Mass Effect PC golden

BioWare and Demiurge Studios collaboration enters production in advance of May 28 North American release on PCs.

With just four weeks remaining until Mass Effect on the PC was scheduled to stack up alongside Boom Blox and Speed Racer at retail, Electronic Arts and BioWare abruptly hit the brakes last month. According to BioWare community administrator Chris Priestly, the game would now incubate until May 28 so that the team could "incorporate more play-testing feedback, add extra polish, and tune the additional features."

The kinks now sufficiently ironed, BioWare said today that the PC edition of Mass Effect has entered mass production and is on schedule for its May 28 release in North America and June 6 debut in Europe. BioWare collaborated with Massachusetts-based Demiurge Studios on the PC edition of Mass Effect.

As for those aforementioned tweaks, the PC edition offers a suite of additions to the 360 version, with the most visible being a reworked heads-up display and inventory-management system. The game also touts a new control scheme optimized for PCs, individual control over squad members, and a new decryption minigames. Mass Effect PC purchasers who also register with BioWare's community site will also have immediate access to the Bring Down the Sky downloadable expansion free of charge.

EA is looking to stimulate preorders by knocking off $10 from the game's $49.99 sticker price for those who buy in advance, among other incentives. Responding to public outcry, the publisher also did away with the game's controversial digital rights management protocol, which would have required the game to be reauthenticated every 10 days as a security measure.

132 Comments

  • WiredDreemz

    Posted May 24, 2008 12:59 am PT

    I can't wait for the game. I think I'm going to pre-order it. It looks like it will be a worthwhile game to add to my collection. I just wish they released a Collector's Edition! BTW, my understanding is that they are no longer going with all those security features because of complaints. Personally, I wouldn't really have a problem with it. Piracy is a big problem, and so many developers are complaining about it, and hence are looking to console development so that they can actually make a profit. The future of mainstream PC gaming, while not in great danger of disappearing, is teetering on the verge of negativity - negative developers = abandonment of platform! A developer has to jump into the deep end sometime, and introduce some new anti-piracy mechanic, and what better time than with an eagerly anticipated game like Mass Effect!

  • Exostenza

    Posted May 20, 2008 8:56 pm PT

    I was going to buy the game, but after hearing about all the security in the game I will wait for it to be released to the scene (with "bring down the sky" too I am sure) and pirate it. EA knows how to screw it all up.

    Looks at Sins of a Solar Empire for example. No security what so ever and sold like crazy considering the fan base of the game. I pirated Sins and found out for myself the game is amazing and had no CD protection so I bought it even though I could have easily just played the pirated version. They made that game for the fans and because of that I am now one of them. EA needs to think about the people who are going to buy the game and not the people who are going pirate it. Make it for the fans, not for the pirates.

  • rudrick

    Posted May 20, 2008 2:55 pm PT

    Probably Mass Effect will be only one ilegal copy in my collection.I am cancel my preorder becaouse I wont pay malware and rental for full price.
    SecuRoom is long time ago cracked,EA cant stop piracy punishing legal customers.

  • brianpoetzel

    Posted May 20, 2008 4:52 am PT

    @acsam12304: True. The blockbuster games don't have much to worry about. They'll make boat loads of money. But it's the smaller titles and smaller developers that it hurts the most. A lot of those can't take the sales hit that the big name publishers can. And that can make the difference between a game you love getting the sequel you'd like, or even just continued support.

  • acsam12304

    Posted May 19, 2008 1:17 pm PT

    EA DRM is not going to stop everyone from getting a download version of the game. face it people you are always going to have a small group of people that are going to hack the game and post it up on the net for other to download. now i tell you, there are a lot more people that are going to buy this game ( like me) then people who are going to doanloed it for free.



    like GTA 4 yeah half of the world wants to play it. so they bought the game. yeah for sure there are people that download the game for free. but look they made more money then anything more then HALO3 i dont know why they will be crying over a loss that is like to me less then a 5% , then they make a gain for 95%.



    what they want to make a 100% gain of sells of there game? what world are they living in? you will never going to have a 100% of gain with media. To them they think that everyone download free things off the net thats why they punish all of us.

  • Humorguy_basic

    Posted May 19, 2008 11:41 am PT

    If you think 10 days is bad, think about the premium module Bioware has called 'The Wyvern Crown of Cormyr' for Neverwinter Nights:, a 5 year old game, IT requires that you authenticate over the internet EVERY TIME YOU PLAY OR LOAD a SAVE FILE! EVERY TIME!!!!! This is a 10 buck module for a 5 year old game. So the next time anyone in the media says publishers are not just in it for the money, but for the art - point them to this module for a FIVE YEAR OLD game - because to me, it proves the money thing 100%!!!!

  • lucebuce

    Posted May 19, 2008 9:35 am PT

    JUST STOP IT .... :@ man this sucks ... i read on wikipedia that we have to activate once , and when we install new content than we have to activate again ..

    this sucks that we have to reauthenticate every 10 days :S

  • commander1122

    Posted May 19, 2008 7:13 am PT

    ya DRM has been cracked already..but i still dunno why EA force a good company to put such a evil thing in a good game.....

  • _Elite_Bushido_

    Posted May 19, 2008 3:55 am PT

    eh, DRM has been cracked already. so i dont see a problem

  • shockster4life

    Posted May 19, 2008 3:08 am PT

    sure hope they do the same for fable 2

  • MSG-Deathscythe

    Posted May 19, 2008 2:29 am PT

    i bought this and gears of war for the 360 only to realize that a polished and a version with extra content will come out for the pc... learned my lesson... the 360 is just a platform to release beta versions of games. i will definitely wait before i buy "exclusive" games for the 360.

  • Diernes

    Posted May 19, 2008 1:43 am PT

    Now they have had the sense to get rid of that horrible DRM system i might buy this. My only regret is that I brought the Xbox360 version, I am sure the PC version will be much better

  • bstclair1

    Posted May 18, 2008 9:56 pm PT

    mass effect should be a bit better on pc than it was on the 360. they have had a lot of time to fix that stupid menu system and the frame rate. overall, this a truly great game.

  • gamer100g

    Posted May 18, 2008 9:04 pm PT

    maybe the textures popping and long load times will be fixed with the game on a hard drive like my raptor

  • other44

    Posted May 18, 2008 7:28 pm PT

    hmmm, should be fun...

  • VenomRitual

    Posted May 18, 2008 6:35 pm PT

    it's just drm to make sure it's not pirated. just buy the game and be happy. we should thank them for even releasing it on the PC.

  • Ghaz013

    Posted May 18, 2008 6:06 pm PT

    I think anyone who claims they wont get ME because of DRM will end it pirating it

  • Megawizard1

    Posted May 18, 2008 5:46 pm PT

    "Why are people saying they will pass on buying this game cause of the DRM. Did you READ the article. It has been taken OUT. Enough crying about it all ready."

    No, the 10-day reauthentication was taken out. SecuROM is STILL installed to handle the initial check/online update/mod install check.

    And as for this:
    "Nope, it's right there in the FAQ. They will give additional authorizations as needed. Your hypothetical scenario wouldn't leave you without a game."

    And it's at THEIR discretion. They don't HAVE to give you another one.

  • Death_Masta187

    Posted May 18, 2008 5:21 pm PT

    uberjannie

    and why do people whine about reauthenticated?
    Well, some comment is "Its because I dont have internet".. well then, gaming and the internet is interveined now a days. Having a PC/console without internet is like having a car without a drivers license. ----------------------- because it only hurts the people they pay for the game....

  • uberjannie

    Posted May 18, 2008 4:56 pm PT

    and why do people whine about reauthenticated?
    Well, some comment is "Its because I dont have internet".. well then, gaming and the internet is interveined now a days. Having a PC/console without internet is like having a car without a drivers license.

  • uberjannie

    Posted May 18, 2008 4:27 pm PT

    Actually I like copy protection.
    Its the only thing that can keep PC gaming alive.
    I mean, we all know that copy protection on digital discs are dead (like star force), but we all know that copyprotection like STEAM uses will save pc gaming. It uses encryption.
    And who doesnt love steam, come on. Even when the community thing and chat didnt work for 3 years, the publishing platform still held its ground. Even with 2 launch set-backs its nothing compared to setbacks people have had with starforce and the like.

    LimitedVert : well, if the only sense you have left is your taste, why play games? First you watch the game (ex @ gamespot), then you hear the game (gamespot vids) then you play it (taste it) if you are interested. There isnt anything that resembles interest using the words :
    "Pff...bring on FF13 please..."

  • Vortec33

    Posted May 18, 2008 4:19 pm PT

    Why are people saying they will pass on buying this game cause of the DRM. Did you READ the article. It has been taken OUT. Enough crying about it all ready.

  • mafdys

    Posted May 18, 2008 3:57 pm PT

    i really dont like that drm protocol thing how you have to keep reauthenticating it!

  • infinity_wasted

    Posted May 18, 2008 3:41 pm PT

    for 39.99, that's not too bad of a buy for the pre-order. I think the two big reasons to pirate are, a) Price/Money compared to Perceived Value, and b) DRM: no one likes it, but we all live with some form of it..

  • LimitedVert

    Posted May 18, 2008 3:17 pm PT

    You've got to lick it, you don't know what it tastes like till its in your mouth!

  • uberjannie

    Posted May 18, 2008 2:17 pm PT

    limitedvert : if you dont like it, dont lick it!

  • LimitedVert

    Posted May 18, 2008 1:43 pm PT

    Pff...bring on FF13 please...

  • uberjannie

    Posted May 18, 2008 1:34 pm PT

    I have preordered it from EA's official site here in europe..
    BUT.. one week later than the US?
    LAME
    *cry*

  • whateverever

    Posted May 18, 2008 1:25 pm PT

    well.... canuter has a point with the DRM but this is actually one of the very few games that I'd really liked to buy this year. so... guess i'll do it anyway, though there are some things directly against it.

  • whateverever

    Posted May 18, 2008 1:24 pm PT

    well.... canuter has a point with the DRM but this is actually one of the very few games that I'd really liked to buy this year. so... guess i'll do it anyway, though there are some things directly against it.

  • nate1222

    Posted May 18, 2008 12:27 pm PT

    @canuter
    I strongly agree. I played Mass Effect when I had a 360. I ditched 360 since then for my own reasons. I, honestly, loved Mass Effect. But that DRM **** is BS. I'm not going to support that. The biggest gripe among PC devs is "piracy". BS. It's the system requirements, harddrive hogging and complicated installation putting consumers off and driving them to consoles. They're making it to where you'll have to repurchase a game everytime you upgrade your hardware. Consoles never put me through that crap, yet. But even in the console scene there's the issues of price, lack of BC and forced online multiplayer. They'll nix BOTS and splitscreen to force you into propietary online services. If I lose my connection or decide to cancel my internet services I'll have no multiplayer. Console makers crap is quickly turning me into a 'retro-gamer'.

  • LimitedVert

    Posted May 18, 2008 12:15 pm PT

    I agree 100% with canuter

    I'd also like to say that this method of limiting the consumer only adds to the pirating of the software, not minimizing it.

  • canuter

    Posted May 18, 2008 12:04 pm PT

    I love Bioware games. I bought BG1, BG2, BG Throne Baal, KotOR 1, KotOR 2, NWN and Jade Empire, but I'm not buying this one.

    Beware, by buying this game you're sending the message that DRM (limited installations and online activation) is ok with you.

  • dryden555

    Posted May 18, 2008 8:35 am PT

    individual control over squad members is important. This was sorely missed in the 360 version. Still, the side-missions will be as generic as before. Its a B+ game at best.

  • _iMMuNiTy_

    Posted May 18, 2008 4:49 am PT

    Nice. I'll be able to play this right after my English exam and relax.

  • Templar94

    Posted May 18, 2008 4:01 am PT

    just got my 360, to add to my HD experince, and although the two games i own are old i am exstatic that they where included in the bundle deal. Obviously as this is a Mass Effect story that was one, the other was Gears of War. When i get LIVE i am downloading Bring Down The Sky and my 360 will be humming away happily

  • Beaglesniffer

    Posted May 18, 2008 2:57 am PT

    bestco plz jus dont tlk

    do you really think RROD or some bad failure rate like that will happen again NOOO it was there 2nd console whereas it was sony's 3rd and for there 2nd console there doing extremely well.

    people/companies make mistakes get over it!


    BTW mass effect is a great game! and im sure on PC it wil be even better!!!!

  • Kez1984

    Posted May 18, 2008 12:32 am PT

    Not to agree or disagree with him as I own a pc not a console, but if you actually if you look at the guys reviews, he quite clearly plays xbox games.

  • bestco

    Posted May 17, 2008 11:34 pm PT

    Hey? That's Microsoft for you. They don't give a damn about quality assurance or product testing. They just want to be the first out of the gate. That's why you have such atrocious system failure rates for the 360 and buggy games. They also like to abandon their products (as evidenced with their first Xbox) whereas Sony still continues to support its PS2 even with the PS3 out on the market. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if MS pulled the same stunt when they release their next console (which, BTW, is currently in R&D).

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

    LOL, are you on crack? what does a 3rd party buggy software have to do with game console hardware? I'm always amazed at the brains of these PS3 fanboys.

  • vistafan

    Posted May 17, 2008 11:21 pm PT

    Again, for all those concerned about it: As long as it is not a different computer, and you have not made significant hardware changes(definitely one, probably two pieces of hardware changed out would be considered "insignificant"), you can install Mass Effect over and over and over again, without using up an install token. It is NOT tied to individual installs, it is tied to hardware changes, so even if you reformatted your hard drive 5 or 6 times a year, as long as it is the same hard drive, you would still be able to play ME WITHOUT calling EA for more tokens.

  • henry4th

    Posted May 17, 2008 9:19 pm PT

    mysterylobster, what you failed to understand is that sometimes, (a lot of times) when poeple have to reinstall a system, it happens because the system couldn't boot up, th windows software fails, or whatnot. So it's easily perceivable that some poeple will use up the 3 installs. I know I've done 3 system reimaging in the past 2 years.

  • FAcorp

    Posted May 17, 2008 9:12 pm PT

    I am so getting ME gold for my totally kick-ass pc!

  • acsam12304

    Posted May 17, 2008 8:52 pm PT

    Yes i cant wait... right now at gamespot if you pre-order the game you will get it for 39.99

  • mattg90520

    Posted May 17, 2008 8:10 pm PT

    man, if i had an awesome pc and no 360, i would definently preorder this for 40 bucks

  • nate1222

    Posted May 17, 2008 4:17 pm PT

    @zintarr
    Thank you for explaining it to mysterylobster. Some people are so busy being smart asses they don't get it. And chances are, that DRM code must be authenticated via internet. Which, if EA does things the way steam does, you'll have to be ONLINE just to play the damn game! I have a steam account and I have to be connected to the web just to play what I've already bought. If I lose my connection or decide to cancel my internet service - I'm screwed! I love Quake 3 Arena, but I'm opting to find a physical copy of it les I cancel my Internet service. Which can happen any day now with my hours drying up at work.

  • one_man_assault

    Posted May 17, 2008 3:45 pm PT

    EA is its own worst enemy when it comes to Pirating....why cant they just go stardocks route and release a crude version of the game but make it so you cant update the game unless you are registered in their network with the CD key also registered under your account........there problem solved....by making it so you are only able to install 3 times you are pretty much saying.....why pay for this pirate it....please dont buy me because in 3 installs your 49 dollars are going down the drain and youll pretty much have to bootleg me anyways....................great innovation guys! NOT!

  • onething77

    Posted May 17, 2008 3:33 pm PT

    To many people's disappointment, I'm sorry to say I have nothing against EA. I just think this EA "Hate Campaign" has become the most prominent stereotype amongst gamers.

  • Megawizard1

    Posted May 17, 2008 3:26 pm PT

    Still not touching it with SecuROM.

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