Mass Effect 3 Delayed to 2012

[Sultan]

Well this sucks:

Electronic Arts is delaying the release of Mass Effect 3 into early 2012.

Casey Hudson, Executive Producer of the Mass Effect series, made the announcement through the game's official Facebook page.

"Mass Effect 3 will be released in the first three months of 2012. The development team is laser focused on making sure Mass Effect 3 is the biggest, boldest and best game in the series, ensuring that it exceeds everyone's expectations."

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/116/1166006p1.html
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Well, I guess that will give Portal 2 an even bigger chance to win Game of The Year...or Deus Ex 3..or L.A. Noir...or Uncharted 3

 

[Martel]

Or Dragon Age 2?

There go my plans for Christmas
Still, there is no doubt in my mind that this game will be even bigger and better than the previous instalment, since they're actually taking their time with it. The Mass Effect series has exceeded all my expectations (well, in all aspect but one: female romance options are shit. I want Joker/Garrus romance options and I want them NOW.) so I don't expect that to change...but if they delay it again, I'm going on a killing spree.

 

[Sultan]

Or Dragon Age 2?

There go my plans for Christmas
Still, there is no doubt in my mind that this game will be even bigger and better than the previous instalment, since they're actually taking their time with it. The Mass Effect series has exceeded all my expectations (well, in all aspect but one: female romance options are shit. I want Joker/Garrus romance options and I want them NOW.) so I don't expect that to change...but if they delay it again, I'm going on a killing spree.

1) Joker won't be able to thrust his hips without basically breaking half of his body.

2) Garrus is an available romance option in ME 2

3) the first two games could have been much better. Let's hope ME3 delivers where ME 1 and 2 didn't

And Dragon Age 2 is far from ever winning GOTY

Look on the bright side, we'll have Skyrim.

 

[Gemini]

well at least Ashley Williams is getting a visual upgrade

and maybe this will give bioware time to perfect their new whatchamacallit system they developed to give a unique experience based off your choices in the first 2

:dave: hell they could even add in multiplayer or something mind boggling

dragon age 2..... GOTY..... lulz

 

[Martel]

1) Joker won't be able to thrust his hips without basically breaking half of his body.

Your point?

2) Garrus is an available romance option in ME 2

That is NOT romance. That barely qualifies as a close friendship.

3) the first two games could have been much better. Let's hope ME3 delivers where ME 1 and 2 didn't

Well, everything can always be better. If you want to be picky, I'm game.

And Dragon Age 2 is far from ever winning GOTY

Look on the bright side, we'll have Skyrim.

Ugh, Elder Scrolls...if its anything like Oblivion, I won't be buying it.

 

[Rey]

That really sucks I suppose.. I really love the whole Mass Effect series and now that III is delayed I suppose something else will have to keep me busy. But a delayed game can always make a better game in all honesty. I want some more info on the game though so I will keep my eyes open. Without a doubt UC III will win game of the year.

 

[Sultan]

Your point?


That is NOT romance. That barely qualifies as a close friendship.


Well, everything can always be better. If you want to be picky, I'm game.


Ugh, Elder Scrolls...if its anything like Oblivion, I won't be buying it.

Just youtubed the Garrus romance video They couldn't come up with a Turian equivalent of a kiss?

What I meant was, there were some short comings in both Mass Effect games that felt were a little disappointing. Story-wise and game design-wise. Mainly the role-playing aspects.

I encourage you to look up a bunch of videos on Skyrim, it looks impressive so far.

 

[AddleBoy]

2) Garrus is an available romance option in ME 2

They should just add a sex scene between Shepard and Garrus, and during this scene they both freak the fuck out when they see each other's freaky sexual organs. I would be a female Shepard and pursue a relationship with Garrus just to see that.

Or maybe they could add a sex scene with Grunt. Wouldn't that be awesome?

 

[Martel]

Or maybe they could add a sex scene with Grunt. Wouldn't that be awesome?

Wrex would be better

"Shepard. "
"Wrex. "
"..."

Just youtubed the Garrus romance video They couldn't come up with a Turian equivalent of a kiss?

What I meant was, there were some short comings in both Mass Effect games that felt were a little disappointing. Story-wise and game design-wise. Mainly the role-playing aspects.

I encourage you to look up a bunch of videos on Skyrim, it looks impressive so far.

I rest my case. xD

Well, Mass Effect isn't an RPG, so of course the roleplaying elements aren't going to be quite as good as one would expect. They really shouldn't have been in there...I don't know about you, but I never really used the special skills you got when you levelled up. The only thing I found of any use was the boosting of Renegade/Paragon points, because I like exploiting/killing people in conversation

Yes, well, Final Fantasy XIII looked impressive a few months before release as well. After Oblivion, I'm be more inclined to wait until its out and then see what I think, rather than just taking the gameplay videos, manipulated examples of the best the game has to offer, at face value.
...besides, I hate sandbox games. They're pointless and extremely dull.

 

[Sultan]

Wrex would be better

"Shepard. "
"Wrex. "
"..."


I rest my case. xD

Well, Mass Effect isn't an RPG, so of course the roleplaying elements aren't going to be quite as good as one would expect. They really shouldn't have been in there...I don't know about you, but I never really used the special skills you got when you levelled up. The only thing I found of any use was the boosting of Renegade/Paragon points, because I like exploiting/killing people in conversation

Yes, well, Final Fantasy XIII looked impressive a few months before release as well. After Oblivion, I'm be more inclined to wait until its out and then see what I think, rather than just taking the gameplay videos, manipulated examples of the best the game has to offer, at face value.
...besides, I hate sandbox games. They're pointless and extremely dull.

But you see, I was only referring to the moral choices aspect of the game rather than character customization, which is in this case the Paragon/Renegade system. Being that you can play as either, make decisions that shape your character's standing in the eyes of other characters as well as making decisions that heavily affect the plot, that's role playing. More so than what your character prefers to use to zap your enemies to kingdom come, but I digress.

It's been two games and they couldn't get the hint that the Paragon/Renegade system is not complementary to an ideal role playing experience. I've mentioned this before, this is where Dragon Age Origins succeeded and where Mass Effect failed. When you're in any conversation or important plot-point you're barely thinking about what sort of action you would want to take or what is an appropriate action for this character to take etc etc. You're more concerned with how high you can get your Paragon/Renegade points so you can have those cool extra options in the dialogue wheel that would generate the best possible outcome. So basically what it is, it boils down to 2 playthroughs wherein each one you'd find yourself blindly choosing the paragon or renegade dialogue option which is conveniently mapped on your dialogue wheel. First of all, the middle choice aka "neutral" is useless as it doesn't contribute to your points, and you would want to fill 'er up as fast as you can so you can enjoy the game with the mentioned "best outcome-extra unlockable coloured dialogue options of destiny". So that option in it self is redundant. What you're left with are the first and third choices. And this system is a disincentive to truly go about and make the decisions that you truly think are appropriate.

Contrast that with the approval/disapproval system in Dragon Age Origins. The question of ethics in your actions are mirrored by your party member's reactions to them. Not only does this allow for a more ambiguous role playing experience but also adds a level of depth in the characters wherein you'd learn where they stand in terms of morals and that they truly believe in their values. You're making the decisions that you want to take because those decisions are the ones you believe is right or find the most logical. At least, if you want to. And there isn't that disincentive that I mentioned earlier. Every character has a specific viewpoint, and what you do can be seen as noble in the eyes of one, and cowardly in the eyes of another. Not have bloody sci fi neon red glowing scars complemented with bloody red points constantly telling you that you're Dirty Bloody Harry. It's annoying.
Mass Effect would do good to adopt or innovate on the Dragon Age Origins role playing model.

As for XIII, it didn't even look a tad bit impressive. The more they revealed about the game, the more I dreaded its arrival. Even when I forced myself to keep an open mind, I couldn't help but be turned off by the uninspired artwork, character design, world conceptualization and premise.

Eh, personal preferences, personal preferences.

 

[Mr. Gorilla]

Thank goodness. This will probably give them time to fine-tone the RPG elements and choice and consequence, which was pretty crap in ME2 compared to ME1, ME1 actually having a pretty memorable plot filled with choices that felt meaningful, in addition to an excellent fictional universe/atmosphere. Yeah, ME2 improved its combat, and the character development is a little better, but the gameplay's still pretty ho-hum compared to most other third-person shooters out there and ME1 still trumps it in any story-related aspect.

Well, Mass Effect isn't an RPG, so of course the roleplaying elements aren't going to be quite as good as one would expect. They really shouldn't have been in there...I don't know about you, but I never really used the special skills you got when you levelled up. The only thing I found of any use was the boosting of Renegade/Paragon points, because I like exploiting/killing people in conversation

Sadly, Mass Effect (The sequel less so) is more of an RPG than pretty much any other game in modern times that calls itself an RPG. JRPGs, regardless of their quality, aren't RPGs and they never were in the first place (They never had any, you know, role-playing in them).

Oblivion and WRPGs of its kind don't count because there's little in the way of actual choice and consequence ("Big wide open world" doesn't equal role-playing; in such cases, the plotlines will generally remain static and bare-bones). Real RPGs like Deus Ex are sadly a dying breed (Hopefully Deus Ex 3 is great, though).

 

[Contra Fates]

This annoys me - but not for the typical 'ugh, gotta wait longer!' reasons.

I'm annoyed that it's okay for Dragon Age 2 to have been rushed out the way it was - but Mass Effect? Nope, they can take their time with that one!

I'm assuming they're doing this in response to the fanbase backlash that occurred over Dragon Age 2 due to it being pushed out too soon, and showing for it. So, that being said - it's a good thing that they're taking their time to ensure proper quality control.

I just wish the franchises were flipped. =/