I've just realised something. Mass Effect has Stolen its storyline!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redemption_Ark

1) Man as pinnacle of humanitys armies
2) On ship that is the prototype for the navy
3) Ship has special property of stealth running or silent running for some strange purpose (hiding from the machines)
4) Ancient artifacts found and have something to do with the dissapearance of a civilisation
5) Each starfaring race as it gets too big is extinguished somehow
6) Turns out to be armies of sentient machines that cleanse each new race
7) Galaxies civilisations circle in and out of presence as culled by the machine race

And thats the story of the 2002 Best Science Fiction novel by Alastair Reynolds.

Recognise it much?

 

Hahaha interesting find. Who knows if it was directly stolen from that, but honestly it's a pretty simple premise for sci fi games in general.

 

lol, those of us that will never read such a novel, will play and enjoy the game