinese history, mix in a weak action game, and you have Jade Empire. Felt too much like white guys from Canada trying to tell a Chinese story. I guess it wouldn't be as glaring if there weren't already a thousand Chinese books and films that do historic stuff better.<br><br>If you're going to crib the Chinese, I think Max Payne and The Matrix did it best. Basically, take elements of what makes the asian content kickass, then change it and make it your own. The end result feels unique yet familiar, and neither of the western producers ended up embarrassing themselves by relying on asian stereotypes. <br><br>Jade Empire felt too Dynasty Warriors and Shogun:Total War to me. There's definitely something to be said about understanding some of the culture and history of the people you're depicting. In other words, Bioware isn't above reproach, and they've had misses in the past. The backstory callaway alludes to sounds promising, but I'm still somewhat skeptical.<br><br> <blockquote class="ip-ubbcode-quote">
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<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> of course I'm eagerly anticipating the game. It's a bioware game, and is more or less KOTOR 3. </div>
</blockquote> <br><br>++ Same here. Although I'd call it KOTOR 2. What Obsidian did was drop the ball, so they don't really count. -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif -- <br><br>Criticism and skepticism isn't always the same as cynicism and hate. There will always be that potential misunderstanding on discussion boards.
I think Mass Effect is purposefully going for a 'Golden Era of Sci Fi' kind of look to it, which (in my opinion) hasn't been done very often lately. More Flash Gordon, less Star Wars. I like it. I don't think this is too hackneyed.<BR><BR>My biggest complaint about the treatment I've seen is the aliens. They fell in to the Star Trek trap: bunch of humanoids with two arms and two legs and yes even boobs for the alien women. That's a bit boring and tired. But probably necessary for character model and dramatic purposes (i.e. I'd have a hard time feeling bad for my squad mate who is a giant jellyfish, its pleading look as the life left its blasted body would be lost on me, not necessarily knowing where its head was at... etc.)
Romance of the Three Kingdoms was... well it reads fine in Chinese but to be honest the more I read it the more I dislike it - the games too. Lo Kuan-Chung had none of the eloquence of Bo Juyi or a dozen other writers from centuries before him.<BR><BR>I really liked Jade Empire. I thought it was fun, and at no point did I get all hoity-toity "white men trying to do China" with it. Most of my time these days is spent researching Tang to Qing China and the Vijayanagara to Mughal period India, and I really didn't get a negative vibe from Jade Empire. It's certainly immeasurably more respectful of the originating mythology - though not being set in China proper it doesn't even need to be - than any Western mythology themed game I can think of from the Orient.<BR><BR>Actually bit of a tangent here, but where are the Asian mythology games? You get China and Japanese based titles all the time, but no Asian titles. No Hindi classic or the like. Here's an idea for a game; you're an family man from Hindustan caught up in the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857; you're thrown in the middle of a conflict between Mughal loyalists, Hindi nationalists and the British. I'd buy that.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by hoyle1911:<BR>The backstory callaway alludes to sounds promising, but I'm still somewhat skeptical. </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>I have the book but haven't started to read it yet. But for everyone's information, there are two sample chapters available to read, written by the lead writer of the game.<BR><BR>It seems like a setting that allows plenty of scope for interesting and deep story telling.
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<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Nerfgun:<br>My biggest complaint about the treatment I've seen is the aliens. They fell in to the Star Trek trap: bunch of humanoids with two arms and two legs </div>
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<br><br>There's plenty of reason to believe that if sentient life existed elsewhere in the universe it would have two legs and two arms. (eg. at large scales you don't need more than 4 legs, and for tool manipulation and subsequent evolution of intelligence you need at least two limbs free and opposable thumbs or similar).<br><br><br><blockquote class="ip-ubbcode-quote">
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<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">(i.e. I'd have a hard time feeling bad for my squad mate who is a giant jellyfish </div>
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<br><br>Well, they have those too -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif -- :<br>-- View image here: http://masseffect.bioware.com/_commonext/images/me/screenshots/x06/masseffect_11_1280x760.jpg --
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<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Nerfgun:<br>My biggest complaint about the treatment I've seen is the aliens. They fell in to the Star Trek trap: bunch of humanoids with two arms and two legs </div>
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<br><br>There's plenty of reason to believe that if sentient life existed elsewhere in the universe it would have two legs and two arms. (eg. at large scales you don't need more than 4 legs, and for tool manipulation and subsequent evolution of intelligence you need at least two limbs free and opposable thumbs or similar).<br><br><br><blockquote class="ip-ubbcode-quote">
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<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">(i.e. I'd have a hard time feeling bad for my squad mate who is a giant jellyfish </div>
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<br><br>Well, they have those too -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif -- :<br>-- View image here: http://masseffect.bioware.com/_commonext/images/me/screenshots/x06/masseffect_11_1280x760.jpg --
Wow those screenshots have me all kinds of excited. The second one in the first collection looks like it's from a movie. Very impressive.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by hoyle1911:<BR>If you're going to crib the Chinese, I think Max Payne and The Matrix did it best. Basically, take elements of what makes the asian content kickass, then change it and make it your own. </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>I don't want to derail the thread, but could you briefly summarize how MP borrowed from Chinese history/culture? I like the game, but have always regarded the story as a standard revenge fantasy.
What got me most excited, other than the book, was a comment by the producer. It was something to the effect of:<BR><BR>"When you play Mass Effect, we want you to feel as you're a character in an epic sci-fi movie..."
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> I don't want to derail the thread, but could you briefly summarize how MP borrowed from Chinese history/culture? I like the game, but have always regarded the story as a standard revenge fantasy. </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>The guys at Remedy said it best. Basically they watched every John Woo and Hong Kong action movie they could get their hands on multiple times. Then, they combed over what they liked and applied it to Payne. "Bullet time" was just the slow motion they used in action films. <BR><BR>What they intelligently avoided doing was make a Hong Kong cop the lead character and give him a fake ass accent. At least with the New York noir setting they could give a decent treatment.<BR><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> "When you play Mass Effect, we want you to feel as you're a character in an epic sci-fi movie..." </div></BLOCKQUOTE> <BR><BR>Bioware also said "Jack Bauer in space". Very exciting if they pull it off. I wonder if there will be a sense of urgency in the game.
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<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by callaway:<br>After reading the prequal novel for the 2nd time, I'd just like to state that they may be creating one of the most amazing sci-fi settings since Star Wars. You lose 2x. </div>
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<br><br>I just finished the book and I am even more stoked now for the game... If that's even possible... -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif --<br><br>I'd gladly trade Hangfire's soul to have this game in my hands now.<br><br>And what's amusing is that they even touched on the reasoning behind why most species are bipedal in the book. I thought that was a nice touch (and it was even done in a not too expositional manner too).<br><br>I can understand how someone could claim it looks generic from the movies/pics, but the world behind is looking to be one of the most complete and well thought out I've read in a while.
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<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by callaway:<br>After reading the prequal novel for the 2nd time, I'd just like to state that they may be creating one of the most amazing sci-fi settings since Star Wars. You lose 2x. </div>
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<br><br>I just finished the book and I am even more stoked now for the game... If that's even possible... -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif --<br><br>I'd gladly trade Hangfire's soul to have this game in my hands now.<br><br>And what's amusing is that they even touched on the reasoning behind why most species are bipedal in the book. I thought that was a nice touch (and it was even done in a not too expositional manner too).<br><br>I can understand how someone could claim it looks generic from the movies/pics, but the world behind is looking to be one of the most complete and well thought out I've read in a while.
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<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by hoyle1911:<br>Bioware also said "Jack Bauer in space". </div>
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<br><br>Uh oh. This is what I think of:<br><br> -- View image here: http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/6427/masseffecttorturetg5.jpg -- <br><br>-- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif --
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<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by hoyle1911:<br>Bioware also said "Jack Bauer in space". </div>
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<br><br>Uh oh. This is what I think of:<br><br> -- View image here: http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/6427/masseffecttorturetg5.jpg -- <br><br>-- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif --
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