Mass Effect Weapons Shouldn't Eject Shells

The "Mass Effect" universe/mythology is predicated on mankind discovering an endlessly cheap supply of energy -- the mass effect -- earning us a galactic seat at the spacefaring table. Mass effect powers the deep-space travel AND the weapons which makes refueling and (up until Mass Effect 2) reloading, obsolete. So why this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPrw114WTZ4

Shells poppin out all over the place like a Call of Duty ad. That doesn't make sense. I mean, IMO I don't know that naming the entire series after a super cool mythology only to go and cannibalize the world/idea that you so cleverly invented will be good in the long run for future merchandising.

I've seen the "reload" topic addressed in years past and I understand why some would see shell casings and reloading as a minor tweak. When I first read someone pointing this out, I was having too much fun after having finally stumbed on ME2 to care. I thoroughly enjoyed running for cover. Reloading my short-range weapon. Reloading my long-range weapon. It kept me busy and added urgency.

After taking a step back though, playing the first Mass Effect, reading more of the codex, learning why the game is called Mass Effect and all that and going, "oh, that's why all the guns look like cheap plastic toys and that's why the aliens all speak English! Cool!" I think Bioware is doing a disservice and ultimately undermining a really great intellectual property in favor of making the combat more familiar. While the combat is great. Really, really great, I think they should've stuck with the over-heating weapons of Mass Effect 1 than the emptying weapons of Mass Effect 2 and 3. Why?

Because I'm probably gonna play just about any Mass Effect related game that ever hits the PC eventually. Will I go see a Mass Effect movie? Or read a Mass Effect book? Or buy more of the comic books? Or buy my grandkids N7 toy-weapons? Or buy Mass Effect space-porn for myself? Probably not, because the coolest thing about the Mass Effect universe is the idea of an endless supply of energy transforming not just our planet and existence but the entire universe's. Or at least it would've been the coolest idea, until Bioware decided that Call of Duty was cooler.

Your either overthinking or underthinking this.

The reload ejection was simply a thermal tube that absorbs heat. By ejecting it when it's full helps keep the weapon cooled down, then ejected to disperse the heat completely.

As far as physical ammo based firearms....why not? It's not like their technology isn't there, and for organic targets without shields they could penetrate armor better then light based weapons. I'm sure they'd have the tech to limit recoil on a rifle shooting automatic .50 cal rounds.

It's not like Star Wars where the entire universe is basically established, yet in SWTOR lightsabers now cause bleeding.

Just saying.

I guess I'm just thinking about how fun it would be to write a movie or something set in the Mass Effect universe. If you think about it, the IDEA of a mass effect engine is almost as cool as the Mass Effect GAME itself. I hope that Bioware doesn't dumb down this idea too much for us, or chip away at it in favor of bells and whistles or whatever as I expect great stories other than Shepard's to come forward whether they be in RPGs, MMOs, cartoons, or whatever. I think they really tapped into something that is bigger than Shepard, the Normandy and the intermittent shooting and biotic power galleries that I love to be dropped into. Lots of games have guns but only the mass effect power source has POWER! UNLIMITED POWER!"

Okay. So maybe only Bioware's mass effect engine AND Emperor Palpatine.

How is single life?

j/k

Your either overthinking or underthinking this.

The reload ejection was simply a thermal tube that absorbs heat. By ejecting it when it's full helps keep the weapon cooled down, then ejected to disperse the heat completely.

As far as physical ammo based firearms....why not? It's not like their technology isn't there, and for organic targets without shields they could penetrate armor better then light based weapons. I'm sure they'd have the tech to limit recoil on a rifle shooting automatic .50 cal rounds.

It's not like Star Wars where the entire universe is basically established, yet in SWTOR lightsabers now cause bleeding.

Just saying.

Recon19D20

How is single life?

j/k

fivex84

considering ive been too busy dating to ever start a thread until just now pretty good. it also helps that i can talk intelligently about pop culture shakespeare or sports and spiritualisn im getting it in.

pretty much this. The weapons collect heat and the canisters are ejected whet they reach max heatwis3boi

Yeah, they did explain this in the codex, but the real reason is that Bioware wanted Mass Effect 2 combat tofunction like other shooters with reloading weapons. (Mass Effect 1 weapons don't reload, only overheat). The old overheating system they considered not fun, so they switched to the traditional shooter mechanic.

[QUOTE="wis3boi"]pretty much this. The weapons collect heat and the canisters are ejected whet they reach max heatJames00715

Yeah, they did explain this in the codex, but the real reason is that Bioware wanted Mass Effect 2 combat tofunction like other shooters with reloading weapons. (Mass Effect 1 weapons don't reload, only overheat). The old overheating system they considered not fun, so they switched to the traditional shooter mechanic.

I think your worried is all here, you found a universe that you highly enjoy, and probably should be somewhat worried. Gaming has a trend lately to take something great, and then completely ruin it for the sake of sales only, forgetting about what made it great to begin with. Just take any Tom Clancy title's de-evolution over the last 10 years.

Mass Effect has been said by many to be the new Star Wars or Star Trek. That's a pretty group to follow, however I've just finished ME, and almost done with ME2, and honestly even after being a Star Wars fan for the last 30+ years, Mass Effect is my new favorite Sci-fi property, so I get it.

You just made a round-a-bout explanation to your concerns I think.

One last point, now that I have learned to love this series and respect that it was a trilogy from the beginning....I hope they are not done with this universe and give us more content with other stories and main characters. I'd even be interested in some kind of Star Wars: Empire at War style RTS game. Mass Effect also has enough species and worlds to become a huge MMO. I know the books will carry on some stories, but I already want more and ME3 isn't even out yet.

I think Bioware is smart enough to realize the impact this universe has, and it's versatility, and they won't stop with Shepard. I just hope they don't over do it like Assassin's Creed has become. I also don't see them conforming to what's cool, they do best when they do it their way and they know that.

As far as the engine itself goes....after playing ME2 for the last week, KOTOR came to mind. They know the fans want it, and the ME2, or even ME3 engine would fit perfectly with very little modifications, making an easy and fairly cheap KOTOR 3 game to make......

You know it's coming.

I think your worried is all here, you found a universe that you highly enjoy, and probably should be somewhat worried. Gaming has a trend lately to take something great, and then completely ruin it for the sake of sales only, forgetting about what made it great to begin with. Just take any Tom Clancy title's de-evolution over the last 10 years.

Mass Effect has been said by many to be the new Star Wars or Star Trek. That's a pretty group to follow, however I've just finished ME, and almost done with ME2, and honestly even after being a Star Wars fan for the last 30+ years, Mass Effect is my new favorite Sci-fi property, so I get it.

You just made a round-a-bout explanation to your concerns I think.

One last point, now that I have learned to love this series and respect that it was a trilogy from the beginning....I hope they are not done with this universe and give us more content with other stories and main characters. I'd even be interested in some kind of Star Wars: Empire at War ****RTS game. Mass Effect also has enough species and worlds to become a huge MMO. I know the books will carry on some stories, but I already want more and ME3 isn't even out yet.

I think Bioware is smart enough to realize the impact this universe has, and it's versatility, and they won't stop with Shepard. I just hope they don't over do it like Assassin's Creed has become. I also don't see them conforming to what's cool, they do best when they do it their way and they know that.

As far as the engine itself goes....after playing ME2 for the last week, KOTOR came to mind. They know the fans want it, and the ME2, or even ME3 engine would fit perfectly with very little modifications, making an easy and fairly cheap KOTOR 3 game to make......

You know it's coming.

Recon19D20

BioWare has stated that ME3 is the end of Shepard, but not the end of the Universe.

It's called SWTOR (sorry had to say it), and before people start flaming me... I'm having as much fun with SWTOR as I did with KOTOR, and there are a LOT of similarities apart from the universe.

The real question is why take a step backwards in technology, and how did they do it so quickly? In Mass Effect, there was no need for ammo, no reloading. Not only would this save billions upon billions of galactic credits on ammo, but it's inferior to what they had before. What's even more amazing is that it became the galactic standard in just roughly two years. Many pieces of military equipment go through ten to fifteen years of testing and experiments before even being released. But the entire galaxy just decides to change the entire way firearms work, and does so in an extremely small amount of time?

The real question is why take a step backwards in technology, and how did they do it so quickly? In Mass Effect, there was no need for ammo, no reloading. Not only would this save billions upon billions of galactic credits on ammo, but it's inferior to what they had before. What's even more amazing is that it became the galactic standard in just roughly two years. Many pieces of military equipment go through ten to fifteen years of testing and experiments before even being released. But the entire galaxy just decides to change the entire way firearms work, and does so in an extremely small amount of time?

brickdoctor

The real question is why take a step backwards in technology, and how did they do it so quickly? In Mass Effect, there was no need for ammo, no reloading. Not only would this save billions upon billions of galactic credits on ammo, but it's inferior to what they had before. What's even more amazing is that it became the galactic standard in just roughly two years. Many pieces of military equipment go through ten to fifteen years of testing and experiments before even being released. But the entire galaxy just decides to change the entire way firearms work, and does so in an extremely small amount of time?

The real question is why take a step backwards in technology, and how did they do it so quickly? In Mass Effect, there was no need for ammo, no reloading. Not only would this save billions upon billions of galactic credits on ammo, but it's inferior to what they had before. What's even more amazing is that it became the galactic standard in just roughly two years. Many pieces of military equipment go through ten to fifteen years of testing and experiments before even being released. But the entire galaxy just decides to change the entire way firearms work, and does so in an extremely small amount of time?

[QUOTE="Brean24"][QUOTE="FelipeInside"] I was there when this decision was made. The old firearms were not fully tested and sometimes faulty, resulting in exploding barrels which hurt (or in most cases killed) the person firing. On top of this, there was a large amount of black market with these types of weapons. The Inter-Galatic Council (which I was a member back then), decided to incorporate these new weapons to replace the old ones. Contrary to popular belief, these weapons had been in testing for years.FelipeInside

[QUOTE="FelipeInside"][QUOTE="brickdoctor"]

The real question is why take a step backwards in technology, and how did they do it so quickly? In Mass Effect, there was no need for ammo, no reloading. Not only would this save billions upon billions of galactic credits on ammo, but it's inferior to what they had before. What's even more amazing is that it became the galactic standard in just roughly two years. Many pieces of military equipment go through ten to fifteen years of testing and experiments before even being released. But the entire galaxy just decides to change the entire way firearms work, and does so in an extremely small amount of time?

Brean24

[QUOTE="FelipeInside"][QUOTE="Brean24"] Are you... roleplaying? Joking? I dont know what to think -_- enlighten meBrean24

[QUOTE="Brean24"][QUOTE="FelipeInside"] The data-collection-source-software on my intergalactic spacecraft picked up conversation about ME Weaponry from this planet. I decided to orbit the planet and bypass security firewall measures to have a read. I noticed there was some confusion as to the weapon history of our Universe, and chose to correct that confusion. FelipeInside

[QUOTE="Brean24"][QUOTE="FelipeInside"] The data-collection-source-software on my intergalactic spacecraft picked up conversation about ME Weaponry from this planet. I decided to orbit the planet and bypass security firewall measures to have a read. I noticed there was some confusion as to the weapon history of our Universe, and chose to correct that confusion. FelipeInside

[QUOTE="FelipeInside"][QUOTE="Brean24"] I see, well did you pick up any other conversations? :Plil_d_mack_314

Your either overthinking or underthinking this.

The reload ejection was simply a thermal tube that absorbs heat. By ejecting it when it's full helps keep the weapon cooled down, then ejected to disperse the heat completely.

As far as physical ammo based firearms....why not? It's not like their technology isn't there, and for organic targets without shields they could penetrate armor better then light based weapons. I'm sure they'd have the tech to limit recoil on a rifle shooting automatic .50 cal rounds.

It's not like Star Wars where the entire universe is basically established, yet in SWTOR lightsabers now cause bleeding.

Just saying.

Recon19D20

In the very first star wars movie in the very first scene featuring a lightsaber dismemberment there's blood...

[QUOTE="Recon19D20"]

Your either overthinking or underthinking this.

The reload ejection was simply a thermal tube that absorbs heat. By ejecting it when it's full helps keep the weapon cooled down, then ejected to disperse the heat completely.

As far as physical ammo based firearms....why not? It's not like their technology isn't there, and for organic targets without shields they could penetrate armor better then light based weapons. I'm sure they'd have the tech to limit recoil on a rifle shooting automatic .50 cal rounds.

It's not like Star Wars where the entire universe is basically established, yet in SWTOR lightsabers now cause bleeding.

Just saying.

marshbaboon

In the very first star wars movie in the very first scene featuring a lightsaber dismemberment there's blood...

[QUOTE="marshbaboon"]

[QUOTE="Recon19D20"]

Your either overthinking or underthinking this.

The reload ejection was simply a thermal tube that absorbs heat. By ejecting it when it's full helps keep the weapon cooled down, then ejected to disperse the heat completely.

As far as physical ammo based firearms....why not? It's not like their technology isn't there, and for organic targets without shields they could penetrate armor better then light based weapons. I'm sure they'd have the tech to limit recoil on a rifle shooting automatic .50 cal rounds.

It's not like Star Wars where the entire universe is basically established, yet in SWTOR lightsabers now cause bleeding.

Just saying.

FelipeInside

In the very first star wars movie in the very first scene featuring a lightsaber dismemberment there's blood...

Ejecting shells. Omgz, run for the hills. It's doomsday! :P Naw I kid... But seriously though.. I preferred Mass Effect 1 on all levels.. and the lack of clips in ME1 didn't bother me at all. The shells didn't bother me in ME2, but it's funny how shells (ammunition) are conveniently sprawled throughout the map. :PElann2008

[QUOTE="Elann2008"]Ejecting shells. Omgz, run for the hills. It's doomsday! :P Naw I kid... But seriously though.. I preferred Mass Effect 1 on all levels.. and the lack of clips in ME1 didn't bother me at all. The shells didn't bother me in ME2, but it's funny how shells (ammunition) are conveniently sprawled throughout the map. :PFelipeInside

[QUOTE="Recon19D20"]

I think your worried is all here, you found a universe that you highly enjoy, and probably should be somewhat worried. Gaming has a trend lately to take something great, and then completely ruin it for the sake of sales only, forgetting about what made it great to begin with. Just take any Tom Clancy title's de-evolution over the last 10 years.

Mass Effect has been said by many to be the new Star Wars or Star Trek. That's a pretty group to follow, however I've just finished ME, and almost done with ME2, and honestly even after being a Star Wars fan for the last 30+ years, Mass Effect is my new favorite Sci-fi property, so I get it.

You just made a round-a-bout explanation to your concerns I think.

One last point, now that I have learned to love this series and respect that it was a trilogy from the beginning....I hope they are not done with this universe and give us more content with other stories and main characters. I'd even be interested in some kind of Star Wars: Empire at War ****RTS game. Mass Effect also has enough species and worlds to become a huge MMO. I know the books will carry on some stories, but I already want more and ME3 isn't even out yet.

I think Bioware is smart enough to realize the impact this universe has, and it's versatility, and they won't stop with Shepard. I just hope they don't over do it like Assassin's Creed has become. I also don't see them conforming to what's cool, they do best when they do it their way and they know that.

As far as the engine itself goes....after playing ME2 for the last week, KOTOR came to mind. They know the fans want it, and the ME2, or even ME3 engine would fit perfectly with very little modifications, making an easy and fairly cheap KOTOR 3 game to make......

You know it's coming.

FelipeInside

BioWare has stated that ME3 is the end of Shepard, but not the end of the Universe.

It's called SWTOR (sorry had to say it), and before people start flaming me... I'm having as much fun with SWTOR as I did with KOTOR, and there are a LOT of similarities apart from the universe.

SWTOR is alot like KOTOR 3 true, but I still don't see it that way. I haven't played the full release yet, just was in two different Beta's. I found the story interesting and the art is good and unique (except for the horrible body size options when creating a character). However I have no interest in MMO's much anymore unless they can be played solo, I don't care about end game, raid, or Guild content...I dont have enough free time to care.

But the biggest difference is the combat system. KOTOR had a real-time/pause based combat system and SWTOR has a turn based WoW system where people shoot through walls and get hits outside of their range. KOTOR and SWTOR are very different. The combat system that WoW and SWTOR have bothers me every time, and is the #1 reason why I haven't bought it yet. I don't see the similarities in gameplay at all.

Your either overthinking or underthinking this.

The reload ejection was simply a thermal tube that absorbs heat. By ejecting it when it's full helps keep the weapon cooled down, then ejected to disperse the heat completely.

As far as physical ammo based firearms....why not? It's not like their technology isn't there, and for organic targets without shields they could penetrate armor better then light based weapons. I'm sure they'd have the tech to limit recoil on a rifle shooting automatic .50 cal rounds.

It's not like Star Wars where the entire universe is basically established, yet in SWTOR lightsabers now cause bleeding.

Just saying.

Recon19D20

[QUOTE="FelipeInside"]

[QUOTE="Recon19D20"]

I think your worried is all here, you found a universe that you highly enjoy, and probably should be somewhat worried. Gaming has a trend lately to take something great, and then completely ruin it for the sake of sales only, forgetting about what made it great to begin with. Just take any Tom Clancy title's de-evolution over the last 10 years.

Mass Effect has been said by many to be the new Star Wars or Star Trek. That's a pretty group to follow, however I've just finished ME, and almost done with ME2, and honestly even after being a Star Wars fan for the last 30+ years, Mass Effect is my new favorite Sci-fi property, so I get it.

You just made a round-a-bout explanation to your concerns I think.

One last point, now that I have learned to love this series and respect that it was a trilogy from the beginning....I hope they are not done with this universe and give us more content with other stories and main characters. I'd even be interested in some kind of Star Wars: Empire at War ****RTS game. Mass Effect also has enough species and worlds to become a huge MMO. I know the books will carry on some stories, but I already want more and ME3 isn't even out yet.

I think Bioware is smart enough to realize the impact this universe has, and it's versatility, and they won't stop with Shepard. I just hope they don't over do it like Assassin's Creed has become. I also don't see them conforming to what's cool, they do best when they do it their way and they know that.

As far as the engine itself goes....after playing ME2 for the last week, KOTOR came to mind. They know the fans want it, and the ME2, or even ME3 engine would fit perfectly with very little modifications, making an easy and fairly cheap KOTOR 3 game to make......

You know it's coming.

Recon19D20

BioWare has stated that ME3 is the end of Shepard, but not the end of the Universe.

It's called SWTOR (sorry had to say it), and before people start flaming me... I'm having as much fun with SWTOR as I did with KOTOR, and there are a LOT of similarities apart from the universe.

SWTOR is alot like KOTOR 3 true, but I still don't see it that way. I haven't played the full release yet, just was in two different Beta's. I found the story interesting and the art is good and unique (except for the horrible body size options when creating a character). However I have no interest in MMO's much anymore unless they can be played solo, I don't care about end game, raid, or Guild content...I dont have enough free time to care.

But the biggest difference is the combat system. KOTOR had a real-time/pause based combat system and SWTOR has a turn based WoW system where people shoot through walls and get hits outside of their range. KOTOR and SWTOR are very different. The combat system that WoW and SWTOR have bothers me every time, and is the #1 reason why I haven't bought it yet. I don't see the similarities in gameplay at all.

I'm like you, and am enjoying it anyway. I solo most of the time (which you can mostly, it plays like a SP Online game), and occasionaly go into a small group to finish some missions or get a friend to help me with a boss.

I really don't care about end game or raids. I actually DON'T WANT to get to 50 cause the story is so much fun and interesting. It's the first MMO (or even game) where I WANT to do ALL the quests on the planet before leaving.

No idea what you're talking about there.

True, but I rarely had to PAUSE on KOTOR for combat, so SWTOR feels the same to me.

As for all the aliens speaking english, Im sure the citadel has its own universal language that all of the races have to learn. For ease of the person playing, its represented in english. Iantheone

I missed the codex on the shells or reloads. Also, I'm surprised no one called me out on saying that there's no need for refuelingas there is a lot of refueling in at least the 2nd Mass Effect. I can't remember on the 1st one. Is there a codex that explains that storyhole away?Maybe we scrutinizeBioware's storyholes more because they brag about "story" like Smurfs use the word "smurf".

As for the English dialect there is a codex that explains why. You have cybernetic enhancements interladen in your system, as do other species, that translate conversations in real-time. Except for the floating-tentacle things as their language is not yet fully translated.