I would still like to play Mass Effect 1 on the Xbox 360. Can anyone say that's a good idea, bad idea, or it really doesn't matter as long as I can sleep at night? 
 
So to sum it up
I'll play Mass Effect on the Xbox 360 and then once the PS3 releases Mass Effect 2 I'll play through that version.

Does Mass Effect 2 read your previous game saves? I'm in a similar situation.

You should play all the Mass Effect games on the same platform so that you can transfer saves. Trust me, it's worth it. 

Don't play ME1. You can't transfer from X360 to PS3, and the game is a complete chore to get through, especially if you have already played some of ME2. But I don't really like either game so it probably shouldn't be up to me.

Play both on the same platform.  I don't know how the motion comic at the beginning of 2 on the PS3 works but there are some really small decisions that get imported and referenced that I'd really doubt they move over to the PS3 version.

" You should play all the Mass Effect games on the same platform so that you can transfer saves. Trust me, it's worth it.  "

You should definitely play ME1 to experience the glory of the Mako and the inventory system. Well, I'm probably the only one who enjoyed those 2 aspects of the game and was really bummed that they were removed.

I love the original Mass Effect despite some of its flaws. If you are already planning on playing Mass Effect on the 360, buy Mass Effect 2 on the 360, and follow sooth with Mass Effect 3. The game transfers your save to give you a more continuous experience.

Play ME1 on 360 or PC, it's worth playing. Then during the PS3 comic that shows the ME1 storyline just choose the same choices you made on ME1. It will be the same as if you had played on the same platform bar a couple of quests that would of just sent you an email anyway.

I think the choices matter and add to the game experience, so I would play them on 360 or PC.  If anything the only bummer you'll get from playing the original Mass Effect is you'll realize that it's way better than ME2. 
 
@Lolimoto:     I'm with you on the inventory system and the Mako.  Dropping to a planet and driving around was way better than the repetitive scanning in ME2.  I even felt the Mako was easier to drive than the Warthog in the Halo series.  I feel like I"m the only person that doesn't "get" how to drive those.

If you can, I'd say just play it all on 360. The file save transfer is worth it, and you can probably get ME2 on 360 cheaper than the PS3 version will be new. If you want to play on PS3, then just use the interactive comic included to get up to speed and make the major choices. You can probably use youtube to pick up any missing story or cinematics.

" You should definitely play ME1 to experience the glory of the Mako and the inventory system. Well, I'm probably the only one who enjoyed those 2 aspects of the game and was really bummed that they were removed. "

Play both on the same platform, imho ME1 is a must play if your gonna play ME2,

Play both on the same platform, its bloody worth it.
Its your character, your story.
The DLC is honestly not worth it, its fun but not needed.

Im doing all the same stuff, but on 360. I bought a used copy of ME1 a few days ago, picked up ME2 yesterday. Still working through 1, but I am enjoying it.

 I spent a long time doing a perfect playthrough of ME1, I did every quest and planet possible... I was disappointed when 90% of the choices gave me an extra line of dialogue, a damn email or nothing.
 
The only important choices will be available through the comic so I'll be moving my character to PS3. Playing it for the story is kind of vital.

" @Geno said:

" You should play all the Mass Effect games on the same platform so that you can transfer saves. Trust me, it's worth it.  "

Completely disagree. The only reason you should ever play ME1 is to enjoy the story. The save transfer thing was 100% hype, it literally changed 4 conversations. Unless they somehow pull a complete 180 on their implementation of that stuff, it doesn't really matter.  Also, ME1 is really REALLY hard to get through these days. Just the base third-person shootering is about 5 steps backwards. "

If you're going to go through all the trouble to play Mass Effect 1, you should finish the trilogy on the same platform you started on. It's not "4 different conversations," it's a large number of both large and small differences, and even the smallest of decisions you made will pop up from time to time, whether it's in an email or a chance encounter that gives you a bonus quest or something. There are also some cases where they're clearly leading up to making some of those choices have an impact on ME3.

I had to start up Mass Effect 2 with a clear save thanks to the ME1 importer not working until a month in, and from experience, I hated just about every choice they made for you. Even if that little comic gives you the chances to make 5 or so decisions, they're still going to assume your Shepard did certain things in Mass Effect 1, that especially after playing the game, you probably won't agree with.

" Don't play ME1. You can't transfer from X360 to PS3, and the game is a complete chore to get through, especially if you have already played some of ME2. But I don't really like either game so it probably shouldn't be up to me. "

" @davidwitten22 said:

" Don't play ME1. You can't transfer from X360 to PS3, and the game is a complete chore to get through, especially if you have already played some of ME2. But I don't really like either game so it probably shouldn't be up to me. "

Don't listen to him. ME1 is great if you ask me. "

I love Mass Effect in general, but the sequel is such a better game than the original that I think you're not missing out.  Just wait for that summary that comes with the PS3 version and learn through that.  Though I will say that the PC version is a huge improvement on all fronts over the Xbox one.  I get the feeling that Bioware was forced to push the Xbox version out the door like six months early.  Xbox hardware could run that game if it was optimized better.

I think the motion comic wil probably give u all the choices you need for playing 2, and I really doubt that bioware would use anything other than those choices in affecting mass effect 3 since they do not want any differences in the experience

Compared to Mass Effect 2, Mass Effect 1 is shit. Even if you play it before ME2 it is very dull, and has some bad game mechanics that make you want to just stop playing. I beat it once when it came out on PC and that was more then enough for me. I tried to go back a play it before ME2 came out because I lost my original save file, but i could not get past the citadel because it is just so tedious. Unless you do not have any other games to play, I say skip ME1. ME2 is a better game by leaps and bounds, and they catch you up on the story pretty nicely with the ps3 version. 

" @sixghost: Wrex begs to differ on the choices 'not mattering'. "

play both on xbox or PC.  transferring saves makes everything better

" @sixghost said:

" @Geno said:

" You should play all the Mass Effect games on the same platform so that you can transfer saves. Trust me, it's worth it.  "

Completely disagree. The only reason you should ever play ME1 is to enjoy the story. The save transfer thing was 100% hype, it literally changed 4 conversations. Unless they somehow pull a complete 180 on their implementation of that stuff, it doesn't really matter.  Also, ME1 is really REALLY hard to get through these days. Just the base third-person shootering is about 5 steps backwards. "

You are talking out of ignorance, and you're not even considering what they'll do in Mass Effect 3.
 
And the gameplay in Mass Effect 1 is perfectly fine, just don't play Soldier and you won't be bored. I went back to finish the first game's achievements after mass effect 2 and it's not as jarring as you think. 
 
@MatPaget: Also I think you're letting all this "OH MY GOD THEY ARE USING THE MASS EFFECT 3 ENGINE, PS3 RAPES" get to your head.  After the demo came out digital foundry and lens of truth found that while the lighting is definitely better, the textures are still sharper on the 360 and they really don't look that different. After all the 360's Mass Effect 3 version will have the new engine too...add that and the fact that mass effect 2 on the 360 is only 20 dollars.... "

"

If you're going to go through all the trouble to play Mass Effect 1, you should finish the trilogy on the same platform you started on. It's not "4 different conversations," it's a large number of both large and small differences, and even the smallest of decisions you made will pop up from time to time, whether it's in an email or a chance encounter that gives you a bonus quest or something. There are also some cases where they're clearly leading up to making some of those choices have an impact on ME3.

I had to start up Mass Effect 2 with a clear save thanks to the ME1 importer not working until a month in, and from experience, I hated just about every choice they made for you. Even if that little comic gives you the chances to make 5 or so decisions, they're still going to assume your Shepard did certain things in Mass Effect 1, that especially after playing the game, you probably won't agree with.

"

I can't remember all the choices or all the changes, since I haven't played ME1 in years and I can barely pull myself to slog through the rest of ME2. But the last time I played ME2, I got a pretty neat conversation that made it seem like your Rachni choice was going to have an impact on the 3rd game. In fact, I was hit with about 4 or 5 different quests and conversations in an hour sitting about things I didn't even remember - but I'm happy to know that I made those decisions, whether or not I remembered what had happened, and that the game didn't decide how people would react to me.

Think as you will, my main point stands: If someone is going to go through the trouble of playing through Mass Effect 1, then they should carry their choices over. If they want to just play the PS3 versions of 2 and 3, then skip it. I don't see any point in playing through an entire game, then move on to ME2 to find out that people treat you differently than how you acted in the first.

And finally, to be perfectly honest. After losing interest in the game due to other releases around the time of its release and trying to go back in now, most of the stuff specific to Mass Effect 2 that isn't part of the story are boring conversations or throwaway quests. Compared to some meaningless conversation with some dude in a spacestation about something I don't care about, having Wrex still being alive seems massive. It's all a letdown.

@MatPaget: Also I think you're letting all this "OH MY GOD THEY ARE USING THE MASS EFFECT 3 ENGINE, PS3 RAPES" get to your head.  After the demo came out digital foundry and lens of truth found that while the lighting is definitely better, the textures are still sharper on the 360 and they really don't look that different. After all the 360's Mass Effect 3 version will have the new engine too...add that and the fact that mass effect 2 on the 360 is only 20 dollars.... "