The Mass Effect (PC) Discussion Thread
- Thread starter Darkwave
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The combat system interface is a little different and more elaborate than the x360 version but story wise it's exactly the same.
I have no problem running aa in this game I'll just have to force it in nv panel. The game ran very smooth for me with everything max 4xmsaa 8xaf 1680x1050 apart from certain scenes where it would drop to about 20fps. That's with a 3.3Ghz Q6600 and 8800GT so the GTX will handle it no problem.
Dunno for some reason I thought it would be more like GTA where you can do a bit more side missions after the main story. Also the left side of the galactic map is empty which led me to think maybe more systems would unlock later.
I have no problem running aa in this game I'll just have to force it in nv panel. The game ran very smooth for me with everything max 4xmsaa 8xaf 1680x1050 apart from certain scenes where it would drop to about 20fps. That's with a 3.3Ghz Q6600 and 8800GT so the GTX will handle it no problem.
Dunno for some reason I thought it would be more like GTA where you can do a bit more side missions after the main story. Also the left side of the galactic map is empty which led me to think maybe more systems would unlock later.
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Caporegime
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It does it automatically when you try and hack/open something. Doesn't even show them doing it just uses their skill level.
You can enable AA with forcing and overide in the control panel. i use 4xAA and its fine
Game performs super smooth at 1680x1050 all options on for me. Not a hint of slow down so far.
Apparantly the menu's and combat and graphics are better in the pc versions ( from what i have read in reviews). you also get the downloadable content for free.
I'm having a slight problem here - apologies if this has already been covered, but I haven't seen it anywhere. The game has been a bit patchy so far, with General Protection Faults ranging from once every hour or so to once every ten minuntes. Annoying, but I can deal with that. Stops me spending too long glued to the screen I suppose.
Anyways, the main problem is that I'm now on what I think is Noveria. Icy, snowy place. I've got to a certain point not very far through the base area I'm supposed to be exploring and it keeps crashing. Every time, at the same place. I can send squad members onward past this point, and its fine, but any time I try and move past this point myself, the game just freezes up. I'm going to try a reinstall tomorrow and see if I can fix it. In fact, going from advice on the Mass Effect forum implying that some DVD drives have difficulty with these disks, I think I'll use an old DVD drive I've got kicking around to see if that gets me a clean install with no crashes. In the meantime, however, has anyone got any ideas for getting past this systematic error without resorting to me pulling my computer apart?
:edit:
Reinstall got me past that part. Still getting general protection faults, but meh, can't have everything.
Anyways, the main problem is that I'm now on what I think is Noveria. Icy, snowy place. I've got to a certain point not very far through the base area I'm supposed to be exploring and it keeps crashing. Every time, at the same place. I can send squad members onward past this point, and its fine, but any time I try and move past this point myself, the game just freezes up. I'm going to try a reinstall tomorrow and see if I can fix it. In fact, going from advice on the Mass Effect forum implying that some DVD drives have difficulty with these disks, I think I'll use an old DVD drive I've got kicking around to see if that gets me a clean install with no crashes. In the meantime, however, has anyone got any ideas for getting past this systematic error without resorting to me pulling my computer apart?
:edit:
Reinstall got me past that part. Still getting general protection faults, but meh, can't have everything.
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Yeh i get general protection faults. Although not as frequently as you seem to get them. I mean sometims i will play for about an hour and get one. then when i restart the game i've played for about 3-4 hours with no problems.
Also they are never repeatable and at the same points. they just seem random. Its hardly game destroying when it happens every hour or so, or not at all but it is a nuisance.
Hopefully they will rectify this in the first patch
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It seems to do it automatically when you kill something. IIRC when you get the XP/cash info appear on the bottom right, it'll sometimes also say 'Inventory'. Go to the inventory screen and it will popup with a list of 'Recovered items'.
If it's a body that you didn't kill then you need to Examine it by pressing E.
Enjoying the game myself, although have only landed on a couple of planets so far.
Ta, I am playing this a MGS4 atm & only get a few hours a week gaming so I forget.
Best PC game I have played in a while though, I am still near the start & just became a spectre
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Anyone having the problem when at the start on the earth screen, it goes very very slow and when i get to the main menu,the mouse cursor is delayed when opening up the options ( opens up about 6 secs after ive clicked)
all my drivers are up to date. ...tbh i can`t play the game?
all my drivers are up to date.
...tbh i can`t play the game?I just started playing this yesterday and I've already clocked up quite a few hours, only done one of the main missions so far been concentrating on the side missions, this is the most I've been into a game for quite a while, that feeling of ok just one more mission then I'll stop, buggy but when it's this engrossing I can live with it 
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Wait a minute... so the Normandy doesn't even get into a fight with another ship? At all? After all the codex entries about ship to ship combat, making it sounds so damn cool... and you don't even get to see any space battles at all?!
WELL THAT SUCKS!!!
Well, I guess the quality of everything else makes up for that
WELL THAT SUCKS!!!
Well, I guess the quality of everything else makes up for that
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For those of you experiencing crashing during gameplay, try this:
1) Find and open the following folder:
C:\Documents and Settings\*yourusername*\My Documents\BioWare\Mass Effect\Config
Note: This is an XP-based location. It may not apply for VISTA... try using windows search if this is the case.
2) Inside you will find a file named BIOEngine.INI - Open this in notepad for editing.
3) Find the "ReserveChannels=**" line and change the ** value to the number of channels supported by your soundcard. For example:
"ReserveChannels=64"
A value of 64 has worked well for me so far and I have not had a single crash in three days. I was getting at least two or three crashes a day before I tried this. I hope this helps at least some of you. I found this fix on the official Mass Effect forum, so I cannot take credit for it's potential usefulness!
Good luck and happy gaming everyone!
1) Find and open the following folder:
C:\Documents and Settings\*yourusername*\My Documents\BioWare\Mass Effect\Config
Note: This is an XP-based location. It may not apply for VISTA... try using windows search if this is the case.
2) Inside you will find a file named BIOEngine.INI - Open this in notepad for editing.
3) Find the "ReserveChannels=**" line and change the ** value to the number of channels supported by your soundcard. For example:
"ReserveChannels=64"
A value of 64 has worked well for me so far and I have not had a single crash in three days. I was getting at least two or three crashes a day before I tried this. I hope this helps at least some of you. I found this fix on the official Mass Effect forum, so I cannot take credit for it's potential usefulness!
Good luck and happy gaming everyone!
I just can't get into it because of third person setup. I find it difficult to get used to running around looking at the back of someone's head. Not only it wrecks the shooter part for me, because shooting in third person view has nothing to do with precision and accuracy and everything to do with ability to adapt to the console like field of view of fly in the corner of the ceiling, but turning and panning with back of my character stuck in the middle, makes me dizzy after a while. Third person view isn't done properly ever since Heretic II. And it's a great pity. Mass Effect would be amazing as a first person game. Just like Assassin's Creed would me much better off as FPS...
well its pretty good fun 
I'm exploring other planets. I like how on some planets when you land you can find stuff that isnt initially on the map so it promotes real exploring.
It feels a little bit "samey" but i think once i complete this i'll get KOTOR + Kotor2 as its making me want to play them heh
unfortunately i came across a cheat/bug/intentional?? to get lots of money..very surprised it hasnt been patched because it is really easy to do.. and hard to resist in the beginning because you dont get much money but you start to rake in the money once you go exploring planets (for mere surveys loadsa money)
I'm exploring other planets. I like how on some planets when you land you can find stuff that isnt initially on the map so it promotes real exploring.It feels a little bit "samey" but i think once i complete this i'll get KOTOR + Kotor2 as its making me want to play them heh
unfortunately i came across a cheat/bug/intentional?? to get lots of money..very surprised it hasnt been patched because it is really easy to do.. and hard to resist in the beginning because you dont get much money but you start to rake in the money once you go exploring planets (for mere surveys loadsa money)
