BioWare Teases Another Mass Effect, DLC, New Universe

That "one bad apple" was a pretty important piece of fruit. And decisions in other cases where not stellar either.

@Hailinel said:

@LegendaryChopChop

Casey Hudson in charge is a good move. He has shown to be really responsive of criticism and is the reason the franchise exists.

I would be shocked and very worried if he weren't involved in it. He knows the series.

He was the one responsible for ME3's original ending. That's not something to praise.

He was also personally responsible for the entire franchise, ME1, ME2, and the good parts of 3 as well.

One bad apple doesn't spoil the bunch. He has a lot of good on his resume.

Casey Hudson in charge is a good move. He has shown to be really responsive of criticism and is the reason the franchise exists.

I would be shocked and very worried if he weren't involved in it. He knows the series.

If a creator is soliciting ideas from the audience that is either a bold but planned move or it means they are out of ideas. And I also have to say that asking gamers what they want is a bit of "inmates running the assylum" where what we want is rarely a good game idea or a good game design.

@Phatmac said:

They couldn't wait until next week to release this after losing the doctors?

EA is a publicly traded company... so no.

@Wrighteous86 said:

@BoG said:

A new universe? I liked the old one, but they did destroy all possibility of ever returning to it post ME3. I it's a good sci-fi RPG, I will buy it.

I think the New Universe refers to a new franchise. I'm hoping they rip off Alpha Protocol and make a Spy series.

EDIT: I think @patrickklepek just worded it poorly. Here's the full quote from the Joystiq article:

Hudson is also creating a brand new game, Flynn says: "While Casey continues to oversee the development of our new Mass Effect project, he and his leads are putting together their vision for an all new game set in a fictional universe, built from the bottom-up with all new gaming technology."

On second look, it's... really an ambiguous statement. He simply says "an all new game set in a fictional universe." It's almost as if the first game weren't set in a fictional universe. I mean, Earth was there... Wait, maybe BioWare know something we don't know!

Anyways, I guess we just wait and see. I think it would be silly to craft a whole new universe, and then just stick the Mass Effect name on there anyways.

Oh fuck off - they've ruined it

Casey Hudson in charge is a good move. He has shown to be really responsive of criticism and is the reason the franchise exists.

I would be shocked and very worried if he weren't involved in it. He knows the series.

Jade Empire 2.

@BoG said:

A new universe? I liked the old one, but they did destroy all possibility of ever returning to it post ME3. I it's a good sci-fi RPG, I will buy it.

I think the New Universe refers to a new franchise. I'm hoping they rip off Alpha Protocol and make a Spy series.

EDIT: I think @patrickklepek just worded it poorly. Here's the full quote from the Joystiq article:

Hudson is also creating a brand new game, Flynn says: "While Casey continues to oversee the development of our new Mass Effect project, he and his leads are putting together their vision for an all new game set in a fictional universe, built from the bottom-up with all new gaming technology."

@mracoon said:

The more I dwell on Mass Effect 3, the more I dislike it. The more I dwell on ME1, the more it seems like a masterpiece. My problem with ME3 was that it was soulless. It felt as if BioWare was pumping out another sequel rather than developing the deep and universe they created in the first two games. So yeah, no interest in playing another ME game anytime soon.

To be fair, Mass Effect 3 is a conclusion, the universe should have already been developed. Mass Effect 1 and 2 have to set the stage. Of course you would like 1 and 2 better, they had a lot of crap to explain about the universe and how everything worked. If they tried to do the same in 3, I'm willing to bet people would hate it for "being too slow" or "already explaining things we know." I think exposition is the word to use here?

Anyway, yeah. That's my view.

While I do think creating a new universe is definitely a plus (rather than lets say, do another shitty origins\prequel to the prequel bs), why use the Mass Effect brand? Sure, it is established, but this screams like a desperate move to keep the ME name for the next generation. Don't. Take the good stuff from the 3 ME games, learn from the (massive list) mistakes, and create something new, meaning a new name, perhaps a new premise altogether , it dosen't need the ME brand.

A new universe? I liked the old one, but they did destroy all possibility of ever returning to it post ME3. I it's a good sci-fi RPG, I will buy it.

@SmasheControllers said:

Do people still care about the Omega stuff? I mean I'm down for more ME3, but I'd rather see some new stuff.

Were it to be a complete departure and an actual open city, I'd be all for it. I'd be up for a more indepth view of fewer, less galaxy shaking events. I'd like to see more of Ilium or heck, Noveria with all it's semilegal research and development.

@Hitchenson said:

BioWare are a write off.

Well I personally thought Mass Effect 3 was great so I'm looking forward to the next game. Here's to hoping for a setting set far into the future where we can see the ramifications of the events of the third game. I'd love to see Shepard as the omnipresent force behind the galaxy (a la the "blue" ending) and have to deal with him and a new threat while playing as a character who only hears stories of the past games. That's the direction I would take it.

As for the new fictional world, I just hope it is as cool of a world as Mass Effect. I would be interested in maybe a mix between sci-fi and fantasy or possibly a steam-punk world.

A new Mass Effect? What's the point? The whole world is done. Not interested.

@buckybit said:

Could we agree to call Bioware "EA" now?

To avoid confusion for future historians.

Have you been listening to Jim Sterling?

Good call that man!

@Temg99: I completely agree. Basicallly that's the way Blizzard works, quality is one of the ways to success on a market that is already full of games. The elasticity of supply is very high, a few developers could produce games for the whole community, and if you want to be one of those developers, quality is one of the ways to go.

In any case, increasing the number of resources to increase the production of different titles is always a possibility. It's the classical horizontal expansion, nothing new.

If they make a new one, I hope they tackle a whle new genre+dialog trees. Maybe even co-development. There wasn't a single point in the game where the player got to use cutscene level biotics but the stuff shown in said cutscenes would make for a pretty awesome action game ala Bayonetta, Devil May Cry, etc. Running around beating the shit out of people with Jack or Samara would be pretty fun.

Tali and Miranda are begging for a stealth/espionage game of their own.

The mass effect universe is big enough to fit in books, comics and anime. So that's no surprise, just there will be people complaining they want a "number" game or picking off where they left off. I bet you we will see this much like other EA properties, not bad idea but then again not enough time to develop it well.

Have low expectations after ME3 let everyone down. Just imagine a third studio gets built, just to make a new FPS shooter about James Vega N7 squad.

@LegendaryChopChop said:

@PoisonJam7 said:

I think I speak for everyone when I say that we want the next Mass Effect game to feature a Hanar Spectre main character, who will have "a lover in every port and a gun in every tentacle" and will spout such catch-phrases as "Enkindle THIS" or "This one has forgotten whether it's heatsink is over capacity. It wonders whether the criminal scum considers itself fortunate?"

Yes, that sounds good. Mass Effect: Blasto's Revenge. Coming Q3 2014 to PS4, Xbox 720, and Windows 8.

1+

The more Blasto references the better.

Man, but no Phil Hartman. As crappy as that game was, I don't want to see someone ruin that sweet character.

I think I'll wait until Jeff has posted his review before I decide whether to be excited by this game or not, so I guess I'll have a couple of years of not being remotely concerned about it.

@Fredddi43 said:

Cool, I think more Mass Effect is a good thing?

after playing 3 i don't know if i want more ME.

Bought all the ME2 DLC. Haven't touched ME3 since I finished it.

I think it was pretty obvious that it was gonna happen when Dragon Age 3 was announced. The entire Dragon Age franchise is what they use as fundraiser to finance the Mass Effect games.

2015: Mass Effect : Relay Warfare 2, Free Shepard skin DLC at gamestop

The more I dwell on Mass Effect 3, the more I dislike it. The more I dwell on ME1, the more it seems like a masterpiece. My problem with ME3 was that it was soulless. It felt as if BioWare was pumping out another sequel rather than developing the deep and universe they created in the first two games.

So yeah, no interest in playing another ME game anytime soon.

Quick! Deflect the news that our founders are jumping ship.

MASS EFFECT, EVERYONE! WOO!

Edit:

No wait, I changed my mind. I will buy a game where you play as Marauder Shields, no matter how crappy it is.

@akeripper4 said:

@Aas said:

I just want to cruise the galaxy in my fly space ship and hang with my bros. None of this "saving the galaxy" non-sense.

and have some sort of companion i care for......

And choose to be either a good guy or a space pirate.

@PoisonJam7 said:

I think I speak for everyone when I say that we want the next Mass Effect game to feature a Hanar Spectre main character, who will have "a lover in every port and a gun in every tentacle" and will spout such catch-phrases as "Enkindle THIS" or "This one has forgotten whether it's heatsink is over capacity. It wonders whether the criminal scum considers itself fortunate?"

Yes, that sounds good. Mass Effect: Blasto's Revenge. Coming Q3 2014 to PS4, Xbox 720, and Windows 8.

1+

The more Blasto references the better.

Can't imagine how someone could play ME3 and then want another game set in that universe.

I think I speak for everyone when I say that we want the next Mass Effect game to feature a Hanar Spectre main character, who will have "a lover in every port and a gun in every tentacle" and will spout such catch-phrases as "Enkindle THIS" or "This one has forgotten whether it's heatsink is over capacity. It wonders whether the criminal scum considers itself fortunate?"

Yes, that sounds good. Mass Effect: Blasto's Revenge. Coming Q3 2014 to PS4, Xbox 720, and Windows 8.

If I had boned up Mass Effect as badly as they did, I'd be ready to start from scratch with a new universe, too. :P

I completed both Mass Effect and ME2 twice each, but disliked ME3 so much that I quit halfway through it. I feel like they have a lot to prove.

@TudsGamol said:

@LegendaryChopChop said:

But, thanks to the whiners, they retired two key faces from BioWare. Not a good thing... but I know the right people will be there. I hope.

(Being as optimistic as I can.)

You have a child's comprehension of the situtation between ea and the former founders of bioware. How would "whiners" affect a huge buyout from back in 2007 with a standard non-compete and retention clause?

I mean, its ok to not understand, and its ok that you are likely a child, but really. Wild assertions like this are just sad. You can do better. You can make yourself smarter. You'll have to spend time working at it, but there is still hope for you to spruce up your reasoning, debate and deduction skills. We are all with you on this, TO THE LIBRARY! GO TEAM EDUKATE!

k

I should be thrilled about the idea of more ME DLC AND a new game. A year ago, I would have been.

But I'm not. Not at all.

@Rekt_Hed: Yea but the only difference between AC and ME is that ME 3 was a conclusion to a story, wherever they go from this point in the ME universe they got no choice to 'go boldly into a new frontier' (Yea I probably got that wrong but f #ck it :p) hopefully with a new main character that is inspired by Shepard and not his/her kid.

@LegendaryChopChop said:

But, thanks to the whiners, they retired two key faces from BioWare. Not a good thing... but I know the right people will be there. I hope.

(Being as optimistic as I can.)

You have a child's comprehension of the situtation between ea and the former founders of bioware. How would "whiners" affect a huge buyout from back in 2007 with a standard non-compete and retention clause?

I mean, its ok to not understand, and its ok that you are likely a child, but really. Wild assertions like this are just sad. You can do better. You can make yourself smarter. You'll have to spend time working at it, but there is still hope for you to spruce up your reasoning, debate and deduction skills. We are all with you on this, TO THE LIBRARY! GO TEAM EDUKATE!

I was really surprised that you didn't get to go to Omega in the main story so at least it will be DLC....Hopefully it will be meaningful as well.

Kinda itching to play through ME3 again on Insanity but the prospect of new DLC is making me want to hold off to get the extra xp you would get from doing the missions.

Sad to see the Doctors go. Who knows how this franchise will turn out.

...

One thing that keeps springing to mind with this news 'remember how Assassins Creed was supposed to be trilogy and then the main dudes who were working on it left and then it became a cash cow'. This is my only fear

@Brodehouse said:

@Temg99 said:

Mass Effect Three felt rushed and over promised what they truly could never, ever live up to their promises. Don't let Mass Effect 4 fall into the same trap. Give them 3+ years to develop a full storyline, world and RPG system that everyone can enjoy. Don;'t force them into a 2 year cycle of endless rush so you can have a "BioWare" game every year. You will just destroy the BioWare brand.

You get the idea for the rest. All I want is time given to make the game great. I trust the talent at BioWare can then do something amazing with that time.

BioWare never spent over 3 years to make a game until Dragon Age: Origins (which had a troubled development). Baldur's Gate 2 wasn't 5 years in the making, it came out two years after the original. I don't know if you know a lot about independent development, but you don't have the option to spend forever making a game either. Eventually you need to have money coming in or the lights aren't going to stay on.

You never want to spend 5 years making a game anyways, because when it comes out, it's on 5 year old technology. You start getting past two and a half or three years of active development, and you're working backwards at some point.

Skyrim took 5 years of development, and sold over 12 million copies & counting. TES games are usually on a 5 year cycle.

XCOM has also been in development for 5 years, and pre-sales are very good. Then there's all the Civilization games coming out 5 years apart. So, it's also a Firaxis staple.

@tovardy: They could have the main characters be aliens.

I'd be into that.

Hopefully they actually have some kind of post-ME3 vision for the universe, and the new game isn't just some cop-out prequel.

@MEATBALL: It was Casey Hudson that screwed up the ending. Took one writer to the side, locked themselves in and wrote the ending. Had the ending produced, the rest of the writers went "Ok we ship soon, how about that ending we are to write?" Casey goes "Its already done, dont worry about it."

And we see how that went. One writer had to fight hard to just get the farewell moments before the final push, which redeemed the original ending a little.

So my opinion is, Casey is just as likely to screw as if he wasn't in charge. There is probably more faith, however my trust is lost. Dosnt matter I have given up on EA completely and shall not pay attention to all EA including Mass Effect, that whole ending shit killed it for me.

@Baltimore said:

I believe that these announcements would be filed under 'Damage Control'.

EA: "Hey gamers! Don't pay any attention to that news! LOOK OVER HERE! SHINYS!"

If you want to see damage control, start reading the comments starting at about page 8 in the 'Doctors leave BioWare' article posted today. It was like someone suddenly flipped a switch, and around 20% of the comments became "Stop attacking EA!"

I don't have any faith in Casey Hudson's ability to execute either project.

After that ending... do we really want any more games? Ugh.

Find it hard to care after how Mass Effect 3 was even more of a corridor shooter than 2, and that was already mostly just corridor shooting.