Question about Mass Effect's lore...

[Piuc2020]

Is the fact that everyone measures years (a "galactic standard year" seems to be the same as an Earth year), time, Gs (force), etc by human standards and the glaring fact that every species knows and speaks English ever explained in the game?

They seem to go out of their way to explain why Hanar and Elcor talk so weird and even link stuff like that to their very own habitat, they really describe in detail a lot of stuff, it'd be weird for something so obvious as this to go unexplained.

Anyways, PLEASE just say yes or no, don't go into detail on why that stuff are like that. NO SPOILERS PLEASE.

 

[The Keeper]

That is pretty much same in every scifi franchices, whether it is a game, movie or a tv-series. The player or viewer needs units and measurements that they can familiarize with. Using obscure units and measurements to describe time, distance, etc isn't worth the trouble because then you somehow need the player/viewer to learn these first and remember them throughout the game/movie/series. And it is much easier for aliens to speak english (or other languages if the game/movie/series is dubbed) as they can hire good voice actors. Some games/movies/series explain english by some sort of automatic translator devices or somesuch.

I'm curious though why you want this explained in Mass Effect when this issue is by no means limited to ME? In scifi genre it is more of a rule than exception.

 

[CP5670]

I can understand the use of English, but the ME universe is pretty unrealistic with these things in general. Most of the alien species are just minor variants of humans and behave like humans in almost every way. I can overlook that though, given the quality of the story otherwise.

 

[Dumac]

Originally posted by: CP5670
Most of the alien species are just minor variants of humans and behave like humans in almost every way.

This.

ME has the most unimaginative aliens ever. Almost all of them are just bipedal humanoids of various shapes and sizes.

IIRC, KotOR allowed some aliens to speak in their native tongue and it would translate the words for you, or was that just that one alien in the bar?

But, yeah, the sci-fi genre is pretty lazy when it comes to this. There are some exceptions, though.

 

[chizow]

To question 1, no, they don't explain why everything is calculated in earth time. I think for simplicity sake you can assume that everything is auto-converted for you as you go and other races are so far advanced they know to make these conversions when speaking to our primative selves.

About the different aliens, its pretty common I think, especially when compared to other popular franchises and games. Star Wars and Star Trek keep mainly to the humanoid archetype. In the end I think people don't want to see things that are too alien as it makes it more difficult to endear themselves to the characters if they're "too different."

There's some story elements and time frames that would make Darwin roll in his grave, I think.

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: chizow
To question 1, no, they don't explain why everything is calculated in earth time. I think for simplicity sake you can assume that everything is auto-converted for you as you go and other races are so far advanced they know to make these conversions when speaking to our primative selves.

About the different aliens, its pretty common I think, especially when compared to other popular franchises and games. Star Wars and Star Trek keep mainly to the humanoid archetype. In the end I think people don't want to see things that are too alien as it makes it more difficult to endear themselves to the characters if they're "too different."

There's some story elements and time frames that would make Darwin roll in his grave, I think.

I think measuring time in glopnars or porznecs would add nothing to the story. Instead, I think it would probably detract from the story, sidetracking the reader/watcher's mind immediately making them wonder, "Well how long IS a porznec, anyway?"

On the human archetype, I'd agree with chizow - I think it's primarily to make the story more digestible to a larger audience. The idea of a super-intelligent creature the shape of a sunny-side-up fried egg is something that would, again, detract from telling the story.

I, for one, would welcome our new, sunny-side-up overlords.

 

[Slick5150]

Originally posted by: rivan

Originally posted by: chizow
To question 1, no, they don't explain why everything is calculated in earth time. I think for simplicity sake you can assume that everything is auto-converted for you as you go and other races are so far advanced they know to make these conversions when speaking to our primative selves.

About the different aliens, its pretty common I think, especially when compared to other popular franchises and games. Star Wars and Star Trek keep mainly to the humanoid archetype. In the end I think people don't want to see things that are too alien as it makes it more difficult to endear themselves to the characters if they're "too different."

There's some story elements and time frames that would make Darwin roll in his grave, I think.

I think measuring time in glopnars or porznecs would add nothing to the story. Instead, I think it would probably detract from the story, sidetracking the reader/watcher's mind immediately making them wonder, "Well how long IS a porznec, anyway?"

On the human archetype, I'd agree with chizow - I think it's primarily to make the story more digestible to a larger audience. The idea of a super-intelligent creature the shape of a sunny-side-up fried egg is something that would, again, detract from telling the story.

I, for one, would welcome our new, sunny-side-up overlords.

1 porznec = 1 year. Crazy coincidence.

 

[CP5670]

Originally posted by: Dumac

Originally posted by: CP5670
Most of the alien species are just minor variants of humans and behave like humans in almost every way.

This.

ME has the most unimaginative aliens ever. Almost all of them are just bipedal humanoids of various shapes and sizes.

IIRC, KotOR allowed some aliens to speak in their native tongue and it would translate the words for you, or was that just that one alien in the bar?

But, yeah, the sci-fi genre is pretty lazy when it comes to this. There are some exceptions, though.

The three main alien races are not only bipeds, but essentially humans with different heads. They exhibit completely human-like behavior (specifically that of modern, present day humans) in terms of the things they enjoy doing, fight over and so on. They could have been entirely replaced by humans of different nationalities or cultures, and the story would largely remain the same.

Some of the minor species in the game are more interesting though, as they at least look quite different.

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: rivan

Originally posted by: chizow
To question 1, no, they don't explain why everything is calculated in earth time. I think for simplicity sake you can assume that everything is auto-converted for you as you go and other races are so far advanced they know to make these conversions when speaking to our primative selves.

About the different aliens, its pretty common I think, especially when compared to other popular franchises and games. Star Wars and Star Trek keep mainly to the humanoid archetype. In the end I think people don't want to see things that are too alien as it makes it more difficult to endear themselves to the characters if they're "too different."

There's some story elements and time frames that would make Darwin roll in his grave, I think.

I think measuring time in glopnars or porznecs would add nothing to the story. Instead, I think it would probably detract from the story, sidetracking the reader/watcher's mind immediately making them wonder, "Well how long IS a porznec, anyway?"

On the human archetype, I'd agree with chizow - I think it's primarily to make the story more digestible to a larger audience. The idea of a super-intelligent creature the shape of a sunny-side-up fried egg is something that would, again, detract from telling the story.

I, for one, would welcome our new, sunny-side-up overlords.

Hahahah! Things to do as Imperial Human Warchief:

1) Wake up

2) Have breakfast

3) Start intergalactic conflict over breakfast.....*burp* oops!

The link of breakfast isn't working

 

[Piuc2020]

I like the standard human measurements since it makes it easier to understand, I just thought it would be weird that everyone was using human standards and language though I know this is needed in a sci-fi game regardless for the player to understand the game.

The worst part about the language thing is that you could understand if you had some kind of babelfish thingie in your ear (that'd be cheesy though) or it's just something that exists outside the gameworld for the player's sake but some aliens even make reference to english idioms (they don't just say them, they are acknowledging they are human idioms, e.g. garrus at one point says "like you humans say, I feel it in my guy").

Anyways I was just curious, I didn't really expect a yes answer for this kind of thing.

 

[thraashman]

Personally I wanted a Mass Effect alien that looked like a taco that craps ice cream.

 

[Joemonkey]

Originally posted by: chizow
To question 1, no, they don't explain why everything is calculated in earth time. I think for simplicity sake you can assume that everything is auto-converted for you as you go and other races are so far advanced they know to make these conversions when speaking to our primative selves.

About the different aliens, its pretty common I think, especially when compared to other popular franchises and games. Star Wars and Star Trek keep mainly to the humanoid archetype. In the end I think people don't want to see things that are too alien as it makes it more difficult to endear themselves to the characters if they're "too different."

There's some story elements and time frames that would make Darwin roll in his grave, I think.

**nerd alert**

Star Trek TNG actually explained why everything was humanoid. Don't remember the name of the episode, but there had been a humanlike race billions of years ago and when they figured out how to traverse space they realized they were alone. So, they dropped bits and pieces of their DNA on random planets and hoped next time a race reached their space travel level they would have friends to find.

 

[StinkyPinky]

Originally posted by: Joemonkey

Originally posted by: chizow
To question 1, no, they don't explain why everything is calculated in earth time. I think for simplicity sake you can assume that everything is auto-converted for you as you go and other races are so far advanced they know to make these conversions when speaking to our primative selves.

About the different aliens, its pretty common I think, especially when compared to other popular franchises and games. Star Wars and Star Trek keep mainly to the humanoid archetype. In the end I think people don't want to see things that are too alien as it makes it more difficult to endear themselves to the characters if they're "too different."

There's some story elements and time frames that would make Darwin roll in his grave, I think.

**nerd alert**

Star Trek TNG actually explained why everything was humanoid. Don't remember the name of the episode, but there had been a humanlike race billions of years ago and when they figured out how to traverse space they realized they were alone. So, they dropped bits and pieces of their DNA on random planets and hoped next time a race reached their space travel level they would have friends to find.

I remember that episode. I always wondered if it was the Q who were the ancient race. It's been a long time since I watched that ep though.

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: StinkyPinky

Originally posted by: Joemonkey

Originally posted by: chizow
To question 1, no, they don't explain why everything is calculated in earth time. I think for simplicity sake you can assume that everything is auto-converted for you as you go and other races are so far advanced they know to make these conversions when speaking to our primative selves.

About the different aliens, its pretty common I think, especially when compared to other popular franchises and games. Star Wars and Star Trek keep mainly to the humanoid archetype. In the end I think people don't want to see things that are too alien as it makes it more difficult to endear themselves to the characters if they're "too different."

There's some story elements and time frames that would make Darwin roll in his grave, I think.

**nerd alert**

Star Trek TNG actually explained why everything was humanoid. Don't remember the name of the episode, but there had been a humanlike race billions of years ago and when they figured out how to traverse space they realized they were alone. So, they dropped bits and pieces of their DNA on random planets and hoped next time a race reached their space travel level they would have friends to find.

I remember that episode. I always wondered if it was the Q who were the ancient race. It's been a long time since I watched that ep though.

Oddly enough, I happen to be watching ST:TNG right now and just wanted to add that the topic was covered in TOS as well. It was made relatively clear over numerous Q episodes as well as the episodes related to the Preservers that they are not the same culture. I remember the first time I saw these episodes (I saw the TNG one before TOS) and I was pretty glad that ST lore decided to at least throw a small attempt in to explain why all (most) aliens ended up being bipedal humanoids.

Here's a bit of info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preservers

Didn't mean to threadjack, but the topic was pretty was pretty much covered.

 

[SergeC]

They do cover translations/translators in the game. The rest, not so much. Read the novel if you want the details, I suppose.