GDC09: Bioware drops Mass Effect 2 details

by Griffin McElroy { Mar 27th 2009 at 11:29AM }

IGN recently had a chance to talk to Bioware execs Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka about the three huge projects the developer is currently working on -- most notably among these being the much anticipated sequel to 2007's alien-sexin' sim, Mass Effect. Though the two hardly spoke in absolutes (they promised more concrete details and footage "a little later"), they did reveal some intriguing facts -- for instance, they're already planning on bringing DLC to Mass Effect 2 that will appease the franchise's widely varied fan base. In other words, extra extraterrestrial sex scenes.

They didn't confirm whether the PC version of Mass Effect 2 would be released in tandem with the 360 installment, but did reveal that the two versions are being developed simultaneously. As far as gameplay improvements go, they explained that they're building on the framework of the original while fixing certain aspects that were harangued by critics -- namely, they're working to make the game's shooter element more intuitive, and to make the optional planetary exploration less mind-numbingly repetitive.

Finally, they re-iterated that though the recent teaser trailer for Mass Effect 2 depicts a doornail-dead Shepard, you should still hold on to your Mass Effect saves. Maybe they'll help determine the stats of his ghost.

Tags: bioware, gdc-2009, mass-effect, mass-effect-2, pc, rpg

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

syrik zero @ Mar 27th 2009 11:34AM

The planet exploration was super repetitive... But I still went to every planet! I really enjoyed this game. Some how my guy came out looking like a badass Mexican dude, not sure how, but I wouldn't want it any other way. I keeping my file

The Dark Wayne @ Mar 27th 2009 11:51AM

I thought the character creation was so awful I went with the basic guy everytime. I wish he had looked more like the earlier pre release screenshots because even that was fuck ugly. The one time I made a character I was happy with, he was completely unlike the rest of the characters in the game. I hope they have more preset faces or change the system because I hated that crap

Swagman @ Mar 27th 2009 12:08PM

Don't you get it. There was never a PS3 version in the first place.

Just because EA purchased BioWare, does not mean that BioWare and EA have the right to break exclusivity contracts signed with Microsoft.

Mass Effect was always planned as a trilogy from the moment the concept was invented. Honestly, no one really thought Microsoft was stupid enough only license the first game, and not license the entire trilogy? That would be like them licensing Gears of War, but not Gears 2 and Gears 3, when the entire series was planned as a complete trilogy from the very beginning. It doesn't make any good business sense to license one and not the rest.

Mass Effect was never coming to PS3, get over it already. Back when Sony was refusing to answer phone calls from the likes of Rockstar Games (GTA IV) and Capcom (Resident Evil 5), when those companies were offering those games exclusively to Sony, Microsoft was busy out securing all manner of new exclusive IP, and the Mass Effect trilogy was one of the deals they got while Sony was napping on the job.

Those contracts did not change just because BioWare got bought up by a larger company. They are just as ironclad now as they were then. The only reason why there was ever any speculation about these games coming to PS3, was EA's fault. They were trying to keep the option open among the fans, while they tried hard to pay Microsoft to break the initial contracts with BioWare. And as we have just come to realize recently, Microsoft is not breaking those contracts, and for good reason.

So please, anyone still lingering around the idea the Mass Effect trilogy is coming to PS3, they are not. Accept that and get over it already, and go play some of the cool exclusives finally coming to PS3 after three boring years of waiting for the good games (Killzone 2, Uncharted 2, InFamous, Heavy Rain, etc.). I for one know that I will be playing all those awesome PS3 exclusives this year. But since I own both systems, I will also be playing Mass Effect 2 when it comes out next spring.

Life is good.

Maverick Saturn @ Mar 27th 2009 1:27PM

Swagman, I dont recall Dark Wayne or Syrik saying it was :S

rohan @ Mar 27th 2009 11:34AM

so i guessing the PS3 version will come out in 2 yrs or be canceled due to "hardware issues"

Swagman @ Mar 27th 2009 12:08PM

rohan @ Mar 27th 2009 12:16PM

@ swagman:
after i posted this is realized i might be flamed for this. Nice well written response to shut me up.
I actually never knew about the trilogy makes sense. Also i agreed how Sony was a bit lax when starting the PS3 as they assumed dev will just follow them onto the PS3 after the how well the PS 1 and 2 did. Kinda of sad they had a chance to be ground breakers and now they are followers in almost everything.

why not the LS2LS7? @ Mar 27th 2009 11:35AM

I can't wait to run this on my SeXBox.

BlaqueBeird @ Mar 27th 2009 12:41PM

"And her name is Sony."

kbomb1upc @ Mar 27th 2009 2:16PM

Don't vote down a Family Guy reference....
+1 to man..... Gigggigi

dark_inchworm (on Steam!) dark inchworm (on XBL!) @ Mar 27th 2009 11:37AM

Mmm... interplanetary sexual pursuits.

Michelobius @ Mar 27th 2009 1:40PM

I've never heard of this game, but if it's a alien-sex sim, as the article says, it is clearly a blight upon our youth, our country, and the fabric of our society. God help us all. Except the homos.

/parody

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 27th 2009 11:38AM

Heard its gonna be more of a shooter RPG. w00t!

http://kotaku.com/5186448/mass-effect-2-is-a-shooter-rpg

Markez @ Mar 27th 2009 12:25PM

Personally I hope they don't change too much of the gameplay mechanics from the original. I certainly hope they don't 'gears' it. Issues that it had, and that people have loudly complained about, I really don't think the combat was *that* awful and I wouldn't mind if they kept most elements of it (with some tweaking) going forward.

That confrontation with Wrex gave me goosebumps, setting that stupid fan Conrad Verner straight was awesome, listening to the Elkor was great, listening to Shepard always say "What can you tell me about the ____" was awesome, letting the council die warmed my heart.

Sigh, I love you Mass Effect

*melts

ryan @ Mar 27th 2009 1:14PM

I'm missing something here I think, wasn't the first Mass Effect a Shooter RPG?

I mean, it FELT like I was shooting stuff and doing RPG things like conversation choices, upgrading my character.

I hope they find another button for the grenade. "Back" button sucked big time.

WiNG [XBL&Steam: WiNGSPANTT] from lifeinagame.com @ Mar 27th 2009 3:58PM

Fuck Kotaku.

This. Is. Joystiq!!!

RJ @ Mar 27th 2009 11:39AM

I don't think Shepard is really dead. I think it's some kind of propaganda in the game universe. Kind of like a "The savior of the galaxy is dead, now no one can help you!" type thing.

The Dark Wayne @ Mar 27th 2009 11:56AM

so he's like Elvis or Kennedy

ChanceC (XBL: NoPantsChance) @ Mar 27th 2009 12:02PM

I agree. I think it would be too easy for Bioware to just kill the original Shepherd off, this has got to be some kind of scare tactic or ploy by the Geth or Reapers. It just wouldn't make sense for them to kill him/her off, because I felt like the entire trilogy was going to revolve around Shepherd and how he fits into some kind of strange "chosen one" role.

Ah, I do love a good space opera.

anexanhume @ Mar 27th 2009 12:25PM

A popular theory, given the teaser says Cerberus is all over it, is that its a plant by Cerberus. So, saying its true is acknowledging Cerberus plants it, not that Shep is dead.

Havok @ Mar 28th 2009 2:41AM

/spoiler (maybe)

More like Jill Valentine.

The Alex @ Mar 27th 2009 11:39AM

Ok, I have to ask Joystiq was this:

"bringing DLC to Mass Effect 2 that will appease the franchise's widely varied fanbase. In other words, extra extraterrestrial sex scenes." just a joke and play on the first games controversy or is this actually what they are planning to do.

Of course, as a real man, I hope it's what they're planning to do! Not enough sex and boobs in games!

Speaking of Boobs, I just finished Tomb Raider: Underworld yesterday, and I have to say, that was a great game. Not just because Lara looks as hot as ever but the gameplay is top notch and the story is fantastic.

Powaqqatsi @ Mar 27th 2009 12:02PM

Yeah, you're 12.

Jack Tretton @ Mar 27th 2009 12:22PM

So a few nights ago I finally bed Liara in Mass Effect...and that's it?! That little bit of blue alien booty caused so much consternation? Unbelievable. I see more skin and provocative scenes in TV promos and movie trailers. (Music videos too if I ever watched 'em.)

ryan @ Mar 27th 2009 1:16PM

lol @ "real man"!

Haohmaru @ Mar 27th 2009 2:30PM

"I'm a real man! Yeah! Bring on those sexy, sexy polygons."

The Alex @ Mar 27th 2009 3:26PM

You guys took my comments way too seriously, where's your sense of humour.

Regardless, the point of my comment was more on figuring out if Joystiq was trying to be funny with their dlc/sex comment or if that was a legit thing Bioware was working on.

Chill out guys, and stop being so serious all the time!

ryan @ Mar 27th 2009 4:05PM

My sense of humor is right here! lol @ "real men" humor!

Mazrael @ Mar 27th 2009 7:22PM

Did you play the same Tomb Raider Underworld I just finished for the second time? cos my 'said game' had nigh on broken combat, got more buggy as you progressed, dumb enemies.. enemies freezing mid action*, Lara turning invisible*, falling through floors*, rubbish semi-check points.. dodgy jump/grab where she wouldn't go where you were directing or completely ignore that ledge she slapped her chest off or completly ignored.. that one?

luckily 3 of those marked '*' didn't happen the second time.. I think tommorow I'll go through the DLC(s)..

The Alex @ Mar 27th 2009 8:30PM

I waiting for the Tomb Raider DLC to go cheaper (400 points), it'll happen eventually. I didn't have any of the same problems you had with the game, except the dumb enemies part. And I had a weird problem from time to time where the game would not respond to me pushing the jump button, which usually resulted in Lara just falling and grabbing the ledge...

tmmoore_nc @ Mar 27th 2009 11:40AM

FPS? Um...Mass Effect 1 was not an FPS, nor did it ever have you in a first person perspective.

PersonOfSorts @ Mar 27th 2009 11:44AM

I was wondering that myself.

I thought the shooting was fine. The frames per second, on the other hand, would be my biggest gripe with the game.

Deezul @ Mar 27th 2009 11:43AM

I'd like to hear from the person who, after watching the trailer, immediately deleted their save file...

Trulz @ Mar 27th 2009 6:28PM

Seriously.

I still wont delete my "The Bouncer" saves. I might want to play it...

mandark @ Mar 27th 2009 11:46AM

the save files wont affect me anyhow. Will definitly get the pc version this time.
Even my old GTS 8800 destroys anything xbox 360/ps3 can manage.
I wonder how much more popular pc ports will become as the consoles graphics becomes more and more inferior to even mid range graphics cards.

Cosmo @ Mar 27th 2009 11:49AM

Let's hope the PC version comes out the same time as the 360 version and not months later like so many console to PC ports.

dogmaticatheist @ Mar 27th 2009 11:54AM

Can your GTS do a steady 60fps at 1080p? The GTS may have better specs (as does my 8800 GT), however the beauty of console games is that the software developer knows exactly what kind of hardware all of the players will be using, so they can really work hard to optimize their code for that hardware and squeeze out every inch of performance they can.

Honestly, Gears 2 and Killzone 2 look just as good, if not better than most available PC games on the market right now.

PeterF @ Mar 27th 2009 1:19PM

Yes the 8800 GTS can run 360 games at a much higher resolution than the 360. I can run GEARS 1 on my 8800 GTS at 1680x1050 with zero slowdown. Thats almost double the amount of pixels as the 360 and the 8800 GTS is no where near high end anymore.

SmilinGoat @ Mar 27th 2009 11:48AM

i cant wait for this game, honestly i was hoping for a little more info on it though, this is a bit of a disapointment for a game that is to be released in... 9 months or so.

ive played ME1 through at least 3 times, my girlfriend has played it through 5 or 6.

anyway, when they said more info would come "a little later" does that mean later today (they are supposed to have a conference or something today, no?) or is this "a little later" like an E3 thing?

carg0 @ Mar 27th 2009 11:48AM

for the love of pete, how f*ing stupid are you people?

it was A TEASER TRAILER. they're not meant to be taken literally.

they're deliberately meant to grab your attention, to get you excited/talking about the product, like an old-school comic book cover you saw as a child depicting the death of your favorite hero.

every idiot running around in circles perpetuating the notion that "oh my god, Shepard is dead" needs to be hit in the face with a shovel so the rest of us can ride out this wait in peace.

BlaqueBeird @ Mar 27th 2009 12:47PM

And the award for stating the obvious in an unnecessarily hostile way goes to..

Jeff @ Mar 27th 2009 1:22PM

Didn't you see the teaser trailer. Shepard was killed in action. That means he is dead. Bone head.

Vegeta (DAT ASS!!!) @ Mar 27th 2009 1:39PM

Except it really doesn't state that at all. All we see in the teaser trailer is a message saying that Shepard was KIA. We don't actually see a body.

The Dark Wayne @ Mar 27th 2009 11:53AM

I know there's no point in asking but I still wish it would be more KOTOR like with main quest hubs and then outlying areas for sidequests. For example in KOTOR on Tatooine there was Anchorhead and then the Dune Sea. I liked that system a lot better, I know that won't really fit with this games style but essentially I just want them to fix the God Damn sidequests.

dogmaticatheist @ Mar 27th 2009 11:56AM

At the very least, they could design more than one base and trailer layout.

Markez @ Mar 27th 2009 12:19PM

Fix the sidequests = different textures/graphics? Now that I think about it, there was quite a bit more issues than just that. They all basically boiled down to "drive the mako to a, b, c, then d" and then you'd be somewhere that recycled the layout & textures from the previous sidequests. It did get tiresome, but in retrospect I wish I had done every single one of them before moving on.

It'd be great if they were more along the lines of Bring Down the Sky, and trouble there is that would be a lot of extra content to flesh out side quests to that degree.

I cannot recall being so enthralled and engaged in a gameworld & story before, I think it's fair to say ME2 will be my most anticipated game EVAR

cknblade @ Mar 27th 2009 12:48PM

@Markez,

I agree, that was my biggest gripe with the original game. There were tons of side quests available, but they differed only in backstory. Same exact layouts for bases, same (three I think) planet textures, same enemies, same weapons, same drops. This does not equal fun. I tried playing through again as an evil character after my computer HD crashed, after playing through most of the sidequests as a good character, but simply couldn't bring myself to do much outside the main story-line (I want to see how much the old save affects the new game, and if it's fairly irrelevant, I probably won't play through it again).

Only other gripe I had was that there was really only 3 or so stations in the whole galaxy that mass effect takes place in. The citadel was cool, but some more variety would have been nice. Other than those two things (and framerate) it was a great game, and I can't wait for ME2!