Mass Effect Could Get New Multiplayer Mode

[Tom Goldman]

Mass Effect Could Get New Multiplayer Mode

Signs point toward BioWare adding multiplayer to its popular sci-fi action-RPG Mass Effect.

Videogame industry job listings rarely imply something as clearly as one of BioWare's latest. Caught by Mass Effect [http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Mass-Effect-Going-Multiplayer-24890.html] franchise.

What makes us know this? A LinkedIn post by EA Senior Recruiter Jeff Goldstein is titled: "BioWare Montreal - Multiplayer Programmer (Mass Effect Franchise)." BioWare could plan to bring a new multiplayer mode to Mass Effect 3, though it could also be for an off-shoot in the franchise or something else too.

BioWare Montreal is listed as the "newest member of the BioWare family" that is working on Mass Effect to "build [its] way toward becoming a fully self-sufficient BioWare studio." Multiplayer programmers there will "take existing single player user experiences and make them multiplayer safe."

BioWare isn't really known for multiplayer, though its upcoming Gears of War [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/100967-Star-Wars-The-Old-Republic-is-EAs-Most-Expensive-Project-in-History]-like, but it makes much more sense to allow multiple players to join up on the same squad to take down baddies and gunships.

The only issue I can see is: How will pause-and-play work when you can't pause? We should definitely keep an eye out to see what type of multiplayer gameplay Mass Effect could bring us in the future, whether it be in Mass Effect 3 or something unannounced.

Via: Blue's News [http://www.bluesnews.com/s/110744/mass-effect-multiplayer]

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[Daystar Clarion]

Ugh, I love Mass Effect, but it's shooting mechanics are nowhere near good enough to work as a multiplayer game, just... just, no.

 

[AkJay]

That just seems like a stupid add-on. One of the reasons I love Mass Effect is because of the level of detail put in to the SP due to lack of MP.

 

[SamuelT]

Hmm...I think coop in the sense of MW2's Spec Ops could work. Preset the difficutly, what map and what challange you'd want.

Then again, I don't really see four "Shepards" storming a ship.

Questionable. I'll remain scepiticle until I hear anything else.

 

[Irridium]

I wouldn't mind this as a spin-off, but for Mass Effect 3?

For Mass Effect 3 I think it would be an awful idea.

NOT EVERY DAMN GAME NEEDS MULTIPLAYER!

Keep Mass Effect 3 single-player, and make a spin-off for multiplayer.

Plus, the current games are, according to Bioware, "Shepard's story." Having a co-op partner would just break that. Plus, its hard to experience a story-heavy game when your friend is going "dude, skip this, this is lame. Who cares about this?"

 

[Keava]

Im not sure should i cry or cheer. On one hand i like ME for what it is, a single player quality game without the bother of pointless multiplayer addition that only brings out the worst in people. On the other hand, i enjoy playing with friends and surely a multiplayer ME universe could be interesting depending on the type of game. There is also the fat that TOR dialog system is tailored for multiplayer expierience so maybe a co-op is possible in ME3 or further games set in the universe.

 

[Sparrow]

Ugh, I love Mass Effect, but it's shooting mechanics are nowhere near good enough to work as a multiplayer game, just... just, no.

I doubt it means online PvP matches. Online co-op, however, would be plausable.

 

[The Great Zegrool]

Just kidding, I'll try to remain optimistic.

Actually, I'm all for studios trying new things, let's see how this goes.

 

[chstens]

Uh-oh, I sense a disturbance in the Force.

 

[Danpascooch]

Mass Effect would definitely work as a multiplayer game, but it would have to be cooperative multiplayer similar to how L4D is, and NOT deathmatch, that would never work.

 

[Hurr Durr Derp]

I wouldn't mind this as a spin-off, but for Mass Effect 3?

Otherwise, I think it would be an awful idea.

NOT EVERY DAMN GAME NEEDS MULTIPLAYER!

Keep Mass Effect 3 single-player, and make a spin-off for multiplayer.

Exactly what I was gonna say.

I really hope multiplayer Mass Effect will be a spin-off title, and not something we'll see in the main trilogy. Mass Effect's gameplay just doesn't support multiplayer action, and turning ME into even more of a generic shooter won't make anyone happy, especially since the best parts of Mass Effect (story, characters, dialogue) wouldn't translate well to multiplayer, and the parts that would translate well (the combat) are far worse than those of existing multiplayer games.

 

[katsabas]

As long as they keep the single player experience on the same level of awesomeness and duration, I could care less. It might actually work.

 

[Shycte]

Not sure how to feel bout' this...

Maybe the serie is best as it is.... But then again, no one will force me to play the MP...

 

[AboveUp]

That just seems like a stupid add-on. One of the reasons I love Mass Effect is because of the level of detail put in to the SP due to lack of MP.

This pretty much sums my thoughts on the subject up accurately. Multiplayer in Mass Effect would feel like a "Me Too multiplayer" than anything else.

We'll see how it works out.

 

[Jaebird]

Great; now I have this image in my head of a dozen Krogans saying, "Shepard." Thanks, Giant Bombcast, for making a running joke out of one Krogan saying it.

 

[Awexsome]

Eh... The only way it would work is Co-op. And in that regard I still don't think it would be as good as other games' offerings of multiplayer. Multiplayer isn't the reason you played the other Mass Effects so I would think it would just be an insignificant add-on to the game.

Usually I'm all for a game branching out but... I'd rather get as much exploration and missions as possible out of Mass Effect...

Oh Mass Effect... I only criticize because I love you so!

 

[Aanorith]

Hmmm. All I can say about this is ill keep an open mind. They really improved the combat in ME2 compared to the first, I suppose it may be possible for them to make an enjoyable co-op/multiplayer experiance. Anyway, you've peaked my intrest Bioware. Ill give it a go.