Ew =( Why would they do this?

If anyone can get it done its Bioware. Here's hoping for good things. 
BELIEVE!

The weirdest thing is there's a part of my brain which finds this plausible, still, I'm not going to believe it until I see it. I think the biggest barrier to this being true is not the gameplay of Mass Effect having to be completely refashioned for a multiplayer environment, but rather that Bioware would develop a game in the vein of Call of Duty to begin with.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo>

I wouldn't mind it if they find a way to make multiplayer with crazy biotic action to be honest.  If Bioware develops this smart, it will be done via a seperate team than the one focusing on ME3 or the rest of the ME2 DLC.  If this is the case, I'm all for seeing how they make Mass Effect universe technology work towards giving us a fresh multiplayer experience.  
 
Of course, the only thing that still worries me is that they are aiming for the Call of Duty audience.  Either way, hoping it turns out good.

" Ew =( Why would they do this? "

NOT EVRY GAME NEEDS TO HAVE MULTI PLAYER!

I was listening to IGN Game Scoop and they had an interview with someone from Bioware. IGN tried to get him talking about Mass Effect 3, and whether it'd have multiplayer. One of IGN's employees told the Bioware guy that they want the franchise to remain a single-player experience; the Bioware employee said something like, "If we were to do multiplayer, we'd make sure we did it correctly". There was even more alluding to a Mass Effect game featuring multiplayer, if I remember correctly. I'd confirm these statements, but I don't want to re-listen to the interview. Maybe someone else could do that.
 
The podcast's page (Interview starts at 52: 25)

"along with some sort of single-player component that does not feature Mass Effect's Commander Shepard in a leading role " 
 
Interesting.

" If anyone can get it done its Bioware. "

" @BunkerBuster said:

" If anyone can get it done its Bioware. "

Bioware makes single player RPGs. Not online shooters.  "

" @xyzygy said:

" @BunkerBuster said:

" If anyone can get it done its Bioware. "

Bioware makes single player RPGs. Not online shooters.  "

And there was a time when BioWare releasing the best console game of the year was unthinkable. "

It better not be.

" @xyzygy said:

" @BunkerBuster said:

" If anyone can get it done its Bioware. "

Bioware makes single player RPGs. Not online shooters.  "

And there was a time when BioWare releasing the best console game of the year was unthinkable. "

according to that article, it's being developed by their montreal studio, so don't start getting up in arms about bioware neglecting their core fans. they're putting out a new single-player rpg in the next few months so stand down.

" along with some sort of single-player component that does not feature Mass Effect's Commander Shepard in a leading role "

" @Brodehouse said:

" @xyzygy said:

" @BunkerBuster said:

" If anyone can get it done its Bioware. "

Bioware makes single player RPGs. Not online shooters.  "

And there was a time when BioWare releasing the best console game of the year was unthinkable. "

There was also a time where Bioware made medical software instead of games, so I agree that pigeonholing them may be a less-than-safe bet. "

First thing that comes to mind when I think of turning ME into a multiplayer game is "clusterfuck". Just a bunch of people jamming on their powers when they see an enemy, with no pause screen to go about things tactically. 

" @buzz_clik said:

" @Brodehouse said:

" @xyzygy said:

" @BunkerBuster said:

" If anyone can get it done its Bioware. "

Bioware makes single player RPGs. Not online shooters.  "

And there was a time when BioWare releasing the best console game of the year was unthinkable. "

There was also a time where Bioware made medical software instead of games, so I agree that pigeonholing them may be a less-than-safe bet. "

Perhaps then it's safe to assume then that they will move on to making minigame compilations :o "

" First thing that comes to mind when I think of turning ME into a multiplayer game is "clusterfuck". Just a bunch of people jamming on their powers when they see an enemy, with no pause screen to go about things tactically.  "

No thank you Bioware.

wondering if this is another attempt by EA too shoe horn into the call of duty crowd... MOH failed so why not try Mass Effect :| ...

I don't see anything wrong with this, since I don't see how this in anyway would really effect the main Mass Effect series(especially since the rumor going around is that Bioware Montreal is the one developing it). If you don't want to play a COD-style ME because of dubious concerns, don't play it. No one is going to force you to play it and since Shepard isn't the going to be the main character, you won't miss out on any of the main story if you skip it.

I've gotten to the point where shooters aren't even fun anymore. 

Gameplay wise this could definitely work. I just hope this doesn't in any way affect what they are doing with the Mass Effect single player experience.

Wow, once again such negativity.  Are gamers so opposed to change that even a rumor sends them into a tizzy?  This isn't a case like the potentially radical change of gameplay and character that seems to be happening in Dragon Age.  That game was a Baulder's Gate style tactical RPG and is apparently evolving into something more akin to the beloved Mass Effect 2.  Nor is this a redesign of genre like KOTOR to SW: The Old Republic.  I could understand why some fans were upset that they weren't getting a true sequel for that franchise.  This rumored new game is a completely separate game just set in the Mass Effect universe.  There will still be Mass Effect 3.  I don't believe this will be a tacked on multiplayer game like Bioshock 2 or Uncharted 2.  I suspect it will be a separate game more on the order of Unreal Tournament where the single player is just a training mode for the online action.  It might even be a bit like Tribes where teamwork is vital for success.  
 
And, I don't think it's a bad idea.  I'm not a competitive multiplayer person anymore, but if they want some of that COD money, why not go after it?  The time is probably right for something since Halo is no longer being created by Bungie and the field of modern day shooters is saturated.   Aren't you curious to see if an Adept can take out a Soldier of equal skill or visa-versa?  

" First thing that comes to mind when I think of turning ME into a multiplayer game is "clusterfuck". Just a bunch of people jamming on their powers when they see an enemy, with no pause screen to go about things tactically.  "

" @Binman88 said:

" First thing that comes to mind when I think of turning ME into a multiplayer game is "clusterfuck". Just a bunch of people jamming on their powers when they see an enemy, with no pause screen to go about things tactically.  "

Actually, thinking about things tactically doesn't require a pause screen, it just requires you to think faster.
 
@PenguinDust:  And what are you talking about?  The multiplayer in BioShock 2 and Uncharted 2 is actually really fun, with some pretty original gameplay. "

" @BunkerBuster said:

" If anyone can get it done its Bioware. "

Bioware makes single player RPGs. Not online shooters.  "

This is INFURIATING!! fffffffffffUCK

We I'm not going to complain because I haven't even seen it yet, maybe it might be good.

" @BeachThunder said:

" Ew =( Why would they do this? "

Because ever since CoD 4 every company think every freaking game should have MP, that's why. Also gamers are not any help since they are the ones screaming for MP as if that feature will justify the money they spent...SP is a dying breed. I think every developer should have this written on their walls. 
 

NOT EVRY GAME NEEDS TO HAVE MULTI PLAYER!

  this makes me wanna go out and burn my Mass Effect game copy Tim Bisley style. "

The shooting mechanics in ME2 is solid, but I'm not sure if it can stand on its own against Halo, Call of Duty or Gears of War to name a few big shooters. 
 
Suppose it could work. Uncharted 2 had a pretty surprisingly good multiplayer. So why the hell not? I'll keep an eye out.

Just look at Mass Effect 2 and you'll know what this game is already, and it isn't as painful as you might think 

1. The Shooting - has been revamped from the first ME to be more 'shootery' - and to that point just before ME2 came out Bioware said they were targeting the CoD audience
2. The Powers - have been mapped to shortcut buttons - negating the -need- to pop open the radial menu for Shepard's powers (note that I said need and not option) - I very much doubt you'd have an AI controlled squad in any kind of ME so that takes care of that.
3. The Business - All EA games in 2011 will have online play and DLC, no doubt Online Play will be much like their sports games and be a part of Project Ten Dollar

 @PenguinDust:  And what are you talking about?  The multiplayer in BioShock 2 and Uncharted 2 is actually really fun, with some pretty original gameplay. "

Come on guys, let's have a little faith here.  BioWare has let us down once before and, to be perfectly honest, it would have taken more than a miracle to make a great Sonic game in 2008. I know I'd love to see how something like the First Contact War played out.

Thank you EA (and Ubisoft) for putting multiplayer in games that don't need it (if this is to be true).

" Just look at Mass Effect 2 and you'll know what this game is already, and it isn't as painful as you might think 

1. The Shooting - has been revamped from the first ME to be more 'shootery' - and to that point just before ME2 came out Bioware said they were targeting the CoD audience
2. The Powers - have been mapped to shortcut buttons - negating the -need- to pop open the radial menu for Shepard's powers (note that I said need and not option) - I very much doubt you'd have an AI controlled squad in any kind of ME so that takes care of that.
3. The Business - All EA games in 2011 will have online play and DLC, no doubt Online Play will be much like their sports games and be a part of Project Ten Dollar

 It's not going to be as bad as everyone thinks - and this is total speculation but I would imagine much like AC:BH we'll get a side story (maybe dip back into the ME history, First Contact, Krogan, or Rachni Wars) with a shorter Single Player story (with one or two tiny bits of info for super ME Nerds) and then the Big Paid Beta for ME3's Multiplayer. Bioware sits pretty high in my book (as I imagine quite a few other people's as well), the only time I felt like they were fucking around was with the DA:O DLC - everything for both ME and ME2 has been perfect. Can't knock it till I get my hands on it. "

" Just look at Mass Effect 2 and you'll know what this game is already, and it isn't as painful as you might think 

1. The Shooting - has been revamped from the first ME to be more 'shootery' - and to that point just before ME2 came out Bioware said they were targeting the CoD audience

I'm okay with this. It's not like it means ME3 won't come. I for one would like to see what they can do with it.

I just hope that they can find some way to make it actually fit in with the Mass Effect universe and story, and not shoehorn in a big war between all the races just for this game. 
I'm usually for bending the story for better gameplay, but when it comes to Mass Effect, I think the story should come first.

Future CoDs will head into the future farther than 2009's MW2 which took place in 2016. I personally look forward to multiplayer ME action because I dig the art direction and the style of it all, be it ME1 or ME2 or a mixture I've long wanted a multiplayer component. It'll be a multi-platform Halo - maybe not in sales numbers or hype but still!

" Thank you EA (and Ubisoft) for putting multiplayer in games that don't need it (if this is to be true). "