Honest poll on whether Shepard should return in a future Mass Effect game

Shepard's story is done. Get over it.

It's flawed thinking because the writers of the those characters are not coming back.  They left and moved on.  It's spilled milk that you're crying over... fans stuck in the past, not even trying to move forward and not letting anyone else move forward either.

Maybi there's a way to have both. Post ME III, Shepard and Garrus lying on a beach, drinking coctails, checking out Asari babes, s/he passes out and has a dream: MEA.

You're pulling my leg, Shepard...everyone builds these "Arks" and they fly away to another galaxy, no Mass Relays. That's more crazy than that crazy thing with Prothean beacons.

woah there neddy.  Don't despair.  

I mean it could all be a dreeeeeeeem.  

The Andromeda story and Ryder's story has obviously been left not finished... so is wanting to see that story completed such an absurd notion?   The press now is saying that this wasn't such as bad game... it's an average game with an average story so far... but one with some potential to grow into a great story... potential at least equal to "another fresh start" and without the downside of alienating those fans who happened to like Ryder's story... particularly since doing ANYTHING but going back to Shepard and rewriting ME3 doesn't satisfy that other group of fans anyways.  New fans (people not yet familiar with Mass Effect) may be turned off by the name regardless of what the story is... MET based, MEA based or new ME story... it won't make a lick of difference to them.

You are posing the ogre's choice by choosing a narrative that fits your perspective, but not actually putting up a legitimate argument. You are proposing that the people who bought Andromeda, would not buy a new Mass Effect game, if it took place in, say, Alpha Centauri. The setting itself is irrelevant, of course, it might as well take place in the Sombrero Galaxy.

We know, though, that we cannot go back to the Milky Way, because of the conundrum that is the Original Trilogy endings. Also, the continuous decline of quality in Bioware games is a trend that could result in an even greater disappointment than said endings. While, looking at it as a short term solution,  it will generate hype and possibly revenue in terms of pre-orders, a return to the Milky Way would have to be immaculate in its execution, or the fan backlash, in an already tense relationship, would be huge. So my advice to EA/Bioware is do it when it will make sense from a business standpoint, because money is money after all, and also when your developer has a clear, set vision and proper management. Right now Bioware is suffering from both, they cannot execute something of that scope and magnitude. It will backfire and it will bury the studio.

The franchise itself is damaged ... by Andromeda and Bioware. It is Bioware's first and foremost concern to rectify its own image first. They are presented with the opportunity to do that, through Anthem, even though it is not the game I want it to be, and Dragon Age, which has deviated as well from the game I want it to be. That does not mean that those games cannot and will not appeal to the gaming audience. I wish the developers good fortunes in their endeavours, every success and that they deliver a prime product, worthy of the "triple A" stature. Even if they succeed, though, should they return to Mass Effect, they must know that the Andromeda name will be every bit as tainted, as it is now. But people still love the Turians, the Krogan, the Quarians, fooling around with biotics, so there is love for Mass Effect. I don't think that they necessarily associate Mass Effect with Andromeda, though. In fact, Andromeda didn't even have to be a Mass Effect game, it could have been the new IP and nobody would have batted an eye. The franchise itself would have been far better off, in hindsight.

If closure about Andromeda is what you want, EA and Bioware has promised you that, through the associated media, so Andromeda's story will come to an end. I do not understand what more can you ask of that. It will probably be more detailed and specific to the future of the Initiative than the few vague, voice over slides the original trilogy got as an ending, so, if anything, you are much better off that way. The thing is, with the release of the last of these associated installment, the story of Andromeda will also reach its end, as will the story of Ryder. I really see no reason to cling onto it.

The only way I see Mass Effect returning in a half decent state would be a reboot or remaster of the OT. I don't think BioWare have the talent or will to carry on the franchise. Either of these options would be a fairly safe cash grab that would be welcomed by many.
And before the hate train starts I'd prefer a new game. I just doubt we'll ever get one.

I'd argue there is no talent. Just interns willing to go through crunch for months/years on end with minimum pay, which is a very common picture in the triple A gaming industry, because you have to cut down on expenses, somehow, right? It's the same in Activision, same in Ubisoft, same in EA. You can find articles about it all over the net.

I don't see EA selling the rights to Mass Effect, of course. That would lead to competition and EA isn't big on that. Who else would develop EA's RPGs? Do they have any other studios making RPGs? I can't recall any. Not in recent memory anyway. Maybe they'll hand that off to DICE as well.

Even simpler then for EA... if there is no talent, they'll just decide to let everyone go.

Let me put things another way... If Bioware choses now to abandon ME:A, all they gain is a reputation of not finishing their stories.  Why would I then be interested in even trying to get myself invested in any other "fresh start" Bioware Mass Effect story... chances are they won't finish it.  IMO, their best option (not necessarily a good option, but the best of the all the bad ones they have available to them) is to continue with an ME:A story that provides closure to Ryder's story... and make bloodly well sure that game is nearly perfect and a absolutely fun RPG game better than anything else they've ever produced.  ONLY then will they have a chance at staying secure as a company... and that isn't even a great chance given EA's history of closing studios they own.

Furthermore... If you don't think an intern can be talented... what hope is there for the long term future on this industry as the old guard talent retires or dies off.