Merek’s Modding Guide for Mass Effect

Overview

An up-to-date modding guide for Mass Effect 1, created with compatibility in mind. Always updated when new compatible mods are released.

Introduction

Please note while this guide will not be nearly as long as my KotOR guide, I will strive for it to be just as detailed. If you have any suggestions for the guide, please feel free to leave them down below in the comment section.

Note: I wrote this guide with the Steam version of Mass Effect 1 in mind and not the disc or Origin versions. While I will write the guide to be as universal as possible, be aware some sections (such as the Official DLC section) may not apply to you.

Official DLCs

The steam version of Mass Effect does not include Pinnacle Station or Bring Down the Sky, so you’ll have to install them prior to utilizing this guide. If you own the game on Origin, your game should already come with these installed and you can skip this section.

Note: You need to run the game at least once for the DLC to detect the game and install properly.

Bring Down The Sky DLC
Pinnacle Station DLC

Pinnacle Station may ask for a product key when installing for the first time, enter the following if asked: 5GUCXRFPQNBMTJBD3L5J

IMPORTANT
After installing all the Official DLC, make sure you run the game at least once and have your settings all set up before proceeding, it’s really important.

Manual Installs

binkw32 DLC Authorization by Erik JS[github.com]

Copy to Mass EffectBinaries (Say Yes to Overrwrite)

ME1Controller by Dybukk[www.nexusmods.com] OPTIONAL

Note
Listed as optional because Installing this mod will map the controls to an Xbox Controller (Xbox 360, Xbox One) instead of the keyboard, making the keyboard unusable for most things except navigating the menus giving you an experience similar to that of playing on a console.

Install Instructions
1. Make sure you have run the game at least once prior to install
2. Extract the contents of the archive somewhere (i.e. Desktop)
3. Copy the contents inside of the Config folder to DocumentsBioWareMass EffectConfig (Say Yes to Overrwrite)
4. Copy the contents inside the Mass Effect folder to your game directory (Say Yes to Overrwrite).
5. Make sure your game resolution is in 16:9 (i.e. 1440p)

Mod Manager Installs

This section requires the full use of ME3Tweaks Mod Manager by Mgamerz[www.nexusmods.com]

Make sure you have it installed and pointed correctly to the Mass Effect 1 executable where you have installed the game.

How to import and install a Mod Manager Mod
1. Drag the archive onto the Mod Manager
2. Click Import
3. Select the mod from the list, and click Apply Mod

HD Movies & Textures (ALOV/MEUITM/ALOT), MERLIN

This section covers the how-to for installing ALOV, MEUITM, and ALOT using the ALOT Installer.

You won’t be installing anything until the last part of this section, so read the instructions carefully.

ALOT by CreepyLava[www.nexusmods.com]

Instructions
1. Download the main ALOT mod
2. Download the update (if there is one)
3. Download Improved Static Lighting
4. Open ALOTInstaller.exe
5. Drag the update onto the installer (if there was one) or copy directly to Downloaded_Mods
6. Drag Improved Static Lighting onto the installer or copy directly to Downloaded_Mods

MEUITM by C3Anderson[www.nexusmods.com]

Instructions
1. Open ALOTInstaller.exe
2. Drag the archive onto the ALOT installer or copy directly to Downloaded_Mods

A Lot of Videos (ALOV) for ME1 by Audemus[www.nexusmods.com]

Instructions
1. Download either the 4K version or the 1080p version (1080p version is recommended as the quality difference is negligible for the 4K version)
2. Download the ALOV for ME1 – ALOT Addon
3. Open ALOTInstaller.exe
4. Drag the ALOV archive onto the ALOT installer or copy directly to Downloaded_Mods
5. Drag the ALOV ALOT Addon from Step 2 onto the installer

You can now launch the ALOTInstaller.exe and click ‘Install Textures’

Merlin (Mass Effect Restored Light & Illumination Natively)

MERLIN by C3Anderson[www.nexusmods.com]

Run the installer

Mass Effect (2007) Guide