Could "Online Multiplayer Pass" be a mislabeling of a Cerberus Network-esque online program? Possibly. But we've had multiplayer half-confirmed by rumors three times in a row now, and you know what that means, right? Totally confirmed.
Mass Effect 3 will/won't have multiplayer, part 5: BT Games edition
by Justin McElroy 
on Oct 3rd 2011 9:03AM
65
Could "Online Multiplayer Pass" be a mislabeling of a Cerberus Network-esque online program? Possibly. But we've had multiplayer half-confirmed by rumors three times in a row now, and you know what that means, right? Totally confirmed.
Reader Comments (65)
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 9:10AM kilroy214 said
I just want online multiplayer Pazaak.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 9:35AM ddrussianinja said
@That One Guy
No, same universe, different galaxy and timeframe.
Reply
No, same universe, different galaxy and timeframe.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 10:26AM Once known as Shadsy said
@kilroy214 How about multiplayer Quasar? Everyone loved Quasar, right?
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Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 9:10AM Oli Hanshi said
i will buy it if it does, and i will buy it if it does not. but i guess thats just me
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 9:28AM Apsac D said
@Oli Hanshi
I'm pretty sure most people are like you. If you don't enjoy the online, don't play it. If it doesn't take away from the core, single-player experience, then just ignore it. However, some people will bitch about anything.
Could be one of the greatest things ever created. Sure, the odds are against Bioware on the whole multiplayer thing, but you never know.
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I'm pretty sure most people are like you. If you don't enjoy the online, don't play it. If it doesn't take away from the core, single-player experience, then just ignore it. However, some people will bitch about anything.
Could be one of the greatest things ever created. Sure, the odds are against Bioware on the whole multiplayer thing, but you never know.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 10:37AM Jennacide said
@Apsac D
Only problem with that is there is a lot of speculation that multiplayer would detract from it's single player root/focus. It's not a huge leap to make that conclusion, as it means members were diverted off other areas to make multiplayer elements. And having an ass multiplayer is worse than not offering it, look at Bioshock 2. Had it never wasted resources on the horrible multiplayer, maybe they'd of resolved other issues in the main game, like a completely recockulous story.
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Only problem with that is there is a lot of speculation that multiplayer would detract from it's single player root/focus. It's not a huge leap to make that conclusion, as it means members were diverted off other areas to make multiplayer elements. And having an ass multiplayer is worse than not offering it, look at Bioshock 2. Had it never wasted resources on the horrible multiplayer, maybe they'd of resolved other issues in the main game, like a completely recockulous story.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 12:04PM Mcmax3000 said
@Jennacide - It is a leap to assume that right now though because we don't know anything.
One of the rumours I saw at one point had a completely different studio working on the multiplayer, which, if true, would mean that nothing has been taken away from the single player.
There's also the possibility that they created a new team to work on that feature as well (either by hiring more people or taking some from elsewhere in the studio) so until we know something, these "OMG THE SINGLE PLAYERS WILL BE TEH CRAP BECUZ OF MULTIPLAYER!!!" posts are sheer paranoia & not fair to Bioware to be pre-judging a feature they haven't even announced.
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One of the rumours I saw at one point had a completely different studio working on the multiplayer, which, if true, would mean that nothing has been taken away from the single player.
There's also the possibility that they created a new team to work on that feature as well (either by hiring more people or taking some from elsewhere in the studio) so until we know something, these "OMG THE SINGLE PLAYERS WILL BE TEH CRAP BECUZ OF MULTIPLAYER!!!" posts are sheer paranoia & not fair to Bioware to be pre-judging a feature they haven't even announced.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 9:21AM copa said
To be fair, I've seen a preview of the multiplayer, and they have been pretty innovative about it.
Basically, one player plays as Shepard, and the other plays as a different character in each successive "wave."
The goal of the Shepard player is to seduce his opponent through a series of witty and sultry dialog choices. If you bed your opponent, you move onto the next wave.
Of course, in the final wave your opponent is a same-sex Krogan.
Basically, one player plays as Shepard, and the other plays as a different character in each successive "wave."
The goal of the Shepard player is to seduce his opponent through a series of witty and sultry dialog choices. If you bed your opponent, you move onto the next wave.
Of course, in the final wave your opponent is a same-sex Krogan.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 9:25AM Unit076 said
Great, now I can mine Uranus with friends!
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 9:25AM Faceless Troll said
Good, because it really doesn't need multiplayer added to it.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 12:17PM ShadowXIII said
@Faceless Troll
I agree with you and accept the downvotes from the butthurt kiddies ^_^
Reply
I agree with you and accept the downvotes from the butthurt kiddies ^_^
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 9:27AM Doctalen said
I bet it will just be a horde mode
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 11:39AM beckerist said
@Doctalen This is from an acquaintance of mine who goes to any game expo he can, but still take it with a grain of salt as he's kind of a blowhard. What he has (or has claimed to have) seen is that it's sort of more like "Special Ops" mode of Modern Warfare 2. Little pieces of the campaign extracted, a couple objectives given and you (and up to 2 friends) just go at it. There are different difficulty settings and loadouts. He didn't really have any more information than that, but it sounded cool.
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Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 9:30AM Design by Adrian said
If ME3 has multi-player, I hope it would be free-roaming, galaxy-traversing MMORG-like.
But, to be honest, I don't care about online multiplayer.
I just want ME3!!!
But, to be honest, I don't care about online multiplayer.
I just want ME3!!!
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 3:52PM DarkNightRJ said
@Design by Adrian
That seems unlikely. I'm hoping/expecting some co-op missions.
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That seems unlikely. I'm hoping/expecting some co-op missions.
Posted: Oct 4th 2011 5:18AM Design by Adrian said
@DarkNightRJ
True. I'd like that even more! Especially if it's split-screen multiplayer!
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True. I'd like that even more! Especially if it's split-screen multiplayer!
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 9:31AM TCJJ said
Well, as long as it doesn't mean less effort put into the single player campaign, then that's fine. A three-player co-op mode could be cool, or having two players cooperate on a mission by each using a different squad (a bit like the end of Mass Effect 2, but without it being all behind-the-scenes work that isn't... seen.
Either way, I don't really care about multiplayer, although sometimes co-op can be fun. Most of the time I hate co-op though. It depends on the game.
Either way, I don't really care about multiplayer, although sometimes co-op can be fun. Most of the time I hate co-op though. It depends on the game.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 9:40AM Steel Toad said
@TCJJ
"A three-player co-op mode could be cool, or having two players cooperate on a mission by each using a different squad "
They better jack up the AI on insanity... otherwise multi coop will be a walk in the park.
ST
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"A three-player co-op mode could be cool, or having two players cooperate on a mission by each using a different squad "
They better jack up the AI on insanity... otherwise multi coop will be a walk in the park.
ST
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 9:34AM bm111 said
They had the multiplayer available at Gamescom. They were having the people in line for ME3 enter some kind of contest they could enter online with their phone, that would give them a VIP pass to skip the line and play some kind of multiplayer thing. I didn't care, I was there to play the actual game, so I waited.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 9:34AM vonstalhein said
I'm actually scared of what a ME3 multiplayer component would turn out like. Co-op would be amazing but one player would be stripped of any choice, which could be frustrating. Conversely, it could make playing with a friend (in charge) even more of a filmic experience, but then, how would it suit prolonged play? And Multiplayer would just distract the developers from polishing the single player component surely?
What WOULD be awesome would be a multiplayer metagame, some kind of strange RTS off-shoot that fed into the single player somehow...
What WOULD be awesome would be a multiplayer metagame, some kind of strange RTS off-shoot that fed into the single player somehow...
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 11:47AM HobbitGamer said
@vonstalhein Like the conquest missions in Lego SW3? That would be awesome
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Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 10:01AM Elite49 said
Please nooo. Put all their time making a great ending, not some tacked on MP and IT WILL be tacked on and shitty if its versus or something to that extent. ME is my favorite MS series and does not need MP.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 12:07PM Mcmax3000 said
@Elite49 - How do you know it will be tacked on & shitty? Have you played it already?
There are plenty of examples of great single player series from great development teams that have added great multiplayer modes.
At least give BioWare a chance to actually reveal what it is before automatically assuming it will suck just because.
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There are plenty of examples of great single player series from great development teams that have added great multiplayer modes.
At least give BioWare a chance to actually reveal what it is before automatically assuming it will suck just because.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 10:05AM Shadowbender said
Dialogue tree rap battles. Choose the right phrase, make sure it rhymes, two players. Got it, BioWare?
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 10:18AM Platoesq said
The expectations are to high for Bioware to "tack on" any mode, let alone MP. We see these comments all the time, when a given game has been SP centered, and then is given an MP mode in the second or so installment. (Think Uncharted here...) IMHO, if there is to be MP for Mass Effect, the best way would be to go UC2's and the upcoming UC3's route.
We small minority, that decide to post on site like this, are just that. Small minority of gamers as a whole. We need to stop worrying about something we can't change, and just hope for the best.
Bioware already knows they need to hit this out of the park. Anything less would not only let us all down, but would tarnish their rep and their games' rep. Like Naughty Dog with Uncharted, I believe Bioware is only going to make Mass Efffect3 better. That's all one can hope for.
We small minority, that decide to post on site like this, are just that. Small minority of gamers as a whole. We need to stop worrying about something we can't change, and just hope for the best.
Bioware already knows they need to hit this out of the park. Anything less would not only let us all down, but would tarnish their rep and their games' rep. Like Naughty Dog with Uncharted, I believe Bioware is only going to make Mass Efffect3 better. That's all one can hope for.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 10:43AM Jennacide said
@Platoesq
We may be the minority as you claim, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't ever fight for what we believe in. Publishers are currently on a rampage trying to outright ruin game in multiple fronts, we can't just sit back and go "yeah, whatever, out of our hands." Because it's not.
Apathy is not the answer.
Reply
We may be the minority as you claim, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't ever fight for what we believe in. Publishers are currently on a rampage trying to outright ruin game in multiple fronts, we can't just sit back and go "yeah, whatever, out of our hands." Because it's not.
Apathy is not the answer.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 10:18AM Tengu101 said
You know for those who are complaining about multiplayer there is a simple solution...just don't play it. I am sure its not a mandatory thing for the main game.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 10:21AM Cavall said
You wont get multiplayer, just the thrill of paying more for an online pass! Its the worst of all worlds!
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 10:24AM bargaingamer said
I was hoping they finish the trilogy with no multiplayer but hey it could turn out good just like the assassin creed multiplayer.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 10:35AM Kibbles XIII said
Unfortunatly for a game like this it will probably lack any split-screen mode, still nice to see a posibility of a multiplayer though im not to interested in that compared to the single player.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 10:39AM Altairio said
Cerberus Network-esque bonus content: Fine. No problem. I'll buy new.
Online pass locking out multiplayer: F you and the horse you rode in on. I'll pick it up used and trade it out when I'm done with it.
Online pass locking out multiplayer: F you and the horse you rode in on. I'll pick it up used and trade it out when I'm done with it.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 10:59AM Once known as Shadsy said
@Altairio I don't think that's very fair to BioWare, so I had an awesome idea:
1. Buy it new, do NOT use the multiplayer pass.
2. Sell it later with the pass still included.
3. Someone buys it used and still gets the pass!
4. Literal profit.
Reply
1. Buy it new, do NOT use the multiplayer pass.
2. Sell it later with the pass still included.
3. Someone buys it used and still gets the pass!
4. Literal profit.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 3:25PM killer rin said
@Altairio If you were buying new in the first place... Why the Hell does it matter if it has an online pass or not? Geeze, some people feel the need to complain about anything
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Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 10:40AM eilegz said
keep on supporting this bshit online pass, and all those crappy DRM and this its teh result in a stupid and crappy trend that screw us all together.
well it seems that for me gaming its the wait for reduced price instead of going out and buy it at launch. Its the only way i screw them back.. or even i dont buy the game all together....
Too bad that sheeps dont have dignity, principles because most think that they dont care because "it dont affect them"...
well it seems that for me gaming its the wait for reduced price instead of going out and buy it at launch. Its the only way i screw them back.. or even i dont buy the game all together....
Too bad that sheeps dont have dignity, principles because most think that they dont care because "it dont affect them"...
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 10:55AM freaparn said
@eilegz
Let's see, online pass costs nothing extra for those millions of people who were going to buy the game new, is included gratis on all new purchases even once the game is marked down, and guarantees post-launch income for the companies whose games you like.
Admittedly, if you're a renter or a used-game buyer, you're either paying extra or missing out on content, but how does this negatively impact anyone else? How are they "screwed all together"? If you want to rail against something it should be day one DLC or map pack sequels.
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Let's see, online pass costs nothing extra for those millions of people who were going to buy the game new, is included gratis on all new purchases even once the game is marked down, and guarantees post-launch income for the companies whose games you like.
Admittedly, if you're a renter or a used-game buyer, you're either paying extra or missing out on content, but how does this negatively impact anyone else? How are they "screwed all together"? If you want to rail against something it should be day one DLC or map pack sequels.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 11:59AM eilegz said
@freaparn
you dont get it.. what happen in scenarios where you have many brothers at home, they cant have their own account to play a game....
what happen if my account get hacked, banned i cant have my pass back on a game that i bought at full price....
so if i have 3 brothers means 30 extra dollars plus the 80 dollars (that it usually cost here in panama a game new launch at retail).. you see where im going....
Here we dont have gamestop no one gives a damn about it, in fact looking at gamestop used price its pretty ridiculous only morons would buy used games from that place
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you dont get it.. what happen in scenarios where you have many brothers at home, they cant have their own account to play a game....
what happen if my account get hacked, banned i cant have my pass back on a game that i bought at full price....
so if i have 3 brothers means 30 extra dollars plus the 80 dollars (that it usually cost here in panama a game new launch at retail).. you see where im going....
Here we dont have gamestop no one gives a damn about it, in fact looking at gamestop used price its pretty ridiculous only morons would buy used games from that place
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 12:39PM freaparn said
@eilegz
I shared my games with my siblings when I was growing up, so I don't really get why each one of yours needs their own online pass. I don't really get the hacked account thing either, because that generally doesn't happen unless you put out enough information online to expose yourself to social engineering hacks. That's on you.
That being said, I do sympathize with on you the $80 price tag for Panamanian releases. That sucks.
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I shared my games with my siblings when I was growing up, so I don't really get why each one of yours needs their own online pass. I don't really get the hacked account thing either, because that generally doesn't happen unless you put out enough information online to expose yourself to social engineering hacks. That's on you.
That being said, I do sympathize with on you the $80 price tag for Panamanian releases. That sucks.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 2:35PM SuperAnthony64 said
@freaparn Times are alot different now when it comes to multi home use. There are accounts tied to select individuals and if they want to go online with said game they might have to pay and extra 10 boot to do so. Now, is that fair for the family who paid 60 bucks for the game NEW?
Ive read that the sony online pass is connected to the console and not the account. Thats great but once my ps3 dies (gone through 3 already) I am looking at an extra 20 bucks to play my online game that I purchased NEW? THATS SCREWING OVER THE CUSTOMER.
And if you cant think past a kindergarten level, once a game is considered USED it had to be bought NEW. The pub/dev already got the money for that used game. Do you want to support greedy businesses like that? Theres a difference to wanting to make money and being greedy.
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Ive read that the sony online pass is connected to the console and not the account. Thats great but once my ps3 dies (gone through 3 already) I am looking at an extra 20 bucks to play my online game that I purchased NEW? THATS SCREWING OVER THE CUSTOMER.
And if you cant think past a kindergarten level, once a game is considered USED it had to be bought NEW. The pub/dev already got the money for that used game. Do you want to support greedy businesses like that? Theres a difference to wanting to make money and being greedy.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 3:31PM killer rin said
@SuperAnthony64
Umm, on 360, my siblings dont need their own Online Pass, They can still use the content that I downloaded to the console. They have even been able to go online over xbox live on accounts because of how the DRM is set up.
The console gets a pass, then my account gets a pass. Stop crying, not everyone needs a pass.
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Umm, on 360, my siblings dont need their own Online Pass, They can still use the content that I downloaded to the console. They have even been able to go online over xbox live on accounts because of how the DRM is set up.
The console gets a pass, then my account gets a pass. Stop crying, not everyone needs a pass.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 10:51AM BrainZero said
I just want ME3! I was happy single player-ing my way through the other 2. That said, a multiplayer game set in the Mass Effect universe (in an Old Republic kinda way) would be awesome! Just don't tack it on... Please...
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 10:55AM Cranky Penguin said
I will be buying this used for the PS3 since they are going to require Origin for the PC and I don't like to let EA know what I had for breakfast on any given day. Really sucks since I bought the first two on PC so that has all my choices.
