[Multi] Bioware asks: Should Mass Effect 4 be a prequel or sequel?

[Multi] Bioware asks: Should Mass Effect 4 be a prequel or sequel?

Bioware's Casey Hudson, creator of the Mass Effect Universe and Executive Producer on all three games, has taken to Twitter to ask fans for feedback on where Mass Effect should go next. More specifically, whether Mass Effect 4 should be take its place as a sequel, or set prior to the existing trilogy.

"Parsing through your thoughts on the next #ME game," he wrote. "Would you be more interested in a game that takes place before the trilogy, or after?"

The fact that Bioware has yet to settle on a time-setting for Mass Effect 4 suggests that development of the game is still very much in its infancy.

"While [Mass Effect 4] will be very respectful of the heritage built over the course of the first three games, with the original trilogy now concluded and the switch over to a new engine, we are exploring new directions, both on the gameplay and story fronts," BioWare Montreal studio director Yanick Roy said earlier this month.

"You can still expect the pillars the franchise is known for to be fully intact though, including diverse alien races, a huge galaxy to explore, and of course rich, cinematic storytelling."

BioWare wants your help deciding. So, what's your answer?

Written By: Billy Hudson

(This post was last modified: 11-20-2012 03:27 AM by Billy.) DPrinny
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RE: [Multi] Bioware asks: Should Mass Effect 4 be a prequel or sequel?
If its a prequel why give is a higher number?

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[PC, PS3, X360] BioWare confirms 'Resurgence' pack for Mass Effect 3's multiplayer

[PC, PS3, X360] BioWare confirms 'Resurgence' pack for Mass Effect 3's multiplayer

The most surprising thing about Mass Effect 3 besides how average the ending was the fact that the multiplayer was actually enjoyable. It came with a decent selection of classes and a handful of maps, however to maintain activity it will naturally need additional content.

Seemingly answering the call, BioWare has announced the 'Resurgence' DLC pack that will add a few new maps, new classes, weapons and consumable power-ups.

The two maps include Firebase Condor, a map set on the battle-torn moon of Palaven, and Firebase Hydra, which is a map set on an abandoned Quarian colony that has been transformer into a power facility. The new characters include a Krogan Vanguard, Asari Justicar Adept, Geth Engineer, Geth Infiltrator, Batarian Soldier and Batarian Sentinel. So finally those who have wanted to play as Geth (Like this reporter) will finally have their way! Additional new weapons include Striker Assault Rifle, Kishock Harpoon Gun and Geth Plasma SMG. Finally, the new consumables will tweak different things as a one-time temporary boost such as Strength Enhancer (Applies a melee damage boost for one mission), Targeting VI (Applies a headshot damage bonus for one mission), Stabilization Module (Stabilizes weapons while firing and moving for one mission), and Shield Power Cells (Shortens the length of time for shield recharges to kick in).

You'll be able to pick up this DLC for the low, low price of zero dollars. That's right, it'll be made available at no additional charge. Xbox 360 and Origin users can look forward to it becoming made available on the 10th of April, whilst PS3 users will get access on the 10th of April (NA) or 11th of April (EU).

I've spent a lot of time in the multiplayer, so I'm actually quite excited for this free content drop.

Written by: Kyran Morrison

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[Multi] Weekly Sales Charts, Mar. 4-10: Mass Sales Effect

GlueGun18
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Posts: 2,555
Joined: Jan 2007
Reputation: 69 [Multi] Weekly Sales Charts, Mar. 4-10: Mass Sales Effect

WORLDWIDE HARDWARE
Nintendo 3DS - 179,947 (16,309,738)
PlayStation 3 - 172,371 (62,464,312)
Xbox 360 - 120,314 (65,304,481)
PlayStation Vita - 113,252 (1,495,821)
Nintendo Wii - 79,399 (95,261,183)
Sony PSP - 41,658 (73,498,007)
Nintendo DS - 38,912 (151,670,904)WORLDWIDE SOFTWARE TOP 20
1) Mass Effect 3 (X360) - 1,616,958 (1,616,958)
2) Mass Effect 3 (PS3) - 498,263 (498,263)
3) Mass Effect 3 (PC) - 282,806 (282,806)
4) Street Fighter X Tekken (PS3) - 240,410 (241,854)
5) Street Fighter X Tekken (X360) - 117,811 (118,602)
6) One Piece Pirate Musou (PS3) - 89,522 (753,835)
7) Hatsune Miku and Future Stars: Project Mirai (3DS) - 87,963 (87,963)
8) Just Dance 3 (Wii) - 83,840 (8,622,099)
9) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (X360) - 83,297 (13,627,621)
10) SSX (PS3) - 80,985 (317,985)
11) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (PS3) - 79,391 (11,425,737)
12) SSX (X360) - 72,653 (301,631)
13) MLB 12: The Show (PS3) - 71,242 (71,242)
14) Zumba Fitness (Wii) - 69,238 (5,092,834)
15) Mario Kart 7 (3DS) - 61,720 (5,082,693)
16) Major League Baseball 2K12 (X360) - 60,448 (60,448)
17) Super Mario 3D Land (3DS) - 55,582 (5,569,571)
18) Mario Party 9 (Wii) - 54,788 (101,594)
19) Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (Wii) - 51,914 (3,946,230)
20) Kidou Senshi Gundam UC (PS3) - 51,705 (51,705) USA HARDWARE
Xbox 360 - 62,593 (33,834,697)
PlayStation 3 - 49,246 (20,537,019)
Nintendo 3DS - 45,945 (4,751,272)
PlayStation Vita - 35,723 (316,379)
Nintendo Wii - 34,842 (39,079,080)
Nintendo DS - 19,576 (50,583,274)
Sony PSP - 6,734 (19,482,280)USA SOFTWARE TOP 10
1) Mass Effect 3 (X360) - 1,066,947 (1,066,947)
2) Mass Effect 3 (PS3) - 289,941 (289,941)
3) Street Fighter X Tekken (PS3) - 119,669 (119,669)
4) Mass Effect 3 (PC) - 114,492 (114,492)
5) Street Fighter X Tekken (X360) - 72,717 (72,717)
6) MLB 12: The Show (PS3) - 60,556 (60,556)
7) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (X360) - 58,726 (7,798,616)
8) Just Dance 3 (Wii) - 52,869 (4,487,367)
9) Major League Baseball 2K12 (X360) - 51,381 (51,381)
10) Zumba Fitness (Wii) - 39,687 (2,342,842) EUROPE HARDWARE
PlayStation 3 - 60,384 (24,315,771)
PlayStation Vita - 57,614 (444,833)
Nintendo 3DS - 47,180 (4,560,636)
Xbox 360 - 40,973 (20,317,867)
Nintendo Wii - 25,230 (31,230,813)
Nintendo DS - 12,442 (51,174,432)
Sony PSP - 7,504 (20,832,496)EUROPE SOFTWARE TOP 10
1) Mass Effect 3 (X360) - 311,084 (311,084)
2) Mass Effect 3 (PC) - 118,488 (118,488)
3) Mass Effect 3 (PS3) - 117,867 (117,867)
4) Mario Party 9 (Wii) - 47,118 (87,371)
5) SSX (PS3) - 33,199 (102,933)
6) Street Fighter X Tekken (PS3) - 30,575 (30,575)
7) Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (PS3) - 28,209 (1,597,822)
8) SSX (X360) - 25,112 (79,606)
9) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (PS3) - 22,906 (4,275,340)
10) FIFA Soccer 12 (PS3) - 22,273 (3,504,695) JAPAN HARDWARE
Nintendo 3DS - 68,503 (5,269,287)
PlayStation 3 - 34,267 (7,997,828)
Sony PSP - 15,819 (18,822,981)
PlayStation Vita - 9,944 (601,889)
Nintendo Wii - 7,693 (12,340,482)
Nintendo DS - 1,335 (33,003,238)
Xbox 360 - 1,077 (1,570,863)JAPAN SOFTWARE TOP 10
1) One Piece Pirate Musou (PS3) - 89,522 (753,835)
2) Hatsune Miku and Future Stars: Project Mirai (3DS) - 87,963 (87,963)
3) Street Fighter X Tekken (PS3) - 58,856 (58,856)
4) Kidou Senshi Gundam UC (PS3) - 51,705 (51,705)
5) Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D (3DS) - 38,958 (38,958)
6) Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (3DS) - 23,701 (67,168)
7) Mario Kart 7 (3DS) - 18,278 (1,603,377)
8) Super Mario 3D Land (3DS) - 17,624 (1,416,099)
9) Harvest Moon: The Land of Origin (3DS) - 16,645 (127,473)
10) Monster Hunter 3G (3DS) - 14,187 (1,302,833)

USA TOP 10 PREORDERS
1) Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City (X360) - 20,663 (205,639)
2) Tales of Graces f (PS3) - 19,273 (105,640)
3) Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii) - 18,095 (148,161)
4) Borderlands 2 (X360) - 9,225 (91,586)
5) Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City (PS3) - 6,778 (170,561)
6) Diablo III (PC) - 6,726 (440,733)
7) Mario Party 9 (Wii) - 5,952 (92,393)
8) Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations (PS3) - 4,902 (55,384)
9) Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier (X360) - 4,879 (227,455)
10) Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations (X360) - 4,402 (43,260)

Written by: Mike Glubish

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[PC, PS3, X360] BioWare Considering Alternate Mass Effect 3 Ending

[PC, PS3, X360] BioWare Considering Alternate Mass Effect 3 Ending

Despite almost universal critical acclaim and selling around 2.5 million copies in its first week, it seems Mass Effect 3 is mired in more controversy than one would ever expect from a game with such remarkable achievements. While most agree that the journey to the series' finale is well worth experiencing, the game's ending has left a lot to be desired for the vast majority of fans. So much so, in fact, that fans have banded together to raise money for the Child's Play charity in hopes of encouraging BioWare to release an alternate ending as downloadable content (almost $70,000 has been raised).

In a statement on the developer's Facebook page, BioWare says that it has heard the fans' cries and is at least considering the possibility of an alternate ending. "We would like to clarify that we are actively and seriously taking all player feedback into consideration and have ruled nothing out. At this time we are still collecting and considering your feedback and have not made a decision regarding requests to change the ending," read the statement.

Do you think Mass Effect 3 needs a new ending, or would you rather BioWare leave it the way it is?

Written by: Mike Glubish

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RE: [PC, PS3, X360] BioWare Considering Alternate Mass Effect 3 Ending

(03-19-2012 09:46 PM)Cubroso Wrote:  

(03-19-2012 09:00 PM)GlueGun18 Wrote:  Do you think Mass Effect 3 needs a new ending, or would you rather BioWare leave it the way it is?

Either way, they'll be continuing their slow, painful venture downhill.

I wonder if they know that there isn't really a rock at rock bottom?

Ah yes, the typical nonsense to attempt to try to knock them down while they're on top. Mass Effect was an outstanding trilogy with a disappointing ending that has been blown way out of proportion. There are a lot of people who want BioWare to fail just because they are EA property now, that much is clear.

A 94% aggregate score and 2.5 million copies sold in a week. Truly rock bottom.

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3DS: 3909-7594-8619 (This post was last modified: 03-20-2012 06:09 PM by GlueGun18.) RE: [PC, PS3, X360] BioWare Considering Alternate Mass Effect 3 Ending
They had to deal with some bad PR after the abysmal Dragon Age 2, but luckily the Mass Effect franchise had strength to push beyond that. However, now you see the Twitter account constantly addressing people with stuff like 'We have passed your concerns about the ending onto the developer' and with all the outlets posting about the ending controversy, I think BioWare's position has been cast into doubt. Honestly, they've been off their game for awhile and Mass Effect 3 was a pretty solid game but the ending absolutely pissed over the trilogy.

I can still recommend people play the trilogy, but I just warn them to go into Mass Effect 3 prepared for an absolutely boring ending that will be essentially the same no matter what option they choose and nothing will really be explained.

RE: [PC, PS3, X360] BioWare Considering Alternate Mass Effect 3 Ending
The quality of their games the last year (DAII, SWTOR, ME3) has degraded somewhat from earlier games in their respective series, but I find people are over-exaggerating this fact because Dragon Age II was a massive step backwards from Origins and ME3 had a bad ending.

They need to step away from Mass Effect and Star Wars for a bit and concentrate on some new IPs, which is what I feel they do best (if only because the expectations are more reasonable). Or do Jade Empire 2.

XBL: GlueGun18
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3DS: 3909-7594-8619

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[PC, PS3, X360] Casey Hudson responds to Mass Effect 3 ending controversy, talks DLC

[PC, PS3, X360] Casey Hudson responds to Mass Effect 3 ending controversy, talks DLC

Mass Effect 3's ending has come under fire from all directions recently. Within good reason as well, it ignores a lot of the franchise's key strengths and just plain makes very little sense. It is only natural for fans to be whipped into an outrage considering many of them have now invested 120 hours into this series. Casey Hudson spoke with Digital Trends about the backlash and had the following to say.

"I didn’t want the game to be forgettable, and even right down to the sort of polarizing reaction that the ends have had with people–debating what the endings mean and what’s going to happen next, and what situation are the characters left in. That to me is part of what’s exciting about this story. There has always been a little bit of mystery there and a little bit of interpretation, and it’s a story that people can talk about after the fact."

Whilst I understand what he is saying, he certainly hasn't really addressed the central issue at hand regarding the endings. At the very least, it certainly won't be forgettable even if it is for all the wrong reasons.

Hudson also went on to reassure fans that BioWare does listen to them, especially when it comes to crafting DLC. He refers to how fans said they wanted more Liara content so they put together the Lair of the Shadow Broker (probably BioWare's most impressive piece of DLC since Dragon Age: Awakening). "It's very important to us and we will always listen to feedback, interpret it and try and do the right thing by our fans," said Hudson in the interview. So I guess this means BioWare are keeping an eye on fan discussion to fuel their Mass Effect 3 DLC plans?

You can check out the full interview at Digital Trends, he tends to not really get asked any of the hard questions that I'm sure a lot of fans want him pressed about but at the same time this is the first time he has emerged after the controversy kicked up.

What do you think about the state of BioWare and the Mass Effect 3 ending? Remember to tag spoilers.

Written by: Kyran Morrison

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[PC, PS3, X360] Review Roundup - Mass Effect 3

[PC, PS3, X360] Review Roundup - Mass Effect 3
Eurogamer - 10/10 - "As with any game that dares to be ambitious, deconstruct Mass Effect 3 into its constituent parts and of course there are flaws, but taken as a whole this is arguably the first truly modern blockbuster, a game that transcends the genre boundaries of old and takes what it needs from across the gaming spectrum in order to finish its story in the most compelling, thrilling, heartbreaking way possible. Few gaming sagas come to a definitive close, but this one signs off in breathtaking style."

IGN - 9.5/10 - "All told, Mass Effect 3 is an absolutely amazing game, one that successfully puts a bow on the Mass Effect trilogy while still leaving us hungry for even more. It looks and plays great, but Mass Effect 3’s true strength lies in its ability to tell a deeply-woven story. Better yet, the sheer ambition shown by BioWare in announcing an intersecting trilogy complete with save importation becomes fully realized in Mass Effect 3. BioWare deserves applause for not only having the courage to attempt something like the Mass Effect trilogy, but for pulling it off with such exceptional poise and skill."

GameTrailers - 9.5/10 - "Improves many of the series' individual elements, and provides finality to a saga in which numbers of us have invested dozens of hours. But despite this success, it's unable to reward the effort and investment of players in the same way previous games did. Still, it handles its subject matter in a way that invites you to care, and the addition of multiplayer does add another dimension to the game. When all has been said and done, there's a very good chance that you'll feel something."

Gamespot - 9/10 - "Mass Effect 3 has its flaws, but they're of minimal consequence in a game this enthralling. By filling the Milky Way with vibrant, singular characters, the series has given you a reason to care about its fate. Ostensibly, Mass Effect 3 is about saving the galaxy, but a galaxy is just a thing--an idea, an abstract, a meaningless collection of plutinos, planets, and pulsars. But the game is actually about saving people. And there's a big difference there. Watching cities burn from orbit tugs at your heartstrings; watching a beloved companion die cuts to the bone. Whether you possess a storied history with the series or come with a clean slate, Mass Effect 3 expertly entangles you in its universe and inspires you to care about its future."

Destructoid - 8.5/10 - "When all is said and done, Mass Effect 3 is the conclusion of Shepard's career and as fine a conclusion as they deserve. The story is more fast-paced than anything BioWare has done before and still feels like it's affording the player as much time as they need to explore and discover. While some niggling issues do persist in terms of controls, the storyline is supremely satisfying right up to its climax, which contains one of the most interesting moral dilemmas found in videogames (from a standpoint of long-term implications). Well done, BioWare. Mission accomplished."

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[PC, X360] Mass Effect 3 facing trouble importing character faces from Mass Effect 1

[PC, X360] Mass Effect 3 facing trouble importing character faces from Mass Effect 1

It appears that things aren't going so smoothly for Mass Effect 3's launch, users are reporting issues with importing faces created in the original Mass Effect in BioWare's epic conclusion to the trilogy.

A few users had experienced this issue earlier, but had assumed that since it technically wasn't available widely so they thought BioWare may not have flipped a switch or something. However, these issues are still occuring even with the game's launch so it appears the trouble could go deeper.

These problems don't seem to affect people who created a character face for Mass Effect 2 and is instead only affecting those who did so in Mass Effect 1 and carried it across.

So, I guess it is only really annoying the franchise's longest and most dedicated fans.

Written by: Kyran Morrison

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[PC, PS3, X360] Breaking News: Game UK not stocking Mass Effect 3 at launch

[PC, PS3, X360] Breaking News: Game UK not stocking Mass Effect 3 at launch

It's spreading all across the internet like wildfire, but it looks like GAME UK isn't going to be stocking Mass Effect 3 at launch. Or SSX. Or any Electronic Arts titles until they can come to an agreement with GAME regarding certain aspects of their business model.

Everything is a bit hazy right now, GAME is claiming that they are making a stance and are deciding not to stock EA's games due for "commercial reasons", they had the following to say in a statement:

Quote:We currently have a supply issue with regards to Mass Effect 3, which means that GAME and gamestation will not be able to fulfil orders for Mass Effect 3 at this time. We want to give customers as much notice about this as possible and provide them with a range of options ahead of launch.

We appreciate that this is disappointing for our customers, and we apologise sincerely for the inconvenience that this will cause. We value the loyalty of our customers very highly and as a gesture of goodwill we are providing the following: Customers who have pre-ordered in store*, will have the opportunity to add £5 worth of Reward points to their card if they visit us from 1st March through to 16th March 2012.Customers who have placed a deposit for the title* will receive a refund as well as the £5 worth of Reward points between 1st - 16th March 2012.Customers who have pre-ordered online, will be provided with an online voucher to the value of £5 to be spent on any purchase on our sites.

Meanwhile, EA has pointed fans towards other options in an attempt to keep us all updated on the current situation. They point gamers towards alternative options (which will also now be offering the N7 Collector's Edition) including Amazon.co.uk, Play.com, Zavvi.com and ShopTo.net.

So anyone who is being experiencing difficulty because of this development should definitely check out those sites to secure yourself an N7 addition.

We'll keep our ears to the ground to see what exactly transpires here.

The above e-mail describes a possible problem between EA and GAME UK that could have contributed to this scenario, you can click it the image for a larger version

Written by: Kyran Morrison

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[PC, PS3, X360] BioWare releases the full cinematic Mass Effect 3 trailer

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Sorry, I could not read the content fromt this page.

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[PC, PS3, X360] #FemShepFriday brings us a new Mass Effect 3 trailer

[PC, PS3, X360] #FemShepFriday brings us a new Mass Effect 3 trailer
Awhile ago fans voted on a default look for the infamous 'FemShep' from BioWare's Mass Effect franchise. Now you can see the winning look in action in a brand new trailer. It is weird seeing a FemShep that doesn't look like my own (much like it is weird seeing a ManShep who doesn't look like mine) but regardless, the trailer certainly sets the stage.
Mass Effect 3 hits shelves on the 6th of March for PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

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[PC, PS3, X360] Mass Effect 3 Marketing Stunt is Out of this World

[PC, PS3, X360] Mass Effect 3 Marketing Stunt is Out of this World

The excruciating wait for one of the biggest games of the year will continue for another three weeks for most of us, but a very lucky few will be able to get their hands on the full version of Mass Effect 3 before then thanks to a unique marketing ploy by Electronic Arts. Next week, the publisher will literally be launching copies of the game into space using weather balloons that will be released from New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Berlin, London, and Paris. Each copy of the game has a GPS tracking device attached to it that people can track on masseffect.com to find where the games will land on their return to Earth.

Finders become keepers and will get to enjoy the game in its entirety well in advance of the game's March 6 release date. Until then you'll have to get your ME3 fix with the recently-released demo available for download on Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, and PC.

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[PC, PS3, X360] Mass Effect 3 'Special Forces' trailer introduces you to the gang

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Sorry, I could not read the content fromt this page.

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[PC] Mass Effect 3 minimum and recommended system specs revealed

[PC] Mass Effect 3 minimum and recommended system specs revealed

Sure, Mass Effect 3 is coming to Origin and a few other third-party digital distributors (aka not Valve's Steam) but if you are still willing to pick this up for PC then you'll be happy to hear that BioWare have posted both the minimum and recommended system requirements.

Minimum Specs
OS - Windows XP SP3/Vista SP1, Win 7
Supported chipsets: NVIDIA 7900 or better; ATI X1800 or better. Please note that NVIDIA GeForce 9300, 8500, 8400, and 8300 are below minimum system requirements, as are AMD/ATI Radeon HD3200, HD3300, and HD4350. Updates to your video and sound card drivers may be required.
CPU - 1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (equivalent AMD CPU)
RAM - 1GB for XP / 2GB RAM for Vista/Win 7
Disc Drive - 1x speed
Hard Drive - 15 GB of free space
Video - 256 MB* (with Pixel Shader 3.0 support)
Sound - DirectX 9.0c compatible
DirectX - DirectX 9.0c August 2009 (included)

Recommended Specs
OS - Windows XP SP3/Vista SP1, Win 7
CPU - 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (equivalent AMD CPU)
RAM - 2GB for XP / 4GB RAM for Vista/Win 7
Disc Drive - 1x speed
Hard Drive - 15 GB of free space
Video - AMD/ATI Radeon HD 4850 512 MB or greater, NVidia GeForce 9800 GT 512 MB or greater
Sound - DirectX 9.0c compatible

Eager to try out the demo? Well that will be dropping on the 14th of February, so mark the day in your calendars because it sure to blow you away.

Written by: Kyran Morrison

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[PC] Things you probably guessed: No Steam launch for Mass Effect 3

[PC] Things you probably guessed: No Steam launch for Mass Effect 3

I think a lot of people saw this coming after 2011's Battlefield 3 Origin debacle. Now it seems that Mass Effect 3 is joining the Origin flagship as well with both physical and digital copies apparently requiring Origin to run.

The news comes from BioWare's manager, Chris Priestly, in a FAQ that was posted recently. In it he mentions that "during initial release, Mass Effect 3 will be available on Origin and a number of other 3rd party digital retailers, but not on Steam at this time." This leaves a pinch of hope that it might saunter onto Valve's digital platform after launch, but people have long since stopped holding their breathes for Battlefield 3 to do the same thing.

BioWare is sticking with the classic "restrictive terms of service" as the reason for it missing launch, but we still don't expect any changes any time soon. No one else is complaining after all.

Do you think this is going to harm Mass Effect 3's launch on PC? Or are you getting it on console anyway?

Written by: Kyran Morrison

RE: [PC] Things you probably guessed: No Steam launch for Mass Effect 3
ADSCGKOSDAFKSFOKASDFKOASOKFASKFOAJKFJAFJADSFJADSFJAJFJDASJOGFJSG.

Displeased. I guess I might have to boycott this until a steam release.

EA has done this because they don't want to sell their DLC on the steam store where valve takes a small cut. Kinda makes a bit of business sense until you realise using the EA solution is a pain in the ass as you have to buy the DLC from the site and download extra files and install them separately. The steam version basically has you buying from within steam and then it gets downloaded and activated without any user interaction. Having a PC game and it's DLC on steam will always result in more sales because pretty much every PC gamer has steam installed and it isn't a pain in the ass to buy things (In fact it's pretty much the opposite, I frequently find it hard not to buy things on steam).

Also Steam Achievements, Steam Cloud, Steam Overlay Integration, blah, blah.

Problems with origin Origin looks through your _entire_ file system and sends data off to EA about it. There are viruses that don't abuse a users privacy as bad as that.It's another application installed to run this game that doesn't add anything to the user. No Achievements, No Steam CloudLooking at EA's past with download clients, who knows if it'll be around in a couple of yearsEA has used some pretty bad DRM in the past, Steam forces developers to use their user-friendly DRM, which has been generally accepted as the best solution to the problem.The customer service is apparently non-existent.The prices on origin are ridiculous. PC games do not have the same licensing fees that console games do, They shouldn't cost anywhere near as much.

Forcing people to use their (very flawed) system is not the way get people to use it. If anything it's the way to make it fail. (This post was last modified: 01-17-2012 09:40 AM by Irony.)

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[PC, PS3, X360] Commander Shepard is leaving us behind after Mass Effect 3

[PC, PS3, X360] Commander Shepard is leaving us behind after Mass Effect 3

Mass Effect 3 is set to conclude the epic sci-fi trilogy next March, but we know that BioWare is eager to continue the franchise in some form. But what we don't know is if the franchise will continue
forward with Shepard, however now we have confirmation that it won't.

Dr. Ray Muzyka has confirmed this fact with PC Gamer, "After this, Commander Shepard's story is complete." He continues on claiming that he/she will not be present in any future Mass Effect titles. So, how do you think Shepard's career will end? Happy or depressing? Either way, it seems that BioWare will have to take great care with rounding out the story of Shepard.

Are you excited for Mass Effect 3?

Written by: Kyran Morrison

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[PC, PS3, X360] Mass Effect 3 Delayed to 2012

[PC, PS3, X360] Mass Effect 3 Delayed to 2012

As the holiday 2011 season continues to fill up with more and more release dates for big games, gamers should expect the inevitability that several of these games will get the boot into next year, as happens every year it seems.

Unfortunately, one of the most highly anticipated games of 2011, Mass Effect 3, will now become one of the most highly anticipated games of 2012, as BioWare announced today that ME3 will be released "in the first three months of 2012" instead of its original "Holiday 2011" release window.

"The development team is laser focused on making sure Mass Effect 3 is the biggest, boldest and best game in the series, ensuring that it exceeds everyone’s expectations,” said Casey Hudson, Executive Producer of the Mass Effect series in a statement today.

EA boss John Riccitiello added that the delay will allow them to "essentially address a far larger market opportunity than Mass Effect 1 did and Mass Effect 2 began to approach." Read into that what you will.

While the delay will certainly be disappointing to Mass Effect fans, it may come as a bit of a relief to the blockbuster-heavy holiday season that already includes the likes of Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Battlefield 3, Batman: Arkham City, and the inevitable next Call of Duty entry, amongst many others.

Written by: Mike Glubish

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[PC, PS3, X360] Mass Effect 3 details emerge via Game Informer

[PC, PS3, X360] Mass Effect 3 details emerge via Game Informer It looks like we have some information to ease the pain of waiting until later in the year to play the actual game itself. Mass Effect 3 is the feature article in this month's Game Informer, and inside there is a fair amount of juicy information to hold over fans.

The game will start on Earth with Commander Shepard defending his actions in the Arrival DLC for Mass Effect 2 so if you haven't played it yet I recommend you do to be up to speed (despite the lower quality of this pack). The prologue will include the Reapers assault on Earth and will see Shepard hop into the Normandy and jet off into deep space to start getting support.

As far as squadmates go, we're still uncertain as to who'll return. The article lists off squad members who will be playable to a certain extent though. The confirmed squadmates are Garrus (provided he is still alive), Ash / Kaiden, Liara and a new character called James Sanders (who apparently isn't the sniper from the VGA reveal). Other characters who will appear in the game (but not necessarily as playable characters) include Wrex, Legion, Mordin and Anderson. Hopefully others will return as well, but we'll have to wait and see. Also worth noting is that the Illusive Man (including all of Cerberus) is gunning for Shepard, so you'll have to watch your back.

Gameplay will be taking a few more cues from the Mass Effect 1 RPG elements with BioWare confirming they will be expanding the tech trees and allowing some abilities to evolve more than once. However, the weapons will keep the same loadout formula from Mass Effect 2. On the bright side, mods will be appearing allowing you to at least customise your forced weapons a little bit.

The game will feature multiple endings, some good and some bad. The endings will also hinge on who you have in your squad as well apparently.

No multiplayer will be included in this game, although BioWare states they are exploring the concept for future games and spin-offs.

So, are you ready to unite the galaxy and stop the reaper threat? We are still awaiting scans but November can't arrive fast enough.

Written by: Kyran Morrison

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[PC, PS3, X360] BioWare Offering Free Mass Effect 2 to Dragon Age II Purchasers

[PC, PS3, X360] BioWare Offering Free Mass Effect 2 to Dragon Age II Purchasers
In celebration of Dragon Age II reaching the landmark achievement of selling a million copies in less than two weeks, BioWare is offering a free download of Mass Effect 2 to anyone who purchases - or has already purchased - Dragon Age II. The one million milestone was accomplished quicker than 2009's Dragon Age: Origins, which has sold around 4 million copies worldwide to date.

In order to qualify, you must purchase Dragon Age II before April 30th, activate the Online Pass that comes with the game and log into your EA Account. Then head over to BioWare's official website and log in again with your EA Account to receive a Mass Effect 2 download code which can be redeemed via the EA Download Manager (full instructions are on BioWare's website). While the offer is valid to purchasers of any version of DAII, the code is only valid for a PC download of ME2.

If you somehow missed on one of the best games of 2010 in Mass Effect 2 and have any interest in Dragon Age II, this is an offer you won't want to pass up.

Written by: Mike Glubish

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[PS3, X360, PC] BioWare releases trailer for Mass Effect 2: Arrival DLC

03-29-2011, 03:21 AM (This post was last modified: 03-29-2011 03:21 AM by LemonManX.) [PS3, X360, PC] BioWare releases trailer for Mass Effect 2: Arrival DLC With release fast approaching, BioWare have released a trailer to generate as much hype as they can for the long-awaited Mass Effect 2 DLC titled 'Arrival'.

This newest installment is a solo mission for Commander Shepard (meaning you won't have any of your allies with you) sent to the very edge of the galaxy to rescue an undercover operative who may have important information regarding an imminent Reaper invasion.

Arrival will be available on the 29th of March for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. Does this downloadable content interest you? Or would you rather hear more about Mass Effect 3?

Written by: Kyran Morrison RE: [PS3, X360, PC] BioWare releases trailer for Mass Effect 2: Arrival DLC Sounds like its just about time for another playthrough.

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[PS3, X360, PC] Mass Effect 2 Patch Leaks 'Arrival' Trophies

[PS3, X360, PC] Mass Effect 2 Patch Leaks 'Arrival' Trophies
A patch that was released today has injected some new trophies that give us a hint of what might be next for BioWare before we get Mass Effect 3 later this year. When gamers patched their games, a new trophy set was made available.

It is titled 'Arrival' and contains three bronze trophies. They are The Ultimate Sacrifice, Last Stand and Covert Action. The one that provides the biggest hint is the Covert Action trophy which mentions Dr. Amanda Kenson, whom you have to rescue without alerting hostiles to your presence. Here is what a recent entry about Kenson from the Cereberus Network had to say:

Quote:Historians and astronomers alike are abuzz tonight over a new paper published by Dr. Amanda Kenson of the University of Arcturus. Her team claims that by testing the dust trapped in the gravity wells around a mass relay, and comparing its composition to that of dust clouds in the same system, scientists can create a timeline of when the relay passed through the dust. Her conclusion?

"Only a small fraction of the mass effect relays date back 50,000 years," she writes, "The majority are far older, indicating they were created by a species predating even the Protheans." Dr. Aurana T'Meles of the University of Serrice met the information with skepticism: "While Dr. Kenson's methods appear sound, the asari tried a similar procedure centuries ago and discounted it. What civilization could have spanned the galaxy for not thousands, but millions of years? If this were the case, we should have found mountains of evidence of their passing. Where is this species now?"

We don't know when to expect this new DLC pack, but it could be what bridges the gap between Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 (which is due to release late 2011). What would you like to see from it? And do the Ultimate Sacrifice and Last Stand trophies give you a bad feeling about what is to come?

Written by: Kyran Morrison

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