Chris Priestly of BioWare said during the
Mass Effect Marathon that Tali was not to return as a party member for Mass Effect 3. However, the BioWare team decided to make Tali a party member because the Talimancers demanded on the BioWare Social Network for her to return.
11:25 EviLChrisPriestly: Hmm.. should I reveal a minor Tali game secret? For a donation?
11:27 EviLChrisPriestly: Cool, but doesn't impact gameplay
11:29 EviLChrisPriestly: This really doesn't spoil ME3 at all. Casey would kill me
11:29 EviLChrisPriestly: Ok. Minor thing that I think is cool.
11:30
EviLChrisPriestly: Tali was not going to be a party character until the
COmmunity (yes, including teh Talimancers) demanded her. She becmae a
party member.
11:31 EviLChrisPriestly: I thought so. The COmmunity wanted it, so they got it. :)
11:32 EviLChrisPriestly: Well let me tell you about teh quarians. They... oh, hello Casey. *signoff*
(source)
