Doesn't anyone else finds an issue with how static the NPC's in Mass Effect, and in Bioware games in general, are? I mean for a galaxy so rich of life and the variety of life there's really no life to it. I am not a programmer but is it really hard to program a minimal behavior pattern to even give you the illusion of being in a game world or is it so hard that BiWare are just in a "can't be bothered mood". Frankly I think the reapers can add a little bit of fun to the whole matter.  
  
If bioware wants me to really get into their games and not feel so disjointed then perhaps throw in some NPC behivour pattern and make me think like I am part of a bigger galaxy then seeing the same characters every time I go to citadel. 

" its not an open world game man, the realism of the world is mostly found through the characters and story, not the NPCs actions.. you arent supposed to sit there and watch NPCs anyways, if you want to do that then just play GTA or red dead or fallout.. "

Good point, they could up some of the background animations like ME2 did and hopefully have a real flowing world going in 3.
Having a list of random (non quest) npc's that rotate their spawns would be great.

I'd have to agree. At the very least, non-important NPCs should be moving around. They just seem to stick to the same spots and make the same comments each time you walk by them. Very unnatural and one of my main criticisms of ME2. 

" I'd have to agree. At the very least, non-important NPCs should be moving around. They just seem to stick to the same spots and make the same comments each time you walk by them. Very unnatural and one of my main criticisms of ME2.  "

" ... Having a list of random (non quest) npc's that rotate their spawns would be great. "

Especially jarring when I'd listen to that whole conversation the Volus had with Asari vendor in Illium. ''Give me all the tech upgrades you have'' ect., only for it start all over again once it was finished.

" I am not a programmer but is it really hard to program a minimal behavior pattern to even give you the illusion of being in a game world or is it so hard that BiWare are just in a "can't be bothered mood". "

I was really disappointed with the whole system, it felt kind of restricting, and every time I went anywhere I'd see the same people in the same places.

" Doesn't anyone else finds an issue with how static the NPC's in Mass Effect, and in Bioware games in general, are? I mean for a galaxy so rich of life and the variety of life there's really no life to it. I am not a programmer but is it really hard to program a minimal behavior pattern to even give you the illusion of being in a game world or is it so hard that BiWare are just in a "can't be bothered mood". Frankly I think the reapers can add a little bit of fun to the whole matter.    If bioware wants me to really get into their games and not feel so disjointed then perhaps throw in some NPC behivour pattern and make me think like I am part of a bigger galaxy then seeing the same characters every time I go to citadel.  "

" @Mordukai said:

" I am not a programmer but is it really hard to program a minimal behavior pattern to even give you the illusion of being in a game world or is it so hard that BiWare are just in a "can't be bothered mood". "

Actually, yes, it is that hard. Not only does it require a significant amount of programming (especially if you want the behaviour to by dynamic and it seems like you do), but it requires a sigificant amount of voice acting and probably animation as well. Both of those cost a significant amount of money, and time, all to add very minor intrigue to areas you're supposed to be walking through anyway. Conversley, the method they do now - IE people standing around or perhaps a bit of walking getting into arguments or debates or what not, is cheaper, faster, more practical, and is more than enough to maintain the 'illusion' for most people, definitely long enough for them to move through the area and get on with the actual game.  I don't think you realize how much work what you're asking for is, compared to the small, small benefit. "

If an open world such as GTA or Red Dead can do it.  It would seem that a liner game could do easier than that.  They know exactly when you are going to be in a certain area and what you are most likely going to be doing.  Or even the fact that with ME you come back to areas a decent amount maybe if they just spawned them in different spots like you said.

They reused a lot of ME1's animations on ME2 and DA:O as well. Especially the ones during conversations.

It's a lot more story and speech focused rather than actions. Bethesda use radiant AI to make their characters seem real by making them preform daily tasks, but Mass Effect doesn't need that since you're never really in a area for more than a couple of hours at a time.

" Especially jarring when I'd listen to that whole conversation the Volus had with Asari vendor in Illium. ''Give me all the tech upgrades you have'' ect., only for it start all over again once it was finished. "

" It's a lot more story and speech focused rather than actions. Bethesda use radiant AI to make their characters seem real by making them preform daily tasks, but Mass Effect doesn't need that since you're never really in a area for more than a couple of hours at a time. "

/agree

" Unfortunately this stems from the Bioware-specific troupe that you are the center of the Universe, whether it be as Shepard, Revan or Furious Ming.   The codex and Normandy help alleviate this illusion but it persists in almost every game out there. Also, the levels would have to be altered to incororate houses, rooms, lodgings for the different planets inhabitants and I doubt they can be arsed to work too hard on this aspect, especially when the focus of the game is not on verisimilitude but providing a space opera in the vein of Star Trek/Star Wars. "

Agreed.

I think that one of the more practical reasons they do that is to keep NPCs out of your way. 
 
Take Elder Scrolls games. I love them to death, but I hate how a random NPC can prevent me from exiting a room, or worse, get in the way of my spells. Because BioWare locales are even more closed up than Elder Scrolls locales, this could present even more of a problem. Keeping them in one location simply keeps things from getting hectic. 
 
Also, it makes necessary NPCs easier to find. Mass Effect doesn't have the kind of detailed compass that the Elder Scrolls games have. If NPCs could be found anywhere on a map, you'd spend way too much time looking for them, and eventually get bored. 
 
At least, that's my thought.

I want to see the NPC who has to sweep the space station floor everyday. 

" I'd have to agree. At the very least, non-important NPCs should be moving around. They just seem to stick to the same spots and make the same comments each time you walk by them. Very unnatural and one of my main criticisms of ME2.  "

" /agree "

I enjoy the game, and I agree with the TC. The dialog too is full of tautology too..

Imagine Assassin's Creed crowd technology in every game that needs it. That would cool.

You talk like you are playing on a system with infinite possibilities. There is a limit to what your computer/console can handle. For every bit the put into developing extra crap for NPCs, that's a bit they can't put into the actual meaningful content of the game.

I will say its a fair argument but you can't just knock mass effect for that many games have a hard time creating a world full of life. I can only think of two that have done it right which are red dead/GTA and assassin creed  and maybe fable . The reason why those games are good at them because they focus on the sandbox nature of  games, they also only  have you focusing on one lead character.   It would be nice to have that but something else will give just look at how fable 3 turned out. It would be awesome for mass effect 3 to do that but i would much prefer them to build on their strong suits and improve on what they can.
 
I could see a spinoff mass effect game where personal choices don't factor too heavily from game to game where they can work on  creating more life in the worlds and cities.

It's not easy setting up NPCs like that when your toolset isn't geared towards it as a primary focus. In fact, it gets expensive fast, and the Mass Effect experience isn't really about NPCs wandering around actively in the world.

" I think that one of the more practical reasons they do that is to keep NPCs out of your way.  Take Elder Scrolls games. I love them to death, but I hate how a random NPC can prevent me from exiting a room, or worse, get in the way of my spells. Because BioWare locales are even more closed up than Elder Scrolls locales, this could present even more of a problem. Keeping them in one location simply keeps things from getting hectic.  Also, it makes necessary NPCs easier to find. Mass Effect doesn't have the kind of detailed compass that the Elder Scrolls games have. If NPCs could be found anywhere on a map, you'd spend way too much time looking for them, and eventually get bored.  At least, that's my thought. "

I'm more annoyed by the way conversations between characters play out.
 
They always look so awkward.