" @Hailinel said:

" @natetodamax said:

" You're not interested in the game because of what's on the cover? "

No.  I find what's on the cover bland and misrepresentative. "

Why did you post this topic? Was it to get your name recognised or something? 'The dude that is shitting on Mass Effect due to the generic looking character'. Classy.  I haven't played Mass Effect further than the first start of the first - so, I'm not here just to blindly defend my favourite game. I think you need to look at lots of other games and realise he isn't as generic as you might think. "

" @Baillie said:

" @Hailinel said:

" @natetodamax said:

" You're not interested in the game because of what's on the cover? "

No.  I find what's on the cover bland and misrepresentative. "

Why did you post this topic? Was it to get your name recognised or something? 'The dude that is shitting on Mass Effect due to the generic looking character'. Classy.  I haven't played Mass Effect further than the first start of the first - so, I'm not here just to blindly defend my favourite game. I think you need to look at lots of other games and realise he isn't as generic as you might think. "

It's what I felt like writing about.  Is that a problem? "

" @JJWeatherman said:

" @Hailinel said:

" @KingWilly:  That default model, which has become the face of the series even though there is a character customization system behind it.  That's my point.  Making the generic default the face rather than doing anything to promote individual creativity.  You never see Bioware releasing screens of more creatively designed Shepards.  It's always Commander Bland.  If they have any sort of pride in their character creator, why not use it instead of going to the effort of scanning in the looks of a live model? "

It's all done for effective marketing. If nobody is able to recognize Shepard from one released screenshot to the next, then how are they supposed to be able to comprehend what's going on? They'd think "Oh, who's this guy? Oh, that's Shepard?". The next day, "Wait, who's this? Oh, that's Shepard too?". Does that not make perfect sense to have some carryover while they're marketing a game? Do you have an alternative to this marketing strategy that wouldn't confuse people?  Almost everything you've argued in this thread comes off as ignorant. If you were to play the game and at least learn the ins and outs of the customization system, then I'd be more willing to take your points seriously. "

I'm not saying that there can't be a couldn't be a consistent Shepard for the marketing,  "  

 but to have only one (or two, in the relatively rare instances that FemShep is used) Shepard in all of the marketing over an array of possibilities is limiting.

But did Shepard himself need to be on any covers?  Why just do as Dragon Age has done and go for a an art design that doesn't require the main character front and center on the box art?    

" @Hailinel: Don't link it to the forums? I don't think you're quite understanding what I mean. Your post is clearly going to stir up arguments, mainly against you. You knew this and yet still did it.  I DO NOT APPROVE !  "

" @Hailinel: Don't link it to the forums? I don't think you're quite understanding what I mean. Your post is clearly going to stir up arguments, mainly against you. You knew this and yet still did it.  I DO NOT APPROVE !  "

 I actually like the default Shepard, his appearance is very neutral. When I played through the original Mass Effect I customized the appearance of Shepard, then after about 3 hours I realized he looked exactly like Spock. It was really distracting during cut-scenes.

" @Baillie said:

" @Hailinel: Don't link it to the forums? I don't think you're quite understanding what I mean. Your post is clearly going to stir up arguments, mainly against you. You knew this and yet still did it.  I DO NOT APPROVE !  "

THESE ARE THE RISKS I TAKE!
 
@JJWeatherman: What I'm saying is, you can have both a consistent Marketing Shepard for screen shots, as well as a collection of screen shots that feature alternate Shepard designs.  This does not mean, however, that Marketing Shepard needs to be on the front of the box, or be deemed the cover boy.  My point of view is more or less this:  Why go to the effort of marketing the default male Shepard to such an extent when the game allows for not just male or female Shepard, but multiple variations of each?  Mass Effect is about choice, is it not?  Then why portray a single instance of Shepard as though he's the guy? "

" @KingWilly:  That default model, which has become the face of the series even though there is a character customization system behind it.  That's my point.  Making the generic default the face rather than doing anything to promote individual creativity.  You never see Bioware releasing screens of more creatively designed Shepards.  It's always Commander Bland.  If they have any sort of pride in their character creator, why not use it instead of going to the effort of scanning in the looks of a live model? "

Mark Vanderloo for life.

It's just marketing. I really don't care what a marketing team decides to portray as the default model for the main character in any game where you can fully customize your characters looks like Oblivion, Fallout 3, Saints Row 2... I don't see why I should.

Would you rather he looked like Steve Buscemi? *shudders*

Hailinel:
 
 I could try to defend my favorite series ad infinitum , but we know that it would be pointless. But in reality I too dont like much the extensive use of Vanderloo Shep in ME ad campaigns , actually a lot of fanatics complaint about it , even more so the lack of use of the better fem Shep voice and the fact they didnt gave femshep a "face" like they did to Male Shep , but they didnt listen to us :( 
 
 The one thing tho Mass Effect IT IS a RPG  >:3 albeit  it is not heavy on the loot side or endless lists of useless items / equipment and is more of a hybrid , I would sujest you to download the demo at least , you may like it and you dont loose anyhting  for trying it out , also you will get a glimpse of the character customization

Hallinel, you won't play the game so why do you care?  You don't care.  You, do, however, care that you can take a swipe at a product which is quickly eclipsing your favourite RPG in terms of Western Audience Exposure.  Your argument is contradictory and flawed at almost every turn, as has been pointed out many times.  You say you find Vanderloo's presence bland and yet he's meant to be an everyman, bland is just a function of that process.  I don't agree that he's bland, but if we're to concede that he is then as an everyman it makes sense.  Then there's character customisation aspect which discounts his value or real impact on the game as a whole.  
 
You say you're OK with him being in the ads but not on the box cover, which is ludicrous.  How are people who don't know about the game at any intrinsic level beyond the marketing (say, seeing one ad on TV etc) meant to connect the dots?  They can't be relied on to always remember the name of the product, so the marketing using Vanderloo as Shep on the cover gives them more than just one point of interest to remind themselves that *this* was the game they saw in some ad and it sparked their interest.  It's basic Marketing 101.  It's also why the Special Edition of ME2 had a different, non Vanderloo cover - just the N7 logo from the starting suit; Interested Fans would know this and think it's super cool.
 
But hey, all you're doing is taking a really poorly aimed potshot at some product you quite clearly have some vested interest in taking down a peg or two.  Clearly.  Otherwise your argument would make more (any?) sense and you would've played the game to criticise it in the first place.
 
Even the GB crew are quite clear on this point, they have said on multiple occasions that you can't talk shit about something you've never played, which is exactly what you're doing.
 
Yes I like the game.  Yes I've played it.  No I'm not a huge fan of it.  No this is not a defensive post.  It's a critical analysis of your post.

" Shepard sucks. Then again, so does most of the ME cast. "

" @FancySoapsMan said:

" Shepard sucks. Then again, so does most of the ME cast. "

Either lazy trolling or I pity your opinion. "

" @EveretteScott said:

" @FancySoapsMan said:

" Shepard sucks. Then again, so does most of the ME cast. "

Either lazy trolling or I pity your opinion. "

Ok. "

Unfortunately, Biowares foray into other media which expands the Mass Effect universe, like comic's, pretty much demands default shepard marketing. For such an expansive universe as Mass Effect, it just wouldn't be conceivable any other way I imagine. As much as I dislike the design of shepard, you need a 'face' to represent such a story driven game like Mass Effect. Although, if I can play devil's advocate for a moment, it is interesting that there's no default options for creating your shepard's military profile/history too.

If that model ever plays Mass Effect he just saved himself a hell of a lot of time.

" Shepard sucks. Then again, so does most of the ME cast. "

"

"

In a sense, making Shepard as bland and unimaginative as they have encourages people to create their own like this hottie I found on the MassEffect2Faces.com site. 

I don't mind them using a guy for the default Shepard, presenting him as the "real" Shepard. 
 
Then again I like the way default M Shepard looks (he's purty), I like the design of Cole Mcgrath and I think Roxas/Ventus and older Riku look pretty badass too.

You've played too many JRPGs methinks. 

" Unfortunately, Biowares foray into other media which expands the Mass Effect universe, like comic's, pretty much demands default shepard marketing. For such an expansive universe as Mass Effect, it just wouldn't be conceivable any other way I imagine. As much as I dislike the design of shepard, you need a 'face' to represent such a story driven game like Mass Effect. Although, if I can play devil's advocate for a moment, it is interesting that there's no default options for creating your shepard's military profile/history too. "

" You've played too many JRPGs methinks.  "