Half of Mass Effect 2 players imported a save (and other stats!)
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Mass Effect 2 Executive Producer Casey Hudson has shared some juicy statistics about the game with IGN. Basic takeaways are that people really did treat the game as a "shooter," with the soldier class chosen more than every other combined. Also, the women's lib movement for intergalactic saviors still has some work to do, with 80 percent of players choosing the male Shepard.
The "anonymous player data" collected by BioWare is obviously meant to inform the studio in designing future titles. For example, players skipped 15 percent of conversations in the game, most of the time in "non-critical moments like in the hub worlds." Hudson says that if the company found people skipping 80-90 percent of the lines that they'd have to "reevaluate the work" the team put into digital acting -- and we'd have to reevaluate why people are playing Mass Effect in the first place. Check out IGN's piece for more on how the stats support current decisions and influence future projects.
The "anonymous player data" collected by BioWare is obviously meant to inform the studio in designing future titles. For example, players skipped 15 percent of conversations in the game, most of the time in "non-critical moments like in the hub worlds." Hudson says that if the company found people skipping 80-90 percent of the lines that they'd have to "reevaluate the work" the team put into digital acting -- and we'd have to reevaluate why people are playing Mass Effect in the first place. Check out IGN's piece for more on how the stats support current decisions and influence future projects.
Reader Comments (119)
Posted: Sep 7th 2010 11:07AM Faceless Troll said
I think I wound up going Sentinel for my playthroughs but I'm not 100% sure. And a female Shepard just ain't right.
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Posted: Sep 7th 2010 11:31AM JewldPnthr said
@Faceless Troll
Hey! We females very rarely get to choose a female to play in game. The simple fact that I could still play a female Shepard made me love this game before I had even played it.. And after playing it.. I loved it even more.
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Hey! We females very rarely get to choose a female to play in game. The simple fact that I could still play a female Shepard made me love this game before I had even played it.. And after playing it.. I loved it even more.
Posted: Sep 7th 2010 11:46AM Petebot330 said
@JewldPnthr The female shepard is the better of the two shepards...
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Posted: Sep 7th 2010 11:08AM Prinnywithascarf said
@TheMCFacemanBandcampcom
I DEMAND BLOOD FOR YOUR TRIPLE-POSTING
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I DEMAND BLOOD FOR YOUR TRIPLE-POSTING
Posted: Sep 7th 2010 11:12AM Prinnywithascarf said
@Sharuk
Either they had sex with somebody 28 times (Tali/Miranda) or they played the slut and had sex with everybody multiple times.
Or they spent 28 games trying to get Liara back in bed...
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Either they had sex with somebody 28 times (Tali/Miranda) or they played the slut and had sex with everybody multiple times.
Or they spent 28 games trying to get Liara back in bed...
Posted: Sep 7th 2010 11:10AM Prinnywithascarf said
Woah.
I've never played the Soldier class.
I didn't use the face customization (imported my character).
My Shepard is female.
Since 80% of people played a male Shepard, no wonder we keep seeing that mysterious shaved-head guy in all the Mass Effect trailers.
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I've never played the Soldier class.
I didn't use the face customization (imported my character).
My Shepard is female.
Since 80% of people played a male Shepard, no wonder we keep seeing that mysterious shaved-head guy in all the Mass Effect trailers.
Posted: Sep 7th 2010 11:14AM B0FF said
Sadly I haven't contributed to those stats at all. Loved ME1 but was put off 2 by all the "it's an action adventure!", "It's more shootery", "it's RPG-lite!" claims.
And I still haven't got round to the demo either. Tut tut.
Anywayyyyyyyyy, how does 2 *really* compare to the 1st, RPG-wise?
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And I still haven't got round to the demo either. Tut tut.
Anywayyyyyyyyy, how does 2 *really* compare to the 1st, RPG-wise?
Posted: Sep 7th 2010 11:17AM Faceless Troll said
@B0FF It's basically the same as the first RPG-wise, but they've improved all the other areas (the morality system is also different, but I'm not sure I'd call it "improved"). I was originally skittish about the franchise until playing the second one, so I'd say it's worth a rental at least.
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Posted: Sep 7th 2010 11:26AM Killface was here said
@B0FF
ME2 is just ME1 with a better combat system and no inventory to mess with. Your skill tree is focused all on your biotic powers (or ammo powers if you're a soldier) and you do occasionally find new weapons that are just upgrades from the type you had. EX. shotgun A < Shotgun B.
It still plays the same when you're in conversations except the graphics are better and there is a lot less texture pop ins.
The music and story overall is kickass and if you enjoyed the first one you owe it to yourself to at least try ME2.
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ME2 is just ME1 with a better combat system and no inventory to mess with. Your skill tree is focused all on your biotic powers (or ammo powers if you're a soldier) and you do occasionally find new weapons that are just upgrades from the type you had. EX. shotgun A < Shotgun B.
It still plays the same when you're in conversations except the graphics are better and there is a lot less texture pop ins.
The music and story overall is kickass and if you enjoyed the first one you owe it to yourself to at least try ME2.
Posted: Sep 7th 2010 11:37AM ipsum said
@B0FF ME2 is wonderful, but you're going to be put off if you enjoyed the RPG elements from ME1. Everything is a lot more streamlined now, and there's no inventory to mess with. I kinda miss that customization, even if the inventory was ridiculously cumbersome.
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Posted: Sep 7th 2010 11:37AM Uncle Jesse said
@B0FF
Why don't you just try it out, lazy bones!
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Why don't you just try it out, lazy bones!
Posted: Sep 7th 2010 11:48AM Vcize said
@B0FF
From an inventory standpoint, ME2 barely qualifies as an RPG when compared to ME1.
From every other standpoint (story, characters, relationships, etc), it's every bit the same as ME1 from an RPG standpoint.
Also ME2 adds ship leveling, which the first didn't have.
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From an inventory standpoint, ME2 barely qualifies as an RPG when compared to ME1.
From every other standpoint (story, characters, relationships, etc), it's every bit the same as ME1 from an RPG standpoint.
Also ME2 adds ship leveling, which the first didn't have.
Posted: Sep 7th 2010 11:52AM Petebot330 said
@B0FF Yeah..it's like 20 bucks at this point. You don't constantly get XP updates, which put me off a bit. You don't really get a level up until after missions are over. But I still LOVE the game.
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Posted: Sep 8th 2010 6:59AM B0FF said
@Everyone
Thanks for all the replies! Looks like I'll just HAVE to get it then.... ;o)
(And I didn't mind the inventory management in ME1 at all.)
Busy time for a gamer at the moment though so I'll probably wait for a quiet period.
Thanks again for the info you lot!
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Thanks for all the replies! Looks like I'll just HAVE to get it then.... ;o)
(And I didn't mind the inventory management in ME1 at all.)
Busy time for a gamer at the moment though so I'll probably wait for a quiet period.
Thanks again for the info you lot!
Posted: Sep 9th 2010 8:11PM SisypheanLife said
@B0FF
The Digital Download of ME2 is on sale at Gamersgate.com for $15 today. Personally, I'd rather have the disc or have it be on Steam, but that's an awfully awesome price.
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The Digital Download of ME2 is on sale at Gamersgate.com for $15 today. Personally, I'd rather have the disc or have it be on Steam, but that's an awfully awesome price.
Posted: Sep 7th 2010 11:14AM Prinnywithascarf said
@TheMCFacemanBandcampcom
ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL
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ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL
Posted: Sep 7th 2010 11:17AM ShadowXIII said
@TheMCFacemanBandcampcom
100% of the players cheated with Tali *at least* once.
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100% of the players cheated with Tali *at least* once.
Posted: Sep 7th 2010 11:20AM rowdyreverb said
But the soldier is so boring! Tech and Biotic is what makes ME combat unique
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Posted: Sep 7th 2010 7:38PM TheIcemanCometh said
@arkweld Because some folks are just more comfortable playing something they're more familiar with.
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Posted: Sep 8th 2010 8:46PM Marzz said
@rowdyreverb
I'm currently playing my first playthrough of both ME1 and 2. Just got all the DLC for ME2 as well.
I picked the soldier class (And, shamefully, put the difficulty on casual) to experience the story without letting biotics and heavy combat bog me down. (For example, I haven't died yet in either game.) I'm really, really enjoying the story, and have planned on 3 more playthroughs- ManShep Renegade, FemShep Paragon, and FemShep Renegade.
Each time I'll be playing on at LEAST normal, and I'll pick a different class each time as well. It's how I feel I can get the most out of the game.
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I'm currently playing my first playthrough of both ME1 and 2. Just got all the DLC for ME2 as well.
I picked the soldier class (And, shamefully, put the difficulty on casual) to experience the story without letting biotics and heavy combat bog me down. (For example, I haven't died yet in either game.) I'm really, really enjoying the story, and have planned on 3 more playthroughs- ManShep Renegade, FemShep Paragon, and FemShep Renegade.
Each time I'll be playing on at LEAST normal, and I'll pick a different class each time as well. It's how I feel I can get the most out of the game.
Posted: Sep 7th 2010 11:22AM sammo21 said
I don't see that stat about the female character used as a negative one; it probably just reflects a combination of 2 things:
1. Male gamers in the hardcore market still massively outweigh the more casual female gamers, especially on XBOX360/PC.
2. This 20% also includes male gamers who chose to give their Shephard a female touch. I know several friends who did female, but I went male.
Also, in terms of the class play, I wonder how much of that was because of people who played the first game and did not enjoy the classes who had powers EVEN though they are really fun in 2.
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1. Male gamers in the hardcore market still massively outweigh the more casual female gamers, especially on XBOX360/PC.
2. This 20% also includes male gamers who chose to give their Shephard a female touch. I know several friends who did female, but I went male.
Also, in terms of the class play, I wonder how much of that was because of people who played the first game and did not enjoy the classes who had powers EVEN though they are really fun in 2.
Posted: Sep 7th 2010 11:22AM Blackwing17 said
What exactly do they mean when they say skipping conversation? I go down every conversation path, but don't actually listen to them say all the dialog. I just read it and move on before they finish talking.
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Posted: Sep 7th 2010 2:33PM Blackwing17 said
@raygungirl
I see what you're saying, but at least I'm still getting the whole story. Despite the amazing voice acting, I guess I just don't have the patience to listen to them read the whole line when I've already read it and know what they are going to say. I did the same thing in dragon age. I guess I'm just used to old school RPGs without voice acting, where I got the story as fast as i could read it. :)
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I see what you're saying, but at least I'm still getting the whole story. Despite the amazing voice acting, I guess I just don't have the patience to listen to them read the whole line when I've already read it and know what they are going to say. I did the same thing in dragon age. I guess I'm just used to old school RPGs without voice acting, where I got the story as fast as i could read it. :)
Posted: Sep 7th 2010 11:22AM wcarnation said
Infiltrator, Custom MaleShep, Imported from ME1, 1 playthrough about 25 hours each game, never skipped any conversations.
What I'm interested in is the percentage of deaths for each character in the suicide mission
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What I'm interested in is the percentage of deaths for each character in the suicide mission
Posted: Sep 7th 2010 3:48PM ouijedanse said
@Vcize
There's always going to be different opinions because of taste. Personally, what I liked so much about the voice acting in my female Shepard playthrough was the emotional range. Jennifer Hale just hit all the right notes. It's hard to explain?
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There's always going to be different opinions because of taste. Personally, what I liked so much about the voice acting in my female Shepard playthrough was the emotional range. Jennifer Hale just hit all the right notes. It's hard to explain?
Posted: Sep 7th 2010 6:10PM TheDarkWayne said
@Vcize I feel the same way. Jennifer Hale is really good, and like the guy below me said she hits all the right notes and emotional stuff and all that, which is true, but the whole style of her voice was just off. It'd be like if the male voice actor went through the entire game in the voice Chirs Evans used for Lucas Lee in Scott Pilgrim. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8YYvZJBd1M
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Posted: Sep 7th 2010 11:26AM DokiDokiBawanga said
i played as female (i,ported from ME) and played as soldier first play through than imported my male character (just for Tali) and played as biotic .
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Posted: Sep 7th 2010 11:28AM JokerSmilez said
Well, since most gamers are dude and most people prefer video games to be fantasy fulfillment rather than role-playing, I guess the 80% male Shepard isn't that surprising.
Disappointing, but not surprising.
Also, probably didn't help that a male Shepard is on the box.
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Disappointing, but not surprising.
Also, probably didn't help that a male Shepard is on the box.
Posted: Sep 7th 2010 11:35AM TheUnchosenOne said
@JokerSmilez
And in all the trailers.
Of course, Shepard is and always will be a woman.
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And in all the trailers.
Of course, Shepard is and always will be a woman.
Posted: Sep 7th 2010 12:11PM JokerSmilez said
@Credge Because it means 80% of the people who played Mass Effect 2 missed out on a great experience, one that in many people's opinion was better.
Also, it's disappointing when gamers would rather just live out their fantasy of being a tough soldier dude than stretch their boundaries and try something new.
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Also, it's disappointing when gamers would rather just live out their fantasy of being a tough soldier dude than stretch their boundaries and try something new.
Posted: Sep 7th 2010 11:28AM Spoof Meister said
hmmm kinda wanted to know how many people pirated ME2
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