Tell me about Mass Effect for the PC.

[Mr. Coffee]

Was looking around on Steam and noticed they've got Mass Effect for $20 and was thinking of snagging it. Haven't played the game, but heard some cool stuff about it and that the PC port was a little different then the 360 version. Anyone got the PC version around here that can tell me about it?

[Andrew_Fireborn]

I think the only difference is that the hacking game isn't just a little game of simon says.

There's an off chance the the only DLC scenario was included as well. But I doubt it.

[White Haven]

The DLC's included free on the PC, which is always a plus. Plus there's the innate...plus, to reuse a word, that it's not on a console, but that's just the hater in me talking. They supposedly redid the inventory interface somewhat, and frankly if what the PC got is the improved interface, then the one on the console must be truly awful to compare with the NES-style unsorted unstacking inventory with no multi-selection and a multitude of other sins.

Overall a fun game, not the pan-awesome experience that was hyped, not the cesspool of terribleness that Stark likes to whinge about. For 20 bucks, heck, why not.

[Netko]

The core action gameplay is a shooter so the mouse/keyboard for the PC is a big plus. They did redo the interfaces a bit enabling more tactical options and such (you can order you squadmates individually as opposed to general orders on the XBOX), but it still has its fair share of consolitis.

All in all, it is the superior version if you have a semi-decent computer.

[Tanasinn]

The PC version suffers from some crashing bugs and sound stuttering bugs. The latter has been corrected (by the users). The former has not and renders the game unplayable at all for some.

[General Zod]

The PC version suffers from some crashing bugs and sound stuttering bugs. The latter has been corrected (by the users). The former has not and renders the game unplayable at all for some.

Are you sure this is a game thing and not a hardware thing? (ie - do more powerful pcs not experience this?)

[Executor32]

I never had either of those issues when I played it, but then I have a decently powerful PC.

Also, another change they made was to the handling of the APC, replacing the counterintuitive control scheme it used on the 360 with one that actually makes sense.

[Nephtys]

It doesn't run on Vista 64 either. I can't start up that setup program that auto kicks in.

Has anyone gotten it to run on Vista 64?

[General Zod]

It doesn't run on Vista 64 either. I can't start up that setup program that auto kicks in.

Has anyone gotten it to run on Vista 64?

Which version of Direct X are you using, and what kind of video card?

[Nephtys]

It doesn't run on Vista 64 either. I can't start up that setup program that auto kicks in.

Has anyone gotten it to run on Vista 64?

Which version of Direct X are you using, and what kind of video card?

Should be DX10 and 9800 GT

[General Zod]

Huh. I might wind up picking up ME off Steam just for lulz when I get home today since it's only $20. I'll see if I can get it working with that since I'm on Vista 64.

[White Haven]

Works fine on V64, always has from the PC launch day. *eyes Nep curiously* What's it do when you try?

[Starglider]

The PC version suffers from some crashing bugs and sound stuttering bugs. The latter has been corrected (by the users). The former has not and renders the game unplayable at all for some.

Are you sure this is a game thing and not a hardware thing? (ie - do more powerful pcs not experience this?)

I suffered from a couple of crashes and numerous instances of enemies getting stuck in scenery, and I have the Xbox version.

[Executor32]

I'm using Vista x64, and as I mentioned earlier I didn't have any issues. What happens when you try to install it, Nephtys?

[Aaron]

I suffered from a couple of crashes and numerous instances of enemies getting stuck in scenery, and I have the Xbox version.

I have as well, though I've noticed that the enemies only get stuck in scenery if I use a high level high explosive mod for the shotgun/grenade or if I use a high level sledgehammer mod for the shotgun.

[Stark]

Well let's be honest; you're always going to use the explosives stuff for the shotgun.

I think Coffee will get $20 of entertainment out of ME; the combat is probably the part he's most interested in and it's a) better on PC and b) the best part of the game.

[Aaron]

Well let's be honest; you're always going to use the explosives stuff for the shotgun.

True.

I think Coffee will get $20 of entertainment out of ME; the combat is probably the part he's most interested in and it's a) better on PC and b) the best part of the game.

Hopefully he hasn't played GoW 1 or 2, the cover system in those spoiled me and when I got ME I kept getting tripped up because it is so awkward. Hopefully it's not as annoying on PC as it is on Xbox.

[Alyeska]

It doesn't run on Vista 64 either. I can't start up that setup program that auto kicks in.

Has anyone gotten it to run on Vista 64?

Yes. That is the system I run it on. Vista Ultimate 64.

[Joviwan]

Download directx 9.0c from microsoft's website, see if that helps, it'll install "extra libraries" or whatever so it wont conflict with Dx10. I had an issue with Dx10 not being "valid" or something along those lines, and the Dx9.0c fixed it.

[Jaevric]

At risk of stating the obvious, have you tried the "Run as Administrator" trick? Or running it in Windows XP Compatability mode? I've had to do one or both of those things on several games on Vista 64.

[Mr Bean]

Let me give Coffee the actual changes
PC Version of Mass Effect reduces the 360's pop-in where you'd have quick load times but after the load you'd have massive ugly textures until the proper ones load in. Depending on your PC the overall game just feels smoother and of course the mini-games have been changed. Hacking is not a simon seyz but instead a ring of spinning circles, get your triangle from the outside to the inside of the circle before time runs out, each circle contains red blocks which if touched bounce you back to the top, yellow blocks which you can't pass through and the occasional blinking red block which if you touch is an automatic lose. higher hacking gives you more time, less red's and the like.

Also it seems personally to me the better weapons came much quicker in the PC version than VS the Xbox360 version where you would be on the third planet before you started landing MK V's. I had MK V's right after getting of the citadel.

[Stark]

What's this about inventory interface changes? The 360 inventory is stunningly terrible (so terrible some players never knew the weapon addon area even existed) but White Haven suggests the PC interface is still bad.

[Nephtys]

At risk of stating the obvious, have you tried the "Run as Administrator" trick? Or running it in Windows XP Compatability mode? I've had to do one or both of those things on several games on Vista 64.

That's how I do it. The game installed properly, and has XP compatibility and Admin mode. It says 'The program has stopped responding' when trying to load the Mass Effect Config utility.

[Mr Bean]

What's this about inventory interface changes? The 360 inventory is stunningly terrible (so terrible some players never knew the weapon addon area even existed) but White Haven suggests the PC interface is still bad.

The inventory is better not perfect, you still have to scroll through the giant list but it is auto-sorted with more powerful addons stored at the top.

There is no inventory screen per say. Instead everything is sorted into it's own subcategory. Want to see your shotguns? Go to your shotgun button and see all shotguns in a nice line, higher MK's to lower marks is the default sort. Addon's are stored in the same way inside weapons. However they are labeled as weapon addons.

I'll get a few screen shots when I get home tomorrow.

[Losonti Tokash]

Does it still bump you to the top of the list every time you recycle some useless junk?