GamesRPGDragon AgeMass Effect and Dragon Age vet explains the origins of the infamous “BioWare turn"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesRPGDragon AgeMass Effect and Dragon Age vet explains the origins of the infamous “BioWare turn"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: BioWare/Odyanii)
Today in our ongoing series where we highlight small anecdotes about beloved games from developers on Twitter, we’ve got a humdinger: the origin of the infamousBioWareturn.
You might not immediately recognize the term “BioWare turn,” but if you’ve played more than three seconds of a Mass Effect or Dragon Age game, you’ll almost certainly have an inkling of what it is. A conversation ends, then a character dramatically turns their head to side, moves their shoulders to follow, and slowly walks out of the scene. It’s all over those games, to the point where there are 10-minute-long supercuts of the animation appearing in each of the two RPG trilogies.
12 Minutes of Mass Effect Characters Doing the ‘Bioware Turn’ - YouTubeWatch On
12 Minutes of Mass Effect Characters Doing the ‘Bioware Turn’ - YouTube
12 Minutes of Mass Effect Characters Doing the ‘Bioware Turn’ - YouTube
“I’m responsible for some of the ‘Bioware Turns,'” Violet McVinnie, who served as a cinematic designer on Mass Effect 2, Mass Effect 3, Dragon Age 2, and Dragon Age Inquisition,says on Twitter. “This anim is part of a set called ‘Posebreakers’ which are intended to move characters around the area if a scene is feeling too static. We’d combine them with the infamous ‘Exit Left/Right’ between cuts.”
13 Minutes of Dragon Age Characters Doing the ‘Bioware Turn’ - YouTubeWatch On
13 Minutes of Dragon Age Characters Doing the ‘Bioware Turn’ - YouTube
13 Minutes of Dragon Age Characters Doing the ‘Bioware Turn’ - YouTube
McVinnie goes onto notethat “many animations propagate through lots of Bioware franchises. ME3’s Thane/Kai Leng fight cutscene has a lot of Jade Empire combat animations stitched together.” If the DNA of these animations goes back that far, I can’t help but hope at least a couple of them have been carried forward intoDragon Age: The Veilguard. Sure, some people might complain about reused content from old games, but therealBioWare fans will just be happy about the Easter egg.
Check out ourDragon Age: The Veilguard reviewfor our full verdict on BioWare’s latest.
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
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2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3
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4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
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4
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”