Mass Effect 3 - Impressions Incoming! Leviathan DLC released!

[CeeKay]

Joystiq seems to think so.   I wonder if this could be Mass Effect 3 or maybe a side game in the series.  considering how quickly they are turning DA2 around ME3 wouldn't be a surprise, with a fall 2011 or early 2012 release.

[EddieA]

The clues Joystiq has certainly makes it seem like it's something in the Mass Effect universe.  My guess would be a Mass Effect FPS set during the First Contact War with the Turians or the Skyllian Blitz or some other past event.

[CeeKay]

Bioware without RPG in the game description does not compute.....

[CeeKay]

here's what the guy pictured is looking at.  In addition, a new hint mentioned in the link from the OP says a new clue brings up MI-6.

[Turtle]

Whatever it is, rumors that look at hiring choices point to it having a significant co-op element.

Either way, a co-op mass effect game, or just co-op anything would be awesome.

Joystiq's article points out that the gun the guy is using is definitely a ME2 weapon, the Incisor sniper rifle.

As interesting as it would be to do the Skyllian Blitz, if that's what this is, I hope they handle the story in such a way that it doesn't belittle the War Hero background for Shepard (single handedly holding off a breach in the battle lines).

[CeeKay]

more teasing.

[CeeKay]

Joystiq claims a 'trusted source' says it is indeed Mass Effect 3, with multiplayer.

[farley2k]

The trusted source appears to be EA sales.   Of course this is about the bigges "non secret" secret ever.  Everyone knew they were making a third game.  It was touted as a trilogy in lots of interviews, press releases, and heck the game itself. 

[Turtle]

Slight spoiler about ME2 and ME3 plot from some shop's ad:

Spoiler for Hiden:

ME3 takes place with Earth conquered by what sounds like the Reapers, or agents of them. Shepard must get the council races and his other allies to fight to retake Earth and defeat the Reapers.

So it sounds like The Reapers found a way to get back to the galaxy, and their first target is humanity, the only species known to be compatible to make new reapers.

[CeeKay]

WOOOOOOO!

Ok, now for the cynicism to set in......

I bet they take out all the weapons and give you just one that changes as you need different attacks 

[Blackjack]

Gold Star to the EA flunkies even if Bioware's probably ticked off. imho, the whole "Guess what our new game is! JUST GUESS! You'll NEVER guess!" is a tiresome marketing gimmick. Between this and Irrational's Bioshock followup and X-COM game marketing gimmicks, it's had its day. I'll pretty much assume from now on when someone resorts to it, it's more continuation of an existing franchise. Which is fine, I just don't see the point of making people guess about it and tickling the imagination that maybe it's something truly new.

I suppose I should go back and try to actually finish Mass Effect 1 some day. 

[Kevin Grey]

While I'm probably reading *way* too much into that blurb, I have a (for me) bad feeling they are aping ME2's structure way too much:

Spoiler for speculative spoilers based on that description:

  I can imagine that instead of recruiting squad members you have to recruit different worlds.  So you show up on the homeworld for each race and they each conveniently have a quest for you to do in order for them to agree to help Earth.  And the end game will be based on how many worlds that you recruit.

I really hope I'm wrong. 

[CeeKay]

Kinda like the races in Dragon Age.

[Kevin Grey]

Kinda like the races in Dragon Age.

Pretty much.  I hate to say it but the Bioware formula is wearing thin for me. 

[Turtle]

Except it will still be awesome.

[Azhag]

It'll stay fresh enough to get me happily through ME3 and DA2. After that I agree, might be sick of the formula.

[Turtle]

Anyway, people aren't sick of the *craft formula.

[Caine]

Except it will still be awesome.

agreed.  i do like the premise though.  let's hope it offers more than just a retread ala asscreebro

[CeeKay]

Holiday 2011!

[CeeKay]

teaser from the VGA's.

[Appollo]

Looking foward to this, loved the last one.

[Appollo]

Holiday 2011!

So what is that for someone who lives across the pond

[CeeKay]

Holiday 2011!

So what is that for someone who lives across the pond

Probably November or December 2011.  ME2 came out at pretty much the same time worldwide, this will probably be the same.

[Appollo]

Holiday 2011!

So what is that for someone who lives across the pond

Probably November or December 2011.  ME2 came out at pretty much the same time worldwide, this will probably be the same.

Ah cool.. cheers for that

[Turtle]

But damn, I am really excited for what's setup in the game. Just seeing the Reapers act openly like that. From ME2 we already know why they've gone for Earth and Human space first, but so many questions as to how they got there, why they aren't attacking elsewhere, and more.

So many games I want coming out next holiday...

[Greg Wak]

Good lord did tht look outstanding!

[CeeKay]

according to an interview with him they have Clint Mansell doing the soundtrack.

[Turtle]

So, is that a good or bad thing? Who did the music for ME2?

Honestly, while the themes and music in ME1 were kinda rough, they had a weird 80s scifi techno throwback with some modernization that I loved.

ME2 took that initial theme and made it more orchestral and closer to what you might hear in a movie soundtrack. While I also liked that, I think they lost some of that uniqueness in the process. But thankfully they kept some of the major themes, such as the digital xylophone sounding theme that usually accompanies the Mass Effect logo in trailers.

Not sure what they could do for ME3, but I hope they pull back in more ME1 themes. I've bought the soundtracks to both games.

Anyway, all I'm waiting for is the next bit of DLC before I do my final play through in prep for ME3.

[CeeKay]

So, is that a good or bad thing? Who did the music for ME2?

Jack Wall was the lead composer, so it looks like they wanted to bring in someone experienced with movie scores this time.  I'm not sure if it's good or bad, just different.

[Appollo]

I'm about three quarters through my very first play through of the first game, I've been through ME2 twice, but I will be taking my character from this first through the 2nd and setting my self up for the 3rd

[CeeKay]

new Bioware interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7fKVDSjKy5w

[Turtle]

Don't bother with that interview, they give absolutely no new info. It's all vague info to the point that they could be describing any game.

Wait a few months until they give some magazine or site the exclusive reveal, as it stands they can't give any interesting information at all right now other than that: X is probably going to change.

[CeeKay]

Don't bother with that interview, they give absolutely no new info. It's all vague info to the point that they could be describing any game.

that sucks.  i'm at work so I can't get audio, and youtube wasn't liking my iPhone for some reason.

[Appollo]

This is my number 1 most anticipated game at the moment, can't wait for more info

[Blackadar]

This is my number 1 most anticipated game at the moment, can't wait for more info

+1

ME1 was just ok, but ME2 was an amazing gaming experience.  Can't wait for ME3.

[Turtle]

There is some indication that there will be some form of inventory back in ME3, and that they're listening to their fans in terms of mixing back in ME1 elements, but the tone and the way he spoke indicated that it's still not going to please people who love tons of inventory and stats. So, ME2 with a smattering of DA2's inventory.

It also sounded like planet scanning isn't going anywhere, at least from the tone of the speaker. However, you also get the impression that it will be changed, here's hoping they add in more interesting things to scan.

[Razgon]

Scanning will henceforth be a minigame you play on facebook which ties into ME3 with all sorts of wonderfull things you can do.

[TiLT]

Scanning will henceforth be a minigame you play on facebook which ties into ME3 with all sorts of wonderfull things you can do.

No, no! Scanning will be more "aerodynamic", so you no longer have to actually do anything while scanning. Entering a planet's atmosphere means waiting for 5 minutes while the game slooooowly scans the planet for you.

[Turtle]

Eh, I'm sympathetic for the guy who said aerodynamic. The reality a certain type of vocal minority is all out over any mention of the word streamlining.

[Razgon]

And a certain voracious vocal minority is defending the same...