PS3 News: Mass Effect 3 Will Ease Newcomers Into The Storyline - PS3 News

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Mass Effect 3 Will Ease Newcomers Into The Storyline

Even though sequels in story-driven franchises are typically aimed at established fans, developers always want to introduce new fans with each successive installment.

And to do that, the game can't be restrictive; i.e., the plot can't only make sense to those who played the preceding title. BioWare says they did a poor job of "player orientation" with Mass Effect 2 and don't intend to repeat that mistake with the third entry, due on March 6.

Speaking to IGN, studio Product Marketing boss Nick Clifford said ME2 was "pretty jarring" for the first half-hour if you never played Mass Effect, and the team has been working on a way to make ME3 a "pick up from the get-go" experience. Said Clifford:

"If I'm a new player and some guy walks up to me and is like 'Ohhhh Shepard! Remember that one time?' I would be like 'No. I don't remember that one time.' So we wanted to make sure that there aren't those moments that the player is like, 'Who is this? What's going on? What are they talking about?'"

Basically, they're trying to ease new players into the story, kind of like the way they introduced newcomers on the PlayStation 3 (who got ME2 a year late) with a back story comic book. BioWare just doesn't want to leave anyone out, which is good news if you have yet to indulge in one of the best RPG franchises of the generation. One must always remain accessible to all; the more who enjoy it, the better, right?

Related Game(s): Mass Effect 3

Tags: bioware, mass effect 3, mass effect 2, mass effect sequel

1/26/2012 10:17:49 AM Ben Dutka

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Comments (24 posts)

Ultimadesires
Thursday, January 26, 2012 @ 10:49:24 AM
Reply

They shot themselves in the foot with the PS3 release on ME when they couldn't get the right for the 1st game. That ME2 digital-comic is poor alternative for a game. While it may be a good game, I am not buying into a franchise which is incomplete. End of.

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FM23
Thursday, January 26, 2012 @ 11:50:47 AM

Are you kidding me? Yes we didn't get the thecfirst game, but the comic got me up to date in a hurry and introduced me to one of the finest games I ever played. Not calling you out, but get off your high horse and try this game sir.

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maxpontiac
Thursday, January 26, 2012 @ 12:16:43 PM

I am with FM23.

I originally had the same stance with "didn't give me ME1, no thanks", but I will freely admit (as FM23 knows) that Mass Effect 2 is my favorite game of all time for a non Gran Turismo title.

It is truely epic in nature. I suggest you play it, for your mind will be changed.

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Beamboom
Thursday, January 26, 2012 @ 12:33:33 PM

Everybody should play me2 uness you are ALLERGIC to sci-fi. It's one of those games that all gamers should experience.

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Nlayer
Thursday, January 26, 2012 @ 3:22:25 PM

I can understand the idea of not buying something without owning the previous installments. But I don't think that should be a reason to never play the game. It's still going to be one amazing game.

I started this series on the Xbox360, and I will be finishing it on the Xbox360, but if I had enough reason to pick up the PS3 copy instead, I would. (For example, I had to switch to the PS3 release of the Assassins Creed series when the multi-player component was added, because I hate LIVE).

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SmokeyPSD
Thursday, January 26, 2012 @ 9:19:26 PM

It's dirt cheap off steam the first. People act like it's a 360 exclusive, it's not. It's a pretty old computer game now. I actually own the series on both formats and have 2 canons going on both.

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Ludakriss
Friday, January 27, 2012 @ 7:23:26 AM

Yeah. Great experience with late audio/ dialog to picture sunch and amazing(poo) looking graphics.

Gimme a break. Bioware said they've used the ME3 engine in the PS3 version of second installment.

Why hype it if you can't back it up with the basic functions?

Tired of mediocrity. And the choices suck. I want to experience a story, not write it.

I appreciate the hard work that went into it. Just not my game. Great characters though. Loved Solus and the Drell.

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Beamboom
Friday, January 27, 2012 @ 9:48:11 AM

"I want to experience a story, not write it." - ehh... Hello? Mass Effect 2 is ALL about the stories! What did you have to write, and where?

Last edited by Beamboom on 1/27/2012 9:49:01 AM

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Clamedeus
Thursday, January 26, 2012 @ 11:06:56 AM
Reply

I hope they do a better job on ME3 than they did with the copy I have of ME2. The audio on certain parts of the game wouldn't sync properly and each time it happened it would completely kill the mood of the game for me.

Besides that though I enjoyed it.

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bebestorm
Thursday, January 26, 2012 @ 11:23:58 AM
Reply

I loved ME3.. They did a good job with the comic.

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big6
Thursday, January 26, 2012 @ 11:34:47 AM
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I'm currently playing ME2 and almost finished it. I've got all the DLC and am looking at completing *all* the missions and assignments. It's looking like it'll take a total of almost 50hours, which is fine.

This game is really great and I can't wait for ME3!

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maxpontiac
Thursday, January 26, 2012 @ 12:18:30 PM

I put in 72 hours. That is over $1.00 per hour I paid for some quality entertainment.

Everybody! Go play ME2. I won't disappoint.

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Beamboom
Thursday, January 26, 2012 @ 12:27:27 PM
Reply

I've liked Every single piece I've read about me3 so far. All of it! Can they possibly end the trilogy with the PERFECT Mass Effect???

I'm getting so psyched about this release now that I'll soon start giggling like a madman.
Last edited by Beamboom on 1/26/2012 12:30:06 PM

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WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, January 26, 2012 @ 4:07:31 PM
Reply

This is only true of your basic gaming idiot, I began the series with ME2 and the brief comic plus common sense was all I needed to reconstruct the events of the previous game in my mind. I hate being treated like a child with every new sequel.

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big6
Thursday, January 26, 2012 @ 4:28:46 PM

They kinda do this with movies, too... and, yeah, it's a bit annoying. (especially if you're a fan)

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WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, January 26, 2012 @ 5:56:37 PM

It's even worse in movies and TV because the dialogue between characters tends to be a forced explanation only for the benefit of the uninformed viewer who keeps asking stupid questions instead of paying attention. Think CSI, why would lab techs who all have the same training constantly explain how a forensic test works to each other?

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Beamboom
Friday, January 27, 2012 @ 6:26:32 AM

I agree with you there World. Too much explanation is not cool indeed.

That said, I have blind faith in BioWare here. They won't go that "forced dialogue" route, that's way too cheap for such fantastic storytellers as BioWare. I'm sure they will find an elegant way of getting the ME-noob up to date without annoying the fans.

Last edited by Beamboom on 1/27/2012 6:29:01 AM

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Lairfan
Thursday, January 26, 2012 @ 5:14:26 PM
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That's one of the many things I liked about ME2, the fact that characters come up and mention things that you've done in prior games. It makes you feel like you left a mark on the world. If they get rid of that, they'll be taking away some of what makes Mass Effect what it is. All for the sake of accessibility, and to be honest, as long as you competently present a story, it should be accessible to anyone.

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tes37
Thursday, January 26, 2012 @ 5:32:41 PM
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Normally I would say why bother, but it's their game so they can do what they want. The people who bought and played ME1 may be a little irritated by it.

I played ME2 and I will be purchasing ME3 day one. Looking forward to the retelling of a half-told story from ME1.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, January 26, 2012 @ 5:58:41 PM
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I liked the way inFamous 2 did it, just a brief comic intro with some grandiose and epic voiceover that recaps the story plus audio logs in the game. That was subtle and effective.

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SmokeyPSD
Thursday, January 26, 2012 @ 9:17:58 PM
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Honestly, for a 3rd title, and the finale in a trilogy why are they even talking about new players?

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Beamboom
Friday, January 27, 2012 @ 9:51:51 AM

That's exactly the kind of reasoning that contributes to the struggle of certain devs out there.

Like with MGS4: They could just as well have placed a huge sticker on the cover, "if you haven't played the earlier MGS then get the f*ck away, we don't want your money". That'd saved me some money as well as the feeling of crashing a party I were not invited to.

Last edited by Beamboom on 1/27/2012 9:55:24 AM

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___________
Friday, January 27, 2012 @ 1:33:39 AM
Reply

thats the only thing i did not like about ME2, besides the fact that it was as reliable as a launch day ps3!
they really need to do a better job of explaining whats happened previously in the series.
ive really wanted to go back and play through ME1 i actually downloaded it as soon as i finished 2 but never got a chance to play it.

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Fane1024
Friday, January 27, 2012 @ 4:06:37 AM
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I'm actually reading through as many walkthroughs of ME as I can find before I start ME2 for this very reason. I want to get as many references as I can. The motion comic didn't feel like enough.

I will agree with World, though. We don't need excessively expository dialogue.

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