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Mass Effect 2 importing 'hundreds' of Mass Effect decisions

BioWare has been abundantly clear that its sci-fi space opera Mass Effect is destined to be a trilogy. With the Edmonton, Alberta-based developer debuting the first trailer for Mass Effect 2 in February, BioWare indicated that it would be wise for those who had completed the original to hang onto...

BioWare has been abundantly clear that its sci-fi space opera Mass Effect is destined to be a trilogy. With the Edmonton, Alberta-based developer debuting the first trailer for Mass Effect 2 in February, BioWare indicated that it would be wise for those who had completed the original to hang onto their saved-game files.

In a recent interview with PC World, BioWare lead producer Casey Hudson confirmed what many assumed this advice implied: Decisions made in the original Mass Effect will impact how Mass Effect 2's storyline unfolds.

"When you're playing the first game, everything that you do is setting a variable so that as the story progresses we know that you did a certain thing on a certain planet, and then internal to the game, we can reference those things," Hudson said. "Your Mass Effect save game contains all of that information. When you import it into Mass Effect 2, now we can continue mining all that information."

Hudson went on to note that even minor decisions made in Mass Effect will impact events in Mass Effect 2. "It's not just what your ending was, or a couple of the big choices, you know, where we could have stuck a conversation at the beginning and asked you what you did and moved on," he continued. "This is literally hundreds of things."

"The save game has every variable that you've set as a player, and as we delve into the detail levels of things like actual words that are spoken, art that appears in levels, sounds and music and subtle things as such...those can all be looked at, and how they comprise the world of each sequel can be affected by your choices in the prior ones," he went on to say.

Mass Effect 2 is expected to arrive for the Xbox 360 and PC before the end of EA's current fiscal year, which runs through March 31, 2010. Check out GameSpot's previous coverage for more information on Mass Effect 2.

171 Comments

  • wikkiwild1

    Posted Jan 20, 2010 9:32 pm GMT

    I like this, can't wait for ME2

  • Ryujin_Jakka

    Posted Dec 26, 2009 4:41 pm GMT

    Im installing Mass Effect 1 as i write this, wanna make "perfect game" save, i hope choices like killing wrex, choosing between keidan and that girl. and choices u make at game ending will have some nice effect in second game.

  • dogfiend

    Posted Dec 8, 2009 11:57 am GMT

    this is cool.

  • italiano72

    Posted Oct 18, 2009 2:36 am GMT

    @ 64316431
    I'm sure you can play it anyway but I strongly advise you to buy it or rent it....personally I'm going to play it again as the default Shepard and be a good guy.....because the first time around I customized it to look bad ass and I did some sick s**t....time to clean up my act

  • 64316431

    Posted Oct 17, 2009 10:41 am GMT

    What if you've not played the original??

  • siarhei

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 7:01 pm GMT

    I have 3 different characters, 6 different playthroughs..
    Can't wait to see how it's all going to play out!

  • lightwarrior179

    Posted Aug 26, 2009 12:10 pm GMT

    BioWare is addressing almost every flaw or shortcoming of ME1 (which was an awesome RPG btw) in ME2. The planetary exploration, party mechanics, NPCs and what-not. Plus, I always dreamt a kind of "impact of your decisions" to be drawn onto in sequels. Great job BioWare. Can't wait to play this game next year!

  • Dynamo11

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 4:56 pm GMT

    bah, I "lost" all my save games and just recently sold my copy of Mass Effect!
    >: ( not pleased

  • yamahaman91

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 9:25 am GMT

    bio ware has addressed the "hollow" feel of me1. they are making the npc's seem more alive by setting them into routines that they do through the day (ala oblivion) and better animation (more fluid). though i hope they fix the male characters, they all look like a stereotypical 90's action star.

  • cartercity2005

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 6:41 pm GMT

    Awesome game. Can't wait. The only thing that sucks is that they gave away one of the endings but I loved ME1 and ME2 looks that much better.

  • rgsniper1

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 5:23 pm GMT

    So what if you're half way through as the opposite of what you enjoy playing as? I have beaten the game as a Paragon and then I'm about half way through it again as a Renegade... I'm wondering how my game is going to transfer over?

  • topsemag55

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 3:56 pm GMT

    Sure am glad I kept all of my saved games.

  • THEB0YWH0LIVED posted Aug 20, 2009 10:25 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    THEB0YWH0LIVED

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 10:25 am GMT (hide)

    Mass Effect was kind of hollow, for some reason even though they put so much emphasis on very good facial expressions and more it still felt very cold. And Mass Effect 2 doesn't look any different, the only thing they seem to be talking about is combat, and I don't think they need to talk about story that much before the game, but I'd like they're to be better relationships and more people to have them with. I sure hope you can customize your character better or at least have some better looking male choices, they are all so badass and ugly that I just chose to be a girl.

  • DemonRaptor posted Aug 16, 2009 9:40 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    DemonRaptor

    Posted Aug 16, 2009 9:40 am GMT (hide)

    I guess I'm the only one who felt like ME1 was a hollow experience.

  • Zingoe1

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 7:58 am GMT

    Thats pretty impressive if they pull it off

  • Sillybanana

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 9:20 am GMT

    i love how he had to clarify that one ending would result in Shepard dying....PERMANENTLY. i guess that makes zombie mass effect a no go

  • funnysplay

    Posted Aug 10, 2009 9:34 am GMT

    I just beat the first, i thought it was all around a pretty good game.
    It had awful texture poping though. This new one should hopefully fix that.

  • mbashour

    Posted Aug 6, 2009 9:13 am GMT

    hm, maybe i shouldn't have killed every NPC...oh well ill just have to play through ME again

  • jimmy8118

    Posted Aug 5, 2009 12:46 pm GMT

    amazing

  • bluenosepunk

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 3:14 pm GMT

    Is it just me or is Mass Effect like the only game in years if not ever to totaly suck you in and make you feel like you actually are in space.I have both systems and like them equally,but Microsoft has an absolute peach on their hands here!I won't sleep a wink till 2010!

  • Lordzalla

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 12:38 pm GMT

    mass effect is easily becoming one of the xbox360's best titles when this game comes out people will be playing it for a long time

  • bluenosepunk

    Posted Aug 2, 2009 9:29 pm GMT

    I'm so stoked for this one!The first one took total control of my life.What a gem!

  • biagio55

    Posted Aug 2, 2009 1:54 pm GMT

    Barighm: gears of war and mass effect are really different games. its not a tps its an rpg. mass effect focused on story and characters not gunplay

  • flip_flop_

    Posted Aug 1, 2009 2:59 pm GMT

    I wonder how much of an impact some of the choice will make, the minors ones, and if it will effect the game in superficial ways or make it harder, more stressing or make some options void. Hmm.

  • gnial

    Posted Aug 1, 2009 11:41 am GMT

    Sounds good, If they really deliver this, RPG games will evolve in a very interesting way.

    But I wonder if they will make this right.

    For instance:

    SPOILERS

    Your decision of letting the council die or rescue them will define the political landscape of ME2?

  • eschaeron

    Posted Aug 1, 2009 1:57 am GMT

    To Phaselinear: I saw somewhere that only your choices get carried over, not your level (which, somehow, makes sense)

  • Go_Away_Kid

    Posted Jul 30, 2009 5:34 am GMT

    This feature sounds awesome, I've picked ME back off the shelf, dusted it off, and slid it into the 360. I can't wait for ME2...

  • pakhair

    Posted Jul 28, 2009 3:18 pm GMT

    This thing was announced far before, It's just that they properly announced it this time.......

    It is a great feature, Which I'll love, Hope more games do things like this........

  • Phaselinear

    Posted Jul 28, 2009 12:17 pm GMT

    The bigger question is for us people who completed the game to level 60 for every character. I want to know if my character(s) of level 60 will begin the game at 60, or will I be stuck at level 1 with only my choices of ME 1 being started with...etc.

  • Barighm posted Jul 28, 2009 7:15 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Barighm

    Posted Jul 28, 2009 7:15 am GMT (hide)

    Sure hope the extra time they spent working on this makes it a lot better. But what about people who didn't complete Mass Effect? How will that affect the ME2? For me, ME played like an incredibly ugly and finicky version of Gears of War, so I couldn't bring myself to finish it. I'm sure they will fix that, but if ME2 will lack a lot of depth because I couldn't stand the mistakes they made in the first...why bother?

  • joeborg14

    Posted Jul 27, 2009 1:26 pm GMT

    This could potentially make for an amazingly deep and consequential sequel to ME. If this works, it will create some incredible replay value. And just think, the level of complexity increases exponentially for the third game of the series. If consequences carry over as well from the second to the third game, we could have radically different universes from one character file to the next.

    Then again, think how much work that would take for Bioware to meticulously craft every possible minor detail into these three games. I'm not saying that they couldn't do it, but think about how much time and resource power would be required for that kind of momentous undertaking.

    Kudos to them if they are planning to do that. It'll be one of the most epic and rewarding achievements of all time.

  • Raeldor

    Posted Jul 27, 2009 11:53 am GMT

    Hey, maybe I can finish some of those missions I missed because I couldn't dock my friggin' ship at the space port halfway through the game!

  • bschroth

    Posted Jul 27, 2009 11:20 am GMT

    Can't wait to play. I still need to go back and play as a jerk so I can have two different ways to play part two.

  • raahsnavj

    Posted Jul 27, 2009 10:24 am GMT

    I would assume each time you clear the game the clear data gets saved off and you can continue from that data. I noticed that after I cleared the game with one of my characters twice I could start another game from either clear data.

    This just made every tedious mission that more interesting. Imagine if you left unethical researchers alive, or sided with the renegade crime lords... it all continues on. I have a feeling seeing everything I want to see in ME2 is going to be impossible... which is great! I'm going to be able to replay these quite a bit.

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted Jul 27, 2009 7:20 am GMT

    LOL...this is the way thihngs were decades ago...Ultima serries for a while as well as Bioware RPG's (Bauldersgate, Icewind) your entire party could be carried over.

    I'm very glad to see save game carry overs making a comeback!

  • Valen_Ca

    Posted Jul 27, 2009 7:18 am GMT

    Wait, do you just need your game save or do you need the Clear data?

  • Lexxurious

    Posted Jul 27, 2009 6:41 am GMT

    Using saved game files from a previous game is a nice idea, hopefully more games will utilize it.

  • Beastcake

    Posted Jul 27, 2009 12:20 am GMT

    RPG/Action Game of the Year?

  • SuperIntendent

    Posted Jul 26, 2009 6:44 pm GMT

    I think Shenmue for Dreamcast did this if you played Shenmue 2. Not as in depth though, but your skills and such carried on.

  • electronic_eye

    Posted Jul 26, 2009 5:07 pm GMT

    That is awesome. Have any other games done this??

  • thenephariouson

    Posted Jul 26, 2009 3:55 pm GMT

    A 'Must Have' 360 game!

  • ldonyo

    Posted Jul 26, 2009 10:28 am GMT

    I might have to get the PC version and play through this again!

  • cyborg100000

    Posted Jul 26, 2009 10:00 am GMT

    Can't wait for this game, it's like KotOR but with a more fun combat system. For me anyway.

  • dionrafael

    Posted Jul 26, 2009 9:47 am GMT

    wow, this is a huge game.

  • sun_rider95

    Posted Jul 26, 2009 5:07 am GMT

    remember guys they are the best

  • william623

    Posted Jul 25, 2009 11:45 pm GMT

    meet you there! Sherpard! take your Spectre - Master Gear first waiting for me!!!

  • Gothika707

    Posted Jul 25, 2009 11:36 pm GMT

    damn deleted my saved games good for me i always wanna rolled a vanguardXD

  • navyguy21

    Posted Jul 25, 2009 8:45 pm GMT

    good lord, this game will be awesome!!!

  • N0tYrBeezin

    Posted Jul 25, 2009 3:03 pm GMT

    Game number 3 involves the team mates crying for Shepard the entire game. That would be a first and funny as hell. Not to mention pissing off a lot of people.

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