'Mass Effect' Inspired by 'Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within'

[weber_dubois22]

Square Enix’s 2001 CGI Final Fantasy movie, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, heavily influenced development of the Mass Effect series, according to BioWare art director Derek Watts.

“Yeah, you know we actually reference a lot from Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within,” said Watts, speaking to the latest issue of Xbox World 360 Magazine. “We used a lot of their GUIs and the way they did their ship – that was kind of like in some of the early designs for the Normandy.

“Our attack helicopters are loosely based off that movie. There’s some great stuff, especially their glowing GUI screens; we used those a lot. I keep a folder of that stuff and I still actually tell the guys ‘just go back and look at that. Change it like that!’” [SOURCE]

Seriously, color me pleasantly surprised :D

Comments

[liedownlovely.livejournal.com]

I can see that. Neat.

[weber_dubois22]

I haven't played (or watched) Mass Effect yet (this recent news makes me think I should someday :p), but at least I can see where one poster on IMDB.com was coming from by comparing it to ME [now].

[liedownlovely.livejournal.com]

i watched my former roommate play through Mass Effect 2, and i really saw it in Shepard's (the protagonist) armor. i've always wanted to play the first Mass Effect, and this is just more incentive, heh.

[liedownlovely.livejournal.com]

also, what poster would that be? i hope it's not in the post right now and i'm missing it

[weber_dubois22]

There was a discussion on IMDB about Spirits being adapted into a video game or getting its own video game (here) and a user, cyguration stated the film already contained themes similar to that of Mass Effect 2 (Lost Planet) and Final Fantasy XIII.

[ovo-lexa.livejournal.com]

You can especially see it in the holograms and the ships. Ashley Williams looking like Aki is a new one, though. (Especially since Jane is more her style). o_O