IF Mass Effect truly is dead, will/should EA/Bioware even announce this?

If MEA were actually "dead" or on extended hiatus with no intention to make another game in the foreseeable future, there is no way EA or Bioware would actually announce that. Why should they? They would say nothing for years until there was a time they felt the climate was right to reuse the franchise. There's no need for them to sell it, and no incentive to do so. They will simply say nothing and have fans wondering at every E3 and EA Play if a new Mass Effect title will be revealed.

That being said, I don't think they are oh indefinite hiatus. I think they have a clear plan to develope MEA2, but need to get other titles like Anthem on track and really think about how they want to do the next title. If the Kotaku article is right about anything, it's the development hell the game went through, with lack of direction, years of work on procedural planets scrapped, and they game we see before us put together in about 18 months. EA and Bioware will ensure that the next game has a very clear direction before putting money into it. But there will be another one. I'm guessing 2021.

I don't think those objecting are (necessarily) homophobes. Whether the crude Youtube comment type or the sweet but offensive type, or whatever.

I do think Jaal m/m was a solution though. One of multiple available, but IMO the more clear and direct to implement and if I was the dev to choose (and obviously I'm not, and my software development experience is still super minimal), I'd choose this, given it being greenlit for funding at least.

There's a lot of context around the situation that makes it comfortable to me - and I'm someone against modification enough that:
-I was in 'Take Back Mass Effect' (change the ending) for like a week or two before cringing
-I liked Extended Cut but indeed part of that was because I felt that 'changes' were okay in the way of how Bioware themselves saw it (that is, elaborate, not retcon)
-I always have a comfort/discomfort relationship with mods. Anything that feels at all like it wouldn't be in the setting and story, I avoid

So I hope that paints a picture for you. I still think Jaal m/m is at least largely fine (Liam wouldn't be) and that the thing comes off more as a restoration patch (not entirely, but more than enough) instead of a 'change'.

Its not even stuff like 'oh Angara see gender differently and that makes this fine'. No. Especially because a gender fluidity of angara doesn't = Jaal bi. Its more the mix of really everything I've experienced in and out of game about this matter.

So when I have this level of acceptance of Jaal bi, yes, even polite disagreements by others disproportionately comes off as a dismissal of gay affirmation. That its okay (consciously or subconsciously) by even the supposed allies that those gay guys get so little. Even after the tease. Even after the corporate positions of EA. Even after datamining. And so on. Its fine, it'd be 'changing a character's sexuality' so don't do it. (/s)

I'd be right on that for a lot of things. For example, while I wasn't totally 'against' Anders 'bi'/playersexual(?), I would have been comfortable with him straight and I think the way bi Anders was done in DA2 was a little badly done.. at best. If Bioware patched in some bi James, despite some 'gaydar pinging' moments, I'd still not agree with such a move. But there's SO much surrounding Jaal, even to straight male (and not particularly interested in LGBT matters) friends of mine, that its nearly a no-brainer. So yeah, can't help that when there's opposition, at the very least a small alarm goes off that I'm facing 'concern bigotry'. Even when rationally that is probably not the case and I try to give benefit of the doubt.

I hadn't done it ever until recently, but I did the math - m/m had substantially less than any other combo, including f/f. And like, okay, I can and will play games that are '100% straight'. But Bioware's made both explicit and implicit promises on matters like this and so its a very obvious and loud result when things so clearly disappoint (as opposed to the more tepid but very understandable complaints of things like f/f Peebee scene).

Hey here's Jaal, you thought you could pick him for several good reasons, but nope!, 'it has to make sense' and if you want it in now, nah, only for women, obviously, and it makes sense.
^ Not a nice feeling. And I think I've been almost entirely calm about romance cra----stuff since the earlier 2000s. So I have to think - have I gone nutso (possible) or is this especially poor form of Bioware, and as well, reactions from other fans about my/our reactions?

Not necessarily LC or whoever, but giving the gist.

Back to topic..

EDIT: I have itty critiques about previous games but they maxed out at 'Steve was a throwaway and made me cringe but I appreciate this starting being a thing in ME'.

Mass Effect isn't dead. It may not come out for a long while, but it's too unique for it to be dead. The good thing/exciting thing is there will probably be entirely new/different team working on it and MEA leaves some pretty interesting cliffhangers

i hope not. Especially writing wise i wanna see them grow and learn.

Well, BioWare (or more likely EA) did decide that an official forum was too hot to handle... 




This I agree with, a May launch would have been better, like the 6-week delay Dragon Age Inquisition got.

Everyone getting all emotional about their love/hatred for the game and forget that BW is esentially a businness company

What is dead may never die.

The only way for a person to ruin another person's enjoyment is by said person to have their eyes closed. In other words, if you go into a game knowing that it has shit animations, shit story, shit lore, all of aliens looking exactly alike, and you still like the game? Fine by me.

But don't try and hand off ruining your disappointment to me, simply for opening your eyes.

If you would open your eyes to the fact that, even though I disagree with you about the game having shit animations, shit story, shit lore, and see many different varieties of aliens (just Asari who look alike)... my eyes are fully open.  As long as you continue to badger me about my eyes being closed when I know they are not, I will rightfully say that you are trying to ruin my enjoyment of this game.  I have no disappointment to "hand off" anywhere because I'm not disappointed.

You can romance Jaal if you either blow up the facility or kill Akksul. He'll forgive you after FOREVER. If you do both though, he will force the friendship path on you.

Yes, nothing you do really change companions' opinions

Yeah I never did it myself, but a guy here tested it and informed us that's what happens.

Jaal has 7 or more ways to be romanced, but once you've broken his trust twice, he's pretty done with you lol