Mass Effect

[grimlog]

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<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Wudan Master:<br>I know it's impossible to make fully explorable inhabited planets </div>
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<br><br>No, it's not. Mario Galaxy does it. -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif -- -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif --

 

[The Faceless Rebel]

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<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Grimlog:<br><blockquote class="ip-ubbcode-quote">
<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div>
<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Wudan Master:<br>I know it's impossible to make fully explorable inhabited planets </div>
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<br><br>No, it's not. Mario Galaxy does it. -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif -- -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif -- </div>
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<br><br>The saying goes: If you can't make the numerator larger, make the denominator smaller! -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif --

 

[dantesan]

Wow, if we are comparing Mass Effect to Mario Galaxy at this point we have truly reached the lowest common denominator. (of debate, that is.) -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif --<br><br>Tune in Next Week: (360) Forza vs. (SNES) F-Zero!

 

[aC]

<blockquote class="ip-ubbcode-quote">
<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div>
<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by dantesan:<br>Wow, if we are comparing Mass Effect to Mario Galaxy at this point we have truly reached the lowest common denominator. (of debate, that is.) -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif --<br><br>Tune in Next Week: (360) Forza vs. (SNES) F-Zero! </div>
</blockquote>pfft... that conversation's over already. Especially if we're talking the original F-Zero

 

[dantesan]

touche'

 

[dantesan]

Listening to the most recent mass effect interview at IGN, an IGN member's question gave me an idea. What would be the one thing that would make mass effect even cooler than it is? <BR><BR>Space Combat (Wing Commander / X-Wing style)<BR><BR>Since the game has now been confirmed as a trilogy... the developer refused to speculate on whether the sequels would have space combat but god that would be awesome. The first space rpg with an entire universe and inhabitble planets AND space combat.

 

[callaway]

OMG, stop talking about this game, I just want to pretended it doesn’t exist and then be surprised when it finally comes out. IÂ’m so done with yearning for this title.<br><br>-- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif --<br><br>So anyway, the new director's cut video is wonderful.

 

[gsb445]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by dantesan:<BR>Space Combat (Wing Commander / X-Wing style) </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Shhhh. This is Bioware we're talking about. Keep quiet or they'll put in another turret minigame.

 

[dantesan]

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<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by gsb445:<br><blockquote class="ip-ubbcode-quote">
<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div>
<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by dantesan:<br>Space Combat (Wing Commander / X-Wing style) </div>
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<br><br>Shhhh. This is Bioware we're talking about. Keep quiet or they'll put in another turret minigame. </div>
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<br><br>Hey, I liked the turret minigame! -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif --<br><br>But, they kinda already did anyway. The rover has turrets. I always thought moon patrol would be cooler in 3d. Damn, now THERE's a game that needs a XBLA remake.

 

[Hellboy]

Yeah, I was kind of hoping that once we exit FTL, we'll be able to fly around the planet/solar system, fight stuff in orbit, and then enter the atmosphere and drop the Mako wherever we want to on the planet's surface. Riding down through the atmosphere would be so cool. <BR><BR>I don't think it's happening however. Judging from KoTOR and the videos we've seen so far we'll probably just walk up to the star map, designate a target system or planet then watch an in-engine cutscene as the Normandy flies there and drops off the Mako. The Normandy looks like it's probably way too large for dog fighting type action like X-Wing, it appears to be about the size of a cruiser or destroyer. Crew compliment is around 100 IIRC. Of course, why not have it carry a smaller fighter-type ship? Or a whole mess of drones. Sigh. Someday we'll get there.

 

[dantesan]

No, they stated clearly in the interview that it would not happen in this game but did not rule it out for the upcoming sequels in the trilogy.

 

[RisingTide]

I think it's a cool idea, but I figure with a gamepad, they'll have to come up with something a little different than just grafting in Wing Commander-style dogfighting action. Still, the concept does have promise, and I'd like them to at least seriously consider it for future games.

 

[dantesan]

They could do it Battlestations: Midway style where as commander you have control of the carrier and CAN also take control of individual units.

 

[WaltzingMatilda]

Enough!! Stop talking about this damn game already.<br><br>(me want -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif -- )

 

[skazz]

Just out of interest.... this drool thread will presumably keep on dripping for months more until the game actually comes out:<BR><BR>Do the mods have a special anti-drip bib which they use to keep threads like this from shortcircuiting the forum servers?

 

[konrad872]

in referance to Skazz ... *puts on bib*<BR><BR>/drool <BR><BR>This game looks sweet, I loved the KOTOR games and this game looks just plain awesome with all the open choices during converstaion and everything. I am pumped!<BR><BR>/drool<BR>*takes off bib*

 

[exick]

Sorry to bump this thread without any new information, but I have to ask a question because I think I might be losing it.<BR><BR>I read somewhere (reputable, I believe) that a Mass Effect demo was scheduled to be released today. Was that true at one point? Searching for it now, I can find no mention of it anywhere, but I added it to my calendar. I must have believed it to be true. Did I hallucinate this completely?

 

[unimental]

Delayed until November.

 

[exick]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by unimental:<BR>Delayed until November. </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Well yes, I know the game itself doesn't come out until November. I'm curious about the demo, though.

 

[Mojo-jojo]

New character creation video at Kotaku:<BR><BR>http://kotaku.com/gaming/more-gamer-porn/new-mass-effec...hottttttt-288421.php<BR><BR>[edit] Pretty <I>damn</I> cool video actually.

 

[D0rk Angle]

This game is one of the primary reasons I'm buying a 360 at this point.<BR><BR>Yes, I'm a pathetic Bioware fanboy.

 

[hoyle1911]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by dantesan:<BR>In the long interview with the developers at Bioware they said:<BR><BR>1) No one has counted/seen all the planets<BR><BR>2) All planets would allow you to do "something." (Such as simply scan to see if it's a life supporting planet or what elements it contains. Possibly make radio contact with surface dwellers.)<BR><BR>3) A large quantity of them you will be able to land on. (Even if you don't actually do much when you get there but kill some defenseless native aliens and collect some items)<BR><BR>4) Some worlds would have 2 minutes of something to do, others would have between 4 and 10 hours.<BR><BR>5) It wasn't stated in the interview but we know it's going to support downloadable content. So a lot of those planets that AREN'T explorable can become so later. </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Anyone else getting a Starcon2 or Oblivion vibe? I wouldn't want each planet to be relatively generic and sparse.

 

[Wudan Master]

The amount of planets verus what you can do on each sounds like a recipe for downloadable content. I see what you are saying though planet=oblivion style generic dungeon.

 

[MichaelC]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Mojo-jojo:<BR>New character creation video at Kotaku:<BR><BR>http://kotaku.com/gaming/more-gamer-porn/new-mass-effec...hottttttt-288421.php<BR><BR>[edit] Pretty <I>damn</I> cool video actually. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>yes, that video gives high hopes for this game.

 

[onkeljonas]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Wudan Master:<BR>The amount of planets verus what you can do on each sounds like a recipe for downloadable content. I see what you are saying though planet=oblivion style generic dungeon. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Maybe I'm just an optimist about it, but to me it sounds like they don't make the planets playable unless they have some actual content. If they just spawned random planets they could probably make each of them several hours long.<BR><BR>I really hope they don't screw this game up...<BR><BR>Oh yea – that video looks sweet!

 

[Nerfgun]

Uh oh....<BR><BR> Destructoid got a lengthy demo of Mass Effect at PAX. The result: Not Good.<BR><BR><BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Now, the thing about Mass Effect is that it seemed, more or less, like a ventriloquist's dummy. Of course, it was a very nice-modeled, well-rendered dummy with nice textures, but nothing more. The game, much like Pinocchio, lacks life.<BR><BR>The gameplay looks like your standard FPS fare, which is to say that I didn't see anything great or remarkable. There's a variety of weapons and abilities to use, but my pants didn't get wet or tight because of them. Gameplay is kind of hard to judge without an actual controller in your hands, so I'm going to reserve judgment on that.<BR><BR>Where the presentation really fell short, however, is in the emotionless voice acting and subpar facial animations. Not only did the conversation lack the natural ebb and flow to which we were all looking forward, but it was as if the voice actor's took commas, question marks, and exclamations points out of their repertoire. The dialogue has about as much emotional engagement as a grocery list. Even worse, the facial animations match the shoddy voice acting: the mouths move, and that's about it. It'd be great for a Joan Rivers botox sim, but it doesn't really make for a compelling video game. </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Just a preview, but still...

 

[Daemonic]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Nerfgun:<BR>Uh oh....<BR><BR> Destructoid got a lengthy demo of Mass Effect at PAX. The result: Not Good.<BR><BR>Just a preview, but still... </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Eeessh... I'm interested in hearing some of the other reactions about the game from PAX. I keep praying that this guy is just a cynic and hoping to generate traffic with a headline like that...

 

[aC]

Yeah we can hope it was just cynicism, I mean everything outside of the voice acting/lip syncing lacked actual examples (mostly.. "it didn't excite me" types of responses).<br><br>But I'll remain skeptical now... I mean if ME fails, it's not the end of the world for me. One less damn game I have to buy this fall -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif --

 

[Deviation]

I'll definitely wait for more impressions on this one. It seems quite popular for some people to crap all over highly anticipated games these days just because they're highly anticipated.<BR><BR>Despite their abandonment of the PC platform, I still have some trust left for Bioware.

 

[krimhorn]

I have to say I'm skeptical about how accurate their impressions are, esp concerning the facial cues given during conversation.<BR><BR>During the conversation with the blue alien scientist girl Shepard says something along the lines of "I bet it gets lonely there" in something of a flirtatious manner, and when he says that the corners of his mouth move into a bit of a smirk. I watched that part several times when I first saw it, thinking I was seeing things.<BR><BR>Of course that's just one example, and it could have been selected for the demo trailer specifically for that reason.<BR><BR>I expect Mass Effect to be a high quality Bioware game, one that might have a few minor flaws, or fall short on a few expectations; but nothing that makes the game less of an experience (or less fun to play).

 

[Soriak]

Who cares about facial expressions and the quality of the answers you pick? Those aren't part of what makes a game good. While they're "nice to have", they don't affect the story or the impression of the world. If they have a deep background story (which appears to be the case - see the book), an exciting world (remains to be seen) and some good and challenging content, I'm happy. I think the trailers have already shown how beautiful the scenery is.<BR><BR>The "real" story advancement always seems to happen in movie sequences anyway, not in those dialogs. In fact, being more engaged than hitting a button to skip past the chat is already a big step up...<BR><BR>I'd not put much stock into that review... too bad he couldn't share something of substance from that 20 minute session.

 

[MichaelC]

Gotta say, that preview review is pretty lackluster itself. He doesn't talk about story in any way. Character personality is one item, but two key elements are game play and story for most I think and he does not cover any of that. The entire article is pretty pointless since he doesn't provide any info beyond what anyone can see from the already released movies.<BR><BR>However, I will say this about the voice acting and facial animations... Several months ago I called this out and was told that this was still being worked on and that the voice actors in the released short movies were temps and none of it was final. I still haven't seen anything impressive on that front and this review, short sighted as it is in scope, doesn't seem to indicate that's really changed at all.

 

[morello]

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<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Nerfgun:<br><blockquote class="ip-ubbcode-quote">
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<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Destructoid Opinions </div>
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<br><br>You left out this part:<br><br> <blockquote class="ip-ubbcode-quote">
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<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> <b><i>Watching the first 20 minutes </i></b>of Mass Effect played by a <b>cute BioWare representative</b>, I couldn't help but be reminded of a ventriloquist I saw on America's Got Talent a few nights ago. Why I happened to be watching America's Got Talent is none of your business, but let it be known that I wasn't happy about it. </div>
</blockquote> <br><br>Yea, it's pretty clear what he was watching... not the game. Look at all those comments come from merely watching the first 20 minutes of gameplay.<br><br>Hardly the way to go about judging a 20-30 hour RPG... don't you agree Nerfgun? Some of the greatest RPGs ever made are pretty damned boring for the first 20 minutes. KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Torment didn't really thrill me, Fallout, most RPGs I'd argue. <br><br>I'm surprised you didn't think that review to be a joke<b> just on the fact the person writing the comments wrote everything based on watching 20 minutes of gameplay from the introduction of the game.</b> Nothing more. <b>He didn't even PLAY the game.</b><br><br>It's not like we haven't seen the videos of facial animations and dialog ourselves, so I'm not sure why people are taking this too seriously.<br><br>I mean do you really think this game looks anything like a typical FPS shooter? I don't even think you can take anything else he says seriously after that, c'mon. That statement is a joke, <b>IT'S NOT EVEN FIRST PERSON!</b><br><br>Gameplay is hard to judge without a controller in your hands?! Who the fuck posts this garbage on a website about a game from just the first 20 minutes, and without playing it themselves! <br><br>This shit is worse than Eurocrapper's RE4 review, and I'm being completely serious.<br><br>Sorry for the rant. -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif -- I just really don't like the way that (I can't even call it a preview) opinionated piece was created and the (lack of) intelligence it delivered.<br><br>In all honesty, I'd take a bet that the guy who wrote that has never even played or seen an RPG game in his life, based on how that was written (unless it was done specifically to generate ad traffic).

 

[Nerfgun]

I put some of that down to Destructoid's style (the cute girl comment).<BR><BR>My take is: I doubt this is even a big factor in the game. I played through some pretty wooden expressions before (Oblivion, KOTOR etc) and it didn't make a big difference.<BR><BR>Now, watching the "transmission video" that's up on gametrailers (the one where the characters are watching the ambush video on screen), they actually do look quite wooden to me. Pretty, but basically expressionless. I haven't seen a lot of range outside of 'stoic'.<BR><BR>BioWare pumped up this whole 'interactive cutscene thing' and maybe it just isn't quite what people are expecting, what with that bar being set so high.<BR><BR>I can't see this being a big impact on the game itself, if its true. That's not what I'm buying Mass Effect for. But it does raise an eyebrow. The bar for state of the art facial animation is very high. Think of something like the Soldier trailer from Team Fortress 2 (cartoony, classic style) or the insane mocap from Heavenly Sword. That's the high mark. But those are not interactive.<BR><BR>So I'd just take this guy's opinion like anyone else's. It's a comment. I wouldn't get worked up about it. And like I said, even if the facial animation is stiff it probably won't imapct the game very much; there looks like lots on offer with this title.<BR><BR>One thing I definitely will nitpick though: the aliens who sound like they are from Nebraska. When they speak and they sound <I>exactly</I> human (not all but some do, the long-faced grey ones), it makes me laugh. I hope they tweak that.

 

[morello]

See that's a much more rational post to me (yours). If only Destructoid's words were put together in a more convincing manner than what they choose. <BR><BR>I personally can't help but to ignore comments where the previewer goes out of their way to make crazy metaphors insulting the game repeatedly from just 20 minutes of watching it.<BR><BR>It'd be a different story to me, if say, he honestly played the game for 10 hours. I'd trust his opinion more then, even if it was laced with insults (which any site claiming to be professional shouldn't stoop down to, not that I'm saying Destructoid is a professional gaming site).

 

[Huma_22]

Why do you guys feel the need to dissect and analyze the preview?<BR><BR>That's one guy's opinion. And it's based on more interaction with the game than any of you have had.<BR><BR>It's just his opinion...why try to discredit him or dismiss him? You're acting as if you have some sort of personal stake in the game.<BR><BR>Read with an open mind, shrug and say, "Meh", and hope for the best.

 

[DaveSimmons]

<blockquote class="ip-ubbcode-quote">
<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div>
<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">It's just his opinion...why try to discredit him or dismiss him? You're acting as if you have some sort of <b>personal stake</b> in the game. </div>
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<br>I do: if it stinks, I don't get to enjoy it -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif --

 

[MichaelC]

The lack of expressions doesn't bother me. It's just that early on Bioware seemed to advertise the unique quality of facial expressions and voice acting and I've been thinking "oh cool" but so far have not seen anything we have not seen before. It doesn't kill the game for me, as I stated above, the important items are story and game play, which is what most expect from a Bioware game.

 

[morello]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">That's one guy's opinion. And it's based on more interaction with the game than any of you have had. </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Are you blind? Or did you just miss the part where he said multiple times he didn't play it, merely watched. I've seen more than 20 minutes of combined footage from Mass Effect though. So going by that, I'm more qualified than he is, especially since the footage I've seen doesn't all fall in to one spot of the game.<BR><BR>That pretty much sums up about how ridiculous that write up is in my opinion.

 

[Nerfgun]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by morello:<BR>Are you blind? Or did you just miss the part where he said multiple times he didn't play it, merely watched. I've seen more than 20 minutes of combined footage from Mass Effect though. So going by that, I'm more qualified than he is, especially since the footage I've seen doesn't all fall in to one spot of the game. </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>That's exactly it. No one has played it.<BR><BR>Seriously, one can expect a multitude of opinions on such a highly scrutinized game. Bioware has a great pedigree so I wouldn't let it sway whatever opinions you had originally. Now, Mass Effect, at worst, will end up being another Jade Empire - a game that a good many enjoyed even though it didn't exactly hit everyone's expectations. And knowing what I do of you in particular Morello, I would say you wouldn't anyways. You seem like a guy who makes up his own mind regardless of reviews. <BR><BR>I think what the Destructoid guy was getting at, however badly worded it was, is that the interactive cutscenes may not be the end-all be-all that they were originally hyped as by Bioware. I'm not particularly shocked. I played through all of KOTOR but I never considered it to be the high watermark of, well, anything.. its a decent RPG, some great moments, some silly ones (especially on the "evil path")... ok, maybe its not a revolution <I>in this particular area</I>. That's the story, if there even is any story to be gleaned; the hype <I>perhaps</I> exceeds the claim in this specific area. But you know it'll kick ass anyways. <BR><BR>Besides, it seems a bit <I>de rigueur</I> to shit on all these next-gen huge game efforts lately. So factor that in as well. I didn't mean to upset anyone by posting what they said; at the same time, we should recognize that a multitude of opinions are ultimately a good thing when it comes to these massive titles. The BioShocks of the world - i.e. those games that are nearly universally acclaimed - are indeed a rare thing.