Mass Effect

Mass Effect is the first game in BioWare's famous space opera action-RPG trilogy. Started off as an Xbox 360 exclusive in 2007 before getting an optimized PC version the next year. While the second and third games were released for the PlayStation 3, the first game didn't get on the console until Mass Effect Trilogy in 2012.

To do:
Finish putting stats in for items, and put in images.

A designer on the game mentioned a huge amount of things about ME1's development, includes background on some of the discoveries here and more: https://sky-ham.tumblr.com/post/182109352889/twitch

Debug Menu#

To do:
Find how to enable the menu in-game (has been done by others before - sadly no instructions were provided).

The PC version still includes code for a limited debug menu, though a lot of the functionality seems to be removed.

Fortunately the data for the level select portion is still included - commented/removed parts and all - offering a small glimpse at what was cut from the game.

Listed below are maps mentioned in this level select data that aren't included in the game's files at all, besides some texture/mesh files that are probably shared with other maps.

Planet/UNC (uncharted) Maps#

To do:
Find the developer's post, it included even more info about cut content IIRC.

As stated by a former ME developer on reddit, Mass Effect had a lot more planet maps created for it to be driven around in the Mako, the level-select data seems to agree with a huge amount of commented-out maps included:

Map file name	Map title
BIOA_UNC12	Snow - Uncharted World
BIOA_UNC14-16	Snow - Uncharted World
BIOA_UNC18-19	N/A (not listed on level select)
BIOA_UNC22	Firebase Alpha: Sand
BIOA_UNC23	Firebase Theta: Sand
BIOA_UNC26-29	N/A
BIOA_UNC32	Uncharted World
BIOA_UNC33	Rock - Firebase Theta (SP106)
BIOA_UNC34-39	N/A
BIOA_UNC40-41	Uncharted World
BIOA_UNC43-44	Uncharted World
BIOA_UNC45-49	N/A
BIOA_UNC50	Uncharted World
BIOA_UNC56-59	N/A
BIOA_UNC60	Uncharted World
BIOA_UNC63	SaltFlat - Hive World (RAK02)
BIOA_UNC64-69	N/A
BIOA_UNC70	Uncharted World
BIOA_UNC72	Uncharted World
BIOA_UNC74-79	N/A
BIOA_UNC85	Uncharted World
BIOA_UNC86-89	N/A
BIOA_UNC91	Uncharted World

Template Maps#

Similarly, some template maps for the FRE (Freighter?) & MIN (Mine) map types are mentioned in the level-select:

Map file name	Map title
BIOA_FRE13	Light content: Freighter Template 04
BIOA_FRE14	Light content: Freighter Template 05
BIOA_FRE15	Light content: Freighter Template 06
BIOA_FRE16	Light content: Freighter Template 07
BIOA_FRE17	Light content: Freighter Template 08
BIOA_FRE18	Light content: Freighter Template 09
BIOA_FRE19	Light content: Freighter Template 10
BIOA_MIN00	MIN_00 - Light Content: mining Template 01
BIOA_MIN01	MIN_01 - Light Content: mining Template 02
BIOA_MIN02	MIN_02 - Light Content: mining Template 03

Development / Test Maps#

Map file name	Map title
TEST_BuildCheck1
TEST_BuildCheck2
TEST_MUSEUM_CHAR
zGB_CharGallery	Character & Placeable Gallery
BIOA_CoverDemo
BIOA_zCOM10
BIOA_zCOM20
BIOA_CombatTest100
BIOA_CombatTest200
BIOA_zVEH10
BIOA_zCHR10
BIOA_zCHR20
zGB_CombatStressTest	Combat Stress Test
characterprep_00
test_into_nor00

Early Names#

The level-select data also includes some earlier names/descriptions for maps, listed below (changed names in bold):

Internal name	Final name	Early name
ICE	Noveria	Noveria
JUG	Virmire	Virmire
LAV	Therum	Caleston
LOS	Ilos	Ilos
STA	Citadel	Oculon
STA30	C-Sec	Marshall's Training Grounds
WAR	Feros	Feros
WAR50	ExoGeni Base	Imperator Camp
UNC10	Klensal	Snow - Shepard Unchained (SP105)
UNC11	Xawin	Snow - Privateer Revenge (SP101)
UNC13	Mavigon	Snow - Hostile Takeover 1 (SP109)
UNC17	Antibaar	Snow - Purging the Veil 1 (SP114)
UNC20	Trebin	Sand -Lost Research Team (SP100)
UNC21	Rayingri	Sand - Purging the Veil 2 (SP114)
UNC24	Altahe	Sand - Firebase Theta (SP106)
UNC25	Edolus	Sand - Cerberus: The Test (SP122)
UNC30	Chohe	Rock - Insanity (SP125)
UNC31	Amaranthine	Rock - Hostile Takeover 2 (SP109)
UNC42	Nonuel	Lava - Shepard Unchained (SP126)
UNC51	Luna	Rock - The Damned (SP110)
UNC52	Asteroid X57	Rock - Bring Down the Sky (SP113)
UNC53	Agebinium	Rock - Spectre of the Past (SP121)
UNC54	Presrop	Rock - Apocalypse Now (SP119)
UNC55	Solcrum	Rock - Geth Base (SP115)
UNC61	Tuntau	SaltFlat - Rachni Rebirth (SP107)
UNC62	Nepheron	SaltFlat - Cerberus: Finale (SP124)
UNC71	Metgos	Lava - Bait and Switch (SP118)
UNC73	Nepmos	Lava - Firebase Alpha (SP105)
UNC80	Nodacrux	Moss - Ghost in Machine (SP103)
UNC81	Chasca	Moss - Zombie Killfest (SP117)
UNC82	Ontarom	Moss - Survivor Revenge (SP120)
UNC83	Casbin	Moss - Purging the Veil 3 (SP114)
UNC84	Eletania	Moss - Simean Fun (SP102)
UNC90	Sharjila	Lichen - Slaver Queen (SP108)
UNC92	Binthu	Lichen - Cerberus: Research Labs (SP123)
UNC93	Maji	Lichen - Purging the Veil 4 (SP114)
FRE31	Tarrus IV Freighter	Freighter of Doom (SP116)
FRE32	MSV Ontario Freighter	Hostage Situation (SP111)
FRE33	MSV Worthington Freighter	CSI (SP104)
FRE34	MSV Fedele Freighter	Garrus' Subplot (SP201)
FRE35	Gorgon System Depot Freighter	Depot Sigma-23 (SP107)
PRC	Pinnacle Station	?

Audio Leftovers#

To do:
Embed some interesting audio files. The extracted unused audio from the PS3 version can be found here: http://bit.ly/ME1Audio

The PC version includes two files that don't seem to be used by the game: x06_player_final.isb & x06_garrus_final.isb.

These filenames indicate they were probably for the demo presented at X06, which featured an entirely different face model for male-Shepard, different VA for Ashley, controllable squad-mates, and a ton of other small changes (remember, this was more than a year before release!)

Sadly those two files only consist of some combat sounds, but luckily 5 years after release Bioware finally ported ME1 to the PS3, where they forgot to remove a lot of the unused audio that was previously stripped from the PC/X360 versions!

Included in the PS3 port are not just the sounds & dialogue audio used in the X06 demo (including audio from the different Ashley VA), but also audio from some areas/missions that never made it into the released game!

Some of this audio is described below, note that there's still a ton more audio still yet to be mentioned here:

X06#

Almost all the audio for the X06 demo is here, from music to dialogue to sound effects, even audio which was never heard on the released demo videos.

LAVxx#

LAV is the codename for Therum (aka the planet you find Liara on), but during the X06 demo the same planet (then known as Caleston) was showcased in a mission where some miners had to be rescued instead.

The audio files here include dialogue for those miners - even though this dialogue was never actually shown during the demo!

In addition to the miners, there's also dialogue with a group of assassins that were hired by Saren, which it seems would be encountered here in a triggered event.

NORxx#

Some Normandy-related audio that went unused, was probably meant for the prologue since Pvt. Jenkins is mentioned.

Kaidan has some dialogue about showing his biotic abilities off, maybe this would serve as a kind of tutorial to help teach the player about those abilities too.

ME designers have mentioned in the past that the starting section on the Normandy was originally longer - presumably this was the audio for it.

PROxx#

More unused audio related to the prologue, seems the second section of Eden Prime after boarding the train was originally a lot longer too.

Instead of just needing to defuse charges you could also set up Combine Harvesters to try taking down Geth soldiers first? Sounds a little wacky but seems that's the case.

Jenkins might have originally been a Captain (maybe Normandy's Captain?), since the audio file related to his death is named "pro10_trigger_04_captain_dead".

Apparently this second part was trimmed down due to memory limitations.

ICExx#

Audio for some removed sections on Noveria.

The ICE25 files seem to be for a removed part of the map entirely, sounds like it uses different voice actors to the final game too, likely meaning this area was cut early on.

The rest of the ICExx files seem to be for dialogue triggers that were removed, probably late in development as these files use the final voice acting.

GBLxx#

There's a bunch of audio files with a ton of dialogue that all start with "GBL" e.g. gbl01_lysander, gbl01_vasilis, gbl03_lystheni_technician...

GBL seems to be the codename for a series of missions (GBL01 through GBL03) that were cut from the game, likely near the end of development as the audio uses the same VAs as the final game.

Seems some of the concepts mentioned in the dialogue here were recycled in alternate ME media too.

The Lystheni are introduced in a ME comic, but this audio implies they could have originally been met in-game.
Joker might have been involved with these missions, maybe uses a different VA for him too.
A place called "Nexus" is mentioned, which has someone called Lucan working for it (many years later Mass Effect Andromeda would be released that takes place aboard the Nexus, which also has a Chief Lucan aboard, funny coincidence!)

bar1#

Audio for a bar scene, has audio tagged as krogans/salarians/turians/asari which sound nothing like they do in the final game.

This might have been used for the E3 2006 demo which has some dialogue inside a bar - sadly the dialogue for that demo doesn't seem to be included.

battlecry#

Features some lone Bioware developer saying a series of different battle-related dialogue, e.g. "engaging target", "they've got me pinned down", "aha! take that!", etc...

Likely used during early stages of development.

Hidden Manufacturers#

There are several item manufacturers in the game whose items can only be accessed by using console commands to equip their weapons/armor.

Batarian State Arms#

In-game description: "Batarian State Arms is a military-controlled hardware manufacturing company. The batarian government does not trust private industry to create their military hardware. BSA is a vast nationalized institution infamous for its waste and corruption. It produces effective, if unethical, chemical weapons and a line of Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological (NBC) protective armor."

Note: This is the only one of the hidden manufacturers with an item that can (rarely) be seen without console commands; the Terminator rifle can sometimes be found during the Bring Down the Sky DLC in the PC version.

Weapons#

Batarian State Arms' weapons don't seem to have any specific theme naming going on, except perhaps just being generally ominous.

Terminator Assault Rifle

Weapon Level	Damage	Shots Before Overheat	Accuracy Rating
I	150	37.5	1
II	160	39	3
III	170	40.5	5
IV	180	42.3	7
V	190	44.1	10
VI	200	46.2	13
VII	210	48.5	15
VIII	220	50.9	17
IX	230	53.7	20
X	240	56.8	23

Executioner Shotgun

Weapon Level	Damage	Shots Before Overheat	Accuracy Rating
I	128	3.4	60
II	140	3.5	61
III	152	3.6	62
IV	164	3.7	63
V	176	3.8	64
VI	188	3.9	65
VII	200	4	66
VIII	212	4.1	67
IX	224	4.2	68
X	236	4.3	69

Judgement Pistol

Weapon Level	Damage	Shots Before Overheat	Accuracy Rating
I	112	14.4	52
II	120	15	53
III	128	15.5	54
IV	136	16.2	55
V	144	16.9	56
VI	152	17.6	57
VII	160	18.5	58
VIII	168	19.4	59
IX	176	20.4	60
X	184	21.5	61

Lightning Strike Sniper Rifle

Weapon Level	Damage	Shots Before Overheat	Accuracy Rating
I	102	1.3	41
II	114	1.3	42
III	126	1.3	44
IV	138	1.3	45
V	150	1.3	46
VI	162	1.4	47
VII	174	1.4	48
VIII	186	1.4	50
IX	198	1.4	51
X	210	1.4	52

Armor#

Batarian State Arms' Partisan and Skirmish armors are available in human, turian (light/medium only), and krogan (medium/heavy only) variants. The two sets of armor have the same stats and models, with the heavy armor model being used for all three armor weights.

Light Partisan/Skirmish Armor

Armor Level	Damage Protection	Shields	Tech/Biotic Protection
I	12	77	20
II	14	99	22
III	16	121	24
IV	18	143	26
V	20	165	28
VI	24	187	30
VII	26	209	32
VIII	28	231	34
IX	30	253	36
X	32	275	38

Medium Partisan/Skirmish Armor

Armor Level	Damage Protection	Shields	Tech/Biotic Protection
I	24	99	10
II	26	121	12
III	28	143	14
IV	30	165	16
V	32	187	18
VI	34	209	20
VII	36	231	22
VIII	48	253	24
IX	50	275	26
X	52	297	28

Heavy Partisan/Skirmish Armor

Armor Level	Damage Protection	Shields	Tech/Biotic Protection
I	40	132	0
II	42	154	2
III	44	176	4
IV	46	198	6
V	48	220	8
VI	50	242	10
VII	52	264	12
VIII	54	286	14
IX	56	308	16
X	58	330	18

(Source: Mass Effect Wiki)

Cerberus Skunkworks#

In-game description: "The operatives of Cerberus produce their own specialist hardware for black ops wetwork. Their weapons are advanced particle beams with excellent shield penetration, damage, and accuracy. Their field hardsuits feature advanced protective measures and sophisticated anti-hacking measures."

Weapons#

All of Cerberus Skunkworks' weapons are named after monsters in Greek mythology.

Gorgon Assault Rifle

Weapon Level	Damage	Shots Before Overheat	Accuracy Rating
I	210	37.5	70
II	224	39	71
III	238	40.5	72
IV	252	42.3	72
V	266	44.1	73
VI	280	46.2	74
VII	294	48.5	75
VIII	308	50.9	75
IX	322	53.7	76
X	336	56.8	77

Hydra Shotgun

Weapon Level	Damage	Shots Before Overheat	Accuracy Rating
I	179	3.4	88
II	196	3.5	88
III	213	3.6	89
IV	230	3.7	89
V	246	3.7	89
VI	263	3.8	90
VII	280	3.9	90
VIII	297	4	90
IX	314	4.1	90
X	330	4.2	91

Harpy Pistol

Weapon Level	Damage	Shots Before Overheat	Accuracy Rating
I	157	14.4	86
II	168	15	86
III	179	15.5	86
IV	190	16.2	87
V	202	16.9	87
VI	213	17.6	87
VII	224	18.5	87
VIII	235	19.4	88
IX	246	20.4	88
X	258	21.5	88

Titan Sniper Rifle

Weapon Level	Damage	Shots Before Overheat	Accuracy Rating
I	143	1.3	82
II	160	1.3	83
III	176	1.3	83
IV	193	1.3	83
V	210	1.3	84
VI	227	1.4	85
VII	244	1.4	85
VIII	260	1.4	85
IX	277	1.4	85
X	294	1.4	86

Armor#

Light Freedom/Hoplite Armor

Armor Level	Damage Protection	Shields	Tech/Biotic Protection
I	38	91	60
II	40	117	61
III	41	143	62
IV	43	169	63
V	44	195	64
VI	45	221	65
VII	47	247	66
VIII	48	273	67
IX	50	299	68
X	51	325	69

Medium Freedom/Hoplite Armor

Armor Level	Damage Protection	Shields	Tech/Biotic Protection
I	47	117	55
II	48	143	56
III	50	169	57
IV	51	195	58
V	52	221	59
VI	54	247	60
VII	55	273	61
VIII	57	299	62
IX	58	325	63
X	59	351	64

Heavy Freedom/Hoplite Armor

Armor Level	Damage Protection	Shields	Tech/Biotic Protection
I	58	156	50
II	59	182	51
III	61	208	52
IV	62	234	53
V	64	260	54
VI	65	286	55
VII	66	312	56
VIII	68	338	57
IX	69	364	58
X	71	390	59

To do:
Finish tabulating data.

(Source: Mass Effect Wiki)

Hahne-Kedar Shadow Works#

In-game description: "Founded a decade ago, this Hahne-Kedar subsidiary is a place for younger employees to "think outside the box". HKSW supplies weapons and armor to Alliance special forces units. In keeping with the parent company's philosophy, products are rugged, reliable, and require less maintenance than competitors."

Weapons#

All of Hahne-Kedar Shadow Works' weapons are named after types of snakes.

Diamond Back Assault Rifle

Weapon Level	Damage	Shots Before Overheat	Accuracy Rating
I	165	39.8	10
II	176	41.4	12
III	187	43.2	15
IV	198	45.2	17
V	209	47.4	19
VI	220	49.7	21
VII	231	52.4	24
VIII	242	55.3	26
IX	253	58.6	28
X	264	62.3	30

Viper Shotgun

Weapon Level	Damage	Shots Before Overheat	Accuracy Rating
I	141	3.7	64
II	154	3.8	65
III	167	3.9	66
IV	180	4	67
V	194	4.2	68
VI	207	4.3	69
VII	220	4.4	69
VIII	233	4.6	70
IX	246	4.8	71
X	260	5	72

Cobra Pistol

Weapon Level	Damage	Shots Before Overheat	Accuracy Rating
I	123	15.3	57
II	132	15.9	58
III	141	16.6	59
IV	150	17.3	60
V	158	18.1	60
VI	167	19	61
VII	176	19.9	62
VIII	185	21	63
IX	194	22.3	64
X	202	23.6	65

Python Sniper Rifle

Weapon Level	Damage	Shots Before Overheat	Accuracy Rating
I	112	1.4	47
II	125	1.4	48
III	139	1.4	49
IV	152	1.4	50
V	165	1.4	51
VI	178	1.5	52
VII	191	1.5	54
VIII	205	1.5	55
IX	218	1.6	56
X	231	1.6	57

(Source: Mass Effect Wiki)

Jormangund Technology#

In-game description: "A rising star of post-contact human industry, Jormangund returns consistent profits through aggressive integration of alien technologies. Mainly known for advanced optical computers and AI "blueboxes", the company has recently developed a "micro gravitic" personal weapon that effectively fires small disruptor torpedoes."

Weapons#

Jormangund Technology's weapons do not have any theme naming.

Torrent Assault Rifle

Weapon Level	Damage	Shots Before Overheat	Accuracy Rating
I	180	46.4	50
II	192	48.7	51
III	204	51.2	52
IV	216	54	54
V	228	57.1	55
VI	240	60.6	56
VII	252	64.6	58
VIII	264	69.6	59
IX	276	74.4	60
X	288	80.5	61

Savage Shotgun

Weapon Level	Damage	Shots Before Overheat	Accuracy Rating
I	154	4.6	80
II	168	4.8	81
III	182	5	81
IV	197	5.2	82
V	211	5.5	82
VI	226	5.7	83
VII	240	6.1	83
VIII	254	6.5	83
IX	269	6.9	84
X	283	7.5	85

Pinnacle Pistol

Weapon Level	Damage	Shots Before Overheat	Accuracy Rating
I	134	17.9	76
II	144	18.7	77
III	154	19.6	77
IV	163	20.7	78
V	173	21.8	78
VI	182	23.1	79
VII	193	24.6	79
VIII	202	26.3	80
IX	211	28.3	80
X	221	30.5	81

Helix Sniper Rifle

Weapon Level	Damage	Shots Before Overheat	Accuracy Rating
I	128	1.6	71
II	137	1.6	71
III	151	1.7	72
IV	166	1.7	72
V	180	1.7	72
VI	194	1.8	74
VII	209	1.8	74
VIII	223	1.9	75
IX	238	2	75
X	252	2	76

(Source: Mass Effect Wiki)