Mass Effect: Andromeda - Launch Trailer

[joxer]

From what I was reading last night, sounds like the real leads are in Montreal.

When it comes to games, numerous talents are in Montreal. I'm not saying there are none elsewhere, but the biggest concentration is exactly there. It doesn't matter which company they work for.

Maybe it's something in the air there?

 

[gabrielarantest]

(…) The issue is that many people, including myself, were a bit worried that MEA would end up being a single player MMO theme park in space (or series of single player MMO theme park like planets) with a largely empty world like DAI.(…)

That's exactly how I feel.

Really? I mean you're right that they "messed up" Dragon Age, but still, as crap as DA:I was in various ways, it's 5X the RPG that ME3 was and that number might even grow once we see ME:A.

BioWare did indeed turn ME into an action game since ME 2, which I didn't like also. But ME is essentially a shooter game, and the quality and depth of narrative of ME 2 and ME 3 are no less IMHO. The thing is that we can't say the same about DA. DA:O is one of the best cRPG I have ever played. DA:O has the best companions I ever played with, a simplistic but serious combat system, a fantastic lore and story depth, and a cinematographic experience. I'm replaying DA:O Ultimate Edition right now, the game is almost perfect IMHO. But can you honestly say the same about DA 2 or DAI? BioWare may even have preserved a superficial layer of a cRPG, but look at the narrative and its world. Look at the combat! It looks like a freaking anime. Where are the epic deathblow scenes of your party slaying an ogre? With all due respect, DA2 and DAI may even look like cRPG, but they are more similar to word of warcraft than to their predecessor.

 

[joxer]

It looks like a freaking anime.

Please, don't mention anime in ME threads.

I still have nightmares over this piece of s:

It's the only DVD I've ever thrown into trash. Me, #1 fan of the franchise.

 

[luj1]

This is Bioware/EA last chance to claw back ground lost to CDPR in terms of respectability and reputation.

I admire your optimism however I can't say I share it with you. BioWare has wasted years and years on commercialism and on making watered-down pseudo-RPG. Their last good (or just decent) games have been the first ME and the first DA.

You don't regain lost ground with the most mainstream, most commercial, fake RPG yet. They are continuing to plummet straight down, declining rapidly in the traditional RPG sense. To be fair, they choose a different destination.

I think in the long term EA has to follow the route TW3 presented.

EA will do no such thing. Their destination is Hollywood, to be a full-fledged, mass-producing industry. CDPR may be AAA, but are still in the traditional video game business with one leg.

 

[rjshae]

I'm expecting it'll sell well to the teen console crowd at least. Plenty of flashy graphics and action combat.

 

[azarhal]

Yeah, but that's an MMORPG, not an RPG… which is why I said RPG.

Also, I believe you may be wrong about the "leads". From what I was reading last night, sounds like the real leads are in Montreal. For example, direct quote from BioWare:

"To ensure a proper and effective transition, we'll continue to be supported by the Edmonton studio through the game's development, working with and learning from them on some critical initiatives. On top of that, Casey remains the Executive Producer, but he will have a Project Director under him, working in Montreal, leading our development team and making day-to-day decisions for the game."

In addition to the "Project Director" mentioned above, the "Lead Designer", Ian Frazier, is in Montreal. Also, I found mention of the (original) "Lead Writer" being Chris Schlerf, also in Montreal. An "Executive Producer" isn't normally involved to any real extent, so I see no evidence of any leads for this game being in Edmonton?

There is RPG in MMORPG, unless you stop reading at the three first letters…and SWTOR is basically a single player game anyway.

Don't you know that people can move between cities?

MEA leads:
MEA Creative Director (aka project director): Mac Walters (writer on ME1, Lead writer for ME2 and 3)
MEA Lead writer: Chirs Schlerf (stayed not even 2 years on a 5 years project) was replaced by Cathleen Rootsaert (writer on ME2 and ME3).
MEA art director: Joel MacMillan (worked on ME1, ME2 and ME3, started as a cinematic animator)
Senior Producer: Mike Gamble (was producer/manager on ME1, ME2 and ME2)
Voice director: Caroline Livingstone (she does all of BioWare games)
Montreal Studio Director: Yanick Roy (worked as lead/senior project manager on all 3 ME games)
Senior Tech designer: Graham Scott (worked on ME2 and ME3 and DAI)

MEA lead designer: Ian S. Frazier, new guy (was the lead designer of Kingdom of Amalur).

 

[luj1]

I'm expecting it'll sell well to the teen console crowd at least.

Isn't that the target audience?

 

[JDR13]

Was that the trailer for the next Fast & Furious movie?

 

[azarhal]

Was that the trailer for the next Fast & Furious movie?

I saw no cars in it, so no.

If you had said next J.J Abrams Star Trek, then I would have say yes.

 

[joxer]

Isn't that the target audience?

No.
This is from PAX east betatest.

Aka, I don't see mushrooms.

 

[GabrielMP_19]

I admire your optimism however I can't say I share it with you. BioWare has wasted years and years on commercialism and on making watered-down pseudo-RPG. Their last good (or just decent) games have been the first ME and the first DA.

You don't regain lost ground with the most mainstream, most commercial, fake RPG yet. They are continuing to plummet straight down, declining rapidly in the traditional RPG sense. To be fair, they choose a different destination.



EA will do no such thing. Their destination is Hollywood, to be a full-fledged, mass-producing industry. CDPR may be AAA, but are still in the traditional video game business with one leg.

Using the cinema analogy, you could basically say Bioware is Hollywood and CDPR is a famous mainstream european film maker.

 

[gabrielarantest]

Please, don't mention anime in ME threads.

I still have nightmares over this piece of s:

It's the only DVD I've ever thrown into trash. Me, #1 fan of the franchise.

lmao
I didn't know about that!
Still no more anime than DA:I

 

[Damian]

I think at this point it is foolish to expect the best games from EA. For EA the only thing that matters is sales and the bottom line. For Dead Space EA forced all these changes to try and get the game to sell at least 6 million copies or they though it wasnt worth it. The number would be even higher for a Mass Effect game since the development costs would be higher.

Chances are the game is going to be good but not great like the other Mass Effect games. If you are fan of the series and seeing all the EAisms in action, it's best to brace for a good game so if it is bad you wont be too disappointed and if it is great you will eb thrilled.

 

[Lucky Day]

When it comes to games, numerous talents are in Montreal. I'm not saying there are none elsewhere, but the biggest concentration is exactly there. It doesn't matter which company they work for.

Maybe it's something in the air there?

a) They're French.

b) The wages are lower.

 

[joxer]

a) No. Some are. Most aren't.

b) Meh, wages are even lower in India and you're not seeing gaming masterworks coming from New Delhi.

 

[Wisdom]

When it comes to games, numerous talents are in Montreal. I'm not saying there are none elsewhere, but the biggest concentration is exactly there. It doesn't matter which company they work for.

Maybe it's something in the air there?

Cost of talent is cheaper.
Cost of tech infrastructure is cheaper.
Tax incentives for company.
Tech advantage incentive for companies.

 

[joxer]

Please read my answer b).
Btw, EA support is based in India. At least I chatted with some of those. Talent is something they don't have. Regardless of cheap workforce.

So no. I'd be more inclined to accept that it's some nationality trait if I didn't know they're not all french.

 

[Wisdom]

You can believe whatever you like
Its a $ thing. No other reason.

 

[joxer]

Okay then, I'll start believing it's a result of some Monsanto's GMO experiment.

 

[Wisdom]

Its tax, tax, tax and less tax. True story. Its the only reason I hire people in that ridiculous province.