Why was a title like Mass Effect Andromeda given to B:Montreal when they have next to no experience

Your guess is as good as mine, but it's possible that the other team is working on the new IP…or something.

A-team busy with whatever they are busy, EA wanted new ME game. So in goes the b-team to, among other things, put "BIOWARE" on a box since most people will not do research and see it's the WRONG Bioware. NO way EA waiting for A-team to finish whatever they doing to get on ME, so we've got what we've got.

Correct, a new IP. Only small hints about it.

blog.bioware.com/2017/01/31/a-note-about-our-new-ip/

Also, Montreal did the Mass Effect 3 multiplayer portion - no facial animation required. And quite possibly a low budget didn't help. I've no major complaints about game environment and only a few about gameplay at this point.

The information is probably available from various on-line sources.

YOU could start there. Recently there was a picture showing BioWare's Andromeda staff in Montreal, Edmonton and Austin studios.

ME, playing the game.

What we have to understand is that when it comes to a major enterprise with several divisions, a game is "mostly" done by one of the divisions, but usually with assistance from other divisions. Its common to have people being transfered to assist other divisions. Nowadays, with skype, email as fast internet connection this is possible even to do remotely. As the creators of Mass Effect, I am sure that Bioware Edmonton had some input and helped to clarify some matters, but this was, at the end of the day, a Montreal project.

Come to think of it, Bioware is actually involved with a lot of stuff during the production of Andromeda. Dragon Age Inquisition (and its DLC content) in development, DLCs for The Old Republic, a new Star Wars game, the game that was canned, the second other new IP. Quite a lot of things being done simultaneously.

Between star wars, dragon age and a brand new IP, Mass Effect really got the smallest straw.

I guess that simply having to wait a few more years was not an option.

Thing is, if they want Bio to add a full studio, rather than kept Montreal as an off-site DLC shop, they have to actually get to make a game sometime.

Oh this meme.


And a fuck ton of players. Longtime fans unhappy with the singleplayer but shocked that they loved MP was a thing.


MEA was made by a mix of ME vets and people new to the franchise. You know, much like ME2 and 3.

how many of those vets were ME3 MP and Omega devs and how many worked on the main games or the other DLCs?

I really think the outcome of all this is so varied, I won't be sure about anything.

It could range from this killing the franchise and no more Mass Effect (even cutting short DLC)...

...to this being largely predicted by EA anyway (and they're just cashing in on MP and EA/Origin Access while getting this over with) and the series is all-but-confirmed another game with a shorter development time, but more opportunity to better use resources.

It isn't as if they don't have experience otherwise they wouldn't be there at all. They have done some work on DLC for DA series. They aren't green exactly. From what I've heard the problem wasn't being "green" it was having shit management and that includes Edmonton as they are the "overseers" for them. That I believe as shit management is literally bioware's biggest problem and has been the biggest problem with EA titles in general. Too many who lack good management and leadership skills taking over for leaders that quit then doing piss poor, but never getting removed from the position.

www.gamerevolution.com/features/supposed-former-bioware-employee-explains-what-went-wrong-with-mass-effect-andromeda

True.

Quite true.

But even so, an AAA as a first fully-developed title? Why not a small spin-of game? Or a game intended for the mobile market? 

If you want to be a hollywood director, you've got to direct. But really? Who could possibly in his/her right mind give a first-time director fresh out of film school a 45 million USD movie? Even a 12 million figure sounds a bit risky. One of the pillars of the company, a series that was game of the year material, helped define the last generation, in inexperienced unproven hands? Too much of a gamble. 

Bioware Montreal was clearly capable of crawling and even standing up for a few moments. But prior to running a marathon, they should have mastered walking. Things happened at a faster pace than they should have. A car placed in front of the horses. A Mass Effect title deserves more care and consideration. People are even drawing comparisons on how in many aspects DAI and even the prior ME games look more polished. And sadly, they do have a point. 

Even beamdog is looking to be more cautious. First they just revamp games, then they create DLC/expansions. And only then they will try a brand-new title, but not with an stellar budget. And they are waiting for the right moment and until they can secure the right personal. They are proceeding methodically, one step at a time. As it should be. 

Oh that's a zinger. It hurts a little because its so true.