Commdor's blog

Would you play the next Mass Effect game if it is not a shooter?

2013-05-01T03:55:29Z

Having recently purchased the Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition, I've been reacquainting myself with the Fallout franchise's history. For the unaware, Fallout began as a third-person turn-based isometric RPG game for PC, and its first sequel and spin-offs generally adhered to that specific style and genre. When Bethesda revived the franchise with the successful launch of Fallout 3, that game significantly diverged from the old games by taking on a first-person perspective and altering combat to focus on real-time shooting. Many of the diehard Fallout fans were tremendously upset by this change. To them, Fallout 3 wasn't truly a Fallout game.

Now, the development of the next Mass Effect game has shifted from BioWare Edmonton to BioWare Montreal and the team there, by their own account, has yet to finalize their plans for what the game should be. Given that, I think we should acknowledge the possibility that the next ME game could take on a different form than a third-person shooter with RPG elements. Also recall that according to the devs, the next ME's protagonist will not only not be Commander Shepard, but he/she will also not have a military background like Shepard; a protagonist with a radically different background (and with no proficiency in combat and weapons use) might require a radical alteration of the game's genre to accommodate it.

Thus the question: would you play the next Mass Effect game if it is not a shooter, particularly a third-person shooter? Is the setting and story enough to entice you to buy it even if you knew it was first-person (Fallout 3), or an adventure game (Tomb Raider), or a real-time strategy game (Halo Wars), or a stealth game (Splinter Cell) or anything else?

Happy New Year, ME Wiki!

2012-12-31T23:57:55Z

Only a few more hours before the New Year officially hits my time zone, but for many it's already January 1, 2013. I want to take the opportunity to wish Mass Effect Wiki's users, BioWare, and ME fans everywhere a happy New Year.

Also, bonus poll:

Civil Unrest on Omega

2012-11-27T02:34:06Z

Following in the footsteps of the Conspiracy Accountability League site that preceded Mass Effect 3: Leviathan's release, BioWare has started two Twitter accounts as communication feeds for the Cerberus occupation force on Omega and the rebelling Talons gang on the eve of Mass Effect 3: Omega's launch. Currently, the Tweets are focusing on the Talons' attempt to free some civilians from Cerberus's clutches, while Cerberus transmits encrypted orders among propaganda announcements.

I've posted all of the current messages below. Encrypted messages are followed by their deciphered forms in italics (Cerberus uses the ROT13 cipher).

1 OmegaCerberus (@Omega_Cerberus)
2 Talons (@FightForOmega)

OmegaCerberus (@Omega_Cerberus) Edit

Comm Feed

To all Omega citizens: For your convenience General Petrovsky has established this channel for public service announcements and news alerts.
As we secure Omega against Reaper incursions, please cooperate with all Cerberus directives. Your safety is our top priority.
Cerberus is recruiting! No experience? No problem! Our orientation provides combat training and gene therapy packages. Change your life now!
Pvivyvna qvffragref genpxrq gb Shzv Qvfgevpg. Qrcybl gebbcref naq arj zrpu havgf gb ryvzvangr. Uhag evatyrnqref sbe cebprffvat.
- Civilian dissenters tracked to Fumi District. Deploy troopers and new mech units to eliminate. Hunt ringleaders for processing.
Cerberus engineers in Fumi District are repairing an electrical conduit. Please cooperate if escorted to safety.
Mechs deployed to Fumi District to assist in conduit repairs. Anticipate power outage situation to be resolved decisively very soon.
"The civilized being prizes freedom above all. Yet civilization itself is only possible through unyielding discipline."- General Petrovsky
Due to recent black-market activity, rations will now only be given on receipt of a valid ID. Keep us informed and keep your family full!
Hanhgubevmrq npgvivgl va Shzv Qvfgevpg. Fhfcrpgrq Gnyba cerfrapr. Ryvzvangr nyy Gnyba zrzoref ba fvtug. Obhagvrf ninvynoyr.
- Unauthorized activity in Fumi District. Suspected Talon presence. Eliminate all Talon members on sight. Bounties available.
Notorious criminal Nyreen Kandros, "leader" of Talon criminal gang, sighted in Fumi District. Remain calm. Security forces en route.
Make a difference in your district! Report any strange behavior or activity to your nearest Cerberus patrol. Rewards offered!
Ybpxvat qbja Shzv Qvfgevpg qhr gb crefvfgrag Gnyba npgvivgl. Shyy chetr nhgubevmrq--trg rirel Gnyba. Crgebifxl'f beqref.
- Locking down Fumi District due to persistent Talon activity. Full purge authorized--get every Talon. Petrovsky's orders.
Wanted criminal Nyreen Kandros now cornered in the Fumi District. Arrest anticipated soon. Thank you for your continued vigilance!
Qvq fbzrbar qbja gurer snyy nfyrrc naq zvff ynfg genafzvffvba? Jul vf gurer na bcra qbbe va Shzv? Ybpx vg qbja!
- Did someone down there fall asleep and miss last transmission? Why is there an open door in Fumi? Lock it down!
We are currently stress-testing security mechs in Fumi and Zeta Districts. Please stay off the streets, as live ammunition may be used.
Current mech testing scenarios active: Fumi, Zeta Districts. Stay clear. Cerberus is not responsible for accidents.
Due to reactor safety concerns, the Elek Processing Plant is shut down until further notice. Site is OFF LIMITS to all employees.
Pybfvat va ba gnetrg. Unpxref ercbeg ivq flfgrz frpher. Gnybaf ner oyvaq bhg gurer. Orgn fdhnq, pbire gur abeguobhaq rkvg.
- Closing in on target. Hackers report vid system secure. Talons are blind out there. Beta squad, cover the northbound exit.

Talons (@FightForOmega) Edit

BioWare Blog: Fight for Omega!, Comm Feed

Talons, this frequency is now open. Myself and base leaders have access to this channel. 24 hour broadcast cycle begins now. -N
Join the Talons and help us free Omega from Cerberus! Be part of the solution! We need you!
Security reminder: Let's keep things tight. We haven't had anyone turn in a while. Let's make sure it doesn't happen now. -H
Did you see that encrypted message flash by on the Cerberus public feed? Get me some codebreakers on that, ASAP. -N
New codebreakers are showing potential - but the news isn't good. Cerberus is planning to crack down on some civilians in Fumi District. -N
Get in touch with extraction teams. We have to get over there now. If the civilians are too rowdy, Cerberus will go to live ammunition. -N
No go. Our extraction teams are already working in the detainment centers in the lower levels. We're locked down on resources right now. -H
Won't do. Heading to scout area. Send in extraction team as soon as they bug out. I'll guide civilians out of trouble myself if need be. -N
The place is crawling with Cerberus. -N
Civs found! Contact established. Heading for tunnel entry point FD-09. -N
Cerberus presence spiked. Civilians laying low. When the extraction team is clear, send them to the pre-arranged location. -N
Base leaders, codebreakers are reporting I've been spotted by Cerberus forces. Looks like I'm the decoy. -N
Boss, extraction team B2 just reported in. Their civs are stashed away safely. They're heading back out and toward you now. -T
Belay that. Send them straight to Fumi District, stat. I'm drawing Cerberus forces away from the civilians there. -N
Crap. Hit an encrypted door. Codebreakers: Can anyone translate this, fast? -N
gnranehz_V3vg3f
- taenarum_I3it3s
Worked. Thanks! -N
Safe. Staying high. Mechs are crawling all over the place. -N
We have no eyes on, just got locked out of the vid system. Extraction team is on standby. Careful out there, boss. -T
Thank you, Codebreakers. I've found a safe vantage point, observing the situation until my next move. Move the civilians, slow and easy. -N

Omega DLC Plot Elements Leaked

2012-09-25T15:34:39Z

As one could predict, the alleged details of the upcoming Omega DLC for Mass Effect 3 have been leaked. Keep in mind that these details are leaked material and may be incorrect since I can't find the original source for the leak, but they sound reasonable enough:

“Aria tells you that Omega is now under a blockade from Cerberus. Since a direct attack didn't work, Cerberus is now trying to starve Omega into submission by blockading supply ships coming in through the regular Omega relay. The level's appearance will change to reflect this - the Afterlife has gone quiet, the music is off, the flashing lights are gone, maybe a soup kitchen has taken over the dance floor. Aria requests that you steal into the blockade and board the command ship. Take down the blockade so Omega can be resupplied.

As punishment for breaking the neutrality pact, Cerberus launches an attack against Omega. The enemy is attempting to destroy Omega's shields, which will allow asteroids and meteors to smash into the station. You must repel the assault and ensure the shield remain operational.”

One glaring inconsistency is that the leak also mentions that Zaeed Massani is involved. Despite the events of Citadel: Volus Ambassador in ME3, Zaeed is apparently working for Cerberus in the DLC and Shepard may have to kill him. I can't figure out how this would work story-wise unless the Omega DLC completely supplants the Volus Ambassador mission, which would make the DLC difficult to reconcile with the story if players have already completed that mission.

Notably, Zaeed working for Cerberus was also a plot point listed in the original ME3 leak from last year. Shepard was to have found Zaeed in the wreckage of a Cerberus ship and learn that he had been hired by Cerberus to protect a high-ranking officer; Shepard had to convince Zaeed that Cerberus was up to no good or be forced to kill him.

Mass Effect 3: Leviathan trailer released

2012-08-24T19:45:40Z

BioWare has released the official trailer for Mass Effect 3: Leviathan, the upcoming Mass Effect 3 DLC that will hit next Tuesday:

A few notable things shown in the trailer:

Shepard will visit an asteroid mining facility, a canyon-like region on a planet, and a water planet (pointed out by Cortez as Leviathan's apparent lair).
The enemies all appear to be Reaper husks, no Cerberus or geth in sight.
Near the end, one Brute can be seen attacking another. Could some Reaper enemies (presumably under Leviathan's influence) now be allies?

And some speculation I have:

In late 2010, we got a short series of Cerberus Daily News reports about the loss of an Eldfell-Ashland Energy mining fleet in the Nubian Expanse. The quarians were blamed at first, but a survivor from the EAE ships claimed that a massive alien ship was responsible. This couldn't have been the work of the Reapers, since they were still traveling to the galaxy from dark space and Arrival had yet to happen at the time, but what if Leviathan was involved? An interesting wrinkle is that there is a planet called Yamm in the Nubian Expanse which has a surface that is 90% ocean. If Leviathan was behind the mining fleet attack, could Yamm be Leviathan's lair? We'll have to see. DLC missions for the games tend to take place in entirely new locations, however, and Yamm is colonized so it wouldn't be the safest hiding spot.

What's Next for Mass Effect 3?

2012-07-22T20:03:54Z

Looks like it'll be this:

This is the "mysterious image" that BioWare revealed at the end of one of its presentations at Comic Con last Saturday. If you have been following the news about the Leviathan DLC leak, you may remember that some of the leaked dialogue mentions Shepard venturing underwater.

How I Almost Lost My Xbox Live Account

2012-05-13T22:22:58Z

Something interesting happened to me late last night: someone attempted to gain control of my Xbox Live account.

I was in the middle of playing Minecraft with friends when I was signed out of Xbox Live, a pop-up appeared explaining that my profile had been signed-in on another console. At first I thought it was some sort of connection issue, so I signed-in again. After a minute, I was again signed out because my profile was on another console. It was at this point that I realized someone else was trying to access my profile at that very moment. I changed my Xbox Pass Code, signed-in a third time, and looked up Microsoft's Xbox 360 security page, which confirmed my fears and recommended that I require my Windows Live ID to sign-in my profile. I had never done that before and didn't want to have to enter in a lengthy password every time I wanted to play on Xbox Live, so I did the stupidest thing I could have done and waited to see if the "hacker" would try again.

Ten minutes later, he did.

This time, I wasn't fast enough. He signed-in my account on his console, so I finally hit the button to require my Windows Live ID password at sign-in. I changed my ID password, re-downloaded my profile, and successfully signed-in again. But in the time it had taken me to do all of that, the "hacker" spent 560 of my MS Points on two weapon skin sets for Gears of War 3. Fortunately, I had regained my profile before anything else was lost and I didn't have a credit card assigned to it; at worst, I could have lost another $40 of MS Points and my profile. After requiring the password, if there were any further attacks on my account, they have not succeeded.

Since then, I've contacted Microsoft and they're on the case. The investigation should take between 3-25 days, during which time all of my Windows Live-associated stuff is on lockdown. Hopefully at the end of it I get my lost Points back and something's done about the perpetrator.

More than anything, this incident has told me that account takeovers can happen to anyone. I thought I was safe, that sheer numbers would protect me and hackers would never take notice of my profile because there are so many others. I was wrong, but I got off easy. You may not. So if you haven't already, I strongly recommend you make sure that your Xbox Live profile requires your Windows Live ID at sign-in (instructions here). My worries about having to re-enter the password every time I sign-in were unnecessary, there is an option to allow the particular console that you're using to remember the password.

Let my misfortune be a lesson to you.

Update - May 17, 2012

Good news! Microsoft has concluded their investigation into the attack on my account. I was refunded the 560 MS Points that the "hacker" stole (the email indicates that in the event I had a credit card on my account and he purchased something with that, I would also have been refunded that money). What's more, the Gears 3 weapon skins he purchased are still listed in my download history, so it looks like I can download them and use them myself. I essentially got free stuff out of this ordeal. I would have liked some news about any action Microsoft is taking against the "hacker", but overall I'm satisfied with how my problem was resolved. What's important is I came out of this potentially disastrous situation more or less unscathed. Microsoft can definitely help you if you become a victim of account theft.

Rumor: ME3 "Rebellion" Multiplayer DLC Incoming

2012-05-02T15:36:35Z

Looks like EA can't keep a secret: if this leak is to be believed, then a new Mass Effect 3 DLC pack for multiplayer titled "Rebellion" is on the way.

The pack will include the following:

Six new multiplayer characters:
- Vorcha Soldier and Sentinel
- Quarian Engineer and Infiltrator (odd, considering there already are quarian characters for those two classes)
- Phoenix Adept and Vanguard (all I can guess is Protheans. If so, multiplayer's tenuous story credibility is out the window. But this is still only an unverified leak...)

Two new maps:
- Firebase Jade - set in a "jungle reservoir"
- Firebase Goddess - located on Thessia

Three new weapons

New consumable items

No price or release date for Rebellion is hinted at. All we can do now is sit back and wait to see if this latest leak pans out like the Resurgence leak did.

IGN's ME3 Review-in-Progress

2012-02-25T05:04:18Z

IGN is in the midst of writing a review of Mass Effect 3. Over the next week, reviewer Colin Moriarty will be playing the PS3 version of ME3 and adding two more updates to the review-in-progress before publishing a final review of the game. Each update promises to answer a few more questions about ME3, but will remain generally spoiler-free.

In addition to the review-in-progress, IGN also has two new videos of ME3 goodness:

Update: Two more videos from IGN:

Update #2: This isn't related to IGN, but since CVG posted its own video tour of the Normandy (and one that's more thorough), I figured here would be as good a place as any to post it.

Update #3: Two more videos from the IGN are below. The third and final portion of the review-in-progress is also up.

Gamestop Spills From Ashes screenshots

2012-02-24T20:21:10Z

Gamestop's Facebook account has posted the first five screenshots of the Mass Effect 3 DLC From Ashes. They show off what may be the new alternate squadmate outfits (James and Kaidan's armor seems modeled after that of Cerberus Assault Troopers, while Liara's resembles that of Cerberus Phantoms), the new weapon (Prothean designed?), a glimpse of Eden Prime, and of course, the Prothean himself (albeit from the side) fighting Collectors!

BioWare Unboxes ME3

2012-02-22T21:03:40Z

BioWare's makerting director David Silverman has posted an unboxing video for Mass Effect 3. The contents aren't too surprising (I think we all expected out copies to contain the game disc. :P), but there is one thing that's unexpected: ME3's cover jacket is reversible, with one side featuring male Commander Shepard, and the other side with female Commander Shepard.

Here's a complete list of the contents (Xbox 360 copy, standard edition):

Online Pass (1) - Redeeming this allows you to play the cooperative multiplayer.
2-Day Xbox Live Gold Pass (1) - Redeeming this gives you two days of Xbox Live Gold to play the multiplayer.
ToS Pamphlet (1) - The usual legalese. Also, the game manual is included on-disc.
Game Discs (2) - The whole reason you spent $60.
Reverisble Game Cover (1) - As I've already detailed above.

Weekly ANN Reports from the BioWare Blog

2012-02-04T02:52:07Z

Every Friday, BioWare will release a new report from the Alliance News Network detailing the state of the galaxy on their official blog. I'll post a link to each report here as they're released.

February 3, 2012
- Leak questions geth role in Citadel battle

February 10, 2012
- Linron retains power, but control disputed

February 17, 2012
- Migrant Fleet refuses Council inspectors

February 24, 2012
- Cerberus expansion deemed "significant threat"

March 2, 2012
- Flood of batarian traffic brings rumors of war

Update: While not directly related to the above BioWare Blog posts, the Alliance News Network Twitter is updating about every five minutes with Tweets from Emily Wong as she witnesses the beginnings of the Reaper invasion in Los Angeles.

Game Informer ME3 Preview (Feb. 2012)

2012-01-09T21:02:05Z

The latest issue of Game Informer is out and about, and it contains a new extended preview of several missions in ME3, including the one involving the Reaper/Thresher Maw fight seen in the VGA trailer. You can find a summary of the preview at BSN.

Update: And here's the related GI interview with Casey Hudson.

The important parts (may contain SPOILERS):

Right after escaping Earth, Hackett tells Shepard to investigate a Prothean dig site on Mars. The researchers apparently found something there related to the Reapers, but the site has gone silent. Shepard runs into hostile Cerberus troops after the same research and is reunited with Liara, who had been called in by the researchers as a consultant due to her Prothean expertise. Liara reveals that the info found at the site has to do with an anti-Reaper weapon that the Protheans never finished.
The Illusive Man speaks to Shepard via hologram and explains that he wants the weapon to take control of the Reapers and seal humanity's dominance over the galaxy.
Cerberus troops have been infused with Reaper technology that has physically disfigured them, which is why they're covered up in heavy armor.
The mission on Tuchanka is to reach a tower called The Shroud and use it to distribute Mordin's genophage cure. The area is apparently home to a massive Thresher Maw named Kalros, and when a Reaper attacks, Mordin and Wrex decide to goad Kalros to attack the Reaper.
Game Modes: Some time ago, the leaked demo revealed that ME3 would have several different game modes, Action, RPG, and Story. The article breaks them down:
- Action: Emphasis is on combat. Dialogue choices are automatically chosen for the player (mix of paragon and renegade).
- RPG: Standard Mass Effect experience.
- Story: Emphasis is on dialogue and story. Combat difficulty is much lower.

Pre-order bonuses for ME3 revealed

2012-01-01T20:22:34Z

Update: BioWare has posted a page for ME3 pre-order bonuses on the official game site: http://www.masseffect.com/me3/game/preorderbonus/

A newly revealed bonus is the AT-12 Raider shotgun, which will be available for EA Origin pre-orders. In addition, the Argus assault rifle has been confirmed to be a universal pre-order bonus for all retailers; even if you pre-order with Origin or Gamestop (for the N7 Warfare Gear a.k.a. "N7 Valkyrie Rifle and Defender Armor"), you'll still get the Argus.

Despite earlier indications from BioWare that pre-order bonuses for Mass Effect 3 had yet to be finalized, Best Buy and Gamestop have already posted what their bonuses will be:

Argus Rifle (Best Buy):

"The high-powered Argus rifle is an excellent close-range weapon, and its bursts of fire conserve ammunition during lengthy conflicts. Others across the galaxy are adopting the Argus as their standard rifle, for both its intimidation factor and suppression power."

N7 Valkyrie Rifle and Defender Armor (Gamestop):

New ME3 Ashley Screenshot

2011-12-15T06:01:54Z

To reward Mass Effect fans for voting Mass Effect 3 the Most Anticipated Game of 2012 at this year's Video Game Awards, BioWare has released the following screenshot featuring Ashley Williams wearing Spectre armor:

ME3 Internal Story Files Leak

2011-11-07T19:37:44Z

Note: I will delete any comments on this blog that detail or link to ME3 spoilers from the leak.

IGN has learned that internal story files from Mass Effect 3 have been leaked online and posted publicly on a Russian BioWare community site (Update: Game Informer claims that the story files were extracted from the leaked demo).

BioWare is investigating this new leak, coming on the heels of last week's ME3 demo leak, and Jesse Houston has posted the following on BSN:

“We are still investigating, but it appears that some internal story files have been leaked. Even though the information in those files is out of date and does not reflect the final story experience, we urge fans not to read them if they want to experience the purest form of the story in Mass Effect 3.”

Update: Per IGN, BioWare's Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka stated in an interview that the ME3 development team is listening to feedback from the leak and they may make some unspecified changes to ME3's story as a consequence. Muzyka claimed that the leak was overall a positive event in that it attracted more interest in the game, despite BioWare's disappointment that the leak happened at all. He still encourages fans to avoid the leak if they don't want to see potential ME3 spoilers.

Beta Version of ME3 Leaks on Xbox Live

2011-11-05T16:25:24Z

Just my luck, on the first weekend in months that I'm away from my Xbox...

Apparently for a short time today, an early version of a Mass Effect 3 demo was leaked for download on Xbox Live for 360 owners who were registered with the Fall 2011 Dashboard Update beta. The file was 1.8 Gigs in size and contained single-player and multiplayer content. It was eventually taken down, but not before several screenshots and videos were made.

BioWare has responded to the leak with the following:

“As most of you know by now, this evening an accidental leak occurred of some early Mass Effect 3 beta code. Microsoft has advised us that through human error at their end, content which was meant for internal beta testing was flagged incorrectly and released to individuals who had signed up for the beta of the Xbox Live dashboard update. It has since been taken down and deactivated.

We'd like to stress that the leaked code is in a rough, unfinished state and was not meant for public release. The content is not final, and is not reflective of the quality of the finished, polished game due for release on March 6, 2012 (March 9 in Europe).

One feature that was present in this early build is a set of game play modes that are in development. In the beta code they are referred to as "action mode", "story mode" and "RPG mode". We want to stress that these features are still in the early stages of development and will receive considerable iteration and refinement. These modes are designed to give players an even finer degree of control over their game experience than ever before. Whether it be someone who finds the combat difficult but wants to experience the amazing story, someone who wants to focus on the action and combat game play, or fans who want the rich, story-driven RPG Mass Effect experience they've come to love – Mass Effect 3 will support all of these options. We'll have more info in the days ahead!”

ME3 Demo Arriving January 2012

2011-10-21T02:57:31Z

Game Informer has learned that BioWare has announced via Facebook and Twitter plans to release a Mass Effect 3 demo in January 2012. The demo will feature content from both the single-player and cooperative multiplayer segments of the game.^[1]

In addition, players who purchase a copy of the upcoming Battlefield 3 will be able to gain access to the multiplayer portion of the demo early by redeeming the included Online Pass. The exact release date of the early access demo will be announced in late November.^[2]

BioWare also plans to announce other ways to acquire the early demo without a purchase.^[2]

Maybe I should scrape some money together... (Update: Or not...)

ME3 to Have "Killer New Feature"

2011-10-01T18:27:51Z

Keep an eye out for the upcoming issue of Xbox World magazine, set to ship on October 25th. Within that issue, BioWare will unveil a "killer new feature" in Mass Effect 3.

What could this alleged KNF be? Perhaps the oft-rumored multiplayer mode, as CVG speculates.

Update 1 - In a somewhat related piece of news from Xbox360Achievements.org, a South African gaming magazine recently featured an ad for ME3 which states that the N7 Collector's Edition will include an "Online Multiplayer Pass". There are no details on what this might be. Whatever it really is, this "pass" is certainly more fuel for the fire.

Update 2 - It looks like multiplayer is confirmed. According to a preview of an Australian gaming magazine:

“That's right - Mass Effect 3 is getting multiplayer! We travel to BioWare's office in Edmonton for hands-on time with the series' first foray into online gameplay, and chat with Mass Effect Series Producer and Mass Effect 3 Project Director Casey Hudson about the decision to go multiplayer in the epic battle for the galaxy.”

Update 3 - BioWare has verified that ME3 will have multiplayer via Twitter, and more details will be revealed in the next few days. In addition, OXM has revealed that its next cover story will focus on ME3's multplayer mode.

Update 4 - BioWare will host a special episode of BioWareTV at 10am on October 12th which will answer questions about the multiplayer mode. BioWare asks fans to reserve judgment until more info is available.

Update 5 - BioWare's Chris Priestly explains 4-player co-op missions and Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War, an interface system in Mass Effect 3 where players can "manage and experience the galactic war from multiple fronts".

Update 6 - Xbox360Achievements.org has obtained the OXM issue, and the multiplayer reveal episode of BioWareTV is out. The combined highlights:

Co-op looks like Horde-style encounters, with players fighting off waves of indoctrinated Cerberus forces on battlefields seen in the single-player campaign.
- Other objectives during missions will be available, like retrieving data packets from around the map and protecting an ally while they hack.
- Players can be downed, but revived by allies.
Performance in co-op rewards "War Assets" for the Galaxy at War system. Players can purchase allies, fleets, and radar stations (presumably boosting the Galactic Readiness level) to assist Shepard in the final battle.
- Progress is tracked by a color-coded map which will be viewable on iOS devices and Facebook, and each platform will have its own "hooks".
Six classes to choose from, based on the standard ME classes (Soldier, Vanguard, etc.).
Six races to choose from:
- Human
- Salarian
- Drell
- Krogan
- Turian
- Asari
Each class and race will have special abilities. Soldiers can use the Omni-Blade, krogan can charge enemies.
Level 20 cap for co-op character progression.

A new alien race in ME: Conviction?

2011-09-17T12:31:00Z

After months of drought with nothing but a few drops of ME3 info to slake our thirst, we get a brief drizzle of ME goodness: Mass Effect: Conviction. Aside from ME3 squadmate James Vega getting some back-story, however, Conviction could also be providing a glimpse of something else.

On page 4 of the comic, in the last two panels, we get our first look at a never-before-seen alien race. The left panel shows an alien with four distinct arms and a narrow, seemingly mandible-equipped head. In the right panel, potentially two more members of the same race are seen in the background (judging by their heads, which are similar in shape), although the left one appears to have only two arms (the other two may be obscured), while the right one looks like it has six. In addition, visible in the foreground is a clawed foot different from any other race we know.

What are these new aliens? Will ME3, or perhaps ME: Invasion and ME: Deception, shed some light on them?

Mass Effect 3 at Gamescom

2011-08-15T19:47:00Z

For the unaware, BioWare will be attending Gamescom 2011 in Cologne, Germany. Per Chris Priestly, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Dragon Age II, and Mass Effect 3 will appear at the event. A playable "expanded demo" of ME3 will be available ("similar to the demo played at Comic Con, but now with.... more demo action"). EA's Gamescom presentation will begin tomorrow, August 16, at 8:30 Central time. Fans who can't attend can view BioWare's presentation via BioWare Pulse TV.

Mass Effect 3 has already been nominated for Best Console Game of the event, along with Batman: Arkham City, Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, and FIFA 12.

August 16, 2011 - Not too much new stuff, but enough. BioWare has released a new gameplay trailer showing off a new area and a battle with the Atlas Mech, in addition to some screenshots.

August 17, 2011 - A few small ME-related updates from Gamescom.
- Unfortunately, ME3 did not win Best Console Game of Gamescom, that honor went to FIFA 12.
- IGN wrote up a preview of the ME3 demo at Gamescom. As expected, it's the same demo from E3 and Comic-Con, but the writer went into some specifics about evolving Powers and how using cover has been improved from ME2.
- As I've detailed on another of my blogs, BioWare has started a second round in the contest to determine the default appearance of female Commander Shepard in ME3.

August 19, 2011 - Only one update today (technically, it's yesterday's update): Game Informer has another preview of the ME3 demo, a straightforward recap of the Sur'Kesh mission and the opening mission during the Reaper invasion of Earth. Again, nothing new, but it's there for the curious.

August 21, 2011 - Chris Priestly tweeted about the final ME3 presentation of Gamescom. Martin Sheen appears to have been indirectly confirmed to be reprising his role as the Illusive Man. Not surprising, but awesome nonetheless.

Vote for ME3's Female Shepard

2011-07-24T01:38:55Z

August 27, 2011 - The contest is now over. BioWare has announced the winner:

August 17, 2011 - While female Shepard design #5 won the original contest by a landslide, not too many were happy with the results. In response, BioWare has begun a second round of the contest to finalize the design.

Here are the four new designs to vote for:

Following BioWare's Mass Effect March on Comic-Con, Casey Hudson announced that fans can choose the default appearance of female Commander Shepard in Mass Effect 3. Go to the official Mass Effect Facebook page and "Like" one of the six potential female Shepard designs to vote for it, the winning design will be featured in ME3.

Here are the designs to vote for:

Mass Effect March on Comic-Con

2011-07-18T19:47:27Z

BioWare is asking Mass Effect fans to march on Comic-Con:

“At 6:00PM Pacific on July 23, 2011 we ask you, the people, to march on Comic Con with us.

We will supply everyone with Omniblades. You bring your voice, your passion.

At the end of the march Commander Casey Hudson will announce something significant for all the Shepards out there.

The march starts at the BioWare Base located at the Gas Lamp Hilton which is directly across from the convention hall. If you can’t join us in person you can watch the march and announcement here: http://masseffect.bioware.com/me3/game/biowaretv/ ”

Rumor: ME3 to Feature 4-Player Co-op Missions

2011-06-16T17:34:27Z

So Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 have limited squad sizes to three members and only had a single-player storyline, but Mass Effect 3 could have 4-player co-op? Seems like a dramatic change. But seeing as the source of all this remains anonymous, the odds of this being real are 50-50 at best.

“According to anonymous sources in and around the interwebs, BioWare is working on adding a four-player co-operative component to Mass Effect 3, offering "competitive elements" and "original missions made for online". Apparently, said co-op missions will be separate to the campaign and will be designed with repeated play in mind.

There'll be a handful of these missions, if the sources are accurate, and they'll be designed with broadening Mass Effect 3's mainstream appeal firmly in mind. "Mainstream penetration is a major goal for Mass Effect 3 and those high up feel online co-op is the answer they're looking for," the source revealed. "EA's keen to push the multiplayer side of the game to help spread word of mouth - so it's not just going to rehash stuff from the campaign. It's going all out."

While this is rumour for now - and BioWare's Ray Muzyka refused to confirm or deny th existence of multiplayer to OXM - speculation surrounding Mass Effect multiplayer has been kicking around for some time now, so it might not be beyond the realms of possibility. That said, we'll believe it when we see it. Mass Effect 3 is out in March 2012.”

E3 Coverage of ME3 News Begins

2011-06-02T18:45:20Z

1 E3 News
2 Pre-E3 News

E3 NewsEdit

Links to the major Mass Effect 3 news of E3 2011:

June 6:

June 8:
- Another demo of the Sur'Kesh mission, but with new details

Pre-E3 NewsEdit

IGN: ME3 Story PreviewEdit

IGN has posted an E3 preview of Mass Effect 3 containing a few new story details. The focus on building a galactic armada to drive the Reapers from Earth is emphasized, but there a some specifics as well. The plot of a story mission on Sur'Kesh, the salarian homeworld, is outlined:

“One example of these unifying missions comes about halfway through Mass Effect 3. Shepard and crew have journeyed to the Salarian homeworld, Sur'Kesh, to rescue a Krogan princess. Yes, she's crazy hot. The princess in question is the key to uniting a divided Krogan homeworld. Mordin Solus is assisting (it is his home planet after all), and naturally the Krogan clan leader Wrex Urdnot has quite an interest in the princess.”

The article also hints at how events change depending on your decisions in earlier games. For instance, killing Urdnot Wrex may negatively affect the above mission if you choose to help the krogan.

Also, if players did not play certain downloadable content missions for Mass Effect 2, ME3 will assume they happened. If you skipped Lair of the Shadow Broker, ME3 will automatically fill in that Liara is the new Shadow Broker.

Lastly, there are three new ME3 screenshots:

IGN: ME3 Combat PreviewEdit

IGN released another preview of ME3's combat earlier (which I missed). It covers the same mission to rescue the krogan princess on Sur'Kesh. Some highlights include:

Player maneuverability has been improved
Weapons are more responsive, have more kick
Again, more melee opportunities. The special melee moves for each class are one-hit kills. The Soldier's move is an omni-tool blade, the Adept's are blades of biotic energy.
Grenades return. But these aren't the pulsing cyber-frisbees of ME, the writer describes them as "actual, round, conventional grenades".

“It all felt like a different game, like a different series even. Where Mass Effect 2 felt like a slightly tighter Mass Effect combat-wise, Mass Effect 3 is in an entirely different space. The familiar elements that need to be there are intact - powers and talents are still in the same menu wheel structure, and weapon types remain unchanged. You're not going to select an assault rifle and be shocked by its looks. But you will be taken aback by how well it works. I was. And now the wait to play Mass Effect 3 until 2012 is that much harder.”

IGN: Live E3 PreviewEdit

IGN has scheduled a live preview of Mass Effect 3 which will air on June 7, 2011 at 1:00pm PST.

ME3 Kinect RumorsEdit

Additionally, Game Informer has posted a rumor stirred up by possible ME3 cover art that ME3 may be Kinect-compatible. Since the EA Store posting was taken down, you can view a thumbnail of the cover art here.

Mass Effect Covers That Could Have Been

2011-05-14T18:23:31Z

Last month when Game Informer was filming their video features for their coverage of Mass Effect 3, GI got a chance to look at six earlier covers that BioWare created for Mass Effect. One would have spoiled the existence of the Reapers, several spotlight a different character model for Commander Shepard, and others show different versions of the series' logo.

Check out the alternate covers here.

PC Gamer June 2011 - ME3 Info

2011-05-06T17:04:24Z

Apparently the June 2011 issue of PC Gamer is out today, and a wealth of new Mass Effect 3 information has hit the web. You can see for yourself by checking out scans of the ME3 article here.

So what's the important stuff?

The Adept's special melee move is a biotic shockwave that knocks nearby enemies away and stuns them.
Powers can combine their effects. The example given is Shepard using Concussive Shot with Cryo Ammo, causing the projectile to freeze enemies in the area.
Why is Cerberus hunting Shepard? They're allied with the Reapers now. It is not explained why in the article.
New husk types explained:
- An asari husk, described as a "hideously bloated pregnant asari, her gums stripped away and a robot skeleton showing through her rotting flesh."
- A rachni husk, "covered with bulging sacs of lesser creatures" that swarm the player if they burst.
- A krogan husk that "wears heavy armor plates that you can shear off with enough focused fire." Without its armor, the krogan husk will then charge the player.
Tali'Zorah vas Normandy is confirmed as a full-time squadmate.
Many squadmates from previous games who aren't full-time squadmates in ME3 will rejoin the player for certain missions.
ME3 will feature no new romance options. Who you can romance depends on relationships with existing characters.
If you cheated on your ME romance in ME2, "that's going to come to a head at the worst possible time."
Decisions in the previous games, like sparing or killing the rachni, won't affect ME3's overall difficulty. Rather, these decisions affect the range of endings you'll have.

More ME3 Details from the BioWare Forums

2011-04-20T16:41:36Z

A user on the BioWare forums has posted some new Mass Effect 3 details pulled from a Spanish gaming magazine. Since these are translated, there are bound to be some errors, so keep that in mind.

Note: Any bolded words are my own thoughts on these possible details.

From the article:

New Cerberus' troops include mechas, assault units and ninja-style shock troops.
Reapers come in different sizes, ranging from the smaller 500-600 metre ships to the 2km long Herald (a mistranslation of Harbinger?). That's big (the size differences of the Reapers explains the scale issues with Reapers we've seen in other screens and art).
New skills for Shepard: apparently he or she will be able to roll, jump and find cover a bit like Max Payne.
There will be SWAT moves enabling Shepard to turn and strike the enemy with a greater variety of melee attacks. It specifically mentions "a new class: Heavy Melee" who will take advantage of these capabilities of combat.
More new skills: The Engineer class can build turrets.
Customisable Weapons, guns, sights and so on. Each category will have five variants.
There will be more items to "loot."
Space Battles are a possibility, but they're unconfirmed.
Environments will be larger in scale with people going about their business, ships fighting in the distance and architecture rendered in greater detail. New lighting techniques have been implemented improving the atmosphere and the number of dynamic elements.
New locations to visit will include New York, London, a moon of either a Quarian or Krogan world, a Salarian world (I think the Game Informer article indicated the salarian homeworld, so Sur'Kesh) and Mars (huzzah!), among others. Each environment took about 6 months to create, apparently.
You can inflict dynamic damage upon enemies. The Cerberus mechas, for example, will require hitting a weak point on their glass cockpit to disable them. You'll also be able to cut off the arms, break the head or break various pieces of armour on other enemies.
Combat is supposedly more dynamic, forcing more frequent movement. The game speed is apparently up by 10-15%.
Exploration won't include driving vehicles like the Mako or Hammerhead. This doesn't necessarily rule out vehicles completely, but there's no plans or details on vehicles at the moment. There is also a new scanning system, which presumably means that mineral mining could be back again. Yipee!

Mass Effect Anime Coming Summer 2012

2011-04-07T20:05:04Z

Looks like Mass Effect is getting another movie in addition to the one announced a few months back, but this one's an anime:

“When you play Mass Effect, you're in control of Commander Shepard's destiny. But the galaxy is full of stories that don't involve Shepard, and fans will soon have a chance to watch one of them unfold, since BioWare and EA have inked a deal to create an anime feature film set in the Mass Effect universe.

According to EA's press release, the Mass Effect anime will be handled by Funimation, and deal with "an epic science fiction adventure set in a vast universe filled with dangerous alien life and mysterious, uncharted planets."

While the specific storyline hasn't been revealed, the release quotes Mass Effect executive producer Casey Hudson as saying: "Over the last few years, we have revealed different pieces of the Mass Effect world through different media. Extending the story through an anime medium is another amazing opportunity for us.” This seems to indicate that the movie will explore some new territory (rather than retelling the events of previous Mass Effect games). Production on the movie has already begun, and it is currently scheduled to release in summer 2012.”

Source

Clint Mansell to Score ME3

2011-02-10T00:47:03Z

A little ME3 tidbit: film composer Clint Mansell will be providing ME3's musical score.

According to IGN:

“This is incredible news as Mansell is regarded by many as one of the most gifted composers working in the film industry today. His music is famous for being as epic as it is haunting. His involvement in Mass Effect 3 gives us good reason to believe we might be in for the most emotionally devastating game in BioWare's space opera franchise yet.”

Questions for Mass Effect 3

2010-12-14T03:20:26Z

This is a running list of questions arising from the Mass Effect games and other media that I want the trilogy's conclusion to address in some way. I may update the list from time to time, and if I remember, when Mass Effect 3 is released I'll compare it and see what got answered and what didn't. The questions are in no particular order, and may vary from obvious, important loose plot threads to inconsequential details I'm just curious about to things that may not even matter. This is intended to be for my own reference, but feel free to comment.

1 Reapers
2 Plot Decisions
3 Story Threads
4 Miscellaneous

ReapersEdit

What is the (apparently Reaper-related) information in Keiji Okuda's greybox that would damage the Alliance?
- Does the Alliance know more about the Reapers than the rest of the galaxy?
- Is this linked to the Reapers' attack on Earth?

With the Citadel relay inaccessible, how will the Reapers return to the galaxy?

Per Arrival, by simply traveling to the closest mass relay on the fringe of the galaxy and invading through there. It can be inferred that the Reapers aren't too far out in dark space during their hibernation, just far enough that no one would ever stumble upon them. Losing access to the Citadel relay is thus only an inconvenience in the long run. Their relative proximity to the galaxy also means that the Reapers can't be effectively "sealed" in dark space by disabling any one point of access, they can just detour to another relay. Perhaps the only way to stop the Reapers is by destroying them somehow.

What do the Reapers gain from attacking Earth?
- Are humans that much of a threat?
- Is it revenge?
- Is there something on Earth the Reapers are looking for?
- Are the Reapers killing humans outright, or abducting them Collector-style to build more Reapers?
- Why are the Reapers landing on Earth and not bombarding the planet from orbit?
- Are the Reapers attacking other planets, human or otherwise?

Will the Reapers' origins and purpose ever be explained?

Plot DecisionsEdit

Will saving the rachni have a noticeably significant effect on ME3?
- Will players who didn't save the rachni have reason to regret that decision?
- Were the rachni really pawns of the Reapers during the Rachni Wars?

How will BioWare handle the vast number of possible outcomes from the suicide mission?
- Will all surviving ME2 squadmates return in ME3?

Maybe, maybe not. According to the May 2011 issue of Game Informer, we know that Garrus will return as a squadmate, and Mordin and Legion can be encountered at some point, but there's no news yet on the other nine. It would seem that not all ME2 squadmates will be squadmates in ME3.

- If all ME2 squadmates can potentially die, does that mean they were not intended to be as important in ME3?

Apparently so. At least two ME2 squadmates, Mordin and Legion, will not be squadmates in ME3, but will still appear. It's likely that most ME2 squadmates will have a similar role.

- Will players who didn't keep all squadmates alive miss out on material in ME3?

Yes. Garrus will only be an ME3 squadmate if he survived, likewise for the Mordin and Legion encounters.

- Will choosing to destroy or preserve the Collector base have significant consequences in ME3?

Is the fate of the Citadel Council at the end of ME still important?
- What will a saved Council do that a human-sponsored or human-only Council does not, etc.?
- Will players have reason to regret their choice for human councilor, whether it's Udina or Anderson?

Story ThreadsEdit

How will Cerberus and the Illusive Man figure in ME3's plot?

The May 2011 issue of Game Informer has revealed that Cerberus is now bent on killing Shepard, even in the midst of the Reaper invasion. The Illusive Man presumably factors into this as well.

What are the consequences of Clan Urdnot's growing power and influence among the krogan?
- Does the possibility of curing the genophage tie into this?

Can differences between the quarians and the geth be reconciled?
- Will the quarians really go to war?
- Are the geth amenable to compromise (i.e. willing to return quarian worlds since they have no need for them)?

What is the purpose of the strange activity of Dholen, Haestrom's star?

Is the situation with the batarians relevant to ME3?

Per Arrival, very likely. The batarians are furious that one of their systems has been destroyed by what appears to be an act of terrorism carried out by an Alliance operative. As hinted by Admiral Hackett, the batarians could go to war against the Alliance, but such a war would divide the galaxy and make it even more vulnerable to Reaper attack.

MiscellaneousEdit

What is the relevance of the events of Mass Effect: Inquisition?
- What is Udina's agenda?
- What role, if any, will Commander Bailey play in ME3?
- What was the info on the datapad?
- Why was Executor Pallin acting so strangely?

What are the "official" names of Space Cows and Space Beetles?

What happened to Tazzik from ME: Redemption?

What is Mass Effect's future beyond the trilogy?

SW: TOR To Have Helmet Toggle

2010-11-21T04:31:28Z

Remember how frustrating it was that there was no helmet toggle in Mass Effect 2? Wouldn't it be great for BioWare to fix this? Well, too bad. But BioWare will be putting helmet toggle in another game: Star Wars: The Old Republic. From last Friday's Community Q&A:

Q: Can I turn my helmet on/off?

A: Helmets will be on a toggle so you can show or not as you like. The cinematic team has an additional override control they can use to turn it off in conversation (in case you like to keep your Trooper helmet on with the awesome voice processing). That way they can override it occasionally to keep you from wearing your helmet during your romantic kiss scene (bonk!).

So there you have it. The take-away for us ME fans is that perhaps Mass Effect 3 will have helmet toggle too. One can hope, right?

BioWare Reveals ME2 PS3 Content Details

2010-11-06T04:29:49Z

Update: BioWare's Jesse Houston has clarified several things about the PS3 version's content (thanks to Dammej and DetailedSubset). I have the updated information posted here; my original and now outdated post on this subject will remain below for the record.

The PS3 version of Mass Effect 2 will contain:

An interactive comic into made in collaboration with Dark Horse, which outlines the backstory of the original Mass Effect and allows the player to make decisions which will affect their playthrough of Mass Effect 2.
Blood Dragon Armor, Kasumi - Stolen Memory, Overlord, and Lair of the Shadow Broker will be included on the disc.
A one-time code to download the free Cerberus Network content.

Upon release, PS3 owners will be able to purchase and/or download other available ME2 DLC packs, such as the Aegis Pack. Also, PS3 owners will have access to a few "exclusive" DLC packs, such as the "Recon Operations Pack", which will contain DLC that PC and 360 owners were able to get but PS3 owners don't have access to otherwise (I assume these "exclusive" packs will contain the Dr. Pepper DLC items and pre-order bonuses).

Original blog post: A moderator on the German BioWare Social site has posted (see source below for a translation of the important stuff) a few details about what content the PlayStation 3 version of Mass Effect 2 will have.

According to the moderator, who says the info is from BioWare's Casey Hudson, the PS3 version of ME2 will have:

An interactive comic intro which outlines the backstory of Mass Effect and allows the player to make decisions which will affect their playthrough of ME2.
Kasumi - Stolen Memory, Overlord, and Lair of the Shadow Broker will be included on the disc.
A one-time code which, when activated, allows players to download all other currently available ME2 DLC for free.
A new six hour-long mission.

The first item was already revealed not long after ME2 was announced for PS3, and we've all been semi-expecting the next two. But this is the first we've heard of a new six hour-long mission, and if it truly is a PS3 exclusive, I don't think I'll be alone in feeling cheated.

Source

BioWare Releases ME2 Statistics

2010-09-06T18:28:46Z

An interesting read. True to their word, BioWare has tracked several gameplay aspects in Mass Effect 2. IGN explores these statistics and the reasons for gathering them in an interview with Casey Hudson.

While the stats are listed in the article, I'll add them here for convenience:

Class Least Played: Engineer
Class Most Played: Soldier (more than every other class combined)
Average Completion Time: 33 hours

80% of players used the face customization system
80% of players played as a male Shepard
Roughly 50% of the people who started Mass Effect 2 finished the game
Roughly 50% of the players imported a save from Mass Effect
There are people who played a single playthrough for 66 hours
Two PC players completed Mass Effect 2 28 times
Four Xbox 360 players completed Mass Effect 2 23 times
Players skipped 15% of conversations in Mass Effect 2

Source

Incredible M-8 Avenger AR Replica

2010-08-25T23:04:11Z

From Game Informer:

“Harrison Krix of Volpin Props is at it again. His claim to fame began with a spot-on replica of the Portal Gun, which we featured in an installment of The[Crafty]Gamer. Then the 28-year-old Georgia resident made waves in the cosplay community with his incredibly detailed Big Daddy suit. Now as a personal project, Krix, a fan of the Mass Effect series pays homage to BioWare's successful franchise by replicating the M8 Avenger Assault Rifle that looks real enough to shoot with.

On Krix's personal blog he explains the premise of the project:

"I've been a huge Mass Effect fan for a while now, and with the release of the second game I knew I wanted to take a crack at building some of the weaponry from the ME universe. As a bit of a personal challenge to myself, I decided to construct this gun from as much of my existing materials as possible. That is to say, 95% of what you see here is scrap I had in my shop from other builds. In the end, the entire piece only cost me $28 in raw materials."

Disclaimer: If you ask to buy the amazing piece of equipment for $28 he will send you a box of wood shavings. Fair warning considering the amount of work that goes into putting together a replica of this caliber (complete with working lights!), a process he details in his blog with in-progress images.

Kudos on the project! We can't wait to see what you put together next!”

Microsoft Responds to ME2's Move to PS3

2010-08-17T19:27:21Z

Microsoft has responded to Mass Effect 2's upcoming debut on the PS3 with the usual bravado:

"With both Mass Effect titles launching first on Xbox 360 combined with the wealth of available paid downloadable content on Xbox LIVE today, Xbox 360 remains the best place to experience the Mass Effect franchise."

Furthermore, Microsoft has confirmed that Mass Effect will remain exclusive to Xbox 360 and PC:

"And the original Mass Effect is absolutely an Xbox 360 exclusive, making Xbox 360 the only place to get the full Mass Effect experience."

Source

Rumor: Mass Effect: Genesis coming to PS3

2010-08-16T22:32:35Z

According to this (very tenuous) rumor, Sony or Electronic Arts will announce that "Mass Effect: Genesis" is being developed for PS3. This announcement will allegedly be made either tomorrow at Gamescom or in magazines due out in a few weeks. What "Mass Effect: Genesis" could be (A simple port of ME? A compilation of ME and ME2? An entirely new game?) is left to the imagination.

Source

ME2 Fails to Crack NPD Mid-Year Sales Charts

2010-07-20T02:24:54Z

From IGN: We've hit the halfway point of 2010, and it looks as though Rockstar Games' Red Dead Redemption is going to be the best selling game this year in the U.S. if things don't change dramatically.

Posted below are two groups of console game sales ranked from January 2010 to June 2010, provided by research firm NPD. The first is a look at the top ten individual console game sales. The second is the top five combined sales.

Some things to note:

- Modern Warfare 2 is still outselling Bad Company 2, even though the title was released in November of 2009. Bad Company 2 launched in March 2010.

- Wii dominates individual sales with five titles in the top ten.

- Mass Effect 2, considered one of this year's best titles, did not chart in the top ten.

So, Mass Effect 2, despite rave reviews, is not one of the year's highest-selling games. Could this be a sign of trouble for the future of the franchise, or is IGN's observation even relevant given that Mass Effect 2 sold over 2 million units in its first week, more than enough to be considered a success? I for one think we can chalk it up to the latter.

BioWare Reaffirms ME2 DLC Plans

2010-07-15T01:50:17Z

Nothing new, but at least we know BioWare still has a few more plans for the future besides the ones we're already aware of.

“BioWare has thus far remained true to their commitment to a "continued stream of DLC" for "Mass Effect 2," and they plan to continue on course, even after their "Kasumi" and "Overlord" packs. In fact, BioWare says there are still "big plans" left to be realized with "ME2" before they release the "Return of the Jedi" of their trilogy.

"We still have more DLC in the plan for 'Mass 2,'" BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk told VG247. "The last ones were really well received. People were really, really impressed with the Overlord Pack, and the Kasumi one did really well too."

There will eventually be an endgame, though, which Zeschuk freely admits. The frequency of BioWare's DLC releases could decrease as well, but they will keep on coming for the time being.

"It's at the point where it'll probably diminish a little bit, but there are still some pretty big plans for DLC," he said.

Personally, I'm anxious to see where the DLC goes and how critical it becomes to the narrative, since BioWare has said that they want to use future releases to connect "ME2" and "ME3." That hasn't happened yet, but they've still got plenty of time to work with.”

MTV Multiplayer: 'Mass Effect 2' DLC Plans Reaffirmed By BioWare

Commdor's blog

Would you play the next Mass Effect game if it is not a shooter?

Happy New Year, ME Wiki!

Civil Unrest on Omega

Contents

OmegaCerberus (@Omega_Cerberus) Edit

Talons (@FightForOmega) Edit

Omega DLC Plot Elements Leaked

Mass Effect 3: Leviathan trailer released

What's Next for Mass Effect 3?

How I Almost Lost My Xbox Live Account

Rumor: ME3 "Rebellion" Multiplayer DLC Incoming

IGN's ME3 Review-in-Progress

Gamestop Spills From Ashes screenshots

BioWare Unboxes ME3

Weekly ANN Reports from the BioWare Blog

Game Informer ME3 Preview (Feb. 2012)

Pre-order bonuses for ME3 revealed

New ME3 Ashley Screenshot

ME3 Internal Story Files Leak

Beta Version of ME3 Leaks on Xbox Live

ME3 Demo Arriving January 2012

ME3 to Have "Killer New Feature"

A new alien race in ME: Conviction?

Mass Effect 3 at Gamescom

Vote for ME3's Female Shepard

Mass Effect March on Comic-Con

Rumor: ME3 to Feature 4-Player Co-op Missions

E3 Coverage of ME3 News Begins

Contents

E3 NewsEdit

Pre-E3 NewsEdit

IGN: ME3 Story PreviewEdit

IGN: ME3 Combat PreviewEdit

IGN: Live E3 PreviewEdit

ME3 Kinect RumorsEdit

Mass Effect Covers That Could Have Been

PC Gamer June 2011 - ME3 Info

More ME3 Details from the BioWare Forums

Mass Effect Anime Coming Summer 2012

Clint Mansell to Score ME3

Questions for Mass Effect 3

Contents

ReapersEdit

Plot DecisionsEdit

Story ThreadsEdit

MiscellaneousEdit

SW: TOR To Have Helmet Toggle

BioWare Reveals ME2 PS3 Content Details

BioWare Releases ME2 Statistics

Incredible M-8 Avenger AR Replica

Microsoft Responds to ME2's Move to PS3

Rumor: Mass Effect: Genesis coming to PS3

ME2 Fails to Crack NPD Mid-Year Sales Charts

BioWare Reaffirms ME2 DLC Plans