Mass Effect PC Delayed; PC Enhancements Detailed
All-new HUD, new inventory system, other needed tweaks
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6188943.html?part=rss&tag=gs_news&subj=6188943
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Electronic Arts, the new publisher for Mass Effect, announces a delay in the enhanced PC port from May 6th to May 28th. The delay is due to BioWare's level of commitment to quality, citing the new PC-centric Heads-Up Display as the main cause. BioWare community administrator Chris Priestly said in a forum post "The new release date for North America is May 28, 2008 and June 6, 2008 in Europe."
BioWare and Demiurge Studios, the team handling the port, have re-designed the HUD to better accommodate PC gamers with a mouse and keyboard layout taking over for the Xbox 360 radial menus. Speaking with GameSpot, Mass Effect project director Diarmid Clarke highlighted the team's dedication stating "If it's going to work, it's got to work perfectly. It can't look like a piece bolted onto the game."
Clarke explained that the menu system will be all point-and-click, with no need to flip between menus. The title will also support a new, much needed inventory system, a feature which drew much ire on the 360. The newly designed system will sort each object, be it weapons or armor, by their power, making decisions easier and ultimately, much faster.
The BioWare team has also taken to heart other knocks against the Xbox 360 version and re-designed or tweaked the problem areas for the PC edition. Examples include: elevator rides will no longer be needlessly long, the Mako ATV will see its control revamped, loading times will be reduced and naturally, the graphics will be optimized for PCs.
Hopefully the textures load before the game does this time...
BioWare and Demiurge Studios, the team handling the port, have re-designed the HUD to better accommodate PC gamers with a mouse and keyboard layout taking over for the Xbox 360 radial menus. Speaking with GameSpot, Mass Effect project director Diarmid Clarke highlighted the team's dedication stating "If it's going to work, it's got to work perfectly. It can't look like a piece bolted onto the game."
Clarke explained that the menu system will be all point-and-click, with no need to flip between menus. The title will also support a new, much needed inventory system, a feature which drew much ire on the 360. The newly designed system will sort each object, be it weapons or armor, by their power, making decisions easier and ultimately, much faster.
The BioWare team has also taken to heart other knocks against the Xbox 360 version and re-designed or tweaked the problem areas for the PC edition. Examples include: elevator rides will no longer be needlessly long, the Mako ATV will see its control revamped, loading times will be reduced and naturally, the graphics will be optimized for PCs.
Hopefully the textures load before the game does this time...