that it will bring us
know information
Expect more RPG elements this time around -- if still not on par with Mass Effect 1 -- with beefier skill trees and more evolution of powers. You can also expect more weapon modification, though, again, likely not as much as we saw in ME1. All weapons will be usable by all classes, though each class (except for the solider) will be limited to a certain number of weapons that can be equipped for a mission.
As far as Mass Effect 3's plot ... well, suffice it to say that Shepard is on Earth due to the events of the "Arrival" DLC. But that's all we'll spill. As for returning characters -- you really don't want to know, do you? ... You sure? ... OK, fine. For now, we know Liara and Garrus (if he survived) will be playable. Favorites like Wrex and Mordin (again, if they're alive) will also make appearances, though whether they'll be full-fledged teammates is unknown.
Squad Members
As with the previous games in the Mass Effect trilogy, Shepard will be able to recruit companions that can follow Shepard into battle. Currently, these are known to include:
* Ashley Williams
* Kaidan Alenko
* Garrus Vakarian
* Liara T'Soni
* James Sanders
Returning Characters
The following characters will appear in some capacity in Mass Effect 3, provided they survived the events of Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2.
* David Anderson
* Donnel Udina
* EDI
* The Illusive Man
* Jeff "Joker" Moreau
* Legion
* Mordin Solus
* Urdnot Wrex
Gameplay Changes
Combat
Mass Effect 3's changes to Mass Effect 2's core combat mechanics are not as drastic as the changes Mass Effect 2 made to the original Mass Effect, however improvements have been made and new capabilities introduced. These include:
* Changes to movement in combat including the ability to roll, leap over ledges or gaps without taking cover first and optimised maneuvering and firing from cover.
* Melee plays a larger role, with each class receiving a unique close-quarters attack.
* Enemy AI has been improved. Enemies now perform specific functions on the battlefield and coordinate with other enemies. For example, 'cover buster' enemies, such as Husks, are often paired with a 'suppressor' enemy type, which will try to keep Shepard in cover while the Husks get in close.
Weapons
Mass Effect 3 makes several changes to the way weapons worked in Mass Effect 2, these include:
* The ability for all classes to wield any type of weapon. However, classes will be limited by the number of weapons they can carry at any one time, with the Soldier being the only class that can wield every weapon class at once.
* The return of weapon modifications. Players will be able to modify their weapons with different parts, such as barrels, scopes and materials, that will affect the weapon's combat performance and appearance.
* Shepard can pick up and wield weapons dropped by enemies.
Powers
Mass Effect 3 also makes some changes to the way skills work, including:
* Larger skill trees that offer a greater degree of freedom when it comes to choosing skills.
* The ability to evolve powers multiple times.
Exploration
Vehicle-based exploration will be closer to Mass Effect 2, where it didn't form part of the critical path.Casey Hudson had previously indicated that the vehicle exploration segment of the Mass Effect 2 DLC pack Overlord was an attempt at addressing issues players had with the exploration segments in the original Mass Effect, and lessons learned from its implementation could be used to implement similar segments in Mass Effect 3.
Cristina Norman has noted that "nobody liked" the mining mechanic in Mass Effect 2 and Casey Hudson has stated that the mining part of the game will be changed, but the notion of exploring the galaxy in a non-linear fashion will be preserved
Save File Transfer
As with Mass Effect 2, Mass Effect 3 will allow the player to import their save file from the previous game, carrying over their decisions from both Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2, totaling over 1000 variables. As Mass Effect 3 will import decisions not just from Mass Effect 2, but the original Mass Effect as well, some of the player's decisions from Mass Effect that did not have impact in Mass Effect 2 could potentially have an impact in Mass Effect 3.
If Commander Shepard died in the player's Mass Effect 2 playthrough, the player will be unable to to import their save game. Mass Effect 3's story is a continuation of Shepard's story and if Shepard died in Mass Effect 2 that death is considered final.Similarly, any squadmates who did not survive the suicide mission at the end of Mass Effect 2 will not return in Mass Effect 3.
Also known to have an impact in Mass Effect 3 is any romance the player has pursued. If Commander Shepard had a love interest in Mass Effect, yet pursued a new love interest in Mass Effect 2, this could have negative repercussions for Shepard's relationship in Mass Effect 3
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UPDATE 17/04/2011
The Normandy/RPG elements
Bioware has confirmed in a Game Informer cover article that the Normandy 2 has been reclaimed by the Alliance. Though it is still under Shepard's command, the Alliance has studied the Normandy and upgraded it with new rooms and features for the player to explore.
POSSIBLE image of James Sanders
Spoiler!
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UPDATE 12/05/2011
The following comes from Boiler,
Boiler wrote:Warning: Spoilers below. This is the point of no-return. Reading past this point will reveal information vital to the plot of Mass Effect 3
Taken from http://kotaku.com/5800972/five-new-mass ... nt-to-hearSpoiler!
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UPDATE 08/06/2011
http://e3.gamespot.com/live.html?tag=masthead%3Bcounter
Mass Effect 3 right now
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UPDATE 20/06/2011
Mass Effect 3 screen shots
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UPDATE 28/10/2011
Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer
"Rest assured, it's nothing of what you've feared." That's what Mass Effect 3 executive producer Casey Hudson said via Facebook when the game's cooperative online multiplayer mode was announced. This brought a sigh of relief to some, while others cringed at seeing "Mass Effect" and "multiplayer" so close together.
The fate of pretty much everything in Mass Effect 3 will rest on the galaxy's readiness level. This is a representation of how well Shepard has prepared the entire galaxy for the coming battle. It can also be influenced in several ways, one of which is the new multiplayer mode. This cooperative, four-player online mode drops players into a horde-mode-style area where they must battle against increasingly difficult waves of enemies.
Your personal commander Shepard won't be available here; he (or she) is much too busy romancing aliens and punching reporters. Instead, a new character must be created from the game's most humanoid races--Asari, Turian, Drell, Krogan, Salarian, and human--and established classes. Your character's abilities are tied to his or her class (there are no racial abilities), and which weapons you bring is up to you. However, your class will determine firearm proficiency.
In multiplayer, the map you choose determines the set of enemies you will face. shooting people in multiplayer wasn't different from single-player. Some enemies carried massive shields that required one of our team to act as a distraction while the other sneaked up behind the foe. And when a massive Atlas mech suit landed, it was an all-hands-on-deck moment where we had to quickly bring the brute down.
Special objectives were interspersed throughout the match. During one wave, we had to run across the map and disable four enemy devices. Another required us to group up in an area and defend it while uploading data. Despite our best efforts, our character would get taken out after one-too-many space bullets to the face. When our character went down, we could frantically press a button to postpone death. Of course, this became more difficult, and by the time the second unit arrived, we simply couldn't maintain it any longer. Dying took us out of the current wave and into spectator mode. We could then return at the start of the next wave, assuming our teammates lived that long.
Killing enemies and completing objectives earn your character money and experience. Money is used to purchase and upgrade weapons, while experience increases your character's level. At a certain point in your character's progression, you will have the option to export him or her into your single-player. There, you can use your character as a war asset on the Galaxy at War map. How exactly these characters will function in your campaign remains to be seen.
Despite the fact that this is a cooperative mode, you're not required to have three friends to play. In fact, we could have played with two, one, or even zero teammates if we were so inclined. The game wouldn't have granted us any AI teammates, but it would have adjusted the enemy difficulty accordingly. Or you can just ignore the mode entirely. There will be other ways to raise your galaxy's readiness level, and the optimal ending is available without having to touch multiplayer. Mass Effect 3 will be released on March 6, 2012, on the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.
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Collectors Edition + level playthroughs
Mass Effect 3 N7 Collector's Edition Trailer
Ashley
Playthroughs (In spoilers)
The starting mission on EarthSpoiler!
Sur'Kesh mission to rescue the krogan femaleSpoiler!
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Girls of Mass Effect 3
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New Combat Trailer
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N7 Warfare DLC (posted by Boiler)Boiler wrote:
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Commander Shepard's Kinect-Enabled Descent Into Madness
Now that the Kinect has been out for a while, we've begun to see developers use the technology for more than just gesture-controlled sports compilations. BioWare might be the most high-profile example of this, having implemented the Kinect as a tool for voice commands in the Xbox 360 version of Mass Effect 3. It's one of the few Kinect-compatible games that completely eschews any use of the sensor's built-in camera; this space opera is all about shouting.
Having played some of it for ourselves at CES last week, it's clear that BioWare's done a good job of getting the technology to play nicely with its sci-fi shooter action sequences. Pretty much everything you can do from the radial menu can also be done with your voice. And in a nice touch, you can say "quick save" to make the game, well, quick save. Take that F6 key!
But there is something odd about voice commands in Mass Effect 3. It's something that makes you take a step back and think, "Maybe I should tone it down a bit." See, you're supposed to be role playing as Commander Shepard, right? So isn't it a little weird to shout "shotgun!" to switch to your boomstick, or "incendiary ammo!" to switch to fire bullets? At that point, aren't you kind of yelling at yourself?
The Kinect voice commands are great for issuing squad orders. If James is playing it too safe, you can yell "James attack!" and he'll charge forward just as you commanded. If you need to get at an enemy pinned behind cover, you can shout "Liara lift!" and she'll instantly turn your foes into a bunch of helplessly floating bull's-eyes. It works; it feels natural. You're Shepard commanding your troops like the space general you are.
But yelling at yourself to open a door instead of hitting the A button per the giant onscreen button prompt? That's a little weird. There's some mild mental instability bubbling beneath the surface there. But, hey, maybe it's just us. Take a look at the demo below and let us know what you think of Mass Effect 3's voice commands in the comments.
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Hang on to your Mass Effect 3 saves
Hang on to your Mass Effect 3 saves, suggests BioWare
Future Mass Effect games could be influenced by ME3 actions, suggests producer.
Hang on to those Mass Effect 3 saves once you're done, folks - BioWare may have plans to make use of them in the future.
"It wouldn't be a bad idea (to keep your ME3 saves)" said Associate Producer Mike Gamble talking to GamerZinest last week. "Obviously I can't say anything, but it wouldn't be a bad idea..."
Mass Effect 2 and 3 both use save states from the games prior to determine the player's previous actions and use them to help shape the story.
Mass Effect 3 is the last game in the Shepard trilogy, but BioWare hasn't ruled out the option to return to the Mass Effect universe in the future.
As for Shepard's send-off, Gamble says that it has to leave players satisfied.
"We want the outcomes to be satisfying to the player. That doesn't necessarily mean they're all going to be happy or positive, but they have to be satisfying. Players have to understand that the choices they've been making in this game and in previous have had an impact, and that they're an architect in what happens."
How will Shepard's story end? Find out on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC on March 9th.
http://www.gamerzines.com/xbox-360/news ... saves.html
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ME3 Videos
http://masseffect.bioware.com/about/enemies/
http://masseffect.bioware.com/about/arsenal/
http://masseffect.bioware.com/about/story/
http://masseffect.bioware.com/about/gameplay/
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ME3 Multiplayer DLC
Boiler wrote:Free Multiplayer dlc coming 10th April,
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Mass Effect 3 Rebellion DLC Details Aren't True
oday supposed details on a "Rebellion" DLC pack for Mass Effect 3 hit the web. Don't get too excited, though. BioWare says that these details are inaccurate, though.
Sony's Hong Kong website stated that "Rebellion" was an expansion for the game's co-op mode arriving today. It would add two new maps, Firebase Jade and Firebase Goddess, set in a jungle reservoir and on Thessia, respectively. New equipment, including three weapons, was also promised. The most interesting part, though, was that its six new classes included Vorcha and Phoenix characters.
Both the Vorcha and Phoenix have never been playable before. The Vorcha are a primitive, warrior species seen briefly in Mass Effect 3's campaign. As for the Phoenix, well, who knows what they are. The prospect of a never-before-seen race made the "Rebellion" DLC a source of great interest among gamers.
However, BioWare quickly shot down this rumor. Community manager Chris Priestly said this on the company's forums: "Sorry folks, this is not true. There is no ME3 MP DLC coming out tomorrow. This is the internet and you cannot 'unsee' things, but the details in this are not correct."
Priestly's statement doesn't necessarily mean that "Rebellion" is fake. It might still exist in some form. I can't imagine Sony's listing was completely fabricated. Still, if this DLC is real, it won't be coming out today. You'll have to find some other way to pass the time.
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Mass Effect 3 ending OK'd by UK ad bureau
Advertising Standards Authority says claims of individualized finale to sci-fi trilogy were not misleading; EA says ending variation takes place over final 3-5 hours of gameplay.
The UK Advertising Standards Authority has weighed in on complaints about the ending of Mass Effect 3, saying that Electronic Arts' promises of player decisions shaping the conclusion of the sci-fi role-playing trilogy were not misleading.
Where does the end of Mass Effect 3 begin?
After Mass Effect 3's March debut, fans vocally expressed their distaste for the endgame, saying the conclusion (which was capped off by one of three largely similar cutscenes) did not support player choices made over the course of the trilogy. Specifically at issue for the ASA were claims on the game's website that player decisions "completely shape your experience and outcome," and "drive powerful outcomes, including relationships with key characters, the fate of entire civilizations, and even radically different ending scenarios." Before ultimately concluding that the ad was not misleading, the ASA explained its position.
The ASA acknowledged the complainants' belief that players' choices in the game did not influence the outcome to the extent claimed by EA. However, we considered that the three choices at the end of the game were thematically quite different, and that the availability and effectiveness of those choices would be directly determined by a player's [Effective Military Strength] score, which was calculated with reference to previous performance in the game(s). We also acknowledged that there appeared to be a large number of minor variations in the end stages of ME3, and that those were directly impacted by choices made by players earlier in the game(s). Whilst we acknowledged that the advertiser had placed particular emphasis on the role that player choices would play in determining the outcome of the game, we considered that most consumers would realise there would be a finite number of possible outcomes within the game and, because we considered that the advertiser had shown that players' previous choices and performance would impact on the ending of the game, we concluded that the ad was not misleading.
Electronic Arts also offered its own defense of the ad, telling the ASA that it considered the ending of Mass Effect 3 to take place over the final three to five hours of the game, and not just in the very last cutscene. A portion of the publisher's spoiler-filled explanation follows below.
[Electronic Arts] said the effectiveness of the choice made was also dependent on the EMS score, for example whether the main character "Shepard" would survive and whether the Earth was destroyed. They said there were also a large number of other, more minor, variations. In particular, they explained how the outcome of the Geth/Quarian Campaign and the Genophage Campaign would impact on the cinematic experience at the end of the game, and the implied end state of the player's story. They said that characters who had died during previous games in the series, as a result of player actions, would not be present in ME3, and that other actions in previous games could also lead to the death of supporting characters in the game.
A Better Business Bureau representative said in April that Mass Effect 3's ending had been falsely advertised, but the US group differs from the ASA in that it has no legal authority to impose sanctions on companies.
Regardless, BioWare is revisiting the ending of Mass Effect 3 this summer with free "Extended Cut" downloadable content intended to expand on the RPG's endgame through "cinematic sequences and epilogue scenes."
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Mass Effect 3 Extended Endings
Below are the extending endings to Mass Effect 3, only click on them if you have played the game before and cant be bothered playing through again
SPOILERS
destroy ending
Synthesis
control
refuse
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Mass Effect 3 Earth DLC
Mass Effect 3 Earth DLC is now available to download at no additional charge. The DLC adds mods, gear, and new maps for Rio, Vancouver, and London. It features three new weapons: Piranha assault shotgun, Acolyte pistol, and Typhoon assault rifle. Six new human N7 classes are also available: Destroyer Soldier, Paladin Sentinel, Demolisher Engineer, Slayer Vanguard, Shadow Infiltrator, and Fury Adept - each comes complete with new and powerful abilities and melee attacks.
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Mass Effect 3: Leviathan DLC
Mass Effect 3 single-player campaign is poised to get its first story-based DLC - Leviathan - on 28 August, across all three gaming platforms - PC, PlayStation 3 (PS3) and Xbox. Meanwhile, BioWare has released a new launch trailer depicting the events concerning the origin of Reapers, and Commander Shepard's underwater adventure in pursuit of a mysterious creature called Leviathan, which is capable of killing the Reapers.
The Leviathan DLC is expected to add more details to the Mass Effect 3 endings with additional dialogue content to the revised ending. The star child AI is reportedly expected to reveal further details on the origin of the Reapers and their relation to their creators - the titular Leviathans.
According to Digital Spy, Players will get to explore new uncharted planets and star systems, new areas of the Citadel and encounter new characters. All these game elements will enhance the core gameplay, besides aiding in unearthing the history of the Reapers. Underwater exploration using mech suit is also on the cards in Commander Shepard's final voyage.
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Mass Effect 3: Collectors DLC
Biggest-ever multiplayer add-on for role-playing game Retaliation brings new enemy faction, class kits, "Hazard" version of existing maps, weapons, challenges, and upgrades.
BioWare will release the biggest downloadable content pack to date for Mass Effect 3 next week, the company has announced. The free Retaliation Pack is due out on October 9 in North America for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. It will arrive for PS3 in Europe on October 10.
Players will have new enemies to face in Mass Effect 3 next week.
The Retaliation Pack includes a range of new offerings, the first of which is a new enemy faction that features the Collector Praetorian, Scion, Abomination, Trooper, and Captain. Additionally, it brings the new Turian Havoc Soldier and Turian Ghost Infiltration to help combat the threat.
The DLC also adds new "Hazard" versions of existing maps, which feature new environmental hazards and traps. Further, the Retaliation Pack adds new unlockable weapons like the Collector Assault Rifle, Sub-Machine Gun, and Sniper Rifle.
Lastly, the multiplayer DLC brings a new multiplayer "challenge" feature that allows gamers to track progress against one another. By completing various assignments, players can unlock titles and banners that can be displayed in-game.
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Mass Effect 3: OMEGA DLC
In Omega, the new downloadable add-on for BioWare's science fiction role-playing shooter Mass Effect 3, two never before playable characters steal the show.
Sure, Shepard is the main man/woman, but fans will be most interested in the two new party members you get to control.
The first of these is Aria T'Loak, the frowning asari mob boss who, in her view, is the rightful owner of Omega, the space station last seen in Mass Effect 2.
Aria is a powerful biotic - one of the most powerful, BioWare Montreal producer Fabrice Condominas tells Eurogamer. And her abilities, created specifically for her use, reflect that power. Flare is “probably one of the most powerful” biotic explosive attacks in the game and is great for clearing groups of enemies. Lash sends a biotic lash out onto the battlefield, attracting enemies to her and doing heavy damage. Lash is particularly useful against shielded enemies - a single attack can drop a shields in an instant. So powerful is Aria that BioWare had to rebalance the combat gameplay to cope.
But it is the second new party member that will attract the most attention. Her name is Nyreen Kandros, the turian leader of the Talon mercenary group and the first female turian to be seen in the Mass Effect video games.
Nyreen is ex-turian military, but, despite this, she is a biotic (turian military hierarchy prohibits biotic powers). Her powers aren't as devastating as Aria's, but she's still useful in combat. Her Biotic Grenade ability does exactly what it says on the tin, and Biotic Protector raises a magic shield, useful for keeping her alive when the chips are down.
Condominas said designing Nyreen was quite a challenge. While a female turian did pop up in one of the Mass Effect comics, there was no video game reference point (and there are female turian soldiers in the game, but they're background soldiers who go unnoticed, apparently).
“We wanted to make sure the first time you see her you realise she's female and not a male turian, so we had to do a bit of work. We changed subtly some shapes to give her a smoother face. I can't wait for the players' feedback!”
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Mass Effect 3: Citadel DLC
Mass Effect 3: Citadel is a DLC pack for Mass Effect 3. It opens new areas of the Citadel, offers new attractions on the Citadel, and an opportunity to connect with characters from the series. The pack was announced on February 21, 2013 and was released on March 5, 2013 worldwide for Xbox 360 and PC; for PlayStation 3, it was released March 5, 2013 worldwide except in Europe, where it will be released on March 6, 2013.Mass Effect 3: Citadel is the final DLC pack released for Mass Effect 3.
When a sinister conspiracy targets Commander Shepard, you and your team must uncover the truth, through battles and intrigue that range from the glamour of the Citadel's Wards to the top-secret Council Archives. Uncover the truth and fight alongside your squad – as well as the cast from the original Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2, including Urdnot Wrex!
When the adventure is over, reconnect with your favorite characters from the Mass Effect Trilogy, try your luck at the Citadel's Silver Coast Casino, blow off steam in the Armax Combat Arena, or explore and furnish Shepard's own living quarters on the Citadel. With unique content and cinematics featuring your friends and romance interests in the Mass Effect trilogy, Mass Effect 3: Citadel offers one final chance to see the characters you have known for years and rekindle romances.
need to romance tali again in me3 
!