BioWare + Rockstar = Amazing, open world, free-to-explore game with dynamic style, cinematic conversations, a badass protagonist and interesting plot? HELL YEAH!

A simple question to all ME fans out there: what would your ideal Mass Effect video game be like. Would it have a different protagonist and be set before Mass Effect, or after Mass Effect 3? What genre of game would it be - Shooter, RPG, Strategy or maybe something completely different. What would the gameplay and graphics be like? What platforms would it be released for? On which planets would it be set? These are the sort of things I'd like to read from your answers. Be creative, think of anything you like and post it here. :)

Here is a rough idea of what I'd like my "ideal Mass Effect game" to be like:

• Takes place before the Mass Effect video game trilogy and features none of the characters from it.
• Has 7 playable races (Asari, Drell, Salarian, Turian, Batarian, Krogan and Quarian).
• Each race starts at a different location and can chose from different classes, abilities and gear.
• How NPCs treat you in the game is affected by your choice of race, background and gender, as well as your reputation in specific locations.
• Combat is always optional, and there's always a way to settle arguments without violence - even if it is much harder and requires more training.
• Has a third person perspective and features mostly ranged weapons (rifles, machineguns, pistols, heavy weaponry etc.) but still has a few, very powerful melee weapons.
• Sprinting, jumping and cover-based combat are all in the game.
• Visuals are realistic but feature spectacular landscapes, incredible spaceships and good-looking characters.
• Customization options for your character's face and equipment are very extensive.
• There is more role-playing elements involved than there was in Mass Effect 2, but they are implemented in a better way than they were in Mass Effect. They blend almost seamlessly with action-oriented, third-person gameplay.
• Exploration, dialogue, choice and relationships with companions & crew are important aspects of the game.
• There is an optional, strategy mini-game on your ship, in which you form your own galactic empire and conquer the galaxy.
• You can buy various ship improvements that not only modify your ship's performance, but looks as well... you can even buy extensions to your ships interior!
• There are only three companions who travel with you all of the time, but there are also more well-developed characters on your ship.
• The story is slightly different for the first third of the game depending on which species you chose to play as, but it eventually leads to the same point as the others. However, the story and the outcome of the game can be affected through many choices that must be made along the way to the end.
• It is released for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. The PC version has a modding toolset, but the PS3 and 360 ports have a chat option which allows you to enter voice-chat with other people who are currently playing the game.
• A lot of free DLC is made following the release of the full game, none of the DLC has to be bought and none of it requires a registration to any website nor does it require a credit card.
• Two expansions are released later on which carry on with the game's main plot. Your decisions and outcomes of the first game can be imported into the first expansion. Once you are finished with it, the same can be done from the first expansion to the second.
• All of the soundtrack featured in the game is atmospheric and suits each environment, plus it can be downloaded for free from the developer's website.
• It has a rating of 18+/Mature as it is slightly more violent and gritty than the previous games and involves in-game romance just like the Mass Effect trilogy.
• The main character does not save the galaxy and does not start as being famous from the beginning of the game... he or she has to earn each particular place and its peoples' trust & respect.
• There is a few linear, spaceship combat gameplay sequences in which you take control of your ship's pilot from a first person perspective and fight with hostile ships.
• Your character can sign up as a mercenary for different organizations (such as the Systems Alliance, the Turian Hierarchy, Cerberus and a few others) which offer assignments that count as side-missions and are not connected to the main quest. Some groups will not hire you if you signed up with their opposing organizations in the past.
• If your morality meter is low, you can receive assassination tasks in which you can kill various targets for money. If your morality meter is high, you can also receive optional assassination tasks, but only tyrants, dictators, crime lords and corrupt politicians are targeted.

Wow, that is quite a lot. I didn't know I could come up with as much as this in such a short period of time. :P Well, I'm interested to see what other people's ideas are so get posting and have fun with it! ;)

NOTE TO OFFICERS AND LEADER: Could this topic be stickied? I think it can start a lot of interesting discussions and conversations, as well as bring a lot of good ideas. Anyway, it's up to you guys, I'm only making a suggestion so don't take this as a request, demand or anything like that. :)

Which game do you think had better squad members, Mass Effect or Mass Effect 2? I personally vote for ME2 - mainly because of Garrus returning, and Grunt & Legion. The previous team had Garrus as well as Liara and Wrex, but the second team is more interesting and consists of characters I cared more about. I guess this is mostly because the second team is much bigger, consisting of up to 13 squad members if you had all the DLC (10 if you didn't have any) while the team of the first game had only 6 members.

^That's good! Thanks for the info. ;)