Mass Effect 1 PS3 details – Edge of Reality helping, texture popping/performance improved, more

Mass Effect external producer Ryan Warden comments on the improvements made to Mass Effect 1 on PS3, reveals the co-developer behind the port, and more.

[DigitalRaptor]

Looks to be the definitive version, at least on consoles. Just a shame it's taken so long, exclusivity clauses and all...

http://twitter.com/LesPaulD...

3 Blu-ray discs?? What the hell is the point in that BioWare??? Utter waste of space... /facepalm

[PopRocks359]

I was gonna say, shouldn't all of this be on a single Blu-ray? I guess they're trying to compensate for the packaging.

[shoddy]

I read an article that said MS demand equality and should not surpassed xbox version for multi platform games.

In this case goes to discs number.

[Eyeco]

If that's true then Microsoft is even more laughably pathetic than I thought , that said I remember hearing a similar story to FF13 being gimped by the 360 remember that ?not sure if its true but it wouldn't surprise me considering its Microsoft

[Neo Nugget]

Well how much space does ME 1-3 take? It probably doesn't include much DLC, but that's gotta take up some room.

These aren't PS2 classics here, so maybe it really doesn't fit!

[Neo Nugget]

Fair enough! :)

[vortis]

@pcps3gamer, snap, just checked again and you're right, ME2 is only 11GB...good gosh, what a waste of two extra Blu-ray discs.

[badz149]

360 uses DVD9 which only has like 8GB of usable space. ME1 is on 1 disc, ME2 on 2 disc2 and ME3 on 2 discs for the total of 5 DVD9 for the 360 version.

5 X 8GB = 40GB at the very most! that's way less than a 50GB Bluray! it can be done on 1 disc, PERIOD!

EDIT: somebody beat me to it but yeah...you got the point!

[Larry L]

@pcps3gamer
While you're right on the most basic level that all 3 games could fit on a single dual-layer Blu-Ray disc........you're actually wrong in thinking that the games would work properly with all 3 games on a single 50Gb Blu-Ray. Here's why.......

Blu-Ray diodes, particularly the older version in PS3, are notoriously slow readers being that they're single speed. Even on a single layer 25Gb disc. To make up for that slow read speed, and you can look this up to confirm it if you don't know, they put the game data on the disc 2 and sometimes 3 times, so that the laser can find the required data much faster regardless of where the laser is on the disc.

50Gb is ALOT of data space to be sifting through in real time. The few PS3 games that actually used a 50Gb disc, had HUGE installs on top of the dual data. Think MGS4 and Gran Turismo 5.

So while I do think it IS possible to get all 3 games on one disc if they only had the data on the disc a single time AND had a huge install on top........I think even with that huge install, you'd be seeing HUGE performance issues with whatever data still had to be streamed off the disc.

So to just sum it all up, it really wouldn't work on a single disc if you think it through. Single speed Blu-Ray drives are just too slow. Due to that, the data MUST be on the disc multiple times. And there's not enough space for that even on the 50Gb discs.

[Larry L]

Hmmmmm.....disagrees when my facts are right on. Interesting. Anyone care to fill me in on what part of that I'm wrong about? Sounds like you people are 1) uninformed gamers and 2) just want to be mad at something and complain (it's the internet.....surprise, surprise !!! lol).

It's a fact, sorry folks. And it's not like I'm bashing PS3 here. It's my console of choice. The reality is, the Mass Effect Trilogy would NOT fit on a 50 Gb Blu-Ray disc, because each game has to be on the disc twice to have no texture steaming and pop-in issues.

[InactiveUser]

"mass effect 3 is 13gb on ps3
mass effect 2 is 11gb on ps3
mass effect 1 on pc is 7gb"

pcps3 already listed the PS3 sizes of two of the 3 games. Even if they tripled the entire ME1 and made it 21GB, they'd still fit.

21 + 11 + 13 = 45GB

I doubt ME1 would need to be almost bigger than ME2 & 3 combined. It's more likely that the 7GB would be raised to 9GB or 10GB (if at all), so:

9 + 11 + 13 = 33GB

With 17GB left for DLC they should have included, or rewriting any more files they wanted/needed to. Whether right or not, people are disagreeing with your math.

Also, there are prior examples of multiple full retail 360 games on 1 PS3 disk:
Assassin's Creed on AC: Revelations disk
BioShock (original) coming on BS: Infinite's disk
etc. (even though here we're talking 3 instead of 2)

[andibandit]

I dont see the problem with them putting each game on a seperate disc, it will problably give faster load times and you can actually lend your friend ME1 while you play through ME2.

[InactiveUser]

ME2 and ME3 are also smaller on PS3 than on 360 due to the 360 needing to have basic files on multiple disks:

If pcps3's numbers are correct:
"mass effect 3 is 13gb on ps3
mass effect 2 is 11gb on ps3"

And if this site is correct for 360 install sizes:
http://www.stripesonfire.co...

ME2 on multiple 360 disks: 12.4GB
ME2 on 1 PS3 disk: 11GB

ME3 on multiple 360 disks: 14.6GB
ME3 on 1 PS3 disk: 13GB

So that also goes against your claim that the PS3 needs to copy more files and take up more disk space.

[Larry L]

@eejlp

ahhh, I missed that "ps3 version on 2 and 3. My bad. If those are accurate file sizes for the PS3 versions discs, then my math is off and the numbers for 2 and 3 wouldn't need to be doubled. But I'm not sure if those ARE 100% accurate because those file sizes match the PSN digal version sizes of 2 and 3. I'd like to know if that data is based on the PSN sizes (which wouldn't have to be doubled up) , or if they're official disc data numbers. (and hey, if those numbers are right they weren't doubled up even on the discs since they match the PSN sizes, which may account for the issues 2 had/have on PS3)

But I think either way, my read speed comment stands. I think ostensibly having 6 games worth of data on one disc could cause some major issues with data streaming. I think it makes more sense to have them on seperate discs.

Edit just to add- One thing though, I didn't say anything about PS3 needing to copy more files or having larger file sizes. I said developers who know how to get their games running properly on PS3 put the game files on the blu-ray twice and sometimes 3 times to offset it's slower read speeds. Obviously a 2 disc 360 game would have to be bigger just due to needing important game data on both discs. Everything else you're right about if those disc data numbers are accurate.

[InactiveUser]

@ Larry - read speeds

http://forum.beyond3d.com/s...

All the information I can find looks like the PS3's disk has a faster read speed than a 360 Dual layer (DVD9) disk that the ME games are printed on.

That link and other research I did show that the PS3's read speed is a "Constant Linear Velocity (Same speed across entire disk)" of 9MB/s, while the 360 has a "Constant Angular Velocity (Speed Varies from edge to edge)".

So while the specs show the 360 with a higher Max read speed (15.85 MB/s vs. PS3's 9 MB/s) it looks like the 360 only hits that speed with data printed on one edge of a single layer disk (outer I assume) and drops to 9.25MB/s for the data on the other edge of the disk (inner). An average of 10.57 MB/s overall (according to the source).

That sounds like a small advantage for the 360; 10.57 vs. 9.00, but it's slower for dual layered DVDs. Max 10.57 MB/s on one edge, but drops to only 4.36 MB/s on the other. Apparent average of 7.93 MB/s (source).

They don't have data for a PS3 dual layered disk at that link, but from searching, it sounds like dual layered PS3 disks are also ~9 MB/s constant read speed.

10.57 MB/s avg. - 360 DVD5 Single layer (not ME disk)
9.00 MB/s constant - PS3 25GB Single layer disk
9.00 MB/s constant - PS3 50GB Dual layer disk (needed for ME trilogy)
7.93 MB/s avg. - 360 DVD9 Dual layer (ME disk)

[mantisimo]

I gave you a + EeJLP not because you are correct (because i don't know ) but because you researched a lot and gave us some pretty figures and a lot of typing, and for that you deserve a + bub :)

[pixelsword]

@ Larry L, pcps3gamer, & EeJLP;

You're all right, but you're all wrong:

Digital raptor placed the following twitter from Ryan Warden as the first link, and in the first link it said answering about three discs:

"not so much space as layout and loading issues. I couldn't guarantee that loading times wouldn't suffer."

and

"it would also mean putting three builds through Cert and not one, which would delay getting the games to you."

That's probably since ME 1 is on the same disc as the other two that all three would go through Cert instead of standing on the other two's Cert and just having Cert for ME1.

[BitbyDeath]

Even at max DVD size they could still fit all 3 on a 50gb Blu-ray.

[pain777pas]

I knew this was the reason that they were being so quiet on the PS3 version. I could only hope that they adopt the Mass effect 2 shooting mechanics etc... That is the only reason why Mass effect 2 is better than 1 in my opinion. Mass effect 1 was awesome but the combat is atrocious compared to the later installments which makes the game hard to go back to for me.

[MASTER_RAIDEN]

pardon my french but ive always fucking HATED that about all game developers when it comes to ps3. they all seem to have this crazy idea that customers want more discs because it looks like theyre getting more bang for their buck. its really just a cumbersome, clusterfuck of wasted space and discs. i would LOVE to see a full blown game + soundtrack + behind the sense + deleted behind the scenes + whatever elseeee, all on one disc. but nah...instead theirs a disc for everything.

"dude how do you activate magic?"
"id bro we didnt watch the game manual disc"

[Yui_Suzumiya]

LOL! Bubble + for humour!

[VideoGameJimmy]

God of War 3 was on one disc. Behind the scenes content and all.

[Vortex3D]

All you keep forgetting that on PS3 version, it's cheaper to use the existing ME2 and ME3 Blu-ray discs than reprinted a new version with all the games on one disc.

I guess most of you will fail coming to cost of reauthor a new disc vs reusing discs already made.

Plus if Bioware still plans to sell individual ME game, it's also cheaper to have the same set of games for each one (except ME1).

[HammadTheBeast]

Good call.

[wicko]

they'd also have to code and build UI to support switching between games (see MGS collection) - which isn't hard but could be another factor.

[Dno]

this is the only reason good call bubs up

[Godmars290]

Just because it can be done much less make sense, never underestimate the stupidity of marketing. Its what made Mass Effect the series it is today!

And before you ask: its crap. Its made the series into crap. It could have been better than is it, might have sold less than it has, but it could have been better if it had been looked at as the central product. Not just another component in a marketing machine.

Thanks to that was got diminished results from ME1 to ME3. Probably why Shepard will be in ME4 despite the ability to make the character look like anyone.

[showtimefolks]

ps3 version will be in early 2013- that means we will get all the dlc from 1st game and 2nd game and maybe even some from 3rd game.

i could careless about them including the dlc for ME3 but they better include all the DLC from ME 1-2

[geddesmond]

The more info stored on a blu ray disk, the slower the laser can read it. I don't see why 3 disks would be a problem. Its not like you have to swap disks through each playthrough.

[Jason_Tanner]

Why? Because you might actually have to get up off of your fat ass to change bluray discs? Yeah, keep crying about your first world problems douche bag.

[Rettom]

Touchy? It disrupts the fluidity of games. Now there's an exception, and that's when separate games are on separate disks. And with the First World Problem thing, are you from a Third World country?

[Jason_Tanner]

Thanks for the Disagrees, you guys must be fat asses too.

[jerethdagryphon]

so isnt this one of the last 360 only (3rd party) titles jumping ship

[Perjoss]

It never was a 360 only game, ME1 was available on PC too.

[Burning_Finger]

I dunno how EA manage to release that to the PS3 since Microsoft originally funded and publish mass effect 1.

I guess publishing rights doesn't do squat anymore. There's still a chance for Bayonetta 2 on both console. XD

Take Note Sega from EA. lol

@Yodagamer

I'll just wait for Bayonetta Trilogy then.

[Yodagamer]

I think ea might have found a loophole since microsoft owns the retail right, while bioware owns the games code so they could sell the digital game. Kinda like microsoft selling digital versions of n64 games (which i assume were nintendo funded as well).

[BitbyDeath]

Maybe it was a loophole due to being bought out by EA?
No idea though, just guessing.

[cloud495]

Timed exclusive maybe? Only had publishing rights for 5 years. Or EA made a deal. Xbox is getting an exclusive beta for medal of honour, might be part of it.

[Knight_Crawler]

So your ok with waiting 3-4 years to play a game -_-

N4G never stops to amaze me.

[Perjoss]

Mass Effect 1 is easily the best of the 3 so its worth the wait. Its the only Mass Effect game that actually feels like an RPG, 2 & 3 are very good games but they are just long 3rd person shooters.

[Kingdom Come]

EA, presumably, will have paid Microsoft.

[AntsPai]

I look forward to this alot >:3 Although I kind of regret playing through Mass Effect 2 about 3 times now o_o Although I do still need to play ME3 and get 2 more trophies so I'll certainly get this trilogy. So glad this and the Killzone trilogy are coming out (I never played any of the Killzones ;__;)

[sandman224]

This is good, I'd rather wait till the ps3 version is good rather than getting crap just so it gets released on time with the other consoles

[AznGaara]

"The team wants to retain the Mass Effect 1 experience while making some targeted fixes"

I wonder what these would be. Maybe fixing controls for driving the MAKO? Making getting into and out of cover easier, maybe like ME2 and ME3? Those are the only two things, gameplay wise, that needed a bit of tuning up. Other than that its looking to be the definitive version. I might have to buy this trilogy even though I have them all on 360 already.

[TekoIie]

Yeh a button for going to into cover on ME1 would be nice. Although lets be fair it's no K&L; the cover system does actually work 95% of the time in ME1.

[JAMurida]

I don't know man... I remember how they held ME2 on PS3 back for "polishing" as they called it and when I got it it was bug ridden, game save-corrupting, game freezing... Long story short, I'll wait to see the guys at Digital Foundry or someone do a review on the final product and not jump the gun on this.

On the other hand, I never did play ME1, but I did read a lot on it with the codex to learn about the story, so I'll probably check it out.

[TekoIie]

Im still praying they will give the tweaks that they literally refused to give to ME2 like the audio sync in cutscenes. Seriously I notice these things and it ticks me off when Im watching something amazing happen only to find that when a weapon fires it just looks strange with the sound effects lagging 1-2 secs behind.

I think 90% of the community had this issue too based off the Bioware forums.

[Ethereal]

So down for this trilogy!

[Romudeth]

Ok I'm confused here.

This articles says

"No plans to release Mass Effect 1 physically on PS3 as a standalone title"

But then on twitter we heard this:

"no, it'll be one disc per game (3 discs total). And we'll hopefully have news on the release date soon!"

So which is it? 3 disks or 2?

Will PS3 owners only be able to own ME1 on disk if they buy this collection?

[kupomogli]

"No plans to release Mass Effect 1 physically on PS3 as a standalone title"

Read this once again. Emphasis on "standalone title."

[Romudeth]

Yeah I think that's what it is. You only get a disk version of ME1 with the collection.

Very interesting.

[cloud495]

You won't be able to have a physical copy of mass effect 1 without the trilogy edition.

[firefly69]

No more elevator super loading!I hope so!

[firefly69]

Two bad ps3 owners have to buy the complete edition to play ME1.Another cash in for EA and a big screw you for gamers.AT least there shoud be a digital version on the PSN for those that already played the ME2 AND ME3.

[cloud495]

They're releasing mass effect 1 as a standalone game on psn. :/

[Larry L]

Yup. OOOOOoooo, BURN!!!

$15 too. Not too bad of a price considering it's getting some improvements.

[NastyLeftHook0]

still get the definitive versions

[TheRealHeisenberg]

PC right?

[Knightofelemia]

I hope the game comes out at a decent price I played the hell out of ME2 can't wait for ME1 still gotta give ME3 another chance.

[cloud495]

I think the trilogy is 60usd and the standalone on psn is 15usd.

[EffectO]

PS3 fans will have to change discs now,oh nooo

haha

[Cam977]

First time ever. Do I really need to tell you how many Xbox games are on multiple discs?

[DivineAssault]

ya, after completing the entire game.. Not mid way & switching back for a 3rd time to the 1st disc to complete it like xbox does w ME3

[sdplisken]

cant wait to play the first one finally!

[tigertron]

I hope they release ME1 seperately on a disc.

[linkenski]

So basically Mass Effect 1 and Mass Effect 2 will have their definitive versions on PS3, and then there is ME3 on PS3... The lagfest of the franchise.

[bocajbee]

Hm...

To have a broken ME1, Decent ME2 and Good ME3? (Xbox)

Or A Good ME1, Great ME2 and Broken ME3? (Ps3)

Or a Amazing Me1, Amazing Me2 and Amazing Me3 (PC)

Decisions...

[TheRealHeisenberg]

Indeed, that is a tough one.

[ziggurcat]

they had an extra year, an updated game engine to improve ME2 on PS3, and it still looked worse than the X360 version, so i'm not convinced that they'll do any better with ME1 on PS3.

also bioware has managed to screw up every PS3 game they've touched.

[Cam977]

Bioware are cool, I'll give this a look.

[byeGollum]

I'll give the franchise another chance, now that it's coming to ps3. Thank goodness the first game has been improved ^^..
... Up next, deliver Alan Wake..

I need that 500GB hard drive for my ps3 a.s.a.p

[ChunkyLover53]

Remedy signed a 3 game deal with Microsoft. Unlike EA, Remedy has come out flatly and stated Alan Wake will never be on a Sony platform.

From the head of Remedy Games-
“Alan Wake as a franchise will never come to PS3. Hopefully that’s not your headline but for everyone that’s pretty obvious. It’s something we would never consider for the Alan Wake franchise.”

http://www.lensoftruth.com/...

[PirateThom]

"We ultimately realized that the most compelling way to experience Alan Wake was on the Xbox 360 platform, so we focused on making it an Xbox 360 exclusive."

http://www.escapistmagazine...

Things change.

[ChunkyLover53]

@PirateThom
Microsoft actually gave Remedy permission to find a publisher for the PC version because they don't look at PC as a competing platform, which was forbidden in the contract Remedy signed with Microsoft.

Remedy is a small studio, I'm sure if Microsoft felt like the IP was threatened they could buy the IP, much like Rockstar did with Max Payne for 50 million, or they could just buy out Remedy.

I think it depends on what Microsoft sees in the future for the game. Luckily there is a lot of hype and hope surrounding the sequel on the Xbox 720.

Microsoft actually owns publishing rights to Alan Wake, where as Remedy owns the IP. They had to get Microsoft's permission to publish it.

So, things might change, but contracts don't. You want to play Alan Wake, get a Microsoft console or a PC.

http://www.gamestation.co.u...

[byeGollum]

Well I've already played and beat alan wake on PC. I just prefer gaming on my ps3, and i'd like my collection on that platform.

Just as we also thought Mass effect one wouldnt be coming to, or would never be on ps3. Impossible is nothin'

[b_one]

no DLCs, no buy

[a_bro]

how about the game save transition, from ME1 to ME2? i wonder if that will be implemented.

[BigStef71]

So it true that like none of the DLC from all three of these are not going to be in this collection? If so that's retarded. I thought this was supposed to be a complete edition. Why would people spend $60 on this when they could get all three games separately and for cheaper

[stragomccloud]

That's pretty great. Though now the Wii U version seems waaaaaaaaaaaay over priced. EA has devalued an upcoming product. They've said that they would release the trilogy collection on Wii U, if 3 sells really well, but why the heck would anyone buy the Wii U version when you can get all 3 now together elsewhere?! Pretty stupid if you ask me.

[dvfaa]

People are complaining about the games being on 3 separate discs? Gamers are the biggest bunch of babies ever.

[Saturne3]

As long its not too expensive im ok with it.

[ZeroWil]

I think it's great that everyone can now experience the trilogy as a whole. Still, sucks that not all of the ME2 DLC is included.

[P_Bomb]

I'll be getting the PSN download of ME1. This is the only franchise where I'll now have a complete trilogy on two seperate platforms, 360 and now PS3.

Was thinking of replaying ME1 anyways as I've only played through it once on 360. Trophies will be the same I presume. Capped off at around 550g on my one playthrough. Looking forward to padding my trophies with the equivalent. Great game.

[kingPoS]

What I'm curious about is whether customizations from ME 1 will carry onto ME 2. Perhaps an incoming patch?