371 replies to this topic

[Archmage Silver]

News:
Jennifer Hale Interview - Why Is Shepard So Great? @ G4TV

[Archmage Silver]

News:
ME3 Hands-On @ VG247

Edited by Archmage Silver, 26 September 2011 - 05:07 AM.

[Archmage Silver]

BioWare has already said that ME3 is a SP game, so don't get your hopes up for multiplayer. Personally I don't want it anyway.

News:
ME3 "Killer New Feature" TBA Next Month @ CVG

[Aeryn]

I wouldn't be surprised if they made a Horde Mode of some kind - they have a pretty good setup as far as enemy variety and a (very) Gears-like cover system that would make it pretty simple to design an imitation of that series' multiplayer modes. I'm not sure it would be best for Mass Effect to branch out into that stuff at this point, but it wouldn't necessarily be bad as long as it wasn't just a direct copy of GoW with husks instead of tickers and Cerberus ops instead of grubs.

[Archmage Silver]

According to this scan posted at BioWare Social, multiplayer is in... how unexpected. Real news? Maybe. It could be partially Photoshopped, but I can't tell for sure. Call this a rumor for now.

[Darziak]

nvm

Edited by Darziak, 06 October 2011 - 07:00 AM.

[Archmage Silver]

IGN has posted an editorial discussing Tali and the possibility of revealing how she and other Quarians look under their enviro suits. It's also somewhat amusing if you know what Talimancers are. If you don't, do yourself a favor and don't find out.

Some players are fine with leaving her appearance a mystery. After all, with the majority of female characters in Mass Effect sexualized to often ridiculous degrees, Tali's obscured appearance has helped her stand out as one of the better developed personalities among the franchise's cast.

/disagree

[Eleima]

I, for one, would be perfectly happy if we never found out what the Quarians looked like. But that's just my opinion, of course.

[Dakk]

It's also somewhat amusing if you know what Talimancers are. If you don't, do yourself a favor and don't find out.

I of course had to find out, and it's hilarious.

[Archmage Silver]

Mass Effect 3 will have multiplayer. Yes, you read that correctly. BioWare confirmed this on Twitter earlier. Here's what's been sighted so far:

News Article & Magazine Cover @ OXM
News Article & Magazine Cover @ PC PowerPlay

There will be a multiplayer component for #ME3. Full details soon, so wait until then before making your decision. We think you'll like it!

Yes, co-op MP missions for #ME3: they're real, and they're spectacular. Rest assured it's nothing of what you've feared. More soon...

I, for one, would be perfectly happy if we never found out what the Quarians looked like. But that's just my opinion, of course.

I would be fine with them never being revealed as well. Though my guess is that BioWare will cave in to the pressure and reveal them.

[Choo Choo]

NOOO. Why, Bioware, why?!

I'll still play ME3, but I'm so sad right now.

[Vicen]

Just please Bioware make it decent MP! There was no MP in Dead Space...but they put it in Dead Space 2...horrible it was...nightmares I still have of how cheesy and lame it was...Hopefully ME3 won't have bad MP...

Oh and about the Quarian thing...I would not mind seeing what they look like...however if they decided to not show us I would not mind that either...It does not bother me one way or the other personally...

Edited by Vicen, 11 October 2011 - 02:19 AM.

[Archmage Silver]

Update: MP, Galaxy at War System

Today BioWare and the Mass Effect 3 team are very pleased to announce 4 player co-op multiplayer missions and the Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War system for Mass Effect 3 on the PC, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.

4 Player Co-Op Multiplayer
Join your friends in the all-out galactic war to take Earth back. The universe of Mass Effect expands with the addition of new co-op multiplayer missions, playable over Xbox Live, PSN and PC internet. Players can choose from a variety of classes and races, form an elite Special Forces squad, and combine their weapons, powers and abilities to devastating effect as they fight together to liberate key territories from enemy control. Success in multi-player will have a direct impact on the outcome of the single player campaign, giving players an alternative method of achieving ultimate victory against the greatest threat mankind ? and the entire galaxy ? has ever faced.

Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War
As a bonus to the campaign, BioWare is introducing the Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War system, a new way for players to manage and experience the galactic war from multiple fronts, including a new 4-player co-op mode. The key to saving the galaxy is the "Galactic Readiness" level, measured by Commander Shepard's ability to apply every possible asset ? people, weapons, resources, armies, fleets ? in the final battle against the Reapers. Players can impact their game's Galactic Readiness level in multiple ways via the Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War system, including multiplayer. Other platforms and interfaces will be announced in the coming months. It is important to note that the system is entirely optional and just another way players can have control over your game experience ? it is still possible to achieve the optimal, complete ending of the game in Mass Effect 3 through single-player alone.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Why include 4 player co-op multiplayer in Mass Effect 3?
  
• Being able to explore and fight alongside your friends in the Mass Effect universe has always been something we thought would be fun and compelling, and many players have asked for it for a long time as well. Mass Effect 3 is the best place for us to introduce multiplayer through co-op because of the premise of the game ? all out galactic war.
  
  
• Why only 4 player co-op? What not a versus mode?
  
• We have always maintained that we would only add multiplayer into the Mass Effect series if it made sense and did not compromise the power of the single player campaign. Fighting together against a common threat was the multiplayer experience that made the most sense for Mass Effect 3. The way we have designed co-op as a wayto take control of key conflict zones in the galaxy is a natural extension of the premise of Mass Effect 3.
  
  
• Why did you decide not to include it as a part of the main campaign?
  
• Our priority and focus with Mass Effect 3 has and always will be to deliver a complete and satisfying single player experience.
  
  
• Does the addition of co-op multiplayer missions impact the scope or quality of the single-player experience?
  
• No. A dedicated team from our recently formed BioWare Montreal studio has been focused on creating the multiplayer game features while the main game continued to be developed by the team in BioWare Edmonton. Both teams are integrated under the same leadership group that produced Mass Effect 1 and 2, led by Casey Hudson. BioWare remains dedicated to delivering one of the most amazing single-player campaigns gamers have ever experienced.
  
  
• How did developing multiplayer impact the single player game?
  
• BioWare is dedicated and focused on delivering an engaging, fun, and action-packed experience for Mass Effect 3, one that lives up the BioWare standard. To reach that level of quality, last year BioWare opened a studio in Montreal that is home to designers, programmers, engineers, and other developers. Both studios work together as partners, lead by the core Mass Effect team, unified in a single vision. Under the direction of Casey Hudson and other team veterans, both studios make contributions to both the single player and multiplayer modes in Mass Effect 3. Rest assured that no compromises were made to either of these modes in the development of Mass Effect 3.
  
  
• Which characters can I play in co-op multiplayer? Can I play as Commander Shepard?
  
• Commander Shepard's part in the war will take place in the single-player campaign, as will that of other beloved characters in the franchise such as Garrus, Ashley, and Liara?these characters do not appear in the multiplayer missions. In multiplayer, players will create custom characters to fight on different and unique fronts in the war. This will include the ability to play as favorites like Turians, Krogans, Asari and more? each with their own unique set of abilities.
  
  
• What if I don't like multiplayer ? will my experience be negatively impacted?
  
• Mass Effect 3 is a complete, standalone game that will deliver a satisfying story experience, even if you choose not to try multiplayer. The Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War system and all of the individual components are meant to complement that amazing game and can be enjoyed on their own or as part of the Galaxy at War experience.
  
  
• What if I am not good at / do not like multiplayer? Will my readiness rating go down?
  
• ME3 is a story about a war against overwhelming force where the most you can hope for us survival. The more you do to fight that war, the more you can change that story into a more optimistic one. You can reach the highest levels of success in the single player experience alone, but Galaxy at War gives you alternative ways to get there. It's about choice, and allowing players to find their own ways to stay immersed in the Mass Effect universe.
  
  
• Will you be adding any additional maps or modes through DLC?
  
• We can't comment on specifics right now, but can confirm that we are planning on having DLC for Mass Effect 3.
  
  
• Do save games from ME1 or ME2 impact the co-op multiplayer missions?
  
• No.
  
  
• Do characters level up in co-op multiplayer? What is the progression system?
  
• Character progression, weapon upgrading and leveling up is present in co-op. We'll release more information on this topic in the months leading up to launch.
  
  
• Is there more info about the other platforms of Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War?
  
• We are not going into details about the other components of the Galaxy at War at this time except to say we are designing each to make sense for that platform. Each component will be able to affect a player's "Galactic Readiness" level in a different way. Again, participation in any or all ME3:GaW elements is entirely optional.

[Eleima]

Well... I suppose we should've seen it coming, what with the deadly omni-blade of death...
The good news is that we'll be able to play as Turians, Krogans, Asari or... an Elcor mayhap? or a Hanar? (I won't keep my hopes up, I bet they'll stick to humanoids).
The bad news is that it gives us "an alternative way to increase our readiness". Thank goodness we can max that out with singleplayer alone.
I tend to play alone, most often than not, on my terms and my own schedule.

[Archmage Silver]

I prefer to play alone. Games, social... what?

We could form a co-op team here if anyone wants to try it out though.

[KIrving]

Wow, so much for the initial promise that Mass Effect 3 wouldn't have multiplayer. I wondered when they went quiet and somewhat coy about the subject and didn't lock one of the multiplayer threads on the Bio boards.
It's online multiplayer too by the look of it which I dislike intensely. If they had included offline 2 player, couch, co-op I might have been interested.
All the claims that it won't impact the quality or quantity of the single player experience sound like smoke being blown up where the sun doesn't shine.

[Archmage Silver]

I certainly hope that they did put the effort into the SP campaign like they advertised... if not, I'll be very skeptic about DA3.

[Archmage Silver]

News:
Official MP Video & Subpage @ BioWare

[Archmage Silver]

VG247 reports that Mass Effect 3 will have over 40 000 lines of spoken dialogue. The previous two games reportedly have 20 000 and 25 000 lines of spoken dialogue respectively.

[Archmage Silver]

News:
Hands-On Preview @ Games Xtreme