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[EatChildren]

Going by the 100-questions-Walters-vid classes are still in somewhat, via the specialised arms, as when asks he says about seven and specifically mentions vanguard.

So I'm guessing the class system is a proper series of branching trees and character shaping, versus the rigid class system of the trilogy. Kind of like older CRPGs and Elder Scrolls and The Witcher with greater flexibility in builds.

It's a different way to do it, but whether or not it's detrimental depends entirely on execution. Specifically XP distribution, and how easy it is to "max out" everything and swap specialisations. If it's not, again kind of like The Witcher, it would encourage replays.

If done right I'll probably prefer this, as I like this template for role playing versus the class specific structure.

 

[NegativeCero]

Well this announcement has finally pushed me to start ME3. A big reason I hadn't yet is that I don't have my old save from 360. So I just downloaded someone's save and imported it and works great! Added a controller support mod and galactic readiness mod bc i have no interest in multiplayer to make it a smoother experience.

 

[Mœbius]

With all due respect, I wish people stopped mentioning ME1 as if it was the perfect Sci Fi RPG...

No worries and no disagreement actually on your points about the improvements in ME2. I actually agree that combat and mechanics in ME1 were flawed and the gameplay experience (compared to ME2) was more often than not bad; I never claimed ME1 was perfect in terms of gameplay. I do however think that ME1 was tonally (and as I mentioned conceptually) much more interesting to me as a sci-fi RPG than what the series ended up being by ME3.

You don't have to agree with me on that part either, it's just how I feel about the approach to the sci-fi elements and tonal elements of the ME universe (and the impact that has on the type of game being made).

 

[TiM3_4_P4iN]

i think ME 1 was the worst part of the trilogy, i think the more action like gameplay was pretty good for the series

the plot holes at the end of ME 3 was something different, but in my opinion ME2 > ME3 > ME1

 

[Hello? This is Hailun!]

i think ME 1 was the worst part of the trilogy, i think the more action like gameplay was pretty good for the series

Im the opposite. I really dislike how it slowly became a more cleaner SciFi version of TPS Cover Shooter.

 

[Ridesh]

I just want to see a big city/hub like Novigrad.

The voice over competition mentioned a Capital.

 

[oneils]

I ended up buying this issue of the magazine on the iOS store for $5.99. It felt weird as I haven't bought a video game magazine in years.

I have to say it was really well done. The cover story is about 20 pages and has tons of information about the game. It was totally worth the asking price. I see, now, why BioWare went this route. Gameinformer totally did it justice, in my opinion.

 

[Renekton]

I just want to see a big city/hub like Novigrad.

The voice over competition mentioned a Capital.

I'm not a big fan of capitals for sci-fi exploration. Spoils the discovery mystery mood.

 

[Nostremitus]

I think you're misunderstanding me here. I'm not asking for a save import from 1-3, I'm asking if there will be a Dragon Age Keep system that will keep track of your decisions in Andromeda and games going forward.

That wouldn't even need to be a consideration until the second Andromeda game.

 

[Ridesh]

Another hint at the release date.

 

[Staf]

Isn't march a bad month to launch a game in 2017? Isn't Nintendo Switch being released that month? Sure, the audience between that and Andromeda dosen't completely overlap but still...

 

[JeffZero]

Isn't march a bad month to launch a game in 2017? Isn't Nintendo Switch being released that month? Sure, the audience between that and Andromeda dosen't completely overlap but still...

I honestly don't foresee the Switch making a dent in Andromeda sales at all.

 

[Staf]

I honestly don't foresee the Switch making a dent in Andromeda sales at all.

Fair enough. It's anecdotal but got a few friends brought this up, who wants both the Switch and Andromeda. I don't really care about the Switch.

 

[DeadlyParasite]

Mmm, I don't see the need for a Switch overtaking the need to play the first Mass Effect game in over 5 years.

 

[10k]

Calling the new Mako "Nomad" is smart. A lot of people just stopped playing at ME1 because of the Mako traversal and combat. It's kind of like a reboot.

Making the nomad a traversal vwhicle only with no combat is a good call imo.

 

[velociraptor]

This sounds good besides the exploration aspect with the Mako. Who really wants to drive around aimlessly into the middle of nowhere? Exploration in games is such a waste of time.

 

[Renekton]

This sounds good besides the exploration aspect with the Mako. Who really wants to drive around aimlessly into the middle of nowhere? Exploration in games is such a waste of time.

Sounds like instant gratification culture. I quite enjoy wandering around in Xenoblade, ME1 and Star Control 2.

Bioware is in a scary position having to satisfy fans from Star Control camp and from Gears of War camp. The last similar compromise resulted in combat hybridization of Dragon Age.

 

[jdstorm]

I honestly don't foresee the Switch making a dent in Andromeda sales at all.

Fair enough. It's anecdotal but got a few friends brought this up, who wants both the Switch and Andromeda. I don't really care about the Switch.

March is going to be pretty crazy with Horizon also due at the same time. Gravity Rush 2 will also be out for people who like JRPGs. The begining of next year is crazy. Even if you dont like nintendo. (Though i petsonally do. Hoping for MEA Switch id buy the crap out of a custom N7 launch console bundle)

 

[Nostremitus]

Another hint at the release date.

It'll be playable earlier this year? How retro. We all just didn't notice that it came out 8 months ago.

 

[TC McQueen]

Isn't march a bad month to launch a game in 2017? Isn't Nintendo Switch being released that month? Sure, the audience between that and Andromeda dosen't completely overlap but still...

Was EA on that list of 3rd party support for the Switch? If so, they might just port the game to Switch, which would be a pretty good idea, actually.

 

[Sou Da]

AMA is up now.

https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/5c9sdu/im_joe_juba_the_writer_of_game_informers_mass/

 

[John Kowalski]

This sounds good besides the exploration aspect with the Mako. Who really wants to drive around aimlessly into the middle of nowhere? Exploration in games is such a waste of time.

This is KILLING ME

 

[Sou Da]

I'll keep updating this I guess?

sisonaCR

Did you see any casual places where Ryder and their squad can hang out besides the Tempest? Will squad dialogue only be able to happen in our ship hub as usual or can we talk on the go?

joe
I could be wrong about this, but I'm pretty sure I heard some characters chatting while driving around in the Nomad (the new Mako). However, I didn't see any full-scale dialogue interaction in the field – like where you can just stop wandering and have a conversation like you would have on the ship.

Not to say it isn't possible, but it wasn't in our demo (and I didn't think to ask about it during the studio visit. Sorry!).

Liam is confirmed black so he might be the guy in those teaser images.

 

[Ralemont]

I'll keep updating this I guess?

Should be enough info for a new thread by the time the AMA's done, no? That Liam is black is entirely new info.

 

[Ushojax]

Is the film grain gone for good? Will they have enough memory to let us holster our weapons this time?

 

[Sou Da]

Should be enough info for a new thread by the time the AMA's done, no? That Liam is black is entirely new info.

True.

Joe Answered a big post, here's the only newish info
On New Races and if they have their own cities/ aren't hostile

I'm sure there will be more than one new race, but don't know about their civilization(s) and/or hostilities.

On Tone:

*This is a question that I just can't answer without playing more of the game. It's too big-picture for the slice we saw – though I'd be surprised if it immediately started out as grim and hopeless as ME3.

On Conversations and if we are able to recognize and choose tone

For players who enjoyed the role-playing element of being a paragon or renegade Shepard, some dialogue wheel options might have one of four tones attached. They were explained to me as: head, heart, professional, casual.

I didn't see much of this in action, but from the description, it reminded me of Alpha Protocol's approach to coloring your dialogue options.

 

[Sou Da]

Groundbreaking info:

Ah! So, here's the thing about other races: 4 specifically came to Andromeda on the Arks (Turian, Salarian, Human, Asari). However, the Nexus (which is kind of like Andromeda's version of the Citadel) was sent ahead of the Arks, and the Nexus had a more varied staff.

I don't know specifically which other races (apart from Krogan) got to Andromeda via the Nexus, but theoretically, it could be any of them.

At the same time, because this is the fresh start for the series, I don't think the team wants to overwhelm players with a bunch of weirdo aliens, so don't expect ALL of them to show up. If I had to bet, I'd say Quarians will be there. I wouldn't be so confident in C-tier species like Vorcha, Batarians, etc...

 

[Schlorgan]

Groundbreaking info:

As long as I can romance a Quarian lady, I'm down with whatever.

 

[SargerusBR]

Groundbreaking info:

Kinda makes sense since (I assume) the Initiave is approved by the Council and the Batarian Hegemony is at the time of ME1/2 declared enemies of the Citadel.

 

[Sou Da]

I got the whole thing, gonna make a thread.

 

[AlimNassor]

I wouldn't be so confident in C-tier species like Vorcha, Batarians, etc...

Of course. Only the human aliens get to go. Doubtful if we'll get any other civilizations either.

 

[Cpt.Underpants]

Would the BioWare devs stick to their guns using a google stock image of a woman as a quarian or completely revamp how quarian looks in andromeda?

The stock quarian was hillarious to see imo, far too human

 

[A-V-B]

Would the BioWare devs stick to their guns using a google stock image of a woman as a quarian or completely revamp how quarian looks in andromeda?

The stock quarian was hillarious to see imo, far too human

Crazy thing is they had other designs they could've gone with.

 

[Warablo]

i think ME 1 was the worst part of the trilogy, i think the more action like gameplay was pretty good for the series

the plot holes at the end of ME 3 was something different, but in my opinion ME2 > ME3 > ME1

I prefer ME 1 drastically better than ME 2 & 3. I remember even feeling down about the sequels knowing they cut back on the RPG explorer aspect.

 

[Cpt.Underpants]

Crazy thing is they had other designs they could've gone with.

ah well, what can we do. Although I hoping they'd revamped the look of the quarian race instead of settling for a google stock photo

 

[Cpt.Underpants]

Liam and Peebee info

 

[DeadlyParasite]

Blech. Everything about them trying hard to make fringe companions as a means to distance themselves from companions in the past just rubs me the wrong way. If it means I have throw P.B (god I hate that name) into the darkest corner of the Tempest to avoid using her I will.

 

[EatChildren]

It doesn't sound like they're making fringe characters to me, so much as being aware of the risks in writing characters overly similar to the trilogy. And I feel it's a good approach to try and avoid repetition. I don't want a repeat of the trilogy no matter how much love I have for the cast. I want a new experience.

I'm feeling a bit more positive about PeeBee too, even if her name is silly. The thing that rubbed me the wrong way about Sara was that she was an obnoxious idiot; like the worst "fuck the system" archetype that has no idea what they're actually talking about. Her bubbliness and fun was always straddled with an invasive, one dimensional attitude towards everything. In contrast to this PeeBee sounds more positive and pro-active; her social and behavioral quirks more a product of her personality/upbringing and not necessarily indicative of how she treats the mission. Comparatively PeeBee sounds invested and committed to positive things, whereas Sara was just a rebel without a cause.

 

[Sou Da]

It doesn't sound like they're making fringe characters to me, so much as being aware of the risks in writing characters overly similar to the trilogy. And I feel it's a good approach to try and avoid repetition. I don't want a repeat of the trilogy no matter how much love I have for the cast. I want a new experience.

I'm feeling a bit more positive about PeeBee too, even if her name is silly. The thing that rubbed me the wrong way about Sara was that she was an obnoxious idiot; like the worst "fuck the system" archetype that has no idea what they're actually talking about. Her bubbliness and fun was always straddled with an invasive, one dimensional attitude towards everything. In contrast to this PeeBee sounds more positive and pro-active; her social and behavioral quirks more a product of her personality/upbringing and not necessarily indicative of how she treats the mission. Comparatively PeeBee sounds invested and committed to positive things, whereas Sara was just a rebel without a cause.

It also doesn't help that Sera was a huge racist and if you attempted to change her mind on anything she'd loathe you for it.

No idea what they were going for there.

 

[EatChildren]

It also doesn't help that Sera was a huge racist and if you attempted to change her mind on anything she'd loathe you for it.

No idea what they were going for there.

My first impression was that BioWare were aiming for a rebellious, punk archetype who defies authority and established conventions, particularly socially. But all they did was straddle this with obnoxiously ignorant perspectives and an antagonistic personality. Maybe they intended for that? I don't know. But she definitely seems ill-conceived due to the overwhelmingly negative impression she gives the more you learn about her and confront her attitudes.

 

[Yabberwocky]

Liam and Peebee info

Liam's description reminds me a bit of Garrus in ME1, with a bit more idealism. I'm a bit disappointed we didn't see Liam's face, as I thought we might have seen a bit more of Ryder's squad with N7 Day. PeeBee could potentially be interesting, but her tackling Ryder on their first meeting is a bit... yep.

 

[Sou Da]

My first impression was that BioWare were aiming for a rebellious, punk archetype who defies authority and established conventions, particularly socially. But all they did was straddle this with obnoxiously ignorant perspectives and an antagonistic personality. Maybe they intended for that? I don't know. But she definitely seems ill-conceived due to the overwhelmingly negative impression she gives the more you learn about her and confront her attitudes.

Funnily enough she's almost exclusively written by the head writer of BG2. And he's had the idea for her since around NWN days? Weird.

 

[JeffZero]

Interesting to note that the team cut a squadmate.

Spoiler tags since I'm about to address the leak:

Spoiler

The leak mentioned seven, right? So, I suppose there's a fair chance there are now six.

Might not be so cut-and-dry as all that, but it's possible.

 

[Gunslinger]

So this game is a prequel?

 

[A-V-B]

So this game is a prequel?

No. It takes place 600 years after the series ended.

 

[Belakor]

Global Cooldowns dropped? Count me excited

 

[Schlorgan]

It doesn't sound like they're making fringe characters to me, so much as being aware of the risks in writing characters overly similar to the trilogy. And I feel it's a good approach to try and avoid repetition. I don't want a repeat of the trilogy no matter how much love I have for the cast. I want a new experience.

I'm feeling a bit more positive about PeeBee too, even if her name is silly. The thing that rubbed me the wrong way about Sara was that she was an obnoxious idiot; like the worst "fuck the system" archetype that has no idea what they're actually talking about. Her bubbliness and fun was always straddled with an invasive, one dimensional attitude towards everything. In contrast to this PeeBee sounds more positive and pro-active; her social and behavioral quirks more a product of her personality/upbringing and not necessarily indicative of how she treats the mission. Comparatively PeeBee sounds invested and committed to positive things, whereas Sara was just a rebel without a cause.

That's a really insightful observation. Thank you.

 

[JeffZero]

Yeah, Sera's definitely bad news overall. I kind of like how much she looks like Star Trek: Voyager's Kes and controlling her in combat made me realize I'm a rogue at heart, but those are the nicest things I can say about her. The loudness and aimlessness of her fuck-the-system scorch just doesn't work very well.

 

[Hollycat]

I can't wait for Mass Effect

 

[PinkCrayon]

Would the BioWare devs stick to their guns using a google stock image of a woman as a quarian or completely revamp how quarian looks in andromeda?

The stock quarian was hillarious to see imo, far too human

I haven't scrubbed through the trailer but are there any Quarians in it? If not I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't have an ark at all, considering their entire conflict revolves around getting their home planet back.