Kotaku: Mass Effect

Alpha Protocol Filled With Sexy Spy Sex

Mike Fahey — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:20:00 MDT

Obsidian Entertainment's Alpha Protocol isn't just similar to BioWare's Mass Effect in terms of interface, font, design, gameplay, and graphics - it's also got a sexy side. Agent Michael Thorton will have a bevy of ladies at his disposal throughout his mission, and depending on how he treats them he could very well get lucky with some, if not all the lovely ladies.

“It all depends on how you treat them,” Rucinski said. If you have a strong relationship with female characters, they may help with missions. However, he told me that some of them are “bats–t insane” and can get you into trouble. “One may ask you to assassinate a high-level person,” he added. “Maybe that’s not something you want to do, but she’s really hot. But there are obvious repercussions.”

See? These are the sorts of decisions guys named Michael have to deal with every day. We don't want to kill, but the ladies are so hot! Alpha Protocol will let players get busy with women via Mass Effect style cutscenes, with achievements for being a total manslut as well as just saying no repeatedly. Achievements for having sex? Fox is going to have a field day.

‘Alpha Protocol’ Will Have Plenty Of Sex Scenes, ‘Ladies’ Man’ Achievement [MTV Multiplayer]

Alpha Protocol - Mass Effect For The Solo Spy Set

Mike Fahey — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:20:00 MDT

Up until my visit to Sega at E3 this week, all I had seen of Obsidian Entertainment's spy thriller action RPG Alpha Protocol was a few screenshots. Yesterday I got a chance to see a demo of the game in action, and I can safely say that fans of BioWare's space epic Mass Effect should be extremely pleased. In fact, had the Obsidian folks at the demo not denied it, one could easily assume the two games were using the exact same engine, with a few tweaks in place to freshen things up a bit.

Rookie CIA agent Michael Thornton finds himself betrayed by his superiors and hunted by the U.S. government after a mission goes awry. In order to get to the bottom of a conspiracy, Michael initiates the Alpha Protocol, going undercover to clear his name and besmirch a few others in the process.

So the story is different, but not too much else. Throughout the game Michael will be given dialog choices that effect the way the game plays out, increasing his faction with certain NPCs and decreasing them with others. The main difference here is that Michael has a limited amount of time to make his choices, and they generally fall into three categories - professional, suave, and aggressive.

Leveling up and combat also play out very similar to Mass Effect, albeit with only one character instead of three. You gain skill points which are spread across ten different skill sets, unlocking new powers as you progress. One particular nifty power was shown that involved Michael pausing the action, selecting three different targets, and then shooting them each in quick succession. Don't know if there are any Firefly fans reading, but it was very reminiscent of that one episode where River peeks out from behind cover and then delivers three shots, taking out each of the bad guys that had her pinned down.

Throughout the game you gain new weapons which you can upgrade, collect a variety of suits - from a classic spy tux to high-tech armors - some of which NPCs will react to differently. You can even modify your Michael with accessories, change his facial hair, and basically customize him to your liking.

Furthering the Mass Effect parallels, not only do the graphics look extremely similar, the game even uses a nearly identical font for its text.

All of these similarities are simply coincidence though, as the folks at Obsidian - who have worked closely with BioWare in the past - assured me that they had started work on Alpha Protocol before Mass Effect was being developed. Whatever the case may be, AP looks like it is shaping up nicely, and being compared to one of the best action RPGs ever created isn't exactly a bad thing, now is it?

BioWare's Radical Anti-Piracy Strategy

Leigh Alexander — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:20:00 MDT

One of the big issues creating something of a barrier for PC gaming is widespread piracy. As one of the biggest devs to express a commitment to the PC game biz, what does BioWare (getting set to show us some more Dragon Age tomorrow, by the way) feel is the best strategy for combating it?

MTV Multiplayer asked BioWare co-CEO Ray Muzyka, and he says the key is pretty simple: make it worth the customer's while to buy the product, with ongoing DLC releases, an enduring multiplayer experience and a good relationship with the players:

“We’re doing a lot of post-release downloadable content on all of our PC titles going forward,” said BioWare co-CEO Ray Muzyka to me last week. “We think it’s a good thing to encourage players to make them want to buy a PC title. That’s ultimately the best, most successful path to prevent piracy is to have players that want your games, want to believe in them and think they’re high-quality and realize they’re going to get a lot of value out of them as platforms for long time afterwards.”

Muzyka also told Multiplayer that we can expect Dragon Age to follow the same long-tail pattern as Mass Effect. Now that online play and downloadable content is such a huge part of gaming's business model, PC games seem to be leading the shift away from the idea of a game as a one-off retail product and more towards the idea of "software as a service," which is a win-win situation.

BioWare’s Answer To PC Piracy: DLC, Multiplayer, Loyal Fans [MTV Multiplayer]

Mass Effect Monkey Killers Unite!

Mike Fahey — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:40:00 MDT

From the same folks who brought you The Sims 2 Male Restroom Etiquette video comes this Mass Effect machinima, "So I Ran Over A Monkey". I just recently finished playing Mass Effect for the first time (go PC version!), and I have to say that my teammates's adverse reactions to my accidentally shooting a space monkey to death led me on a genocidal rampage that left many a monkey-based economy in shambles. Shepard's looking pretty rough though, isn't he? That's monkey guilt right there. You're never the same. Thanks Mystfit for dredging up the painful memories.

Gears of War, Mass Effect On The Cheap

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:40:02 MDT

Attention, frugal gamers! Amazon.com has slashed prices on two Xbox 360 exclusives, Gears of War and Mass Effect, each ringing up at $34.99 USD, a fairly impressive savings. Sure, you could wait a few weeks and pick up the more complete Gears of War package, but this one's slightly cheaper! And Mass Effect features virtual orgasmic rape, from what we've heard. You can't get virtual orgasmic rape at this price anywhere these days. Trust me. I've looked.

Deal of the Day [Amazon.com via CheapAssGamer]

Mass Effect PC Ships, DLC Doesn't Quite Ship

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 28 May 2008 22:30:00 MDT

The much-improved PC version of BioWare's Mass Effect shipped on PC today. Should be worth a look not just for PC owners who are yet to play the thing, but for people who already have and would like an all-around...slicker experience. If the free inclusion of the 360's paid DLC - Bring Down the Sky - was going to factor into your purchasing decision, however, you should note that problems with BioWare's "space hamsters" mean it's not quite ready for download just yet. Go register at the page below if you're super-keen, they'll ping you when it's done.

Bring Down the Sky - new downloadable content for Mass Effect coming soon! [BioWare]

Mass Effect PC Running On A Machine Better Than Yours

Mike Fahey — Fri, 23 May 2008 12:30:00 MDT

BioWare and EA are releasing the PC version of Mass Effect next week, and in preparation they've released a couple of clips of the mouse and keyboard version in action, with a scene of dramatic dialog before the jump and some good old-fashioned shooting people, places, and things tucked safely after the jump.

Just bear in mind that all PC trailers are created using the OverComputer, the mythical computer passed down by the gods that somehow manages to maintain system specs double of recommended settings no matter what game you install. All hail the OverComputer!

Muzyka: Mass Effect Sex Scene Validates Games As Art

Leigh Alexander — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:30:00 MDT

BioWare CEO Ray Muzyka sounded off to CVG recently about the "SeXbox" controversy centered on Mass Effect, calling it an "interesting experience," and sticking by video games as an art form:

It's very tasteful, but it is an emotionally intense scene, and there's a number of similarly emotional scenes in the game, not just romances but across the board - different relationships between characters.
I see videogames as an art form, and they're an emergent art form. They're a commercial art form, but they're still art regardless. And the good thing I think is the fact that people are talking about that kind of scene; it had an impact on them.

It proves that videogames are an art form and proves that Mass Effect is an innovator in that. It's in some ways leading the way and willing to push the envelope a little bit and actually deliver stuff that's really compelling.

During the interview, Muzyka also talks about "big plans" for DLC on both Xbox 360 and PC, discussing an "all about quality" philosophy for add-ons that he says will incorporate fan feedback.

Interview: CEO Ray Muzyka talks Mass Effect PC [CVG]

BioWare Backs Down From Draconian Mass Effect Authentication

Brian Crecente — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:01:39 MDT

When Mass Effect comes to the computer it will not use SecuROM's 10-day periodic re-authentication and instead will instead use a modification to do only a one-time online authentication, Bioware announced today.

The developer said the decision came after listening "very closely" to its fans and that the new system will also allow gamers to play the game without the DVD in the drive.

The system will allow gamers to authenticate their game on just three computers, but EA does have the ability to give additional authorizations if they are warranted.

Hit up the jump for the official FAQ and to let us know what you think about this change of heart.

Q: What is the difference between the old PC disc authentication solution and the new online model?

A: Two things have changed:

• First, authentication of discs has now gone from the physical format to the online format, freeing the need for consumers to have a disc in the drive at all times.

• Second, with online authentication consumers now connect to the Internet the first time the game is launched and are required only to reconnect if they are downloading new game content.

Q: Will EA or BioWare take any personal information from my computer during an authentication?

A: Absolutely not. We do not take any personal information from your computer. The system simply verifies that a valid CD key has been provided and assigns that activation to that PC.

Q: What happens when I’ve reached the maximum # of computers for my game and I need more, say due to theft of computer, computer crashes, etc?

A: EA customer service is on hand to supply any additional authorizations that are warranted. This will be done on a case-by-case basis by contacting customer support.

Q: Why are BioWare and EA implementing this new authentication process?

A: This serves to protect our software from piracy. It has the added benefit of allowing consumers to activate the game on multiple machines without needing the DVD in the drive when playing the game.

Q: Did BioWare and EA change their mind on requiring that the game be re-authorized every 10 days?

A: BioWare has always listened very closely to its fans and we made this decision to ensure we are delivering the best possible experience to them. To all the fans including our many friends in the armed services and internationally who expressed concerns that they would not be able re-authenticate as often as required, EA and BioWare want you to know that your feedback is important to us.

Q: If the game isn’t going to require an authentication every 10 days, will it ever require re-authentication?

A: Only if the player chooses to download new game content.

Mass Effect Copy Protection An Opportunity To Use The Adjective 'Draconian'

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:40:00 MDT

EA and BioWare are employing SecuROM for the PC release of Mass Effect, a copy protection scheme you may recall from its universally loathed inclusion in 2K's BioShock. The Mass Effect SecuROM annoyance factor may be much more extreme, as the game requires that the owner authenticate the copy every ten days, meaning that an internet connection is required to play the game from the get-go and until eternity. In other words, if you paid for your copy of Mass Effect, expect to remind EA's authentication servers every week and a half that you aren't stealing it.

The official Mass Effect FAQ explains it all.

For instance, you can install your copy of Mass Effect on three separate machines, but all must be internet enabled if you expect to play the game you paid for, as SecuROM will check every time you run MassEffect.exe. This sort of overprotection is nothing new, as "Neverwinter Nights, Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire, and Mass Effect all use SecuROM in some manner" says the FAQ.

Concerned? Pssh! Don't be! The Mass Effect PC FAQ says EA Support is ready for a beating.

EA is ready and we are confident there will be no server problems. EA has assured us that they have their authorization systems and customer support staff in place and ready for the launch of Mass Effect for PC. Anyone having issues with getting the game activated will be able to contact EA Support and get their problem resolved.

Spore is similarly planned to take advantage of the SecuROM copy protection system, one that we're sure is going to eliminate every illegitimate copy of the game from appearing on torrent trackers for at least 48 hours. Take that, piracy! RIP! Owned! Etc!

Mass Effect for PC System Specs, SecuROM and FAQ [Mass Effect Community via The Angry Pixel]

Preorder Mass Effect PC, Get Dead Space Stuff

Mike Fahey — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 08:20:00 MDT

While the practice of offering preorder incentives for video games is ages old bow, generally you want to give things out that pertain to the game the customer is buying. Leave it to those innovators at the EA Online Store to blaze new marketing trails by sweetening the Mass Effect preorder pot with official Dead Space merchandise. While folks preorder the game through traditional PC outlets get a nice $10 off retail price, preordering at the EA Store snags you a copy of the first issue of the Dead Space comic book and a Dead Space poster. Great! If you preorder now, we'll include you in our special marketing program for a completely unrelated game. It makes sense, doesn't it? People who preorder are already buying Mass Effect. Why promote a game they're already sold on when you can open them up to a whole new experience they might otherwise not give a damn about? Of course it switches the vibe from "Thanks for buying our game" to "Here, buy this other game", but why worry about semantics?

BioWare Announces Special Pre-Order Offer for Mass Effect on PC
EDMONTON, Alberta—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Leading video game developer BioWare™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS), is proud to announce that key retailers across North America will be offering $10 off for all pre-orders of Mass Effect™ for the PC1, shipping to retailers May 27, 2008 in North America and June 6, 2008 in Europe. Gamers will receive the $10 discount by pre-ordering Mass Effect at both specialty and online retailers including GameStop, Amazon.com and GoGamer.com.

Gamers who pre-order Mass Effect through the Electronic Arts online store will receive bonus items2 from the game Dead Space™, the highly anticipated sci-fi survival horror game by EA, including the first issue of the Dead Space comic book and a Dead Space poster while supplies last.

Published by EA and re-designed for the PC by Demiurge Studios and BioWare, 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.

Fully optimized for the PC, Mass Effect includes a new Tactical Heads-Up Display, higher resolution visuals, an enhanced inventory system, fully optimized controls designed specifically for the PC, individual squad control and a new decryption mini-game. The "Bring Down the Sky" downloadable content for Mass Effect on PC, featuring 90 minutes of new gameplay, will also be available free for registered BioWare Community members at the launch of Mass Effect PC.

Originally released for the Xbox 360™ videogame and entertainment system, Mass Effect has received critical acclaim throughout the world with more than 80 awards including 2007 Console Game of the Year and Role-Playing Game of the Year (http://masseffect.bioware.com/previewsawards/).

The $10-Off pre-order offer is available now at all participating retail and online retail outlets. The Dead Space pre-order offer is available now at the Electronic Arts online store at www.eastore.ea.com. Mass Effect is rated "M" for Mature by the ESRB. For more information about Mass Effect, please visit www.masseffect.com.

'Reconciling the Irreconcilable': Criticism and Gaming

Maggie Greene — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 15:30:00 MDT

Lots of people have taken the criticism bull by the horns the past couple of weeks: with the Resident Evil 5 kerfluffle, the expected lead up to the GTA IV launch, and various other reasonably recent debates all coming together, it's no surprise that a number of talented writers have latched on to the faults of the gaming community (namely, we can dish it out but we can't take it). Mitch Krpata of Insult Swordfighting is the latest, and he takes on some recent community uproars:

Game-industry critics object to any overt or implied elements of sex or racism that crop up in the course of play. Often, the gaming community's knee-jerk defense against these critics is to contend that they don't know what they're talking about. In many cases, this is true. But in their haste to polish their pet medium's reputation, gamers ignore the other side of the coin — namely that, in some instances, the bluenoses have a point.
The truth is that some games are irresponsible in regard to the fantasies they effectively promote. But instead of arguing for the validity of games on their merits, gamers may blindly lash out at their critics. Passionate advocacy means engaging our antagonists, not attacking them. It means not taking the bait. Unfortunately, that's easier said than done.

The unfortunate thing is the response to these types of articles is frequently the knee-jerk reaction Krpata and others are talking about. We'd all do well to keep some of these internal criticisms of the community in mind when the next scandal rolls around ...

Sex, Violence and Video Games [The Phoenix via GameSetWatch]

Bring Down The Sky Free With PC Mass Effect

Mike Fahey — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 08:20:00 MDT

The bad news is that Mass Effect for the PC will not be shipping with the downloadable expansion Bring Down The Sky included. The good news, as was hinted at last Friday, is that PC gamers will be able to download the expansion pack for free upon the PC game's release. It'll be exactly the same content from the Xbox 360 release, optimized for PC and without any cost to you, the consumer. This means that my decision to wait for the PC version of the game has once again been completely justified. Hooray! Mass Effect for the PC is currently due for release on May 28th in the states and June 6th in Europe.

First Downloadable Content Free with Mass Effect PC EDMONTON, Alberta—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Leading video game developer BioWare™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS), has announced that "Bring Down the Sky," the first piece of downloadable content for the award-winning space epic Mass Effect™, will be available for PC gamers to download free1 of charge when Mass Effect for the PC releases on May 28, 2008 in North America and June 6, 2008 in Europe.
Fully optimized for the PC, "Bring Down the Sky" is the first in a series of planned downloadable content that will further expand the Mass Effect story and universe. It includes a new uncharted world that introduces the deadly Batarian alien race, approximately 90 minutes of new gameplay and an original soundtrack.

Batarian extremists have hijacked a mobile asteroid station in the Asgard system, setting it on a collision course with the nearby colony world of Terra Nova. Only Commander Shepard can save the millions of innocent civilians before the asteroid completes its deadly descent.

Originally released for the Xbox 360™ videogame and entertainment system, "Bring Down the Sky" has received critical acclaim as one of the "must have" downloadable expansion packs. Mass Effect has also received critical acclaim throughout the world with more than 80 awards including Console Game of the Year and Role-Playing Game of the Year.

The "Bring Down the Sky" downloadable content for PC will be available at the launch of Mass Effect for the PC, and will be free of charge to registered BioWare community members.

Mass Effect PC Specs Are Light Enough For Launch

Mark Wilson — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:30:00 MDT

Those still awaiting the arrival of Mass Effect to PC will be happy to note that the minimum specs aren't so bad, and the recommended specs aren't much worse. As long as you are running something around a 2.4Ghz processor and packing 2GB of RAM (less with XP), the Universe is yours to save. But just to make sure, we listed both sets of hardware specifications after the jump. Because the last thing you want is to light the candles and prepare for some HARDCORE ALIEN SEX only to be left out of the GIGANTIC ORGY.

Minimum System Requirements:
Operating System:
Windows XP or Vista
Processor:
2.4+GHZ Intel or 2.0+GHZ AMD
Memory:
1 Gigabyte Ram (XP)
2 Gigabyte Ram (Vista)
Video Card:
NVIDIA GeForce 6 series(6800GT or better)
ATI 1300XT or better (X1550, X1600 Pro and HD2400 are below minimum system requirements)
Hard Drive Space:
12 Gigabytes
Sound Card:
DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card and drivers

Recommended System Requirements:
Operating System:
Windows XP or Vista
Processor:
2.6+GHZ Intel or 2.4+GHZ AMD
Memory:
2 Gigabyte Ram
Video Card:
NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GTX or higher.
ATI X1800 XL series or higher
Hard Drive Space:
12 Gigabytes
Sound Card:
DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card and drivers - 5.1 sound card recommended

Mass Effect System Requirements revealed [Strategy Informer][image]

No Bringing Down Of The Sky For PC Mass Effect

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 02:30:00 MDT

The PC version of Mass Effect gets shinier graphics, better load times, less pop-up and a fancy new HUD. It's got the 360 one beat, hands down. Oh, except for "Bring Down The Sky". That won't be shipping with the PC version. Before you stab madly at the "publish comment" button, though, bear in mind that BioWare's Matt Atwood says in the interview with IGN that an announcement regarding additional PC content - ie something like Bring Down The Sky, but free - will be made "soon".
Mass Effect PC: What to Expect [IGN]

Mass Effect PC Shows Off Shiny New HUD

Mike Fahey — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:00:00 MDT

Sure the PC version of Mass Effect got pushed back a little bit, but don't be sad! The team at BioWare just want to make sure you've got the best damn Mass Effect you can possibly get, and to prove it, they've released some new screens of the very reason I decided to hold off on the Xbox 360 version. This is the new tactical heads-up display for the mouse and keyboard crowd. All of the information you see on the screen, from squad commands to biotics abilities to weapon commands, all on one handy screen accessed with a simply press of the space bar. It's exactly this sort of thing that makes me yank my PC from my computer desk and hook it up to the widescreen LCD, effectively turning my home office into a discarded CD wasteland, ravaged by time and cats. Mainly cats.

Mass Effect PC Delayed To Late May

Mark Wilson — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:40:00 MDT

Bioware—along with development partner Demiurge Studios—has decided to delay the launch of Mass Effect for the PC. It's been pushed back to a May 28th release date in the US, and a June 6th release date in Europe. The delay will allow the development team to "incorporate more play-testing feedback, add extra polish and tune the additional features." But fret not, PC gamers. I've already saved the Universe on my Xbox 360. It was a bit jittery at times, but due to my quick actions, peaceful, intelligent life will continue to thrive. Take your time, Bioware. I can guard this shuttle craft all freakin' day.

Mass Effect PC Release Date Changes - New Date May 28, 2008 [Bioware via Shacknews][image]

Mass Effect On PC? NOT A PORT

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:20:00 MDT

Get this right. All of you. The PC version of Mass Effect isn't a port, OK? It's a conversion. Not a port. A conversion. If you walk up to BioWare's Chris Priestly (or anyone from BioWare, really) and say it's a port, he may well smack you one in the mouth, right there on the spot. Speaking with Eurogamer about the upcoming PC ~~port~~ conversion of last year's 360 hit, he said:

This is a conversion. BioWare hates ports.

Got it? Not a port. A conversion!
Mass Effect [Eurogamer]

EA Sponsors SCI-FI-LONDON

Brian Crecente — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:00:39 MDT

Electronic Arts today said they will be the official games sponsor for this year's SCI-FI-LONDON, "the UK's only dedicated science fiction and fantastic film festival."

EA will have a bevy of titles on hand as part of their sponsorship including Mass Effect, Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath, Spore and BOOM BLOX. They will also be showing a sneak preview of Dead Space, their upcoming space horror game.

The event runs from April 30 through May 4 at the Apollo West End theater in London. Hit the jump for the full release.

Electronic Arts UK Signs as Official Games Sponsor for SCI-FI-LONDON

SCI-FI-LONDON today announces that Electronic Arts, the world's leading interactive entertainment software company, will be the official games sponsor for this year's SCI-FI-LONDON, the UK's only dedicated science fiction and fantastic film festival which will run from 30 April - 4 May 2008 at the Apollo West End theatre.

As exclusive games sponsor, EA will be showcasing PC and console titles as part of the festival line-up, to include Mass Effect™, Command & Conquer™ 3: Kane's Wrath, Spore™ and BOOM BLOX™, while festival-goers will also get the chance to see a sneak preview of the forthcoming epic space horror game Dead Space™. As well as seeing exclusive trailers for the games before film screenings, there will be opportunities to play them and win merchandise.

Festival Director Louis Savy said: "We are extremely pleased to have secured EA as our key sponsor for this year's SCI-FI-LONDON festival. Their current and upcoming title roster fits perfectly with our programme, which aims to appeal to a variety of science-fiction fans. Visitors to the show will be in for a treat as they get to see and play some of EA's incredibly cinematic and sometimes scary games."

Gary Booker, EA UK Marketing Director, said: "We're excited to be involved for the first time with SCI-FI-LONDON, a key event for the UK's science-fiction film fanbase. Great story-telling isn't limited to the big screen and we'll be at the festival to show that video games offer a fantastic way of telling and interacting with these stories at the same time."

EA activities during the festival will include:
• The chance for visitors to play some of its key current titles as well as sneak peaks and demos of unreleased games
• Big-screen trailers and teasers
• Supporting SCI-FI-LONDON's artist-in-residence, The Artful Dodger (aka A-Dee), who will create a series of science fiction themed canvases in the window of Forbidden Planet (Shaftesbury Avenue, WC1) from 24th April for 7 days.

Further details of EA's presence at SCI-FI LONDON will be revealed as the festival draws closer.

Does Mass Effect Even Need Multi-Player?

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:00:33 MDT

Some games are great for multi-player. Take Halo or Call of Duty. Great multi-player experiences! But what about something like, say, Mass Effect? Is developer BioWare thinking about turning its single player RPG into a multi-player online experience? Says BioWare's Matt Atwood:

If the team wanted to do it then I think they could do it well. But Mass Effect is an experience that is very personal, because you make very personal choices. You choose whether you're going to explore that romance or explore that planet; are you going to save someone's life or are you going to kill them? And these are all things that are really personal. So is it possible? Sure, I think the team's smart enough to do it. But I don't know if they're going to do it.

Just 'cause all the other kids are doing it, doesn't mean BioWare has to. No need to give into peer pressure!
Mass Effect Interview [Eurogamer] [Pic]

Mass Effect PC DLC May Be Different

Mark Wilson — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:20:36 MDT

While we've only seen one piece of Mass Effect DLC for the 360, Bioware assures us that new planets, races and missions are still on the way in future expansions. So most of us would expect PC players to one day get all the same stuff. But according to Bioware's Matt Atwood, such is not necessarily the case.

We're asked if we're going to do Bring Down the Sky for PC, and it's a consideration. We're looking in to exactly what we want to do; maybe we'll do something different, because the PC offers some different potentials.

Is that a hint at a complete expansion? We'd usually think so, if Bioware weren't trying to crank out three Mass Effects in a single product cycle.

Mass Effect Interview [Eurogamer]

Mass Effect 2 Will Blow You Away

Mark Wilson — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 11:40:39 MDT

Earlier today, we heard that Mass Effect 2 is already confirmed for PCs. How nice. But that's too much news and not enough hype for my fanboy taste. So I'm grabbing the Mass Effect 2 Hypometer and cranking it up to 11...maybe even 12. Because when talking about the upcoming title, BioWare's Senior Manager Matt Atwood had this to say:

How will it correlate to Mass Effect, the original? There's a lot of really exciting answers to that question. I think that people are going to be blown away.

He continued:

I've learned some of the things. I don't mean to tease people. The teams are just so brilliant and the story writing is so good that straight out from the beginning of Mass Effect 2, people are going to be in awe...I will tell you that things you did and people you interacted with in Mass Effect... you may very well meet up with them again, whether it be the main character or other characters.

The first game lived up to expectations. If the second is more of the same with some of the technical glitches smoothed out, that's pretty much enough to awe me.

Mass Effect 2 will blow people away [VideoGamer][image]

Mass Effect 2 Is Coming to PCs (Surprise!)

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 05:00:35 MDT

With Xbox 360 title Mass Effect coming to PCs this May, logic tells that Mass Effect 2 is going to eventually hit PCs. That's common sense! But when? Matt Atwood from developer BioWare says:

We haven't announced plans for timing on Mass Effect 2, period, so at this point we're not really ready to talk about it, but because we've got a really great PC fan base we think it's really important to deliver the PC experience as quickly as possible. Look for more news on that soon.

Okay. We will.
Mass Effect Confirmed for PC [videogamer.com]

Mass Effect 2's Side-Quests Won't Be So Sucky

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:30:00 MDT

Mass Effect's world was a great one. Thing is, if you weren't plowing through the main story arc, the whole thing felt a little...empty. Especially the game's cookie-cutter side-quests, of which I tried 3-4 before having to stop, for fear of death by acute boredom. But don't be angry at BioWare! They had stuff needed doing for the first game, and it's something they'll have fixed for Mass Effect 2. At least according to BioWare GM Greg Zeschuk they will:

Side quests can sometimes be left on the side, so to speak. Pardon the pun. But a lot of times it's even just getting that whole game done, that first shot [that is important]. We look at "Mass Effect 2" as incredibly exciting. Just the amount of effort and knowledge and know-how that went into building the technology for the first one is huge, and [we now have] the chance to actually make things a little bit richer.

See? They had to get all that nuts-and-bolts stuff done. Now it's done, they can put the man-hours into actually fleshing the thing out. Make the side-quests more of a quest, less an exercise in self-abuse.
BioWare: How We Can Improve The Side Quests For 'Mass Effect 2′ [MTV]

Mass Effect Brings Down The Sky

Mike Fahey — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:00:55 MDT

Curses! Just when we thought we could rest easy with humanity's place in the universe secured, some chuckleheads have to go and toss an asteroid at a planet. BioWare's Bring Down The Sky content pack for Mass Effect went live today, offering 90 minutes of action and 50 points worth of achievements for 400 Microsoft points. The vile Batarians are brining down a mobile asteroid station on the colony world of Terra Nova, and it's up to Commander Shepard and the crew of the Normandy to save the colonists from a most crushing defeat. Of course if you've already finished the game you're going to have to restart and play to the point where you are actually in control of the Normandy again, but that's a small price to pay for a chance at saving millions of NPCs from a grizzly death.

BioWare Weighs In On Sexuality In Games

torif — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:40:45 MDT

With so much controversy around the sexuality in Mass Effect, I'm kind of surprised it was so long before Bioware provided their thoughts on the matter. But at GDC 08, BioWare's General Manager Ray Muzyka gave his opinion on how proud he was of the team at BioWare, and the game they've created.

We're proud of the mature plots that we build into our games. They're really appropriate for the type of story we're trying to convey. And romance is part of that. It's part of life. It's part of an interaction — a healthy relationship with other people.

The full interview is in a video hosted by MTV, which means if you're in one of the unlucky countries like me (that's anyone with an IP in Canada, the UK, or Japan), you can't see the vid. So check it out and let me know what other fascinating things he said!

Bioware Talks Video Game Romance In The Post-'SeXbox' Era [MTV Multiplayer]

Mass Effect PC Due On May 6

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:30:00 MST

We knew it was May, but sometimes, it's nice to know specifics. Bets may be determined by this date. People's lives may hang in the balance. So it's without further ado that we let you know that Mass Effect's PC adventure will kick off on May 6, giving you a pinch over two months to decide whether faster load times and shiner graphics are worth a second purchase. And if you own a PC but not a 360...well, Mass Effect with faster load times and shinier graphics is worth a first purchase.

Mass Effect Statue Finally Here

torif — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:00:56 MST

The long-awaited figure of Commander Shepard is finally here. He's set to ship worldwide in Q2 2008, but there will be a limited run of 2500 pieces.

Careful, though. If you play with him inappropriately, Cooper Lawrence will have something to say about it.

Mass Effect PC Screenshots

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:40:00 MST

Not content with telling us how the PC version of Mass Effect will differ from the 360 one, BioWare are going to show us how they differ. They've released eight screens for the upcoming port, which showcase not only the tidier graphics, but also the welcome UI changes, including the Biotic hotkeys (above, top-left) and a re-jiggered menu/inventory system.

More Skate, Burnout, Mass Effect Coming From EA

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:30:46 MST

From the Duh Files comes news that EA plans to ship "extensions" to its financially successfully Skate and Burnout series, by way of EA Games prez Frank Gibeau. He also says that a proper Mass Effect sequel is already in the works. What those extensions may be wasn't defined, GameSpot reports, but could easily mean proper sequels or handheld spin-offs. And while downloadable content most likely isn't out of the question, Skate producers have gone on record in the past saying the title wasn't built with DLC in mind.

Another Burnout wouldn't come as a shock to just about anyone, but it would appear that EA is not going to give up trying to unseat the current Madden of skateboarding, Tony Hawk. He told investors "these are the fights that EA knows how to win," which I'm sure has Activision execs losing control of their bowels in fear. You're welcome for the imagery.

New Burnout, Skate on the way [GameSpot]

Mass Effect Coming to PC

Mike Fahey — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:20:10 MST

Mass Effect may still be a 360 console exclusive, but come May of this year PC gamers will be getting their own taste of BioWare's epic space RPG. Today EA has announced that Mass Effect for the PC is heading our way, featuring all of the good bits of the 360 release with some added enhancements to spice things up for the mouse and keyboard set. High resolution visuals, run & gun control that allows players to assign hotkeys to their powers (woot!), a new decryption mini-game, and - the best bit - a new inventory screen GUI that makes it easier for players to swap out and upgrade their weapons and armor. Sounds like those of us who couldn't quite get into the swing of the 360 version might get another stab at the multi-award-winning title this spring. Maybe we can even mod the sex scenes into something closer to Fox News' standards!

Mass Effect to Land on PC in May 2008
Award-Winning Epic Will Be Published By EA

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Leading video game developer, BioWare™, an Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) 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.

Mass Effect Is Still, For Now, A 360 Exclusive

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:20:00 MST

EA's purchase of BioWare was great for EA, less great for Microsoft. Why? Because it leaves their flagship RPG series, Mass Effect, in potential platform limbo. Sure, the first game will always be a 360 exclusive, but couldn't the rest of the series easily go multiplatform? Not if Microsoft can help it. Shane Kim told MTV's Stephen Totilo:

SK: ...We really care about our relationship with EA. BioWare's been a good partner for us. We're very happy with the success of "Mass Effect" and we want that to continue. From a platform perspective, is it the most important that Microsoft Games Studios publishes it or [rather] that it's exclusive to the platform? That's the way we have to think about it.
MTV: And it's still a trilogy, all three parts slated for the 360?

SK: As far as we're concerned, absolutely.

Wonder if it is as far as BioWare's concerned?
Microsoft's Shane Kim On 'Fable 2,' Why Marvel MMO Was Canceled And More [MTV]

Sex(uality) In Games: The Juvenile/Mature Divide

Maggie Greene — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 15:30:04 MST

This week's Aberrant Gamer is an interesting look at sex/sexuality in games, from ICO to Mass Effect: Leigh Alexander has previously defended the busty and scantily—clad video game girl, but this time takes a different look at the subject. The mature vs. juvenile divide seems to be especially prominent in games, where it can seem like it's either improbably perky cleavage stuffed into space age materials or sweetly innocent hand holding with little in between:

An inanimate cube, juveniles holding hands, and the nuances of a complicated adult relationship as seen through the eyes of a youth - the conclusion here seems to be that games are able to create that sense of intimacy by revealing less, not more - just as FFX's quietly tragic heroine Yuna lost a lot of dignity by cropping her shorts way up into her "personal crease" and gyrating around like a pop star in X-2 (even though it was cute and fun), games lose dignity the more decadent cleavage shots and full-body pans they show.

Me? I like a little sex with my media (and clearly, the keeper of Sexy Videogameland does too); it's probably a factor of my day job, where sex leaps off the page even when you're least expecting it (Mao Zedong? Inherently unsexy. Mao's bevy of beauties that accompanied him on train trips around China? Immediately spice up even the most boring of campaigns.). My research takes me into the realm of film culture of the '30s and '40s, where sex oozes off the silver screen and out from the pages of fan magazines, with little more than a flash of leg and certainly no busty beauties popping out of their catsuits; even the most serious of social dramas usually have their fair share of sensuous moments, and no one would accuse them of being juvenile. There is a lot of growing up gaming has to do in dealing with sex, and I agree with Alexander that taking a cue from media a little more mature would probably serve designers well.

Overt sexuality isn't necessarily juvenile — I for one would celebrate a female character that resembled my favorite women of imperial Chinese history, the brilliant, sassy, and most definitely sexy courtesans that litter the pages of secondary literature — but it does have to be handled in the right way, and that usually involves a little more brain and a little less boob. Maybe grown up sexuality will herald the continued maturation of the medium as a whole.

Getting To The Action [GameSetWatch]

Accessing Mass Effect DLC Is Kind Of A Pain

Mark Wilson — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:20:54 MST

BioWare's recent announcement of Mass Effect DLC has plenty of us frothing at the...mouths, but MTV points out that there's a pretty large catch to accessing the 90 new minutes of combat. To partake, the update may require your character to be reset back to the beginning of the game UPDATE: In the case that you are past the point of being able to access the galactic map. Players who are far in the game may need to restart and play through all of the Citadel storyline until they again reach the Normandy. Sure, speedy players can get through this content in about 30 minutes (while for others it could take an hour+), but most of us would probably prefer a more directly accessible option. What do you think? Did BioWare screw up here? Or are RPG players used to wasting their time?

'Mass Effect' DLC Requires A Spaceship, A Couple Of Hours Of Player Progress [MTVMultiplayer]

Did BioWare Have Their Heads In The Sand Over Mass Effect Controversy?

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 07:20:00 MST

That's certainly what N'Gai Croal is suggesting over at Level Up. Having had the chance to sit down with BioWare's Ray Muzyka at DICE last night, he asked why it had been journalists and publishers who had come to Mass Effect's defence after it was attacked on Fox, and not the game's creators themselves. Muzyka's response? That they were happy to let the "community" be the first to come to their defence. And aside from a short statement issued to the New York Times, that's exactly what they did. Let others come to their own game's defence. Which doesn't sit well with Croal:

In order to sit at the grown-ups table, culturally speaking, developers are going to have to act like adults. And that means not letting other people do their fighting for them.

Little harsh, perhaps, but also largely on the money.
Like Having A Gun Pointed At Your Baby: Discussing the Fox News/Mass Effect Controversy With BioWare General Manager Ray Muzyka [Level Up]

Mass Effect DLC Brings Batarians to the Mix

Brian Crecente — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 10:00:40 MST

Bioware today announced the first downloadable content pack for their Xbox 360 RPG Mass Effect.

The Bring Down the Sky downloadable content pack hits LIVE on March 10 at 2 a.m. PST, for 400 MS points ($5) and is the first in a series of planned downloadable content that expands the Mass Effect universe and continues the plot.

The pack will include an uncharted world that introduces the Batarians alien race. In the pack a Batarian extremist group has hijacked a mobile asteroid station in the Asgard system, setting it on a collision course with the nearby colony world of Terra Nova. Only Commander Shepard can save the millions of innocent civilians before the asteroid completes its deadly descent.

The developers say the pack will contain about an hour and a half of action and a new Achievement worth 50 Gamerscore points.

Hit the jump for a second shot from the pack.

Discuss the Bring Down the Sky DLC here [Mass Effect]

Mass Effect News Hitting at 10 a.m. Kotaku/Bioware Time

Brian Crecente — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 09:06:54 MST

Chris Priestly, Bioware's community coordinator, posted a bit of a tease Tuesday night in the Mass Effect Forums, telling readers "If I were you, I'd be around here at 10am tomorrow."

Of course that bit of hintage lead to seven pages of speculation about some megaton announcement, when it might just be news of downloadable content. My money is on the latter. We'll make sure to post the news here as soon it hits, but I wouldn't be skipping lunch or meetings to wait to see what it is.

Mass Effect Forums

Update: News is live, we so called it.

FOX News Mass Effect Spoof Parodies A Parody

Mark Wilson — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:20:56 MST

Can parody be parodied? That's the question we ask ourselves after watching this spoof of Geoff Keighley's appearance on FOX News. While the skit itself is alright, it was the reporter's opening monologue that made the clip post-worthy. So without giving anything away, we'll just say that, damn, we really wish we'd played the publicized version of Mass Effect. Because it sounds really freakin' hot.

Max Effect [loadingreadyrun via Maxconsole]

Jack Thompson Defends Mass Effect

Brian Crecente — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 08:03:38 MST

Believe it or not Jack Thompson and I email sorta regularly. Granted he usually emails me bizarre, over-the-top press releases (which I often don't post) and I respond with disjointed quotes from movies, which I hope will one day remove that last wobbly hinge of his. (No luck yet).

Last week Jack emailed me a press release entitled "Grand Theft Auto IV to Be Released April 29; Culture War Begins Now" and after my typical poking, I got on to the topic of the Mass Effect controversy and was shocked, literally out of my socks, to find him defending the game... sort of. Apparently, even anti-gaming crusader Jack Thompson found self-help author Cooper Lawrence (who he refers to as a man), uninformed and the entire controversy contrived. Hellooooo kettle.

To: Brian
From: Jack
Immediate News Release - January 24, 2008
Grand Theft Auto IV to Be Released April 29; Culture War Begins Now

To: Jack
From: Brian
I like your new glasses.

To: Brian
From: Jack
Wow, as usual you're grasping the real news here.

To: Jack
From: Brian
I'm surprised you haven't been looking into Mass Effect.
http://kotaku.com/348692/ea-fighting-mad-about-fox-news-but-still-no-correction?cpage=2#viewcomments

To: Brian
From: Jack
Why would you be surprised. I don't see any problem with it. The guy who shot his mouth off about it had no idea what the Hell he was talking about.

To: Jack
From: Brian
You mean you're OK with mass effect?

To: Brian
From: Jack
Of course. This contrived controversy is absolutely ridiculous. Report that, why don't you?

Consider it reported. Now where did my socks go?

EA vs Fox: Adam Sessler Weighs in

fdemarco — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 09:00:00 MST

G4 host Adama Sessler gives his opinion on the whole Fox News/Mass Effect imbroglio in this clip from a recent episode of X-Play. He presents the facts with much more aplomb and fairness than Fox did, but in the end turns the tables to give the network and author Cooper Lawrence a taste of their own medicine. Although Lawrence has since apologized for her missteps, it's still fun to watch Sessler take her and the dubious Fox News to task.