Ricky Gervais inspired the look of Mass Effect’s conversations

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here

Former BioWare animator Jonathan Cooper went to Twitter yesterday with 10 fun facts on the original Mass Effect in celebration of the title’s 10th anniversary. One of them was Andy Millman-related.

There’s some really interesting little notes in here like how the team came across a breakthrough in facial animation after creating former U.S. president George W. Bush in the game. As well as that, he told some fun stories about the mo-cap process, and how BioWare tried to get around the ‘dead stare’ of characters. Arguably the most bizarre of all the reveals revolved around Ricky Gervais’ follow-up to The Office.

‘The close over-the-shoulder camera style I used for conversations in Mass Effect was inspired primarily by Ricky Gervais’ Extras,’ Cooper explained. ‘This is not a joke – that entire series was build on awkward, close conversations.’

I like to think Les Dennis can say he helped with this somewhat, too, seeing as Cooper used images from his episode of Extras to hammer home his point.

About the Author