Line #77 Trivia/MassEffect3


1	* ActorAllusion:
2	** When Tali gets drunk, she complains that Shepard saying "Aah!" makes him/her sound just like a vorcha. Mark Meer, Male Shepard's voice actor, also voices all of the vorcha characters encountered throughout the games.
3	** 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?]] [[Creator/SteveBlum Me!]]"]]
4	* AscendedFanon: Among the other fandom nods in the ''Citadel'' DLC, Traynor makes some of the "[[http://savegameonline.com/c3-features/save-games-mass-effect-squadmate-cocktails-the-best-drinks-this-side-of-the-citadel squadmate cocktails]]" drawn up here, referring to the "Shadowbrokertini" and "Full Biotic Kick" by name.
5	* BasedOnADream: The [[NailEm Graal Spike Thrower]] was inspired by [[AuthorPhobia a nightmare]] lead gameplay designer [[https://mobile.twitter.com/CGaspur/status/398470187067768833 Corey Gaspur had about an unstable man chasing him around with a nail gun]].
6	* BillingDisplacement: An unusual instance of this applying to a composer; despite Music/ClintMansell's involvement with the soundtrack being hyped up pre-release, in actual fact he contributed just ''two'' pieces to the soundtrack; the duo of Sascha Dikiciyan and Cris Velasco were more the game's main composers, with Lair of the Shadow Broker composer Christopher Lennertz also making a return, along with series veteran Sam Hulick.
7	* CastingGag: The game's SpaceshipGirl / {{Fembot}} EDI is voiced by [[Series/BattlestarGalactica2003 known Cylon]] Tricia Helfer.
8	* CharacterOutlivesActor: Robin Sachs finished recording his dialogue for Zaeed Massani in the ''Citadel'' DLC a month before its release, and a special multiplayer event, "Operation: Tribute", was held in his honor.
9	* CreatorKiller: Backlash over the game's endings plus other problems, including Consumerist calling EA the "Worst Company in America" in 2012 and 2013 over the oil and banking companies, ultimately resulted in John Riccitello resigning from EA.
10	* {{Defictionalization}}: Oddly {{inverted}}. In ''Mass Effect'', Shepard wore the iconic ''N7'' armor, which was [[TheMerch merchandized as a hoodie]]. But now, ''Mass Effect 3'''s [[LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition Collector's Edition]] will let Shepard, in the game itself, ''wear that very same hoodie''.
11	* DevelopmentGag:
12	** In the Codex for the Reapers, it is explained that they were thought by some civilizations to be beings that consumed suns. This is a reference to the original purpose for the Reaper harvesting before ''Mass Effect 3'' was written, and is what the dying star plotline with the Quarians was all about.
13	** If you speak to James after the mission at Grissom Academy, he brings up Kahlee Sanders and mentions how his father's last name was Sanders, quickly stating there's no relation. During the game's development, James' last name was originally going to be Sanders, but was changed, probably to [[OneSteveLimit avoid confusion]] with Kahlee.
14	* FandomNod:
15	** 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 Creator/BioWare site.
16	** 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.
17	*** In the Castle Arcade, a turian sentinel and salarian infiltrator discuss weapon and equipment selection for dealing with foes. The turian is rather...[[WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer enthusiastic]] about detonating his Tech Armor, while the salarian argues for more [[TacticalRockPaperScissors diversity of tactics]]. The two talk about numerous enemy types faced in the game and what to do about them, and it sounds like [[StopHavingFunGuys a forum argument about how to optimize multiplayer characters]].
18	*** An asari adept and an asari vanguard complain about other biotic-capable races. This includes the drell, pointing out how one of them seems to kick the air for no reason and steals grenades all the time, and humans, who toss singularities way too often.
19	*** A human infiltrator complains to a vorcha soldier about how her squad was unavailable and she was called to a mission immediately, and [[PickUpGroup thus had to hook up with the nearest N7 forces whom she never worked with before]]. She wanted a nice, smooth mission but their unfamiliarity turned it into a train wreck. The rest of the group stood in the open at the top of a ramp, the ex-Cerberus vanguard kept [[LeeroyJenkins racing forward to disable indoctrination devices]] instead of [[InvisibilityCloak letting the infiltrator do it]], etc.
20	*** 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. Meanwhile, the requisitions officer indignantly tells her that she should be thankful and that the Krogan soldiers he's dealing with would love a new Graal Spike Thrower... and then mention how he hopes that they could use those biotic amps he sent them. Turns out the RandomNumberGod-nature of the store is just a hilariously inept bureaucracy managing the supply chains.
21	--->'''Fury''': You are the reason we are losing this war!
22	*** A 'veteran' Alliance soldier and engineer go on a nostalgia trip (reflecting the nature of the game back at release) and consequently complain about how all their allies have shiny new equipment and rather improbable combat tactics (which is what the game has become after a year). Their points of discussion include two N7 characters, the new Armiger Legion turians, and biotic volus.
23	--->'''Engineer''': Or those N7 engineers, with their grenade pylons. Who needs that many grenades?
24	--->'''Soldier''': I joined up with turians on this drop onto one of their colonies...you know what those crazy birds bust out? Jet boots! What kind of frontline soldier needs a pair of damn jet-boots? It's just showing off is what it is.
25	*** Another complaint from the Veteran Soldier is the unfairness of N7 Demolisher's strutting around like a WalkingArmoury.
26	*** The funniest complaint may be about the sudden inclusion of Volus troops and their tendency to toss grenades around that have yields high enough for them to be considered weapons of mass destruction.
27	** It's not just the multiplayer, either. Drunk!Tali references an infamous forum thread debating what her sweat would smell like (yes, it actually happened). "It just smells like sweat! [[{{Squick}} Why would you even ask that?]]" Shepard references Jack and Miranda shippers, and Joker finally has the nerve to ask how Kaidan gets his hair like that (it's static from using his biotics).
28	* {{Feelies}}: The vanilla physical edition has a reversible cover, with the options of male or female Shepard.
29	* InMemoriam: The February 2013 multiplayer event ''Operation Tribute'', was this to Creator/RobinSachs, who voiced Zaeed and passed away a few weeks before the event. During this event, players were encouraged to kill enemies using Avenger Rifles and Inferno Grenades. Zaeed's favorite gun, Jessie, is an Avenger Rifle and Inferno Grenade was Zaeed's loyalty power in the previous game. The flavor text for the event even said that it was in honor of fallen comrades. The ''Citadel'' DLC's credits contain a more standard tribute to Sachs.
30	* LyingCreator:
31	** 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.
32	** 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 final version, the Rachni appear in one side mission, and don't appear at all during the final battle or any other time. To make matters worse, it should be noted that this statement was made after the game went gold.
33	** Casey Hudson stated that the plot would not be solved by using a "long lost Reaper off-button" and the endings would not be 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, at least in its original form, is determined by a LastSecondEndingChoice, where exactly three different choices is offered to the player.
34	** 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.
35	** 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]].
36	* MultiDiscWork: The Xbox 360 version was split into two discs, however, disc 1 is required again for endgame content.
37	* PreOrderBonus:
38	** Depending on where you pre-ordered the game. All of the gear mentioned below plus a lot of other promotional items have since been made available for indirect purchase with the ''Leviathan'' and ''Omega'' [=DLCs=] - except for the Defender Armor, which can only be unlocked by editing the save file. Fortunately, neither of the guns is particularly useful, and the armor - while cool-looking - is made redundant by the various Cerberus armor suits, so even if you don't have them in your armory, you're not missing out on anything.
39	** Gamestop pre-orders include "Defender Armor" and an N7 Valkyrie Assault Rifle (the only weapon not covered by the Collector's Edition weapon pack).
40	** EA's Origin network offers the [=AT12=] Raider Shotgun.
41	** Others get the Argus assault rifle, which is also a midrange weapon.
42	* PromotedFanboy:
43	** Jessica Chobot of [=G4TV=] [[http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/720362/mass-effect-3-jessica-chobot-talks-romance/ plays Diana Allers]], a new love interest for Shepard.
44	** Freddie Prinze Jr., who voices James Vega, has also stated that he's a fan of the first two games.
45	* StarMakingRole: The role of Javik made Creator/IkeAmadi a recognizable voice actor, landing him future jobs in the business and upraising his profile.
46	* TeasingCreator: Here's a [[http://www.tentonhammer.com/me3/news/twitter-posts-hint-at-more-possible-surprises-for-mass-effect-3%20?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss pretty good rundown.]]
47	* TheOtherDarrin: William Salyers takes over for Michael Beattie as Mordin. Wreav also has a voice actor change, but since nobody really liked Wreav anyway, it doesn't get much comment.
48	* 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).]]
49	* ViralMarketing: Pre-release, twitter accounts called "The Cerberus Daily News" and "Alliance News Networks" posted little bits of information, such as comm buoys going out, along with the comments being filled with the various races commenting on it, such as a quarian disproving theories that the Migrant Fleet is attacking the batarian homeworld, or an Alliance soldier commenting on a sudden, massive influx of batarian refugees through the Exodus Cluster relay and how the human colony of Elysium is ready for anything that may happen.
50	* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
51	** A [[spoiler:Reaper-ized version of the Illusive Man]] was considered as the FinalBoss, but rejected as uncharacteristic: [[spoiler:the Illusive Man's strength is his mind, so making him a bullet sink would diminish him. Instead, he casually strolls in and neutralizes Shepard with Reapertech indoctrination abilities; to win, you have to [[TalkingTheMonsterToDeath Talk Him To Death]] - either by [[DrivenToSuicide Driving Him To Suicide]] to save humanity from his mistakes, or [[IShallTauntYou Taunting Him]] into dropping his guard]].
52	** 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:[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI1oUAUe4Qg this conversation between Shepard and Anderson]]]].
53	** From the script leak: a few post-Rannoch mentions of Admiral Xen, including a direct confrontation and Hackett reporting [[spoiler: a botched attempt to hack the geth after peace is declared. She wouldn't have succeeded, but it would have cost the geth a few ships.]]
54	** Ditto: the Thessia mission might seem like a gut-punch as-is, but it could have included [[spoiler: a choice between saving Ashley / Kaidan and Liara. It's unclear whether there would have been any way to avoid it (say, if you held you own against Kai Leng), but all that remains of that scene is the bit where the temple floor collapses beneath Shepard. There was also a bit with Leng framing Shepard for several murders on Eden Prime to turn Ash[=/=]Kaidan against them. An alternative version of the script indicates that after the recruitment of the Virmire Survivor was moved to the Cerberus Coup story arc, the choice would have been between Liara and whichever other squadmate you took with you to Thessia (as Liara was mandatory for that mission).]]
55	** 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).
56	** Originally, the team with Shepard at the start of the run towards the Conduit [[spoiler:would have died if the player's EMS was too low -- if the player has high EMS, both squadmates are able to limp away from the battlefield without further injury]]. While it was speculated that the scene was cut because [[spoiler:killing two of Shepard's team with no fanfare was too cold hearted, especially when you factor in that it could potentially include Shepard's love interest]], the buggy nature of the original sequence (it's still in the files, albeit in an unfinished form) means that production deadlines were likely the real culprit for the scene being excised. 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]]. The ''Priority: Earth Overhaul Mod'' also includes the option to restore the original version of the Conduit Run as an optional module, fully cleaned up and integrating both High and Low EMS outcomes.
57	** Datamining has uncovered a [[https://web.archive.org/web/20130513131809/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."]]
58	** Other cut elements include: a proper romance scene with Kelly, Kal'Reegar and Emily Wong not dying offscreen but actually being present and meeting Shepard, a lengthy explanation of the preparations that went into the Cerberus Coup, at least twice the squad banter both in-mission and on-ship (mostly discussing plot points left unresolved by the final game), and while it wasn't designed as a second hub (a-la Citadel) as initially promised, Omega served as a source for several lengthy quest chains that included hunting down Cerberus officers, venturing beyond the Omega-4 relay and, if you did particularly well, breaking the Only Rule Of Omega.
59	** As with the previous games, leftover voice over files (and one interview with Mark Meer) imply that at some point in development James Vega was not only supposed to be romanceable, but also to be available as a LoveInterest for Shepards of both genders (though the ''Citadel'' [[DownloadableContent DLC]] reintroduces this element for a female Shepard.) The same seems to have been planned for Tali (there are voice-overs for [=FemShep=] for scenes that only take place with a romanced Tali, but this was also true for ''Mass Effect 2'', alongside Miranda and Jack).
60	** One of the original concepts of the game was for Shepard to implant himself with [[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-con2aYvWLMg/Ue6kB0A95tI/AAAAAAAAA4I/UT3esC__BGY/s1600/Shepard_Ash_Showdown.jpg reaper technology to combat the reapers]]. This would have led to conflict with the Virmire Survivor.
61	** 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.]]
62	:::[[https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWarsEU/comments/1ako18/i_am_drew_karpyshyn_ama/c8ygy0l/ According to Drew Karpyshyn]] this was just a story seed they planted but never developed. It looks like the dark energy plot was not really part of the "original ending" but one of many other storylines that never developed.
63	** Another ending concept that was more in line with the final ending would have [[spoiler:had Shepard meeting with the "Reaper Queen" rather than the Catalyst. A Reaper who was exiled for her beliefs that the Reapers needed to evolve and the cycles weren't sustainable. Like in the final ending Shepard would have to choose between destroy, control or synthesis. The destroy ending played out much different however. In the original ending rather than all synthetics being destroyed it would have destroyed not only the Citadel but Earth as well.]]
64	** Originally, Vega was supposed to be named James Sanders (and originally identified only as "Jimmy" in early scripts). His surname was changed to Vega, most likely to avoid having fans think that he was related to Kahlee Sanders. This is {{lampshaded}} in-game; see DevelopmentGag above.

Context Trivia / MassEffect3