ME players, some help please?

[Loalrikowki]

It surprises me to see so many people throwing Asari under the bus as being physically weak emotional, and manipulative. Their centuries of youth are spent in physical condition equivalent to the human prime. At the genetic level, Asari are the most dominant organisms in the known galaxy - they can reproduce with pretty much any species and generate what amounts to a fully Asari offspring. Justicars are ice cold, Morinth and Benezia were both exemplars of how formidable Asari could be as well. Random Asari matriarchs have made up a significant portion of the mercenary captains and criminal bosses you run into throughout the games.

I don't know if you were looking for a tendency to apply feminine stereotypes there, but it's the first thing that jumped out at me from reading this thread.

 

[Mylinkay Asdara]

It surprises me to see so many people throwing Asari under the bus as being physically weak emotional, and manipulative. Their centuries of youth are spent in physical condition equivalent to the human prime. At the genetic level, Asari are the most dominant organisms in the known galaxy - they can reproduce with pretty much any species and generate what amounts to a fully Asari offspring. Justicars are ice cold, Morinth and Benezia were both exemplars of how formidable Asari could be as well. Random Asari matriarchs have made up a significant portion of the mercenary captains and criminal bosses you run into throughout the games.

I don't know if you were looking for a tendency to apply feminine stereotypes there, but it's the first thing that jumped out at me from reading this thread.

You know, I had a problem with that too while I was constructing the survey for the very same reasons and you're right to point it out.

What I had to do was give this survey to two different groups of responders and so I rather ended up shooting the middle on some of these descriptions. I realize now that I probably should have done a series of more specific surveys - and if I had the time I would have much preferred that, of course planning any survey that involves going to the Internet is a bit hard to count on results - and collate them to show the similarities.

On the other hand, what I plan to contend is that the Asari are the entirely female race representing of course females, but in a light that does not paint them as weak or incapable and in fact might reduce the strength of stereotypes attached to women of being weak or ineffectual through play interaction.

That's just one aspect of course, this is not a paper that centers around gender by any means - it's focus is the general prejudices of society as shown by stereotypes and how interactive game play might erode those (which is a positive thing, in my opinion).


And for the general "don't know what we're about here" comments - you know how people sometimes speak about Star Trek (the original mostly but also the rest) as having been a very progressive show that was allegorically about racial harmony by presenting the intergalactic federation as a potential future of cooperation (mostly) with other "races" in equality? Well I'm trying to show that some video games take a page out of that playbook and that it is a good thing and that it should be cultivated or at least studied and understood like it is in literature and film.

 

[robot slipper]

1) Criminal behavior, violent, low intelligence, strong, unstable, low moral standards
Vorcha (mostly, not too sure about "strong")
Batarian (mostly, probably not overly strong or unstable)
Krogan (somewhat, not all are criminal/unstable/low morals)
Human (this assortment of characteristics are definitely a significant part of humanity in ME and in real life!)

2) Without a homeland, compared to vermin, resource hoarders, thieves, loyal to their own first and foremost, secretive
Quarian, spot on

3) Emotional, sensative, crafters of compromise, physically weak, use looks to manipulate
Hmm. A cross between Salarian/Human/Asari? Salarians covers "crafters of compromise" (their position on the Council) and physically weak. Humans are emotional, sensitive, and use looks to manipulate. Asari are also crafters of compromise, use looks to manipulate, and a fraction emotional.

4) Job stealers, recent arrivals, entering in large numbers, manipulate the system
Humans

5) Great at Math and Science, timid, infatuated with technology, reserved, logical
Salarians, spot on again (though you left out great singing skills!)

6) Militant, strict codes of conduct / severe punishment for breaking them, men dominating public sphere
Mainly Turian (especially the militant side), but Krogan also fits this quite well too, what with their strict clan structure and all.

 

[Eddie the head]

1. Vorcha, Batarian Krogen at times.

2. Vorcha, Quarian maybe Drell.

3. Asari, Volus Maybe Hannar.

4. Humans.

5. Salarians, Kind of Asari.

6. Turian. Krogen at times? Maybe Cereberus.

You know what I am changing my mind Drell fit 2 better than anyone else.

 

[Trillovinum]

1)Vorcha
2)Quarians
3)Asari
4)Humans
5)Salarians
6)Turians

Though I think much of the point in the game is that these stereotypes are how the characters in the game perceive the groups, but aren't necessarily entirely true. Though the story never really bothered with a deeper examination of the Vorcha, admittedly.

Actually, there's a bit in the Leviathan DLC of ME3 where you can travel to the Vorcha homeworld (just for the scanning) and there's quite a bit of information about the vorcha to be had in the planet descriptions. For example how their culture revolves around physical domination of others and also that this is not necessarily innate as a group of vorcha raised from infancy by Asari showed to be very peaceful and open to and even capable of reasonable discussion.

 

[bullet_sandw1ch]

1) Criminal behavior, violent, low intelligence, strong, unstable, low moral standards
Mass Effect Stereotype: Krogans are the obvious answer, but also Vorcha and Batarians.
Real World Stereotype: African (especially African American), Latino, Slavic

2) Without a homeland, compared to vermin, resource hoarders, thieves, loyal to their own first and foremost, secretive
Mass Effect Stereotype: Quarian
Real World Stereotype: Gypsy, Latino. Possibly Middle Eastern (Turkish, Pakistani, etc.), especially in Europe. Going back in history, Chinese emigrants to North America.

3) Emotional, sensative, crafters of compromise, physically weak, use looks to manipulate
Mass Effect Stereotype: Asari
Real World Stereotype: No direct analogue; Jewish (especially Ashkenazi) would be the closest, I guess.

4) Job stealers, recent arrivals, entering in large numbers, manipulate the system
Mass Effect Stereotype: Human
Real World Stereotype: Latino. Again, you could make an argument for Middle Eastern in Europe.

5) Great at Math and Science, timid, infatuated with technology, reserved, logical
Mass Effect Stereotype: Salarian
Real World Stereotype: East-Asian (especially China and Japan), Jewish.

6) Militant, strict codes of conduct / severe punishment for breaking them, men dominating public sphere
Mass Effect Stereotype: Turians are the obvious answer, but also Batarians, and arguably Krogan.
Real World Stereotype: Middle Eastern.

just saying, you might wanna edit out the "real world stereotype" part as that could seem really racist to the wrong person.

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

1) Criminal behavior, violent, low intelligence, strong, unstable, low moral standards

Vorcha are the obvious candidates as there is reasonable evidence for the low intelligence and low moral standards; however, it is difficult to make such an assessment. A relative lack of scientific advances does not imply a lack of intellect as it could be explained as a simple lack of interest. Likewise, the fact that they do not adhere to my accepted moral standard does not mean they are lacking any such standards - they might simply ascribe to an alternate moral viewpoint.

To a significant extent, there is no perfect demonstration of this group structure. Instead most groups adhere to many parts of it at the same time. Spectres often engage in activity that would otherwise be criminal and operate outside both law and morality. Many of them are strong, plenty are unstable and some operate without any real understanding of the scope of a threat making a variety of rash decisions along the way.

2) Without a homeland, compared to vermin, resource hoarders, thieves, loyal to their own first and foremost, secretive

Similar to the previous, this applies fairly well to most groups. The quarians are the most obvious as they are lacking a homeland for most of the series; however by late in the third game it applies across the board. The Turians and Asari are actively losing their homes and refuse to render aid to others. The Krogan refuse to lend aid until they receive some for themselves and more than a few would compare them to vermin.

3) Emotional, sensative, crafters of compromise, physically weak, use looks to manipulate

Could be applied most obviously to the Asari, less obviously (but just as aptly) to the Salarians. The same is true of humans but it is less obvious still. There are subgroups that also meet the above - see Krogan females for example.

4) Job stealers, recent arrivals, entering in large numbers, manipulate the system

Depending upon the perspective of who's asking this applies to Humanity as well as most of the rest of the non-council races.

5) Great at Math and Science, timid, infatuated with technology, reserved, logical

Salarians obviously, geth with less true evidence (mostly supposition). Asari and Humanity are often exemplars of the above but often violate the trend.

6) Militant, strict codes of conduct / severe punishment for breaking them, men dominating public sphere

The Alliance Navy, Turans, Krogan, the Council and others still. The sole "female" member of the council is not female at all - the lack of a male equivalent makes the distinction of gender arbitrary. Other notable examples are Cerberus, Salarian STG and the volus.

 

[spartan231490]

So I posted this over at the Bioware boards... not much luck there. I am hoping my fellow Escapists will prove infinitely more awesome and fill out a short survey - please don't leave yet! - for a project I am doing for a class. It's a Race, Gender, and Class in Literature course and I am trying to show that the same themes occur in some games - I'm focusing on Mass Effect specifically because my paper has to be kept readable in length.

Please take a minute to answer 6 questions. I know some of the descriptions are general, they had to be so I could administer the survey to both my classmates and people who've played ME games.

You may answer here of course, or if you prefer privacy I would welcome answers in PM (please post that you answered at all though, as it will keep the thread somewhat visible for a larger window if time - that was my problem at Bioware, it fell off the first page in about 4 minutes, then got dumped in a section no one reads).


To be honest, the class I put this to answered all over the map and I am hoping I will get more usable data from this community. I may come back and refine the instructions if answers are way off of what I am expecting.

Thank you thank you to all who participate, I know these can be a little annoying, but I swear it's for the furthering of our media in academia and that my paper is a positive affirmation of our hobby by examining how it enhances the players' scope of thinking.


Instructions: Please respond to the description cluster with the group that comes to mind - preferably the group from Mass Effect games, but RL group answers will also be accepted - or you could answer in both manners. Please Note: these are stereotypical descriptions that are not being endorsed in any way, merely recognized

1) Criminal behavior, violent, low intelligence, strong, unstable, low moral standards

2) Without a homeland, compared to vermin, resource hoarders, thieves, loyal to their own first and foremost, secretive

3) Emotional, sensative, crafters of compromise, physically weak, use looks to manipulate

4) Job stealers, recent arrivals, entering in large numbers, manipulate the system

5) Great at Math and Science, timid, infatuated with technology, reserved, logical

6) Militant, strict codes of conduct / severe punishment for breaking them, men dominating public sphere

1) vorcha; drug users, but I don't think that counts
2) Quarian; Jews
3) Asari; Gypsy
4) Humans; immigrants(mexicans for us "mericans")
5) Salarian; nerds
6) Krogans; Africa
Disturbingly, this was much easier for the ME universe than the RL universe, PC must be infecting my mind >_<

 

[schtingah]

1) Krogan
2) Quarian
3) Hanar
4) Human
5) Salarian
6) Turian

 

[Dr. Doomsduck]

Alright...here we go.

1) Batarian

2) Quarian

3) Asari

4) Humans

5) Salarian

6) Turians

Though, it's not really fair, because we've only gotten a glimpse of the mass effect universe and the races there are described mostly through their stereotypes. In real life, or for a resident of the Mass effect universe, these stereotypes are much more nuanced and based on their upbringing. For example, a Salarian might put human under 1 or maybe 6 as well.

 

[Conza]

1) Criminal behavior, low intelligence

2) Without a homeland, loyal to their own first and foremost

3) Emotional, sensitive

4) Job stealers, manipulate the system

5) Great at Math and Science, logical

6) Militant, strict codes of conduct / severe punishment for breaking them

Ok wth does this have to do, at all, with ME? I've played all three game to completion, this makes no sense.

 

[triggrhappy94]

1) Vorcha, Krogan, Geth, Batarian

2) Quarian

3) Elcor (JK), Asari and Hanar maybe

4) Humans

5) Salarian, Geth, Asari

6) Turian, Krogan

 

[Ham Blitz]

1) Krogans or Vorcha

2) Quarians

3) Asari

4) Humans

5) Salarians

6) Turians

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

1) Criminal behavior, violent, low intelligence, strong, unstable, low moral standards

2) Without a homeland, compared to vermin, resource hoarders, thieves, loyal to their own first and foremost, secretive

3) Emotional, sensative, crafters of compromise, physically weak, use looks to manipulate

4) Job stealers, recent arrivals, entering in large numbers, manipulate the system

5) Great at Math and Science, timid, infatuated with technology, reserved, logical

6) Militant, strict codes of conduct / severe punishment for breaking them, men dominating public sphere

1. Vorcha (Krogan have honour, Batarians are intelligent)

2. Quarians

3. Hanar (Asari aren't necessarily weak, but I thought of them as well)

4. Humans

5. Salarians and Geth

6. Krogans (maybe Turian as well, not sure about punishment)

1) Criminal behavior, low intelligence

2) Without a homeland, loyal to their own first and foremost

3) Emotional, sensitive

4) Job stealers, manipulate the system

5) Great at Math and Science, logical

6) Militant, strict codes of conduct / severe punishment for breaking them

Ok wth does this have to do, at all, with ME? I've played all three game to completion, this makes no sense.

...do you read, at all? It's a survey, match the Mass Effect race you think fits to each of the categories. If none fit then say that.

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

Double, delete at will.

 

[Conza]

..It's a Race, Gender, and Class in Literature course and I am trying to show that the same themes occur in some games - I'm focusing on Mass Effect specifically because my paper has to be kept readable in length.

Please take a minute to answer 6 questions. I know some of the descriptions are general...

You may answer here of course, or if you prefer privacy I would welcome answers in PM (please post that you answered at all though, as it will keep the thread somewhat visible for a larger window if time - that was my problem at Bioware, it fell off the first page in about 4 minutes, then got dumped in a section no one reads).

Instructions: Please respond to the description cluster with the group

Should say races! Ahhhh ok, I get it now

that comes to mind - preferably the groups* (races) from Mass Effect games, but RL group (race) answers will also be accepted - or you could answer in both manners. Please Note: these are stereotypical descriptions that are not being endorsed in any way, merely recognized

1) Criminal behavior, violent, low intelligence, strong, unstable, low moral standards

2) Without a homeland, compared to vermin, resource hoarders, thieves, loyal to their own first and foremost, secretive

3) Emotional, sensative, crafters of compromise, physically weak, use looks to manipulate

4) Job stealers, recent arrivals, entering in large numbers, manipulate the system

5) Great at Math and Science, timid, infatuated with technology, reserved, logical

6) Militant, strict codes of conduct / severe punishment for breaking them, men dominating public sphere

Ok, now it makes sense, groups threw me, a hugely defining word, I thought I was trying to match the first phrase with a word/description that followed that I associated it most with.

1) Krogan
2) Quarian
3) Asari
4) Humans, provisionally, dislike the term job stealers :/
5) Salarians
6) Taurians

 

[Macgyvercas]

1) Krogans
2) Quarians
3) Asari
4) Humans
5) Salarians
6) Turians

That was pretty easy

 

[x EvilErmine x]

...moster snip...

1) Criminal behavior, violent, low intelligence, strong, unstable, low moral standards

2) Without a homeland, compared to vermin, resource hoarders, thieves, loyal to their own first and foremost, secretive

3) Emotional, sensative, crafters of compromise, physically weak, use looks to manipulate

4) Job stealers, recent arrivals, entering in large numbers, manipulate the system

5) Great at Math and Science, timid, infatuated with technology, reserved, logical

6) Militant, strict codes of conduct / severe punishment for breaking them, men dominating public sphere

1) Vorcha
2) Quarian
3) Asari
4) Human
5) Salarian
6) Turian

 

[Terrible Opinions]

just saying, you might wanna edit out the "real world stereotype" part as that could seem really racist to the wrong person.

1: That doesn't really work when you quote them.
2: Seems like everyone so far understands what the word "stereotype" means and why I used it.

Disturbingly, this was much easier for the ME universe than the RL universe, PC must be infecting my mind >_<

The choices were tailored specifically to the ME universe. Some of those trait combinations don't easily apply to any real-world ethnic stereotypes, especially the third (though some have rightfully questioned whether or not "physically weak" is accurate when describing asari, too).

 

[Darren Carrigan]

1) Criminal behavior, violent, low intelligence, strong, unstable, low moral standards
Vorcha
2) Without a homeland, compared to vermin, resource hoarders, thieves, loyal to their own first and foremost, secretive
Quarian
3) Emotional, sensative, crafters of compromise, physically weak, use looks to manipulate
Asari
4) Job stealers, recent arrivals, entering in large numbers, manipulate the system
Batarians
5) Great at Math and Science, timid, infatuated with technology, reserved, logical
Geth
6) Militant, strict codes of conduct / severe punishment for breaking them, men dominating public sphere
Turian

If you were looking for what came to mind first that's my answers.
other answers if you wanted multiple.

4) Humans
5) Salarian,Quarian