Mass Effect producer asks: prequel or new sequel?

The Internet certainly wasn't quiet with its thoughts on Mass Effect 3, leading to BioWare taking the remarkable step of expanding its ending in free DLC. With the mysterious next game in the series, BioWare is asking fans for feedback early, currently curious about whether you fancy a sequel or prequel.

32

The Internet certainly wasn't quiet with its thoughts on Mass Effect 3, leading to BioWare taking the remarkable step of expanding its ending in free DLC. With the mysterious next game in the series, BioWare is asking fans for feedback early, currently curious about whether you fancy a sequel or prequel.

"Parsing through your thoughts on the next #ME game. Would you be more interested in a game that takes place before the trilogy, or after?" series executive producer Casey Hudson said on Twitter. Go, spill your guts, whisper sweet nothings and furious rage or his Internet ear.

BioWare recently commented that the next game's star won't be just another space-soldier. BioWare Montreal will be heading the next game, taking the reins from the main studio in Edmonton studio which handled the original trilogy.

Of course, one cynical take on this question is that it's a big ploy to make fans feel they're involved in the process while BioWare will make whichever decision it jolly well pleases.

Mass Effect 3 isn't over and done with yet, mind. The sci-fi RPG has just hit Wii U, which we've reviewed, and Shepard's off to help Aria in the 'Omega' DLC later this month.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    November 20, 2012 6:55 AM

    Alice O'Connor posted a new article, Mass Effect producer asks: prequel or new sequel?.

    The Internet certainly wasn't quiet with its thoughts on Mass Effect 3, leading to BioWare taking the remarkable step of expanding its ending in free DLC. With the mysterious next game in the series, BioWare is asking fans for feedback early, currently curious about whether you fancy a sequel or prequel.

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 7:06 AM

      Prequel....Not much to do in a galaxy after the badassery that was Shepard.

      • reply
        November 20, 2012 7:41 AM

        I feel the opposite. An exploration of a devastated galaxy that has had its equivalent of the interstate highway system beat the hell up sounds real interesting. I'd rather make new ME history than play what's already been written.

      • reply
        November 20, 2012 7:48 AM

        Wait I thought ME3 was suppose to be the end, done, period? That didnt last long.

        • reply
          November 20, 2012 8:27 AM

          It's the end of the trilogy that focuses on Shepard. Of course they're going to make more games in the universe.

      • reply
        November 20, 2012 7:53 AM

        The complication is that there aren't really many big events involving humans before ME1, and the biggest one is a one sided war they were on the losing end of.

        • reply
          November 20, 2012 12:17 PM

          [deleted]

        • reply
          November 20, 2012 1:09 PM

          The funny thing about Mass Effect planet scanning was you got to read all of these great little stories about rebellions and events they never cover in the game. They could set up a story about one of those events that is big enough for a planet or a system of plants, but not necessarily Universe threatening.

      • reply
        November 21, 2012 12:15 AM

        Humans are pretty new to the "galaxy," right? So, if they wanted you to be a human, they couldn't go too far back. But, the future is wide open.

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 7:30 AM

      hmm, I dont know, I mean a sequal where they are trying to repair the mass effect relays where you are a turian spectre/solider or something and stumble upon some separatists planning to hamper the rebuilding could be sort of fun.

      • reply
        November 20, 2012 7:55 AM

        IAWTP. I want a sequel where we're trying to fix the damage of the shitty ending from the last game.

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 7:41 AM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 7:44 AM

      I hope they do sequel and expand on the world. They would have to choose one canon ending for ME3 in that case though.

      Prequel would be just more of the same. I already have 3 games about this cycle.

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 7:48 AM

      I hate prequels. I'd rather move forward, not backward, since the later games will (usually) have better art and effects and you can expand on the original ideas to give people new stuff with familiarity.

      Prequels always run into story problems.

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 7:49 AM

      I'd be interested in a sequel without the universe-in-peril plot. Maybe limit it to a small sector of the galaxy with much more fleshed-out solar systems.

      • reply
        November 20, 2012 8:41 AM

        THIS!!! ...

        I'd love to see a sandbox game where I can just be a smuggler/bounty hunter/merc/assassin/space asshole and just take missions and interactions. Give me an overarching story plot, but don't make it End of the World the sky is falling SERIOUS aliens from another galaxy are showing up absolutely ahead of us in power and are ready to rule our pitiful assess. Something low key, like one particular contigent of pissed off people.

        So yeah, I guess I want FO:NV in SPPPPAAAAACCEE!!

      • reply
        November 20, 2012 8:45 AM

        Yeah I would really like to see something that was much smaller in scope. Something with a much more personal in scale that would give the player to really dive in the deep end of the universe. However this is Bioware, they don't do non-epic scale games.

        • reply
          November 20, 2012 8:15 PM

          From the moments I saw and read about the Wards, I wanted a noir style game based in them.

      • reply
        November 20, 2012 10:45 AM

        Yeah a story about rediscovering the other races would be really cool. Have Cerberus become the bad guy trying to keep all borders closed and bing bang boom done.

      • reply
        November 20, 2012 1:43 PM

        You mean like what they tried to do with Dragon Age 2, just without the shitty execution?

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 7:56 AM

      Same creative team, something different

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 8:38 AM

      [deleted]

      • reply
        November 20, 2012 10:53 AM

        ^ Seconded

      • reply
        November 20, 2012 5:57 PM

        I think it was already confirmed he's on the staff for this one.

      • reply
        November 20, 2012 6:01 PM

        I loved ME1 & 2, but I think that they lost the plot big time with 3 and don't have confidence in their ability to make something good.

        But why do you dislike this dude? He helped make 1 & 2 I think.

        • reply
          November 20, 2012 7:29 PM

          I think that is more of the fact that Drew Karpyshyn wrote a majority of the first two games he didn't work on 3 at all. Instead he was pulled to work on SW:TOR and left Bioware shortly after it was released.

          Though I must say I was having fun with 3 right up till the end and much of the rest of it worked minus the bad aftertaste the ending left you with.

          • reply
            November 20, 2012 9:57 PM

            Good point. Definitely a name to remember, this Drew Karpyshyn.

        • reply
          November 20, 2012 8:16 PM

          [deleted]

          • reply
            November 20, 2012 8:21 PM

            maybe, but he directed all three ME games. I don't particularly focus on the ending only, I found the whole game lacking TBH (though the ending was super extra shitty).

            • reply
              November 20, 2012 9:47 PM

              Drew wrote ME 1
              Drew and Casey wrote ME 2
              Casey wrote ME3

              Drew was the influence for the best part (and creation) of the story.

              • reply
                November 20, 2012 9:57 PM

                Thanks for the informative post,

          • reply
            November 20, 2012 8:32 PM

            Mass Effect probably wouldn't have existed either without him. I believe he was the one who originally pushed for the new IP at Bioware.

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 9:20 AM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 9:27 AM

      I would like to experience a story that encapsulates the Mass Effect trilogy as both a prequel and a sequel, and where your decisions from the trilogy carry over into a persistent post trilogy universe.

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 9:37 AM

      A new team? That rarely comes out well.

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 10:01 AM

      Where is C) New Franchise?

      • reply
        November 20, 2012 10:36 AM

        Bioware is working on a new IP. It is what the Bioware Edmonton is working on instead of Mass Effect.

      • reply
        November 24, 2012 3:48 PM

        That's pretty much my thoughts. Really I hate endless sequels/prequels it just shows lack of imagination and greed. Personally I've gone back to the 1990s games, graphic suck compared with what's currently out there but the games are actually fun and have depth not just an interactive movie.

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 10:07 AM

      Sequel. I want to see a post-Reapers galaxy.

      • reply
        November 20, 2012 10:43 AM

        Ya, and maybe do that Dark Matter shit some justice this time.

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 10:41 AM

      I thought an "open world" type of story set in one of the space stations The Citadel or Omega would be fun.

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 10:47 AM

      Where is C, JADE EMPIRE 2.

      • reply
        November 20, 2012 5:59 PM

        I think that this game would almost possibly redeem BioWare in my eyes. Almost

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 10:48 AM

      Weak.

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 10:51 AM

      If they aren't certain where they want to take Mass Effect then they probably shouldn't be forcing a new one out.

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 11:08 AM

      As long as they bring back Luke and Leia for it, I don't care. ;)

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 12:12 PM

      Sequel. Has to be. I hate anyone that votes prequel.

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 12:14 PM

      NO MORE PREQUELS! EVER! It should come after the trilogy but not a direct sequel in any way.

      • reply
        November 20, 2012 1:35 PM

        Hey man, just because George bit your dick off when he promised great head doesn't mean other prequels can't give the best metaphorical blowjob of your life.

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 12:24 PM

      more machine kid and dream sequences please

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 1:33 PM

      First contact war surely

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 1:34 PM

      If I say 'prequel', will it become a KotOR game instead?

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 2:01 PM

      Sequel, but throw it 250 years later or something.

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 8:00 PM

      Midquel, I want Mass Effect: C-Sec where you play a fresh C-Sec Officer immediately after the events of the first game.

      Tasked with maintaining order on the Citadel after a devastating terror attack from an at that point unknown aggressor, helping with evacuation efforts and the purging of Geth remnant forces while Shepard is still under the rubble.

      Later on you get to investigate uprising smuggling cartels, have a run in or two with that awesome C-Sec dude from ME2, get to decide if you stay clean or become a dirty cop and stuff. Ever tightening security measures get implemented and you're rushed through the ranks as a parade boy, you get to manage your own district and eventually have to stop fanatics from blowing up your part of the Citadel.

      And all of that with the trademark BioWare cast of diverse, quirky characters. You play either a Human female or Turian male.

      I want this.

      • reply
        November 20, 2012 9:50 PM

        If you could choose your own species beyond either human or turian, I'd be down for this. I guess C-Sec inherently limits the species from Mass Effect you can use. Either this or what excite_mike mentioned (and with co-op FFS).

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 8:22 PM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 9:01 PM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 9:41 PM

      Haha. They were all 'our artistic vision!' before and now they're just like uh well what do you guys want

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 10:29 PM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      November 20, 2012 11:55 PM

      An idea I read from a shacker a while back: Play as a Quarian on pilgrimage

Hello, Meet Lola