EA: Mass Effect on PS3 a necessity not a choice
One of the longest running rumors on the Internet (besides Metal Gear Solid 4 on Xbox 360) is the Mass Effect trilogy on PS3. The rumor all started after EA swooped down and picked up Bioware, the acclaimed studio responsible for the excellent game. However, with the economic situation, Mass Effect going to PS3 may be more of a necessity than a choice.
Mass Effect is one of my all time favorite games out there. I even have my character built up to use on Mass Effect 2. The game was so addictive I suffered from withdrawal symptoms while my Xbox 360 was out getting repaired last Christmas. The game had great gameplay mechanics with the turn-based battle system in place.
The rumor recently resurfaced briefly when EA execs indicated that Mass Effect 2 would be released multiplatform. The word “multiplatform” could mean many things; it could mean PS3/X360/PC or just Xbox 360/PC. The rumor was spurred even further when Edge reached out to EA and was told that they could not go into further details of what was meant by “multiplatform.” It is a bit odd as to why EA would go to such lengths to hide the intended platforms.
Second Story Gamer received some attention when they indicated that a reliable source close to EA has revealed that the announcement will be made at GDC March 23. However, the most telling tail of them all just might be from EA’s development cycle and financial portfolio.
Recently, EA revealed that Bioware’s highly anticipated Dragon Age for the PC will be delayed till the end of the year. This bit of news was delivered with the megaton that EA would be axing 11 percent of its staff. With the delay, more than likely the PC version will see a simultaneous release alongside the console versions.
This delay could be due to one of two things:
1) EA has laid off staff from its recently acquired studio Bioware, for which the company paid over $300 million.
2) EA has refocused part of Bioware’s resources on developing the PS3 version of Mass Effect(1) after the acquisition. (Bioware was completely focused on Dragon Age before the buyout)
Coming from the development side of the house myself, I would have to say that in my professional opinion, the latter seems like the most likely scenario. Rarely will companies layoff resources tied to projects in full development beyond the proof of concept stage. Also, when in a cash/profit crunch, porting an existing project over and padding the portfolio has always been the safest thing to do. More than likely, Bioware resources have been diverted to other tasks. I am curious to see if anything interesting really comes out of GDC. Make sure to stay tuned for more information in the coming months.
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40 Responses to “EA: Mass Effect on PS3 a necessity not a choice”
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February 5th, 2009
LMFAO Microsoft is so screw right now almost all of their so call exclusives are basically on PS3 already or coming soon. PLAYSTATION 3 stay exclusive after they launch for ever. Developers and publishers know is better making more money and also have their game on stunning machine like the PS3. Next game is Gears of War i can feel it already. I hate both of those game and i own them but still. All you people here just buy a damn PS3 already.
February 5th, 2009
…
people we got rid of kev… but a greater evil still persists… grrrr Ivan…
anyways… I think I heard in a podcast or saw it in some blawg… that Mass effect 2 was going multiplatform… but I dont have proof and if it is true… it will be blown out of proportions in all the blawgs…
if ME 2 comes to the PS3… I expect them to bring the first game on the PS3 as well… and NO ELEVATOR SHITTYNESS!!! we can haz installz… let us haz installz…
February 5th, 2009
kev was a 360 fanboy id take ivan’s side over kev’s…but i can only hope 4 gears to come to ps3 but it’s made by microsoft so i doubt it buddy but it would be sweet and fable would be nice
February 5th, 2009
NOT MADE BY MICROSOFT!!! MADE AND OWNED BY EPIC!!! the same way Halo is made and owned by Bungie…
PUBLISHED BY MICROSOFT!!! two completely different things…
boy not sleeping makes me cranky… meh…
February 5th, 2009
Lionhead OWNED BY MICROSOFT!!!
February 5th, 2009
Fable is whack anyway…..
February 5th, 2009
no… its not… its a fucking awesome game… wait so many different vernaculars in this damn country…
what is whack?? good thing or a bad thing??
WHY NOT JUST SAY GOOD OR BAD!!! AYE OR NAY!!!
fucking street lingo…
February 5th, 2009
Ivans back!! Hooray! Ivan it’s been too long. Now all we need is Kev and the whole crew would be complete…
February 5th, 2009
When you say ” Awesome” game, you mean “Whack”……..Right?
February 5th, 2009
if they were working on a ps3 version of mass effect 1 or 2 I see no reason forthe delay in mentionng it.
Quite frankly I’m scared of a ME1 port as it has been proven that they don’t go over to well and the game was buggy on the 360.
February 5th, 2009
well I heard my “street homie breda” use “whack” as crap… like that shit is crap yo… yo that shit is whack…
also… AYE KEV!!! WHERE YOU AT!!! Listen to Giant Bombcast 02.03.09 close to the first hour… lots of Forza versus GT … I thought you would like it…
again… ME 1 on the Ps3 before ME 2… dont be a retard and be like the Condemned guys…
February 5th, 2009
This shit is ‘whack’ = unusual. I think it comes down to the tone of voice and context. Like something being shit or the shit. Or being the dog’s bollocks. I’m not going to read too much into it, because it is such a ridiculous phrase anyway.
Y£wWw tH@t sHiT iS Wahck yO!
I hope Mass Effect is coming, so I at least have the option to run and buy it.
People said the Orange Box was screwed, but it is still one of the PS3 games I love most.
February 5th, 2009
@Royzy,
I found very little issues with the PS3 version of Orange Box. Definitely no need to cause the uproar that it did. Of course I stayed away from Team Fortress…. So that could have been it.
February 5th, 2009
I like the Orange Box.
Second game I purchased for my PS2.
5 Games for $20!
I bought Half life 2 for the PC and Hated the Steam download bull shit though.
February 5th, 2009
phranctoast: Whats this about the PS3 copy?
February 5th, 2009
It was said to have pwformance issues. I saw video of the ” major issues” and what they failed to mention during those times was someone was quick saving, causing the stutter.
February 5th, 2009
Mass Effect, huh? Meh. I’m not a fan.
I like playing games that are good. Like… KILLZONE 2!! Tonight!!
Has anyone heard of the Resistance 2 tournament? It looks like there will be prizes for 64 teams (If I’m reading this right). Teams are made up of 4 people. Qualifying rounds run until 2/28. Anyone interested in signing up?
February 5th, 2009
You played Mass Effect and thought it was bad Barnabe?
February 5th, 2009
phranctoast: I played Team Fortress quite early on after Orange Box was released, and there was some network and stat issues, but nothing stopping me from playing.
In the other 4 parts of the Box I had no problems.
Barnabe: I would be interested, but until after the weekend of Feb 14th, my hands are tied down with coursework.
February 5th, 2009
Carl – No. I am put off by the artwork on the box. I mean, who does that guy think he is?
lol… My roommate at the time had it. I watched him play it for a little while.
Roy – There’s altogether $50K worth of prizes. Just add the w w w to the link below to check it out.
gamebattles.com/ps3/resistance-2/ladder/50000-resistance/rules
February 5th, 2009
Royzy , DWH, ivan etc KZ2 demo is up on EU PSN
February 5th, 2009
Oh man….PSN is sloooooowwwww….
30 minutes and only on 50mb….1.2gb demo size as well……
Why the hell don’t Sony buy more bandwidth…
February 5th, 2009
I d/l within half an hour, my broadband must be pretty nippy! Anyways its installing now, can’t wait.
February 5th, 2009
Schaweet, cheers Bourne. I’m going to be a good boy and wait though, I have 1900 words left to write on my essay before 8am GMT tomorrow.
February 5th, 2009
I have to wait about 6 hours until I get to even download it….
February 5th, 2009
What a shambles.
BUY MORE BANDWIDTH SONY!!
February 5th, 2009
Barnabe,
“lol…” I would have to agree it would be boring to watch instead of play.
February 5th, 2009
Barnabe there’s quite a lot of thinking and tactical decision making in Mass Effect so I can see why you would have bother lol but enjoy your Killzone. I guess Mass Effect isn’t for everyone.
February 5th, 2009
There’s also no teabagging. I can’t be asked to play a game that will not allow me to teabag my opponents after I defeat them.
February 5th, 2009
I hope they have patched Home to include teabagging and poo-smearing by now. It is well over due.
February 5th, 2009
I don’t get how someone can be a gamer and not enjoy Mass Effect. It’s like a shooter/RPG/science fiction fanboy’s dream come true!
Speaking of which, am I the only one who thinks that they should take the Mass Effect gameplay system and license it to make the ultimate Star Trek game? Creating your own character, moving up the ranks of Starfleet, exploring all the different worlds/areas in the Star Trek universe… no one else thinks this appealing?
-Arvis
February 5th, 2009
sounds like a good idea Arvis but sometimes nerdy ip’s have a way if turning off anyone but the hardcore.
February 5th, 2009
Phranc,
SCREW YOU! Heh, just kidding.
Actually, I like Star Trek but have never bought (or even played) any of the Star Trek video games… because they don’t make any that are WORTH PLAYING. I think if they made a Star Trek game as good as Mass Effect, it would sell. There’s a reason that the new Star Trek movie is a big deal: because there is a large market for it.
Anyways, this is just a stupid pipedream so I don’t know why I bother discussing it. Alas.
-Arvis
February 5th, 2009
Maybe I was turned off because I was watching some one play an RPG… which is generally not a very exciting thing to do.
I’ve only played KOTOR 2, but I was not a fan. This looked kind of similar.
February 5th, 2009
the movie will probably suck… because its being marketed like a summer action blockbuster… and I wont try the MMO unless I get it discounted…
be a man and play WAR with me… or KOTOR when it comes out…. CMON!!!!
February 6th, 2009
Need to check your sources better they already clarified PC/360 only;
http://www.n4g.com/NewsPending-271058.aspx
http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/mass-effect-2/950725p1.html
The reason EA does not have a choice is because MS had contracts in place before Bioware was bought out. Those contracts do not go null and void just because they were bought.
However, what is likely is that MS and EA sat down and made a deal for some time exclusivity just like Bioshock.
February 6th, 2009
I had some strange dream that Elijah Wood plays the new Spock. Damm.. pizza before bed =/= good dreams.
February 6th, 2009
Only Star trek game I played was Elite Force.
February 6th, 2009
ummm… do we have a… OMG WE HAVE A GIRL ON THE WEBSITE!!!
must control… self… cant… write… sexist… things…
phranc… that shit is fucked up yo…
February 7th, 2009
“what is likely is that MS and EA sat down and made a deal for some time exclusivity just like Bioshock.”
This coincides with his conclusion as well Marie:
“2) EA has refocused part of Bioware’s resources on developing the PS3 version of Mass Effect(1) after the acquisition.”