Difference between revisions of "Mass Effect"
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{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/monetization | | ref= }} | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/monetization | | ref= }} | ||
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/microtransactions | | ref= }} | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/microtransactions | | ref= }} | ||
+ | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/modes | Singleplayer}} | ||
+ | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/pacing | Real-time }} | ||
+ | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/perspectives | First-person }} | ||
+ | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/controls | Direct control }} | ||
+ | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/genres | ARPG, Shooter }} | ||
+ | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/sports | }} | ||
+ | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/vehicles | Automobile, Off-roading }} | ||
+ | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/art styles | Realistic }} | ||
+ | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/themes | Sci-fi }} | ||
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/series | Mass Effect }} | {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/series | Mass Effect }} | ||
|steam appid = 17460 | |steam appid = 17460 | ||
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|license = commercial | |license = commercial | ||
}} | }} | ||
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'''Key points''' | '''Key points''' |
Revision as of 22:51, 11 May 2020
Developers | |
---|---|
BioWare | |
Windows | Demiurge Studios[1] |
Publishers | |
Electronic Arts | |
Eastern Europe | CD Projekt |
Engines | |
Unreal Engine 3 | |
Release dates | |
Windows | May 28, 2008 |
Reception | |
Metacritic | 89 |
IGDB | 89 |
Taxonomy | |
Modes | Singleplayer |
Pacing | Real-time |
Perspectives | First-person |
Controls | Direct control |
Genres | ARPG, Shooter |
Vehicles | Automobile, Off-roading |
Art styles | Realistic |
Themes | Sci-fi |
Series | Mass Effect |
Mass Effect | |
---|---|
Mass Effect | 2008 |
Mass Effect 2 | 2010 |
Mass Effect 3 | 2012 |
Mass Effect: Andromeda | 2017 |
Mass Effect Legendary Edition | 2021 |
Key points
- Use Mass Effect Mouse Fix to remove the game's mouse acceleration.
- Requires installation of PhysX legacy driver to start reliably
General information
Availability
Source | DRM | Notes | Keys | OS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Retail | SecuROM 7 and SecuROM PA DRM, three machine limit.[2] A De-Authorization Tool is available. | |||
Retail | SafeDisc v4 DRM[Note 1]. Only in Hungary and Czech Republic. The provided keys are invalid to Origin, you need to contact Origin Support to verify them. | |||
Retail | StarForce 5 DRM. Only in Russia. | |||
Amazon.co.uk | ||||
Also available in the Mass Effect Trilogy. | ||||
Humble Store | Mass Effect Trilogy, Region locked in Latin America. | |||
Origin | Included with EA Play. | |||
Steam | Some keys provided by Steam can be activated on Origin, while others may have trouble activating. If your key fails to activate, you need to contact Origin Support. |
DLC and expansion packs
- Origin version includes all DLC (existing Origin owners can install the latest update to get the DLC).
- Separate installers have been made free and are available for other game releases
Name | Notes | |
---|---|---|
Bring Down the Sky | ||
Pinnacle Station |
Essential improvements
Skip intro videos
Skip intro videos[5] |
---|
|
Skip relay videos[citation needed] |
---|
|
Patches
- The latest patch is update 1.02 which fixes various issues. The Steam and Origin versions are already patched.
ME1 Recalibrated
- Fixes bugs not resolved by the official patches
Game data
Configuration file(s) location
System | Location |
---|---|
Windows | %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Bioware\Mass Effect\Config\ |
Steam Play (Linux) | <SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/17460/pfx/[Note 2] |
- Origin DRM stores activation in
%PROGRAMDATA%\Electronic Arts\EA Services\License\1003344.dlf
Save game data location
System | Location |
---|---|
Windows | %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Bioware\Mass Effect\Save\ |
Steam Play (Linux) | <SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/17460/pfx/[Note 2] |
Save game cloud syncing
System | Native | Notes |
---|---|---|
Origin | [6] | |
OneDrive | Requires enabling backup of the Documents folder in OneDrive on all computers. | |
Steam Cloud |
Video
Graphics feature | State | WSGF | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Widescreen resolution | Vert-; use Flawless Widescreen to correct FOV and HUD issues. | ||
Multi-monitor | Use Flawless Widescreen. | ||
Ultra-widescreen | Use Flawless Widescreen and Mass Effect Ultrawide. | ||
4K Ultra HD | |||
Field of view (FOV) | Default is 75°. Use Flawless Widescreen or see Field of view (FOV). | ||
Windowed | |||
Borderless fullscreen windowed | See Borderless fullscreen windowed. | ||
Anisotropic filtering (AF) | Point, Linear and Anisotropic. 4 samples by default, see Anisotropic filtering (AF) for up to 16. |
||
Anti-aliasing (AA) | See the glossary page for potential workarounds. | ||
Vertical sync (Vsync) | |||
60 FPS | |||
120+ FPS | See High frame rate. | ||
High dynamic range display (HDR) | See the glossary page for potential alternatives. |
Field of view (FOV)
Fix camera FOV permanently with a key binding[7] |
---|
Bindings=(Name="Period",Command="set BioCameraBehaviorFollow CAMERA_FOV 100 | set BioCameraBehaviorZoom CAMERA_FOV 40") Notes
|
Use ThirteenAG's Mass Effect Trilogy FOV Fix[8] |
---|
Notes
|
Borderless fullscreen windowed
Force borderless windowed mode[citation needed] |
---|
|
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
High quality AF[10] |
---|
Trilinear=TRUE MaxAnisotropy=16
|
High frame rate
Change frame rate smoothing[5] |
---|
|
Depth of field
Disable DOF |
---|
|
Input
Keyboard and mouse | State | Notes |
---|---|---|
Remapping | ||
Mouse acceleration | Use Mass Effect Mouse Fix to disable it. | |
Mouse sensitivity | ||
Mouse input in menus | ||
Mouse Y-axis inversion | ||
Controller | ||
Controller support | See Controller support. | |
Full controller support | ||
Controller remapping | See the glossary page for potential workarounds. | |
Controller sensitivity | See Controller support. | |
Controller Y-axis inversion |
Controller types |
---|
XInput-compatible controllers |
---|
PlayStation controllers |
---|
Generic/other controllers |
---|
Additional information | ||
---|---|---|
Button prompts | See Controller support. | |
Controller hotplugging | ||
Haptic feedback | See Controller support. | |
Digital movement supported | ||
Simultaneous controller+KB/M |
Controller support
Add reinstated controller functionality[11] |
---|
Notes
LookRightScale=24 LookUpScale=20 |
Audio
Audio feature | State | Notes |
---|---|---|
Separate volume controls | Dialog, music and sound effects. | |
Surround sound | By default, it can work only under XP. See No surround sound. | |
Subtitles | ||
Closed captions | ||
Mute on focus lost | Enabled by default, no way to disable. | |
EAX support | EAX 5.[12] |
Localizations
Language | UI | Audio | Sub | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
English | ||||
Czech | Retail only. Patch for this release http://pc.hrej.cz/hry/rpg/mass-effect-pc/download/ here]. Doesn't contain translation for Pinnacle Station. Unofficial patch which brings localization to digital release here.[13][14][15] | |||
French | ||||
German | ||||
Hungarian | Retail only, Pinnacle Station not included. Download.[16] | |||
Italian | ||||
Polish | Retail only[17] | |||
Russian | Retail only. Digital version here | |||
Spanish |
No surround sound
Force native OpenAL device[10][18] |
---|
Notes
|
VR support
3D modes | State | GG3D | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nvidia 3D Vision | See Helix Mod: Mass Effect for better support. | |||
iZ3D | ||||
vorpX | G3D Officially supported game, see official vorpx game list. |
Issues unresolved
Playing in 4:3 resolutions like 1600x1200(useful for non-widescreen monitors and projectors) results in some menu screens displaying incorrectly: the left and right hand sides of the screen are clipped (as if "zoomed in" too far), so important information cannot be seen (like journal details and the map legend). Screens affected include: Map, Party Selection, Planet details, and Journal. Currently the only known fix is to use a 16:9 screen resolution when playing, like 1920x1080.
People and objects become black
Disable lighting[19][citation needed] |
---|
Your squad, enemies, and objects that can be interacted with become boxy black blobs. This is a known problem on newer AMD processors - as the game uses the 3DNow! instruction set which was dropped in 2010 starting with the FX series of processors. To fix change the viewmode to unlit.
|
Use FPS Counter[20][21][citation needed]
|
---|
Black screen after loading a save
Black screen after loading a save[citation needed] |
---|
If the whole screen is black except for the UI, then Shepard fell through the Normandy and the save is bugged. Only happens on the Normandy, in the Engineering part of the ship. Never save there. |
Use console command[citation needed] |
---|
Activate the console (instructions on how to enable the console further down) and type |
Issues fixed
- TweakGuides has created a comprehensive guide for fixing issues in this game[5]
Game simply doesn't start
Install PhysX Legacy System Software[22] |
---|
Game always asks for admin permissions (Windows 8.1 +)
- This is also responsible for Steam Controller and Steam overlay not working.
Workaround broken Application Compatibility Engine and shim[24][25] |
---|
Notes
|
Crash after splash screen or black screen
Use updated OpenAL[27] |
---|
|
Quit Riva Tuner Statistics Server or set Global Application Level to None |
---|
Launcher crashes (retail)
Install latest patch[citation needed] |
---|
Crash after ~5 minutes of play (NVIDIA)
- If you receive a "General protection error" crash after a few minutes of play (duration seems to depend on settings/mods used), and you're using an NVIDIA card, the cause seems to be NVIDIA's driver config for MassEffect.exe.
Remove MassEffect.exe from the Mass Effect game profile |
---|
|
Failed to compile shader ** error
Retail: reinstall game[citation needed] |
---|
Steam: check local game cache[citation needed] |
---|
Origin: repair game[citation needed] |
---|
Therum missing textures
- If when you get to Therum most of the ground is black, then you've got a common texture problem. Some of the black area is safe to drive on but some of it will kill you outright, making it quite hard to navigate.
Therum Missing Textures[28][citation needed] |
---|
Notes
|
IGameExplorer --> Verify Access. Unable to verify access to the game
IGameExplorer --> Verify Access. Unable to verify access to the game. |
---|
If you receive this message, it may be fixed by running the .exe in compatibility mode for Windows XP Service Pack 2. Be sure to do this for the actual MassEffect.exe and not the launcher. The final folder tree will be \Mass Effect\Binaries\MassEffect.exe. The preceding folders will of course depend on how you installed the game (via Steam, via Origin etc.).
|
Humongous lens flares cover the whole screen
Disable any kind of forced anti-aliasing[29] |
---|
No high resolution option
No high resolution option[citation needed] |
---|
The resolution listbox in graphics options does have up/down arrows on the right side, which are easily overlooked, that allow you to choose higher resolutions like 1920x1080. |
Disable hardware audio |
---|
[ISACTAudio.ISACTAudioDevice] DeviceName=Generic Software UseEffectsProcessing=True |
Dialogue and other audio cutting out
Increase # of sound sources & update rate |
---|
[ISACTAudio.ISACTAudioDevice] MaxChannels=128 TotalAvailableChannels=128 TimeBetweenHWUpdates=1 ReserveChannels=2 |
Other information
API
Technical specs | Supported | Notes |
---|---|---|
Direct3D | 9 | |
Shader Model support | 3 |
Executable | 32-bit | 64-bit | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Windows |
Middleware
Middleware | Notes | |
---|---|---|
Physics | PhysX | 2.7.2 |
Audio | ISACT, [30] OpenAL | |
Interface | Scaleform | |
Cutscenes | Bink Video | 1.8v |
Large Address Aware
Improves stability on 64 bit systems with at least 3GB RAM by allowing the application to use more than 2GB RAM.
Large Adress Aware requires administrator permissions request fixed to run on Windows 8.1 and 10 with the current Origin version[23]
Low end configuration
Use custom settings |
---|
[SystemSettings] StaticDecals=FALSE DynamicDecals=FALSE DynamicLights=TRUE DynamicShadows=FALSE LightEnvironmentShadows=FALSE CompositeDynamicLights=FALSE ShadowFilterQualityBias=0 DirectionalLightMaps=TRUE MotionBlur=FALSE DepthOfField=FALSE Bloom=FALSE QualityBloom=FALSE SpeedTreeLeaves=FALSE SpeedTreeFronds=FALSE OnlyStreamInTextures=FALSE LensFlares=FALSE FloatingPointRenderTargets=FALSE Trilinear=FALSE SkeletalMEshLODBias=2 ParticleLODBias=2 DetailMode=0 ShadowFilterQualityBias=0 MaxAnisotropy=1 ScreenPercentage=100 [TextureLODSettings] //TEXTUREGROUP_Character=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) //TEXTUREGROUP_CharacterNormalMap=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) //TEXTUREGROUP_Effects=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) TEXTUREGROUP_LightAndShadowMap=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) TEXTUREGROUP_RenderTarget=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) //TEXTUREGROUP_Skybox=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) //TEXTUREGROUP_UI=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) //TEXTUREGROUP_Vehicle=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) //TEXTUREGROUP_VehicleNormalMap=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) //TEXTUREGROUP_Weapon=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) //TEXTUREGROUP_WeaponNormalMap=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) TEXTUREGROUP_World=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=2) TEXTUREGROUP_WorldNormalMap=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=2) TEXTUREGROUP_AmbientLightMap=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) TEXTUREGROUP_Character_Diff=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) TEXTUREGROUP_Character_Norm=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) TEXTUREGROUP_Character_Spec=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) TEXTUREGROUP_Environment_512=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) TEXTUREGROUP_Environment_256=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) TEXTUREGROUP_Environment_128=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) TEXTUREGROUP_Environment_64=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) TEXTUREGROUP_VFX_512=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) TEXTUREGROUP_VFX_256=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) TEXTUREGROUP_VFX_128=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) TEXTUREGROUP_VFX_64=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) TEXTUREGROUP_GUI=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) TEXTUREGROUP_Environment_1024=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) TEXTUREGROUP_VFX_1024=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) TEXTUREGROUP_APL_128=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) TEXTUREGROUP_APL_256=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) TEXTUREGROUP_APL_512=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) TEXTUREGROUP_APL_1024=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) TEXTUREGROUP_Character_1024=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) TEXTUREGROUP_Promotional=(MinLODSize=0,MaxLODSize=0,LODBias=0) |
Low res textures fix
Force highest quality textures[31] |
---|
|
Mods
A Lot Of Textures (complements MEUITM)
- A compilation of textures not covered in MEUITM. Regularly updated, applies LAA, and texture bioengine.ini tweaks automatically for the user (very user friendly).
- MEUITM can be installed through ALOT.
- Install all non-texture based content/mods (such as the free DLC or the ME1 Controller Support mod) before ALOT.
- The installer can break other games using PhysX versions before 2.8.4. See here to undo damage (make sure to inhibit any additional change too).
Mass Effect Updated/Improved Textures Mod
- Regularly updated, applies LAA and texture bioengine.ini tweaks automatically for the user. Has mod options (picking different versions of textures) optional installs of ReShade, Indirectsound, and more (very user friendly).
- Can be installed through ALOT.
- Install all non-texture based content/mods (such as the free DLC or the ME1 Controller Support mod) before MEUITM.
Enable developer console
Edit BioInput.ini[32] |
---|
[Engine.Console] ConsoleKey=Tilde
|
System requirements
Windows | ||
---|---|---|
Minimum | Recommended | |
Operating system (OS) | XP | Vista |
Processor (CPU) | Intel Pentium 4 2.4 GHz AMD Athlon XP 2400+ 2.0 GHz |
Intel Pentium 4 2.6 GHz AMD Athlon 64 3700+ 2.2 GHz |
System memory (RAM) | 1 GB (XP) 2 GB (Vista) |
2 GB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) | 12 GB | |
Video card (GPU) | Nvidia GeForce 6800 ATI Radeon X1300 XT 256 MB of VRAM DirectX 9.0c compatible Shader model 3.0 support |
Nvidia GeForce 7900 GTX ATI Radeon X1800 XL 512 MB of VRAM DirectX 9.0c compatible Shader model 3.0 support |
Notes
- ↑ SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows 10[3] or Windows 11 and is disabled by default on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 when the KB3086255 update is installed.[4]
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Notes regarding Steam Play (Linux) data:
- File/folder structure within this directory reflects the path(s) listed for Windows and/or Steam game data.
- Use Wine's registry editor to access any Windows registry paths.
- The app ID (17460) may differ in some cases.
- Treat backslashes as forward slashes.
- See the glossary page for details on Windows data paths.
References
- ↑ Demiurge and BioWare Collaborate on Development for Mass Effect for the PC - IGN - last accessed on 2016-8-15
- ↑ Mass Effect Community - Mass Effect for PC System Specs, SecuROM and FAQ Part 2
- ↑ Not Loading in Windows 10; this will break thousands of - Microsoft Community - last accessed on 2017-01-16
- ↑ Microsoft - MS15-097: Description of the security update for the graphics component in Windows: September 8, 2015 - last accessed on 2018-02-16
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 TweakGuides.com - Mass Effect Tweak Guide - last accessed on 2016-8-9
- ↑ Origin 8.5 Introduces Custom Avatars And Extends Cloud Storage - EA News
- ↑ How to actually fix FOV in Mass Effect · Eugene Homyakov
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>
tag; no text was provided for refs namedrefcheck Antrad
- ↑ Mass Effect 1 · Issue #205 · Codeusa/Borderless-Gaming - last accessed on 2016-10-30
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Making the most of your ME1 PC Experience, maximizing graphics and sound. - The BioWare Forum - last accessed on 2016-8-9
- ↑ ME1 Controller Support (Power Wheel) - ME3 Explorer Toolset Forums
- ↑ The game is claimed to support up to 128 voices, so it must be using the fifth version.[citation needed]
- ↑ CDProjekt.cz - Mass Effect - last accessed on 2016-8-24
- ↑ http://cestinybeta.rpgcitadela.cz/portfolio/mass-effect-1/
- ↑ https://prekladyher.eu/preklady/mass-effect-1.329/
- ↑ CD Projekt - last accessed on 2016-8-24
- ↑ CD Projekt: Gra - Mass Effect - last accessed on 2016-8-24
- ↑ [PC] How to enable surround sound and environmental audio in Mass Effect - Answer HQ - last accessed on 2016-8-9
- ↑ Squad and enemies become black pixels - The BioWare Forum - last accessed on 2016-8-15
- ↑ Unexpectedly confirmed by Mirh
- ↑ Verified by User:Captain on 21-10-17
- Working on FX-4300 system, though attempted to repair game's original color palette (fixable with in-game menu)
- ↑ Mirh testing
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Why Mass Effect requires administrator rights - and how we fixed Origin not running it | ME3Tweaks Blog
- ↑ Default RunAsHighest fixes can't be disabled - Msdn forums
- ↑ RunAsHighest: Compatibility Fix vs Compatibility Mode · Issue #1 · mirh/CompatibilityBug
- ↑ PhsyX, Mirror's Edge, and You - Steam Users' Forums (retrieved)
- ↑ Game Failing to Launch ME1 :: Steam Community Discussions
- ↑ To fix missing lava textures on Therum - Steam Users' Forums (retrieved)
- ↑ Help with a Bug (Blue light) :: Steam Community Discussions
- ↑ Exclusive Interview with the Sound Design Team of “Mass Effect 2″ | Designing Sound
- ↑ Low quality textures fix for Mass Effect - Steam forums (retrieved)
- ↑ PC Tweaks - Mass Effect Wiki