Mass Effect 3 - Demo now available for PC/PS3/Xbox 360

[Ohio Joe]

http://masseffect.bioware.com/about/demo

I've not started downloading it yet... You need an Origin account and I've not decided if I want their spam.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

1. I would like to clarify a few things:

A: I don't like Origin. I have a content distribution system called Steam. I love it. I'm very iffy on Origin but I'm not completely sure why.

B: I love Mass Effect.

C: Reinstated. I love this trailer. (and Jennifer Hale's voice acting as Commander Shepard.)

I'm getting this. I have to see how this all ends.

On edit: D: I checked out the demo. Freakin' epic is all I can say. And Keith David as Anderson is awesome.

[LeftOfSelf-Centered]

2. If it only were on Steam...

If it were on Steam I'd probably pre-order it, or buy it as soon as it comes out.

It took me years to warm up to Steam to the point where I don't mind it anymore (despite being a huge Half-Life fan), so now going and adding another platform doesn't really get me too excited. I actually was given GTA IV a couple of years ago for my birthday and I have yet to install and play it because I don't want Games for Windows Live on my computer.

So I guess I'll sit this one out for now, maybe things will change. Maybe I'll get used to the idea if Origin (unlikely) or maybe EA will work out their differences with Valve (even more unlikely, since I doubt EA has any intention of making ME3 available on Steam).

The ironic things is that I've spent this whole time carefully avoiding any information on Mass Effect 3 because I didn't want any spoilers and now I might not even get to play the game!

[Ohio Joe]

3. I'm not very thrilled with digital distribution of any kind

I've never picked up anything through my laptop but I have gotten a few things through my PS3. I've limited it to a few add-ons for games I bought and one small game (a re-issue of Military Madness). I also have a few small games I got for free but to get a full size new game through DD just makes me nervous. I much prefer to own the actual disks. I have a feeling though that they are pretty much going to go away and before too many more years pass, DD will be the only method of getting games.

[LeftOfSelf-Centered]

4. I fully agree.

I'd much rather have the hardcopy version of the games (same goes for CDs, DVDs and books as well), and that's why it took me so long to even consider buying games on Steam. But once I did, I realized Steam works for me for a number of reasons:

- I live in Italy, and getting the original English versions of the games in stores is practically impossible. It's not a language issue, I just prefer having the original versions, since I've often come across truly abysmal translations (not just in games, but also TV and movies, and not just for Italian versions, but also for German ones).

- I generally don't buy new games, I'm always at least about a year behind, i.e. I wait for prices to come down. Often those games are not available in stores anymore (also considering that the PC games sections keep getting smaller), but there is no availability issues on Steam.

- Steam sales! 'Nuff said.

I am however a little worried about ISP issues; since here streaming and digital distribution is just starting out (no Netflix for example) I try to space my downloads out over time so as not to create any problems. I still have a bunch of games on Steam that I have yet to download...