Mass Effect 3 expands same-sex love interests

Both John Shepard and Jane Shepard will get same-sex relationships in Mass Effect 3, it's been revealed.

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Commander Shepard will get more smooching options in Mass Effect 3, including same-sex relationships for both Jane and John Shepard, Mass Effect series executive producer Casey Hudson has revealed on Twitter (via The Average Gamer).

Hudson said that he was "happy to confirm [Mass Effect 3] supports wider options for love interests" including same-sex relationships for male and female characters, "reactive to how you interact [with] them in-game."

In response to a fan's concerns that developer BioWare would 'break' existing characters by meddling with their sexuality, Hudson added he was confident that the writers would handle love interests "with sophistication" and "preserve character continuity."

He also noted that "love interests won't all necessarily be permanent squad members."

There's also good news for those who are none too keen on having to rebuff the advances of even more crew members, perhaps because they find the 'romances' awkward and embarrassing. Good news for me, at any rate. Hudson explained that Mass Effect 3 will feature more moments of simple friendship, such as when Shepard shares a drink with Doctor Chakwas in Mass Effect 2. Lovely.

This revelation calls to mind the 'defence' Dragon Age lead writer David Gaider made of Dragon Age 2's homosexual relationships, after an outraged player boldly claimed that "BioWare neglected their main demographic: The Straight Male Gamer."

"The person who says that the only way to please them is to restrict options for others is, if you ask me, the one who deserves it least," Gaider wrote.

The romances in the game are not for "the straight male gamer". They're for everyone. We have a lot of fans, many of whom are neither straight nor male, and they deserve no less attention. We have good numbers, after all, on the number of people who actually used similar sorts of content in DAO and thus don't need to resort to anecdotal evidence to support our idea that their numbers are not insignificant... and that's ignoring the idea that they don't have just as much right to play the kind of game they wish as anyone else. The "rights" of anyone with regards to a game are murky at best, but anyone who takes that stance must apply it equally to both the minority as well as the majority. The majority has no inherent "right" to get more options than anyone else.

Mass Effect 3 is due on PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in the first quarter of 2012, having recently been delayed to make sure it's "the biggest, boldest and best game in the series, ensuring that it exceeds everyone's expectations."

From The Chatty
  • reply
    May 16, 2011 9:30 AM

    Alice O'Connor posted a new article, Mass Effect 3 expands same-sex love interests.

    Both John Shepard and Jane Shepard will get same-sex relationships in Mass Effect 3, it's been revealed.

    • reply
      May 16, 2011 9:31 AM

      [deleted]

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      May 16, 2011 9:37 AM

      "Shepard."

      "Wrex...is what I want you to do to my asshole."

    • reply
      May 16, 2011 9:37 AM

      Female Shep not being able to have sex with Miranda sucked

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        May 16, 2011 10:26 AM

        [deleted]

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        May 16, 2011 11:56 AM

        That is the biggest downfall with Lady Shep. She totally should have gotten with Tali.

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          May 16, 2011 12:02 PM

          I mean she was specifically built for fucking. She should not be picky.

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          May 16, 2011 1:22 PM

          That one really sucked because the dialog options led me on to believe my shep could romance her

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        May 16, 2011 1:04 PM

        you know what sucks even more? Miranda and Jack fighting for a female Shepard they both can't fuck.

    • reply
      May 16, 2011 9:37 AM

      Same-sex relationships are so last week.

      I want to stick my dick in a space cow.

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      May 16, 2011 9:41 AM

      My issue with this is that sexuality isn't a light switch that goes back and forth. Straight Shepard going gay because of a dialogue choice is hilarious. A straight guy wouldn't even process the mental dialogue choice that would lead to gay sex in that situation. If they want to get all crazy with sexuality, let players pick their orientation during character creation, and let that affect what they think to say in certain contexts.

      As it is now, Shepard is constantly bi-curious.

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        May 16, 2011 9:42 AM

        [deleted]

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        May 16, 2011 9:45 AM

        Doesn't help that the crew are all horny, and apparently take friendly conversation as a come-on in every single case.

      • reply
        May 16, 2011 9:53 AM

        So Shepard is constantly bi-curious.

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        May 16, 2011 9:57 AM

        you have all the choices available because it's up to you to play the role of the character. Everything doesn't need to be defined in the stats except for stuff that actually improves over time IMO.

        People like being able to make sudden decisions or doing things out of character, anyway.

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          May 16, 2011 10:08 AM

          [deleted]

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            May 16, 2011 10:24 AM

            In Mass Effect 4 I'm sure they'll have the ability to waggle the thumbsticks as Shepard and your chosen love dive on to the bed/desk/gun rack/fallen corpses of your foes.

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        May 16, 2011 10:14 AM

        This is true for most of Shepard's personality in the game. The history options do provide a small bonus to renegade/paragon but nothing is set by these options.

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        May 16, 2011 10:21 AM

        Great, now other than good/evil alignment we need gay/hetero alignment.

        Fallout 5: Make the wrong choices... and you may end up in gay hell!

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          May 16, 2011 2:26 PM

          we need a 3 dimensional alignment now.

          true neutral now is neutral-neutral-bi

      • reply
        May 16, 2011 11:41 AM

        [deleted]

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        May 16, 2011 11:46 AM

        Shepard fucks anything that's alive and made of flesh, it's essential part of his complicated character, do not ruin that.

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      May 16, 2011 9:51 AM

      i hate 'vg sex' shit in games - it's always forced, uninteresting, and I'm not going to get a boner by digitally wining and dining some polygon model only to have a cutscene with implied boning. I know it panders to lonely nerds, but it's a waste of development time IMO

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        May 16, 2011 9:55 AM

        its in the infancy stage. developers should be free to explore all themes and topics in games, even when they are rudimentary and might seem forced.

        sexless video games for ever and ever only reinforces the stereotype that they're for kids.

        i don't think mass effect sex is meant to arouse the player - it's just a storytelling tool and theme they decided to include.

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          May 16, 2011 9:58 AM

          that may be the case, but until they get it right it's an awful side venture with really bland uninteresting dialogue between people that eventually leeds to some cheesy sexual stuff.....and of course it wouldn't be possible without uselss GIFT GIVING to improve a relationship meter.

          I never suggested developer's shouldn't be free to explore all topics in games, but what I'm saying is the exploration here so far has been terrible to say the least.

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            May 16, 2011 9:59 AM

            i can't think of anyone who's doing better, let alone even exploring the topic. the witcher was just as cheesy. i think it's just going to be an awkward painful decade while devs figure out romantic relationships in games

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              May 16, 2011 10:00 AM

              I know I agree - which is why I said I hate 'vg sex' in games right now. It's just not there...I hope to be proven wrong at some point

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              May 16, 2011 10:02 AM

              I personally don't think they should even really try to visualize it till we cross the uncanny valley.

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              May 16, 2011 10:19 AM

              The shots from the Witcher 2 make it appear as though the sex looks much more "real" and less awkward. I can't decide which was worse, DA's sex, or ME's.

              Either way, I definitely think it's the kind of thing that should be explored in games, and is *not* about just giving lonely nerds a boner. Now, when you go so far as some DA mods do to make it look like porn...yeah, that's a little much.

              I kinda prefer the Fable/Fallout methods of just fading to black. It still lets you roleplay and make the decision for your character to have sex, but skips the awkward animations and such.

            • reply
              May 16, 2011 10:22 AM

              Eh the Ultima games had sex and same sex 20 years ago.

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                May 16, 2011 1:24 PM

                I like how if other people were in the room they'd still get naked and walk around. Like what the fuck Iolo, you perv

            • reply
              May 16, 2011 10:46 AM

              [deleted]

            • reply
              May 16, 2011 10:50 AM

              To the Witcher's defense, a lot of the adult stuff is just thank you sex, or prostitution. Only some of it is as cheesy as the ME relationships where you raise heart-meters.

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              May 16, 2011 10:54 AM

              Heavy Rain?

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              May 16, 2011 1:15 PM

              I prefer The Witcher's sex to that in Mass Effect, because it's such bawdy nonsense.

              Give a lady a diamond and you can boff 'er. Fantastic!

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              May 16, 2011 9:27 PM

              The Sims!

          • reply
            May 16, 2011 6:59 PM

            [deleted]

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          May 16, 2011 1:10 PM

          The problem is Bioware's RPG relationship peaked in Baldur's Gate II with Jaheria, and has since been on a steady decline to "what can we do to make a few headlines/fox news" shit ever since.

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        May 16, 2011 9:56 AM

        Maybe I'm giving BioWare too much credit, but I don't see the point as giving the player a boner. There's nothing wrong with the idea of romantic subplots in a story-heavy game, it's just that they haven't done it very well so far.

      • reply
        May 16, 2011 10:23 AM

        Fallout 2 had the best in-game sex.

        • reply
          May 16, 2011 10:26 AM

          Poor career choices as well.

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          May 16, 2011 2:24 PM

          Shotgun Wedding?! NO PROBLEM!! Come see Metzger's SLAVE EMPORIUM at The Den! We'll take care of that unwanted ball and chain, and pay you for your troubles!

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          May 16, 2011 2:29 PM

          agreed! I fucked that woman then she attacked me and I had to kill her and then I killed her man, some gang boss. At least that's how I remember it

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        May 16, 2011 4:09 PM

        it's big bucks in Japan

      • reply
        May 16, 2011 5:47 PM

        ^^^ this

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      May 16, 2011 9:54 AM

      they should let you kill whoever you have gay sex with for renegade points, and to cover your shame.

    • reply
      May 16, 2011 9:56 AM

      "I'm commander Sheppard and this is my favorite cock in my ass!"

    • reply
      May 16, 2011 10:24 AM

      Bioware games are slowly turning into those japanese tentacle rape simulators.

    • reply
      May 16, 2011 10:27 AM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      May 16, 2011 10:29 AM

      I can't wait to see the outrage from homophobic teenage gamers. Should be fun!

    • reply
      May 16, 2011 10:39 AM

      Shepard
      Wrex
      Oh Shepard
      Oh Wrex

    • reply
      May 16, 2011 10:53 AM

      I think the game focuses too much on hookups in the first place. None of the relationships are meaningful to the characters or the story so it's all diatribe. It's a space RPG, I want to do space things. Not hook up with some video game skank unless the writing actually is impacted by it.

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        May 16, 2011 12:37 PM

        Agreed. I like the idea, but it seems that they put so much emphasis on something that doesn't really play a factor in the overall gameplay.

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          May 16, 2011 1:29 PM

          I don't understand this point of view. Romance/relationships are there to further the story not gameplay. Do you not talk to your crewmates on the normandy? Do you only talk to them to get their loyalty quests and then you ignore them?

          If you don't want to hook up or don't feel that your character would hook up, THERE ARE OPTIONS SO YOU CAN ROLEPLAY A CELIBATE SPACE HERO. There is not a huge emphasis on a relationship in the first or second game. All you get is a hook-up scene before the final battle - that's not super exciting! I mean shoot, in my playthough, I didn't romance anyone because my Shep wanted Liara so all I got was the emo-gazing at the photo graph cut scene.


          Bioware allowing same-sex relationships in ME3 is a REALLY BIG DEAL for me because now I don't have to fuck around with my saved games trying to get around the gender flag! I want my awesome fem!Shep to be gay like me and now she can!!!!

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            May 16, 2011 2:09 PM

            If there's not a huge emphasis, then why do they bring it up like they do. I've played JRPG's with relationship systems that seem to do better to show a developing relationship as oppose to the occasional hook up scene.

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              May 16, 2011 2:50 PM

              What do you mean by "bring it up like they do"?

      • reply
        May 16, 2011 2:02 PM

        i thought the relationship with tali meant something to tali...since she was such a bottled up geek. but yeah, mostly fluff.

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      May 16, 2011 10:54 AM

      What about some consequences for hetero relationships?

      Miranda: "Sorry I can't do anymore missions Jack, I'm preggers."

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      May 16, 2011 11:15 AM

      what is the world's problem with the gays thing !!! lots of tv/youtube ads promote gays, same thing for movies and cartoons and now we have them in games. So why not spend that effort on a more useful cause like the native Americans !!! they've been unjustified for a very long time and they obviously deserve more love and justice

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        May 16, 2011 12:58 PM

        Here's the thing. Some of us with specific beliefs think it's wrong. Granted that it's not our place to dictate to others how to live their lives. I think this whole promoting the gay thing is like an ideological war. There are gays who just want to live their lives in peace and there are activists who feel that they need to social engineer pro homosexual views to everyone and they have the influence to do keep it at the forefront. I know that some shackers are going to go off the wall with this, but we can have differing view points and still respect each other.

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          May 16, 2011 1:09 PM

          yeah and there are many pedophiles who want to live their lives in peace as well, they just want to masturbate to pics of little kids that's all

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            May 16, 2011 1:44 PM

            There's a difference between consenting adults and sickos who want to prey on innocent children. While I disagree with homosexuality, I have no desire to police who other people have sexual relations with as consenting adults. Society clearly as a whole objects to pedophiles though thats why we bust them for just about anything short of just thinking about it.

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          May 16, 2011 1:13 PM

          No, I can't respect a person full of hate, regardless. What two consenting adults do is their bidness. I can't respect the viewpoint of a sexist, a racist, or a homophobe, or any of the other millions of discriminatory whoha. This is the exact same thing as a sexist saying "Oh man, do we really need the choice to be a -female- Shepard? I mean, come on guys, women in a position of power? Yikes!"

    • reply
      May 16, 2011 11:16 AM

      Finally my homo erotic Shepard Garrus fanfic is coming to life!

    • reply
      May 16, 2011 11:16 AM

      [deleted]

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      May 16, 2011 11:37 AM

      This game will still have guns, right?

    • reply
      May 16, 2011 11:50 AM

      And yet another game goes down in flames. Gaming is not for gamers anymore, its for the sheepil, the masses. As predicted, EA has ruined you as well and it didn't take long...

      • reply
        May 16, 2011 11:54 AM

        [deleted]

      • reply
        May 16, 2011 11:56 AM

        this is a nice post

      • reply
        May 16, 2011 11:56 AM

        I'm irony-loling you. But since you arn't a real shacker, you don't even know what that is or how to see it.

        • reply
          May 16, 2011 12:01 PM

          he's not real !!! are you telling us he's some sort of a bot ?!

        • reply
          May 16, 2011 12:02 PM

          You have a real point with sheepil there. Really made me think.

          • reply
            May 16, 2011 12:42 PM

            You've been on a roll today with me, twi.

            • reply
              May 16, 2011 3:40 PM

              I have a crush on you. that was meant for the subthread not you :(

        • reply
          May 16, 2011 12:59 PM

          loiosh I always thought you were sheepil


          Wrex, Sheepil. Sheepil, Wrex.

        • reply
          May 16, 2011 1:19 PM

          His post history is LOL worthy

      • reply
        May 16, 2011 12:00 PM

        baaaaah

      • reply
        May 16, 2011 12:01 PM

        Masses Effects.

      • reply
        May 16, 2011 12:04 PM

        [deleted]

        • reply
          May 16, 2011 12:21 PM

          there's nothing to it, shack makes them do it

          • reply
            May 16, 2011 1:07 PM

            And if there ain't no profile pages...
            There ain't nothin' to it. NuShack made me do it.
            And if I don't like the fuckin' colors...
            There ain't nothin' to it. NuShack made me do it.
            And if I'm double-postin'...
            There ain't nothin' to it. NuShack made me do it.
            And if I can't find my OWN FUCKIN POSTS
            There ain't nothin' to it. NuShack made me do it.

        • reply
          May 16, 2011 1:21 PM

          It's pretty much why there is an internet.

      • reply
        May 16, 2011 12:10 PM

        lmfao

      • reply
        May 16, 2011 12:13 PM

        Really makes you think.

      • reply
        May 16, 2011 12:13 PM

        I really wish the "sheeple" trend would disappear. Oh yea, your comment sucks too btw.

        • reply
          May 16, 2011 1:42 PM

          i love it when people use "sheeple." it always gives me a good laugh when it's used seriously.

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            May 16, 2011 4:09 PM

            It's a pretty good litmus test of a poster's intelligence, so it's a very useful word.

      • reply
        May 16, 2011 12:14 PM

        A+ would read post again. Classic humor.

      • reply
        May 16, 2011 12:35 PM

        from the depths of the front page....

      • reply
        May 16, 2011 1:07 PM

        Yeah, well...at least we aren't a towel.

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        May 16, 2011 1:17 PM

        ^^^ homophobe

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        May 16, 2011 1:23 PM

        It's official. Gays have ruined gaming.

        • reply
          May 16, 2011 4:12 PM

          We'll cross that one off our list. Next: Football.

      • reply
        May 16, 2011 1:34 PM

        And yet another post goes down in flames. Posting is not for gamers anymore, it's for the idiots, the frontpagers. As predicted, chatty integration has ruined you as well and it didn't take long...

      • reply
        May 16, 2011 1:52 PM

        [deleted]

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        May 16, 2011 2:11 PM

        Flaming Shepard Going Down in Game: Game Goes Down in Flames

        May 16, 2011
        (c) 2011 shacknews.com

        Sources inside Electronic Arts have confirmed rumors that they have decided to include homosexual relationships in their upcoming Mass Effect 3. Industry analysts puzzle over the choice, noting "gaming is not for gamers anymore, its [sic] for the sheepil [sic]." Many are expressing annoyance at the fact that out in someone else's home, perhaps at the very moment you are playing the game, another person will be allowed to make the choice to make hot space love to another man, in space.

        Notable, science fiction purists are the most upset at this choice, citing how unlikely it is that homosexuals could exist in the future. Homosexual mating yields no children, causing many to wonder how it would be possible to have homosexuals in the future, long after the current population dies off from old age.

        In this reporter's opinion, you are an idiot and shouldn't post here anymore.

        • reply
          May 16, 2011 2:26 PM

          I'm Commander Shepard and this is my favorite post in the chatty.
          (ChromeShack is broken right now)

      • reply
        May 16, 2011 2:17 PM

        [deleted]

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        May 16, 2011 2:59 PM

        Yup, its not the mass market whoring thats being shoveled into your mouth, its the gay people in space games that are ruining gaming.

      • reply
        May 16, 2011 4:52 PM

        Hahahahaha, this is a fantastic parody of a complete fucking retard derping it up on the internet. Well done good sir! :D

      • reply
        May 16, 2011 9:44 PM

        People and statements like this will make the game very well-known and popular :)

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        May 16, 2011 10:51 PM

        SheepilTM For those days when you just want to fit in. Side effects may include: excessive nasal whining, butthurt, massed "effects", and horrible word mangling to support tired arguments. See a doct-whore to find out if Sheepil is right for you.

      • reply
        May 16, 2011 10:54 PM

        Thank god you were here to explain it to me. I was almost foolish enough to buy into their nefarious plot.

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        May 17, 2011 8:17 AM

        the masses of gays!!!

    • reply
      May 16, 2011 12:13 PM

      i cant believe this is even a headline, or selling point

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      May 16, 2011 1:16 PM

      good. that was my only disappointment with ME2, the lack of hot lesbian sex.

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      May 16, 2011 1:23 PM

      I swear to god my lady Shepard better be able to get with Tali. It would be interesting with her having to chose between Tali and... uh... the blue chick. Shoot. I don't recall her name.

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      May 16, 2011 2:04 PM

      My main concern with ME3 is how much less of a game it will be from 2. It seems with every modern Bioware sequel you get less and less "game" and more cinematic bullshit.

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      May 16, 2011 3:09 PM

      After Dragon Age II is anyone surprised? Just about everyone was trying to explore Hawke's Hersey Highway. Honestly it made Kirkwall seem like the land of ass banditry.

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      May 16, 2011 3:42 PM

      what about john and jane shepard together? MIND BLOWN.

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      May 16, 2011 4:01 PM

      relationships between squad members would actually be pretty cool to see. especially if it's a girl girl thing going on and you get to hack the security cameras to watch. achievement unlocked: Space Pervert

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      May 16, 2011 4:22 PM

      The problem is that it takes all manner of dialogue and situations to get your coworker into bed. ME3 needs a more real-life situation: getting drunk at the holiday party and banging the secretary.

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        May 16, 2011 5:53 PM

        There should be a slider in the gameplay options for "galactic horniness quotient", which affects all living things in the game.

    • reply
      May 16, 2011 5:12 PM

      I AM COMMANDER SHEPARD AND ILTC

    • reply
      May 16, 2011 5:30 PM

      This means nothing unless we're getting full-blown butt sex and/or scissor fighting in the love scenes.

    • reply
      May 16, 2011 5:32 PM

      [deleted]

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      May 16, 2011 5:32 PM

      Who cares, how many NPCs do I get to punch on my way to the Renegade hall of fame?

    • reply
      May 16, 2011 9:29 PM

      Massive Effect

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      May 17, 2011 5:13 AM

      I don't think we've fully transitioned from over Sexifying Female video game characters or including racial diversity in games... Do we really need to jump on this issue so soon? I just hope were not replacing innovation with controversy. "Reports show that our games our far too similar - let's make the next one have 46% more minorities and homosexuals... Plan for trans genders in the sequel!" I'm just scared the genre is moving towards a place that will make games less important than features..

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