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Blog: Software Mass Effect Coming to Xbox 360 on November 20
Marcus Yam (Blog) - August 31, 2007 7:32 AM
Print E-mail del.icio.us 25 comment(s) - last by afkrotch.. on Sep 2 at 3:40 AM
BioWare's space opera for Xbox 360 making journey to retailers on November 20

While PlayStation owners may have many, many quality Japanese RPG at their gaming disposal, the Xbox and PC faithful have always had one North American (well, mostly Canadian) force providing them with the absolute best in the role-playing genre. This developer is, of course, BioWare.

With the brilliance that was Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Jade Empire on the original Xbox, owners of the Xbox 360 had everything to look forward to when BioWare announced its next-generation RPG Mass Effect.

Much like BioShock, the developer’s reputation alone was enough to get gamers frothing at the mouth to play Mass Effect – and I was certainly one of them, even before I knew a single detail about the game.

Actually, even after watching several videos from Mass Effect – most of which downloaded from the Xbox Live Marketplace – I still feel like I know very little about the game. That, however, may not be such a bad thing as I’d like to keep the experience as fresh and spoiler-free as I can when I get my hands on this game on November 20.

Yes, November 20 is the day to mark on your calendars for Mass Effect – just shy of two months after Halo 3’s monolithic release. Honestly, I had my fingers crossed that Mass Effect would somehow have made it out during the summer, but either BioWare needed more time to put the finishing touches on its game or Microsoft simply told BioWare to take their time to better fit into the Xbox 360 onslaught this holiday season.

No one really wants to release a game around the time of Halo 3, but everyone wants to get in on the holiday buying frenzy. Mass Effect is perfectly poised to give those Halo 3 discs a break, though now I’m almost certain that there will be far too many good games to play (for all systems, not just the Xbox 360) all throughout fall. Now that I think about it, Grand Theft Auto IV slipping into next year really doesn’t hurt that much.

Now the only thing I want to know is what Microsoft and BioWare are cooking for a special edition of Mass Effect. After all, if Halo 3 gets two different special editions, why can’t lil’ Mass Effect have one too? As you may know, I’m not a big fan of paying another $10-20 extra just for a soundtrack and a steel-book case. I even thought the Jade Empire Limited Edition could have been much better. But... it’s Mass Effect, you know? IT’S MASS EFFECT!!!

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PC version
By DingieM on 8/31/2007 9:05:44 AM , Rating: 2
You imply there will be a PC version?

Thought this is Xbox360 exclusive




RE: PC version
By webdawg77 on 8/31/2007 9:11:40 AM , Rating: 3
True, no where on the Bioware site does it talk about a PC version of Mass Effect.

quote:
6. Will Mass Effect be coming to the PC?

Chris Priestly: Mass Effect is planned as an Xbox 360 exclusive title. This means we are not working on a PC version and have no plans to start making one.


http://masseffect.bioware.com/forums/viewtopic.htm...


RE: PC version
By darkpaw on 8/31/2007 9:45:57 AM , Rating: 2
Hm, coulda swore this was coming out on PC as well. Guess I finally found the killer title that will likely get me to buy a 360. Planned on snagging one sometime around Xmas anyways, but this will definately make the decision easy.


RE: PC version
By DingieM on 8/31/2007 9:53:39 AM , Rating: 2
Hmm now I read my post is misplaced by the system, I intended to reply on Master Kenobi's post:
quote:
Damn it all, why can't they do PC and X360 releases simultaneously. Why must PC gamers get teh shaft!! =[


RE: PC version
By Misty Dingos on 8/31/2007 10:15:15 AM , Rating: 4
It is because they fear the PC as it is the mightyest gaming machine produced by mankind! All lesser beings fear the PC for the PC shall dominate the console as the PC consumes the software of a thousand generations!

Sorry I have got to cut back on the coffee.

Still it would be nice to get this game on the PC some day.


RE: PC version
By DingieM on 8/31/2007 10:41:02 AM , Rating: 2
Yeah, the PC...full of crappy drivers, inefficient design, inefficient use of resources, almost no standards, very bad investments, old fashioned ugly designs, unfocused device (not build for special purposes hence lack of focused and lightweight operating systems), easily hacked, easily pirated, and so on and so on, oh and power-hungry.


RE: PC version
By Misty Dingos on 8/31/2007 11:04:45 AM , Rating: 2
You wound me. I do confess all that you say is true. I especially like the need for one kilowatt power supplies! More power for my inefficient boondoggle! The PC will still conquer all!


RE: PC version
By omnicronx on 8/31/2007 11:33:40 AM , Rating: 2
Have fun posting on DT with your xbox360, I never want to see or hear from you again ;)


RE: PC version
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 8/31/2007 12:55:07 PM , Rating: 2
There hasnt been a Bioware exclusive to date that didn't end up being ported from the Xbox to PC. It will come, prolly next spring/summer.

Evidence
-KOTOR
-Jade Empire


RE: PC version
By afkrotch on 9/2/2007 3:33:10 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
Yeah, the PC...full of crappy drivers, inefficient design, inefficient use of resources, almost no standards, very bad investments, old fashioned ugly designs, unfocused device (not build for special purposes hence lack of focused and lightweight operating systems), easily hacked, easily pirated, and so on and so on, oh and power-hungry.


Not really sure where to pull this little post apart.

Crappy drivers. Yes this is true, but what is considered crappy? You always have the initial releases of drivers which function perfectly fine. As time goes on, new drivers are released that will optimize the use of whatever hardware. Also to fix issues with older drivers.

Inefficient design? For? It's a computer that's built for multipurpose functions. It's not geared towards one thing. It's like the inefficient design of an Xbox 360 for internet usage. Notice the lag you get when surfing through content on Xbox Live, even on a 100 meg connection?

Inefficient use of resources. Seeing as you can design and build your computer any way you want, this doesn't fit the bill as a whole. It's relatively hard to compare a PC to a console, when a PC is designed to not only support hundreds of different hardware, but also future hardware.

Almost no standards. I can tell you that a PC has a whole lot more standards than any console on this planet, let alone all three of the next-gen ones combined.

Very bad investments. Can't say that I agree with you on that one. You can easily continue playing games on a 4 year old PC. Maybe not at the highest resolutions or highest in-game settings, but you'll be playing. Then after it's unable to play the latest games, you can use the computer for other tasks. You can turn it into a media center, file server, or just internet surfing box.

Old fashioned ugly designs. Ya, like a beige Xbox 360 is great. Course, guess you haven't seen pics of the new HP Virtus (http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/29/hp-virtus-revea... ). Users also have the ability slap together a PC that suits their stylish needs.

Unfocused device. Well, duh. It wasn't meant to be. Lack of focused and lightweight operating system. Sure, like how the OS on the Xbox 360 uses up 7 gigs of the hdd space, while WinXP only takes up around 2 gigs. Damn those PCs and their non-lightweight OS's. Course, there's the resource issues, but to provide a OS that has multiple functions and a GUI to interface to it, takes some resources. Not to mention the other needs like firewalls and crap.

Easily hacked. Don't tell those Xbox 360 owners that their consoles can also be hacked. I mean, that's how ppl run Linux on their 360s.

Easily pirated. Umm...not sure how you can easily pirate a PC, but okay. Now if you mean easily pirate a game, then that's also an issue on a console. Shoot, Xbox 360 had pirated games the first month after it was released.

Power hungry. Depends on how you build it. I can built a PC to run off 100w or build one to run of 600w. If I go into the higher end, that's a given. Course, with more than double the power of an Xbox 360, that's what's going to happen.

If you go by flops for performance measurements, my computer has less power than a 360, uses more power, is all kinds of inefficient, unfocused, etc. While at the same time, it can do everything an Xbox 360 can and do a better job of it. It can also do tons of things an Xbox 360 can't do and also, do them well. It's also easily user fixable, doesn't have RRoD issues, doesn't have a huge external PSU, supports all forms of resolutions, has a browser, free online play for non-MMORPG games, and hundreds of other things.


Waiting........
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 8/31/2007 8:20:54 AM , Rating: 3
Damn it all, why can't they do PC and X360 releases simultaneously. Why must PC gamers get teh shaft!! =[




RE: Waiting........
By Fnoob on 8/31/2007 10:19:11 AM , Rating: 2
We PC gamers get the shaft? You mean like having to pay $50 for Halo2? Sigh. Anyone know if the PC version will support 1920x1080? Might make it worth it, considering the console version is 480p.


RE: Waiting........
By therealnickdanger on 8/31/2007 10:56:52 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
considering the console version is 480p

You meant 720p , right?

This is Bioware we're talking about here. If it doesn't come out on the PC before next summer, I'll be extremely suprised. Every other title of theirs (on Xbox) has come to the PC, so I would assume the same here. When console games speak about exclusivity, it typically only means console exclusivity. Microsoft especially. They want to dominate the PC gaming market as well, but only after pushing the 360. Sony and Nintendo have very little interest in the PC market, by comparison.


RE: Waiting........
By omnicronx on 8/31/2007 11:53:55 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
You meant 720p , right?
I think he meant Halo2 for the original xbox was 480p. Its definitely not 720p


RE: Waiting........
By therealnickdanger on 8/31/2007 2:41:05 PM , Rating: 2
That would make sense then. I thought he was saying that Mass Effect is 480p. :\

I'm pretty sure Halo2PC can hit 1920x1200 (I can play Halo1PC at that resolution), but chances are good that it won't be true widescreen without a FOV hack.


RE: Waiting........
By Inkjammer on 9/1/2007 3:19:28 AM , Rating: 2
I'm one of the few that own Halo 2 Vista, and it does infact support 1920x1200, and it does so rather nicely.

. . .

But it still doesn't make it look any better. Textures are pixellated and the models didn't age too well (short of the Master Chief, who looks twice as good as good as any other model in the game).


RE: Waiting........
By afkrotch on 9/2/2007 3:40:34 AM , Rating: 2
If you want to pay $50 for an old game like Halo 2, sure, it's sort of a ripoff. Course you can buy the game and play it for a full year for free. That's like getting Xbox Live for free for a year.

Either way, when PC and console versions release at the same time, PC users usually win out. PC game publishers haven't wanted to push the $50 price limit, while console game publishers have pushed it to $60.

So for a simultaneous release, across multiple platforms, the PC users are the least to be shafted. Getting a cheaper version, free online play, higher graphics quality, and it's supported across multiple operating systems and hardware setups.


RE: Waiting........
By EarthsDM on 8/31/2007 12:35:51 PM , Rating: 2
Bioware's strategy for the past few years has been to ship games for the X-box first. They do this for several reasons:

- X-box games are harder to pirate
- X-box graphics textures are lower resolution, reducing development time/expense
- The console versions of their games are riddled with bugs that no PC owner would accept.

If they sold them both at once, no one would buy the console version. Or the PC version. They would wait for the patch. As it is, PC owners have to avoid spoilers for months waiting for the PC version (and its patches) before enjoying.


GTA VI !
By R Nilla on 8/31/2007 9:15:21 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
Now that I think about it, Grand Theft Auto VI slipping into next year really doesn’t hurt that much.


You mean Grand Theft Auto IV? Or did I oversleep and miss a decade of great video games?




RE: GTA VI !
By Flunk on 8/31/2007 10:34:07 AM , Rating: 2
If they were being accurate it would be GTA VI

GTA
GTA 2
GTA 3
GTA Vice City (4)
GTA San Andreas (5)

so the next one = 7 (VI).