Mass Effect 3 introducing resource for new players

BioWare is working to make the transition into the world of Mass Effect easier for new players in Mass Effect 3.

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If you picked up Mass Effect 2 without playing the original, you might have felt a little thrown off. The PS3 version included an interactive comic that detailed all the high points, but Xbox 360 players might have been confused. Even with the cinematic, you probably still inevitably found yourself meeting complete strangers who have a history with Shepard. BioWare hopes to remedy that problem in Mass Effect 3, but isn't saying exactly how just yet.

BioWare's Nick Clifford mentioned a resource for new players to IGN, somewhat similar to the "story so far" comic in Mass Effect 2, but remained vague on the details. Those jumping into a story-based trilogy on the third installment might be rare, but it's nice to know BioWare is taking it into consideration.

"In all honesty, we didn't do a really good job of new player orientation," Clifford said. "If you didn't play the first game then 2 was pretty jarring for the first half hour."

He jokes that players must have been baffled by characters referencing events they never experienced. "I would be like 'No. I don't remember that one time,'" he said. "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?'"

Mass Effect 3 is due on March 6 for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.

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From The Chatty
  • reply
    January 24, 2012 11:45 AM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Mass Effect 3 introducing resource for new players.

    BioWare is working to make the transition into the world of Mass Effect easier for new players in Mass Effect 3.

    • reply
      January 24, 2012 11:48 AM

      The resource is money. More money, more Mass Effect 3.

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        January 24, 2012 11:49 AM

        But what about Ass Effect? Does that require money too?

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          January 24, 2012 12:04 PM

          Is there a porn parody of this? Please say yes

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            January 24, 2012 1:47 PM

            no, but i did see "duke fuckem" staring ron jeremey the other day.

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              January 24, 2012 2:05 PM

              That sounds unfortunate.

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      January 24, 2012 11:59 AM

      Why would anyone jump into part 3 of a trilogy without having played the previous 2 games? I just don't get that.

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        January 24, 2012 12:15 PM

        Yeah- I kinda feel like we're being punished because a bunch of other people chose to miss out on 2 fantastic games and are apparently incapable of just reading the plot synopsis on wikipedia.

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          January 24, 2012 1:33 PM

          Because a game that is more than a few months old is no longer hip or cool to play anymore. This is why millions of people buy cod every year even though not much has changed.

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      January 24, 2012 12:07 PM

      [deleted]

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      January 24, 2012 12:21 PM

      Requires Origin. I've already jumped ship on this one.

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      January 24, 2012 12:36 PM

      I didn't play the first game, and ME2 wasn't jarring at all; as I was aware that I hadn't played the first one.

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        January 24, 2012 1:36 PM

        You missed out. The first game did a excellent job of introducing you to the ME universe and lore. It made ME 2 much more enjoyable by revisiting characters from the first.

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          January 24, 2012 1:45 PM

          My point is that ME2 wasn't jarring from the lack. Because my head was always aware that things had happened in the first game. And when they were referenced, well, "Oh, first game reference."
          I'm not saying ME1 was bad, so i didn't play it. It just worked out that way.

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            January 24, 2012 1:52 PM

            You still missed out on some awesome experiences though. :(

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            January 24, 2012 2:13 PM

            In the same boat - Haven't played ME1 either.

            I understood that It was part of a larger story when I bought it and that characters referencing earlier events made me feel like I was playing in a richer world - with characters that lived their lives without me having been part of it.

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              January 25, 2012 2:03 AM

              I played ME2 first and was sceptical about ME1, but loved it. You should try it. It makes some things in ME2 make more sense and it feels like you revisit it even though you played ME2 first :)

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      January 24, 2012 2:06 PM

      the incredible single player experience from the prior 2 games must be on life support at this point :(

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        January 24, 2012 2:22 PM

        As a casual (Fable type) fan of RPGs the first two have been amazing fun. I played and enjoyed DA:O but 2 was broken for me. I am hoping ME3 is ME1 but fixed at this point. Selfish but so hope they deliver what I want.

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      January 24, 2012 2:21 PM

      Sounds to me like maybe they're adding a "flashback" feature like MGS4 had?

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      January 24, 2012 6:33 PM

      I wonder if Microsoft Games Studio had bought BioWare instead of EA what Mass Effect would've looked like by the third one. I am pretty sure the gameplay in 2 was about what they were going for in the original but I suspect the concept of continuity would've gone a lot further and had a more wide-ranging impact than it does now.

      EA is pretty clearly telling the Mass Effect team, Hey, make this two and three as accessible to new players as possible. Not necessarily bad but not exactly what I envisioned when I played one.

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      January 25, 2012 1:01 PM

      This concerns me......It's not that hard to play through ME1 and ME2 in a couple of days (if you avoid the side quests). They also have been on sale for like 10 dollars for both. There should be no excuse.

      Don't cater to the new people, cater to those who have stuck it out through the trilogy!!!

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