Babylon 5: Thirdspace aka the Proto Mass Effect

[Winter]

Babylon 5 is a notable point of inspiration for Mass Effect with the Citadel being clearly inspired as a B5, the station not the show, stand in and the Reapers were clearly inspired by the Shadows. But, I wonder, was the Babylon 5 TV Movie Thirdspace the main source of inspiration?

The antagonist of that film has a number of elements that are similar to that of the Reapers most notable the ability to indoctrinate anyone and everyone who gets close to their device and hate all life that is not there own. The film was also inspired by the works of HP Lovecraft much like how Mass Effect was. Even what we learn about the Jump gates in this movie is surprisingly similar to that of the Mass Relays with some dialogue being almost point for point identical to what we get in Mass Effect (that being that no one knows who made the Jump Gates and that there were just left there by an older alien race).

I honestly think it is possible that this TV Movie was were the idea for ME was truly born more so then the series itself but I do want to know what all of you think. Do you think that the creators of Mass Effect got some of their ideas from this TV Movie of B5?

[Kinky Vorlon]

i always thought B5 was more a general influence, the Babylon station is for all intents and purposes the Citadel. I never factored in Thirdspace...because it's so forgettable. Both ME and Thirdspace rely on HPL worship. The similarities are striking. Well spotted.

[Winter]

i always thought B5 was more a general influence, the Babylon station is for all intents and purposes the Citadel. I never factored in Thirdspace...because it's so forgettable. Both ME and Thirdspace rely on HPL worship. The similarities are striking. Well spotted.

Thanks, I was mostly watching it because I've been on a B5 binge and decided to check out all the movies too which brought me to Thirdspace which, on it's own, isn't bad as it has a nice atmosphere and some AMAZING build up and the scenes where it goes quite are very well done. The pay off is the biggest problem with the film as when all is said and done we learn next to nothing about the film's villain and in the end all they try to do is destroy B5 and fail and design wise they're VERY forgettable.

Basically Mass Effect stood out because it made the pay off worth all the build up (with the first game not counting the ending of the Trilogy as I still think it's crap).