Bioware Announcement @ X05

Shifty Geezer said:
'Take it to court' would need lots of money for legal fees, plus irrefutable proof that the code is yours and they nicked it. Though I can't vouch for lip2lip, people stealing ideas does happen and there's sod all anyone can really do to elliminate it.
You are correct it is an issue. But using B3D's game section to vent your supposed claim is not the right place for this type of behavior. We have no way to substantiate his claims, and based on the general rif-raft we get in here there is no way to know if he is an established developer or a 12yo with an overactive imagination and a desire to be negative.

There is just no point to his post and it is really out of line with the thread and the forum. There are avenues to address this issue AND there are forums at B3D to discuss ones view of the industry (and even a general area for everything else). Bombing game related threads with unsubstantiated information is not right--even if sueing is impractical.

Next thing you know we are going to have 12yo in the MGS4 threads saying Konami stole their code :mad: Wrong place, wrong time for that type of discussion.
 
Funny, a friend I wenty to cchool with had no problem being taken on as one of their lead programmers, Aiden, I just saw him on G4TechTV...was like "holy shit! that's aiden!"

Last I saw him he had only 2 years of general computer science, and somehow managed to find a place on their staff and rise to the top. Why should it be so hard for you? You just sound bitter to me.

BTW, how exactly can you prove they "stole" any of your code? Out fo curiosity...what code did you give to them?
 
No more discussion on stolen code. It has been pointed out the topic was uncalled for--no need to argue with him over it. I suggest a new thread in the GENERAL forum if people want to make baseless internet accusations.

This thread is about Bioware's X05 announcement and their games and upcoming games.

Thanks.
 
Acert93 said:
Do you not love it when a company takes a franchise--a floundering IP--and makes it PURE GAMING GOLD...

And then... the IP holder cashes in on greener pastures and some low class developer recycles the pure gold until it is nothing more than cheap aluminum.

True, but OTOH I wouldn't consider Obsidian "some low class developer"...
Man, those guys are basically Black Isle Resurrected! (Fanbuoy alarm! ;) )

That doesn't mean I wasn't disappointed with KOTOR2 as well...*sigh*
Let's hope they fare better with their future projects.
 
Snyder said:
True, but OTOH I wouldn't consider Obsidian "some low class developer"...
Man, those guys are basically Black Isle Resurrected! (Fanbuoy alarm! ;) ).
It was my understanding they were rushed. So no knock against them personally. I have not played their other games, so they may be pretty talented.

Based on what I have heard and the reviews I have read though Bioware is definately cream of the crop material in regards to developers. Hard to replace them... personally keeping AAA devs on AAA titles is a good thing for games.

From a market perspective I understand moving the AAA devs to a new IP to pull in fans from different areas and give the AAA franchise to a competitent dev team to keep milking the franchise is VERY profitable. I just don't like it ;)
 
Acert93 said:
It was my understanding they were rushed. So no knock against them personally. I have not played their other games, so they may be pretty talented.

To put things in perspective: That's like saying: "Oh well, I haven't seen Kubrick's other movies, so he might be pretty talented." :smile:

If you loved KotOR (1) and you can stand somewhat dated graphics, you MUST get your hands on Planescape: Torment. Everything that made KotOR a great game, from the great characters, intense party interaction, the whole good/evil thing with all the different choices, great dialogues etc. etc., P:T already had and IMO did it even better than KotOR (which means a lot - I really loved KotOR.).
If you have played this game, you might understand why in theory Obsidian was the perfect fit for KotOR II.

Acert93 said:
Based on what I have heard and the reviews I have read though Bioware is definately cream of the crop material in regards to developers. Hard to replace them... personally keeping AAA devs on AAA titles is a good thing for games.

From a market perspective I understand moving the AAA devs to a new IP to pull in fans from different areas and give the AAA franchise to a competitent dev team to keep milking the franchise is VERY profitable. I just don't like it ;)

Again, I agree with you in general, but in this case Obsidian would have been THE AAA developer to continue the series. They only should have permitted them AAA dev. schedule as well...:(
 
Bioware were the one's that recommended Obsidian for KOTOR 2, having worked together before when they were at Iterplay. Obsidian is also making Neverwinter Nights 2, so I think Bioware has a lot of confidence in these guys.

There is tons of content on the KOTOR 2 disk that didn't make it in the game, even an entire planet I heard. What a shame, stupid Lucas Arts.
 
Completely OT to the thread but I never noticed the the little green brick under our names... or that lip2lip has a red one... and that some people have more bricks than others... howd that happen?



Back to the regularly scheduled thread.
 
New IP: Mass Effect (MGS-BioWare Corp.). Set 200 years in the future in an epic universe, Mass Effect places gamers in a vast galactic community in danger of being conquered by a legendary agent gone rogue. A spectacular new vision from legendary developers BioWare, Mass Effect challenges players to lead a squad of freedom fighters as they struggle against threatening armies to restore peace in the land. Mass Effect is the first in a trilogy of games with an overarching story, where the real conflict between organic beings and artificial intelligence comes to life in startling clarity.
 
scooby_dooby said:
New IP: Mass Effect (MGS-BioWare Corp.). Set 200 years in the future in an epic universe, Mass Effect places gamers in a vast galactic community in danger of being conquered by a legendary agent gone rogue. A spectacular new vision from legendary developers BioWare, Mass Effect challenges players to lead a squad of freedom fighters as they struggle against threatening armies to restore peace in the land. Mass Effect is the first in a trilogy of games with an overarching story, where the real conflict between organic beings and artificial intelligence comes to life in startling clarity.

This game sounds the unwritten end of the Hyperion series!
 
IN-ENGINE screens:

mass-effect2.jpg


mass-effect4.jpg


mass-effect3.jpg


mass-effect1.jpg
 
Titanio said:
Heh, just beat me :) Looks decent. This is a RPG, yes?

Better be!!

I dunno..IGN said it's a "shooter"...I would be pissed of Bioware didn't make an RPG, but what are the chances of that? Like XBOX really needs ANOTHER fps?

BTW...more media to come...
 
Title: "Mass Effect"
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: BioWare Corp.
Format: DVD for the Xbox 360 video game system
ESRB Rating: Pending
Availability: TBD
Pricing: TBD

Product Overview:
"Mass Effect" is a science fiction action-RPG created by BioWare Corp., the commercially and critically acclaimed RPG developer of "Jade Empire," "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic," "Neverwinter Nights," and the "Baldur's Gate" series. "Mass Effect" will deliver an immersive story driven gameplay experience with stunning visual fidelity. Published by Microsoft Game Studios, "Mass Effect" will be exclusively for the Xbox 360 video game system.

As the first human Specter - sworn defenders of galactic peace - your mission is to halt the advancing armies of a legendary agent gone rogue. But as you lead your elite team across hostile alien worlds, you will discover the true threat is far greater than anyone imagined.

Key Features:

* Immersive RPG: Determine the fate of mankind as you lead an elite tactical strike force as an epic galaxy-wide conflict unfolds. "Mass Effect" will take the player into new depths of an action-roleplaying game, with choice-based gameplay.

* Rich and engaging storyline: While defending galactic peace and earning a position of respect for humanity in the community, gamers will discover that a greater conflict between organic life and artificial intelligence exists. Players' decisions and actions will serve to shape the destiny of all life in the galaxy as you become absorbed in the story that is "Mass Effect," the first game in an epic trilogy from BioWare. They will become the center of an engrossing story as they battle against alien life forms to save the galaxy from threatening armies.

* Player controls the ultimate fate of the galaxy: The player's decisions and actions will serve to shape the destiny of all life in the galaxy, while raising humanity to the pinnacle of galactic civilization via noble means or via tyranny.

* Real-time squad based combat: "Mass Effect" employs a real-time, squad based, tactical combat system. Players will be immersed in intense, challenging and exciting combat.

* Explore uncharted worlds: In addition to the main story arc of the game, players will be able to visit a large number of uncharted, unexplored planets which are not directly tied to the main story. At any time during the campaign, a player can choose to explore one of these planets in an all-terrain rover in order to discover new alien life, resources, ruined civilizations and powerful technologies.

* Digital actors: "Mass Effect" features a huge cast of in-engine digital actors that you will encounter as NPCs, enemies or as party members. Each will have life-like facial and body movements, and an advanced dialogue system will give them engaging personalities.

* Character customization: Players will be able to choose from a variety of stunning, photo-realistic character appearances at the start of the game, and throughout the game can increase various statistics which will have an impact on their performance during gameplay. Equipment, weapons and armor that are acquired during the course of the story will change the appearance of the characters.

* Next-generation gaming defined: "Mass Effect" takes advantage of Xbox 360's hardware providing gamers with exciting new experiences, including photo-realistic, high definition graphics on an epic scale. As the future of gaming goes online, Xbox360 live features, including premium downloadable content and recognition of achievement will be available via the Xbox Live service.
 
Again, short clips with basically no gameplay :mad:

The art direction is excellent IMO. The clips they show are full of life. I was worried when I saw the stills, but it actually moves very well. Hopefully this transcends to gameplay.

Looks like a neat theme.

What I liked best were the SOUNDS. Reminded me of the War of the Worlds sounds (the only thing good in the movie hahaha). And a "FPS RPG" -- I like the sounds of that! :D

VERY dissappointed that we are not seeing more actual gameplay. Come on, the stupid thing is released in 2 months. I know (according to IGN) there were some big problems with kits this summer and it take 2-3 years to make on of these AAA games. But MS and Sony both are gonna have a hard time selling me on anything unless I start seeing some gameplay that is interesting.

Not a criticism of Bioware specifically--only that I expected more overall. This title itself looks good, and being from Bioware, has promise. FPS RPG you say? I may even give something like that a spin! (Being an RPG hater and all).
 
Acert93 said:
VERY dissappointed that we are not seeing more actual gameplay. Come on, the stupid thing is released in 2 months. I know (according to IGN) there were some big problems with kits this summer and it take 2-3 years to make on of these AAA games. But MS and Sony both are gonna have a hard time selling me on anything unless I start seeing some gameplay that is interesting.

Probably, we will get some more hands-on info later as everthing we now have is what was shown in key-note speech.. Btw, I did not see in anywhere that it is released in two months. Do you have a link for that?
 
The game is 12-16months from release.

I was just happy Bioware announced the game, in-engine trailer was just a bonus.

I would've liked to see much more in-game stuff, but tomorrow I believe is the day when everyone gets to play the games, and I'm sure we'll get boatloads of in-game footage then...
 
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