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BioWare Wants Feedback On The Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer

Ben-Dutka 8 Comments

You can't say BioWare doesn't listen to their fans, because they're asking for feedback and criticism all the time.

The latest example of that is a new Mass Effect 3 survey that asks the community about the title's multiplayer element. This particular survey wants feedback on design, difficulty, and general atmosphere for 19 Firebase maps.

The survey is only open for one week so if you have significant knowledge of ME3 multiplayer, you should weigh in. Remember that this was the first entry in the franchise to boast online multiplayer, so it's not surprising that BioWare wants to know what gamers thought of the effort. What's next? Multiplayer for Dragon Age III: Inquisition ? We're not even sure how that would work… But you can probably expect multiplayer to return in the new Mass Effect , which won't be a sequel (as BioWare reminds us) and utilizes the new Frostbite 3 engine.

I guess multiplayer in games like these elongates a great experience for many. But for me, when the single-player adventure is over, the game is over. Yeah, sorry, I'm old.

Related Game(s): Mass Effect 3

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This Weekend’s ME3 Multiplayer Event Is Operation: Prophecy

Ben-Dutka 3 Comments

No, the world didn't end yesterday. Didn't see any spaceships, either.

But that doesn't mean you can't still visit the fantastical, engrossing sci-fi universe of Mass Effect 3 . This weekend's multiplayer event is named Operation: Prophecy, and has been detailed over at BioWare's official blog .

Here's the description:

"Our successes on Earth have given us the capability to land materiel in several war zones. However, in order to conceal shipments to the resistance, each delivery needs corresponding strikes on Reaper targets to create a screening distraction. The operations to deliberately gain Reaper attention are extremely high-risk and will require increased numbers to spread thin Reaper reaction forces. For this mission, N7 commanders, wherever possible, will recruit and command supplemental volunteer units: recent graduates of our N7 program and soldiers who bring experience from other branches."

There are two Challenges for this one- The first is to extract once on each Earth map (London, Vancouver, and Rio), and the second is to score 100,000 cumulative points against Reaper enemies. You can tackle these Challenges on any difficulty and completion of both will net you a Commendation Pack and a banner, "Hero of the Last Days." Good luck!

Related Game(s): Mass Effect 3

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BioWare Gets ME3 PS3 Players Caught Up On Multiplayer Fun

Ben-Dutka 1 Comment

PlayStation 3 owners are finally allowed to participate in the special weekend challenge action for Mass Effect 3 .

But they've missed out on several weekends already, so BioWare thinks they should get the Sony crowd all caught up. That's nice of them, wouldn't you say?

According to an update at the developer's website , BioWare will be offering the multiplayer Commendation Packs for Operation Goliath and Operation Raptor (two weekends PS3 fans were forced to miss) on Wednesday, May 9. And yes, they're completely free of charge; just check out the in-game store and download your extra goodies. You'll need 'em, because this week is Operation Silencer, and "you will need all the firepower you can get your hands on." Those pesky Reapers just never give up.

With this catch-up gesture, PS3 owners should be good to go for the future. Mass Effect 3 seems to be getting a lot of attention online, so you might want to test it out if you haven't already.

Related Game(s): Mass Effect 3

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Sony Working With EA To Deliver ME3 Multiplayer Weekends To PS3

Ben-Dutka 21 Comments

Yeah, it's a little frustrating for PlayStation 3 owners.

Both Xbox 360 and PC users have enjoyed several special multiplayer weekends for Mass Effect 3 , but nothing for the PS3 just yet. Recently, BioWare said it was Sony that was sort of getting in the way.

Thankfully, though, things should work out. A Sony representative told ShackNews that they're "currently working together with EA and BioWare on an implementation to bring Mass Effect 3 multiplayer weekends to PS3." There is no specific date for completion so right now, it may seem vague, but at least we know they're trying to work on the issue. We just don't know if the PS3 stuff will be lagging behind; if BioWare keeps everything consistent, PS3 owners will have missed out on those first weekends.

Although Mass Effect is all about the epic campaign, the multiplayer has really grabbed the fans. For whatever reason, I'm still living in the stone age and just can't imagine playing any RPG multiplayer…role-playing is just about me, playing alone. Sorry, but that's a rule for me.

Related Game(s): Mass Effect 3

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ME3 Multiplayer Stats: 83 Billion Credits, 1,800 Years Of Play Time

Ben-Dutka 22 Comments

Have you given Mass Effect 3 's online multiplayer element a try? If not, you're apparently in the minority.

EA has released a little infographic giving us some early statistics for multipalyer participation in BioWare's hot new title. Who said multiplayer wouldn't be popular in a traditionally single-player RPG?

According to the numbers, players have already earned a combined 83 billion credits, and have spent a grand total of 1,800 years playing. …that's a lot of time. Other interesting results include the 2 million Cerberus Phantoms that have been dispatched, the fact that the Battlefield 3 Soldier Kit has been used in 618,000 online matches, and that exactly 1/3 of all matches end in a "failed extraction." Only 1% of all online matches are on Gold difficulty level, 36% of players go into battle with the Assault Rifle, and the Turians are the most commonly chosen non-human race at 6.43%.

Given the depth and incentive to get online with ME3, it's no surprise that so many fans are diving in. The only question left is whether or not it has the staying power of, say, an online shooter that remains popular until the next installment in the franchise launches. It's a different genre, though…probably not fair to compare.

Related Game(s): Mass Effect 3

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Note To Game Makers: Don’t Force Me To Play Multiplayer

Ben-Dutka 38 Comments

Multiplayer has earned its position in gaming and has become crucial in contributing to the industry's health.

However, after reading up on some information concerning the various endings (and how to achieve them) in Mass Effect 3 , I started to think the future could get a little frustrating for those who have no interest in multiplayer, especially when it comes to certain genres.

In a post in the BioWare forums , Jarett Lee has elaborated on how to get the "perfect endings" in the team's recent gem ; the explanation was necessary because some believed you had to get online and/or play the iOS spin-off, Mass Effect: Infiltrator , in order to see any of those perfect climaxes.

Now, Lee confirmed that this is not the case- "…you do NOT have to play multiplayer to get the best single-player endings." Doing so only contributes to your Galactic Readiness ranking, which will remain at 50% if you don't play online or tackle the iOS adventure. This doesn't determine the endings but in fact, it only affects the "Effective Military Strength" bar, which is an "indicator of how well you will do in the end-game." You can also raise this bar by collecting War Assets in single-player. The only difference is that if you play online and up that Galactic Readiness, you will need fewer War Assets to see the perfect ending(s).

Here's my problem with this whole thing- it seems that more and more, even in genres that in my eyes really have no need for it, multiplayer is starting to dictate. That bothers me. Even though in this case, it's not such a big deal, the next step seems inevitable: i.e., play online or you'll never see the best ending. Some game designer somewhere is going to do this, and I'm gonna be pissed . It already annoys me that Platinum Trophies are essentially impossible if you don't play online (I still say there should be two Plats; one for single-player and one for multiplayer). And when it comes to RPGs…I mean, come on.

It's nice that Mass Effect 3 has an online component – and it works well, too – but to have it impact in any way the single-player campaign just seems wrong to me. In short: keep multiplayer an option ; don't start forcing it down our throats.

Related Game(s): Mass Effect 3

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