Bioware Trope Chart (Just something I'm working on.)

joetbd · 11-06-2009, 05:08 PM

In dragon age, Im playing as the human warrior. Which made me the kings son. There are 6 backstories based on who you play as.

Which is an expansion of the idea they used in Mass Effect. But in ME your choice of backstory didnt change anything. In DA you play a different beginning based on your choice of characters.

Alex Raymond · 11-06-2009, 05:11 PM

This is brilliant. Love it!

Dramund · 11-06-2009, 07:27 PM

I approve of this chart.

Maybe Bioware uses one of those old dungeon master books that pick a plot direction with a die roll.

Richard Naik · 11-07-2009, 02:21 AM

I was just thinking the same thing a few days ago, but I didn't have the foresight to put it all into nice, concise chart form. Nicely done.

JackSlack · 11-07-2009, 06:42 AM

Thanks for the praise.

This is a work in progress, BTW, so if you think of any other points of commonality, shout 'em out.

joetbd · 11-07-2009, 06:56 AM

Are you just doing Bioware's console games?

-PS
at what point do I yell "bingo!"

Dramund · 11-07-2009, 04:43 PM

I figure NWN might be a bit old to cover at this point, unless you count the expansions, in which case you start as a humble student of Drogan. You are then attacked by something. The endings also involve an ancient race that threatens humanity - nay all humanoidanity! My memory is not that good on KotOR and Jade Empire though, so those might be an exception. My brain has become incredibly efficient at forgetting forgettable things.

Chi Kong Lui · 11-10-2009, 05:52 AM

I don't know if you guys know this, but this chart inspired the creation of a more thorough one that actually ticked off Bioware!
http://hellforge.gameriot.com/blogs/...G-Cliche-Chart

joetbd · 11-10-2009, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chi Kong Lui

http://hellforge.gameriot.com/blogs/...G-Cliche-Chart

The core idea isn't that bad -- I sense that someone started out with a good concept, like "Hey, you go to four places a lot," and then they just decided to add some more filler rows to try to make a real zinger

-Bioware's Patrick Weekes

I will agree with Bioware here. That is usually what Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw does. He finds a nit picky little grip, and expands it to epic proportions. It is meant to be fun. And if you take it too seriously, it doesnt work.

I think Bioware seems a bit chippy here. Like they have already been arguing with someone for a long time about this.

RandomRob · 11-10-2009, 09:06 AM

These also have things in common with Joseph Campbell's myth cycle and the basics of storytelling... what makes an adventure "original" is the ways in which it distracts us from the punchlines (which we already know).

Dramund · 11-10-2009, 03:48 PM

Nice. Yeah, I think the structure is expected of Bioware at that point. It's not even their fault. Gamers demand the story structure and if Bioware actually deviated significantly from the chart, they would catch flak for not making an "epic" narrative. It's not my kind of narrative but hey, I gotta swim with other fish. I'm hoping for an RPG some day more in line with The Count of Monte Cristo.

Weeke's knee-jerk reaction is very telling though. I imagine he would have been able to answer more calmly if he were at least more consciously aware of his own trope.

JackSlack · 11-10-2009, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chi Kong Lui

I don't know if you guys know this, but this chart inspired the creation of a more thorough one that actually ticked off Bioware!
http://hellforge.gameriot.com/blogs/...G-Cliche-Chart

That guy should probably have avoided the word 'cliche'. I went for trope specifically because it's more neutral. My thought was, "Y'know, I've kind of seen this before."

Some of his additions are worthwhile: The dream sequences, for instance, are spot on. Others, not so much. The 'foil you at every point' bit is kind of a necessity for a dramatic storyline.

JackSlack · 11-10-2009, 05:20 PM

Wow. The inspired chart got linked on the Mass Effect forums. The forum got a response from a dev. The response got reported on Eurogamer.

Can I now claim to have started a viral trend?

(Truth be told, Shamus Young probably deserves the initial credit. The Thorian/Mother similarity was his observation, for instance.)

Vibalist · 11-10-2009, 07:49 PM

Isn't the whole plot twist thing that they use again and again (you are Revan/Master Li is the villain/The Reapers are the true enemy) also worthy of being mentioned?