As far as we know, Bioware has no intention of bringing their esteemed Mass Effect franchise to the PlayStation 3. But that doesn't mean they have anything against Sony's machine; after all, Dragon Age: Origins will be a multiplatform title.
In speaking to VideoGamer , Bioware's vice president of entertainment, Greg Zeschuk, says the team is "really pumped" to be working with the PS3. Essentially, because the PS3 is a new platform to Bioware, the team had to adjust a bit, but the entire process has been "exciting" and they've even found some benefits of working with Sony's capable hardware. Said Zeschuk:
"It's been interesting. It's actually been quite good. We discovered a couple of things we did were pretty beneficial. We have multiple threads going for the game and it looks really great on the PS3. You can just throw them on all different processors, for example. It's new. Because we already had experience on 360, that kind of got ahead a little bit, but now we pretty much caught up. Actually it was very exciting. People on the team were really pumped to work on it. They were like, wow. We have a lot of people that like doing new stuff and trying new things, and they were like, wow another platform, can't wait! It's been good."
As for Bioware's perceived loyalty to Microsoft, Zeschuk explained that "from a publishing perspective we worked with Microsoft for five years," which made it perfectly logical for them to focus on the Xbox 360. But now, since they're part of EA, it makes "complete sense" for them to back a PlayStation platform. This doesn't really explain why Mass Effect 2 won't come to the PS3, but whatever. Zeschuk added that their experience with the PS3 hasn't been too bad (concerning developmental difficulties), and that they even had "extra graphic memory left over." He does conclude that the graphics in both the PS3 and 360 versions should be the same, although certain elements may be better on the PS3.
Dragon Age: Origins will release for the PS3, 360 and PC on October 20.
Related Game(s): Dragon Age: Origins
Well then Bioware can consider themselves lucky that they have a group of people working for them that have that kind of attitude.
Indeed!
Makes me wonder what kind of dolts work over at Valve.
It's exciting to have another publisher onboard the PS3 express.
if they have extra things left over, they should make use of it and not let it go to waste. lol
Mass Effect is the only 360 game i really want
Same here, actually. I go back and forth on whether or not I want Lost Odyssey.
-Arvis
Have they ever yet come right and said that Mass Effect 2 will not come to PS3? To my knowledge, they are still being evasive on that subject.
dude, I totally agree. I think it will come to PS3 eventually. Theres probably some kind of secret handshake with MS that doesnt let them talk about it or maybe some kind of timed exclusivity.
Theres no way Bioware will just ignore it the PS3 out of choice.
Im excited about Dragon Age Origins, should be fun to play with some buddies.
Whatever the situation with Mass Effect, it's refreshing to hear a software developer talking like a software developer. They actually sound excited to be working on a new platform, especially such a technical one with the performance potential that the PS3 has. This is exactly what I expect from developers. At heart most software developers are techies and geeks. It's in our blood to be curious about new technology. A new platform is like a new challenge, or a new puzzle to be solved, it's fun. It's refreshing to hear someone express that. This is what Valve should be doing and saying. It's what they should have been saying since the beginning. All this crap about it being too hard or a poor design is just a crock of crap, it's a new platform and they should be excited, just as Bioware appears to be.
I have to agree. Geeks (self-professed) love to dig into the details of whatever they're into. The numbers of what the PS3 is capable of has got to be exciting for programmers and designers.
Insert Valve defense from LimitedVertigo here.
@World
HA!
Now this is the kind of developer I would like to support .
New platform? lol. Okay I know it's new to them but way to be slow on the uptake. Anyway, good for them, I expect nothing but good things.
It's good to see Bioware embracing the PS3, some of my favorite games were made by them. I personally thought ME was a good game but not great. The premise of the game is great where you are in command of a spaceship and you travel the galaxy on your quest to save it. ME failed to live up to the potential of that premise IMO though because most of the planets are similar to each other and they are dull boring wastelands with the exact same cookie cutter bases and mines. Maybe DVD capacity had something to do with that, they probably couldn't fit a bunch of unique planets with lush detailed terrain on one DVD disk.
Vowel could really take a clue from Bioware
(No typo on Valve, the pun was intended)
It's always nice to see real console developers show their geek love for "new" consoles.
By the way, I'm thinking PS3 is getting DA:O because it doesn't have a continuing story before it. PS3 probably won't get ME2 for a while because Bioware is also working on their superior port of ME for PS3. You know, like real console developers.
As I understand it, Microsoft own publishing rights to ME1, so I wouldn't expect a port. They might add a retrospective to the beginning of ME2, but even that might not be legally possible. And there's no way Microsoft will voluntarily co-operate with anything that loses them one of their few brag-worthy exclusives.
p.s. KOTOR was one of the few Xbox games I wanted (but couldn't have) on my PS2; Mass Effect is one of the few 360 games I want on my PS3. I can easily live without it, though.
Last edited by Fane1024 on 7/9/2009 4:05:08 PM
I'm very happy BioWare is coming around. Valve still got a lot to learn. I'm actually looking forward to play Dragon Age.
Another developer hops on the PS3 bandwagon…
So many seem to be saying this recently.
I've been a supporter of Bioware since KOTOR. Its good to see they support me back. Can't wait for The Old Republic! Its gonna rule my life! Lol.
but i want mass effect on my ps3 my 360 crapped out on me.damn