Mass Effect 2 will be 360 exclusive "for at least a short period time"

[Queasy]

Link

Despite its comfortable new digs at Electronic Arts, it looks like BioWare plans to keep its Mass Effect trilogy exclusive to Xbox 360 - for at least the time being.

"I believe we'll be Xbox 360 exclusive for at least a short period of time," BioWare senior manager Matt Atwood revealed to CVG on the subject of the sequel's release plans.

"We're still working out the details on that, but we've had a great relationship with Microsoft and done very well."

It had been speculated that following the Electronic Arts buyout, the Microsoft-published RPG would take a multi-platform route with its two announced sequels.

Atwood's words seem to be the first indication that Microsoft isn't yet willing to let its front-running action-RPG drift to the competition (if, indeed, it has handed over cash for the sequel).

And after the exclusivity deal ends on 360, it looks like it's (expectedly) onward to PC for Mass Effect 2: "I think you'll see a PC version not too far away," said Atwood, confirming that the sequel will also be making its way to mouse and keyboard users.

"We haven't solidified the plans yet but we're headed in the direction where we want to be as close as possible [on PC]," he said.

So far we don't know much about the second Mass Effect, though BioWare boss Greg Zeschuk shared a few words with MTV:

"We look at Mass Effect 2 as incredibly exciting," he said. "Just the amount of effort and knowledge and know-how that went into building the technology for the first one is huge, and [we now have] the chance to actually make things a little bit richer."

After having cleared the 'Bring Down the Sky' DLC this week, we're gagging for more.

So still no PS3 version? Just 360/PC like Mass Effect?

 

[erwos]

Well, just in terms of development time, targeting 360/Windows is going to be faster than adding the PS3 into the mix. Don't need to write a new renderer for OpenGL, try to eke performance out of the Cell, etc.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: erwos
Well, just in terms of development time, targeting 360/Windows is going to be faster than adding the PS3 into the mix. Don't need to write a new renderer for OpenGL, try to eke performance out of the Cell, etc.

Right. But since EA picked up BioWare, many were speculating that ME2 would be going multi-platform given EA's history.

 

[R Nilla]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: erwos
Well, just in terms of development time, targeting 360/Windows is going to be faster than adding the PS3 into the mix. Don't need to write a new renderer for OpenGL, try to eke performance out of the Cell, etc.

Right. But since EA picked up BioWare, many were speculating that ME2 would be going multi-platform given EA's history.

Maybe EA is letting BioWare do it's thing...for now?

Why has BioWare only released their RPGs for the PC/Xbox in the past (KOTOR, Jade Empire)? Did MS pay for exclusivity or did they just not care to also release PS2 versions?

 

[oznerol]

Originally posted by: R Nilla

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: erwos
Well, just in terms of development time, targeting 360/Windows is going to be faster than adding the PS3 into the mix. Don't need to write a new renderer for OpenGL, try to eke performance out of the Cell, etc.

Right. But since EA picked up BioWare, many were speculating that ME2 would be going multi-platform given EA's history.

Maybe EA is letting BioWare do it's thing...for now?

Why has BioWare only released their RPGs for the PC/Xbox in the past (KOTOR, Jade Empire)? Did MS pay for exclusivity or did they just not care to also release PS2 versions?

BioWare is a PC developer. Money is with console games. Microsoft is, essentially, a PC in console form. The jump is not difficult.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: erwos
Well, just in terms of development time, targeting 360/Windows is going to be faster than adding the PS3 into the mix. Don't need to write a new renderer for OpenGL, try to eke performance out of the Cell, etc.

Mass Effect uses Unreal Engine III, so porting it shouldn't be as difficult. I mean that's the point of a game engine, to provide a layer of abstraction so you don't have to deal with the underlying details.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: erwos
Well, just in terms of development time, targeting 360/Windows is going to be faster than adding the PS3 into the mix. Don't need to write a new renderer for OpenGL, try to eke performance out of the Cell, etc.

Mass Effect uses Unreal Engine III, so porting it shouldn't be as difficult. I mean that's the point of a game engine, to provide a layer of abstraction so you don't have to deal with the underlying details.

I think this is more about the business relationship than it is about ease (or complexity?) of porting.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Xavier434

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: erwos
Well, just in terms of development time, targeting 360/Windows is going to be faster than adding the PS3 into the mix. Don't need to write a new renderer for OpenGL, try to eke performance out of the Cell, etc.

Mass Effect uses Unreal Engine III, so porting it shouldn't be as difficult. I mean that's the point of a game engine, to provide a layer of abstraction so you don't have to deal with the underlying details.

I think this is more about the business relationship than it is about ease (or complexity?) of porting.

Yeah, I know.

 

[Dacalo]

I will just get it for PC.

 

[beat mania]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: erwos
Well, just in terms of development time, targeting 360/Windows is going to be faster than adding the PS3 into the mix. Don't need to write a new renderer for OpenGL, try to eke performance out of the Cell, etc.

Right. But since EA picked up BioWare, many were speculating that ME2 would be going multi-platform given EA's history.

Yeah we'll be seeing it on everything from PS3 to Nintendo DS to the iphone 🙂

 

[CKDragon]

And it will "blow you away" 🙂

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Dacalo
I will just get it for PC.

Same, even though I'll probably have a Jasper 360 by then. I can play other games and wait a few months to miss out on 360's poor load times.

"I believe we'll be Xbox 360 exclusive for at least a short period of time ... We're still working out the details on that, but we've had a great relationship with Microsoft and done very well."

That's pretty clear that it's because of a business deal with MS rather than technical reasons.

 

[oznerol]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons

Originally posted by: Dacalo
I will just get it for PC.

Same, even though I'll probably have a Jasper 360 by then. I can play other games and wait a few months to miss out on 360's poor load times.

lol you're such a :brokenheart::beer::shocked::frown::lips: