Whirlpool

Link:
www.businesswire.com/por...5536&newsLang=en

Updates for the PC version include:

Optimized for the PC, Mass Effect for the PC incorporates the following features:

* Optimized controls designed specifically for the PC.
* High resolution visuals – Mass Effect for the PC features highly detailed textures, characters and environments.
* Fully customizable controls – PC gamers can re-map the control scheme any way they like.
* Run & Gun Control – Players can assign biotic powers or skills to ‘hot keys’ allowing them to play Mass Effect with a heavier focus on action.
* New decryption mini-game.
* New inventory screen GUI and functionality – The enhanced inventory system makes it easier for players to equip and modify their weapons and armor.

Supposedly? Bioware already released screenshots of the new interface.

YUMMY!!! looking forward to it (and assassins creed)

TwigFigure writes...

Supposedly? Bioware already released screenshots of the new interface.
Sorry lol. I wasn't sure about it. Ill change the heading.

PC > Console
w00t

Hope they made the side missions more interesting, driving over the same looking planets 50 times isnt fun.

Yay, my only reason for getting a 360 just dissolved in a spree of PC goodness.

Vive la PC!

I'm with Dazhem here.

But I am slightly worried that I might need to upgrade my graphics.

Dezhem writes...

Yay, my only reason for getting a 360 just dissolved in a spree of PC goodness.

Vive la PC!

+1!!!!!!

I already have this game on x360 and I highly suggest to you PC gamers if you are thinking of getting this when it comes out, JUST DO IT. It's an awesome game.

Although after playing through it (twice, lol) I REALLY wish MGM would've given the rights to Bioware to make this into a STARGATE game.

For those of you who have played it, you will understand what I mean. Think about it. Traveling all around the galaxy on different missions, etc. It would have worked FLAWLESSLY. :P

Why oh Why, despite Stargate's massive success, hasn't there already been a game made from it yet? :(

Corvus writes...

Why oh Why, despite Stargate's massive success, hasn't there already been a game made from it yet? :(

There has been, on the handhelds, snes, genisis. Coming FALL (unless delayed) of this year we will have Stargate worlds for the PC.

From what i have seen of this game it looks good, i havnt played it on any console but i assume from what you posted + what friends have told me, it will be a must have.

Hopefully there'll be a few more than 2 base layouts for all the secondary quests in this version...

Yay, was very disappointed last year when I saw the game (really loved KotOR) then saw not on PC; but just now in checking up some other game on Gamespot, saw some minor news headline about Mass Effect PC.

Can't wait. heh, May, just before I start work - c'mon, don't be delayed!

(hope EA don't give in and cut any of the ... lol, anything)

sub0 writes...

But I am slightly worried that I might need to upgrade my graphics.

The game runs on the Unreal engine 3 so if you can play Bioshock, Stranglehold, Gears of War you should be ok :)

I find that Bioshock runs quite well on my 3800 x2, 2gb ram, x1950 pro machine at 1024 by 768 or 1280 by 1024 so I am hoping for a similar performance or thereabouts.

Kuchiki Byakuya writes...

PC > Console

How so?

H2Yo writes...

How so?

Didn't you get the memo? All consoles suck apparently...sad but true.

H2Yo writes...

How so?

Availability of official and unofficial patches
Mod community
Better controls for everything but platform and racing games
Gfx

Playing a game like this with high inventory and constant figgiling would drive me up the wall on a console.

Damn that figgiling annoys the hell outta me!

Ship date 6th of May.

rm -rp ./Matt* writes...

Playing a game like this with high inventory and constant figgiling would drive me up the wall on a console.

Take it you haven't actually played Mass Effect.

It's the type of game where you get new armour, put it on whoever can wear it and then sell or convert into omni-gel the old stuff. There's no high inventory, there's not really any need to carry more than 5 types of armour and 5 of each type of weapon (and perhaps a spare each)

Gameplay-wise the only improvement i can think of is the inventory management which completely broken.

Better squad commands and AI would be good too.

rm -rp ./Matt* writes...

Availability of official and unofficial patches

Most console games don't require constant patching due to the system compatibility; console games are made for a particular spec unit (unless ported).

Plus when patches are needed, they come out very fast in my experience.

Mod community

Fair call, I am a skinner myself.

Better controls for everything but platform and racing games

That is your opinion. I'll make a stab and say I could beat you at any FPS while I use a controller and you use a KB+M. My point is it just takes practice. I'm equally good at both.

Playing a game like this with high inventory and constant figgiling would drive me up the wall on a console.

The Mass Affect inventory wasn't so much fiddly, it was just very limited in what you could hold and things didn't stack. It was a poor design, has nothing to do with what format its on.

H2Yo writes...

That is your opinion. I'll make a stab and say I could beat you at any FPS while I use a controller and you use a KB+M. My point is it just takes practice. I'm equally good at both.

Don't forget that auto-aiming is in-built in most console FPS.

Back on topic, two things were really annoying in ME: The non-story worlds were repetitive and the inventory did suck.

As much fun as I had playing it on 360, if they can fix the inventory and maybe tighten up the gameplay a bit I'll be all over it on PC.

Mass Effect PC will be protected by the latest iteration of Securom, require online activation and require online authentication every ten days: masseffect.bioware.com/f...75&forum=125

This authentication system will also be in place for EA titles such as Spore.

I don't see how this will stem the tide of piracy at all.

Yep, retardedly bad idea there. Cracks will be out instantly, paying customers will suffer. Bad move from EA yet again

AhrimaaN writes...

Paying customers will suffer.

Exactly.

EA copy protection requires authentication every 10 days....
What are they thinking!
I bought bloody 150+ PC games and never touched a single piracy copy.
This is what I get waiting for this game so long!!?

Amazing game, looking forward to playing this PC version.

Screw their activation process though, very unimpressed with that.

I guess this is where EA games are heading and I think that not only will EA fail to stem piracy but possibly spur it on. Either way, not good for the PC gaming market.

So I pay my money and buy the game but never truely own the game as I need a permission to use every ten days from EA.

If that is the case, I might just get a torrent server and start downloading games at night instead of buying them.

I mean I don't truely own the game either way do I?

Do you also not have to be online for Steam games too?

Sunny writes...

Do you also not have to be online for Steam games too?

no

rm -rp ./Matt* writes...

Playing a game like this with high inventory and constant figgiling would drive me up the wall on a console.

Clearly you haven't played this game.

However I do agree for this particular game, it would be better suited for PC than a console (game still has a large FPS element to it after all).

I have it on 360 however.

EDIT *Just read about the piracy measure on this game. F**k me that's going to be annoying. Now definitely better on 360 over PC.*

AhrimaaN writes...

paying customers will suffer

They've guaranteed I won't be one of them. Its bad enough having to put the cd in all the time, as well as not having certain programs installed etc.

Funnily enough its getting easier to pirate the games on consoles...

$tealthvard writes...

Funnily enough its getting easier to pirate the games on consoles...

Nowhere as easy as pirating games on the PC though ... I was going to pick up a copy of Mass Effect on PC but I'll just stick with my cheapo imported X360 version now I suppose.

Its bad enough having to put the cd in all the time

That's really not that much of a big deal really. I mean it's the same situation with consoles :) The upside with Mass Effect PC is that you don't need the disc in the drive to play. So they've taken a step forward and taken a leap back ...

I'm curious about this 10 day activation...
Mass Effect is a single player game so you don't need the internet to play it so what if you had no internet connection to activate it every 10 days?

Lord Panda writes...

Nowhere as easy as pirating games on the PC though

If your console is already modded, which is fairly common, it is actually easier since you just download, burn, and play. PC is more involved.

Lord Panda writes...

That's really not that much of a big deal really.

Its not a big deal, just an annoyance. After all the game is already entirely installed and taking up space on the hdd (sure xbox 360 uses the hdd for caching but the core model has no hdd).

Adsama writes...

Mass Effect is a single player game so you don't need the internet to play it so what if you had no internet connection to activate it every 10 days?

Simple. You wouldn't be able to play the game.

$tealthvard writes...

If your console is already modded, which is fairly common, it is actually easier since you just download, burn, and play. PC is more involved.

The whole modding process can be quite tricky but I agree that after that it's smooth sailing. Heck some of my brother's friends play on XBL with pirated (GTAIV no less) copies ...

I also contend that pirating on the PC is just as easy (easier even) because most "releases" are supplied with relevant cracks and whatnot that will work on any PC.

I know where you're coming from though.

After all the game is already entirely installed and taking up space on the hdd

I agree and it's kind of pointless requiring the disc to be left in the drive given that this doesn't deter pirates at all. It has negligible effect. Again, it only serves to annoy legitimate users.

Yet another reason why PC gaming is dieing.

Boofy. writes...

Yet another reason why PC gaming is dieing.

Maybe this is a way they are trying to save it.
I don't really see the big deal about this, if it helps them sell a million more copies, good luck to them.

Cobretti1818 writes...

Maybe this is a way they are trying to save it.
I don't really see the big deal about this, if it helps them sell a million more copies, good luck to them.

What if your game stuffs up and you need to reinstall? You can only reinstall it 3 times, what a load of crap. Heck, I even format about 2-3 times a year, not thanks.

abiJ writes...

Though I don't fully agree with what they're doing, I can't blame them after reading comments like yours.

It's a frustrating cycle certainly but Ironclad/Stardock and Gas Power Games opted for DRM-free games (an official patch removed copy-protection from Supreme Commander) and both Sins of a Solar Empire and Supreme Commander sold a boat load of copies. Like I said earlier, these sorts of counter-measures do little to stem the tide of piracy but will instead provide further impetus.

Boofy. writes...

Yet another reason why PC gaming is dieing.

I don't believe it's dying at all but rather it is changing...

abiJ writes...

Though I don't fully agree with what they're doing, I can't blame them after reading comments like yours.

Watch you don't fall off that pony, it looks a little tall.

I'll gladly part with money for a quality product. When I buy it though, that shit is now *mine*. Kawasaki don't piss and moan about how I use my motorcycle, Kelvinator aren't bashing down my door to see what I'm putting in my fridge.

Broken 'activation' is turning me away from parting with my bucks. I think it's pretty safe to say that more money is burned combating piracy than it saves. Give me an uncripled product that I can do whateverthehelliwant with, and I'll give you my dollars.

Fact of the matter is that the pirated product is the superior one. How's that supposed to taste?

Cameron Jones writes...

Kawasaki don't piss and moan about how I use my motorcycle

Ah, but can you clone the bike and sell it for a tenner at the local market? :P

Wow, so I can probably get by with the whole 10 day authorisation thing, but I can definitely see problems. I'm sure a lot of people, myself included, will run into the situation where their net connection goes down. Now you're sitting there bored, can't play online games because your net connection is down. Let's get stuck into some single player games! Hold on soldier, you can only play if you have recently played with an online net connection within the past 10 days. Now that is going to suck.

What gets to me more is that you can only install the game 3 times. I'm hoping that if you ring up EA you can get this extended. This is truly pitiful. As other people are pointing out, it seems like the game is not even ours to own, a pirated version will seem more like a real copy because we can play it whenever we want and install it however many times we want.

dezbot writes...

I'm sure a lot of people, myself included, will run into the situation where their net connection goes down.

Only those with crappy ISPs. If that's the case then you should really try a good ISP. I have had about 4 hours downtime total in 14 months.

Brod writes...

Only those with crappy ISPs. If that's the case then you should really try a good ISP. I have had about 4 hours downtime total in 14 months.

True, well my ISP (optus cable) is generally good except for the consistent overseas connection downtime recently. But I was just pointing out the irony in that a lot of people would probably choose to just play a single player game in their downtime with nothing else to do.

Corvus writes...

Why oh Why, despite Stargate's massive success, hasn't there already been a game made from it yet? :(

Because games based on a TV show or movie franchise are invariably awful.

No wonder people are leaving pc gaming and going to the Xbox 360 and PS3 with crap like that!

Corvus writes...

Why oh Why, despite Stargate's massive success, hasn't there already been a game made from it yet? :(

games.internode.on.net/c...news&id=3014

Just to screw over people who have modded xboxes, they release a patch or something which requires you to type in the barcode number every 10 days fun fun fun

It looks like all the gnashing of teeth has paid off: kotaku.com/5008452/biowa...t-authentication

One time authentication only!

www.penny-arcade.com/comic

The 3 installs/activations thing is downright stupid.

Does Vista still have that system btw?

jdrew writes...

www.penny-arcade.com/comic

Slight correction:

www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/5/9

rm -rp ./Matt* writes...

Better controls for everything but platform and racing games

naaah, the logitech DFP, DF GT and g25 all work with the pc.
and no one plays platform games anymore lol

not far away now... been waiting for this.. decided i wouldn't play it on 360 and would wait for PC version.. hope it was worth the wait!

Out in 2 days, bloody lucky yankies.

Dont think i will be buying this game thanks to DRM, might wait to there is ways around it, then go buy it.

Anyone picked this up yet?

I seem to be getting 100% cpu utilisation – it runs at like 8fps .....
Don't know what's wrong, updated mobo and video drivers.

yeah this game is good
got it this week, been playing on a 7600gt and it runs ok on lower settings at 1440 resolution. I never played the console version, but the game still has the feel of a port, i suppose thats due to the 3rd person view, low accuracy and auto aim.

A warning to everyone. You have to activate this game online and you only get 3 activations. After i found this out i took the game back for a refund.

Obama for President writes...

A warning to everyone. You have to activate this game online and you only get 3 activations. After i found this out i took the game back for a refund.

I am pretty sure you can contact EA and they will fix it for you, if you used up all activations. Though I am not sure how how good EA costumer support is, or how quickly they will do it.

I know though that it will probably take me a while to use up all activations and it is great that I do not need a disc to play it.

I have been playing it a fair bit lately and so far just love it. It brings so many memories of KOTOR flooding back, it's like KOTOR with no light sabers. I mean biotics is pretty much the Force anyway :)

It runs great on my rig and looks beautiful, aside from the dodgy dynamic shadows on faces, which apparently is being fixed in the next patch. I love the way that you gain EXP just by talking to people and going through the different conversation trees. It is fantastic that gathering information is another way to level up.

I chose to play as an Infiltrator and so far I have found sniping to be difficult. The weapon sway is crazy at times and when you only get 3-4 shots before your gun overheats it makes things difficult. I have just realised the power of my pistol in close range though, pretty devastating, especially with the Marksman ability activated.

Currently I am around 10 hours into the game and enjoying it immensely. I would recommend that any fan of long winded, story and character driven RPGs give this game a whirl. If you liked KOTOR you will love this.

Namaste writes...

I have been playing it a fair bit lately and so far just love it. It brings so many memories of KOTOR flooding back, it's like KOTOR with no light sabers. I mean biotics is pretty much the Force anyway :)

How good is this game!!!

Boglet writes...

How good is this game!!!

Bloody awesome, can't stop playing it. A great combination of combat and exploring, heaps of cool missions, good stuff.

Boglet writes...

How good is this game!!!

I just started to get into this game as I finally got the vitality I needed to play it.

Run's perfectly on my e8400 and 8800GTX in Vista64...

On my 2nd run through now concentrating on renegade this time. This is the 1st title in quite a while I've actually finished – and I get a new game quite regulary. Even though it seems to get repetitive at times (exploring clusters, planets and etc) it still coaxes you into playing more. Actually played one night right through to daybreak – glad I had a weeks hols :-P

I'm running it at 16 x 12 with 4 x AA (using Nhancer) and 16 x AF ( .ini file tweak) and it looks quite good and runs silky. There's also a few tweaks you can do to somewhat clear up the face shadows bug that seems to be prevalent. A quick search at the Bioware forums will help.

Also save often as there are a few times when you can lose a good deal of play time due to 'unforeseen circumstances'.

Edit: Being able to 'sculpture' how your character looks is neat. 1st time through I tried to make Shepard look quite the swash buckler but with my 2nd time through I've made him look like a reject from the Neanderthal age – aptly named Fugly.

Where is the cheapest legit place in AU i can get this game?

I have given in to my morals again...

The cheapest i can find this game is Here for $ 77AU http://www.cheapgames.com.au/mass-effect-p-2031.html?osCsid=85f1e1c7b6dd593e1cca6cf938093f28

My friend them to get Crysis and its legit.

Also i would like to get the free DLC too.

Dont suggest Ebay as i dont have a paypal account.

Namaste writes...

chose to play as an Infiltrator and so far I have found sniping to be difficult. The weapon sway is crazy at times and when you only get 3-4 shots before your gun overheats it makes things difficult. I have just realised the power of my pistol in close range though, pretty devastating, especially with the Marksman ability activated.

Later on, when you get some decent sniper rifles and much improved accuracy, you won't get the sway as much. When I played through as an Inf (on the 360 version), I usually just ended up pistolling everything except for a few long range shots at the end.

I am waiting for this game to arrive from ebay.
Currently, I am working though KOTORII, and enjoying it very much.
I am expecting a smooth transition to MEPC.

WikiChici writes...

Where is the cheapest legit place in AU i can get this game?

JB Hi Fi had it in their latest catalogue for $75 I think.

Cheers

I couldn't find the PC version on play-asia... Has anyone ordered it online?

CitizenCharm writes...

I couldn't find the PC version on play-asia... Has anyone ordered it online?

I received mine yesterday.
There are heaps on ebay from Thailand. Hell, even the boxes are in English. You can get it from $35-40 delivered.

I finished this a few days ago and was pretty disappointed in the campaign.

Once you get through most of the side missions, the main campaign is very quickly run through.

I finished at level 43 with level 7 equipment and was left wondering where the rest of the game was.

I suppose it took me 15 hours to run through the game on Veteran diff.

Battlemouse writes...

suppose it took me 15 hours to run through the game on Veteran diff.

Someone plays too many video games. :-)

I reckon I've played 15 hours already and I've only done 2 missions outside the Citadel! But I like to explore absolutely everywhere and talk to everyone.

Dodgy Tone writes...

Someone plays too many video games. :-)

I reckon I've played 15 hours already and I've only done 2 missions outside the Citadel! But I like to explore absolutely everywhere and talk to everyone.

Guilty, but that was after a 5 hour restart with a new character too, so I knew what I was doing the second time around.

I don't regret the purchase (well, apart from EB screwing me for $100), but I do wish it was better value.

I've recently picked this up. And a few things are still irritating me... (PC)

1. elevator trips, I do realize they're only like... 30seconds long, but right after you have a fight, you sit around doing nothing. It breaks flow.

2. Teammates! What are they doing??? You issue a "hold position" behind some nice cover, they sort of pretend to fight, the enemies charge up to you. You die along with them. Also, they do not seem to want to seek out cover themselves

3. "Auto-Save"... The above situation happened, consequently was thrown back an hour. Is there something wrong with saving every elevator, or cinematic? [edit: I realize there is a F6 button that quicksaves, but this does not excuse it]

I don't want to sound like an angry little girl but couldn't they have loaded newer areas between the elevators as you got closer, or had clever-er AI?

Claire Bennet writes...

1. elevator trips, I do realize they're only like... 30seconds long, but right after you have a fight, you sit around doing nothing. It breaks flow.

Yeah, I agree ... those elevators in Citadel – and the way the entire place was designed for that matter – were particularly annoying.

I guess it was necessary to use elevators to mask the loading times on the X360 but unfortunately that was carried over to the PC version as well. At least the Normandy elevator flies on the PC version; the X360 one was bad ...

2. Teammates! What are they doing??? You issue a "hold position" behind some nice cover, they sort of pretend to fight, the enemies charge up to you. You die along with them. Also, they do not seem to want to seek out cover themselves

Pretty retarded some of them. They're usually kicking butt in the cinematics but when it comes to real-time, they're about as intelligent and agile as a brick.

3. "Auto-Save"... The above situation happened, consequently was thrown back an hour. Is there something wrong with saving every elevator, or cinematic? [edit: I realize there is a F6 button that quicksaves, but this does not excuse it]

Auto-saving shenanigans are not restricted solely to Bioware games but I agree nonetheless, it makes you wonder what these level designers were thinking. F6 is indeed your friend.

Cobretti1818 writes...

I received mine yesterday.
There are heaps on ebay from Thailand. Hell, even the boxes are in English. You can get it from $35-40 delivered.

Play-Asia now have it in stock. ~ $50AUD including postage. I just placed my order

[sort of spoiler but not really, like, this happens 20minutes in]

Early on when that Spectre gets killed by Saren, do shields just turn themselves off when you're talking to people? or did Saren just have some sort of one shot kill gun...

Claire Bennet writes...

Early on when that Spectre gets killed by Saren, do shields just turn themselves off when you're talking to people?

I would say that Nihlus (the Spectre victim) wasn't in combat mode and thus vulnerable because his shield was down. It wouldn't be prudent, from an energy conservation and management point of view, to have shields up and running 24/7 and have it run flat when you needed it the most.

Furthermore, Saren fired his gun at Nihlus's head at point-blank range from behind – we don't even know what sort of mods and ammo were loaded on Saren's gun, which could have been a tough-ask for a shield system to counter, even if it was activated.

Lord Panda writes...

I would say that Nihlus (the Spectre victim) wasn't in combat mode and thus vulnerable because his shield was down. It wouldn't be prudent, from an energy conservation and management point of view, to have shields up and running 24/7 and have it run flat when you needed it the most.

Furthermore, Saren fired his gun at Nihlus's head at point-blank range from behind – we don't even know what sort of mods and ammo were loaded on Saren's gun, which could have been a tough-ask for a shield system to counter, even if it was activated.

+1

You are quoting significantly more words than you have written.
Consider whether you need to quote at all — unless you are quoting to respond to a specific statement, it's usually easier to just mention who you're responding to.
Otherwise, trim the quoted passages down as much as you can.

Is Mass Effect one of those games where I have to quit my job to fully enjoy?

Jazza writes...

Is Mass Effect one of those games where I have to quit my job to fully enjoy?

depends if you feel like quiting your job for no reason.

It was like playing KOTOR all over again. I knew I should stop, but I just kept on going and going.
When this happened with KOTOR I sat for 14hrs straight (with lunch/dinner/bathroom breaks) and finished the game. Luckily this time I left on holiday :P
But no this doesn't happen to everyone. You can sit straight through, or just take your time. Either way you will have a lot of fun.

Lord Panda writes...

to have shields up and running 24/7 and have it run flat when you needed it the most.

Fair enough argument, until the bit [ok, spoilers again]...

Bit when you kill the krogan on your team because he wants to save the cure instead of destorying it. I let ashley kill him. Ashley was at range, the krogan fell, ie it didn't hit shields so to your point about them being on when he wants them to be, you're in an argument guns drawn, i'd presume he'd turn them on.

lol. Ok I admit that this is a stupid arguments about minute details, but still....

Claire Bennet writes...

lol. Ok I admit that this is a stupid arguments about minute details, but still....

No, you bring up valid points that tighter scripting on Bioware's part would have answered.

i'd presume he'd turn them on.

If I were the writers, I'd argue that the Krogan was so arrogant, that he felt activating shields in the face of a female assailant, was beneath him. I'm not up to that point yet in the game, so I'm not sure if the Krogan was aware he was being targeted or not.

Claire, if I ever decide to write a novel then rest assured I'll run it by you first :D

haha. ok.

But he was definitely aware, it was a full blown, run-of-the-mill "you point gun at me, and don't shoot, while I do the same, and we talk" scene.

Claire Bennet writes...

I've recently picked this up. And a few things are still irritating me... (PC)

1. elevator trips, I do realize they're only like... 30seconds long, but right after you have a fight, you sit around doing nothing. It breaks flow.
Yes! They were so long.

2. Teammates! What are they doing??? You issue a "hold position" behind some nice cover, they sort of pretend to fight, the enemies charge up to you. You die along with them. Also, they do not seem to want to seek out cover themselves
Having played KotOR, I expected that you'd be able to control your teammates, but that wasn't the case. It was a bit annoying not being able to see from the perspective of a teammate who was 10m away from you (who was being shot at by an enemy you couldn't from from your point of view). It forced you to go ahead as Shepard, which was bad in itself, because if Shepard died, it would be game over (which really shouldn't be the case when the other two have full health).

3. "Auto-Save"... The above situation happened, consequently was thrown back an hour. Is there something wrong with saving every elevator, or cinematic? [edit: I realize there is a F6 button that quicksaves, but this does not excuse it]
I didn't run into this problem (F6 was probably my most used button throughout the game), but it's an RPG not a shooter, it doesn't have checkpoints before every encounter. Having said that, an hour is a really long time! My problem was with 'quick save failed'. I can't save in an elevator, but if I take a step out, it's suddenly alright? I've cleared out all the enemies in the area, but I can't save it until Alenko says "bag 'em and tag 'em"?

I don't want to sound like an angry little girl but couldn't they have loaded newer areas between the elevators as you got closer, or had clever-er AI?
Hopefully they'll fix it in the sequels.

Lord Panda writes...

I'm not sure if the Krogan was aware he was being targeted or not.
I think he had other things on his mind. You know, like the fate of his entire species. I didn't get to save him, so I sorta got the feeling that if Shepard wasn't going to let him cure his people, he might as well be dead, instead of going on knowing that there was a way to save them. Still, it would have been interesting if he didn't die like that, and instead joined Saren or something.

Most likely a dumb question but here goes:

How do you get your team-mates to heal you or perform an action on an object just such as electronic hacking?

Yeah I wanted to know as well. I'm a soldier so I can't hack all those drones lying on the planets and I couldn't get Garrus to unlock them as well.

If anyone wants to change their character model (say..Wrex or Tali? :P) here's a way:

http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=944902&topic=43598739

I foresee crazy alien on alien action...

I would advise reading through that thread though. There's some glitches.

Lord Panda writes...

Most likely a dumb question but here goes:

How do you get your team-mates to heal you or perform an action on an object just such as electronic hacking?

I have not actually figured that out, i've just given up on hacking those boxes/doors/crates. I've ended up with more money than i can actually spend for some reason... meaning i've bought everything I need/is the best i can buy, and sold everything and i have like 100,000+ for some stupid reason... I thought money was supposed to be tight.

I'm playing soldier, so I can't hack anything etc. It would be nice though wouldn't it, if your teammates could do it for you.

Anyone know how this works? (or if it is even possible)

100 000 isn't a stupid amount of credits... I just realised I'm nearing the end of the game, stuff is costing well over 150 000, and since I only have like, 1m credits, I'm reluctant to spend any of it... Plus, most of the stuff you pick up is good enough anyway, to the point that you have so much great equipment, you don't want to drop any of it, and you end up switching equipment every 5 minutes.

The shield thing is kind of stupid though

Ah, so it's not just me then :) So folks, what's the best way to get cash, fast?

Lord Panda writes...

So folks, what's the best way to get cash, fast?

Well I ended up with a reasonable amount of cash [this is assuming the cash cap is still at 2mil] by just doing everything. It's not as if you /need/ it anyway, the game spews great items and upgrades at you...

I didn't buy a single thing from the various shops aside from Health and grenade increases.

Most broken stat ever.

Battlemouse writes...

Health and grenade increases.

I also bought some liscences but only cause they were cheap. [Didn't buy anything of the requisitions officer either]

Claire Bennet writes...

Anyone know how this works? (or if it is even possible)

Your teammates can do it – if you have a character with high decryption/electronics in your current team and you click on a chest to hack it open for example, it will hack it as if that character was doing it. I used Ash and Tali most of the way through my campaign and found it quite easy – didn't bother with Biotics (even though they were cool).

Tali had full decryption/electronics fairly quickly as I controlled point allocation myself and there was nothing I couldn't get into. (Playing Shepard as a Soldier too.)

I played every single mission in the game and the only item I ever bought was the HMVV Spectre Assault Rifle from the C-SEC req. officer after I had made 1 million credits.

When I finished the game on Veteran I had 9,999,999 credits. Didn't you guys sell every item you found and didn't need? It's so easy to make that much money.

Same as you Gobbo, the only items I ever bought were the Spectre items, as everything else was found/dropped etc.

Bought the rifle for myself, the pistol for Tali, the Shotgun for Ash and the sniper rifle for Wrex.

After playing my first 3 hours, I'm seriously regretting going as a Vangard and not a soldier. I want to use my assault rifle! Is there a way to train yourself to use weapon types or will I have to restart the game?

HaloHunter writes...
After playing my first 3 hours, I'm seriously regretting going as a Vangard and not a soldier. I want to use my assault rifle! Is there a way to train yourself to use weapon types or will I have to restart the game?

Vanguards can only use pistols and shotguns. Don't worry. I used my pistol to snipe and spray everything quite effectively. It's only in the beginning where pistols seem to be utterly crap.

Just finished the game and really did like the story. They've created quite a sci-fi which seems to merge star wars and star trek somewhat. Interesting how it's a semi-TPS KotOR style :) Tried to do all the additional quest (except for one that somehow didn't seem to show up) and didn't bother about the useless finding all materials and stuff but nearly completed it.

As for things I bought, bought all the spectre stuff, health and grenades upgrades, all the licenses i could find, some armor as at that time the shop had a very good one and I still couldn't get anything better, but yes, most of the things were found. Geths seem to drop lots of upgrades too.

And yea, got williams killed and sacrificed Humans cuz I don't like them :P Didn't get the krogan killed as I used him for a tank. Funny how charm gets you out of fighting situations.

Battlemouse writes...
["I finished at level 43 with level 7 equipment and was left wondering where the rest of the game was.

I suppose it took me 15 hours to run through the game on Veteran diff."]

I think I was one level 49 and had IX upgrades..

Took me around 30h+ doing all the exploring nonsense. Very repetitive though. Main story itself is quite short.

Elevators are stupid on the PC version.. gah.. esp the one travelling up to the Normandy from C-sec.

The Vanguard class is great. I also finished the game at lv. 49. Main game was short (but brilliant) and padded with so much useless side-missions. The Mako's handling is one of the worst examples of vehicle physics in recent memory, and the generic planets with often ridiculously rocky and mountainous terrain were mind-numbing.

I loved the story (better than heaps of movies), the characters, the purdy graphics, the biotic powers but was disappointed with the lineararity, the silly AI, the menu/inventory system (why aren't they all linked Bioware), the obvious game-length padding with elevators, lack of a sprint feature during non-combat mode, the lack of weapons, items and armour choices, the limiting three character party system, lack of Normandy battle with Shepard calling the shots using the radial dialogue wheel, Mako's un-upgradeability, bland planets and side-quests, lack of off-world maps and alternative Mako-drop scenes ...

It was still an awesome experience; such was the strength, story and direction of the main quest and the characters. Now that Bioware have all the technology in place and the UE3 engine in-hand, I'm expecting the sequel to blow me away. Damn, it's going to be long wait :(

"Bring Down The Sky" downloadable content for the PC has been released! About bloody time too.

installed new patch... and when i try to go into game it keeps asking me for a cd key... even when i put one in, and click done, the same box pops up..

WHAT DO I DO :S