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[Mr. Spinnington]

Seeing as how UNCHARTED and Mass Effect hit on just about the same day, and that thread is up --why not? Also, this game has alien hotties and a collector's edition, Lucas vs. Bioware: FIGHT!!!

Basic Information

Available for Xbox 360 Microsoft Game Console Home Entertainment System Machine.
US release date: November 20th, 2007
Australia: November 22nd, 2007
PAL: November 23rd, 2007
Developer: Bioware
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: Action Role-Playing New Dawn of Storytelling
Game Rating: M (Mature)
*Blood
*Language
*Partial Nudity
*Sexual Themes
*Violence
Specs: 1 Player | Dolby 5.1 Surround | HDTV 720p 1080i 1080p | Marketplace Downloads | Xbox LIVE Aware

Marketing Info

Official Website

Mass Effect allows you to create your own customizable version of Commander Shepard (or jump in and use the pre-created character) and plunge yourself into the center of an epic science-fiction story. Choose your squad-mates, your weapons, skills and abilities, and customize your vehicles, armor and appearance - you are in complete control over your experience.

In the course of your mission to stop the machine invasion, you may choose to follow the path of the soldier, the tech-specialist, or the biotics-specialist…each of which brings an arsenal of unique yet equally powerful abilities to use against the enemy. Wield a multitude of weapon types with precision accuracy…utilize your technical skill to turn enemy war machines against their creators…or unleash the full power of Dark Energy against your foe with devastating effects.

As you progress throughout the game you will improve your character's skills, abilities, and equipment (including weapons, armor, biotic implants and more) to ensure that you have the means to face the growing threat before you.

The role you choose to play in Mass Effect will have tremendous consequences on the galaxy around you. You will face moral dilemmas in which the decision you ultimately make will significantly alter the fate of civilized life in the galaxy.

Collector's Edition

Mass Effect will be released in both a standard and collector's edition of the game. The Collector's Edition features: A Mass Effect fiction book titled “Galactic Codex: Essentials - A 36-page guide to the Mass Effect universe, including a Citadel timeline and a guide to all non-human races, biotics and the key locations in the Perseus arm of the galaxy

* A Mass Effect art book titled “A Future Imagined” which includes a collection of concept art from the game.
* A bonus DVD of exclusive “Mass Effect” background material and additional content including:
* “The Vision of “Mass Effect” documentary
* “The Making of “Mass Effect” documentary
* “Interactive Storytelling” documentary
* “Inside BioWare” documentary
* 18 “Mass Effect” themed gamer pics (three unique sets of six)
* 16 dashboard themes (four unique sets of four)
* Ten songs from the “Mass Effect” soundtrack
* Five historical “Mass Effect” trailers from X05 through E3 2007 and the official TV trailer
* A demo for “Blue Dragon” and videos for “Lost Odyssey,” “Halo 3” and “Halo Wars”
* Design galleries featuring 600 concept images fully commented by the Art Directors

The Collector's Edition is available for pre-order at online retailers only in the USA and Canada, as well as in stores only in the UK. A DVD containing content concerning the development of the game is also being distributed to all those who pre-order the game in United States and Canada.

Story

Every 50,000 years an ancient machine race invades the galaxy and wipes out all advanced organic civilizations with ruthless efficiency. You assume the role of Commander Shepard, one of the few who believe the ancient legend, to lead an elite reconnaissance squadron across the galaxy to stop the next invasion of the machine race.

You must act without remorse, without hesitation, and outside the limits of the law to preserve civilized life. You are the tip of the spear for humanity and you alone know the consequences of failure.

Wait "Mass Effect"?

Inside the game universe, mass effect is a newly discovered (for humans anyway) physics phenomenon that has properties along the lines of other physics forces such as gravity and electromagnetism. It's what physicists in real life are currently calling "dark energy," as an explanation for the accelerating expansion of the universe -- which has only recently been discovered and flies in the face of the previous notion that the universe's expansion should be slowing down because of gravity.

Characters

Main Character:
Commander Shephard - Commander Shepard is a veteran soldier, having seen action in multiple engagements across the galaxy. As a newly recruited Spectre agent, Shepard is assigned the most important missions in the galaxy and authorized to do whatever it takes to get those missions done. Something may have to be sacrificed to further the mission, and as all of Shepard's decisions are important ones, people's lives, and the fate of the galaxy, hang on the details of each choice. It is up to the game player to make those choices -- and to live with the consequences that result.

Main Ally:
Captain David Anderson - Captain of the Normandy and main character, and aquaintince of Saren in the prequel novel, Mass Effect: Revelation. Captain Anderson, as a top tier human Alliance officer, serves as Shepard's mentor and close advisor through out the game.

Main Enemy:
Saren Arterius - A Spectre turian agent gone rogue, Saren Arterius was best known for 'getting results' through brutal but efficient means. He harbors a seething hatred for humans, which is speculated by other characters in the novel to stem from the loss of his brother in the First Contact War. After the events described in Mass Effect: Revelation, Saren takes command of an army of Geth. He serves as the primary antagonist of the video game.

Species and Governments

-Systems Alliance - The governing force of the human ace.
-The Turian Hierarchy - The alien race humanity fought in the First Contact War.
-Protheans - The mysterious race that was destroyed 50,000 years ago by the reapers.
-The Geth

The enemies of the galaxy, and the reason the development of Artificial Intelligence is banned throughout Citadel Space.

Informative Links

Complete Mass Effect Wiki

The Novels

-Mass Effect: Revalation
-A second novel has been announced - Mass Effect: Revolution

Videos

All Other Mass Effect Gamersyde Videos here, will link to important ones later THANKS BLIM!

Trailer:
GT - Mass Effect Exclusive Trailer HD
GT - E3 2007 Trailer HD
GT - E3 2007 Trailer 2 HD
GT - Combat Trailer HD
GT - Transmission Cinema HD
GT - X05 Trailer HD

Feature:
GT - Character Spotlight: Part 1 HD
GT - Character Spotlight: Part 2 HD
GT - Character Spotlight: Part 3 HD
GT - PAX 2007 Developer Walkthrough Pt. 1 HD
GT - PAX 2007 Developer Walkthrough Pt. 2 HD
GT - PAX 2007 Developer Walkthrough Pt. 3 HD
GT - E3 2K6 Walkthrough Part 1 HD

Interview:
GT - Seth Green Voice Over Interview HD
GT - Themes and Combat Interview HD
GT - Gameplay Freedom Interview HD
GT - GDC 07 Skill Tree Interview HD
GT Interview 05 - "Create the ultimate science fiction adventure."

Gameplay:
GT - Combat Gameplay HD
GT - Gunpoint Interrogation Gameplay HD
GT - Med Clinic Shootout HD
GT - Galaxy Exploration Gameplay HD
GT - Profile Reconstruction Gameplay HD
GT - E3 2007 Gameplay Trailer HD
GT - X06 Gameplay Montage HD

Reviews Summary

G4TV: 5/5
GameSpy: 5/5
GameDaily: 10/10
GamerTV: 5/5
MS Xbox World: 10/10
OXM US: 10/10
OXM Australia: 10/10
VideoGamer.com: 10/10
GameZone: 9.8/10
Planet Xbox 360: 9.8/10
Xbox Evolved: 9.8/10
Game Informer: 9.75/10
Cheat Code Central: 4.8/5
GameTrailers: 9.6/10
TeamXbox: 9.6/10
GamePro: 4.75/5
IGN: 9.4/10
Gamer 2.0: 9.2/10
Xbox 360 Advanced: 9.2/10
EGM: 9/10, 9.5/10, 9/10
ActionTrip: 91%
IGN UK: 9.1/10
1UP.com: 9/10
360 Gamer: 9/10
CVG: 9/10
Gamesmaster: 90%
GamesRadar: 9/10
GameTap: 9/10
OXM UK: 9/10
PALGN: 9/10
Video Game Talk: 4.5/5
Xbox World 360: 90%
Yahoo! Games: 4.5/5
GameSpot: 8.5/10
UGO: B+
Eurogamer: 8/10
Hardcore Gamer Magazine: 4/5
Slashdot: 4/5
PC World: 60%

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Let me know if there's anything specific you think should be included in the OP!

 

[Johnkers]

Spoiler

4th

Day 1 purchase for me

Spoiler

ever behind Halo 3, Guitar Hero 2 and the original DS

Can't fucking wait

 

[siamesedreamer]

Nice work

 

[Gamer @ Heart]

The Prometheons were destroyed by the reapers? I read Mass effect revelations and i didnt even know that. btw, who the fuck are the reapers?

 

[AndersTheSwede]

Excellent

 

[MrTroubleMaker]

where's the hot alien "love" pic :lol

I can't wait for this game either. need it now!

 

[VALIS]

Yes yes god yes.

I'm almost burnt out from dozens if not hundreds of multi-hour sessions of Bioshock, then Halo 3, then Orange Box, then Guitar Hero 3... but what the hell, one more time. Because this may be the best one of them all!

 

[mellowbob]

how about putting up some real in game pics instead of all these touched up pictures?

 

[AndersTheSwede]

That didn't take long.

 

[Kabuki Quantum Lover]

I want to be the antagonist. He looks awesome.

 

[ezekial45]

Well done Mr. Spinnington.

 

[kay]

how about putting up some real in game pics instead of all these touched up pictures?

 

[Quazar]

So anywhere doing any pre-ordering gifts?

 

[Synless]

God, this game looks amazing it's either this or uncharted....this is the hardest choice between games I've had to make in years...........

 

[pxleyes]

how about putting up some real in game pics instead of all these touched up pictures?

wow...

 

[cluto]

how about putting up some real in game pics instead of all these touched up pictures?

I couldn't make it past the first level

Yeah. That says a lot.

 

[mellowbob]

wow...

wow what?

I'm still getting the game, I just don't think those pics are accurate of what you'll be playing.

 

[rollingstart]

November 20th is going to be such a pain.

 

[FirewalkR]

Oh yeah, Collector's Edition for me day 1!!

 

[mellowbob]

Yeah. That says a lot.

you're so cool man

 

[pxleyes]

wow what?

I'm still getting the game, I just don't think those pics are accurate of what you'll be playing.

no kidding....

 

[Costanza]

I'll be buying this for sure.

 

[alistairw]

Well done to MS for getting this out in all regions around the same time. I'm sick of being shafted just because I don't live in the US.

 

[Mr. Spinnington]

wow what?

I'm still getting the game, I just don't think those pics are accurate of what you'll be playing.

Hype thread wants your hype, and I had a hard enough time finding images this big without ugly watermarkings or horrible captures. Like I said I'll tend to it later if need be : /

 

[Psychotext]

Nice effort on the thread. Been following this game for a while and ever since I saw the gamespot live demonstration I've been in love.

Day one!

 

[Diablos]

Looks awesome, but I swear, the texture detail has been decreased.

 

[temp]

MASS EFFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BIOWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

 

[AndersTheSwede]

Can we not have this thread turn out like every other mass effect thread, with people pissing and moaning over graphics? That would be fucking swell.

 

[godhandiscen]

Not trolling here, but I hope this is good from a shooter's point of view. I know this is an RPG, and asking for it to be a good shooter is sorta stupid, but besides Halo 3, I haven't experienced a great sci-fi shooter this year. COD4 is not sci-fi, and the Orange Box is lacking when it comes to being a shooter so this is my last hope for this year.

 

[Community Forum]

I did LOL and hard

 

[Lostconfused]

I would love to get the collectors edition. But its not coming out in canada, amazon gamestop/eb wont ship it to canada and there is no way i am waiting to get it on ebay.

 

[chespace]

You can definitely turn off both motion blur and the grainy filter, but I actually like the graininess. Makes the game look so damn cinematic.

Gaaaahhhhh....

 

[Mr. Spinnington]

You can definitely turn off both motion blur and the grainy filter, but I actually like the graininess. Makes the game look so damn cinematic.

Gaaaahhhhh....

Don't forget to PM me exclusive screencaps to look at before the game comes out, along with detailed impressions on all the best parts you come across, plot twists included. Shipping me your copy after you finish would be nice, too : )

 

[mellowbob]

Hype thread wants your hype, and I had a hard enough time finding images this big without ugly watermarkings or horrible captures. Like I said I'll tend to it later if need be : /

You have my hype, I was only giving a suggestion (I didn't mean to say the game looked bad or anything, I just thought those shots were too touched up). great op by the way

 

[godhandiscen]

You can definitely turn off both motion blur and the grainy filter, but I actually like the graininess. Makes the game look so damn cinematic.

Gaaaahhhhh....

Do you notice any performance improvement by turning off those effects?

 

[MaizeRage25]

Can we not have this thread turn out like every other mass effect thread, with people pissing and moaning over graphics? That would be fucking swell.

This is GAF, it's inevitable.

 

[rollingstart]

wait, what is this filter business? I havent been following a lot of the recent news of the game to avoid spoilers.

 

[temp]

wait, what is this filter business? I havent been following a lot of the recent news of the game to avoid spoilers.

The grain filter that you can see in the third screen which is apparently an option.

 

[alistairw]

Not trolling here, but I hope this is good from a shooter's point of view. I know this is an RPG, and asking for it to be a good shooter is sorta stupid, but besides Halo 3, I haven't experienced a great sci-fi shooter this year. COD4 is not sci-fi, and the Orange Box is lacking when it comes to being a shooter so this is my last hope for this year.

wat

 

[Community Forum]

N7!

 

[duckroll]

Not trolling here, but I hope this is good from a shooter's point of view. I know this is an RPG, and asking for it to be a good shooter is sorta stupid, but besides Halo 3, I haven't experienced a great sci-fi shooter this year. COD4 is not sci-fi, and the Orange Box is lacking when it comes to being a shooter so this is my last hope for this year.

But Mass Effect isn't really a shooter at all. Your shooting is not dependant on aiming or skill, but on calculations like any CRPG.

 

[CastleBravo]

GOTY 2007. This or Crysis.

 

[Gamer @ Heart]

So when is the second novel suppose to come out?

 

[laceystorm]

From the Game Informer review: "Not since Star Wars made its theatrical debut in 1977 has there been a universe so full of wonder and awe. Mass Effect is a science fiction tale so galvanizing it makes you question the very existance of humanity, how moral choices can effect a person, and whther or not there is a holy entity watching over us. Just like that galexy far, far away, this game's accomplishments are as far reaching as they are revolutionary. It's an amazing work of fiction, a visual work of art, and a property that is so fully relaized and so rich in its backstory that it's content could fill countless games, books, and movies.

This is the next big franchise for science fiction junkies to latch onto, and a huge step forward for videogames."

9.75/10

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

Paid in full. GOTY

 

[godhandiscen]

wat

Ok, let me explain, HL2 has great puzzles and atmosphere and game play elements like the gravity gun and other quirky weapons, but none of these reasons are what makes me play a shooter. I love mass scale battles with 30-40 really though enemies at once, vehicles and a smart AI shooting at me from all fronts. In HL2 I never get this. All events are scripted and its always the same fight, soldiers always showing from the same angles and always playing the same. Also, the encounters are very small and it sometimes feels like they are just there to be filler between the puzzles or test out your overpowered weapons and bring them down like flies. This is why I do not like HL2 as a shooter. I do not like it as a game at all because it is strong in the aspects of the FPS genre I care the least, but is weak in the aspects that I care the most. I hope that explanation is satisfactory.

But Mass Effect isn't really a shooter at all. Your shooting is not dependant on aiming or skill, but on calculations like any CRPG.

I realized that a couple weeks ago and since then my hype started dying. I wish somebody would make something like a Halo RPG. A game with amazing battles like Halo, but with RPG elements (navigation through a world, chatting with NPC's, sidequests that are not required, etc).

 

[Lostconfused]

So when is the second novel suppose to come out?

some time after the game but before the second. Although i guess that leaves it somewhere between next month and the end of time.

 

[JoeMartin]

GOTY 2007. This or Crysis.

Don't bring that shit in this temple. Graphics aside, Crysis isn't doing anything cool for gaming. You know Mass Effect is where it's at. I would have accepted a more appropriate title, like SMG, Portal, or FE.

This game is going to be pure time sucking life absorbing sexual bliss and I can't wait for it. I really should make the effort to try and get the novel in the next week.

 

[Ned Flanders]

This game will change/improve/lengthen my life.

 

[JoeMartin]

This game will change/improve/lengthen my life.

That sentence had a very... anti-climactic ending.

 

[abacab driver]

Not sure if this was posted here yet..

http://xboxmovies.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/5432/Exploring-Agbenium/

Just :lol @ whoever thinks this game doesn't look as "it used to"..it looks better than ever.
Loving the music also.