Mass Effect 3 thread....updated

[Daehawk]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... To_9xyl1LA

Happy and sad. A great new NE game is coming. But it also finishes the trilogy..sad.

[Daehawk]

Collector's edition

IN as usual. I cant resist even though this is nothing special other than the last game of the trilogy.

[Turtle]

No love for my original ME3 thread? Even though I compiled so much new, non spoiler info?

[Daehawk]

No love for my original ME3 thread? Even though I compiled so much new, non spoiler info?

Point the way good sir and i shall abandon my possession and move into your thread domicile.

[Daehawk]

Voting for the female Sherpard face and hair is over. The winner was redhead of course

http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/news/61906 ... -A-Redhead

After two rounds of extensive voting regarding the face and hair-colour of the new "FemShep" poster-girl, the dice of popular opinion have fallen on this face, and this hair-colour.

[Bakhtosh]

Bet nobody picks on that ginger kid.

[Daehawk]

ME3 gets multiplayer....co-op at that.

http://www.pcpowerplay.com.au/2011/10/p ... ctober-19/

The new issue of Australia's PC Powerplay magazine gets down with Mass Effect 3 Project Director, Casey Hudson, to learn more about the decision to go multiplayer with ME3. In addition to that little nugget, Eurogamer sources have stated that Mass Effect 3 includes an online enabled co-op mode that is standalone and features competitive elements.

[Smoove_B]

That's certainly a creative way to deal with the secondhand market. Not really, but that's what I'm going with.

[Daehawk]

Against All Odds video

Sahweet! I didn't know those things grew that big or that Reapers could be that small one. Wonder what species that Reaper is based on? I still think a Human Reaper would look damn cool.

[Bakhtosh]

Against All Odds video
.

[Turtle]

Ashley is back, assuming she didn't die in ME1.

New screenshot of her in proper armor. Spoilered, just in case:

Spoiler:

[Daehawk]

Don't she look good. She acted so high and mighty though I couldn't stand her last game. We'll see this time.

[Octavious]

Dumb question. Is it worth playing through ME1 to play ME2? I've tried to get through ME1 a few times and get bogged down by the side missions and crap and was thinking I would just jump to 2.

[Turtle]

My tip for playing ME1 is to activate the console and use cheats like the Supergun that kills almost everything in 1 shot. Then run through it wiping things out and pretending you're the biggest badass in the galaxy.

If you play it like that, it's worth burning through it. Don't do any collection quests, and only do side missions you're interested in.

There's a lot of interesting stuff that carries over into ME2, and even ME3. Some of it is small, just fluff changes according do what you've decided, to characters and plots just not being there. Also, playing through ME1 gives you a better understanding of what's going on in the galaxy and overall story, including themes like the Genophage, Human/Turian political tension, and more. A lot of these themes they really, really do a good job of paying off in ME2.

Another recommendation is to at least go to: masseffectsaves.com and downloading a save that somewhat matches up with how you wanted to play through ME1, just so you get some of the interesting stuff carrying over into 2 and 3. In fact, one of the default major choices from ME1 in ME2 if you don't have a save seems like it's going to be a major thing in ME3.

[El Guapo]

Depends on how much time you have. I really liked ME1 (I think the plot is better than ME2's, although ME2's gameplay is generally better), so if you have the time I'd recommend playing through it. I would say to skip most / substantially all of the side missions, though - if one really intrigues you for some reason then go for it, otherwise not.

[Octavious]

I had made it through about 65-75 percent of the first game previously. I just couldn't get myself to do it again so I just used the interactive comic thingy instead. Really loving the second one so far. The combat is soooo much better that I don't think I could go back and play 1 now.

[Lordnine]

I really didn’t care for ME1 much but I played through it and was entertained when I saw my choices carry over to the sequel, which I loved. I believe there is a save game editor that lets you choose every option from the first and pull them over into ME2 without having to play it. Might be worth looking for.

[El Guapo]

Who's coming back in ME3? I know Ashley/Kaiden, Liara and Garrus are confirmed back as full companions, and I've read that Miranda is coming back, though it's not yet confirmed whether she'll be back as a full companion or not. Any other news?

[Turtle]

It's sounding like every surviving character is coming back in some way, but with the way the story is, not all characters will be with you all the way due to other obligations.

[Zurai]

Yeah, that's the sense I got from the various articles I've read. All living characters will at least have cameos, and some may be available for a single mission, but your basic crew loadout will be a mix of returning and new characters, and likely won't be any bigger than the selection you had for ME2 at launch.

[Turtle]

"A new reputation system rewards those players who'd rather not conform solely to Paragon or Renegade Shepard. Now playing it straight - sympathising with some people and snapping at others - will also grant you some unique dialogue options. Importing old saves will mean you start with extra reputation as well..."

Yay!

[Smoove_B]

They also confirmed it's not coming to STEAM and it will require an installation of Origin in order to play any PC version of the game (retail or digital). However, the fact that they use "initial release" suggests that at some point (perhaps a "GOTY Edition with all the DLC bundled) will show up on STEAM.

[Turtle]

That's how they've been handling almost every other game.

To be honest, this is what Valve did to get us on Steam in the first place, so I'm okay with it.

[Doomboy]

Each new thing I hear about Mass Effect 3 makes me less interested. Which is odd, because last year I was excited to be playing Mass Effect 2 and looking forward to part 3.

I have no interest in multiplayer, so the bit I read that playing multiplayer is the only way to make sure your side is as good as it can be for the final battle makes me unhappy. Now this Origin crap makes me think I can easily wait until they eventually release it on Steam in a year or two or whatever.

I know that Valve did this with Half Life 2. I understand that EA wants to do their own thing. But there are a limited number of exclusive online storefronts I am willing to deal with, and I think that I have reached that. I don't want every company to decide that they need to release their own damn digital storefront. So I am boycotting Origin, just on that basis alone. So far, nothing I have seen is making me think I can't continue doing so.

[Daehawk]

But I never really disliked valve or Steam....I absolutely LOATHE EA and Origin.

[Turtle]

Still not hearing anything I hadn't heard when HL2 came out with Steam.

That said, I do understand the dislike for Origin specifically. They did do some odd stuff, and they're definitely shadier than Steam. But honestly, Steam is one heart attack from Gabe Newell away from becoming more like Origin, mark my words. This is something that cannot be stopped, but at least we'll have different services to compete against each other. Steam will force Origin to back off the really shady stuff, meanwhile Origin will force Steam to update its client more.

[Smoove_B]

This might be a topic for another thread, but my impression from reading between the lines is that EA doesn't want to agree to giving money to STEAM every time they release DLC. And the only way they can do that is to have their own client that allows them to keep 100% of the DLC profits. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that the entire DLC phenomenon is what's to blame for the fragmentation as I'd imagine the profit margin for all these add-on packs is much higher than just selling the base game.

It's not that EA cares about getting you an easy to download version of their product - they want to make sure you can only go to them for your sweet, sweet DLC fix.

[Lordnine]

While I’m no fan of EA or Origin my main annoyance about this news is that I have converted my entire game catalogue to Steam simply so I have all my games available from one easy to download from location. For the last three years I haven’t purchased ANY game not on Steam and really don’t intend to start.

[Daehawk]

Ya know....I don't really do much DLC love'in.

[Grifman]

They also confirmed it's not coming to STEAM and it will require an installation of Origin in order to play any PC version of the game (retail or digital). However, the fact that they use "initial release" suggests that at some point (perhaps a "GOTY Edition with all the DLC bundled) will show up on STEAM.

I thought this was announced several months ago.

[Smoove_B]

I think there were all kinds of rumors and there might have been speculation that it would be on STEAM but would still require Origin activation somehow, but until a few days ago, no, nothing was official. Now it is.

[Victoria Raverna]

I think the problem is with Valve/Steam new rule for games with DLCs or in-game stores. Anything that you can buy for the games need to be available on Steam store.

I almost always buy new EA games on Origin because it is cheaper to pay it in Singapore dollars than the price on Steam Store. From my experience, EA/Origin also have better customer support than Steam/Valve.

So far EA games that are distributed using Origin doesn't require Origin to run unlike games on Steam. For a few games, you need to have Origin installled to download update but you don't need to start Origin client to play.

[coopasonic]

FYI, demo is due next tuesday...

http://www.masseffect.com/about/demo/

Apologies if this is common knowledge, I haven't really been keeping track and now I am excited.

[Lordnine]

I grudgingly installed Origin to get the demo. Here are my very brief impressions.

(Spoilers I guess)

For the demo you choose the deaths you’ve had, Ashley, Kaidan or 'Numerous'.
Character customization seems improved but not largely so.
Environments and character models look great but animations are weird. It’s possible I’m not remembering ME2 properly but lip synching seems worse. Also, Femshep runs funny, kinda like she just got off a horse.
Story elements seem very strong and well done again.
Nice branching level up system.
Was nice to see Wrex in action again.

Origin breaks my internet and prevents any other devices from working while it’s running…fun! And yes, I'm completely serious. I didn't expect to like Origin but I certainly didn't think it would break anything.

[Zurai]

Yeah, as irritating as I find Steam, Origin is unfortunately worse. I'm going to get ME3, but I might just end up buying it then cracking it just so I don't have to run Origin.

[Enigma]

I just posted in the Bargain forum that Origin is now offering BF3 for free with a $60 preorder of Mass Effect 3. I think I may have to grab it. I know I'm going to want it and if I preorder I get BF3....hmmm

[TiLT]

It's a good thing you guys are showing EA who's the boss! What better way to tell them that their business model sucks than buying full-priced games exactly where they want you to.

[Zurai]

If I could buy it without EA getting a cut (but with BioWare still getting its cut, natch) and without having to go through Origin OR Steam, I'd buy it that way. Even if it was more expensive and/or meant I'd have to wait a reasonable period. That ain't happening. /shrug

EDIT: Also, I do believe you're the first person to bring up "showing EA who's boss". So, grats on both creating and attacking a weak position that is not an actual position taken by anyone in this thread. This is also known as a straw man argument.

EDIT2: I've given up doing anything other than bitching about Steam/Origin/etc privacy/consumer rights violations until the legal system actually starts doing something about them. I've given up on the legal system doing something about them until Congress actually gets their collective heads out of their collective rectums and realizes that we're in the digital age now. I've given up on that until campaign finance reform (preferably to "no outside donations at all", but that's way beyond ever having a chance to happen), and I've given up on that until there's some kind of revolution in this country.

It'll come, eventually. Hopefully nonviolently, but eventually enough people will get fed up of the corruption in the system and it'll get purged. Until then, we're pretty much a plutocracy, not a democracy, and consumers don't have the cash to buy legal rights.

[Toe]

Does the origin client have to be running in order to play it? I know with the old republic you could download the game via the origin client then shut it down for good. I don't mind that. If it requires the origin client to stay up, I will not be buying mass effect 3 until I can play it without the origin client.

[Smoove_B]

From the official FAQ:

2) Is constant Origin connection required or is it a single one off authentication when the game is first installed. Is there also a limit to the number of installations available?

Mass Effect 3 will require a one time, single authorization for the single player game. There is no limit to the number of installs. Playing Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer will require a constant connection.