Gogamer has a listing for Mass Effect GOTY edition, to be released 2/11/09. Has anyone seen what will be in this edition that is not in the original game?

I'm deciding between this and Oblivion GOTY as my first 360 RPG.

Any information appreciated. Thanks!

My guess would be a lower price and/or includes the DLC.

buy oblivion. Just. Do. It

Gogamer has a listing for Mass Effect GOTY edition, to be released 2/11/09. Has anyone seen what will be in this edition that is not in the original game?

I'm deciding between this and Oblivion GOTY as my first 360 RPG.

Any information appreciated. Thanks!

Well, considering that the basic ME can be found new for $30, the GOTY edition had *better* include *something* extra to justify the price, though "Bring down the sky" by itself will probably not do it.

As for choosing between the two, well; its all a matter of taste:
- Oblivion is a fantasy, open-world game, where the side quests provide the bulk of the entertainment value (of which there is tons) that runs best in first-person view
- Mass Effect is a Hard-SF cinematic adventure with fully voiced and animated interactions where the main quest provides the bulk of the entertainment value and the sidequests range from very good to trivial, but with good replay value as it really requires three playthroughs to see all the game has to offer. Mass effect is strictly third-person.

If graphics is what you judge a game by, Oblivion (as an near-launch) 360 title has nice graphics on the lower end of what is generally judge "good" on the 360--Which would be great on many other platforms, while Mass Effect (which runs off the Unreal Engine) has graphics at the high end of what the 360 has delivered to date--probably the best of any RPG out there.

Voice and NPC acting on Mass Effect is the current gold standard for rpgs and the story has genuine depth to it; Oblivion is a more traditional wprg with the stories secondary to the gameplay.

You can't go wrong with either and really should play both, but it might mot be a bad idea to play the big 4 360 rpgs in order of release; Oblivion, Mass Effect, Fable 2, and Fallout 3.
By then Alpha Protocol and Mass Effect 2 should be out and you'll be covered till 2010. ;)

If you get ME, if you have an HDTV, the first thing you need to do is go into the options and turn off "Film Grain"

I'm currently on my first run through Mass Effect... It's a GREAT game and I highly recommend it. I tried and tried to get into Oblivion, but as a long-time RPG player I really didn't like the way that Bethesda implemented the Level-Scaling feature in the game.

The crazy thing is that I REALLY liked Morrowind and played through the entire game.

I've read that there are mods for the PC version of Oblivion, and may try that to see if it helps. Anyhow, ME is a great game and I'd highly recommend it. And the "Film Grain" is kind of a personal preference. I left it on and like the effect. It kind of feels like I'm playing through a really great Sci-fi movie to me.

Who in the world awarded Mass Effect GOTY?? This game nearly bored me to death.

Well, considering that the basic ME can be found new for $30, the GOTY edition had *better* include *something* extra to justify the price, though "Bring down the sky" by itself will probably not do it.

It was 12 bucks shipped just a few days ago.

Who in the world awarded Mass Effect GOTY?? This game nearly bored me to death.

Me 2.
Boring Traveling Sequences.
Often Laughable Graphics.
GOTY... not!

It was 12 bucks shipped just a few days ago.

That's what I paid for it as well. Hopefully this game is worth that much. :o

That's what I paid for it as well. Hopefully this game is worth that much. :o

it is for sure :)

"It's 3:15 and that means it's time for....The Real Deal With Bill McNeal"......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH8AZvewD5I

ME is absolutely and epic game IMO, one of 20 top 5's!

Oblivion, or Fallout3.

As of note, ME was never truely GOTY (only RPG of the yr.)-

GOTY 06'- Oblivion
GOTY 07'- Bioshock
GOTY 08'- GTA4

Oblivion, or Fallout3.

As of note, ME was never truely GOTY (only RPG of the yr.)-

GOTY 06'- Oblivion
GOTY 07'- Bioshock
GOTY 08'- GTA4

:eek: really?!?!? whooof!

Hook it up with that sh!t you're smokin!

Back to the OP's initial questions, fjtorres summed it up well.

If you've got a membership to Blockbuster, you could always rent the two games and dedicate some hours to see which you like. They've both got a ton of content, and even if you spend 5-10 hours on it as a rental, you'll have your saves you can use when you buy the game you like, with many, many more hours of gaming ahead of you. :)

-JR

:eek: really?!?!? whooof!

Hook it up with that sh!t you're smokin!

http://www.spike.com/event/vga/page/vote/category/29518

and historical data-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spike_TV_Video_Game_Awards

http://www.spike.com/event/vga/page/vote/category/29518

and historical data-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spike_TV_Video_Game_Awards

Fun fact: The Spike VGAs aren't some official be-all end-all awards in the game industry. Game of the Year simply means some publication somewhere gave it game of the year and the publisher decided to release a cheaper version of the game with any extra content included. It's a practice that's been going on long before the VGAs. That's cute you think they're some Oscar like award ceremony for the game industry though.

http://kotaku.com/5125410/the-2008-goty-gotys-the-best-of-the-best

GTAIV/Fallout 3 GOTY. I'd personally give it to Fallout 3.

Fun fact: The Spike VGAs aren't some official be-all end-all awards in the game industry. Game of the Year simply means some publication somewhere gave it game of the year and the publisher decided to release a cheaper version of the game with any extra content included. It's a practice that's been going on long before the VGAs. That's cute you think they're some Oscar like award ceremony for the game industry though.

Never said they were. And I'm sure there are other game reviewers (like IGN, gametrailers, gamespy) that have their own take. Just given my source for the poster, so he can "smoke" some of the stuff I was smoking..;)

Since we're sharing fun facts, please provide the source for " simply means some publication somewhere gave it game of the year". I'd like to know which publication actually named ME GOTY...just curious.

http://www.spike.com/event/vga/page/vote/category/29518

and historical data-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spike_TV_Video_Game_Awards

Because SPIKE says it's the game of the year, does not make me believe.... I'm sure there were plenty of politics behind that.

However, if you were just stating your first post based on Spike then that's all good. I just disagree that GTAIV is game of the year...

Never said they were. And I'm sure there are other game reviewers (like IGN, gametrailers, gamespy) that have their own take. Just given my source for the poster, so he can "smoke" some of the stuff I was smoking..;)

Since we're sharing fun facts, please provide the source for " simply means some publication somewhere gave it game of the year". I'd like to know which publication actually named ME GOTY...just curious.

New York Times (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/23/nytimes-names-mass-effect-game-of-the-year-screws-up-details-ag/)

You said Mass Effect was never Game of the Year, you were wrong.

I wouldnt call GTA4 GOTY either. Hell, putting it up against San Andreas, for the PS2, it loses. I wouldnt even put MGS4 second. Those 2 games shoulda been a lot better considering what came out b4 in their series. Both of those games, it seemed like something was missing, left out.

Maybe Saints Row 2 for GOTY. Havent played Fable 2 enuff to say that one. I play Midnight Club Los Angeles more than any of the games I got. I dont even like FPS that much, but I might pick Resistance 2 or Fallout 3 as GOTY over GTA4 & MGS4.

GOTY 06'- Oblivion
GOTY 07'- Bioshock
GOTY 08'- GTA4

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/1382/facepalm2ly3.jpg

Who in the world awarded Mass Effect GOTY?? This game nearly bored me to death.

agreed...didnt this game come out in 2007 anyway?


It was my most anticipated game since the 360 was released and turned out to be the biggest let down. I almost got the feeling while player that the ran out of time making the game and made some major short cuts. Every side mission and planet looked the same. Every interior one every planet had the same interior.

New York Times (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/23/nytimes-names-mass-effect-game-of-the-year-screws-up-details-ag/)

You said Mass Effect was never Game of the Year, you were wrong.

Guess I thought Spike's award was the mother of all.. Thanx for the link!

I actually found that teamxbox also named ME GOTY for 2007...so that's pretty good right there.

http://features.teamxbox.com/xbox/2133/TeamXbox-Game-of-the-Year-Awards-2007/p6/

Who in the world awarded Mass Effect GOTY?? This game nearly bored me to death.

(2) actually-

http://features.teamxbox.com/xbox/2133/TeamXbox-Game-of-the-Year-Awards-2007/p6/

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/23/arts/23schi.html

Guess I thought Spike's award was the mother of all.. Thanx for the link!

Nope. Spike's is probably the most publicized but it's only been reputable for the past 2 years or so. Up until then the winners were decided by polls on Spike's website, and considering the typical Spike viewer that doesn't really mean jack (Madden actually won game of the year at their first awards show). The past couple years the winners have been decided by 40 or so journalists representing the industries more well known and respected game websites, magazines, and blogs so they actually mean quite a bit more. If I had to pick a be all and end all award for the game industry it would probably be the GDC (Game Developer's Choice) awards that are held at DICE every year since those are decided on by developers themselves. Kind of the industries way of patting itself on the back.

Regardless the whole "Game of the Year" edition thing doesn't really mean much, just looks good on a case for a re-release to sell more copies.

Well, considering that the basic ME can be found new for $30, the GOTY edition had *better* include *something* extra to justify the price, though "Bring down the sky" by itself will probably not do it.

I was thinking the same thing. I read that Bring Down the Sky can be finished in just 90 minutes.

Has anyone heard about other DLC for ME that could potentially make it in this re-release?

I was thinking the same thing. I read that Bring Down the Sky can be finished in just 90 minutes.

Has anyone heard about other DLC for ME that could potentially make it in this re-release?

There is upcoming DLC for ME, but what it will be has yet to be released!

-JR

I just got an email that from MS stating that Mass Effect is now $19.99, a definite must buy at that price for anybody on the fence.

I just got an email that from MS stating that Mass Effect is now $19.99, a definite must buy at that price for anybody on the fence.

It was on buy.com for 12 earlier this week or late last week. I forget when.

It was on buy.com for 12 earlier this week or late last week. I forget when.

You could always go the route I did and find a friend who detests the game SO much they give it to you for free. :cool:

I'm deciding between this and Oblivion GOTY as my first 360 RPG.

I really really liked Mass effect, but when you compare the gameplay to oblivion, oblivion wins hands down.

ME has a good main quest, but the difference in level of detail between the main quest and the side quests is enormous. The side quest are really dull. They're usually something like :
- land on generated landscape with no scenery at all
- go to waypoint: usually one of more buildings. After 5 sidequests you'll notice that they keep reusing the same buildings for these sidequests.
- kill everyone in the building

Oblivion is a massive game, with great attention to detail in every sidequest.

Unless you like fantasy I think you will be disappointed with Oblivion personally. I bought 3 and just couldn't get into it. but I'm more of a sci-fi nerd

Nope. Spike's is probably the most publicized but it's only been reputable for the past 2 years or so. Up until then the winners were decided by polls on Spike's website, and considering the typical Spike viewer that doesn't really mean jack (Madden actually won game of the year at their first awards show). The past couple years the winners have been decided by 40 or so journalists representing the industries more well known and respected game websites, magazines, and blogs so they actually mean quite a bit more. If I had to pick a be all and end all award for the game industry it would probably be the GDC (Game Developer's Choice) awards that are held at DICE every year since those are decided on by developers themselves. Kind of the industries way of patting itself on the back.

Regardless the whole "Game of the Year" edition thing doesn't really mean much, just looks good on a case for a re-release to sell more copies.



Spike needs more publicity i guess.....neeever heard of it

If you approach this game with the correct attitude it is hard to imagine a game that will reward you better for the time you put into it. The game can have and almost entirely different feel each time you play it, with three playthroughs being potentially completely different. Also, in order to obtain all the achievements it will almost be a necessity to play through more than three times, unless very careful planning ahead of time is performed. I have completed 7 playthroughs, and loved each one.

If you just finished Gears 2 this game will probably seem like somewhat of a letdown. If you approach it like an interactive movie or graphic novel it will totally suck you in. I have all the achievements available on only a couple of my games, but I actually worked for all of them on Mass Effect. If the sequels are anything like the opener, this franchise has the potential to dethrone the Metal gear and Final Fantasy series(s) as my favorite game IP of all time.