Former Bioware writer says Mass Effect TV show idea "makes me cringe" Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Former Bioware writer says Mass Effect TV show idea "makes me cringe" Adept-ation. News by Ed Nightingale News reporter Updated on 25 Nov 2021 100 comments Ex-Bioware lead writer David Gaider has said the idea of a reported Mass Effect TV adaptation makes him "cringe". Yesterday it was reported that Amazon Prime is "nearing a deal" for a TV series based on the Bioware sci-fi RPG. But Gaider, who worked on Bioware's other RPG series Dragon Age, shared concern on Twitter that an adaptation could alienate fans of the game. Watch on YouTube "For starters, ME and DA have a custom protagonist," he said. "Meaning said TV show will need to pick whether said protagonist will be male or female. Boom, right off the bat you've just alienated a whole bunch of the built-in fan base who had their hopes up. "Secondly, those protagonists are designed to be a bit of a blank slate, one that the player fills out with their decisions. That's not going to work for a passive medium. So, suddenly, the protagonist will have their own personality... and their own *story*. That will be weird." 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 To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Manage cookie settings He notes how much of the story is off-loaded on to the companion characters, as Shepard is something of a blank slate. Each player will have their own experience of those companions, be it through friendship or romance, and that will be tricky to balance in a TV show with a set narrative. "Both ME's and DA's plots were, at best, serviceable," he said. "Those plots had to take into account the player's agency. They were kind of the shell upon which that player's emotional engagement was delivered -- usually through the companions and the choices themselves. Choice heightened engagement. Interactivity was the star, not the plot." He continues: "Take all that out, lose most of the companions, and you potentially end up with... a pretty run-of-the-mill fantasy or science-fiction show, one where a lot of the built-in audience has possibly been turned into outraged, howling malcontents before it's even released." He also notes that with a large TV audience, show producers will need to balance fans' desire for a story outside of the games with the need to deliver exposition to those new to the franchise. Mass Effect is known for its branching, player-choice driven narrative which will certainly be difficult to adapt for a TV audience. Perhaps we'll just have Henry Cavill as Shepard and that's that. Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 4 Atari will hold RollerCoaster Tycoon rights for another decade Ups and downs. 7 Lady Dimitrescu will be a tad smaller in Resident Evil Village's Mercenaries DLC Level the playing field. 1 Overwatch 2 suffers another DDoS attack and character roster bugs Mei Mei. 13 Latest Articles Digital Foundry Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090: a new level in graphics performance The Digital Foundry video review - and how the new GPU champion delivers for 4K 120fps gaming. Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 4 Feature Evercore Heroes wants to wind people up the right way "There's less rage at them, because they didn't end your fun." Genshin Impact Path of Gleaming Jade dates, login event rewards Including other anniversary rewards and how to claim them. Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store