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1/6/2013 8:38:06 PM
27
Having to read the books to understand the game is a bad idea.
I say this because gamers should not be forced to read into the universe so that the game makes sense. There's nothing wrong with extended universe and lore, or setting up the next game, or hinting towards the next game.
But having answers that can only be answered in either sequels or books is just a cheap move to make gamers buy the next game and/or the books. For example...
1. I think not explaining Ancient Humanity in the games at all (except for showing them roflstomping Forerunners/ getting roflstomped by Forerunner) was a bad idea. There should have been FAR more information on them, IMO. While I've read the books, I can't help but think "nearly ALL of my friends aren't going to have a clue, and if they don't understand, the won't have fun and will probably get rid of the game."
2. The Didact. The gloriously hideous [url=http://http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=skyrim+orc&num=10&hl=en&tbo=d&biw=1024&bih=679&tbm=isch&tbnid=6dqY8lKjovqAcM:&imgrefurl=http://preorderskyrim.wordpress.com/pictures/skyrim-orc/&docid=_d7ze79EHsiuKM&imgurl=http://preorderskyrim.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/skyrim-orc.jpg%253Fw%253D900&w=900&h=506&ei=gt_pUIrDIq2b1AWz6oDwAw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=253&vpy=141&dur=151&hovh=168&hovw=300&tx=152&ty=80&sig=103714314942789368058&page=1&tbnh=141&tbnw=239&start=0&ndsp=17&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0,i:94]albino Orc[/url] is by far my new favorite character, both in the games and in the books.
But not telling the gamers ANYTHING about him is pretty crappy. Sure, he's a main character in the Forerunner Saga books, but for those who haven't read the books... He's really a kind of nobody. Besides hints as such in the terminals, it's never said that he's the leader of the Forerunner military, that he is one of the most powerful Forerunners around, and all that.
Gamers should not be forced to read the books. As we know, not everybody reads books for entertainment. I do, and I've clearly benefited over those who don't. I don't feel that this is fair. There should be some kind of large information in the game that offers similar information, and hints towards the Forerunner Saga books.
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I'd say the universe involvement in Mass Effect and Halo novels is pretty different. In Halo books, were treated to massive revelations about the nature of the universe, such as the Forerunners, Shield Worlds, Covenant, Spartans, etc... it's big stuff. In Mass Effect, the novels are more of a back story affair, fleshing out a liked but little seen character. The biggest events in the novels are usually given only the smallest mentions in the game, and at maximum, only usually amounts to a single conversation topic. In ME3, they upped the involvement a little bit, and had a mission set in a major location in the novels, with a few of the characters thrown in, but you wouldn't need to read the novels to know why your heading in and etc.
