Q. I wish to understand why you (if you have created fan-art or intend to, or if you have some feelings on the issue) create fan-art for this amazing narrative? Do you feel a sense of duty to uphold the relationships or story that Bioware first invisioned? Is it a desire to further build upon the emotional relationships that you face throughout the game? What compels this reaction of artistic expressionism?
A. Interesting question... I think it's simple in this case, I enjoyed the game, and this aspect of it made an impression on me. In creating it I honestly wasn't thinking of any deeper meaning in the piece than an homage to a really well done character and his story. I hope that makes sense!
(maoileoin.deviantart.com)
A. After finishing Mass Effect (The First game) I found out that Tali' Zorah has a very likeable and attractive personality (mainly the voice acting), but the player was only allowed to have a "captain and crew" relationship with her, nothing more, after a while.... Mass Effect 2 came out! I only found out about it after watching its trailer on youtube, back then I didnt read ANY Review or ANY Blog/Forum informing me about what to expect in Mass Effect 2, I knew nothing about Maranda, The Ilusive man, The Collectors, Legion or the opportunity to have a serious relationship with Tali' Zorah (Meaning NO SPOILER)
This time around Tali' Zorah's Story line is opened up to the player and I found myself becoming more and more attracted to her! The way she talks, the way she reacts to my question/responses, almost every thing that she does in that game made me grow more fond of her. She makes me feel the need to protect her, the need to be with her, the need to hold on to something even when it is futile.
So Long story short I felt the need to express my interest in Tali' Zorah so i drew this doodle! (zengabyss.deviantart.com)
A. Well my reason for doing fan art on Mass Effect is because the game's character personalities and designs are quite fascinating that it inspires me to see what can I do to make it my own, thus creating a connection that words can not describe and to share with others. It in terms is also a means for me to show my appreciation of what the game gave me in return.
(shumworld.deviantart.com)
A. I often make drawings about video games after I complete them (At least of my favorites). I made this one because I felt that at the time no one had upload the same scenario. Now after the sequel has come out and the franchise has become so popular surely there are thousands of drawings with the same topic, but when I uploaded it there were not many. By contrast, I never made a drawing of Okami (another game i love) because it has been amazingly covered by other artist.
(estebanmn.deviantart.com)
A. In regards to your questions about why I make fan-art for this game, when I played through the game, the story was indeed incredible and very deep, but it was always built for a video game, which limits how deep you can delve without alienating part of your audience. In creating fan art I am essentially illustrating the scenes that the game could not get to. Mass Effect's developers and writers have expressed how things need to get cut from the final game, and that's understandable. Some fans may not like it if scenes featuring more of their favorite character were cut, but for the sake of flow and time both in development and for the player, it often has to be done. That's where fan art steps in I feel. Fans of the game expand the relationships and interactions of the characters beyond what the game could tell, allowing us to essentially play in their playground of a world. Some artists make silly little comics poking fun at a glitch or a running gag in the game, others take a look at the characters and the parallels between this fictitious world and our own. The possibilities are essentially limitless.
Also something unique with Mass Effect (and any game where you make a personalized custom character) is that this is YOUR character put into a scenario with just enough information to give you an idea of who they are and letting you fill in all the blanks. It makes the experience all the more personal and enjoyable rather than just taking control of a character with a set history and personality.
I personally enjoy keeping my takes on the game within the realm of the canon set by Bioware, but that preference can vary from person to person. In my opinion, when I created my Shepard I was building off the framework that Bioware had set, so I feel that I can adhere to that framework while still making a character that is unique to my game.
(armesan.deviantart.com)
A. The main reason I've made the fan art pictures I've made is that some little thing in a game, text or movie gives me a silly idea. I write down these silly ideas and leave them alone for a week or so. If I still find it funny when I look at it again, I figure that it might be worth a shot to try to make a picture of it.
One example of this is my picture "Meanwhile... In the new Shadow Broker's quarters" (http://seigmann.deviantart.com/art/Meanwhile-2-201087834?). The thing that set me off was the simple sentence at the end of the scenario about little blue children. I immediately thought about smurfs and the general dislike many people who experienced the late 70s and early 80s have for them.
(seigmann.deviantart.com)
A. I'm glad you asked. Well, as you say, one of the reasons is to honor the work Bioware did, and to materialize the love I have for this series. Right now I'm working on a fan-art that looks like a promo of the future ME3, its also a means to make the wait shorter.
(hidrico.deviantart.com)
A. This was mostly for fun, but... well, the relationships in most RPGs are kind of glossed over - there are a couple of linear conversations, and that's all. I understand why (resource allocation being what it is), but part of me has trouble believing that a relationship can be summed up so simply, so I start working out what I think would happen between scripted scenes. When I'm playing a game, the story and gameplay generally serve as a jumping-off point for another narrative that I keep going in my head. I suppose it boils down to a desire to flesh out my own experience of the story and take ownership (participation is the great strength of video game storytelling, after all). As for the art itself, I create things mostly for myself and then share them hoping other people will enjoy them, too.
(rascality.deviantart.com)
A. I never thought about it very much. I don't feel any duty of any kind towards the game. In this particular case, I didn't even know much about the story of the game or the characters. It was months before the release of Mass Effect 2 and the first appearance of the character was just leaked. The design, the voice, the way the character was animated and the atmosphere really impressed me and inspired me. So I wanted to draw something. In that case, there was also a challenge. I wasn't used to doing lightings like that and I tried some new techniques.
But most of the time, I simply draw what the game makes me imagine, what is unsaid or what I want to reinterpret. That's also a way to show to people what I like and, to be honest, making fanarts is the only way to make people come see your gallery on deviantArt when you're an unknown artist.
(sweetsnail.deviantart.com)
Q. Why do you create erotic ME fan art? Do you feel it is an expansion upon the in-game relationships? In other words, much as in real life relationships how intimacy, in some cases, progresses over the course of time, do you feel your work is a reflection of this type of build up, that your works illustrate further the stories which Bioware first created? That these erotic art pieces are a type of 'next step' in the game's fictional romances? Or any other reason you may have?
A. I think that's about right.
Like it or not, the fandom is divided up by the romances. The pairing(s) a person supports almost becomes part of your "fandom identity". It's funny really, I never really thought about it, but I guess it's making a statement about it. Every Shepard is different - meaning in everyone's minds, the romance has a different flavour to it. Art like this allows the artist to - as you say - expand upon the in-game relationship. It creates imagery that is unique, because it's not just another screenshot of the same scene, just with a different face on Shepard.
(metal-dragon-kiryu.deviantart.com)
A. Why do you create erotic ME fan art?
Basically when I came onto DA a year ago I was close to finishing my BS degree in Game Design, I figured I’d draw up video game based artwork to expand my portfolio, I did some Mass Effect 2 artwork since the game was just released and got my first erotic artwork request which was a lesbian series of images based around Liara and Ashley. I made those then decided to do free commissions for anyone who asked in order to get 100 images finished for my portfolio before I graduated. 90% of the requests were for erotic artwork and this is where this image and most of my other erotic artwork came from, I didn’t really start out with erotic artwork planned in mind but people liked it so much that I continued it, and since I’m well known for my Mass Effect artwork I have a lot of it in my galleries.
Do you feel it is an expansion upon the in-game relationships?
It could be depending on who’s looking at it and what they’re requesting, for me any erotic artwork I create has no arousal effect on me since I see it made from a sketch to the final product, which means to me it’s just like work and I don’t really feel anything from the artwork I create.
Do you feel your work is a reflection of this type of build up, that your works illustrate further where Bioware left off?
I think bioware do leave a lot out romance and erotic-wise since they’re now owned by EA and everyone wants’ to keep a family friendly image. The romance in the games starts out well up to the point where you’re forced to choose a partner or ‘close the deal’ which is where the romance falls apart for me and in some cases pisses me off. Being forced into decisions like choosing this woman over this one isn’t realistic nor is it valid in a game where your character can talk bosses into killing themselves yet can’t handle an argument between two women who have feelings for him or use charm to talk them into a triangle. In those cases the buildup never delivers, I’d say since they can show people being shot in the head or dismembered they should be able to show nude women and advanced sex scenes between romantic partners.
That these erotic art pieces are a type of 'next step' in the game's fictional romances?
I’d say that the images are a step in the right direction for the next step in gaming erotica but far from where they should be. One of my goals of going into game design was to create full scale RPG games that included full on screen interactive sex and erotica to further bring the player into the story. At the moment though all the companies are more worried about bringing in casual gamers and targeting the 13 and up crowd so games are suffering as far as true adult stories are involved. Also you have to take into account who’s playing the game itself in order to see how much a romantic storyline affects them. Me for example, I’m a sex addict with no access to the women I love until death, I get hit on whenever I leave the house by younger and older women but avoid relationships since the women I care about wait for me on the other side. That means the only form of romance I get in life is through video games, hentai, ect.. so I usually get games where romance is an option but almost every time the game forces me into decisions that I’d never make in real life therefore ruining the romantic aspect and the overall game experience. An example would be that scene in ME 1 where the male Shepard has to choose between Liara and Ashley then never has a real option of choosing them both, then on the next mission they are able to talk Saren into shooting himself in the head, this kind of thing makes no sense especially in a role playing game.
Other notes
Overall I never planned on getting into erotic artwork, after my first erotic image some of my fans cut off contact with me, almost every woman I come into contact with on DA think I’m hitting on them, and I’ve gotten a lot of jealous people or people in love with the characters I draw harassing me (this image for example is my most popular one but almost all of the comments are negative) . On the other hand though my mass effect images show up all around the internet including the official Bioware site, if you type Mass Effect/Tali into Google one of my images will show up in the top 5 listed, and a lot of artists have been inspired by my designs and use it in their own artwork. In closing, erotic artwork can get someone fans very quickly but a lot of harassment comes with it from people who hate sex and nudity, the longest run of harassment I ever got was 6 months straight and at least 3 times a week, so making erotic artwork isn’t for everyone.
(mrorbital.deviantart.com)
A. Why do you create erotic ME fan art? Do you feel it is an expansion upon the in-game relationships?
Why? I dunno, its a great game with interesting characters, and yes, every gamer will develop some kind of platonic relationship towards them.
Do you feel your work is a reflection of this type of build up, that your works illustrate further where Bioware left off?
Maybe a little but its more like fantasy because I still know that they are fictional game characters. So I can do to them nearly anything, I can draw anything concerning them because they are not real. Also, because it is an RPG-Role playing game in a near-real universe, anything is possible in these kinds of games so artists can elaborate on the fiction in his or her own way. But no, I don’t think Bioware wanted to go this way concerning Shepard or the ME girls.
That these erotic art pieces are a type of 'next step' in the game's fictional romances?
They could be, I mean its an RPG so, again, anything is possible. Each "Shepard" is a reflection of the player but of course Bioware could not show everything within the sex scenes. Who knows, maybe Shepard secretly loves this kind of relationship. Sexual themes in ME and other games generally are all about what most people think is "normal". I was surprised that gay themes made it into the game considering how much the USA want to raise their children in a "normal" society. That being said I am NOT against homosexuality, some of my good friends are Homosexuals and I am perfectly ok with it.
(mcbound.deviantart.com)
A. I created this particular piece of fan art because just one week ago I finished the game and found it was very difficult in which to choose a romance... MIRANDA?? TALI?? or SAMARA (I know she refuses you finally)... then that difficult decision led me to think about that picture... why only one?? I want all them!! They are so cute and sexy!! hehehe About the relationships I prefer the relationship with TAlI... as she is more cute and more emotional.
(witchking00.deviantart.com)
A. I create ME fanart 'cause I like the races they have created in the world of ME, Asari are especially very pretty and exotic, and I have a soft spot for blue skin, so they are even more interesting to be drawn.
The game deals with the in-game relationships, and erotic art is just something as natural as the things shown in the game itself. Of course, the game had to censor the erotic part to keep it sellable on the world wide market, and that's something you have more freedom as a fan-artist - it's no direct expansion, it's more the thing they can't show. Erotic art of self-imagined fan characters can't be a next step of the in-game romances, cause those characters don't exist in-game, they just are an addition to the whole world, with the freedom of the artist to draw whatever he or she wants to I like the world of ME, and drawing Asari (or other races) from ME is just fun and relaxation for me, a good possibility to train anatomy and skin coloring, too.
(asarea.deviantart.com)
