Mass Effect

[Arem]

According to some insider info (from two independent sources) our favourite action rpg is coming to PCs (apparently this spring). What a suprise...
Now the question is whether it will be another Vista only game

 

[WhiskeyWolf]

So fast, do they have no shame... ?

 

[MetalCraze]

So fast, do they have no shame... ?

shame is irrelevant when you need money NOW.

 

[WhiskeyWolf]

So fast, do they have no shame... ?

shame is irrelevant when you need money NOW.

True

 

[doctor_kaz]

Wow -- this spring? That would please me, although I wouldn't mind them taking some time to polish up some of those problems that I've been hearing about.

I doubt that it will be Vista only. I think that Microsoft my have given up trying to do that moronic crap when they realized that they basically sacrificed the PC version of Halo 2 in an attempt to force people to upgrade.

 

[Brother None]

Yes, Fall 2008.

So fast, do they have no shame... ?

They have plenty of shame. They're also owned by EA, who've put certain demands of revenue on them.

 

[MetalCraze]

Yes, Fall 2008.

So fast, do they have no shame... ?

They have plenty of shame. They're also owned by EA, who've put certain demands of revenue on them.

wouldn't revenue from ME still go to Microsoft?

 

[Texas Red]

Yes, Fall 2008.

If it is Fall, then that means no DA this year(what a surprise), as they would compete with each other. Unless of course they are going to hype DA more to consoles and leave some left over bits for the PCs.

I was convinced that ME is worth playing once it was out, though the reported hours of a single playthrough disappointed me to an extent that I don't much care.

 

[doctor_kaz]

If it is Fall, then that means no DA this year(what a surprise).

I think that was already a given. I'm not holding my breath for 2009 either.

 

[OccupatedVoid]

If I can mod it, I'll trade in my 360 version for the PC version.

 

[Major_Blackhart]

Hey, here's a quickie: Can you make the alien chick go ballz deep multiple orgasms?

 

[xantrius]

I'll give it a spin when it arrives, with improved features hopefully if unlikely.

 

[Brother None]

wouldn't revenue from ME still go to Microsoft?

Good question but no, I don't think so. With Jade Empire, the Xbox publishers was Microsoft, but 2K did the PC version.

 

[BigWeather]

I was convinced that ME is worth playing once it was out, though the reported hours of a single playthrough disappointed me to an extent that I don't much care.

I'm at right about 40 hours in and have the path to the final confrontation open. I've still a large amount of side quests I'm going to do first so I'm probably 10 - 12 hours away from finishing. I've been pretty thorough in my exploration, though. But if you take the time to read all the planet information, codex information, talk through all of the branches with people you're looking at around a 50 hour game. Which, for me nowadays is actually a bit longer than I'd like but oh well, it's been an enjoyable game so far (yes it has flaws, but they aren't fatal to the experience for me).

 

[yarpen]

Yes, Fall 2008.

If it is Fall, then that means no DA this year(what a surprise), as they would compete with each other. Unless of course they are going to hype DA more to consoles and leave some left over bits for the PCs.

I was convinced that ME is worth playing once it was out, though the reported hours of a single playthrough disappointed me to an extent that I don't much care.

Main storyline may not be very long (I'd say ~25-30h, without rushing), but the story is very, very good (I'm a Bioware fanboy, so take with grain of salt) and the ending kicks ass. With sidequests it would be more, but sidequests are rather boring, IMHO.

 

[Xi]

Hey, here's a quickie: Can you make the alien chick go ballz deep multiple orgasms?

Let's hope so...

 

[jiujitsu]

It's not that great...

I've been playing it and I'm not even close to being impressed. I should probably give it more of a chance before I bash it thoroughly, however.

 

[Gay-Lussac]

How does it stack up against other bioware games?

 

[Edward_R_Murrow]

How does it stack up against other bioware games?

Better than Jade Empire, KOTOR, and Neverwinter Nights (not like that's much of a feat), but inferior to the Baldur's Gate titles.

I guess this would be a golden opportunity to once again shamelessly whore out my review of it.

 

[afewhours]

How does it stack up against other bioware games?

It's comparable to Jade Empire. It's shiny, cinematic, and fun while it lasts, but that's about it. Characters and dialogue are phoned in, but not outright incompetent. I like a bit of trashiness in my writing, so it entertained me, even if it didn't really engage. The gameworld is quite nice, with a lot of love given to lore and politics.

Its *major* problem is length. You're looking at, what, 10h for the MQ? Probably less if you speed through it.

It's worth picking up if you can forgive its shallowness. It works as a gentle distraction if work and life are getting you down. Think of it as a Hollywood blockbuster as opposed to A Clockwork Orange.

One caveat. If you really can't hack JE's action-lite approach: avoid, because it returns with a *vengeance* in ME.