History Creator / BioWare

** ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'''s (perceived) ''lack'' of this trope was a major part of the fandom's bitter response to it.

* LastMinuteHookup: A [=BioWare=] tradition. In almost every [=BioWare=] game released in the last decade, your character can have sex with their love interest prior to TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon.

** Renegade Shepard has generally been the victim of inconsistent characterization throughout the ''Franchise/MassEffect'' series. While s/he generally acts like an ignorant though {{badass}} thug, there are some moments at which s/he seems almost like a MagnificentBastard, like [[spoiler: at the end of ME1, in which he and Udina orchestrate the rise of a [[TheEmpire Human Led Council]] to replace the one Shepard left to die, securing humanity's position as the galaxy's dominant race.]] or in [[spoiler: the genophage arc of ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', during which !Renegade Shepard dupes the Krogan into thinking the genophage has been cured when it actually hasn't, and informs the Salarians of this deception, securing both their aid and that of the Krogan.]]

** ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'''s (perceived) ''lack'' of this trope was a major part of the fandom's bitter response to it.

'''[=BioWare=]''' is an Edmonton, Alberta-based video game developer known for making {{Western RPG}}s. Formed in 1995 by three doctors[[note]][[ArtifactTitle hence the name "BioWare"]]; their first products were patient simulation software[[/note]], they originally did mostly [[LicensedGame Licensed Games]] but recently they've been creating their own universes.

'''[=BioWare=]''' is an Edmonton, Alberta-based video game developer known for making {{Western RPG}}s. Formed in 1995 by three doctors [[note]][[ArtifactTitle hence the name "BioWare"]]; their first products were patient simulation software[[/note]], they originally did mostly [[LicensedGame Licensed Games]] but recently they've been creating their own universes.

'''[=BioWare=]''' is an Edmonton, Alberta-based video game developer known for making {{Western RPG}}s. Formed in 1995 by three doctors[[hottip:*:[[ArtifactTitle hence the name "BioWare"]]; their first products were patient simulation software]], they originally did mostly [[LicensedGame Licensed Games]] but recently they've been creating their own universes.

'''[=BioWare=]''' is an Edmonton, Alberta-based video game developer known for making {{Western RPG}}s. Formed in 1995 by three doctors[[hottip:*:[[ArtifactTitle hence the name "BioWare"]]; their first products were patient simulation software]], they originally did mostly [[LicensedGame Licensed Games]] but recently they've been creating their own universes.

** ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'''s (perceived) ''lack'' of this trope was a major part of the fandom's bitter response to it.

** ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'''s (perceived) ''lack'' of this trope was a major part of the fandom's bitter response to it.

* EnemyMine: Its possible to play the main protagonist with this motivation.
** The Dalish Warden in ''DragonAge'' could state their sole reason to defeat the Blight is to save their own people.

** ''MassEffect3'' indeed has a ball with this in a sidequest. What do [[NoodleImplements a bunch of ancient Asari writings, a technology license, being owed a favour from a scientist and your insane fanboy]] have to do with ''anything'' that could help Shepard save the galaxy? Not a damned clue! But ''somehow'', in the space of 2 minutes, they all get combined in the most ''awesome way possible!''

An Edmonton, Alberta-based video game developer known for making {{Western RPG}}s. Formed in 1995 by three doctors[[hottip:*:[[ArtifactTitle hence the name "BioWare"]]; their first products were patient simulation software]], they originally did mostly [[LicensedGame Licensed Games]] but recently they've been creating their own universes.

Mythic Entertainment and EA 2D have been absorbed into the company, as Bioware-Mythic and Bioware-San Fransisco, respectively. They've recently been split from EA Games [[http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/36385/Major_Executive_Label_Shifts_At_Electronic_Arts.php into their own label]], meaning that they have their own advertising staff, and even their own online TV channel, [[http://www.bioware.com/biowaretv BioWare Pulse]]... [[SuperheroCity KlickNation]] has been acquired by Electronic Arts, and is being combined with what was previously EA 2d, to make BioWare Social... And [[MightandMagic the new Victory Games studio]], has been incorporated under the [[http://www.gamespot.com/news/command-and-conquer-generals-2-coming-from-bioware-victory-6347422 name "BioWare Victory"]], to make CommandAndConquerGenerals 2.

* ''[[BaldursGate Baldur's Gate]]'' (1998)

* ''[[BaldursGate Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn]]'' (2000)

* ''NeverwinterNights'' (2002)

* ''JadeEmpire'' (2005)
* ''VideoGame/MassEffect'' (2007)
* ''SonicChronicles: The Dark Brotherhood'' (2008)
* ''[[DragonAge Dragon Age: Origins]]'' (2009)

* ''DragonAgeII'' (2011)

* ''CommandAndConquerGenerals 2'' (to be released 2013)

* {{Astroturfing}}: An employee of {{Bioware}} [[http://techcrunch.com/2011/03/15/dragon-age-ii-metacritic-user-reviews-padded-by-bioware-employees/ went to the Dragon Age 2 Metacritic page and gave the game a 10.]] While this is ''not'' an example of astroturfing (EA described it as the equivalent of voting for yourself in an election), it did inspire a case of ''astroturfing astroturfing'', where fans of ''TheWitcher'' went on ''The Witcher 2'''s Metacritic page, gave the game of zero, and [[PaperThinDisguise pretended to be]] Bioware employees.
* {{Badass}}: Seriously, name one character from the games who doesn't fit into any badass subtrope. ''MassEffect2'' is an excellent example, since your mission is to recruit a team of {{Badass}}.

* BettyAndVeronica: If a Bioware game includes more than one female NPC who can be romanced, it's a safe bet that one of them will be a cute, innocent girl-next-door type while the other will be a more exotic and sexy femme fatale. Some examples include:

** Dawn Star and Silk Fox in ''JadeEmpire''.
** Liara and Ashley in ''MassEffect1'' and ''[[MassEffect3 3]]''.
** Tali and Miranda (or Jack) in ''MassEffect2''.

** Perhaps the most blatant example of this trope is Merrill and Isabela in ''DragonAge2''.
* BloodKnight: At least one recruitable ([[JadeEmpire The Black Whirwind]], [[KnightsOfTheOldRepublic Canderous]], [[DragonAge Oghren]]), [[MassEffect Wrex and Grunt]].

* CardCarryingVillain: Although there is nothing stopping you from playing a VillainProtagonist, you should be aware that, unlike the good dialogue options, most of the evil ones simply boil down to "{{Jerkass}} [[EvilIsPetty who does things]] ForTheEvulz."\\
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Of course, some of those options exist in these games, but ''MassEffect'', ''DragonAge'', and sometimes ''JadeEmpire'' avert this. ''DragonAge'' is particularly good at it, due to a lack of KarmaMeter. You can come up with a good, rational reason to do just about every evil thing. To the point where one can measure the development of Bioware's storytelling and karma meter use in their ability to challenge the player with hard choices. The Dragon Age Origins expac in particular has a choice which seems to have no 'correct' answer.
* CharacterDevelopment: A ''lot'' in most, if not all of their games
* DarkerAndEdgier: Their later work tends towards this. Despite sharing somewhat similar design styles, uniformly excellent writing and a signature character style, ''Knights of the Old Republic'' and ''Mass Effect'' might have been made by different companies.
** Actually, if one takes the Darker and Edgier path through ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'', there's a definite trend. The difference being that ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' leaves the option to the player.

* DeadpanSnarker: Seems to be the prime tenet of Bioware games--at least two or three companions will sway towards snarkiness.

* EvilIsPetty: Inevitably, being evil in a [=BioWare=] game will mean "be a rude, selfish jerk". ''DragonAge'' is a bit better about this, what with the lack of a KarmaMeter, but gaining the approval of "evil" party members will take you down the path to jerkassery nonetheless. They may have successfully made "evil" downright badass in ''MassEffect2'', though:
--> '''Volus''': "Shoot them! Shoot the-"\\
[Renegade Interrupt: Volus' bodyguards get gunned down]\\
'''Shepard''': "Too slow."
** Renegade Shepard has generally been the victim of inconsistent characterization throughout the ''MassEffect'' series. While s/he generally acts like an ignorant though {{badass}} thug, there are some moments at which s/he seems almost like a MagnificentBastard, like [[spoiler: at the end of ME1, in which he and Udina orchestrate the rise of a [[TheEmpire Human Led Council]] to replace the one Shepard left to die, securing humanity's position as the galaxy's dominant race.]] or in [[spoiler: the genophage arc of ''MassEffect3'', during which !Renegade Shepard dupes the Krogan into thinking the genophage has been cured when it actually hasn't, and informs the Salarians of this deception, securing both their aid and that of the Krogan.]]
* {{Expy}}: [[KnightsOfTheOldRepublic Bastila]] was quite similar to [[NeverwinterNights Lady Aribeth,]] although with an indoor voice and a measurable IQ.
** ''MassEffect1'' has quite a few similarities with the ''KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' series. Subverted with ''MassEffect2'' however, which signaled the franchise growing into it's own.
* FlavorText: Weapons usually have a description, as do other items (planets in ''MassEffect'', for instance, have up to three or four paragraphs of description, even if you aren't supposed to stay more than ten minutes on them).
* FighterMageThief: Averted only in D&D-based games. Mass Effect represents this trope with Combat/Biotics/Tech.
* {{Filler}}: Most of the minigames may qualify.
* GenkiGirl: One of the romanceable females will usually be this.
* HideYourGays: Can be charted pretty well from being played straight to being completely averted. ''Knights of the Old Republic'' had it vetoed by LucasArts, ''MassEffect'' had gay romances scripted but removed at the last moment, the options becoming available in JadeEmpire, ''DragonAge2'' finally gave equal amounts of options, regardless of gender (outside of one character), and ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' is their first game to feature romance options that exclusive to the same gender. This trope is coming into play with ''TheOldRepublic'' now, with similar flashpoints as ''DragonAge2'' had -- namely, people complaining that it lacks a same-sex romance option, and those railing against the ''possibility'' of such an option in their MMO. Apparently it ''will'' be an option, but in a post-release patch.
* KarmaMeter: There's usually one of some degree. {{BioWare}} used a standard Good vs Evil meter for all d20 games (all of 'em are licensed). Thus, ''JadeEmpire'' and ''MassEffect'' are criticized for narrowing moral conflicts down to two choices - heal the kitten vs kill the kitten, despite [[JadeEmpire Open Palm vs. Closed Fist]] is more like Altruist vs. SocialDarwinist, and [[MassEffect Paragon vs. Renegade]] are more like Idealism Versus Cynicism, Paragon sometimes even acts exactly like a Closed Fist adept would. Thus, there is no KarmaMeter at all in ''DragonAge'', which was replaced by RelationshipValues.\\
\\
In ''DragonAge'', due to the fact that the PC's good/evil actions is reflected by which characters relationship values will build up the fastest. Ex: choosing the heroic and unambiguously "good" choice will lead like-minded, good-aligned characters to approve of your actions, making it easier to build camaraderie, loyalty, romance, etc. with them by opening new dialogue options and plot elements while simultaneously leading the more morally ambiguous members of your group to disapprove, which leads them to shun any efforts of building relationships with them by limiting said choices and quite possibly making them dislike you altogether. So the karmic dichotomy still stands, but only on the characters' front. You can just leave them behind while being morally questionable without repercussion, aside from one flagrant defilement of a major religious figure's remains.
* LightIsNotGood: Plenty of examples, especially when a ChurchMilitant is involved.
* LoadsAndLoadsOfLoading: Commonly found in their games, but as computers got faster this became less of an issue.
* LoveRedeems: If your love interest has an evil alignment (or a love interest that ''switches'' to the evil alignment), expect this to hit them full force. Unless she's Morrigan.

** ''BaldursGate'' finished with the ''Throne of Bhaal'' expansion which offered the player character a choice between finishing as a Good God/Evil God/Staying Mortal. Outlined with text epilogues.
** ''JadeEmpire'' had different endings based on your Karma Meter, the romantic relationships between yourself and your followers and their Karma meters as well. It also had hidden pasts for two characters resulting in about three or four different endings per follower on top of the three main endings for your own alignment (Good/Evil/Dead/In Love With Hero/Secret Past/Secret past and In love with Hero/Evil with a secret past whilst in love with the hero... and you get the idea). These epilogues were only played after the main ending cutscene, however, which was chosen from 3 possibilities depending on whether the main character was good/evil/an idiot.

** ''MassEffect3'''s (perceived) ''lack'' of this trope was a major part of the fandom's bitter response to it.
* MythologyGag:
** Boo, the Miniature Giant Space Hamster, makes appearances in the ''BaldursGate'' series. You can buy a space hamster with a knowing smile in ''MassEffect2''.
** Chiktikka Fastpaws is a raccoon sidekick of a god that Aerie of BaldursGate invokes by saying "faster than Chiktikka Fastpaws!". Chik'tikka vas Paus is Tali of MassEffect's combat drone. She'll shout "No one is faster than Chik'takka vas Paus!" during combat. She'll also shout "Go for the optics, go for the optics!", which is a reference to the aforementioned Boo and the shout his owner Minsc will say.
** "How's a [[DragonAge dwarf]] get named [[MassEffect Shepard]]?"

** ''BaldursGate'': "Lord Foreshadow", who was heading to Neverwinter.
* OldSaveBonus: Started with ''BaldursGate'' where a character imported from the first game could have better stats and some items that could be use to forge new gear. Taken UpToEleven during the ''MassEffect'' series where an imported character would carry over a huge number of decisions from the first game that would majorly impact the second (and a number of minor impacts too). Expect this to go even further in the third game.

* PlanetOfHats: Generally averts this in their games, taking stereotype races or cultures and deconstructing them. Brilliantly and most notably averted in the ''MassEffect'' series.

* {{Reconstruction}}: While there are [[{{Deconstruction}} deconstructions]] in it, ''MassEffect'' is generally seen as a {{Reconstruction}} of the sci-fi genre.
* RescueIntroduction: BioWare likes this trope for party members:
** ''MassEffect'': Ashley, Liara and Tali from the first game. Archangel, [[spoiler: Legion]], arguably Jack and Grunt from the second game. In retrospect, [[spoiler: Wilson is a subversion, since he's the one who coordinated an attack on the facility on behalf of the Shadow Broker.]]

** In ''DragonAgeII'', Hawke and family meet Aveline by saving her and her husband from darkspawn. Flemeth again introduces herself after rescuing Hawke and company from darkspawn.

** ''KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' has you rescuing Bastila (or as she'll insist, her rescuing you...)

* SlidingScaleOfLinearityVersusOpenness: Mostly type V, but [[DragonAge some]] [[KnightsOfTheOldRepublic are]] more of a Type IV.

* TheEndIsNigh:
** BioWare just ''loves'' doomsayers. From Manuel in ''MassEffect'' to some crazy old kook in [[KnightsOfTheOldRepublic KOTOR]]...
** The Doomsday Prophet on Omega in ''Mass Effect 2'' says this verbatim.
* {{Troperiffic}}: Dear God yes. A notable example being the ''MassEffect'' series which after only two games, three books and two comic series, has over thirty pages on this site. ''MassEffect3's'' main page had a good 150 tropes on it before it was even ''released.''

** Then comes MassEffect3. The fandom had exploded with the popular opinion that the ending writers' mothers should have slapped the ostrich that delivered them.

Let's just say that some of their {{RPG}}s have developed a reputation for being the video game equivalent of {{Door Stopper}}s, in the best sense of that term. You play a [=BioWare=] game ''because'' of the dialogue trees, the hours spent on developing side characters, understanding the world, and reading the Codex. The writing tends to be of good quality too, so much that [[WebOriginal/ZeroPunctuation Ben]] [[CausticCritic Croshaw]] once said that, if you're playing a [=BioWare=] game, it's a given that the writing is going to be good.

* ''StarWars: KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' (2003)

* ''MDK2'' (2000)