David Gaider, a former Dragon Age narrative designer, isn’t too big on the idea of a Mass Effect TV series.
On Tuesday, reports of a Mass Effect TV show by Amazon Studios were all over gaming outlets. It’s not a sure thing yet, although Amazon and Electronic Arts are allegedly close to sealing a deal. It sounds like a good fit! However, not everyone is into the idea — including Gaider.
“I’m relieved to see that the Mass Effect/Amazon deal is for a potential TV series and not a movie,” Gaider said on Twitter. “Even so, the possibility (and likewise for Dragon Age) makes me cringe just a little.”
“For starters, [Mass Effect] and [Dragon Age] have a custom protagonist. Meaning said TV show will need to pick whether said protagonist will be male or female,” Gaider continues on Twitter. “Boom, right off the bat you’ve just alienated a whole bunch of the built-in fan base who had their hopes up.”
I'm relieved to see that the Mass Effect/Amazon deal is for a potential TV series and not a movie. Even so, the possibility (and likewise for Dragon Age) makes me cringe just a little, unlike many fans who appear… excited?
Let me explain. (Thread)
— David Gaider (@davidgaider) November 25, 2021
Gaider explains several other issues he has with a hypothetical Mass Effect TV series, mentioning that the choose-a-personality nature of Shepard means they’re a blank slate that doesn’t work in a passive medium. So the character will have to change a bunch.
The undercurrent of Gaider’s concerns is that much of Mass Effect’s appeal is how player choice shapes the narrative. So whatever ends up on TV will be a dramatically different beast from the games everyone knows.
Time will tell if there even is a Mass Effect TV series. Hopefully, it makes it on our best video game adaptations list if so.
Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.
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