Another top console exclusive comes and strengthens the platform with the best lineup of 2008

Award-Winning Epic Will Be Published By EA

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--Leading video game developer, BioWare™, an Electronic Arts Inc. company, has announced that the award-winning space epic Mass Effect™ will be released for the PC in May 2008. Published by EA and re-designed for the PC, Mass Effect invites players to take the role of Commander Shepard as they set out on an adventure to save the galaxy from imminent destruction. Wrought with treachery, heroism, difficult decisions and a universe filled with unique and colorful species, Mass Effect delivers a truly compelling storyline.

Optimized for the PC, Mass Effect for the PC incorporates the following features:

* Optimized controls designed specifically for the PC.
* High resolution visuals – Mass Effect for the PC features highly detailed textures, characters and environments.
* Fully customizable controls – PC gamers can re-map the control scheme any way they like.
* Run & Gun Control – Players can assign biotic powers or skills to ‘hot keys’ allowing them to play Mass Effect with a heavier focus on action.
* New decryption mini-game.
* New inventory screen GUI and functionality – The enhanced inventory system makes it easier for players to equip and modify their weapons and armor.

“Mass Effect serves as a powerful example of video games as an art form, delivering new levels of emotional intensity, realistic characters and a gripping storyline – all set in a compelling new universe,” said Ray Muzyka, General Manager, BioWare and Vice President, Electronic Arts. Frank Gibeau, President of EA’s Games Label added, “EA has struck an agreement with Microsoft to handle future publishing for Mass Effect. We are looking forward to releasing Mass Effect on the PC this Spring and brand new titles in the future.”

Originally released for the Xbox 360™ videogame and entertainment system, Mass Effect has received critical acclaim throughout the world with more than 70 awards including Game of the Year, Console Game of the Year and Role-Playing Game of the Year. Mass Effect combines a deep story with intense combat and challenges the player to make difficult decisions that can significantly impact the course of events. An innovative conversation system allows for lifelike interaction with some of the most realistic digital actors, voiced by Hollywood actors such as Seth Green, Marina Sirtis, Lance Henriksen and Keith David. Mass Effect for the PC has not yet been rated by the Entertainment Software Rating Board.

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/080212/20080212005536.html?.v=1

That is really the least surprising piece of news this year. Every 360 hit ends up on PC some time or other, this one just happened to come earlier than most expected.
I will play this on PC though, Bioware have delivered the goods on so many occassions that I just see no reason not to.

Awesome. Mass Effect is so good, everyone should play it. The bigger the audience, the better.

Great, now everyone will have a chance to play this masterpiece.

Would be nice if they allowed the re-maped inventory system to the X360 version. It needs modified stat.

 It would be even nicer if the game was at 60FPS.

^  That'll hardly be an issue on the PC unless your system is no good.

And what are the specs?

One can only guess, but I'm loathe to believe that Bioware would screw up like Crytek and make a game that no system in the world can run smoothly on max settings (see the attempt with a quad core, 16 GB's of RAM and four 8800 GTS and a raptor Harddrive, which only managed 37 FPS on average and dipped all the way to 7... )

Bioware games have always been available and kind to systems, at least in my experience.

Bioware is using Unreal engine 3, which is very scalable for PC, so most likely it will be a good port (unlike Jade Empire/Kotor)

Note: Crytek didn't mess up with, Crysis is just incredibly powerful, even the best-looking console games aren't as good as Crysis' medium settings, let alone high or very high.