Posts Tagged ‘FemShep’

FemShep Friday has arrived!

- February 10th, 2012

Bioware has finally launched a Mass Effect 3 trailer starring the female version of protagonist Commander Shepard, or FemShep, as she’s known to her fans.

And she definitely has fans.

FemShep doesn’t get as much attention as her oh-so-manly counterpart (Mass Effect 3 marks the first time Bioware has used her in their marketing), and she doesn’t have yield the same numbers (only 18% of players choose her), but  much like a cult-classic TV show, she commands a small but dedicated fanbase.

Just ask Jaime Roberston, the founder of FemShep.com, a community where Female Shepard’s loyal followers can write fanfic, share fanart and swap stories about their space-faring, galaxy-saving exploits.

What began as a FemShep thread on Bioware Social Network turned into a Deviant art site (Warning: Some NSFW content) and eventually became a central hub for the greater FemShepper community.

So what is it about this character that inspires this kind of fandom?
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- February 10th, 2012

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Who’s your Shepard?

- February 3rd, 2012

The Mass Effect series does something truly incredible for representation in video games. Its galaxy-saving, star ship commanding  protagonist, Shepard, is so customizable so that players have control over her gender, race, personality and even sexual orientation.

This is more than a way to make a game politically correct; it’s an effective strategy increase players’ engagement with the plot. The stakes feel higher. Decisions and interactions with other characters feel more authentic, to the point that I’m avoiding any romantic entanglement in Mass Effect 2 because I actually feel guilty about the prospect of cheating on Liara. Especially after I told her I wanted us to make little blue babies.

I love my Shepard. After all these hours, how can I not? She’s literally an extension of me.

This got me wondering what other people are doing with their Shepards. Here’s a round-up of some I found on my web travails. Tell me about your Shep in the comments, or better yet, post a screen shot.

(Oh, and Mass Effect 3 hist shelves on March 6, but you already knew that).

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