No Mutants Allowed

[brfritos]

BioWare is in the process of realigning its Mass Effect franchise to appeal to a larger audience, according to EA boss John Riccitiello.

Speaking during an investor Q&A today, Riccitiello explained that Mass Effect 3 will boast greater mass appeal than its two predecessors.

"One of the things that Ray Muzyuka and the team up in Edmonton have done is essentially step-by-step adjust the gameplay mechanics and some of the features that you'll see at E3 to put this in a genre equivalent to shooter-meets-RPG," he said, "and essentially address a much larger market opportunity than Mass Effect 1 and Mass Effect 2 began to approach.

"We're huge believers in the IP and are purposefully shifting it to address a larger market opportunity."

From Eurogamer

-------------

I really hope this is only a meeting for raising money and nothing else, but...they didn't already "adjusted ME2 for a larger market"?
What possibly they will cut down? Instead of levelling, you have auto-levelling?

Or they will bring back the customization elements of the first game with actually A STORY, instead of baby-sitting some people who needs therapy and nothing more?
_________________


You boldly press the red button marked "OFF". As you suspected the computer goes dark.

[generalissimofurioso]

Well, the game is going to be even more of a shooter if the information I've read is correct.

Things like being able to pick up enemy weapons after you kill them and what not.
_________________

[Ilosar]

First, the guy who says it is an EA executive that addresses an investor board. Of course he will say the game will sell more, but the man is not involved in the game's creation so his words are almost meaningless.

Second, Casey Hudson, the actual lead designer has repeatedly stated they want to bring back more RPG elements, and magazines report more meaningful skills, weapon mods, more enemy variety, and two-way choices akin to the Virmire Survivor one where there is no good solution and that has meaningful consequences. They also want more mobility in the combat to make it less cover-huggy, and that I can only applaud.

All useful information can be found here. http://social.bioware.com/forum/Mass-Effect/Mass-Effect-General-Discussion-NO-SPOILERS-ALLOWED/Mass-Effect-3-Confirmed-Features-Thread-Updated-10th-May---The-birds-and-the-bees-edition-5422342-1.html

Suffice to say, it looks like this will definitely not go the DA2 way, they are genuinely trying to improve the game while taking their time. Apart from Cerberys being an enemy no matter what and losing most of ME2's squad as permanent companions (they will all return, but as temporary companions it seems), I am very happy with all the news we received.
_________________
Shepard: Conrad... if you have a shrine to me, I'm going to be upset.

Conrad: it's just a poster and some candles, it's very tasteful.

[fedaykin]

Hmm, wasn't ME2 already tweaked for a larger market? Is it possible to go even further?

[Nology5890]

Either way, there's a 50-foot-tall battle mech in the game. Instant purchase.

[WelcomeToNewReno]

"Tweaked for a larger market."

*sniff* This means it's going to suck, doesn't it?
_________________
October 7th, 2162

I arrived at the Mutant Military Base.  Katja died and Dogmeat walked into a force field and died. "No!  Dogmeat Stay!  STAY!  NO...  Bzzzzttttt!!!"  "Whoof!!!"  "Yike!  Yike!  Yike!"  Dog Gone it.

[The Vault Dweller]

This seems really redundant.

Sincerely,
The Vault Dweller
_________________
I wouldn't drink the water if I were you...

[sea]

EA have continually shown themselves to be not just incompetent, but also perpetrators of the worst forms of corporate doublespeak. It's pretty much impossible to take anything anyone at both EA or BioWare says at face value, especially considering there are so many mixed and conflicting messages presented ("it'll be more accessible, but have deeper RPG mechanics!").

It all smacks of generic marketing talk to me anyhow, a checklist of things people expect them to say based on current industry conditions, no matter what game they're making. I'm not going to buy anything about the game until I see it in action, and possibly not until the player reviews come in. I enjoyed Mass Effect 1 and 2, but recent behaviour and events surrounding Dragon Age, BioWare and EA have really turned me off from supporting them.

[Crni Vuk]

exactly. We see the hype machine working here and it is just marketing babble. Only either a demo or videos which show the usual game play in action can help me here to form some opinion. And the experience of a few people which played it already eventually. Honest reviews though are not that easy to get these days.

[SmartCheetah]

They should make two modes in every game these days. Easy one - for "bigger audience" and another one with RPG elements, leveling and "deep" systems. I see nothing hard about implementing it, but still - not going to happen

[Hoxie]

It's gonna have that option like in Bayonetta, where you could play the whole game with 1 hand just pressing the occasional action button.
_________________


By the clack-smack cracking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes

[Ravager69]

Why care about streamlining Mass Effect? Not that it was much of an RPG to begin with. It's better to make a fully-fledged shooter instead of half-assed, restrictive and boring pop-a-mole fest the previous two were. Character progression was a joke anyway.
_________________
http://www.forkparty.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/mad-max-vault-dweller.jpg

[Brother None]

Hah, you guys.

So anyway

Mass Effect 3 aims to be "best in class" for third-person shooters

"Mass Effect 3 aims to be a 'Best in Class' third-person shooter, with everything you'd expect from that," he commented to OXM in our latest issue, available now and rammed with information on combat mechanics, set pieces, weapon customisation and enemy AI improvements.

Senior designer Christina Norman says the new Mass Effect will let players move around far more in combat, thanks to some athletic new tactical tricks.

"There's a lot more mobility," Norman explained. "Everything you could do in ME2 is there, but now you can SWAT turn in cover, sprint out of cover, roll, climb ladders, leap across gaps, climb over small obstacles without first entering cover. You can get from strategic point A to B more efficiently and without exposing yourself to gunfire.

RPGs!

[Guiltyofbeingtrite]

Looks like the only RPG elements will be customizable explosive launchers

[Crni Vuk]

Already Bethesda proved that this is everything a RPG needs. Do you use "magic", "swords" or "hand-to-hand combat" to kill your enemy ? Oh the choices ... so many of them.

Lets see how ME3 will do here

[PainlessDocM]

Yeah it's a little overwhelming.

[rcorporon]

I'm glad... there simply aren't enough cover based shooters with aliens in them on the consoles right now.
_________________

[Crni Vuk]

[maximaz]

[Shadow of the Wastes]