Mass Effect amasses a million in sales

by Alexander Sliwinski { Dec 11th 2007 at 1:45PM }

Never let it be said that lesbian sex scenes don't sell video games -- and epic space opera plots don't hurt either. Wysteria Lane's street-hardened Microsoft executive Jeff Bell reveals to GameDaily that Mass Effect has affected one million in global sales over the three weeks since launch. In the same breath Bell also said that Halo 3 has reached the five million sales mark.

There's still no word if the rest of the Mass Effect franchise will still be Microsoft exclusive, but with sales this strong we're pretty sure MS is going to try and keep Mass Effect all to itself. We'll see if some exclusivity money changes hands -- and if Sony decides not to partake in the process.

Tags: halo3, jeff-bell, JeffBell, Mass-Effect, MassEffect, sales

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

NukeAssault @ Dec 11th 2007 1:49PM

Pretty sure MS is still publishing the last 2 games.

rv @ Dec 11th 2007 4:29PM

I hope so. Not because I hate other consoles, but because I'm sure EA would find a way to fuck it up. I don't think so, though. Ea paid nearly 1 billion for bioware/pandemic. I think it will go multi platform.

cxm @ Dec 11th 2007 9:48PM

This is pure speculation, mind you, but since the game was planned to be a trilogy from the word "GO", I think it's reasonable to assume that MS penned the publishing deal all at once, meaning they'd likely publish the last two games, as well. The buyout by EA won't change that. If EA wants the game to go multi-platform, they'll probably have to be willing to take the breach of contract hit from MS.

ThePassenger @ Dec 11th 2007 1:49PM

Even if I am not personally interested in this game, I think it's great that ambitious, original IPs have success. Well done!

gonk @ Dec 11th 2007 5:43PM

yeah, this story ruled. soverign had such an awesome voice too, it sounded kinda like the borg

Jay @ Dec 11th 2007 1:53PM

It will stay exclusive they need it and GOW,Bio-Shock. It will take a few games to take the place of Halo.

Trev @ Dec 11th 2007 2:16PM

Gears of War and Bioshock aren't 360 exclusives. Both are available for PC and the PC version of Gears has a ton more content.

That's not to say they are bad or anything, but for games the Xbox needs to take the place of Halo, you might want to count actual exclusives.

marklar @ Dec 11th 2007 2:23PM

I think he meant in terms of consoles - talk about being anal...

Trev @ Dec 11th 2007 2:31PM

Exclusive or not exclusive. Lets count Lost Planet as a PS3 2008 exclusive. Or UT3 as a PS3 exclusive, cause that's not on anything else, right?

Games are either exclusive or not - UT3 is not, Bioshock is not, Gears of War is not. - instead of tacking on qualifiers until you can call a game your own, name other good games like Dead Rising or an especially good XBLA game that really ARE exclusives.

timnc @ Dec 11th 2007 2:36PM

So these games have been released for XBOX 360 and Windows PC... both Microsoft platforms. The MS dev tools are designed for easy porting from the 360 to PC.

Trev @ Dec 11th 2007 2:40PM

http://www.tuaw.com/2007/07/16/gears-of-war-and-ut3-coming-to-the-mac/

Trev @ Dec 11th 2007 2:48PM

Instead of trying to tell me how those two games are console exclusives or microsoft exclusives, why not go with Ace Combat 6, Dead Rising, Forza, PGR, and Beautiful Katamari? Stick those in with Halo 3 and Mass Effect and you have a damn good assortment of games that can really only be played on 360.

Hell, I have a PS3 and I think those are good games, even if the pair of racing titles isn't for me. The only reason I don't have a 360 now is I heard about the Jasper motherboard revision and decided to wait.

Jake @ Dec 11th 2007 2:58PM

The PC market is different. Console exclusive does mean something for an individual deciding which console to purchase. Most people aren't in a situation where they are deciding whether to get a 360 or a PC. The PC advantage is controls, mods, and MMO's, none of which are on consoles. The console advantage is game variety, action games, and bredth of games.

The PS3 and 360 are separated primarily by which games you can play on each as far as which is a better system. Halo games eventually go to PC, but you think of them as an xbox exclusive. Mass Effect may go too. ME is an excellent game, btw.

Jeff @ Dec 11th 2007 3:09PM

Yeah, I think we all realize that whether or not a game comes out on PC doesn't matter in terms of its console-exclusivity. PCs don't really compete with consoles-- usually we're either 100% PC gamers, or we own all the damn consoles too.

The only time it matters for a game to be exclusive-- even from PC-- is when you're absolutely depending on it to force people to buy your console. The only games to meet that description thus far have started with the word "Halo". And I'll be damned if Microsoft didn't tempt me, so I can't say it isn't great marketing. I wonder how many PC gamers Microsoft forced to buy Xbox360 with the delay on Halo ports.

Trev @ Dec 11th 2007 3:19PM

@Jeff
I think it matters. One platform = exclusive. 2 platforms = Not exclusive. I just think people put way too much value into exclusive titles. They help someone decide which console to buy, not wave their dick on the internet about how their console is better than everything else. Only fanboys do that shit.

@Jake
I have a PC and a Console. The issue was never deciding between one or the other. And since I can run SupCom well, I imagine Gears would run great.

Does that make the 360 version of Gears bad? No. Even if it doesn't look as good or have all the extra content? Still no. The 360 version of Gears remains exactly as good as it was before. Could the PC version be better? Yeah, I mean, more game and better graphics with the same gameplay. Sounds like 'better' to me.

Does the fact that I could get Gears for my PC (or probably even run it on Linux with Cedega) make it not count as an 360 game? No. That's just stupid. If someone gets a 360 they can play Gears on it. Its a game and it counts. Is it exclusive? Nope, and trying to say so by narrowing it down until it is is stupid. They can still get a 360 just to play it though, that's any individual's choice to make. It's probably better with a controller and splitscreen anyway.

I stand by something being exclusive or not exclusive. Haze is currently a PS3 exclusive, if it goes to PC, it will stop being exclusive, the end. Sure, some jackasses will still demand "console exclusive" but I'll feel the same way about them as I do about the people saying Bioshock is a 360 exclusive.

d-pad @ Dec 11th 2007 3:52PM

Trev,

1) Panties. Check.

2) Bunched. Check.

3) Missing the fucking point about Mass Effect not being on PlaySation while arguing the semantics of what an exclusive is.

Check.

Trev @ Dec 11th 2007 4:14PM

d-pad,

1. Contribution to conversation.

2. Intelligent comments.

3. Fanboy bullshit. Oh here we go - Check.

Also, L O fucking L at getting voted down even for saying something to the effect of "here's a bunch of 360 games I wish I could play, I'll probably get a 360 to play them." You 360 fanboys really crack me up sometimes. There's a problem even if someone says something good about the console you like?

Jeff @ Dec 11th 2007 4:15PM

Trev, I completely understand your logic, but exclusives, for the time being, make or break a console. Sure, 2/3 Halos, Lost Planet, Gears of War, and Lost Planet are sitting on my shelf in lovely Games for Windows cases... but when people consider what console to buy it isn't... hm, do I want a $250 Wii, a $400 ps3, a $350 Xbox360, or $1,000 gaming rig? Wholly different markets. It's not like if Mass Effect doesn't ever come out on PC I'll go out and get an Xbox360, and I'm sure it's the same for most PC gamers. PC ports don't effect console sales-- they're just a nice little extra source of revenue for developers.

Trev @ Dec 11th 2007 4:23PM

True, Jeff. I don't think that a PC version of Mass Effect is going to sap sales from the 360 version. But if someone really, really loves Bioware games and absolutely had to have Mass Effect and both versions were available, they might just as easily go for the PC version. Lots of gamers have PCs anyway and it might be the difference between spending $350 on a console and $60 on a game or just spending the $50 for the PC version.

I built a very nice computer for about $560 after a couple of rebates and it handles, as I mentioned, the horribly optimized Supreme Commander and it's expansion pack without a hiccup, though not on the max settings. If there were a PC version of Mass Effect, I wouldn't doubt my ability to play it.

Jeff @ Dec 11th 2007 4:33PM

Rabid Bioware fans who would buy a 360 even though a PC port is inevitable, and people like yourself represent such a small marketshare as to be nearly insignificant.

The 360 exclusives that are either released alongside or eventually ported to PC are the best way to go for Microsoft AND developers. The PC port nets developers some more money, while not reducing the 360's stature at all in terms of other consoles. A win for the developer, who makes extra money, and a win for Microsoft, who gets an "exclusive". The fact that developers can easily milk some extra money from us PC gamers probably makes going 360-exclusive even more enticing.

I will admit, though, that, as a PC gamer, I'd be more likely to buy a Wii or a PS3 if I DID choose to buy a console-- since I know I'll never get Uncharted or Super Smash Brothers for PC. And that despite the fact that the 360 is, in my opinion, the way to go right now in terms of console gaming-- due to its software library and Live. So your argument does hold merit-- but only for a tiny, tiny segment of the market.

d-pad @ Dec 11th 2007 5:01PM

"There's a problem even if someone says something good about the console you like?"

Yeah, that's why you're being buried...

It's not at all because you completely missed the original point of what a console exclusive actually is and how it effects the competition.

But whatever, just keep on shrieking 'PC' and 'Supreme Commander'. It's more entertaining that way.

Trev @ Dec 11th 2007 5:32PM

@jeff
That is pretty beneficial for the developers, and Microsoft since they're the publisher, but selling a PC version of a "console exclusive" doesn't help move consoles. The only thing it can do is cut into those sales since someone that really likes shooters won't have to get a 360 to play Halo or Gears. You didn't need to. It isn't a large number, but its there. And like I said, it's not that it doesn't count as a game for that console anymore, but its still not exclusive. The 360 being the console is irrelevant even if, as timnc said, the tools are made for porting to be easy. I've told this same thing to PS3 fanboys. If it's not exclusive, then its not. The "all that matters is it's not on " bullshit just makes you look stupid.

@d-pad
I'm really not wasting my time with you, go find something better to do with yours.

billychaos @ Dec 11th 2007 1:56PM

In my opinion, Mass Effect is the best science fiction video game ever made.

Evan @ Dec 11th 2007 2:08PM

Agreed! This is a must have for anyone who even kind of likes RPGs.

eugene @ Dec 11th 2007 2:21PM

Agreed! There's just so much to the game, from the "Firefly" inspired cinematics, to the rich mythology that pays homages to works like Brin's Uplift series and more recent shows like Stargate... to the voice acting and the emotive character models. It's just a great game and there's just so much potential there for a continued exploration of the universe.

Lord Chako @ Dec 11th 2007 3:06PM

I don't know. Star Control was pretty good.
Sure, there was no story, and little background, and the entire game consisted of shooting each other with spaceboats. But damn, those boats were fun and well rounded.
I don't know how I got it on the genesis, but I sure as hell didn't regret it.

Mass Effect is a great game. It just needs multiplayer, with spaceboats.

rv @ Dec 11th 2007 4:30PM

Yup. The creativity in the creatures is extreme. The asari way of reproducing and the elcor communication among other things are examples of the creativity that bioware has.

Geist @ Dec 11th 2007 5:31PM

System Shock 2 still gets my vote. Awesome story + awesome atmosphere + rpg elements + freaky ass alien voice = complete win.

rdj75 @ Dec 11th 2007 1:57PM

I really don't like rpg's to much but I bought Mass Effect and I thought it was one hell of a game. Also, the ending of the game was one of the best endings I have every experienced in a videogame and I truly felt like I actually saved the universe. Can't wait for the sequal.

Hirsbrunner @ Dec 11th 2007 2:58PM

Thanks for the spoiler...Jeez! :-p

rdj75 @ Dec 11th 2007 4:43PM

There is a lot more I could have said to really spoil it for you. But for what its worth, I am sorry

Hirsbrunner @ Dec 11th 2007 5:31PM

I'm just messin' with ya. No apology nec.

Gregorius @ Dec 11th 2007 1:59PM

No doubt it's a great game. I wish they would have added some more polish to the game. But they had to get it out this holiday season. I bet the 2nd game will be much better.

dan stabbingworth @ Dec 11th 2007 2:09PM

I agree, and I hope they refine the combat.

Bloo @ Dec 11th 2007 2:06PM

Simply amazing

Joe @ Dec 11th 2007 2:07PM

Since they've sold all those copies maybe they would be nice enough to release a patch that makes the game a little more smooth. I was disappointed by the choppy performance in many sections of the game.

Kassu @ Dec 11th 2007 2:11PM

MS, bring it to the PC.

Jeff @ Dec 11th 2007 3:11PM

We all know it's coming. It'll probably get announced after the holidays-- Microsoft wants Xbox360 on our Christmas lists due to all their lovely exclusives. =)

And Bioware have always done damn good jobs on their PC games, ports and otherwise. KoTOR ftw :D

Mutant @ Dec 11th 2007 2:17PM

Yeah I loved the first play through and looking forward to playing again. I wonder if Bioware now belonging to EA will change anything?

Leobebes @ Dec 11th 2007 2:26PM

If Bioware tweaked the inventory system to a much more relevant aspect to the game, I would've considered this game to be one of the greatest of all time. In the meantime it is my second favorite game of the year. Next to Bioshock.

konajinx @ Dec 11th 2007 2:32PM

There are too many things like the constant graphical hiccups, boring as hell real time elevator rides, unskippable CGI sequences and chunks of the game you have to repeat to get back to a place where you got killed that simply gimp this game. It's fine and all, just not the experience that it could have been.

ColossalHat @ Dec 11th 2007 2:45PM

That's what Bioware's biggest problem is and always has been. Both the Kotor games had issues (not a problem in 1 but 2 had game freezers), and if I remember right, so did Jade Empire. Bioware could really stand to hold back all their games for an extra month to smooth out those problems. In fact I don't think any of their games has had the release date pushed back, which tells me they're quick, but sloppy workers when it comes to crunch time.

rdj75 @ Dec 11th 2007 2:57PM

ColossalHat

Just so you know KOTOR 2 wasn't developed by bioware, they were to busy making jade empire. Anyway, sometimes you just have to take the good with the bad, you know the ying and the yang. Eventhough there are some issues, the total experience was still worth every minute of frustration that took place.

baby sea tuna @ Dec 11th 2007 2:33PM

Obligatory "How many of those 5 million copies of Halo were Collectors Edition replacement discs?" comment.

PS. Good job, Mass Effect. I swear I'll get around to picking you up sometime after Xmas. Stupid season-of-giving...

Watership @ Dec 11th 2007 2:46PM

Replacement copies don't count as double sales.

tmacairjordan87 @ Dec 11th 2007 2:37PM

best game of the year and one of the best i've played. On my 4th playthrough now (trying to get 1000/1000 gamerscore) and i'm still finding new shit to do and different conversations. Also both endings to the game are just simply amazing, the last few hours alone i'd easily put as one of the top moments in gaming history.

Derrick @ Dec 11th 2007 2:41PM

I'm somewhat surprised by all the positive comments for this game. I bought it and beat it and I think it's a good game but nothing spectacular or revolutionary. It's basically an updated KOTOR in a different universe. A lot of the game feels unpolished and crammed in.

Just so you know where I'm coming from. I'm a huge RPG fan and had really high hopes for this and was disappointed by what I saw as a lot of unrefined bits such as the elevator rides, non-skippable cutscenes, conversation skipping button same as conversation acceptance button to name a few. The world generated maps is another.

I'm going to play through one more time as "evil" this time so we'll see how a second play through is. I hope they can build upon the universe and make the second a real solid title.