I am feeling alienated and offended by Bioware

[Saulkar]

People have disagreed with me and I respect that, but I have received shit comments that make it hard to tell the difference between a good one and a bad one. The problem is that too many personalities are replying at once. I now understand that this is an intellectual deathtrap. The more you reply, the more your credibility dgoes down the toilet. I feel the need to end this topic now. Too many people gave good comments in opposition and I disagreed with them because I was simply too mentally strained from answering so many questions and comments I did not anticipate. So I apologise.

I thought I could get a conversation going with fellow Canadians and Americans on the current state of how Canadian videogame developers disregard their own nation. I understand that you need a character for a specific situation be it an American or Russian but Canada is getting no love from its own developers. The problem is this went off topic too many times, too much anger, some of which I started. And faarrrrrrrrrrrrr to many instances of people picking out irreverent flaws in my argument and hounding it like wolves using it as a stepping stone to point out my intellectual flaws to get the upper hand, bravo I am real impressed, NOT!

Thanks to those who supported my argument and above all those who argueded against it and FUCK YOU to those who focused on points in my argument that were not relevent to the general idea. Overall, what was this all for, what was it all about.

1. I wanted show that taking a storyline seriously is juvinille but it can still hurt alot given the right context and people need to respect this!
2. Canada does not represent itself in videogames, I do not want Canada to be the main focus, just show your nation some love.
3. Cultures Bleeing into other ones is good, keeps it fresh, it becomes bad when a foriegn culture tries to dominate and dispose of the local.
4. Persistent belittleing of a culture or nation breaks down its skin making it more vulnerable to critism.
5. Culture is good.
6. Finally and above all, I just wanted to say I was not feeling very good about Mass Effect after reading that bit of ingame info, I feel better now but not by much.

Everything else in this forum was unnessesary and I did not want to talk about it. Once again sorry to those who gave valid points but I could not recognise it because of my state of mind, thankyou.

I am done here.

 

[RatRace123]

I think they made up a history that they thought might realistically happen.
And given that Humanity sort of unites itself as one group in galactic politics, yeah I think Canada and Mexico could be "joined" to the US by then.

I think when humanity unites, the larger superpowers sort of engulf the smaller neighboring states/nations/provinces to make it easier and more uniform.

 

[Saulkar]

I think they made up a history that they thought might realistically happen.
And given that Humanity sort of unites itself as one group in galactic politics, yeah I think Canada and Mexico could be "joined" to the US by then.

I think when humanity unites, the larger superpowers sort of engulf the smaller neighboring states/nations/provinces to make it easier and more uniform.

I can understand that but I still feel that Bioware being a Canadian developer would realise that would be detrimental to a Canadian audience who have a fragile faith in own own videogame industry representing Canada in a positive light.

 

[Saulkar]

P.S. I did not forget money is a key factor, but that excuse can only hold for so long.

Canadians aren't so immature as to care about the setting or the flag on the protagonist's coat.

That I understand fully! I do not want to go flashing around "Hey I Am Canadian", but rather if someone asks where I am from and what culture I represent I want to say I am Canadian.

 

[Irridium]

Well wasn't all this before Humanity discovered Alien life? From what I understand, currently all nations are under one government in order to properly interact with alien politics. The Earth even has its own President. Huerta, I think his name is.

Point is, its basically irrelevant in relation to where the Mass Effect timeline is now, since if Canada/Mexico weren't annexed, they would still have most likely joined a "wold government" of sorts. Essentially what RatRace said, when humanity unites, the stronger powers would tend to engulf the smaller ones.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

Taking this a little seriously aren't you? I'm not saying you shouldn't be proud of your country you can wave you flag in the middle of the street and sing your national anthem and i'll give you a thumbs up. However, and this is how I'm interpreting this of course, it seems you're complaining against a huge gaming developer because the main character isn't Canadian even though the company itself is based in Canada. That's kind of silly and stupid.

 

[Twad]

Its just fiction. For all we know/care The Pope could be the God-emperor of the whole planet.

Then again, its fiction. Its not supposed to make sense. Heck, the final battle in ME have warships in space fighting at spitting-range (and fail at it).

 

[Iron Mal]

I can't say I feel any national pride about my country (I'm not a huge fan of England) so getting offended over the lack of a patriotic character seems a bit alien to me (you think I really connect with the vast number of American protaganists dealing with stereotypical British villains out there?).

I have had several cases where I've noticed that my games were Canadian in origin and have also been suprised that they were usually excellent games (Dawn of War: Dark Crusade, Mass Effect and Farcry 2 to name just a few, in fact, the only bad Canadian game that sticks in my mind is Too Human).

I really don't think it's that big an issue (I can't actually think of any British or Irish developers).

 

[Saulkar]

I think they made up a history that they thought might realistically happen.
And given that Humanity sort of unites itself as one group in galactic politics, yeah I think Canada and Mexico could be "joined" to the US by then.

I think when humanity unites, the larger superpowers sort of engulf the smaller neighboring states/nations/provinces to make it easier and more uniform.

I forgot to mention that they forgot to mention how this was achieved, also it was achieved before the system alliance thus outside of a hostile take over, I cannot see for any reason Mexico or Canada bending over to the States. Canada alone has a weak faith but it is strong enough to say no to losing it. We would not give up our national identity and unique approach to governing ourselves and interacting with other nations as we do now.

 

[Warachia]

think of it this way, ALL of North America merged into one nation, the states were in the middle, and it was a name change only. That should clear everything up, I must have missed that "most bioware protagonists come from the states" bit, almost all of their games take place in either a D&D verse, or an offworld colony, the closest is ONE option for shepard, but then it only says "came from earth".

 

[Saulkar]

Taking this a little seriously aren't you? I'm not saying you shouldn't be proud of your country you can wave you flag in the middle of the street and sing your national anthem and i'll give you a thumbs up. However, and this is how I'm interpreting this of course, it seems you're complaining against a huge gaming developer because the main character isn't Canadian even though the company itself is based in Canada. That's kind of silly and stupid.

Yes and no, did you read the whole thing? If you did you would reaslise I am also targeting the entire Candain videogame industry for never representing my own nation.

 

[KEM10]

In the case of the States ridiculing, making fun of, or being indifferent to Canada you generally are not supposed to take it seriously as it is in most but not all cases done in jest.

How about a trade? I will attempt to stop Americans from making US's Hat jokes, and you stop Canadians from making US is stupid jokes. If we start now we might have this done in about 200 years.

Also, if you want to go all out you should start with Asimov's grave since he suggested that the world would operate better with only 4 true nations and had the US join with Canada and everything south until Panama (Still unsure where Iceland and Greenland fell in that order).

 

[TaboriHK]

I've never been so offended at something so utterly irrelevant to a story and something so utterly...inoffensive. Of all the things in gaming to be annoyed by, you were annoyed by that? Man, we live some excellent lives that these are the things that keep us up at night.

 

[Iron Mal]

I can understand that but I still feel that Bioware being a Canadian developer would realise that would be detrimental to a Canadian audience who have a fragile faith in own own videogame industry representing Canada in a positive light.

They aren't exactly painting Canada in a bad light, so I still fail to see where any great offence or alienation is occuring.

 

[Canadian Fodder]

Ya it is slightly annoying but as said before, humanity stands a better chance when united and perhaps the US actually had a change for the good.

 

[Woodsey]

*insert comment regarding sand in the vaginal area*

I don't get it. You feel alienated from a good company because they don't have the same overblown "patriotism" as you?

 

[Saulkar]

In the case of the States ridiculing, making fun of, or being indifferent to Canada you generally are not supposed to take it seriously as it is in most but not all cases done in jest.

How about a trade? I will attempt to stop Americans from making US's Hat jokes, and you stop Canadians from making US is stupid jokes. If we start now we might have this done in about 200 years.

Also, if you want to go all out you should start with Asimov's grave since he suggested that the world would operate better with only 4 true nations and had the US join with Canada and everything south until Panama (Still unsure where Iceland and Greenland fell in that order).

?. I missed what you said, could you rephrase that please as I am unfamiliar with Asimov.

P.S. I think you missed that I ways saying, jokes between nations should be taken as fun, or IGNORED, or at least dodged. Quote: "How about a trade? I will attempt to stop Americans from making US's Hat jokes, and you stop Canadians from making US is stupid jokes. If we start now we might have this done in about 200 years." :End Quote This implies that you missed that point. UNGH!

 

[archvile93]

P.S. I did not forget money is a key factor, but that excuse can only hold for so long.

You could have just posted this. It's the reason. It will sell better with the American target audience and most Canadians aren't so immature as to care about the setting or the flag on the protagonist's coat.

And this is a perfect example of why you should just realize it's not a big deal. We Americans get mocked all the time, but you don't see me at least whining about it.

 

[Saulkar]

I've never been so offended at something so utterly irrelevant to a story and something so utterly...inoffensive. Of all the things in gaming to be annoyed by, you were annoyed by that? Man, we live some excellent lives that these are the things that keep us up at night.

Dude did you read the whole thing? The overall story is a lack of representing our own nation in a medium we are incredable at using generating an overbearing sense of cultural insignificance in my own media industry.