On the voice-acting front, both are so good that it's a non-issue. A good voice actor will have you believe the character, without really thinking about the voice. Both accomplish that for me.
I find the female Shepard to be less believable in the role that she plays. In part this might be because of gender issues; some deep-rooted sexism in my brain, maybe. More likely, I think it has something to do with the fact that the dialog and story are written around a male character, and the female character has identical lines. And even though a female character in Shepard's position, doing the things that Shepard does is perfectly fine and believable, I think that this theoretical female Shepard would probably NOT use the exact wording in all of her responses as a male version, or have the exact same facial expressions and the exact same animations at all the exact same times. And I think that that is the biggest source of my not being able to take the female version as seriously in the role: because it's a female voice and body doing things and saying things that were written and choreographed for a male character.
Which is a lose-lose for Bioware, because if they start having the female character say different lines, they'll probably get accused of even worse things. Not to mention the astronomical increase in writing, and thus voice-acting, costs.
I find the female Shepard to be less believable in the role that she plays. In part this might be because of gender issues; some deep-rooted sexism in my brain, maybe. More likely, I think it has something to do with the fact that the dialog and story are written around a male character, and the female character has identical lines. And even though a female character in Shepard's position, doing the things that Shepard does is perfectly fine and believable, I think that this theoretical female Shepard would probably NOT use the exact wording in all of her responses as a male version, or have the exact same facial expressions and the exact same animations at all the exact same times. And I think that that is the biggest source of my not being able to take the female version as seriously in the role: because it's a female voice and body doing things and saying things that were written and choreographed for a male character.
Which is a lose-lose for Bioware, because if they start having the female character say different lines, they'll probably get accused of even worse things. Not to mention the astronomical increase in writing, and thus voice-acting, costs.
Why not? Let's have a Mass Effect thread.
02/02/2010 05:02:32 PM
- 3608 Views
Character discussion: Mordin Solus
02/02/2010 06:28:41 PM
- 1847 Views
Mordin Solus is great
02/02/2010 08:21:26 PM
- 1272 Views
Actually, that's what happened to me too.
02/02/2010 08:33:22 PM
- 1402 Views
The Illusive man
02/02/2010 08:34:09 PM
- 1473 Views
I didn't even realize that's who he was.
02/02/2010 08:44:07 PM
- 1400 Views
"I'm having trouble hearing you. I'm getting a lot of bullshit on this line." *NM*
02/02/2010 09:34:53 PM
- 687 Views
Who is sharing your bed?
02/02/2010 09:42:09 PM
- 1400 Views
Tali for my male Shepherd
04/02/2010 03:52:03 PM
- 1287 Views
Does she take the helmet off? *NM*
04/02/2010 07:57:18 PM
- 714 Views
I went simple - Miranda.
07/02/2010 06:32:25 AM
- 1204 Views
Which reminds me that I always wondered...
07/02/2010 11:54:14 AM
- 1318 Views
You probably wouldn't be able to woo anyone by being a total dick. *NM*
07/02/2010 03:32:41 PM
- 686 Views
I was lucky enough to meet the game's producer... (No spoilers)
02/02/2010 10:58:59 PM
- 1435 Views
No spoilers here either, as per my rules. Regarding the ammo:
03/02/2010 04:51:54 AM
- 1258 Views
I just want to be part of this....that said, Best Buy is no longer selling ME:1
02/02/2010 11:16:51 PM
- 1398 Views
Could well be.
03/02/2010 04:52:49 AM
- 1152 Views
Glad the PC version was $50, at the risk of sounding like a snob.
03/02/2010 04:01:52 PM
- 1196 Views
Mass Effect 1 vs 2: RPG-shooter vs Shooter-rpg (This is for you, Cymbaline!) (No spoilers)
02/02/2010 11:28:24 PM
- 1368 Views
The "Holy crap that was awesome" moments. SPOILERS
03/02/2010 11:27:55 PM
- 1331 Views
Re: The "Holy crap that was awesome" moments. SPOILERS
04/02/2010 04:59:54 AM
- 1227 Views
Re: The "Holy crap that was awesome" moments. SPOILERS
04/02/2010 06:16:29 AM
- 1332 Views
Well. . .somewhat, I guess.
04/02/2010 06:43:02 AM
- 1353 Views
Re: Well. . .somewhat, I guess.
04/02/2010 03:32:26 PM
- 1290 Views
You know what? I'll actually buy that. I appreciate the explanation.
04/02/2010 06:30:37 PM
- 1109 Views
A couple of more things......
16/02/2010 12:41:19 AM
- 1347 Views
Game was too easy, primary plotline too short
04/02/2010 09:03:52 PM
- 1280 Views
Nice. I'm playing through on Insanity now, and I think it's a good challenge.
05/02/2010 02:17:02 AM
- 1188 Views
Whats your character build?
05/02/2010 02:45:31 PM
- 1447 Views
Ok, so male or female Shepherd?
05/02/2010 01:50:23 AM
- 1211 Views
Hm. This brings up a thought.
05/02/2010 01:52:37 AM
- 1153 Views
Male for my first playthrough, female for my second.
05/02/2010 02:28:24 AM
- 1310 Views
Agreed, on some of those counts.
05/02/2010 07:28:00 AM
- 1168 Views
Male so far. I plan on playing the female Shepard next playthrough. *NM*
05/02/2010 03:25:00 AM
- 735 Views
Your Teams, and Your Deaths.
07/02/2010 06:30:25 AM
- 1136 Views
Re: Your Teams, and Your Deaths.
07/02/2010 09:07:17 AM
- 1324 Views
Do you know...
07/02/2010 03:46:59 PM
- 1142 Views
Re: Do you know...
07/02/2010 04:31:29 PM
- 1220 Views
Awesome. Thanks! *NM*
07/02/2010 04:40:59 PM
- 716 Views
Yeah, that's what I did.
07/02/2010 06:37:50 PM
- 1093 Views
Hmmm...
09/02/2010 03:48:48 PM
- 1170 Views
Strange.
09/02/2010 04:19:04 PM
- 1214 Views
me too
13/02/2010 03:01:05 PM
- 1210 Views
Did you do Legion's loyalty mission?
15/02/2010 05:52:36 AM
- 1307 Views
I did, for what it's worth.
15/02/2010 07:26:38 AM
- 1234 Views
Gah. Then I wonder if loyalty of the rest of the crew has something to do with it.
15/02/2010 04:20:13 PM
- 1200 Views
I have come across a big problem.
07/02/2010 06:53:36 PM
- 1249 Views
Want FREE Mass Effect 2 DLC? ME 2! (har, har) Bioware bonus goodies detailed inside.
09/02/2010 07:03:23 PM
- 1364 Views
Now if only the DLC armors didn't have helmets.
09/02/2010 07:26:47 PM
- 1154 Views
Of course, the Shotgun is released AFTER I beat my Vanguard *sigh*
09/02/2010 11:31:13 PM
- 1227 Views
It's nice, but you don't miss much if you already had the Claymore shotty w/ an ammo upgrade. *NM*
10/02/2010 05:16:00 AM
- 666 Views
Anyone find anything interesting about Zaeed Massani?
11/02/2010 09:08:16 PM
- 1244 Views
I enjoy Zaeed.
11/02/2010 09:22:39 PM
- 1198 Views
I'm near your spot in the story and completely agree. One-sided conversations, but worthwhile. *NM*
11/02/2010 10:20:47 PM
- 597 Views
Yeah, I've listened to him alot but it's the same stuff every time.
12/02/2010 03:14:11 PM
- 1155 Views
Who, what, where? *NM*
22/02/2010 08:18:31 PM
- 626 Views
If you bought a new copy of the game, it came with a code for the "Cerberus Network"
22/02/2010 08:22:18 PM
- 1161 Views
Is there a way to install the game on the Xbox, so you don't have to switch discs?
12/02/2010 01:39:07 AM
- 1190 Views
Good ones have two discs, of course. DVDs can only hold so much. *NM*
12/02/2010 02:46:39 AM
- 622 Views
This is the first I've ever seen. *NM*
12/02/2010 02:51:34 AM
- 656 Views
I've never understood why people are unhappy with the multiple discs.
12/02/2010 04:18:42 AM
- 1194 Views
So far, so great!
12/02/2010 08:35:00 AM
- 1166 Views
Re: So far, so great!
12/02/2010 02:31:43 PM
- 1274 Views
Re: So far, so great!
16/02/2010 10:17:12 PM
- 1223 Views
Nope, I was referring to honest-to-goodness cheating. lol
16/02/2010 11:03:53 PM
- 1265 Views
Ahh, I just figured you were on console as I am, so.....the grind will continue I guess *NM*
17/02/2010 06:41:59 PM
- 709 Views
I love the detail put into this game.
12/02/2010 02:58:35 PM
- 1148 Views
"Our amino acids aren't even compatable so there's no risk if we go natural."
12/02/2010 03:15:50 PM
- 1204 Views
Re: "Our amino acids aren't even compatable so there's no risk if we go natural."
12/02/2010 07:16:21 PM
- 1127 Views
"Technically we don't even have sex drives... oh, she is rather flexible...." *NM*
12/02/2010 07:20:53 PM
- 654 Views
Female Turians....
12/02/2010 09:05:39 PM
- 1126 Views
Nope. Don't exist in-game.
14/02/2010 01:47:23 AM
- 1093 Views
I believe a krogan female is shown once.
14/02/2010 02:03:27 AM
- 1180 Views
No I don't think that's right.
14/02/2010 08:54:32 AM
- 1106 Views
Asari
15/02/2010 06:51:10 AM
- 1236 Views
Not really.
15/02/2010 10:41:54 PM
- 1157 Views
Though it is fun seeing the asari coupled with basically every race under the sun.
15/02/2010 10:54:41 PM
- 1183 Views
The final verdict
22/02/2010 08:06:12 PM
- 1197 Views
By the way, my game was surprisingly buggy
23/02/2010 08:49:28 AM
- 1289 Views
A complaint about the Morality system. (Or, how Mass Effect semi-killed roleplaying).
27/02/2010 06:40:35 AM
- 1290 Views
Re: A complaint about the Morality system. (Or, how Mass Effect semi-killed roleplaying).
27/02/2010 12:28:29 PM
- 1124 Views
Re: A complaint about the Morality system. (Or, how Mass Effect semi-killed roleplaying).
27/02/2010 04:57:43 PM
- 1178 Views
Re: A complaint about the Morality system. (Or, how Mass Effect semi-killed roleplaying).
28/02/2010 12:34:31 AM
- 1227 Views
A vital part of role-playing is forcing the player to deal with the consequences of their actions
27/02/2010 11:53:56 PM
- 1458 Views
Admittedly, my post was somewhat stream-of-consciousness.
28/02/2010 03:28:02 AM
- 1151 Views