i know all the differences between the two, too!

@Konstrix: Care to explain lol

@Konstrix: Could you enlighten me?

Port, conversion. Whatever. It'll be the last creation of Bioware that isn't blighted by EA's influence.

@ggodo: A conversion has more letters than a port.

@Ghede: Isn't a port where boats land?

Semantics! I only see this ending in tears.

So um what exactly is the difference between a "port" and a "conversion"?

i call shenanigans on BioWare's Chris Priestly

@ErskinPig: You're forgetting the Sonic RPG that Bioware is making. I'm pretty sure EA has no say in what direction that's going in.

@ggodo: No no no, you've got it wrong. Port is a type of alcoholic beverage, kind of like brandy.

Conversion makes it sound like it's a complete rewrite of the engine, instead of bare minimum tweaks to allow it to run on the platform.

@JeffPaine: the difference is: "conversion" is Canadian for "port" ... :) :)

Shame the people at 2k didn't have the same kind of ethics about ports. BioShock on the PC is :O/ because it was dumbed down for the console idiots.

conversion make it sound more like something about a couple and family problems because of religion..

P-p-p-p-port! Nah. Let's call everything Conversions now.

If I understand correctly, he means they are not taking x-box optimized software and making it run on PC hardware, but are actually writing new code for the PC version.

Speaking of Port, if you mix it into a bowl with some green mushrooms and a rotworm corspe, you can make yourself a fine stew!

Obscure Ultima Underworld Reference FTW!

@DuctTape: I thought that was porter?

@mx5: So Victoria B.C. is a conversion city?

To-ma-to, To-mah-to. As long as it's good.

@Toprem: My hardware was $400 and can play any game on the platform for 4 or more years. Who's the idiot here?

It's not a purse, it's European.

I guess it could also mean that they are actually adapting the game play for a separate platform, too. Seems less likely, though.

So what's the big deal?

I told you so mass effect would end up o pc. That why i prefer not to purchase an xbox i rather wait with patience. I bet 73% good games will end pu through pc.

@Likwit: And is pratically plug and play.

Its got inventory tweak and graphic tweaks here and there.

Still same cookie-cutter sidequest garbage exists. Choose a planet of an element of your choice, same structure, same layout, same mobs, same drops, snoozefest.

Its a port.

@Toprem: Nah, Bioshock had a proper PC version. It even has DX10 stuff that the console version obviously doesn't.

I'm not adopting a new religion. I don't care what Bioware selling.

You can call a hooker a friend but there still a hooker. Dickhead of a designer just needs to admit a port is a port of course.

Can we please get more devs out there like Bioware and Insomniac?!?

I'm sure the four PC gamers who don't own an Xbox 360 will be happy to hear this spin on a game most people have moved on from by now.

Keep on, keepin' on, you four special souls.

Yes there is difference. a port is basically still using the file structure of the original system while a conversion could pretty much be compared to a revamp of the whole code with imported recourses from the other version (models, textures, sounds)

You can call it whatever you like it's still a port.

@dexterr: Thats a good choice

The only downside i will see on this is that it will need above average pc hardware to run it properly...

@Custom Reality: The hate is swelling in you now.

It's a Portversion. =)

Sure............................That's what they said about Lost Planet. I mean, better be better.

I tend to agree with BioWare, "port" has a developed a pretty nasty connotation over the years.

Whatever they call it, though, let's hope the PC version is great. My 360 copy of Mass Effect is still in the plastic and I'm eager to play through it my first time on the PC.

Who cares? Even if its a "port", it's going to run 10 times better than it did on the 360.

boo hiss 360, yay PC

@Custom Reality: Count me as one of those proud four. I'd rather pay for a Phantom I'd never get.

I hope by "conversion" they mean that they will write a proper userinterface for the PC instead of just slapping some crappy mouse control over an interface originally designed for the controller.

@Kyle81: for sure, all bioware games are better on pc

@ErskinPig: He's refering to the fact that the game doesn't have an inventory screen, or most of the other RPG elements that have been so utterly ingrained into his mind that he can't comprehend the idea of a game being anything more than idiotic without them.

@ggodo: No, Porter is a Mexican indie band =)

Not sure if this is the case, but when I think port, I think Half-Life on Console, bad controls, bad graphics, just barely enough to get it to run, without caring what it looks or plays like.

Conversion makes me think of Conversion mods, where they replace all the textures, rewrite some code, balance the units out, basically make the game better then it was.

Oh, and if BioWare is thinking the same as me, then screw you BioWare, I wanted that game on the 360 to start with.

Anyone who's ever tried to play the lame PC port of Resident Evil 4 knows the difference.

@Ruglia: So they're making a boat landing not an Mexican band? That makes sense now.

@godot: All the Hitman games after the original were console to PC conversions, and besides the graphics being compromised the games were very good

yup...sure! keep saying that! "conversion" not a port...whatever you say...ya loone

@Toprem: wow! Typical PC snobbery. I'm interested in playing games, not in tweaking hardware and worrying about how many pixels and frames per second my system is pushing. Also sitting on a comfy couch with surround sound is rather enjoyable as well. I much prefer it to hunching over on my desk.

conversion = "rewritting" the engine of the "same" game on a "different" system...sounds like a port

@dsmx:
Technically it would still be a "port", yes. However this sounds like great news to me as PC ports are gimped WAYY too often. they are not given proper attention. NHL 08, MADDEN, Rainbow 6: Vegas, Guitar Hero 3. I swear, the new Vegas run awesome for ALL my friends AND let me use my webcam to create a custom character.

To be completely honest, though. I only care cause I upgraded a while ago and haven't been playing too many worthwhile games. Consoles are where it's at.

I always "convert" flash video files into MP4s. is that considered porting?

If the PC version gets extra content, hopefully we console owners will get it sometime in the future as well.