"Joystiq has learned from a trusted source that BioWare's enigmatic teaser from last month represents the first glimpse of Mass Effect 3. As many have guessed, the third installment looks to feature something brand new to the series: multiplayer. We're currently unable to confirm that the multiplayer component will be part of the game's unveiling at the upcoming Spike Video Game Awards. "

Read the rest at GameDaily

I don't want multiplayer.

I don't want multiplayer.

Well, EA published Mass Effect 2, and they're publishing Mass Effect 3. I think this holds our answer - http://www.gamedaily.com/games/dead-space-2/xbox-360/game-features/eas-gibeau-single-player-game-model-is-finished-online-is-the-future/

Great. So, what I read from that is. We're done with great games in a quality single player package, and instead intend to drag them out and bleed you dry.

Great. So, what I read from that is. We're done with great games in a quality single player package, and instead intend to drag them out and bleed you dry.

I see map packs in our near future. =\

I don't want multiplayer.

I'm starting to hate mutliplayer, there are just too many games with it, i enjoyed it back when halo 3 just came out, and everyone was playing just that, now there are too many games with multiplayer that its segregating the gaming community, i can hardly find 2 people on my friends list playing the same game. I praised Mass Effect as a last of a dying breed of game that could stand on single player alone, and now im disappointed

No.... NO multiplayer.

Means they won't spend as much time making a good single player.

From what I heard the multiplayer would be a complete separate game. In most cases that wouldn't fly, but in this instance it would do well. Mass Effect has too much going on to waste time on multiplayer components, one or the other would suffer for it.

So you're saying there will be two Mass Effect 3, retail games? One SP and the other MP? I don't see how that could do well at all. I think if you have an established single player franchise, it should stay that way. Incorporating co-op play is big enough, but a full fledged MP? No thanks.

So you're saying there will be two Mass Effect 3, retail games? One SP and the other MP? I don't see how that could do well at all. I think if you have an established single player franchise, it should stay that way. Incorporating co-op play is big enough, but a full fledged MP? No thanks.

I think he meant it would follow a separate storyline.

I don't want multiplayer getting in the way of Mass Effect 3's development either. Or EA for that matter, I wish they hadn't bought out Bioware. The only way I think multiplayer would work without getting too in the way is drop in/drop out gameplay where one player can join another player's game to help them out on their missions and maybe trade equipment (assuming there's even an inventory after what they did in Mass Effect 2). That wouldn't take as much effort to develop, I think. They shouldn't even bother with tying it into the story or anything, like it's just someone that came to help you out, and maybe gets separate loot.

Nemhy told me this earlier today during our Mumble conversation.

I thought he said that the spinoffs of Mass Effect were going to have multiplayer, but I wasn't expecting the third.

Man, that changes everything. That really sucks.

I don't want a "Mass Effect on Duty".

I believe it'd have to follow a different story line. How else could they incorporate MP, into an SP game? Using the characters from SP as MP skins? Doing what exactly? Reenacting a battle from SP? I had no illusions they wouldn't be different from one another.

Dead Space 2 is a good example (haha EA!).

I believe it'd have to follow a different story line. How else could they incorporate MP, into an SP game? Using the characters from SP as MP skins? Doing what exactly? Reenacting a battle from SP? I had no illusions they wouldn't be different from one another.

Dead Space 2 is a good example (haha EA!).

What I meant was co-op. I don't want anything about competitive multiplayer involved with Mass Effect.

What I meant was co-op. I don't want anything about competitive multiplayer involved with Mass Effect.

How would they handle the decision making?

I guess it could be like DR2 where it goes off of the host.

The leeching character would get to keep weapons, upgrades, and money made, but the choices are made solely on the host.

How would they handle the decision making?

I guess it could be like DR2 where it goes off of the host.

The leeching character would get to keep weapons, upgrades, and money made, but the choices are made solely on the host.

Yeah if they MUST include multiplayer, I'd prefer they keep it very basic. Just drop in/drop out gameplay without pretext, the host has control over everything like normal, and the second player can get some credits and random loot for helping them fight and explore. Any chest or object that the second player opens should give whatever it was supposed to contain to player one, and possibly some random lower end loot and/or credits for player two.

Again, I'm not sure how it would work with inventory, because they'd need to have an actual inventory system like the first game. All the second one had was upgrades that you found or bought. lol

It's a single player trilogy. Adding co-op or multiplayer to the 'final' installment, is wrong in my opinion. If they want to tack on a multiplayer DLC on 2, fine, but don't change the gameplay mechanics in its final chapter.

Also, this...

"If you're pessimists like us, you've been looking at Mass Effect 2 not as an exciting new chapter in the trilogy but simply as "the one before the last one." But, speaking with Kraptaco, BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk metaphorically stroked our hair and told us to put those bad old thoughts right out of our heads. "Don't worry if you love Mass Effect," he said, "There will be more Mass Effect in the future."

A soothing reminder that, no matter how chaotic the world may seem, people will always keep doing something if it's making money. Consider us comforted."

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/21/bioware-mass-effect-trilogy-will-not-spell-end-of-franchise/

... people will always keep doing something if it's making money....

Now that is the 100% truth of what's going on here.

I was thinking this over, and i was wondering what theyre attempting to gain with multiplayer, unless its so unbelievably good that it gets all the people who are content with COD but previously not interested in the story they really have no gain in players, on the other hand though they might lose the approval of the die hard single player ME fans. I really can't see any point to this.

i was thinking more along the lines of something like cerberus vs the alliance like shadowrun type multiplayer with the droids thrown in. Time frame wise somewhere between ME1 and 2, the best development would probably be Respawn Entertainment.

I'd be interested if they had something similar to Halo's Firefight mode or something like Perfect Dark Zero. I think it would be cool to fight against waves of enemy AI cooperatively. But I agree with most of you that the game is strong enough to stand on its own with single player. I'd rather have a strong SP campaign than a MP mode.

I'd be interested if they had something similar to Halo's Firefight mode or something like Perfect Dark Zero. I think it would be cool to fight against waves of enemy AI cooperatively. But I agree with most of you that the game is strong enough to stand on its own with single player. I'd rather have a strong SP campaign than a MP mode.

They already did a firefight type mode (singleplayer though) in the first one through dlc. It got crappy reviews though

Hopefully by multiplayer they mean MMO...that would be cool to interact with other players the way you interact with NPC's. But i doubt that is their idea. Oh well how about Mako deathmatch!