While of course rig-dependent, Mass Effect PC should display higher resolutions than its console counterpart (a maximum has yet to be determined), with fewer pop-ins, smoother framerates and more seamless loading. Does that mean lifts will operate at expected Space Age speeds? No, not necessarily -- many lift sequences are 'slowed' by intentional dialogue. Oh, and the Mako's still a bizarro Halo reject. At least, controls are now independent of the camera (the 'up' key is always forward).
One gameplay tweak we can really get down with (clarify: please, please patch the Xbox version!) is the addition of individual teammate assignments -- like, she goes right, you go left, and I storm the middle. Both teammates can be instructed using a circular, pop-up UI similar to the pre-existing weapon and biotic selection menus. And, using a keyboard teeming with hotkeys, you don't even have to access these menus to command Shepard's actions -- a playstyle BioWare likens to run-n-gun action (especially if you've set your squad to autopilot).
Still, many will most covet Mass Effect PC's new inventory UI, rearranged and greatly aided by the use of a mouse. But for those looking for more than a few polished bells and whistles, BioWare had little to confirm. There's a new manual decryption minigame, replacing the old one, where you navigate an arrow through a series of circles while dodging moving and stationary obstacles. (Yeah, not exactly bringing down the sky, is it?)
As for DLC, PC players will likely be offered something ... eventually. Achievements, however, will be available at launch, though not linked to Games for Windows Live (sorry again, Microsoft). Instead, BioWare will hand them out internally through its own servers. A renegade move? Nah, BioWare is simply enjoying its newfound status as one of the most independent, not-independent studios in the business.
(Page 1) Reader Comments
Plus, one less reason I have to buy a 360!
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Oh, I get it. You were referring to the 'dying' PC gaming scene, right? It's been apparently on its way out for, like, 20 years so I'm not too worried. There's a lot of great gaming to be had on the PC.
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/?p=1160#more-1160
You say 10 years to late? Spore,StarCraft 2,Dragon Age, STALKER Clear Sky, Warhammer, FarCry2, Space Siege, DemiGod, Battlefield Heroes, not to mention the already released Sins of the Solar Empire say otherwise.
My opinions are also reflected by people that are in the industry:
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=33298
http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/02/13/gears-of-war-creator-update/
I mean, it seems that all of them are made available on the PC within 4-5 months and all the bugs seem to be worked out while there are noticeable improvements in stability, graphics and content.
I see you bought those "lines" about two games being the whole market hook line and sinker, huh? And by looking at US Brick and Mortar US Retail only, you would be correct, or listening to an overwhelming console centric gaming press.
The Prroblem is the NPD drastically under-reports PC Game sales, as stated by the latest PCGA press release and openly admitted by the NPD themselves. PC Sales in the US are in fact 2.76 Billion for 2007 and 8.3 Billion Worldwide, including DD and MMO figures. PC Game sales make up roughly 30% of all video game sales in the US, which is outstanding. Latest estimates put the PC with the largest userbase in the world at around 263 million users estimated. Wow, now I see what your saying, PC is doomed!!
http://pcgamingalliance.org/en/documents/PCGA_Announcement_Presentation.pdf
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/?p=1160#more-1160
You're telling me the Sims and WoW make up all of the that or even close to all of that?
Stop lying to yourself.
The more and more I hear you go on about how bad this game is, it just makes me want to stay away from what seems like a badly engineered game.
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I think Oblivion's inventory system is pretty solid, considering the shear variety of items in the game. There's no cap on how many items you can carry, only a limit based on the total weight, and that can easily be worked around with a Feather spell. You can drop items on the ground instead of having to reduce it to omni-gel. And that's the other thing about Mass Effect: if you have 999 omni-gel and you're being forced to reduce newly acquired items to omni-gel its well goes above 1000, but when you go back into inventory it's back down to 999 -- bullshit! Why can't I just cancel out of this screen, go into my inventory, and get rid of the items I don't want, instead of the few that are listed here (without descriptions no less) Also, these are BETTER versions of items I already have which I'm being forced to destroy, and I don't even get omni-gel out of the deal. I'm being penalized for being good enough at the game that I don't NEED omni-gel. Oh and why do I have to reduce the items one at a time? It's not like I can delete 5 out of 6 items and move on, I am forced to destroy ALL items, and yet there is no "Reduce all to omni-gel" option. It is poor poor game design, it's like they didn't even test it. Oblivion, on the other hand, always gives the player a choice. You may become over-encumbered, but you don't have to remove items from existence in order to get to the nearest merchant to whom you can sell some excess items. If Bioware had made Oblivion then here's how it would go: You'd pick up a full daedric armor set and a screen would pop up telling you to destroy the boots, the greaves, the ganlets, the helmet, etc etc. There'd be no option to uneqip the retarded leather armor you have on now so that this uber-awesome armor can take its place, which would then allow you to destroy the leather armor, thus reducing your inventory below the arbitray 150 cap. There would also be no way of canceling out of this screen for the purpose of dropping excess items BEFORE picking up the daedric armor.
So, considering how bad Oblivion's inventory could have turned out in Bioware's incompitent hands, I'd say Bethesda did a pretty good job.
I doubt it since another studio's doing the port, but there's always hope.
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"Achievements, however, will be available at launch, though not linked to Games for Windows Live" Ummm So where do theey go then??
They still have not fixed the texture pop up issue. ??
And then further outsourcing the pc port to some unknown company, wow way to F up a game ea! No thanks, I keep playing on my 360.
Don't get me wrong , I am trying not to jump on the EA bashing bandwagon. Back I was really looking forward to this and was hoping they were'nt going to F this up!
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and even better, i can play the PC games with my PS3 controller. best of both worlds.
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Probably no, because you're too damn close minded.
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