BioWare to fans: 'Don't call it Mass Effect 4!' Why the series won't follow the trilogy

El33tonline writes:

"There seems to be a lot of confusion amongst fans about the next Mass Effect game, and this uncertainty has led to many using the name ‘Mass Effect 4’ as shorthand to talk about what BioWare is cooking up next for the franchise."

[cleft5]

For a community manager this guy is an idiot. Shut up and let people call it whatever they want to until you release a name and more details about "ME4." Seriously, Bioware doesn't need to be arguing with their fans and certainly doesn't need to piss people off. I can't help but think that if the Doctors where still running the show this would not have happened.

Also, this would be like Sony or Microsoft getting upset over people calling their next consoles the ps4/720. Most likely Microsoft won't name the next xbox 720 and who knows what Sony will name the next ps4. Bioware stop putting your foot in your mouth. You guys make it so hard to be a Bioware fan.

[nukeitall]

Why so angry?

I personally prefer that community managers inform their fans and correct any misconceptions while setting up the proper expectation for the next game.

The next console is a successor, while the next ME isn't necessarily a sequel so I don't see the valid comparison there.

[Winter47th]

"'Don't call it Mass Effect 4!' Why the series won't follow the trilogy"

Not a good sign at all, this is usually how franchises are ruined (guyz itz a reboot chill god) go **** yourself.

[ThanatosDMC]

I agree. It's better to tell the community the truth instead of letting them expect something that wont be in the game. All of the community managers of Diablo 3's forums were a bunch of f***ing liars.

[DOMination-]

It is stupid for sure. Agree with all your points. We all know it won't be called that but for convenience sake, it's the most logical thing to use until a new game is announced.

[Gazondaily]

How is he an idiot? All he is doing is clarifying misinformation regarding the next Mass Effect game.

I assume you only read the sensatonalist headline and didn't read the article?

“To call the next game Mass Effect 4 or ME4 is doing it a disservice and seems to cause a lot of confusion here,”

Is that not a valid point?

"Seriously, Bioware doesn't need to be arguing with their fans and certainly doesn't need to piss people off. "

Who says Bioware are arguing? You're the one crying over nothing and getting p*ssed off. The chap is just clarifying the facts. If I worked at Bioware and everyone was calling the game Mass Effect 4, I would do the same thing; make sure that you clarify the point before causing more confusion as misinformation gathers over time.

Was the chap rude or disrespectful in his statement to make you throw all your toys out of the pram?

"You guys make it so hard to be a Bioware fan. "

I wouldn't want fans like you if I were working at Bioware. You're accusing Priestly of doing exactly what you're doing. The irony here is, he isn't the one 'arguing' with anyone.

[cleft5]

I read the entire article before I posted anything. The reason he is idiotic is because this will ultimately be seen as argumentative. It doesn't matter that he is clarifying the story contents of ME4 or not. The comment he wrote was clearly written in a way that shows he is annoyed with all the speculations. I have been a Bioware fan since the earliest days of the company and I remain one today, despite all the hate that the company gets.

Also, no one is accusing him of anything. The reality is that people are going to take his comments the wrong way and Bioware would be better served by just trusting that their fanbase isn't stupid enough to think that ME4 has to be a direct sequel to ME3. Clearly the guy is passionate, but when you write a passionate statement that was meant to clarify it can end up doing the exact opposite.

He could have easily released a dispassionate statement pointing out that ME4 wasn't going to be a direct sequel to ME3. Also, by making this type of statement he limits what the development team can do without being called a liar. What if the team decides they want the protagonist to be Shepard again later on down the line? Now this guys passionate statement can be used against the company. Clearly he is a passionate community manager, but passion can be a bad thing as well as a good thing.

Absolute statements like the one that Priestly is making does make it hard to be a Bioware fan that openly supports Bioware. Do you have any idea how much shit I get for saying I like ME3 and I didn't mind the original ending? If you do, then stop pretending like Bioware has an untouchable image.

[Gazondaily]

"Clearly the guy is passionate, but when you write a passionate statement that was meant to clarify it can end up doing the exact opposite."

Please point out the part where his statement comes out as passionate?

"Also, by making this type of statement he limits what the development team can do without being called a liar. What if the team decides they want the protagonist to be Shepard again later on down the line? "

What are you on about? Do you know something he doesn't? A lot of completely irrelevant what if's here. You're grasping at straws.

"Absolute statements like the one that Priestly is making does make it hard to be a Bioware fan that openly supports Bioware."

His is just a statement of fact! Absolute statement? You're either working on a sequel or you are not. That's all he is pointing out!

Seriously, your argument makes no sense whatsoever. I keep checking the article and re-reading it thinking I've missed something out considering the harsh nature of your remarks.

[joab777]

Exactly. And when it is announced and they name it, we will call it that. I swear they are told to start fires to get attention.

[Stoppokingme]

Call it Ass Effect for all i care, As long as it's original and doesn't become an annual franchise.

[Good_Guy_Jamal]

I want to play a game set after the events of ME3. New characters and new(modified) abilities

[Summons75]

Yeah but it would be difficult to come up with something more feirce than the reapers and justify that they were there the entire time. Plus with how biowares's writing has gone down the toilet since all the good writers quit it will be harder. Hopefully da3 and me4 will prove me wrong but Bioware has just sucked after dao.

[ahronith]

They could pull a Halo where they introduced the flood, and then eventually the Prometheans.

[modesign]

the only franchise that can accomplish doing different storylines/trilogies is command and conquer.

command and conquer.
red alert
Generals
Tiberium sun.

[IIC0mPLeXII]

Whatever its called you can be sure it will have the dumbass mp from Mass effect 3.

[DOMination-]

The multiplayer was actually pretty decent. Most importantly it was fun to play. The downsides were that I felt there wasn't really enough content and that they forced you to play it to get everything in SP.

The first point they've improved a lot on with free updates and I'd expect it to be even better next time out. The second point is inexcusable and Bioware deserved the stick they got for that.

On the subject of MP though - next time out, I'd like to see each class have a pool of abilities to choose from. Like you can only equip four like in ME3 but you can choose what to have. eg. if you're an Asari Adept you can choose four from Singularity, Throw, Lift, Warp, Reave, Stasis, warp ammo and Barrier. Just to add a bit more customisation to it.

[MilkMan]

I never thought of it as a sequel to ME3.
That's crazy.
Its another game set in this universe. Was there confusion about this?
In any case I WILL say this.
ME(whatever) better have more wtf moments and seem more alive and interactive and movie like than the last three. cause I Have to say. Dead Space 3 feels more like what ME should have been.
and although wonderful for the Dead Space series, its a fucking shame that ME couldn't meet this standards.

Oh and PLEASE NO MULTIPLAYER!
Thank you.

[TisMayo]

I am actually happy that they want to put time in this game and lead it to another direction but it must have some connections to the past games.

IMO it should be after the events of Mass Effect 3.

[KMCROC54]

Don't matter am done with them, bioware games have lost some of what made them great. For now I will continue to play the ME games 1-3, DA 1,Plus thier older games till they get their act together. As for the name calling I can refer to it as ME the Prequel if that better for you.

[Coolmanrico]

Does it really matter what we call it? Personally I found the whole statement dumb. I get not wanting people to think of the game as apart of the original series, but what that has anything to do with what we call it. Until they release official name to call it, I'm still going to call it Mass Effect 4 because it going to be the fourth game in the series.

[LAWSON72]

I hope this is a coop story and not focus on a main character so no disappointing endings

[bluetoto]

Sorry author but I didn't read the whole article, however the guy is spot on.

A good deal of gamers are already forming ideas of ME4 being connected directly to shepard or the reapers. You can easily see it here on n4g.

ME is now a franchise, with or without shepard and EA/bioware will treat it as such. the new ME Might reference events from 1-3, but I doubt anything major.