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Mass Effect 2 Thread

fuck I cant wait for this game

New videos up on IGN, Engineer Class

http://xbox360.ign.com/dor/objects/...09.html?show=hi

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I really want to watch this, but I'm really conflicted. I want to be surprised with the game. Dammit, what should I do? D:

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Originally posted by JohnDoe641
I really want to watch this, but I'm really conflicted. I want to be surprised with the game. Dammit, what should I do? D:

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quote:

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Originally posted by JohnDoe641
I really want to watch this, but I'm really conflicted. I want to be surprised with the game. Dammit, what should I do? D:

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Can't wait but not viewing anything, i'll wait and find out

Bah, I need to finish Mass Effect first.

Already got Mass Effect 2 on pre-order.

And to think, I probably wouldn't give a crap about this game if I hadn't won it in a sweepstakes.

Did you skip Dragon Age also?

Yes I skipped Dragon Age. Not that I think it's a bad game, just that i know I won't be able to do it justice.

oh ffs

http://kotaku.com/5419999/completel...loading-screens

So...in ME1, traditional loading screens were replaced with elevator rides where you could hear galactic news reports or listen to banter between party members.

Thousands of players whined about how long elevator rides took. Bioware decided to address this in the sequel.

What do we get? Back to loading screens.

Good job, elevator whiners. This is exactly why I think gamers are idiots and developers shouldn't listen to them, because they have no idea what they actually want. I imagine this will become a huge gripe among the very same elevator whiners when ME2 is released, and they'll probably whine for elevators to come back in ME3 (which they will hate).

I never had a problem with the elevators.

I installed the game on my HD though.

It's a shame, some of the banter and news stories were funny.

I especially liked the one about the alien production of Hamlet, performed by a species that communicates via scent glands

We should get mini-game loading screens. Give me something to do other than watch a bar move across the screen.

I've never played Mass Effect. I'm sure I'd like it, just never got it.

And while I fully expect to be disappointed, I'd really like to see the NEXT round of consoles to do away with loading entirely. It should all be background streaming, all the time. It's crazy to think of the giant step backward (at least in terms of loading) that was taken when optical media replaced cartridges.

quote:

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Originally posted by Veinman
I've never played Mass Effect. I'm sure I'd like it, just never got it.

And while I fully expect to be disappointed, I'd really like to see the NEXT round of consoles to do away with loading entirely. It should all be background streaming, all the time. It's crazy to think of the giant step backward (at least in terms of loading) that was taken when optical media replaced cartridges.

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Huh? You can load in the background from disc; a small handful of games do just that. Or are you talking about loading speeds? I'll agree with you that disc drives are slow and with current tech won't be getting much faster than they are now.

My point is exactly what you said... a SMALL handful of games do it. It should be mandatory... loading screens should no longer exist.

I was responding to UD, but to address your comment: I'm not sure about making it mandatory because I can see it not working well in many situations. For example, which room gets preloaded if the game doesn't know which door you will enter? Let's assume there are memory restrictions in place that won't let you load multiple rooms at the same time.

quote:

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Originally posted by Axiom
oh ffs

http://kotaku.com/5419999/completel...loading-screens

So...in ME1, traditional loading screens were replaced with elevator rides where you could hear galactic news reports or listen to banter between party members.

Thousands of players whined about how long elevator rides took. Bioware decided to address this in the sequel.

What do we get? Back to loading screens.

Good job, elevator whiners. This is exactly why I think gamers are idiots and developers shouldn't listen to them, because they have no idea what they actually want. I imagine this will become a huge gripe among the very same elevator whiners when ME2 is released, and they'll probably whine for elevators to come back in ME3 (which they will hate).

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Never played it.

a mistake on your part, to be sure

shut up

wtf

I'm bitter.

quote:

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Originally posted by Axiom
oh ffs

http://kotaku.com/5419999/completel...loading-screens

So...in ME1, traditional loading screens were replaced with elevator rides where you could hear galactic news reports or listen to banter between party members.

Thousands of players whined about how long elevator rides took. Bioware decided to address this in the sequel.

What do we get? Back to loading screens.

Good job, elevator whiners. This is exactly why I think gamers are idiots and developers shouldn't listen to them, because they have no idea what they actually want. I imagine this will become a huge gripe among the very same elevator whiners when ME2 is released, and they'll probably whine for elevators to come back in ME3 (which they will hate).

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__________________

Proud member of pdX, Ci, LoD, and WFS
"The biggest obstacle in life is yourself overcome it and you will achieve the greatest accomplishment of all." - Master Art Biens '82

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Originally posted by JohnDoe641

Alright, that pisses me off. The Elevator transitions were the greatest thing I'd seen in a game. It made the game seem whole, not separate levels that needed to load. God dammit.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Axiom
oh ffs

http://kotaku.com/5419999/completel...loading-screens

So...in ME1, traditional loading screens were replaced with elevator rides where you could hear galactic news reports or listen to banter between party members.

Thousands of players whined about how long elevator rides took. Bioware decided to address this in the sequel.

What do we get? Back to loading screens.

Good job, elevator whiners. This is exactly why I think gamers are idiots and developers shouldn't listen to them, because they have no idea what they actually want. I imagine this will become a huge gripe among the very same elevator whiners when ME2 is released, and they'll probably whine for elevators to come back in ME3 (which they will hate).

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Originally posted by noname


fucking lame.

the elevators never really bothered me tbh... and you didn't really have to use them if you didn't want to. you could avoid them entirely by using mass transit... and then you get your loading screen. dumbass spoiled gamers ftl

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Info from a new issue of some magazine called Game Informer. Lots of non-specific general game mechanics and setting spoilers, but nothing that exposes the overall plot of the game that can't already be deduced from Bioware's reveals. If you don't want to know about squad members or the Normandy in ME2, don't read. Copy+pasted from the Bioware ME2 forum:

Spoiler: Commander Shepard's standing in the universe is uncertain at this point, but is association with Cerberus has it's perks, as evidenced by the Normandy SR2, Unlike the original ship, this enhanced version is an intergalactic fortress, housing a larger crew and the capacity to travel deeper into the universe." The Article describe the four decks of the SR2 in detail, but it simply goes like this: Captain's deck, mission prep deck, crew quarters, engineering deck. There is also some tidbits on Jacob and Miranda as well. there is a screenshot in the article with Shepard and Joker in Cerberus uniforms. "This time around minerals collected from mining serve a purpose. You can use them to upgrade your guns, clips, Biotic Powers, Health, and Shields." About the fish tank on the captain's Deck: "When you enter the room, gigantic fish tanks greet you. In out demo, neither tank held any fish. This is the state the tanks are in when player first venture into the room, as BioWare sees this as another element of the game the players can customize to their liking. On specific planets, Shepard can purchase fish and sea life to bring aboard the ship." Concerning Jacob and Miranda: "Depending on what moral choices you make in the throughout the game, you may want to steer clear of the armory, as it is headed by Jacob Taylor, a morally ambiguous character who first appeared in Mass Effect Galaxy. Tough as nails and difficult to read, you'll want to keep your eye on this guy." "Miranda has invested heavily in genetic manipulation and biotics, which BioWare is opening up for Shepard as well. When asked by Shepard if she thought she was perfect, Miranda said she never could be since she is still human. Again this may be a character you may want to walk on glass with during conversations." Regarding the fuel system and SMG: "From the galaxy screen, which often houses multiple star systems, the Normandy SR2 is once again controllable, only this time it has limited fuel. In our demo, the ship had 1,000 fuel, which drained quickly. BioWare wouldn't reveal details in this area, either, but we can only imagine that the fuel tanks will be upgradeable." For the SMG:" Smaller and lighter than an assault rifles, SMGs are a good choice when you're willing to sacrifice range for an increased rate of fire. Throw in the ability to pump your foes full of incendiary rounds and you have a quick, deadly little weapon." Part One of Captain's Deck: "Another corner of Shepard's room holds a massive trophy case, where players can place relics and rewards from missions for all to see. This area also houses two computer terminals. The first allows players to chart their progress on Achievements, while the second tracks Shepard's standing with each teammate and shows the weapons and powers with which they are outfitted." Part Two of captain's deck: "Next to Shepard's bed, which will undoubtedly will be used for more than sleeping (this is a BioWare game after all), is a closet. While this may seem like an ordinary sight from any bedroom, this particular closet allows for players to customize both their casual and armored looks. If you find a new helmet on a mission, yet don't want to wear it because it clashes with your armor, you ca enter this closet to change it's color to make the entire ensemble match. Unfortunately, this option is only available for Shepard. The remainder of the crew will ave to make do with mismatched attire. Onward to the mission Prep deck: "The second deck houses the combat information center. As the name implies, this is where all of the ship's systems are held, such as the war room, flight navigation, armory, and administration. One of the many new faces employed by Shepard is Kelly Chambers, the Normandy's administrative assistant. She keeps tabs on comm chatter and keeps you informed of missions and incoming data." Joker and Shepard are on the bridge of the SR2 with Joker in the pilot's seat. More on Mission Prep Deck: "This deck also houses the Tech Lab, home to Mass Effect's quirky HK-47-like playable character Mordin. From the brief exchange of dialogue we saw between Mordin and Shepard, Mordin seems to think he is superior to Shepard on an intellectual level- which brought about a few chuckles. Mordin oversees all of the ship's research." The Crew member deck: "Outside of the few exceptions listed, most of the shipmates are found in the crew quarters on the third deck. This is where the vessel feels the most alive. In their downtime, the crew frequents a cafeteria run by a hard-nosed cook reminiscent of Mel from Alice. One of the side missions has Shepard running ingredient errands for the cook. This floor is also home to Miranda, another playable character who debuted in Mass Effect Galaxy." The SR2 is also twice the size of the SR1. I think it is somewhere between a frigate and a carrier class ship. So I will Dub it the Heavy Frigate. On engineering: "The lowest deck contrasts with the rest of the ship. The main attraction in this engineering wing is the ship's core, a massive floating sphere. We mat be reading too much into this, but this technology seems especially alien compared to the rest of the ship. Could it tie in with the plot, or is it Reaper technology?" Regarding Elevators: "All four of the ships decks are connected by an elevator system. Before you let out a moan, Bioware made it a point to shorten these rides considerably. the brief amount of time you spend on them is also accompanied by extensive data and imagery." There is a screenshot of a new enemy class in the article. They are know as the Klixen. there is no info outside of the screenshot, but from what I can tell they a crab/beetle like race that live in a toxic atmosphere. For Sniper Rifles:"Extremely high damage come at the price of demanding marksmanship, forcing sniping-inclined commanders to look the devil in the eye. Make your shots count, because the reload times can be significant." For exploration:"In Mass Effect 2, players pilot the Normandy SR2, but only for travel within a solar system. The star chart works much like it did in the orginal game-zooming in from a universe wide view to galaxies and solar systems. When you venture into a new solar system, Which is once again presented through an all encompassing pan view, players can maneuver the Normandy manually to discover planets, moons, and ships. Exploration part two: "Descending into an uncharted planet's orbit bring up a static screen that provides that planet's historical documents. This time around, however, the options to mine it or land on it are not predetermined. You must first survey the planet yourself to gauge if it has the materials you need. This function in handled through a scanning minigame. By moving a radar across the three-dimensional planet's surface, your scanner will fluctuate when one of four elements(iridium, platinum, palladium, or element zero) is detected. The elements' presence is represented by a seismograph-like analysis. When one of the meters spikes, you can send out a probe to mine the elements. As you scan the planet, players can also pick up comm chatter or note anomalies. Most of these lead to landing destinations. some simply require a dropship, while others necessitate the maneuverability of the heavily upgraded Mako, which Bioware didn't want to show just yet." Note: a screenshot of the scanning minigame shows you have limited probes. Part three of exploration: "Over all, the galaxy is much larger than it was in the original game. The time you spend here now has meaning, as it directly affects your character progression. BioWare also says that taking the time to survey the universe will not only add side stories, but also tie directly into the main plot."

And another interesting article. Topics covered:

• Combat, weapons, ammo
  
• Armor - modular and customizable
  
• Equipment augmentation via research
  
• Character progression and powers
  
• Exploration and (hidden?) "N7 missions" for Shepard
  
• Locations
  
• One huge end-of-game spoiler that has already been talked about by the devs, but if you don't want to know one possible way for the end game to play out, stop reading once the article starts talking about DLC.
  

Yeah whats this I here about ammo for guns? IRC weapons were based on like a block of metal, and each shot broke a chip off and that was railed from the gun removing the need for ammo as that was included and each gun would have many many shots?

They're changing it up a bit, I guess to make it feel more like a shooter. There will be ammo now. I don't know if it will be universal like it was in Deus Ex 2 or what. For a while they were also saying ammo would still be infinite, but you'd have to swap out a heatsink on your weapon, which would be the limiting mechanic on a player just running around with the shoot button taped down. Which by the way you could actually do in ME1 with high level equipment, so it was kinda broken before.

Wouldn't weapons just burn up and then have a cool down time if you kept your finger on the trigger? Seems like the technology they had within the world was made so that it wasn't needed, how can you step back now?

That's like us going from an assault rifle back to muskets

No, high level weapons and the right heat sink mods would never overheat in ME1

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Originally posted by Axiom
No, high level weapons and the right heat sink mods would never overheat in ME1

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Well it's still not clear how weapons will work in ME2, like I said they've described very different systems on different occasions, I think it's obvious they've gone through at least two different iterations

Lets wait and see then

quote:

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Originally posted by Axiom
Well it's still not clear how weapons will work in ME2, like I said they've described very different systems on different occasions, I think it's obvious they've gone through at least two different iterations

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__________________

"One of the universal rules of happiness is: always be wary of any helpful item that weighs less than its operating manual."

Voice cast:

Martin Sheen
Yvonne Strahovski
Seth Green
Keith David
Tricia Helfer
Carrie-Anne Moss
Shohreh Aghdashloo
Michael Hogan
Adam Baldwin
Michael Dorn

some big talent / big $$$$ names there

That's like a Sci-Fi convention panel speaker list.

Buying it JUST for Yvonne Strahovski.

adam baldwin, wtf

get alec

quote:

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Originally posted by Gyp
adam baldwin, wtf

get alec

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watch this and then come back to me:

cast video, really cool



There may also be an official character reveal for Miranda Lawson today

quote:

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Originally posted by Gyp
watch this and then come back to me:

TROhlThs9qY

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Looking forward to this game! That's a heck of a voice cast for a video game...nice!

quote:

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Originally posted by UnnDunn
I didn't say Alec Baldwin was bad.

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just watch the video, god damn next month cannot come any sooner

2010 GOTY.

lal

Found an unofficial gameplay video of the Vanguard class. I'm loving what they've done with this, looks completely bad ass with that new charge ability and a shotgun. He fucks a guy up at 0:32

quote:

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Originally posted by Gyp
watch this and then come back to me:

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http://www.twitter.com/hotseatgames

quote:

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Originally posted by Axiom
Found an unofficial gameplay video of the Vanguard class. I'm loving what they've done with this, looks completely bad ass with that new charge ability and a shotgun. He fucks a guy up at 0:32

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New video of the Sentinel class released today.

I borrowed Mass Effect from my buddy tonight. Maybe I'll load it up over the weekend.

Do it! It's a great game. Not perfect, but still very good.

A word of warning though, the pacing for the first two hours or so is kinda off. The game opens with Shepard going on a mission, but when you get to the Citadel you hit a lot of dialogue navigation. This is a common point where people expecting a pure FPS put the game down and don't pick it up again. Remember that this is Bioware and Bioware make story-driven RPGs, even Mass Effect is one.

ME2 cinematic trailer preview, full-length to be unveiled Dec. 22nd

quote:

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Originally posted by Axiom
A word of warning though, the pacing for the first two hours or so is kinda off. The game opens with Shepard going on a mission, but when you get to the Citadel you hit a lot of dialogue navigation. This is a common point where people expecting a pure FPS put the game down and don't pick it up again. Remember that this is Bioware and Bioware make story-driven RPGs, even Mass Effect is one.

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http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/105/1055366p1.html

New IGN interview with Casey Hudson. Mostly goes into more detail about how importing a character from the first game will work, and some talk about the love interests from the first game, their role in ME2 and in ME3 in the future.

No great revelations about the game, but an interesting read. I've only read it once, skimming for new info, so I don't think there are major spoilers but I can't say for sure. If you don't want to know about party members from the first game and how they are involved in the second, don't read.

and a nice shot of one of the new enemy types:

I can't fucking wait for this game. I've played the hell out of the Vanguard class in the first game, and it now looks even more amazing from that vid earlier that you posted Axiom.


I can't fucking wait. D:

Played the first few minutes of Mass Effect 1. Hasn't grabbed me yet, but hopefully I give it more of a chance. Got sidetracked by some other games, and I've started developing another boardgame of my own.

quote:

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Originally posted by Veinman
Played the first few minutes of Mass Effect 1. Hasn't grabbed me yet, but hopefully I give it more of a chance. Got sidetracked by some other games, and I've started developing another boardgame of my own.

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__________________
Never argue with an Idiot. He will only drag you down to his level and beat you with experience. - Unknown

You can't reason someone out of a position they didn't reason themselves into. - Unknown

We have two ears and one tongue so that we would listen more and talk less. - Diogenes

It is not necessary to understand things in order to argue about them. - Pierre Beaumarchais

Somehow, even with all their games, the only Bioware game I actually played was Neverwinter Nights. It was not fantastic.

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Originally posted by Veinman
Somehow, even with all their games, the only Bioware game I actually played was Neverwinter Nights. It was not fantastic.

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The thing with NWN was that it was not in itself a game; the toolset that came with it provided players with the ability to create their own worlds with friends and recreate the traditional DM/player tabletop RPG experience in the computer RPG format. In other words, it was the community created mods and campaigns that made NWN shine, and that was its purpose. The single player campaign was really nothing more than a demo Bioware created to show off how all the mechanics could be used to create content.

Definitely, if you never played Baldur's Gate, Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire, Mass Effect, or Dragon Age, you have been missing out on some of the best RPGs of the last decade.

I would say the DnD based games like Baldur's Gate and NWN are harder to get into and adjust to than games like Kotor or Mass Effect.

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Originally posted by Nateman xx
I can't fucking wait for this game. I've played the hell out of the Vanguard class in the first game, and it now looks even more amazing from that vid earlier that you posted Axiom.


I can't fucking wait. D:

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And the previews from English websites begin rolling in:

http://www.videogamer.com/xbox360/m...eview-2146.html

quote:

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It promises to be Canadian developer BioWare's best game to date. It promises an unrivalled cinematic experience. It promises to tug on your heart strings more violently than any interactive story in history. It promises many, wonderful things. Now, after a mammoth, unhindered two hour hands-on session beginning at the very beginning, Mass Effect 2 has finally stopped promising and started delivering.

What you are about to read is undoubtedly a spoiler. If you want your Mass Effect 2 experience to feel as fresh as possible, go read something else and, when you're done, give up the internet entirely. But what you are about to read is also just one account of a story that can be twisted and turned in as many directions as the player wants. Decisions were made that you may not make. Words were spoken that you may never speak. Words were heard that you may never hear. Whichever truth is your truth, you're about to go deeper underground than ever before…

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I will definitely admit that I had more fun with the user created NWN content than I did with the base game. And I never even scratched the surface... I know some people made some amazing things.

Hell, I just saw that people released a full recreation of Ultima 6 in the original Dungeon Siege. I have Dungeon Siege... never played ANY of the Ultimas.

I've always meant to play Baldur's Gate. I've even got it.. just never did it. I'm slowly going through the Witcher. It's cool.

My favorites are games from Black Isle, Troika, and Bethesda. Fallout and Arcanum are pretty much the ultimate for me.

Interview with Adrien Cho, one of the producers.

Edit: Axiom-approved spoiler free!

quote:

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Q1 2010 is pretty packed with releases now...

Cho: It's actually still Q4 for EA. There's a whole bunch of titles but I'm not worried about it because it's a great game. It didn't really matter when we were going to put it out, I think it's going to blow people out of the water. You've seen the beginning - it doesn't actually let go once you start, it hits the ground running.

We're so proud of the game that I'm not worried at all. I feel like this is actually the best game that has come out of our studio in the history of BioWare. Ray was talking to me about this; of all the games we've made so far this was able to encapsulate everything we've been trying to do in games and present it in such a digestible form.

Each game we've put out has been great, each game has flaws, where as this one represents the pinnacle BioWare experience. If you're going to play one BioWare game ever in your life, this is the one to try.

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Preview and brand new gameplay footage:

http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/21738...ameplay-Videos/

Clicky click on images to watch the video. Check out that silky smooth framerate!

Jacob Taylor


Miranda Lawson


Tali


Also, note the lack of background music. It's probably just because this is a pre-release version, but it's amazing how much atmosphere music can add, and how...strange...a game can seem when it's absent.

__________________

quote:

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Originally posted by TK Doom
So whats the difference between a dog and a whale?

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IGN spoiler-free preview:

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/105/1055806p1.html

Surprise surprise. He didn't like the return of the loading screens, and wishes he could have the elevators back. I knew that was going to happen. Some people really suck.

From RPGfan.com another journalist preview/reaction to the game. Also a screenshot of the armor customization screen. You can change what your armor looks like, so you're no longer forced to wear something you think is ugly just because it has the best numbers.

A plea to play as a female Shepard

Interesting article. Many people, myself included, think the female Shepard offers a more rewarding or authentic experience, mostly due to the skills of her voice actress Jennifer Hale. She does an excellent job, whereas the male Shepard voice actor Mark Meers is a less experienced VA and sometimes delivers flat lines resulting in awkward scenes.

Decide for yourself:

I never played female Shepard so I didn't actually know about Jennifer Hale's voice work in the game. But I did always feel the voice acting for male Shepard was a little lacking. I guess I wasn't just imagining things.

I'm planning a Mass Effect playthrough in January. I'll definitely try playing as a female Shepard this time around.

quote:

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Originally posted by UnnDunn
I never played female Shepard so I didn't actually know about Jennifer Hale's voice work in the game. But I did always feel the voice acting for male Shepard was a little lacking. I guess I wasn't just imagining things.

I'm planning a Mass Effect playthrough in January. I'll definitely try playing as a female Shepard this time around.

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quote:

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Originally posted by UnnDunn
I'm planning a Mass Effect playthrough in January. I'll definitely try playing as a female Shepard this time around.

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Nice interview about ME2's art style, with cool footage of a location called Afterlife, a seedy nightclub on a space station that's built into a giant asteroid.

Okay kids, here's a video of the Infiltrator class. They have a new cloaking ability in the sequel. No spoiler footage, just generic footage of combat.

According to EB Games, the ship date is January 26th.

The game looks awesome - I'm definitely gonna get this.

__________________


Life is the shortest, yet longest journey a person will make.
This isn't a fuckin dress-rehearsal - we've only got one chance at it.

Sometimes I make dumb mistakes, but I don't have many regrets.
The only regrets are the chances I didn't take.

Sig created by montroursh - Feb 6, 2005

Yeah, that's been the official street date for a while now. Just a little over a month until I can get my hands on this.

The only drawback is with all the improvements to the classes and combat in the sequel, I may not be able to enjoy going back to the original.

Edit: here is an interview with Christina Norman, lead designer, on the Infiltrator class. Haven't read it yet, just got posted, so it may have spoilers.

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/105/1056591p1.html

i'm wondering if bioware is going to hurt themselves by releasing this so close to dragon age

i'm still not finished with dragon age and while i will be by the time this comes out, i'm not sure if i'll be ready for it yet

I kinda doubt it. It's after the holiday and the shooter combat of ME2 appeals to a different crowd. I'm a little surprised that DAO was received as well as it was, considering the mechanics were very much developed from old school CRPGs. The number of gamers who don't have either the time or the money to commit to both titles will probably be offset by the number console FPS fans that are likely to give ME2 a shot while taking a pass on DAO.

Yeah, something to look forward to after the holidays.

Oh by the way, a list of achievements has been released. It contains serious spoilers, read at your own risk.

http://www.succesfull.fr/index.php?...&l=en&JeuID=594

12 minutes of gameplay, the stream isn't active yet but should be in a few minutes.

spoilers



hmm, not working, link: http://www.gamespot.com/shows/today...topslot;thumb;1

I want this game now. Right now.

Jesus. The new Normandy is un-fucking-believable.

Small update today. A member of the Bioware ME2 community has recently compiled previews of the ME2 soundtrack available from Amazon into a downloadable ZIP format.

http://www.zshare.net/download/702811164cb57948/

It's Jack Wall, the same guy that did the soundtrack for the first game. Song titles contain story spoilers.

Oh I forgot yesterday's update. Here is the full length cinematic trailer. This is spoiler free, since it's just intended to give a thematic preview of the game.

quote:

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Originally posted by Axiom
Oh I forgot yesterday's update. Here is the full length cinematic trailer. This is spoiler free, since it's just intended to give a thematic preview of the game.

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ME2 has gone gold today. It's officially done!
http://twitter.com/gtez

quote:

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Originally posted by Jesse Houston

2/2 -- Gold! Congratulations Folks! ME2 is RTM'd!

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Finally giving Mass Effect a proper playthrough. OMG why did I wait this long?

At least you don't have to wait two years for the next part of the story.

Some details were release recently about the character import feature:

quote:

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How does the Mass Effect 1 Import System work?

On PC – First you will use the Mass Effect Configuration Tool to locate your save games, from there it works much like the standard Load menus from within the game, choose your career and import your game. We will have a much more in depth guide relating to setting up the ME1 import feature on PC created closer to the launch of Mass Effect 2.
On Xbox 360 – When you use the Mass Effect 1 Import Utility on Xbox 360, you are prompted with a list of Careers and their accompanying saves attached to your Xbox Profile. You then will select which Save game to use and be brought directly into the start of your Mass Effect 2 experience. This can be repeated a many times as you wish on as many saves as you wish.

I had heard that you only support the first 11 saves is this true?

This is not the case. The easiest way to determine if your save will import into Mass Effect 2 is to open Mass Effect 1, go into the New Game Plus menu. If you see the save you want to be able to import into Mass Effect 2 in that list you are set.

It says the saved games must be on the hard drive and not an MU. If I transfer my saves from my MU to the hard drive, will they work?

Your saves must exist on the original device used to create the saves, the career and your gamer profile.

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quote:

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New Game + Faq
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Q: What is New Game +?

A: New Game + is a bonus for players that beat Mass Effect 2 and want to start a new adventure with their existing character. You must beat the game and survive to unlock New Game +.

Once you have unlocked New Game + an "Import ME2 character" option will be be added to the new game menu. This lets you start a new game with your commander Shepard, carrying over his weapons and level, but facing more powerful enemies.

New Game + works on all ME2 platforms.


Q: Do I need to use New Game + to continue playing ME2 after I beat the game?

A: You don't need to use New Game + to keep playing. You can continue to play your existing ME2 character to access missions you did not complete, and new DLC missions.


Q: Can I import my ME1 character if I haven't beaten ME2?

A: There are two separate import features
- "Import ME1 character" is available immediately, use this feature to import your ME1 character and continue his adventures
- "Import ME2 character" is available after you beat ME2 and survive, use this feature to start a New Game + game


Q: What carries over when I import my character and start a New Game +?

A: New Game + has been completely rebuilt from scratch for ME2. The following are carried over when you start a New Game + game
- Your class, level, appearance, name, gender
- Your weapons and heavy weapons
-Standard weapons for squad members, but no "unique" weapon
- Shepard's powers including his bonus power if he had one
- Advanced weapon training for Shepard if he had advanced weapon training


Q: What does not carry over

A: Everything else, but here are some specific things that do not carry over
- Paragon/Renegade standing
- Research and Upgrades (but you get to keep your weapons)
- Choices made in ME2
- Cash and resources (but you get some cash and resources as a bonus)
- Armor (but you will have access to any pre-order or DLC armor)


Q: Why doesn't all our cash / resources / upgrades / armor carry over?

A: Without spoiling ME2 I can't answer this, suffice it to say the way the economy in ME2 works this just wouldn't work.


Q: Are there any other bonuses for New Game +

A: You get some bonus cash and resources. You can use these to more quickly upgrade your character than in a regular playthrough.


Q: When you import a character from ME1 you get some bonuses including cash and experience. If you beat the game and then import that character do you receive import bonuses again?

A: No the bonuses for New Game + are separate.


Q: When can I access my weapons in a new game + playthrough

A: Access your weapons at any weapon locker. You do not have access to a weapon locker at the start of the game.


Q: How difficult is a new game + playthrough?

A: Enemies are much stronger in a New Game + playthrough. This makes New Game + a challenging experience at any difficulty level. New Game + is not the easy way to beat Insanity in ME2.


Q: Can New Game + characters be imported into ME3?

A: Yes but you must beat ME2 with your new game + character, and survive


Q: When exactly are the save games created that are used by New Game +?

A: Any save game made after you beat ME2 and survive can be used for New Game + import. Likewise any save created after you beat ME2 and survive can be used as your import save for ME3. Yes, this means weapons you get after you beat the game can be brought over into New Game +.


Q: Can I reach max level without starting a New Game + game?

A: New Game + is an easy way to reach level 30. It's difficult but not impossible to reach level 30 in a single playthrough of Mass Effect 2 without using New Game +, but you may need to do DLC missions and/or import an ME1 character for bonus experience.


Q: Can you change your appearance on a New Game + playthrough?

A: I don't remember

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quote:

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Originally posted by UnnDunn
Finally giving Mass Effect a proper playthrough. OMG why did I wait this long?

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You're very welcome. Poring over all this information and posting the most interesting bits here helps me get my mind off how badly I want to play the game already.

Don't worry too much about the spoilers, I think they will prove to be almost background information once we actually start playing the game. Bioware is leaving a lot of actual content-related material out.

Check out the huge edits I just made!

oh, there's a lot of information I haven't posted here actually, so if you're curious or have a question about something in particular that's not here I might have an answer

Lol I understand what you mean. It's itching at me like an itch on the inside of your ear. It's there, but you can't get rid of it, no matter how raw you rub your skin.





But to some points in the quoted bits you brought up. It says '...if you survive...' multiple times. Does that mean that there's a chance that Shepard will die

Spoiler: and stay dead at the end of this game

? And WTF is this only going to lvl 30 bullshit. I fucking hated FO 3 for it's lvl 20 cap (remedied a bit by the DLC that upgraded to lvl 30) because it, to me at least, takes away from an actual RPG feel. 50 would be acceptable, but 60+ would be awesome to be able to actually get to IMO.

About the "if you survive" comments...

Spoiler: One of the actual full-fledged endings of the game is Shepard dying. The main part of the plot is a suicide mission to investigate why human colonies are being abducted. You collect a squad of the galaxy's most bad-ass bad-asses, and go on the mission. If you make poor decisions through the game, it can result in a bloodbath where some or all character die permanently, including Shepard.

About level 30. Some of the skills have been removed, and the increments for leveling up have been condensed a bit. For example, instead of putting 12 points into Throw like you would in the first game, you'll put four points into the skill--at which point it becomes a special, high-powered high level version.

So you'd go like this:

Throw 1/2/3/4/Heavy Throw

Instead of getting like 1% additional effect for 12 points, you get more benefit from each individual point invested. So the relative power stays the same. There are also combo effects, kind of like what was in Dragon Age. Your Adept could throw a Singularity, then cast a Warp and the whole shit explodes causing heavy damage to everything caught in it.

Spoiler: Shut up you gay

Spoiler:

quote:

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Originally posted by Axiom
Instead of getting like 1% additional effect for 12 points, you get more benefit from each individual point invested. So the relative power stays the same. There are also combo effects, kind of like what was in Dragon Age. Your Adept could throw a Singularity, then cast a Warp and the whole shit explodes causing heavy damage to everything caught in it.

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OK, so I'm playing a female Shepard (Jennifer Hale FTW) and I'm trying to get the "paramour" achievement. Only I think I screwed it up.

Spoiler: I was trying to put the moves on Kaidan (and when it made me choose between Liara and Kaiden, I picked Kaidan). But... I just did Virmire, and on it I sent Kaidan to go with the Infiltrators to create a distraction, killed Wrex and made Ashley stay behind with the nuke. The only other 'major' mission I've completed is Feros.

Now Kaidan won't talk to me.

Will I still be able to get the 'paramour' achievement or am I hosed?

Won't talk to you? Does he just say something like "I've wasted enough of your time"?

Go do another major story planet (Noveria, Therum) and try to talk to him again.

You'll know you messed up one of the romance sub-plots if there's a scene after a conversation with the Council and your Shepard is hanging out by the ship's lockers alone. If you're in a romance sub-plot, Kaidan (or Liara, or Ashley) will be there as well.

quote:

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Originally posted by Axiom
Won't talk to you? Does he just say something like "I've wasted enough of your time"?

Go do another major story planet (Noveria, Therum) and try to talk to him again.

You'll know you messed up one of the romance sub-plots if there's a scene after a conversation with the Council and your Shepard is hanging out by the ship's lockers alone. If you're in a romance sub-plot, Kaidan (or Liara, or Ashley) will be there as well.

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It's possible to exhaust their dialogue options if you're not far enough along in the game. It will make sense later, but for now you can try to advance the conversations by progressing the storyline. Sometimes simply doing a side mission will work also.

As an aside, I'm trying to go full renegade and it's surprisingly difficult. It does a great job of making me feel like an asshole.

But it would have been better if the NPCs started seriously hating you for going renegade. As it is, they suck up to you no matter what you do. "It's not your fault you had to kill all of the colonists. They totally deserved it." NO. NO THEY DIDN'T. Stop trying to make me feel better.

Shepard is supposed to be "Jack Bauer in space." Well any 24 watcher will tell you that a season wouldn't be complete without Jack becoming a fugitive at some point.

Bioware has always struggled with making characters that are anything short of saintly.

Too often it usually falls into one of these:

Chaotic Stupid
Stupid Evil

I'm not sure why. I think they try to make renegades in ME too many things at once. They want you to be able to be Jack Bauer in space, which is fine, but then they also add a ton of mindless, meaningless cruelty and a healthy dose of racism. It's like...are you sure this guy is spec-ops military? He belongs in a maximum security prison.

Renegade is full of lulz though.

Just ordered the limited edition

quote:

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Originally posted by Axiom

I'm not sure why. I think they try to make renegades in ME too many things at once. They want you to be able to be Jack Bauer in space, which is fine, but then they also add a ton of mindless, meaningless cruelty and a healthy dose of racism. It's like...are you sure this guy is spec-ops military? He belongs in a maximum security prison.

Renegade is full of lulz though.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Rurouni Storm


I think ME was really designed for you to NOT go to either extreme. Each decision's supposed to be on the fly instead of you predetermining whether to play a good or bad guy.

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Yeah, the new interrupt system in ME2 is for split-second decisions, the dialogue trees in the first game tried to accommodate different playstyles, to the point that the morality system often became internally inconsistent

quote:

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Originally posted by UnnDunn
I disagree. There are achievements specifically for getting 75% renegade or 75% paragon points. You can't do that unless you make the conscious decision to do either.

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where the hell can I preorder/buy the collectors edition?

quote:

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Originally posted by jeri
where the hell can I preorder/buy the collectors edition?

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they say gamestop has the collectors edition, but I dont see it anywhere on the site

quote:

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Originally posted by jeri
they say gamestop has the collectors edition, but I dont see it anywhere on the site

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Gamestop sold out of it really fast.

quote:

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Originally posted by Rurouni Storm
Gamestop sold out of it really fast.

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Amazon, Best Buy, or the EA store may be the only retailers with CE in stock. They made a pretty limited run because of the recession. All the major retailers put in small orders.

What's the difference between normal and collectors edition? I have the metal tin for ME1

n/m, checked the site. £55 quid

Preordered though

http://masseffect.bioware.com/info/collectors/

quote:

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Ultimate Mass Effect 2 Experience. The vast universe of Mass Effect 2 gets even bigger with this limited-run Collectors’ Edition packed with unique collectibles and bonus in-game content. This is the must-have edition of every fan of this groundbreaking franchise.

• The full version of Mass Effect 2
  
• Bonus in–game Collectors' Edition weapon and armor
  
• 48–page hardcover art book
  
• Limited Edition Cerberus Network card granting access to bonus content
  
• Issue #1 of the Mass Effect comic book by Dark Horse comics.
  All housed in a premium tin package with exclusive artwork.

Collectors' Weapon and Armor
Take the fight to the enemy with their own technology! The chitinous Collector armor uses advanced regeneration amplifiers allow you to move faster, take more damage and recover health quickly. The Collector assault rifle is built to strip shields off enemies with little effort, allowing you to turn a well fortified mercenary or mech into a shredded mess in no time.

• Regenerate 10% faster
  
• Increase storm speed by 10%
  
• Increase health by 20%

Collector Assault Rifle: Rip through enemy shields and shred the opposition to pieces with this deadly Collector weapon.

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Do we also get the normal version armours?

What do you mean, normal version armors? The pre-order bonuses? I assume pre-ordering a CE would also get those, yes.

Mass Effect 2 Thread?

Mass Effect 2 thread!

you sure brah?

90% certain.

That sounds about right as you forgot to capitalise the T in "Thread"

fuck!

quote:

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Originally posted by Axiom
Nobody knows exactly what the "Cerberus Network Card" does.

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Well yeah, it says in the description that it's DLC, but I meant nobody knows what that actually means. Although there is a rumor that it might be another NPC party member, kinda like Shale in Dragon Age.

It has been confirmed as of today though that all versions of ME2 get the Cerberus Card.

quote:

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Cerberus Network Membership Card - Once enrolled you will have access to exclusive in-game content and updates via an in-game feed

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quote:

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Originally posted by Axiom
Well yeah, it says in the description that it's DLC, but I meant nobody knows what that actually means. Although there is a rumor that it might be another NPC party member, kinda like Shale in Dragon Age.

It has been confirmed as of today though that all versions of ME2 get the Cerberus Card.

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Yep. Encourages people to buy new, but can still make a few bucks off used sales. Seems like a good business move to me.

DLC can be bought by people who buy the game 2nd hand

I so want the CE of this game, but I've been forced to cut back on things lately. So, as it stands now, I might not even be able to get the regular version on Jan 26. :'(


And that's awesome about the Cerberus card. I hope that it's not just for the 1st-2nd shipment(s) of the game, but rather for all new copies throughout the games' in store existence.

There's going to be a reveal of the Vanguard class later today. I'll embed it once it's available, unless the quicktime rickroller shitheads get HTML disabled again.

so,,,

where's the vanguard video hombre???

I'm wondering this as well. Vanguard is really the only class I'm super excited about, as it's the class I've used, and enjoyed, the most.

quote:

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Originally posted by Fuzz
so,,,

where's the vanguard video hombre???

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quote:

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Originally posted by Axiom


It's supposed to be released at IGN. When do they usually publish their articles and videos?

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Yeah Axiom you lame dickhead

you son of a bitch

lolz loyce

where's the video then?

pigfuckers

lal

Fucking wtf Axiom? Where's the video?

did i mention you all have sexual intercourse with even-toed ungulates of the family suidae

Yeah... Good luck with that. D:

just preordered a couple days ago

hey that may be an even-toed ungulate but it's not suidae

ROFL.

Yeah, I googled it, as I was not familiar with it. And I just found out the official term for a pig. You learn something new every day huh?




edit: 3k posts. Finally.

llamas are pretty awesome though

This is true.