History Trivia / MassEffect3

* * CastingGag: The game's SpaceshipGirl / {{Fembot}} EDI is voiced by [[Series/BattlestarGalactica2003 known Cylon]] Tricia Helfer.

** Casey Hudson stated that the plot would not be solved by using a "long lost Reaper off-button" and the endings not be like simple A, B, or C endings but "have a lot more sophistication and variety in them". But in actuality, it is hard to describe [[spoiler:the circumstances of the Crucible's discovery and its eventual function]] as anything but a "long lost Reaper off-button" [[spoiler:even with a heavy element of what can only be described as "space magic" added to it]], and the ending is determined by a LastSecondEndingChoice, where the exactly three different choices is offered to the player.

** The Ending itself.[[spoiler: Originally, Shepard would hear a different explanation for the Reapers motives, which also tied in with the Dark Energy subplot established in Mass Effect 2. Ultimately in the end, Shepard would be given two choices - destroy the Reapers and look for another solution, or agree to allow all life to be harvested.]]

** Datamining has uncovered a [[http://www.holdtheline.com/threads/datamining-the-trilogy-aka-things-that-were-cut.2073/ massive amount of cut material]]. Notably: Javik and Eden Prime originally had much larger roles in the story (Likely cut once it became clear that Javik would be DLC), the Cerberus coup arc went ''much'' differently ([[spoiler:Kai Leng was nowhere in sight and Thane's death was much more heroic]]), and Thessia was going to have a Virmire-esque decision at the end to save a squadmate. Probably the absolute biggest change was that [[spoiler: Javik was originally meant to ''be'' the Catalyst, as in "the final missing piece of the Crucible that would activate it", not "the leader of the Reapers who offers you a choice."]]

** Diana Allers is called "Space [[JerseyShore Snooki]]."

** If you have Ashley in your party for when you fight [[TroyBaker Kai Leng]], you'll essentially end up with [[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity Oracle vs. Robin]].

** An N7 Fury talks with an Alliance requisition officer, discussing the new gear she's supposed to get. The officer ends up delivering a Graal Spike Thrower VII, thermal clip packs, and strength enhancers - all useless to a light biotic class such as hers. Turns out the RandomNumberGod-nature of the store is just a hilariously inept bureaucracy managing the supply chains.

* ScapegoatCreator: Casey Hudson and Mac Walters are personally blamed for everything that is wrong with the game.

** As mentioned above, Phantoms have become "Ninja Bitches".

** Partly justified by the way the rest of the writing staff were shut out of the much-detested ending. Unfair with regard to the things that were clearly caused by EA's ExecutiveMeddling.

* CreatorKiller: Backlash over the game's ending plus other problems (including The Consumerist magazine calling EA "Worst Company in America" several years in a row over the oil and banking companies) ultimately resulted in John Riccitello resigning from EA.

** [[Comic/IronMan "War Machine"]] for Geth Juggernauts specced around firing out barrages of Siege Pulses. (Bonus Points for using Red & Gold or Silver color schemes.)

** Creator/BioWare forum user screwoffreg accurately described Mass Effect 3's ending word-by-word [[http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/105/index/970146/1 way back in 2010.]]

* AbridgedSeries : ''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbsVHYYaxwE Space Scumbag]]'' by ''Tyrannicon''. It follows a [[BoisterousBruiser loudmouthed]], homophobic, HeroicComedicSociopath iteriation of Shepard, named "TJ Lazer", and his quest to found a colony dedicated to [[SuperBreedingProgram breeding more people like him.]] Using himself as the father, of course.

** During the "energetic" party at the end of the Citadel DLC, [[spoiler:Grunt can be found drunk on the shower floor mumbling a bunch of nonsense to himself. One of the things he says is "Who's a [[Anime/CowboyBebop space cowboy?]] [[SteveBlum Me!]]"]]

* AuthorExistenceFailure: Creator/RobinSachs, the voice actor for Zaeed Massani, passed away after the release of the game but before all of the DownloadableContent was released. His lines for ''Citadel'' were recorded before his death.

* FandomNod: Silversun Strip in the ''Citadel'' [[DownloadableContent DLC]] has several pairs of off-duty mercenaries and regular troops you can overhear conversations from. Virtually all of them gripe about annoyances and issues in the multiplayer.

** The nameless sniper from the first trailer was called "Big Ben" until he was revealed as Major Coats in the game.
** People on Gamefaqs appear to like calling the boy seen at the beginning of the game, "Vent Boy".

** Creator/BioWare forum user ''screwoffreg'' accurately described Mass Effect 3's ending word-by-word [[http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/105/index/970146/1 way back in 2010.]]

** Pre-release press statements were that playing Multiplayer, and getting their War Asset multipliers, would not be a necessity for those who wished to get the GoldenEnding. However, though ''most'' endings can be achieved without Multiplayer, there are not enough War Assets available in the game to unlock the highest-tier endings. Although the Extended Cut DLC fixed it, the issue remains that the initial promise was a lie.
** Mac Walters, the lead writer, made a statement before release saying that the presence of the Rachni played a major role in the third game or even just in the final battle. In the actual game, the rachni appear in one side mission, and don't appear at all during the final battle or any other time. It should be noted that this statement was made after the game went gold.
** In a rare positive example, Creator/BioWare initially claimed that the Extended Cut DLC would not be changing the endings, but instead expand and clarify them. [[spoiler: While there was definitely a lot of that, it also [[{{Retcon}} changed]] a lot of the more contentious [[PlotHole plot holes]] and most of the SuddenDownerEnding, such as damaging the mass relays instead of destroying them.]] Cue ([[BrokenBase most]]) fans rejoicing.

* NamesTheSame: Miranda's father Henry Lawson shares the name with an early [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Lawson Australian Poet]], which is apt considering the likely origin of the Lawson family based on their accents.

** The [[spoiler: Catalyst ]] has earned the nickname "Task Manager", because it gives you the option of [[spoiler: controlling the Reapers, altering them, or deleting them. In other words [[DontExplainTheJoke CTRL+ALT+DELETE.]]]] He's also commonly referred to as [[TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey Starchild]].

** While scanning Bryson's office for clues the first time in "Leviathan", EDI performs an extranet search on the term "basilisk" for Shepard. Among her search results is a video game enemy that's getting called "overpowered" on forums because of its OneHitKO attacks - a criticism often leveled at Banshees on the BioWare site.

** BioWare forum user ''screwoffreg'' accurately described Mass Effect 3's ending word-by-word [[http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/105/index/970146/1 way back in 2010.]]

** In a rare positive example, BioWare initially claimed that the Extended Cut DLC would not be changing the endings, but instead expand and clarify them. [[spoiler: While there was definitely a lot of that, it also [[{{Retcon}} changed]] a lot of the more contentious [[PlotHole plot holes]] and most of the SuddenDownerEnding, such as damaging the mass relays instead of destroying them.]] Cue ([[BrokenBase most]]) fans rejoicing.

*** Earlier in the game, [[spoiler: if he survives the rachni caves]], the first thing a weary Grunt asks Shepard is [[Anime/DigimonTamers "Can we get something to eat?"]].

* HeyItsThatVoice:
** Whatever one may think about the endings, the fact that ''Buzz Aldrin'' of all people [[spoiler:voices the grandfather in the [[DistantFinale epilogue]]]] is its own shade of awesome.
** Creator/LauraBailey is a Oriana Lawson, Dr. Eva Core, and an Asari soldier.
** Creator/BrianBloom is Vosque.
** Dr. Brynn Cole is [[VideoGame/DragonAgeII Female Hawke]].
** Major Coats is [[VideoGame/DragonAgeII Male Hawke]]. He also voices a scientist that talks to Brynn and, [[spoiler:if you betray Wrex and sabotage the genophage cure, a guard that Wrex [[OffhandBackhand backhands]] during your confrontation]].
** Creator/TroyBaker is Kai Leng - his second [[EverythingsBetterWithSpinning overly spinny]] [[TheSouthpaw left-handed]] BloodKnight [[VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia swordsman]]. Once you hear that, it kind of looks like he kills [[spoiler: Thane]] with Azure Edge...
** Music/GreyDeLisle is Kahlee Sanders.
** In ''[[ShowWithinAShow Blasto 6]]'', Bubin's sister is voiced by Creator/JenniferHale, while Blasto is voiced by Creator/MarkMeer. Somebody say "Wierd alien Shepard selfcest?"
** The replacement asari councilor is [[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Wonder Woman]] and [[VideoGame/TheForceUnleashed Shaak Ti]].
** James Vega is [[Film/WingCommander Chris Blair]], [[Series/TwentyFour Cole Ortiz]] and [[Film/ScoobyDoo Fred Jones]].
** Nyreen is [[WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime Arcee]].
** Primarch Victus is [[TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Alduin]].
** For the French, Javik is [[Series/StargateSG1 Teal'c]].

** James Vega: All of [[Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000 David]] [[SpaceMutiny Ryder's]] nicknames.

** James Vega: All of [[MysteryScienceTheater3000 David]] [[SpaceMutiny Ryder's]] nicknames.

** [[VideoGame/Halo "Super MAC"]] for the [[ScapegoatCreator lead writer]] Mac Walters.

** "Super MAC" for the [[ScapegoatCreator lead writer]] Mac Walters.

** The [[spoiler: Catalyst ]] has earned the nickname "Task Manager", because it gives you the option of [[spoiler: controlling the Reapers, altering them, or deleting them. In other words [[DontExplainTheJoke CTRL+ALT+DELETE.]]]] He's also commonly referred to as [[TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey Starchild]].
** Similarly, 'Space Magic' for the [[spoiler:power of the Crucible]].
** "Marauder Shields" and "The Three Husketeers", the four enemies encountered on the way to the beam in London [[spoiler: that wind up being the final enemies you fight in the whole series]].

* LyingCreator:
** Pre-release press statements were that playing Multiplayer, and getting their War Asset multipliers, would not be a necessity for those who wished to get the GoldenEnding. However, though ''most'' endings can be achieved without Multiplayer, there are not enough War Assets available in the game to unlock the highest-tier endings. Although the Extended Cut DLC fixed it, the issue remains that the initial promise was a lie.
** Mac Walters, the lead writer, made a statement before release saying that the presence of the Rachni played a major role in the third game or even just in the final battle. In the actual game, the rachni appear in one side mission, and don't appear at all during the final battle or any other time. It should be noted that this statement was made after the game went gold.
** In a rare positive example, BioWare initially claimed that the Extended Cut DLC would not be changing the endings, but instead expand and clarify them. [[spoiler: While there was definitely a lot of that, it also [[{{Retcon}} changed]] a lot of the more contentious [[PlotHole plot holes]] and most of the SuddenDownerEnding, such as damaging the mass relays instead of destroying them.]] Cue ([[BrokenBase most]]) fans rejoicing.
** After confirmation that [[http://www.6aming.com/mass-effect-3-citadel-dlc-a-fake/ a "Citadel" DLC was false information]], that very DLC [[http://m.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/mass-effect-3-reckoning-and-citadel-dlc-hit-feb-26-mar-5/ was announced as the truth]].

* TrollingCreator: [[spoiler: The creator tweets refusing to explain the ending and saying to wait for future announcements, therefore fueling speculation like the Indoctrination Theory or ending DLC, and keeping the fan outcry from burning out. Possibly the ending itself, which was expected to create "lots of speculation". The new 'Refusal' ending from the Extended Cut is even being out and out reviled by many as a troll ending (although some fans specifically requested it).]]

** There were deleted scenes and ideas that would have made the end much more bearable, such as [[spoiler:the Normandy performing an epic GunshipRescue while Hammer makes the desperate dash for the Conduit while taking fire from Harbinger (which was ultimately put back in for the Extended Cut)]], and [[spoiler:[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI1oUAUe4Qg this conversation between Shepard and Anderson]]]].

** Unused dialogue shows that there was originally more to the final battle (or that at least Jack, Jacob, Zaeed and Grunt played more of a role).
** Originally, the team with Shepard at the start of the [[spoiler:run towards the beam would have died no matter what, when caught in one of Harbinger's beams]]. The scene was cut after [[spoiler:it was decided that just killing two of Shepard's team with no fanfare & regardless of Shepard's choices to that point was too cold hearted, especially when you factor in that it could potentially include Shepard's love interest]]. This is worked back into the Extended Cut - [[spoiler: if your EMS score is too low, you're treated to the sight of Harbinger disintegrating both your squadmates.]]
** Datamining has uncovered a [[http://www.holdtheline.com/threads/datamining-the-trilogy-aka-things-that-were-cut.2073/ massive amount of cut material]]. Notably: Javik and Eden Prime originally had much larger roles in the story (Likely cut once it became clear that Javik would be DLC), the Cerberus coup arc went ''much'' differently ([[spoiler:Kai Leng was nowhere in sight and Thane's death was much more heroic]]), and Thessia was going to have a Virmire-esque decision at the end to save a squadmate. Probably the absolute biggest change was that [[spoiler: Javik was originally meant to ''be'' the Catalyst, as in "the final missing piece of the Crucible that would activate it", not "the leader of the Reapers who offers you a choice."]]

** Hell, it's clear from the datamining that virtually '''everything''' about ''Mass Effect 3'' was changed during development.
** The Ending itself.[[spoiler: Originally, Shepard would hear a different explanation for the Reapers motives, which also tied in with the Dark Energy subplot established in Mass Effect 2. Ultimately in the end, Shepard would be given two choices - destroy the Reapers and look for another solution, or agree to allow all life to be harvested.]]