Mass Effect

by Electronic Arts

Product Features

• Experience a rich and engrossing story where your choices decide the fate of galaxy
• Engage in emotionally charged interactions with the most realistic digital actors ever seen in a video game, using an innovative new dialog system
• Immerse yourself in an incredible new adventure from world-famous masters of the RPG; BioWare
• Stunning high resolution graphics, optimized GUI and controls for PC gamers
• Dominate the battlefield with new individual squad member command system

Product Details

• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00140P9BA
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.5 x 1 inches ; 7 ounces
• Media: DVD-ROM
• Release Date: May 27, 2008
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (358 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #686 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Platform: PC

You take the role of Commander Shepard starship Normandy, the last hope for all life in the Galaxy. Saren, a rogue member of the elite and untouchable Spectre agents, has discovered the secret to unleashing an apocalyptic force upon the galaxy, and only you stand in his way. To save the lives of billions, you must do whatever it takes to stop Saren and prevent the return of an ancient force bent on the destruction of all organic life.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

860 of 1,035 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Rental versus purchase: Beware, June 18, 2008

By 

Craig H. Dolphin (Custer, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Mass Effect (DVD-ROM)

I am not reviewing the content of the game except to say that Bioware has previously never disappointed me with its RPG's, and I expect Mass Effect is no different. I was highly excited to buy this game.

However, I like many others, canceled my pre-order when I discovered that I was not actually going to be buying the game, even though I was going to be spending $50 on it.

The truth is that this game comes with a new generation of digital rights management software called SecuROM. This DRM system does many things.

First, if your gaming computer does not have internet access then you cannot activate and play the game at all. Bioware/EA does not want your business.

Second, Bioware allows you three 'activations' only. Activations are tied to your computer's hardware and operating system configuration. If you ever reinstall windows, or upgrade a videocard, or add a new hard-drive, or even a simple cooling fan, you will need to use up another activation to keep playing mass effect on your computer. Several customers used up all three activations within a couple of weeks of buying the game as they tried reinstalling windows, or upgrading hardware, to overcome technical difficulties. Once you run out of activations and try to play the game again, you get a message informing you that you have no more activations left and that you should buy another copy of the game to get more. If you do some searching, you will find out that EA says that they may provide you more activations, on a case by case basis, if you contact them. They refuse to state what circumstances will be considered acceptable to them before allowing you more activations. At a minimum, you may need to provide a copy of your purchase receipt. You do actually keep your purchase receipts for $50 games right?

Third, SecuROM is a highly controversial piece of software. Its existence is not disclosed on the box, nor do you get notified that it is being installed on your machine. SecuROM installs registry keys that are not deleted when you uninstall the game. And these registry keys use illegal characters to prevent the user from being able to delete them manually. You must use third-party software to do so.

Fourth, SecuROM can include a module that provides 'information' to the game publisher. Bioware claims it is not using that module to do so, but there is no way to verify this.

Fifth, Bioware cancelled the re-validate online every 5-10 days policy that they originally stated the game would have. Expect to see this return in future games.

Lastly, Bioware/EA provides no method to de-activate a computer once it has been activated. Uninstalling the game from one computer does not free up that activation. Therefore, your ability to sell your copy of the game second-hand, guaranteed in the Copyright Act (Doctrine of First Sale) has been violated by Bioware/EA. Expect to see some lawsuits before too much longer.

If you think I'm blowing up the DRM issue out of proportion then, by all means, go ahead and buy this game. While you are able to play it I'm sure you'll be very happy with it. However, do not expect to be able to keep playing it years into the future without paying extra for more activations.

The same DRM system is also intended for use on EA games like Spore, and likely also Dragonage, plus many others.

If you are concerned about this kind of practice becoming the industry standard, then I urge you not to spend your money on this game or any other titles from EA until they abandon this DRM fiasco. There are games publishers who take a different approach (for example, the game Sins of a Solar Empire is DRM free) and who are much more appreciative of your custom.

52 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Immersive fun universe, November 15, 2008

By 

David J. Zapata (Tuscaloosa, AL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Mass Effect (DVD-ROM)

One of the best RPGs of the year. This game is incredibly imersive. There is a long deep main story line that really keeps the game moving along and tons of side quests to bring the universe to life. With any RPG its the details that kill games. Not Mass Effect. The developers focused on every aspect of the game play and really polished it to a high shine. The biggest downfall is that it was developed for the Xbox and so the graphics aren't as good as you would expect from a game this incredible well put together.

Battle Scenes:
Overall the scenes are a lot of fun. there are so many different ways to approach battle that its hard to get bored too quickly. The two problems I had were first in all the side quests the building layouts are incredibly repetitive. Its almost exactly the same except that furniture has been moved around. Second the AI can be a bit annoying and aggressive. The easiest tactic to win any battle is to sit back and wait for them to come to you. That's fine and all but i expect more out of my battles then sniper frag fests.

Side Quests:
there are tons of side quests and tons of places to explore. the side quests even intermingle among one another and some of the moral choices are very ambiguous making the decisions you make much much more interesting. The only problem is that unless your physically writing down where you have explored you often get confused and end up revisiting the same planets over and over again.

Main Story:
The funny thing is for the most part I completely ignored the main story line and just had fun traveling the universe and doing side quests but when you get bored its always fun to go back and continue along the main story line

Unit Selection:
This has got to be the most annoying thing about the game. I tend to choose two people for every single mission. I wish it was somehow more interactive and more were each member is needed for different kinds of missions.

Graphics:
My biggest sore point with the game. There are some very pretty scenes but for the most part things can get a little bland and blocky.

Copyright protection:
Beware this game is highly encrypted and requires a internet connection to work. Also i have heard endless horror stories about EA's customer support.

134 of 162 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars An expensive game rental which installs malware, October 14, 2008

By 

Ferdinand - See all my reviews

= Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Mass Effect (DVD-ROM)

Buyer beware - the product description does not describe some important aspects of the game.

This game requires an internet activation, so if you have no internet connection you can't play. Also you are limited to 3 activations - so effectively you are not buying and owning your game, you are merely renting the game.

This game secretly installs copy-protection software called SecuROM which can cause many problems for your computer, some of which are:

1. When installing the game the user is not informed that SecuROM is being installed.

2. SecuROM denies administrators full access to their PC, and blocks the administrator from editing certain parts of the registry.

3. SecuROM can interfere with the operation of hardware, specifically disc drives.

4. SecuROM can interfere with the proper operation of software.

5. When the game is uninstalled SecuROM is not uninstalled - it remains permanently on your computer.

6. The manner in which SecuROM runs on your computer is similar to that of malicious software called malware, and many people do indeed consider SecuROM to be malware.

Currently two class action lawsuits have been filed against Electronic Arts (EA) for their use of SecuROM.

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