HUDs up! This is what Mass Effect PC's HUD looks like
by Christopher Grant 
{ Apr 8th 2008 at 6:27PM }
click to enlarge
"But how could the PC port of a game that was released in November be delayed?" you moaned, upon hearing the unfortunate news that Mass Effect would be delayed from May 6 to May 28. Beats us, but we've got three letters to make it all better, friend. Aich. You. Dee. Put it all together, and that spells HUD. And then, err ... break it all apart again and you've got heads-up display, an "entirely new" one of which BioWare wants to share with you after this morning's downer.
The new HUD, activated with a simple slap of the space bar, brings up access to squad commands ("Get your ass behind that rock, Williams!"), Biotics powers ("Get thrown, Geth scum!"), and abilities and weapons interfaces (sorry, it's hard to narrativize this one). Hey, we're already sold. We're just wondering if any of this lovely UI work will find a place in the (for a time) gamepad-saddled sequel.
Gallery: Mass Effect (PC)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
honkyjesusownsu @ Apr 8th 2008 6:47PM
The whole game looked like a technical nightmare.
CaptNink @ Apr 8th 2008 6:41PM
It looks a little bit "jumbled" to me. What was so bad about the "power wheel" that they felt the need to change it?
Change for the sake of change? I hope not...
Po0py @ Apr 8th 2008 6:51PM
Agreed, it is kinda cluttered. I was expecting a more streamlined approach. I hope there is a way to reduce the size and customise it a bit.
bm @ Apr 8th 2008 6:52PM
It's not cluttered, it's "advanced".
/PC geek
Cal @ Apr 8th 2008 7:16PM
At least they didn't go 'skill bar' style...
Brian @ Apr 8th 2008 8:06PM
"Um, is it supposed to be stupid"?
Tiptup300 @ Apr 8th 2008 8:22PM
You see, on PC, you have higher resolutions on screens that aren't blurred meaning that:
A) Everything is easy to read
B) Lots of data should be shown
People would complain if it would have kept the same console-based HUD.
mike @ Apr 9th 2008 9:28AM
higher resolutions on the pc? This is a xbox 360 game, not a wii game. It runs in 1080P on the 360. I wonder who games on their pc at resolutions higher then that without owning a $4000 setup? If anything, your average pc gamer runs at resolutions much lower then 1950x1080
The hud here is cluttered, plain and simple. No need to put your allies abilities onscreen. The pause and select scheme for the 360 was better since it gave you time to think, and it was more fun to play with ai self using abilities anyway, to avoid having to keep track of your allies who keep taking cover in a crossfire. Maybe they could of put shepards abilities for click on the hud but putting your other 2 allies is just cluttering things up.
Vcize @ Apr 9th 2008 9:57AM
CaptNick,
The "power wheel" was required for the console version because it had to be designed around the analog stick. You had to have something where each direction you pointed picked a different item. On the PC, with a mouse, they could lay it out however they wanted since the mouse moves freely. I'd imagine that if the game were designed for the PC first, this is how it would have been from the get-go.
Mike,
If I'm reading the article right, this functions the same way. That is, the HUD only shows up when you press the spacebar, just like it only showed up when you pressed the bumper in the PC version. The HUD does not stay on the screen indefinitely.
Vcize @ Apr 9th 2008 9:58AM
Whoops, that should read "just like it only showed up when you pressed the bumper in the CONSOLE version".
Tiptup300 @ Apr 12th 2008 11:05PM
Few things to note when designing interfaces for the tv instead of a pc monitor.
1) Overscan's a bitch
2) If your text looks 100% visible in photoshop, give it a 3px Gaussian blur, thats how it shows up on the tv.
3) SERIOUSLY, Overscan, WHY!?!?!
4) Console gamers like to see as little unimportant things as possible.
eugene @ Apr 8th 2008 6:48PM
I prefer the wheel arrangement. Though this new hud looks like it work well with a mouse.
BigD145 @ Apr 8th 2008 6:52PM
Does this mean I can't jump with the spacebar?
Neebs @ Apr 8th 2008 6:53PM
It's a PC game. Rebind your keys.
Kristof @ Apr 8th 2008 7:02PM
Can't tell if that's a joke on the interwebs.
If not, here's some info: You can't jump in Mass Effect.
ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Apr 8th 2008 9:15PM
"B-b-b-b-but WoW has jumping!"
"What can I say? Jumping is last-gen."
BigD145 @ Apr 8th 2008 10:03PM
All PC games allow you to jump. It's practically required in most.
Yes, I am joking.... sort of.... in some cases...
Neebs @ Apr 8th 2008 6:53PM
Superior PC version - confirmed?
Po0py @ Apr 8th 2008 6:54PM
Oh, hold up. On another glance at the screens it looks like it only appears when you have the hot keys pressed. Just like the 360 version. The wheel appeared only when you needed to switch weapens.
That screen looks like the weapon selection bars are there perminently.
Kristof @ Apr 8th 2008 7:06PM
What's nice, is you can bind number keys for actions. I think the controller only has one bind.
I bet PC users will be so frustrated when they find out their accuracy rating effects what you hit and not the mouse-precision aim.
toppgun @ Apr 8th 2008 8:18PM
Kristof
thats what mods are for
Glen @ Apr 8th 2008 6:59PM
Nice.
Dan CiTi @ Apr 8th 2008 7:18PM
Gotta love PC RPGs.
Jeff @ Apr 8th 2008 7:29PM
That looks like a cool and easy way to control your party.
So a basic UI will be up, and then hit space to bring this up?
I'd like a radial menu also, via mouse button 3, for basic stuff.
Psaakyrn @ Apr 8th 2008 7:32PM
For abilities and weapons interfaces, "Lock and load, men!"
Ian Murray @ Apr 8th 2008 8:41PM
It looks like the ability to move your squad-mates to specific areas (that was once a touted feature) is here in the PC version.
At least from the screen shot, that's what it looks like.
ApolloIV @ Apr 8th 2008 10:36PM
My game boner is huge. My real life boner is small. That is all.
Blazur @ Apr 8th 2008 11:11PM
How is this game anyways?
Spirit-of @ Apr 8th 2008 11:52PM
Having just finished Mass Effect, I couldn't get the feeling out of my gut that it was always meant to be a PC game. Instant access to biotic powers, not to mention your team mates' powers, should actually make storming a room fun. The 360 alternative is to storm the room, back pedal to the doorway, and turn the choke point into a shooting gallery.
If I would have known, I personally would have held out for the PC version...and I don't really play games on my PC...ever.
Gokie @ Apr 9th 2008 3:03AM
Who actually pronounces the letter H as "Aich"?
As for the HUD itself, looks nice.
riggs @ Apr 9th 2008 9:04AM
when i get hurt i Aich.
CM @ Apr 9th 2008 4:50PM
The new HUD will please PC gamers more than keeping the wheel functionality. Anyone who says this is cluttered must have never played an RTS on the PC or WoW. It is what the gamers will want. Also, I think most PC gamers WILL actually be playing this on higher resolutions than 1080p. Most people who will play this game on the PC will need a higher end PC anyway and they will utilize the ability to play at a higher resolution. That is how it always has been. Not that 1080p is bad, but PC gamers want more.
I like the new Hud. It will make selection faster and less cumbersome and it can be
put away" by pressing the space bar. Well done.
Nmaster @ Apr 9th 2008 6:16PM
If I can earn the achievements in the PC version I am SOLD.
Do you here me 360-to-PC porters? KEEP THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND I WILL BUY YOUR GAMES.
'Cuz otherwise I might as well just play them (read: play not buy) on a friend's Xbox and get the points... *shrugs*
TomCo @ Apr 19th 2008 2:47PM
Yeah, but the points don't MEAN anything.
They really really don't.
How about this - when you're playing Mass Effect on PC ask your mother to come in every 10 minutes or so and pat you on the head and rub your belly while saying "ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED".
There you go, isnt a mothers love much better than some meaningless integer value?
Nmaster @ Apr 19th 2008 4:11PM
Only if a record is kept amongst players so I can flaunt that "my mother loves me more than yours! HAHA! n00b!"