BioWare "could" make Mass Effect for PS3, but are not currently

BioWare's community coordinator and Mass Effect team member Chris Priestly recently commented on Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter's assertion that EA-owned BioWare will make Mass Effect for the PS3. In his message posted in the official BioWare forums, Priestly revealed that BioWare "could" make Mass Effect for the PS3, but they are not working on the PS3 version currently.

Here is the relevant snippet of Priestly's comments -- in which he highlighted the word "could":

"Sorry folks, this is just another rumor at this stage. *Could* BioWare make Mass Effect for the PS3 (or the PC, or some other platform) in the future? Yes we could, but we are not working on a PS3 version currently."

[ktchong]

Seems to me that it means BioWare is under no contractual/legal obligation to keep Mass Effect, i.e., including the first one, as an exclusive for long.

[gamesR4fun]

if they can and think they'll make good money with it they will So heres hoping for a far less bug plagued port.... Id buy it for either the pc or ps3 if they pick up the frame rate and drop the massive load time... Maybe throw in some kind auto aim on the mako and make it a lot faster....

edit o ya n dont forget the ai for gods sake we need them to actually react to what players are doing...

[Gondee]

and i "could" have had sex with my married nabhor. -_-

This is retarted....

[Mu5afir]

This is going to hit the PS3 in 6 months with extended content.. just like Lost Planet etc.

[JasonXE]

Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter

[rofldings]

If they did PS3-erize it, I'd buy that sh!t.

As long it's:
MASS EFFECT - the game
~not:
MASS EFFECT - the powerpoint presentation, like the 360 version. :)

[Lifendz]

so they "could" potentially increase their sales even further by putting out a PS3 version of their hit IP. Yeah, developers hate making more money. And don't bring up Metal Gear because the game was built to take advantage of the PS3. Mass Effect would be awesome if made for a system with standard HDD and blu-ray storage.

[JsonHenry]

I "could" have robbed that bank...

[n_n]

this just made me re-think getting a 360... i hope it becomes multi-plat and the bugs get fixed for the ps3 version IF it happens... added content would be the cherry on top.. c'mon EA.. you guys don't do exclusive... looks like no 360 for me... for now

[Arkham]

Their wording is carefully constructed.

[mintaro]

isnt this just like saying that bunjie "could" make halo for the ps3?"

[lockload]

It will take them years to get any development up and running, although they may decide its is financially not worth it

[gamesR4fun]

I mean bungie couldnt make halo 3 for the ps3 because the games owned or whatever by m$...
Im hoping could means that ME is their own property they can sell has they please. In which case ill be a happy man has they may finally be able to run the game it was obviously meant to be run... (the game could own on a decent pc)

[heyheyhey]

not really mintaro- halo is a first party title and thats why it wont be on the ps3 as for ME- its owned by EA so it has every chance being ported to the ps3

[ravinash]

For halo3 on the PS3, all you need to do is get Unreal 3 for the PC and make the halo maps and halo character and then load them into the PS3...Wa La! Hola on the PS3!

[PS360WII]

Yea they could make any game on any system. However they are too busy making Mass Effect 2 on the 360 (hopefully I want part 2 already! with problems fixed though ^.-)

[HarryEtTubMan]

the next Mass Effect game will be multiplatform and they will probally eventually make this one too.

[power of Green]

How new is that statment Seems like the one I read before MSFT announced publication that was released before the ME part 1.

[power of Green]

Its like saying MGS4 could come to the 360 because its possible.

[Arkham]

I think you're right, because there's been no official MGS exclusivity agreement between Sony and Konami made public that I know of. I do have a suspicion that "a" MGS game will appear on the 360 before '09 is done. It won't be an exact port, but it might be something that gets around their very (very) careful wordings over the past couple of years.

So, going along those lines, I'm suspicious about BioWare's exact wording and context. Did they mean "sure, we could theoretically create it" (obvious), or "sure, we could and might do it if we wanted to, despite what MS company says."

Has anyone read a direct source that says "No Mass Effect-based game will ever appear on a non-MS platform"? I haven't. I'd love to see a third-party contract that binds an entire IP to a specific platform in perpetuity.

(I say "Mass Effect-based" because a spin-off or redux version could effectively sidestep a 3-game exclusivity contract.)

[Meus Renaissance]

From an economic point of view, yes. From a technological point of view, no. Unless they changed the design of the game as it relies on 50GB capacity disc and a HDD. It's more likely Mass Effect would go to the PS3 than Solid Snake going green. Main reason being EA.

[Shaka2K6]

PS3 doesnt need them.

[PS360WII]

More like 24 if you don't do a lot of the side quests. It really is a pretty good WRPG pending some issues which no game is without.

[GameOn]

I borrowed this off my m8 and completed it in a bit over 13.
Yes this game is quite buggy but that doesnt make it a bad game. its actually a really great game and ps3 owners are lucky if they get it.

If it does go to ps3 i hope they also port the first one across. otherwise the second one is gona be messed up for 360 where they try to explain the back story from the first one.

Great great game.

Edit: 12 hours is about right if you dont do any side quests.

[hella whip]

The news here to me is that a lot of people thought that we would never see Mass effect 1 on the PS3 as it was MS published, The news here is that bioware own the rights to the 1st Mass effect and so could port it if they wanted to.

[El_Colombiano]

Bioware is saying "if you guys show us that you want Mass Effect one PS3, we'll actually consider it..." which would rock because I am in no way shape or form about to buy a 360 strictly because of a short WRPG...

[Sevir04]

and wouyld never want it on my ps3 simply because it's way too buggy. great story though and thats the reason to play RPGs... personally i'm more interested in there game they are working on for PS3. i'm sure Sony has Spoken with them in developing a title for the PS3... and to that dude... POG... dude get over it. Konami and Sony doing MGS4 for PS3. no other console what so ever. with that said. let it die already there are just some games you ar egonna have to buy a console for and just like Halo well maybe not halo cause you can play that on the PC, Mario. you'll have to buy a PS3 for MGS4. get with the program.

[heyheyhey]

well here it is EA- i want ME on the ps3 and so do thousands of other people, there is high demand for this game on the ps3 because ps3 owners aren't blind to see that ME is a good game (starting to see a difference with 360 owners here? you know the ones who troll every ps3 exclusive ever created- even the mighty mgs4)

[jaja1434]

Right... So do you just ignore all of the "Mass defect" comments I saw?

[Cusco]

It's a nice RPG and all, but knowing the Japanese market, and knowing Japanese developers, the PS3 will be a pool of RPGs soon enough, what's another drop? I think it'd be nice if we got something more like Gears if anything.

Speaking of RPG goodness, I got to try out FolkLore. I was surprised, it's not half bad. Very cool gameplay when you get to the underworld, the running around talking to people...not so much. I wish they make another game using the same concept of collecting "Folk" and using them as weapons, without the break in action. I was just really impressed, if you haven't checked out the demo, I recommend doing it. Really innovative (unless of course I haven't played other similar games).
ciao

[hotshot127]

mgs4 could come to the 360 but we are not working on a PS3 version .............................. .................CURRENTLY.

and everybody knows thats what would've been said.

[Dacapn]

Even if it did eventually come out on the PS3, I wouldn't want it unless they cleaned up the technical issues cuz it's a mess.

[CrazzyMan]

I guess additional developement time would rid of framerate problems, long downloadings, texture downloadings - http://youtube.com/watch?v=... and maybe would make better team mate AI?

That would be really GOOD game, besides, they could add some content on blu-ray.
Well, time will show, but don`t expect release earlier, then in november 2008. :)

[Shankle]

I'd be interested if they made it soon and without any major bugs or technical issues. They could probably fix the UE3 engine problems by installing it to the hard drive, seeing as that worked for UT3. I'm not really that fussed though. It never really grabbed me at all. The dialogue looks boring and combat looks awful. I may well be wrong but I just don't feel I'm missing out on much.

[unlimited]

hell yeah that be kool..more games for ps3 owners..bioware did complain about not enough space..hope they take advantage of the ps3 hardware..

[espoac]

What Pachter said was he wouldn't be surprised if Mass Effect 1 came to PS3. He only asserted that Mass Effect 2 is coming to PS3, not Mass Effect 1-see the difference? If anything this comment demonstrates that Bioware, in fact, DOES NOT have a contract with Microsoft to keep the Mass Effect trilogy 360 exclusive.

[Doctor Strange]

He should have just debunked the rumor and left it like that. If they ever decide to port this to the PS3 or release 2nd one for both 360 and PS3 no problems either but somebody always going to complain anyway.

[Darkiewonder]

It's okay though. if I wanted to play Mass Effect I would have played it by now.

[RadientFlux]

I hope so the better Mass Effect does the closer Bioware comes to making Mass Effect 2. I just hope their isn't a mass exodus of talent from Bioware before they finish the Mass Effect trilogy.

IMO Bioware is the greatest RPG developer in the world.

[Ri0tSquad]

Buy a 360. This is just like the MGS4 situation since they "could" also do the same but they are choosing not too.

[UltramanJ]

Just like I said; they can make Mass Effect on PS3 if they want to. It never mattered that Microsoft was publishing the game. Mass Effect is a big new IP for EA, and you'd better believe that it'll be on PS3. It might be ported over by some other developer, but it'll come guaranteed. EA didn't buy these guys just to have them release their games on one system.

[sanjay09]

It would cool if they have ME on ps3 with all the "issues" fixed :)

[Lord_Mike]

Let it be, don't port that game over. You won't sell much, too many games coming out in 08-09. Consumers would rather choose MGS4, GT5, FFXIII over Mass Effect. It's a lost cause, don't even think about it the game will flop big time.

[PirateThom]

I wish they would port it and add a hard drive install and cache because it's a fantastic game, but the texture loading is pathetic and there a few problems.

I think it deserves another chance, if not on PS3, on PC.

[Chubear]

Bioware have no say in what happens to the game. It's EA's to do as they please with and I'm sure you're aware of EA's business ways. :)

[Fighter]

Bioware is now owned by the devil so anything can happen. If MGS 4 does go to the 360 in 2009 then expect Mass Effect and Bioshock to arrive on the PS3.

[J@D]

I got the vibe that EA may or maybe not push them to make a PS3 version. But, hey I don't mind really as long the game is not buggy I'm fine.

[ElementX]

"Mighty MSG" LOL you're joking, right? MSG 2 sold 7 million copies, Halo 2 sold 8 million. MSG 3 sold 3.7 million, Halo 3 sold over 8 million.... What's so mighty about it?

How many units did PS2 sell compared to the original Xbox? 120 million PS2s and only 7 million copies of MSG2 and 3.7 million of MSG 3? PATHETIC

[PirateThom]

Ha, are you really comparing sales of the most overhyped series of games in history to a series that is lucky to get a TV spot? When you appeal to a casual market and have more spent on marketing than the actual game like Halo does, of course it's going to have higher sales.

There also wasn't 120 million PS2s when MGS2 went on sale,it came out a year after the PS2 was released, about 12 million consoles and was well hyped in PlayStation magazines.

Metal Gear Solid 3 had no hype whatsoever and should have sold a lot more and probably would have had it been a sequel, not a prequel, but MGS3 was made for the fans since the entire thing was backstory.

[rushbd]

with the potential to become an amazing game. but some technical problems set it back. I think they will at least create a PC version. maybe Fully in first person. Get rid of all the loading elevators. or at least decrease the elevator times.

[GITPWNED]

Shut the f*ck up, Asspirate Tom. ElementX just owned your b1tchass. Take it like a man, or you'll always be a braindead fangirl. Oh yeah, cuz we all know Halo 3 only sold over 8 million copies because of marketing. yeah, right. shut your mouth. It could have something to do with Halo 1 being one of the greatest shooters of all time with some f*cking amazing single and multiplayer modes, and Halo 2 with all of that and more with Live support making it the most played game online ever. Halo 3 sold what it did for some damn good reasons. So shut your f*cking fanboy mouth, b1tch. You Sony fanf*cks are completely worthless.

[PirateThom]

"Greatest console shooter of all time" maybe, and even I'd debate that because of Goldeneye and Perfect Dark, it's nowhere neat the greatest shooter of all time.

Seriously, even if Halo 3 was as good as you think (and trust me, as far as I'm concerned, it's not, especially if you're calling it the greatest shooter of all time - boring single player, good multiplayer does not make a game good), it wouldn't have sold as many as it did, except for all the casual gamers and frat-boy types buying into hype.

So take your head out of your ass and stop defending generic FPS that would have died had it been on PC or not been the only game the XBox had. It's funny you'd call me a "fangirl", I don't have to explain myself to the likes of you idiots, I own a PS3, 360 and a Wii. You probably only own one and are now worried your investment is going to hell like everything else Microsoft releases.

[GITPWNED]

Uhhh, actually, I own just about every platform since NES, including a wii, and I plan on getting a PS3 in a year or so for God of War. The fact remains, Halo sells a lot because it's a great franchise. All haters are worthless sacks of sh1t, and that includes you. Die.

[PirateThom]

You know what other franchise sells a lot?

Mario Party.

It's not a good game but still sells a lot.

Just saying...

[Enigma_2099]

We're not getting THIS, yet they're persisting with the "MGS4 to XBox 360" rumor, hoping if they keep bringing it up, it'll happen...

One way relationships only end in heartache, trust me

[PirateThom]

The funny thing is, these rumours have some basis.

Such as the PS3 reference in the Bioshock code, Bioware being owned by EA.

Metal Gear Solid 4 was from day 1 a PS3 exclusive and that has never been different, no one has said anything different, even Peter Moore tried to stop the rumours when he was working for Microsoft, "We'd love to have it, but you'd have to speak to Kojima-san and Sony about that.".

The fact someone from Microsoft said "we'd love to have it" should have been the end of it.

[Enigma_2099]

Not a hell of a lot, let me tell you.

[FirstknighT]

I'm not a greedy bastard like you sony boys...I hope you guys do get it because it's one of the best games I ever played. Sure there are a few graphical glitches but the story is what matters most in an RPG and this story is easily one of the best.

[Enigma_2099]

You practically already HAVE all the other exclusives... like DMC4 and Mercenaries II...

Pot, kettle calling... he says you're black...

[Gina-get-u]

Most asshat analysts tend to focus on the profit angle in concluding that all Bioware IPs are destined for a multiplat future. But they don't realize that porting has its opportunity costs too. The work of porting old games can distract Bioware from creating new ones. Even when Bioware was focused on the 360, Mass Effect turned out buggy as all get out, and Bioware was not expected to finish the trilogy sooner than 6 years. Somehow, I'm not confident that Bioware can improve quality or cut dev time and learn to code for the cell at the same time.

EA paid too much good money for Bioware's creative talent just to waste it on port work, and they can't just expand Bioware because if it were that easy to find and hire good dev talent, EA wouldn't be paying through its nose to get Bioware. That's why I think EA will not bother Bioware staff with porting ME 1 so they can focus on not f@#ing up ME 2. Instead, EA will farm out the ME 1 porting job to another EA division, which is almost guaranteed to have less skill and imagination than Bioware but won't be as busy. Or, seeing how well that approach worked for the Orange Box, EA could just say screw it, and keep ME 360 exclusive. It's not as if sales are bad.

[GITPWNED]

Definitely won't happen. Here's why: Bioware are too busy making Part 2 and 3, as well as their new projects. Sorry, droids, the glorious Mass Effect is 360-only. But you still get Kiddy Big World! and Play House! I mean, Home!

[roybatty]

I loved it. Had some bad tearing but still looked amazing. But correct me if I'm wrong, it had Microsoft Game Studios on the box? How could that ever go cross platform?

[Nicosia]

Thats the big thing people are overlooking.

[UltramanJ]

...Microsoft doesn't OWN Mass Effect. How hard is this to understand? Microsoft bought the publishing rights. Publishing rights don't suddenly give them control over the property!
EA OWNS Mass Effect. EA calls the shots, not Microsoft.

[Mercutio]

yeah but now it's been bought by EA so no MS studios anymore.,,,

[Alcohog]

I liked Elevator Action better.

[wh0am1]

Having been a Bioware forum member for a few years I've come to realize that Chris inst a very reliable source of info.
In fact he's as much in the dark as the rest of us most of the time.