Monthly Archives: January 2013
Screenshot Thursday! featuring…..many?
Well, it finally happened. The “well” of contributed screenies, has run dry….momentarily. In this period of lag, I present a hodge-podge of screenies from myself, n7petiole, and sarahann62380. If you are interested in sharing your screenies, we are interested in showcasing them. Please let us know if you would like to contribute. As for now, on with the slides!
Character Spotlight | Tali’Zorah Vas Normandy
After over a month absence, we’re happy to again bring the Romance DLC community another Character Spotlight . This week’s column discusses our favorite Quarian engineer, Tali’Zorah, and was written by Noelemahc over at HTL. Here’s what he has to say about himself:
“I like all sorts of games, although if we’re getting down to brass tacks, I’m an “oldgamer” — Wasteland, Rogue and Rise of the Triad are among my favorites. I’ve been playing for over 20 years (out of my 26.5 years of living, yeah!) and it has probably coloured my subsequent existence in a strong way…”
An interesting aspect of the modern role-playing game genre (although, to an extent, this applies to any and all video games with sufficient player agency) is the fact that looking back on the decisions you’ve made during gameplay may bring you unexpected revelations about yourself and the way you view the world.
The fandom’s relationship with Tali’Zorah nar Rayya is an interesting example. Like many others, I was exposed to her for the first time not really in that dark alley next to Chora’s Den, but rather in Ambassador Udina’s office, with the debriefing, the swift revelations about Saren’s true turncoat nature and, of course, the way the incriminating evidence came to be discovered…and it left a mixed impression. An Eastern European accent, her face hidden behind a mask, the entirety of her body covered by the envirosuit, she initially presents as a pastiche of stereotypes about the Near and Middle East (the revelation that she even ran into the Geth because she was on her Pilgrimage added some weight to that particular camel’s back), but…
Monday Musing | Set Menu or Other……
Once again, my regular haunting places on the web have provided me with more fodder to ponder. The subject of choice has been written about much by forumites, bloggers, and even in previous Monday Musings. In one particular thread I frequent, an astute poster made note of a study regarding choice and happiness. If you do a search on the internet, you can find a number of references to such studies; many well worth a read. Back to the point. The poster explained that the study tried to reflect how giving people a chance to “change their mind” (by offering them the “choice” to change it), makes people less sure of their choices. With this unsurety comes unhappiness in their final decision. It is probably quite obvious where I am heading with this, in relation to the games we play. So, do games that offer us more choices, create a less happy result in how we view their conclusions?
When I look at the choices we are given for love interests in the Mass Effect games, I don’t see them as “31 Flavors” of choice. Instead I see a small menu of mild variety in personality and appearance. This is the menu we choose from. Most would probably see this as fine, though I have read complaints that it was “too much” choice. As for how we choose to engage in these relationships – whether friend, rival, or lover – most role players want a bounty of options. By the time a player finishes a single play through, how many of those choices did they have, and how many were they satisfied with the conclusions of said choices? Some studies on choice would suggest that many would be unsatisfied with the results of their choice, because they were offered too many options. However, many players have begun to associate choice and player agency as a key factor in role playing games. The definition of an RPG has been debated to death, and STILL there is no concensus. Because of this, I am not claiming what actually defines the genre so much as what players have simply come to expect. So do the trappings of our own expectations, result in less satifying conclusions to the stories we play? Read the rest of this entry
Focus Friday | Ashley Williams
Well, we are nearing the end. After today’s post we will have only 3 LI’s left to discuss in Focus Friday: Miranda, Jack, and Tali. Last week we discussed the survey results pertaining to our favorite L2, Kaidan Alenko. This week we thought it appropriate to dive into the player input regarding his comrade-in-arms, Gunnery Chief turned Spectre, Ashley Williams.
Ashley and Kaidan are not the same. They are two very different characters. Ashley is outspoken and opinionated. Kaidan is shy and low-key. Kaidan is certainly capable wielding a firearm, but his emphasis is on biotics. Ashley is a hard-core “soldier”, all the way. Kaidan was created as “the” heterosexual Love Interest for female Shepard. Ashley was created as “the” heterosexual Love Interest for male Shepard (Liara is technically bisexual, as far as human terminology goes). Kaidan’s entry into the game is subtle and a bit snarky. Ashley’s is the complete opposite — she sprints onto the screen, guns blazing in your face as she battles her attackers.
No, they are most certainly not the same.
However, despite their differences, in the world of Mass Effect they are congeners.
During the events of the original game, the player must choose to sacrifice whether Ashley or Kaidan in the war against Saren Arterius, Sovereign, and the Geth. From then on, Ashley and Kaidan have interchangeable “roles” in the series. This fact has lead to significant dissonance in the playerbase. Often times players feel that Ashley and Kaidan have become too interchangeable. Their character treatment blurred to the point of losing a bit of the characters themselves (i.e. inappropriate animations or uncharacteristic verbage). This perception regarding the…malleability…of the VS (Virmire-survivor) was magnified in Mass Effect 3, as Ashley’s character was altered by a significant amount physically from her previous self (see above right). We’ll discuss player reaction regarding this change, and many other aspects of Ashley’s romance and character in the comment recap below.
Players have strong opinions about Ashley — mostly due to Ashley’s strong opinions. As a result, they tend to either love her or hate her, and those who took our survey were no different. Continue reading to see what they thought!
Here are the statements which correspond to Ashley’s section of the survey:
- I was satisfied with the quantity of content in the romance.
- I was satisfied with the quality of content in the romance.
- There should be different interactions for a romanced versus unromanced Ashley.
- There should be an actual reward for staying loyal to Ashley throughout Mass Effect 2.
- I have other comments.
Not familiar with Ashley’s romance? After the break we have a tribute video that features some lovely moments between Ash and BroShep, courtesy of TheBroomKing (YouTube)…
Screenshot Thursday! featuring Kaidan Alenko and Dnaiel Shepard
Once again, @mnomaha has come to our aid by sharing her Kaidan and Shepard screenshots from ME3. As always, many thanks my friend!
Whether brushing off the likes of Finch, or beating down a thresher maw single-handedly, Dnaiel Shepard doesn’t let the trials and tribulations in life weigh him down. Who could blame Mr. Alenko for harbouring feels for our galactic-wise Commander. Thankfully, he was finally able to express those feelings, and lo and behold……Shepard felt the same way. A dynamic team of biotics and a sniper’s eye. In action, this pair is a sight to be seen. Have a steak on me, fellas!
Quote of Week #21
Going with a “Pick n’ Mix” approach this time, for the QotW. I randomly chose numbers in the General Comment section of the Survey, to post (though I had to re-pick twice; two were nearly novel size. A bit longer than we generally like to make this section. lol). Here is the mix for today:
“Thanks for the opportunity to do this survey, I really hope BioWare listens to us. Why didn’t you include anything about a reunion?”
“I would be more than willing to shell out money that develop the existing characters in any way. If they are LI options or not isn’t something I put a lot of empathize on, even if it would be appreciated to see some of the issues resolved that a few current romance arcs currently have, ME2 ones especially. Personally I’d prefer if the DLCs that are requested here tied in to story elements in the game, just like lair of the Shadow Broker did for Liara in ME2.”
“The romance-focused fanbase may be smaller, but I believe some steps in this direction could do a lot in regaining at least some peoples’ goodwill.”
“Every bit character in the series does not need to have SQUADMATE/ROMANCE DLC! People need to get a grip.”
Romances are More Than a Sex Scene
Today we have a special treat for the blog! Sarahann62380 was a bit too busy with work to chime in on our response to David Gaider’s blog post last week, but she still really wanted to contribute something to the discussion. Consequently, she took some time on her day off to put together a few thoughts to share with all of you, specifically regarding her feelings about the inclusion of romances in video games. Enjoy!
We all know this blog was started in hopes of getting more content with the love interests in Mass Effect 3. There’s a reason for that, and a reason this blog is approaching 51,000 hits. We love the characters. We love the way they can not only tug at our heart strings, but break our hearts. We love how we root for them just as much as we do for Shepard. We want to comfort them when they’re broken, smack them when they’re being stupid, and jump their bones (or whatever) when they’re being adorable or sweet. My Shepard is out there to save literally everyone, and to have that “soft place to land” in Kaidan, makes her that much more resilient and determined. I’m sure if you’ve romanced a different Love Interest, you feel the same way; you want to save the galaxy not just so the alien races and humanity can live on, but so your Love Interest can live on, as well.
I do not believe romances are critical to games. I do not believe there’s anyone who actually does believe that. In the types of games I play, the story is what’s most important. But, to add that extra emotional aspect of a romance…it’s such a wonderful addition. I’d be lying if I didn’t say there’s been more than one fictional character who has made me swoon, made me giggle, made me scream at my TV, or made me cry, and yet I come back and do it all over again — and I’m happy to do so.
Monday Musing | Reflections….
Some of you may have caught the twitter feed a few days back, in regards to the “final” meeting of the ME3 team. The presumption is, that this indicates an ending to new content, with the exception of the so-called “Citadel DLC”. Now, I have no way of knowing whether or not this is true. Until anything official is stated by BioWare, we just don’t have enough information. So what is the point of bringing this up? Because it is still news, and has caused me to contemplate a few things.
Right after the twitter feeds were posted on the BSN, I commented in a thread I frequent, on how this made me feel. The idea that the Mass Effect trilogy was truly coming to an end. I was strangely at peace with it. Maybe all the uncertainty, the concentrating on missed opportunities for this final game, and pinning my hopes on something that was potentially a long shot from the beginning (regarding the edition of extended romantic content in an ME3 DLC), had been more mentally exhausting than I wanted to admit. I am not suggesting in such an overly dramatic fashion, that I regret involving myself with any of my Mass Effect dealings. On the contrary, it was a great outlet for a strange and unexpected passion I developed. I still enjoying discussing this game, and until any official news gets released, I will continue to express that passion I carry for these characters and this “universe”. Then why do I bring up this nonesense about feeling “at peace”? Hmmmm…..I’m not entirely sure.
Maybe I feel at peace, because I can focus on what I actually enjoy playing, and forget about the rest. Maybe it is because we will find out soon enough whether our efforts here and elsewhere have had any potential impact. It could also be that it gives me a chance to reflect on what “good” did come out of my disappointment for the last game. Some of those being meeting new and like minded people, many I have come to call friends. Being able to exercise a more creative side to my writing (writing proposals, lease agreements, drafting memos and designing notices doesn’t exactly fulfill my artistic side….lol), through this blog and the forums I frequent. These things have value. And I honestly appreciate them.
In reflection of this past year, I would ask all of you, what are YOUR feelings about the “wrapping up” of the Mass Effect trilogy? Will you stick around to see how the future of this IP unfolds? For me, I plan to hold fast, till the “fat volus sings”.
Focus Friday | Kaidan Alenko
Today’s post marks our 20th installment of Focus Friday, the column in which we take a deeper look at the results pertaining to a specific Love Interest or some other aspect of the survey. For the last two weeks we’ve been covering Thane Krios‘ survey results, which were lengthy, contentious, and complex. Today we’ll jump back to one of the original Love Interests from Mass Effect, Kaidan Alenko.
courtesy of tumblr
Kaidan is a central character in the world of Mass Effect. Along with Joker, Nihlus, and that combat-genius Corporal Jennings, he has some of the first on-screen lines spoken in the series, and is actually the first Love Interest we meet (though you don’t know it at the time). Indeed, one of Kaidan’s primary roles in Mass Effect was to be the heterosexual Love Interest for female Shepard, and thereby female players themselves. Our survey indicates that he has been extraordinarily successful in this — over 63% of the female playerbase has romanced Kaidan. Because he was available as a Love Interest from “Day 1”, he is one of the few characters with a more extensive and complete romance (and character) arc, and many players from our survey found his portion of the story extremely rewarding.
An important change in Kaidan’s character was implemented in Mass Effect 3. He was now a bisexual…or at the very least “Shepard-sexual”, if you will…romance option. Kaidan remained available to FemShep, but was now available to BroShep, as well. In fact, along with Steve Cortez, they were the first same-sex romance options available to a male Shepard. This was a welcome addition to the game, considering female Shepard had two same-sex romance options available from the very first game. We’ll discuss player response to this development in Kaidan’s sexuality in the “Comment Recap” section below.
Here are the statements which correspond to Kaidan’s section of the survey:
- I was satisfied with the quantity of content in the romance.
- I was satisfied with the quality of content in the romance.
- There should be different interactions for a romanced Kaidan and an un-romanced Kaidan.
- There should be an actual reward for staying loyal to Kaidan throughout Mass Effect 2.
- I have other comments.
Cosmic Love 
Quote of the Week #22
Jan 30
Posted by coldwetn0se
I decided to grab a few more quotes from Survey takers, responding to questions about New And Non-Fully Romanceable characters. As you can imagine, many had thoughts regarding Samara and Kelly, but there were good responses for the likes of James Vega, Javik, Kasumi Goto, Gianna Parisini and others, regardless of the fact that they were never made romanceable in any of the games. Enjoy!
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Tags: comments, ME3, romance, survey