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Mass Effect 3

Revision as of 01:53, 24 February 2012 by Clockwork 777 (talk | contribs) (→‎Demo: Fixed to show the demo multiplayer has already been released)
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Mass Effect 3
ME3 Cover Art

Mass Effect 3 is the upcoming sequel to Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 developed by BioWare for the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.[1] It is intended to be the final game in the planned Mass Effect trilogy.

Release

Mass Effect 3 will be released March 6, 2012 in North America, March 8, 2012 in Australia, and March 9, 2012 in Europe.[2][3] The game was originally slated for a 'Holiday 2011' release but was delayed to "[ensure] that it exceeds everyone's expectations"[4] and "address a far larger market opportunity."[5] Prior to that, Ray Muzyka had stated that the release timing would be based on maximising both "quality" and "commercial success".[6]

During E3 2011, EA Games Label President Frank Gibeau did not discount the possibility of Mass Effect 3 being available for the Nintendo Wii U console, stating that EA will only "announce that when it's ready."[7]

BioWare is releasing a Collector's Edition of Mass Effect 3, the Mass Effect 3 N7 Collector's Edition. This edition has numerous exclusive items, Downloadable Content, a free digital soundtrack, and an exclusive Xbox 360 Normandy Avatar Prop among other things.[8][9]

All PC versions of Mass Effect 3, physical or digital, will require EA's Origin software, and will not be available through Valve's Steam.[10]

Retail Bonus Items

Depending on where the game is purchased, what edition is purchased and whether or not it was pre-ordered, the customer may be entitled to one or more Retail Bonus Items.

The following table details which items are available based on which version of the game is purchased, and whether or not the game was pre-ordered.

Standard Edition N7 Collector's Edition N7 Digital Deluxe Edition
Item Preorder Purchase Preorder Purchase Preorder Purchase
N7 Arsenal Pack ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Robotic Dog ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Squadmate Alternate Outfit Pack ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
N7 Hoodie ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
From Ashes ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
N7 Valkyrie ✓ 1 ✓ 1 ✓ 2
N7 Defender Armor ✓ 1 ✓ 1 ✓ 2
M-55 Argus ✓ 3 ✓ 3 ✓ 3
AT-12 Raider ✓ 4 ✓ 4

1Currently announced for the following retailers:
Amazon (Germany), EB Games (Canada), GameStop (Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, United States), GAME (Australia, Spain, France, United Kingdom[11]), Game Mania (Belgium, Netherlands), Mighty Ape (Australia, New Zealand), Ozon (Russia), (X)Zone (Czech Republic), Zepy Games (Singapore)

2Currently announced for the following services:
EA Origin (Poland, Singapore)

3Available for most pre-ordered copies of the game.
Exclusive to EB Games in Australia (Standard Edition only)[12], Gamestop in Spain (Standard and Collector's Edition).

4Available exclusively for copies of the game pre-ordered through EA Origin.

Demo

A demo of Mass Effect 3 was released on February 14, 2012, for Xbox 360, PC, and PlayStation 3.[13] The demo contains both single-player and cooperative multiplayer content. While all players are able to play the single-player content, access to the multiplayer portion was initially limited. Those who had purchased a copy of Battlefield 3 were be able to gain access to the multiplayer portion of the demo immediately upon the demo's release; access was unlocked by redeeming the Online Pass included with new copies of Battlefield 3. All non-early access players were able to play the multiplayer portion of the demo beginning February 17, 2012.[13]

On Xbox 360, downloading the Mass Effect 3 demo and playing the multiplayer portion of it will not require Xbox Live Gold membership. Microsoft will lift the Gold membership requirement for the demo in the weeks leading up to the release of Mass Effect 3.[14]

The demo features a level on Earth during the beginning of the Reaper invasion, with David Anderson as a temporary squad member. The objective is surviving and making a rendezvous with Normandy. The Demo then switches to a mission on Sur'Kesh where Shepard, with Garrus and Liara, must save a fertile krogan female from a Cerberus attack.

Weather Balloon Early Release

It was announced by EA that it will send an unknown number of copies of Mass Effect 3 into space about a week before the release.[15] Copies of the game will be attached to Weather Balloons with GPS trackers and will be launched from New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Berlin, London, and Paris.[16] The balloons will be able to be tracked at The Offical Mass Effect website. When the balloons land, the person who finds the game, gets to keep it and play the game a week before everyone else.[17]

PC Version

System requirements

Component Minimum Recommended
OS Windows XP SP3 / Windows Vista SP1 / Windows 7
Processor 1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or equivalent AMD CPU 2.4+ GHz Core 2 Duo Intel or equivalent AMD CPU
Memory 1GB RAM (Windows XP) / 2GB RAM (Windows Vista / 7) 2GB RAM (Windows XP) / 4GB RAM (Windows Vista / 7)
Graphic Card 256 MB video memory with Pixel Shader 3.0 support; NVIDIA 7900 or better; ATI X1800 or better.1 ATI Radeon HD 4850 512MB,
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT 512MB, or better recommended
Disk Space TBD
Sound Card DirectX 9.0c compatible 100% DirectX compatible sound card and drivers

1 NVIDIA GeForce 9300, 8500, 8400, 8300 and AMD/ATI Radeon HD3200, HD3300, HD4350 are below minimum system requirements.


ME3 Icon “There won't be an Earth left to save...” — Spoilers for Mass Effect 3 follow. ME3 Icon

Plot

“

Earth is burning. Striking from beyond known space, a race of terrifying machines have begun their destruction of the human race. As Commander Shepard, an Alliance Marine, your only hope for saving mankind is to rally the civilizations of the galaxy and launch one final mission to take back the Earth.

— Official Plot Summary

Fate of the Galaxy

The story is the 'epic conclusion' to the story started in Mass Effect and continued in Mass Effect 2, as well as the conclusion of Commander Shepard's story.[18] The player's choices in the previous games are expected to have a much more significant impact on the plot than the choices in Mass Effect had on Mass Effect 2. As Mass Effect 3 is the end of the planned trilogy, the developers are not constrained by the necessity of allowing the story to diverge, yet also continue into the next chapter. This will result in a story that diverges into wildly different conclusions based on the player's actions in the first two chapters.[19]

Throughout Mass Effect 3, Commander Shepard will be bringing the civilisations of the galaxy together as allies to take back Earth and repel the Reaper invasion. The player's choices throughout not only Mass Effect 3, but the entire trilogy, will affect the fate of these civilisations and the endings the player can receive.[20]

Characters

Squad Members

As with the previous games in the Mass Effect trilogy, Shepard will be able to recruit companions that can follow Shepard into battle. Currently, these are known to include:[20][21]

While some squad members will be required, and core to the story, some will be optional and others may only be available for a single mission.[20] Project Director Casey Hudson has also stated that Mass Effect 3 will have fewer squad members than Mass Effect 2 to focus on "deeper relationships and more interesting interplay".[22]
1 One or the other, depending on the outcome of Virmire: Assault in Mass Effect.
2 Depending on the outcome of the Suicide Mission in Mass Effect 2.
3 From Ashes Downloadable Content.

Returning Characters

The following characters will appear in some capacity in Mass Effect 3, provided they survived the events of Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2.[20]

1 Temporary squadmate.

The following characters make their first game appearance after appearing in other Mass Effect media:

Locations

Commander Shepard and the team will visit a wide variety of new locations in Mass Effect 3, including:

In addition, the player will return to the following locations featured in past games:

1 From Ashes Downloadable Content

Normandy

The Normandy SR-2 will return in Mass Effect 3, and it has been claimed by the Systems Alliance, who has taken the ship apart, studied it, and then rebuilt it with new technologies and new areas.[20]

Gameplay Changes

In a presentation by Lead Gameplay Designer Christina Norman, at the Game Developer's Conference in March 2010, titled Where Did My Inventory Go? Refining Gameplay in Mass Effect 2, Norman outlined her goals for Mass Effect 3.[44] These included richer RPG features, more combat options and more complex enemies.

According to Project Director Casey Hudson, Mass Effect 3 will continue, with adjustments, the approach of Mass Effect 2 by focusing on "an awesome sense of exploration, intense combat, a deep and non-linear story that's affected by your actions, and rich customisation of your armour, weapons and appearance" instead of an approach where the player "(equips the) hero by sifting through an inventory of hundreds of miscellaneous items and spend hours fiddling with numerical statistics" noting the "overwhelmingly positive" response Mass Effect 2 received for its approach.[45]

Combat

Mass Effect 3's changes to Mass Effect 2's core combat mechanics are not as drastic as the changes Mass Effect 2 made to the original Mass Effect, however improvements have been made and new capabilities introduced. These include:

  • Difficulty will be increased, with Casey Hudson describing Normal as "the new Veteran". [36][39]
  • An increase in overall combat speed of 10-15%.[37]
  • Shepard is now more agile in combat. Changes to movement in combat include the ability to roll, leap over ledges or gaps without taking cover first, optimised maneuvering and firing from cover[20] and the removal of fatigue while running. [46]
  • Melee plays a larger role, all classes receive improved melee with each one receiving a unique heavy melee attack.[47][20]
  • Enemy AI has been improved. Enemies now perform specific functions on the battlefield and coordinate with other enemies. For example, 'cover buster' enemies, such as Husks, are often paired with a 'suppressor' enemy type, which will try to keep Shepard in cover while the Husks get in close.[48]

Weapons

Mass Effect 3 makes several changes to the way weapons worked in Mass Effect 2, these include:[20]

  • The ability for all classes to wield any type of weapon. However, classes will be limited by the number of weapons they can carry at any one time, with the Soldier being the only class that can wield every weapon class at once.
  • The return of weapon modifications. Players will be able to modify their weapons with different parts, such as barrels, scopes and materials, that will affect the weapon's combat performance and appearance.
  • All weapons that the player acquired in Mass Effect 2 will be available, including downloadable firearms, such as the M-96 Mattock.[21]
  • Grenades will return as a usable weapon. The new grenades have a different appearance and mechanics than those in Mass Effect. Mass Effect 3's grenades are "round, [and] conventional", they are thrown at enemies and detonate after a short time.[49]

Powers

Main article: Powers (Mass Effect 3)

Mass Effect 3 features larger skill trees that offer a greater degree of freedom when it comes to choosing skills. Whereas Mass Effect 2 offered a choice of two evolved versions of a power upon reaching Rank 4, Mass Effect 3 grants the ability to evolve powers multiple times.[20]

In addition to Powers returning from Mass Effect 2, there are several new additions to the lineup. These include:

Advancement

The level cap in Mass Effect 3 is 60. If a character file is imported from Mass Effect 2, that character's level and abilities are retained.[50]

Exploration

Vehicle-based exploration will be closer to Mass Effect 2, where it didn't form part of the critical path.[20] Casey Hudson had previously indicated that the vehicle exploration segment of the Mass Effect 2 DLC pack Overlord was an attempt at addressing issues players had with the exploration segments in the original Mass Effect, and lessons learned from its implementation could be used to implement similar segments in Mass Effect 3.[51]

While Cristina Norman has noted that "nobody liked" the mining mechanic in Mass Effect 2 and Casey Hudson has stated that the mining part of the game will be changed, nevertheless the notion of exploring the galaxy in a non-linear fashion will be preserved.[20]

Kinect Functionality

Mass Effect 3 for the Xbox 360 will include optional Kinect functionality. The Kinect will allow the player to choose dialogue options by reading the paraphrase aloud and give tactical orders to the squad, such as changing positions or using powers, with voice commands. The Kinect features will not serve as an alternative control system, but will "augment" in-game conversations.[52]

An official list of Kinect voice commands can be found here.[53]

Different Play Styles

Mass Effect 3 will feature different play styles for people who prefer a different presentation. The three different styles are Roleplaying, Action, and Story. Roleplaying is the same Mass Effect game style as in previous entries. Action mode will streamline the cut scenes with pre-selected dialogue options, throwing in a mix of Paragon and Renegade choices. The Story style will make combat very easy for players who are invested in the story, but struggle at playing the game.[54]

Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War

Main article: Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War

Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War is a "bonus" to the Mass Effect 3 single-player. In Galaxy at War, the player can manage and experience the galactic war on multiple fronts. The system monitors the "Galactic Readiness" level, which is measured by Commander Shepard's ability to utilize assets, such as people, weapons, resources, armies, and fleets, to confront the Reapers. Galactic Readiness is influenced in several ways, including co-op multiplayer. Other platforms and interfaces will be announced later.[55]

Using Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War is optional. Although the system can affect the single-player of Mass Effect 3, it can be ignored and the same results achieved by playing only the single-player.[55] Access to Galaxy at War and its components will require an Online Pass, which will be included with new copies of Mass Effect 3.[56]

Co-op Multiplayer

Main article: Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer

Mass Effect 3 will feature an online four-player co-op multiplayer mission mode separate from the single-player story.[57][58][59] In this mode, the player will create a new custom character to fight on different fronts of the galactic war. Players can choose between turian, krogan, asari, and other races to create their character, each with their own unique abilities. There will also be character progression, weapon upgrading, and leveling up.[55]

Playing the co-op multiplayer mode is optional. Although successfully completing missions in this mode can affect the single-player of Mass Effect 3 through the Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War system, co-op can be ignored and the same results can be achieved by playing only the single-player.[55]

Soundtrack

Composer Clint Mansell, known for scoring films such as Requiem for a Dream and The Fountain, will be composing the score for Mass Effect 3.[60] Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 composer Jack Wall will not be involved.[61]; however, Sam Hulick will return[62], as well as Christopher Lennertz, Cris Velasco, and Sascha Dikiciyan, who composed the soundtracks for the DLC for Mass Effect 2[63].

Save File Transfer

Main article: Save File Transfer

As with Mass Effect 2, Mass Effect 3 will allow the player to import their save file from the previous game, carrying over their decisions from both Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2, totaling over 1000 variables.[64] As Mass Effect 3 will import decisions not just from Mass Effect 2, but the original Mass Effect as well, some of the player's decisions from Mass Effect that did not have impact in Mass Effect 2 could potentially have an impact in Mass Effect 3.[65]

If Commander Shepard died in the player's Mass Effect 2 playthrough, the player will be unable to import their save game. Mass Effect 3's story is a continuation of Shepard's story and if Shepard died in Mass Effect 2 that death is considered final.[66] Similarly, any squadmates who did not survive the suicide mission at the end of Mass Effect 2 will not return in Mass Effect 3.[67]

A player importing a save from Mass Effect 2 will be able to change both their appearance and their class at the beginning of Mass Effect 3.[68]

External Links

References

  1. ↑ http://ps3.ign.com/articles/113/1139850p1.html
  2. ↑ http://www.nowgamer.com/news/1018299/bioware_announces_mass_effect_3_release_dates_for_europe_and_us.html
  3. ↑ http://www.ebgames.com.au/xbox360-152692-Mass-Effect-3-Omni-Blade-Edition-Xbox-360
  4. ↑ http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/129/index/7294706
  5. ↑ http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/mass-effect-3-delayed-to-adjust-mechanics-for-larger-market-opp/
  6. ↑ http://www.computerandvideogames.com/233256/interviews/mass-effect-2-pt-2/
  7. ↑ http://e3.gamespot.com/story/6318695/e3-2011-mass-effect-and-wii-u-a-really-nice-fit-ea
  8. ↑ http://masseffect.bioware.com/me3/game/
  9. ↑ http://social.bioware.com/forum/Mass-Effect-3/Mass-Effect-3-News-and-Announcements/Mass-Effect-3-Collector039s-Edition-announced-7549834-1.html
  10. ↑ http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/323/index/8975536&lf=8
  11. ↑ http://ea.gamespress.com/release.asp?i=1702
  12. ↑ http://www.ea-anz-press.com/release.asp?i=1598
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/323/index/9006884/1
  14. ↑ http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/323/index/9006884#9151683
  15. ↑ http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/marketing-zenith-reached-early-copies-of-mass-effect-3-on-weath/
  16. ↑ http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/121/1218936p1.html
  17. ↑ http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2012/02/mass-effect-3-becomes-true-space-oddity-/1#.Tz14_VHYHsp
  18. ↑ http://kotaku.com/5430097/mass-effect-3-will-end-story-arc
  19. ↑ http://au.xbox360.ign.com/articles/105/1055366p2.html
  20. ↑ 20.00 20.01 20.02 20.03 20.04 20.05 20.06 20.07 20.08 20.09 20.10 Game Informer, May 2011, Issue 217
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 PC Gamer, June 2011
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 http://www.computerandvideogames.com/300860/news/mass-effect-3-to-focus-on-smaller-more-intimate-squad/
  23. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ri5ZnzKuac
  24. ↑ https://twitter.com/#!/macwalterslives/status/167327362369855489
  25. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gClbTVAx3Js&t=6m20s
  26. ↑ http://twitter.com/#!/trutriciahelfer/status/49921541143662592
  27. ↑ http://www.gamespot.com/mass-effect-3/videos/mass-effect-3-qanda-6349736/
  28. ↑ Game Informer, February 2012, Issue 226
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 Playstation 3 Magazine, UK Edition, June 2011, Issue 140
  30. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gClbTVAx3Js&t=5m20s
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 http://twitter.com/#!/CaseyDHudson/status/75331508088487936
  32. ↑ http://twitter.com/#!/SethGreen/status/53877904181964800
  33. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pShKKOV_gA
  34. ↑ http://ea.gamespress.com/release.asp?i=1716
  35. ↑ http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/04/21/mass-effect-a-q-amp-a-for-hardcore-fans.aspx?PostPageIndex=1
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 Chief, May 2011, Issue 45
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 Marca Player, May 2011, Issue 31
  38. ↑ http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/04/20/exclusive55_5f00_mass55_5f00_effect55_5f00_355_5f00_screens55.aspx
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 Level, May 2011, Issue 61
  40. ↑ Xbox World Magazine, July 2011
  41. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13ydY2C62xo at 14:40
  42. ↑ Gameinformer Issue 224 Pages 80-81
  43. ↑ http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/323/index/9403705
  44. ↑ http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/13/bioware-designer-talks-about-goals-for-mass-effect-3/
  45. ↑ http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=258534&site=cvg
  46. ↑ http://twitter.com/#!/truffle/status/74305024930488321
  47. ↑ http://twitter.com/#!/truffle/status/61231745139355648
  48. ↑ http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/103/index/7021128&lf=8
  49. ↑ http://ps3.ign.com/articles/117/1172200p1.html
  50. ↑ http://twitter.com/#!/PWatamaniuk/status/161566283886886913
  51. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdGbwBcZWlM
  52. ↑ http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/117/1172910p1.html
  53. ↑ http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/02/17/mass-effect-3-kinect-commands-cheat-sheet.aspx
  54. ↑ http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2012/01/10/mass1525-effect-3-cas5ey-fdsafdhudson-interviewae.aspx
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 55.2 55.3 http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/323/index/8481789/1
  56. ↑ http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/mass-effect-3s-multiplayer-tied-to-online-pass/
  57. ↑ https://twitter.com/#!/masseffect/status/123440240147955712
  58. ↑ http://www.oxmonline.com/oxm-december-issue-reveals-mass-effect-3-multiplayer
  59. ↑ http://twitter.com/#!/CaseyDHudson/status/123465882281320449
  60. ↑ http://thequietus.com/articles/05670-clint-mansell-interview-black-swan.
  61. ↑ http://www.gamingunion.net/news/mass-effect-composer-explains-why-he-isnt-working-on-mass-effect-3--3966.html
  62. ↑ http://www.facebook.com/samhulick/posts/10150530255188524
  63. ↑ http://social.bioware.com/forum/Mass-Effect-3/Mass-Effect-3-News-and-Announcements/ME3-Official-Composer-List--8856159-1.html
  64. ↑ http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/15/interview-bioware-casey-hudson-on-the-making-of-mass-effect-2/
  65. ↑ http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/22/interview-bioware-greg-zeschuk-on-mass-effect-2-and-3/
  66. ↑ http://gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2010/02/05/news-why-you-may-not-be-able-to-import-your-mass-effect-2-save-to-me3.aspx
  67. ↑ http://blogs.ign.com/BW_MassEffect/2009/06/17/123208/
  68. ↑ http://twitter.com/#!/CaseyDHudson/status/110238779901624320
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