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Hyperspace Beacon: Illusion of choice
Before I begin this little rant about Star Wars: The Old Republic, there are a couple things I want to make clear: This edition of the Hyperspace Beacon will have a lot of spoilers, and I really like SWTOR as a whole. First off, the spoilers mentioned here will be about the DragonAge and Mass Effect series of games. If you have not played through either one of those games and do not want to know how some of that story turns out, then you may not want to read this article. Secondly, SWTOR is a wonderful game. I have played it on a couple of occasions, and I believe it exhibits some of the qualities that have been missing from many of the current MMOs -- specifically, story. By no means do I want to discourage anyone from playing or pre-ordering this game, so if you're on the fence about this game, you may not want to read on because this article is not for you. Surely, fans of BioWare have played games like Mass Effect and DragonAge, and I hope you have played Knights of the Old Republic. These games really define what BioWare is and the types of games it can make. However, given some of the most recent announcements, I have to wonder if some of the staples that made these BioWare games great are going to be missing in Star Wars: The Old Republic. Have BioWare games gone from having choice to just the illusion of choice?
XBLM deals: Mass Effect 2 and Microsoft Studios DLC, Gamertag change
Major Nelson has posted the Xbox Live Marketplace schedule for the next few weeks, including some good deals and one strange one. This week's Deal of the Week is for Mass Effect 2 DLC. Gold members can snag "Lair of the Shadow Broker" and "Kasumi -- Stolen Memory" for $3.50 each, half the usual price. "Arrival" is also half-price at $5. DLC for several Microsoft-published titles is also on sale, including content for Halo: Reach, Gears of War 2, Forza 3, Fable 3 and Alan Wake. This sale is not part of the Deal of the Week promotion, and appears to be open to both Gold and Silver members of Xbox Live. As for next week's deal, well, it's a bit strange. Microsoft is offering the ability to change your Gamertag at a discount. It normally costs $10 to change an Xbox Live moniker, but next week's "deal" drops the price to just $7. So, if you hate your Gamertag but not quite enough to justify ten bucks, next week's deal is for you.
Mass Effect Normandy SR2 Cerberus Variant model up for pre-order
The problem with that Normandy SR2 model you pre-ordered for your cube back in May is that it doesn't have anything to pick a fight with. Enter the newly announced Cerberus variant, available for 35 clams, and expected to arrive in this galaxy sometime in November. Pew-pew sounds not included.
EA celebrates Independence Day with a massive sale
Rather than watching your grandma mouth along the words to Lee Greenwood's timeless Americana classic "God Bless the USA" one more time this Independence Day, wouldn't you rather giver her a run for the money in one of the many Hasbro Family Game Night games? EA's offering just such a possibility, putting nine of its Hasbro titles on XBL up for sale at 50 percent off, and offering a swath of deals on other platforms on July 4th. Perhaps you were looking to freedom-ize the necromorphs of Dead Space on iPad during your independence celebration? That's also on sale for .99 cents, alongside a handful of other iOS titles. And if you're more of the PC type, everything from Mass Effect 2 ($12) to Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit ($18) is marked down on Origin.
Mass Effect 2 motion comic now on XBLM
We're not usually excited to be writing about motion comics when there are actual, you know, games out there, but Mass Effect 2: Genesis is a little more interesting than the usual offering. In this BioWare/Dark Horse collabo, you can relive some of the key decisions from Mass Effect (assuming you haven't played it) and then apply those choices to Mass Effect 2. Keep in mind that this $4 (320 MSP) download, which served to introduce PS3 players to the universe of Mass Effect, functions as a game add-on. That means you'll need Mass Effect 2 -- but we assume you've already taken care of that part. [Thanks, Lafu]
Mass Effect for $5, Mass Effect 2 for $10 today on Steam [update]
In its continuing effort to make us re-purchase all of EA's current-gen titles, Steam has cut the price of the whole Mass Effect franchise today as part of its EA Week promotion. For a limited time, the digital retailer's offering Mass Effect for $5.00, and its GOTY-winning sequel for $10.
'BioWare sequel celebration' brings free Mass Effect 2 to Dragon Age 2 owners
BioWare heard you liked BioWare sequels, so it put a free BioWare sequel in your BioWare sequel, so you can role play while you role play. To celebrate the success of Dragon Age 2 (the game passed "the 1 million mark in less than two weeks and faster than Dragon Age: Origins," BioWare said), it's offering free downloads of the PC version of Mass Effect 2 to people who purchased Dragon Age 2 on any platform. According to the email sent out to lucky recipients, you must activate the "Black Emporium" Online Pass content by April 30, log into the site set up for the offer, and enter the Online Pass code to initiate the download. The trailer after the break is also free to Dragon Age 2 owners (and everyone else!)
Xbox Live April schedule: Bad Company 2 DLC, Comic Jumper discounts
Microsoft has revealed some of the content and deals coming to the Xbox Live Marketplace in early April, which include quite a few discounts. It kicks off this week with the launch of DLC for Mass Effect 2 and You Don't Know Jack, as well as some discounts on Comic Jumper, Deadliest Warrior and the "Dead Money" DLC for Fallout: New Vegas. Hit the jump for the full list.
Mass Effect 2: Arrival DLC review
In addition to setting standards for games' capacity to generate pure human joy, Mass Effect 2 has also mounted a pretty high bar in terms of post-release support. In the months since the game's January 2010 retail launch, BioWare has continued to deliver on mini-episodes that feel fresh, vital and fully realized. Imagine my disappointment to find that the game's final episode, "Arrival," not only fails to top them all and send the DLC series out with a bang, but whimpers into its position as the weakest add-on of the bunch. %Gallery-119690%
Mass Effect 2 'Arrival' DLC launch trailer is downright apocalyptic
We've seen a lot of things at stake in the intergalactic drama of Mass Effect 2 -- but nothing quite as costly as, well, our planet. Check out the trailer for tomorrow's "Arrival" DLC to see the ugly, ugly faces of Earth's conquerors and the steps you'll be taking to foil their nefarious plan.
Mass Effect 2 'Arrival' DLC preview: Shepard without a flock
Next Tuesday, a sad and wonderful thing will happen. Mass Effect 2 will receive its last DLC, "Arrival," which sees Commander Shepard on a rescue mission to save a doctor kidnapped by batarians. As the nature of the mission is quite sensitive -- the doctor is part of a team that has found a Reaper artifact -- Admiral Hackett calls for Shepard to go it alone. "Arrival is a side-quest, ultimately," explains Jesse Houston, producer at BioWare, "but it's also kind of an epilogue," he adds, reiterating that it's the final Mass Effect 2 update. Within the context of the game's plot, players can access Arrival at any point after the mid-game Horizon mission. Depending on when players choose to undertake the mission, Houston notes, they could experience some "small differences," though he describes these as "aesthetic" changes only. Though a side-quest, Arrival is different from other such missions in Mass Effect 2 in that it's strictly a solo operation. Shepard is on his (or her) own throughout the entirety of Arrival. %Gallery-119690%
Final Mass Effect 2 DLC sees 'Arrival' on March 29
BioWare has dated the long-promised and recently teased final Mass Effect 2 DLC mission, "Mass Effect: Arrival," for release across Xbox Live, PlayStation Network and Bioware.com (for PC) on Tuesday, March 29. The add-on will be available for $7 (£5.49) or the equivalent platform currency. Leading players into this holiday's Mass Effect 3, "Arrival" will see Commander Shepard "sent to the edge of the galaxy to rescue an undercover operative who may have evidence of an imminent Reaper invasion." Admiral Hackett (voiced by Lance Henriksen) will make a return appearance. %Gallery-119276%
BAFTA names Mass Effect 2 as game of the year, reveals all winners for 2011
Ah, yes, the BAFTAs. The annual UK awards gala aimed at showcasing the game industry's many talented developers by giving them mounted gold masks. Aside from Lionhead Studio's Peter Molyneux receiving a Fellowship this year, BioWare's sci-fi opus Mass Effect 2 took home top honors as "Best Game," while Super Mario Galaxy 2 snagged the award for gameplay. Like last month's IGF awards ceremony, Cut the Rope once again beat out competition in the "Best Handheld" category, while Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit somehow beat out Battlefield: Bad Company 2 for "Best Multiplayer." Can we demand a recount? Because we totally do. Check out the full list of winners after the break.
BioWare hints at Mass Effect 2 'Arrival' DLC with new screenshot
Behold, a brand new Mass Effect 2 screenshot, posted on BioWare's Facebook page. But wait -- this is no ordinary capture! The word "Arrived" has been stealthily capped in the pic's description, hinting that this is from the rumored new DLC. Which tells us... not much, really. It's still coming out?
Mass Effect 2 action figures delayed, second set potentially canceled
According to a now deleted forum post on BioWare's official site, Mass Effect 2's action figures have been once again delayed, this time until April. Google, however, caught the quote from a BioWare spokesperson, who said "Once we get the ME2 Action Figure shipped we will not be working with DC Direct again ... Their handling of this issue has been extremely unprofessional and disrespectful to fans." It also appears that a proposed second set of characters from Mass Effect 2 that were on-track for action figure treatment have been canned, as the figures have been removed from DC Direct's website. As such, the continuing battle for Planet Your Shelf will only be fought by Default Shepard, Grunt, Tali, and Thane when the figures launch on April 27. [Thanks, Ryan]
Mass Effect 2 composer Jack Wall explains his departure from the franchise
Though the Mass Effect series has made good on its promise to preserve and carry over important elements between games, prolific composer Jack Wall has elected to depart and pursue several other projects before BioWare launches Mass Effect 3 later this year. "Well, I've had a great relationship with BioWare for five years, and I think, you know, as with any important relationship it's complicated," Wall said. "Now I'm working with other clients and it feels fresh to me and I think they feel the same way, so I think it's just time to move on. I have nothing but love for those people. I'm sure I'll see them again. It's just time for a break, maybe." During a Thursday morning GDC session, Wall discussed the interactive scoring methods he and a team of composers (including Sam Hulick, David Kates and Jimmy Hinson) used to craft and integrate three hours of music into the game. The reactive score, blended with numerous transitions between battle scenes, moments of exploration and dialogue, was built on a considerable basis of technical procedure and experience -- which Wall and his team take with them before Black Swan composer Clint Mansell begins work on Mass Effect 3. According to Wall, film composers can transition smoothly into games, provided they're effectively directed by the game development team. "As long as you have someone doing what we did on the game development side, you can get away with that, and have just somebody write great music and direct them how to do it," Wall said. "I think it's totally fine. It depends what you're looking for as a game developer, really. Do you need somebody with that knowledge, or no? Sometimes, you know, I'm just interested in all that stuff, so I bring that with me, and that's an asset I have, right? But it doesn't necessarily make me more suited to a particular project, unless the developer feels it is. So, I'm having a really good time with that knowledge now, because it really makes me think differently about how I compose for games." Thinking "differently" and being agile is essential in successful interactive scoring, especially when game development doesn't proceed perfectly according to plan (and when does it ever?). "I do things relevant, so I do think there's a learning curve," Wall said, who began working on music for Mass Effect 2's final sequence before BioWare could even share a working level. "I hope Clint Mansell can get up to speed on that quick and doesn't feel too overwhelmed. He's a very talented guy, so I'm sure it'll be great."
Gaikai is live with streaming demos of Mass Effect 2, Dead Space 2 and more
Following more than a year of media demos and beta testing, cloud gaming startup Gaikai is letting the public try out the fruits of its efforts: Demos of Mass Effect 2, Dead Space 2, Spore and The Sims 3 are all playable from within your web browser. That is, if you have the bandwidth -- we don't, apparently. (Granted, we're on gratis Wi-Fi here at GDC.) You might have better luck at home: You can visit Gaikai's site where you'll be prompted to launch Mass Effect 2. "Just wait and if your connection quality to our Server is fast enough," instructs CEO David Perry, "one of several pop-up designs will appear." Additionally, taking a survey about the service will grant you access to the Dead Space 2 demo. Spore and The Sims 3 trials can be found here and here, respectively.
Mass Effect 2 'Arrival' DLC detailed by latest patch
The PS3 version of Mass Effect 2 has been patched and, in the process, has revealed details on an upcoming DLC pack called "Arrival." The BioWare forums have been abuzz with theories on what the expansion, which features three new Trophies, will entail. One of the Trophies, "Covert Action," refers to a Dr. Amanda Kenson, who was previously mentioned in a recent Cerberus Network update: Historians and astronomers alike are abuzz tonight over a new paper published by Dr. Amanda Kenson of the University of Arcturus ... "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." ... 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?"Some believe that "Arrival" can refer to the arrival of the Reapers, setting up events for the upcoming Mass Effect 3. Others, however, are more fixated on figuring out how to acquire one of the more ominous Trophies for the DLC: "The Ultimate Sacrifice." Wasn't dying once sacrifice enough? [Thanks, Shane! Image credit: Vamplosion]
Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, Black Ops rack up BAFTA nominations
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has announced the nominees for its GAME British Academy Video Games Awards, which manage to be prestigious despite the inclusion of a sponsor's name in the title. Even before any winners are announced, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is representing well, with nominations in seven categories including Action, Artistic Achievement, Gameplay, Multiplayer, Technical Innovation, and, of course, Best Game. Call of Duty: Black Ops is also nominated in seven separate categories. Other nominees include Heavy Rain (six nominations), Mass Effect 2 (five), and XBLA favorite Limbo, receiving nods for Audio and Artistic Achievement. Best Game nominee Super Mario Galaxy 2 is also nominated for Technical Innovation, an area in which that game is not typically lauded. In addition, the first Social Network Game award includes Bejeweled Blitz, Farmerama, FIFA Superstars, My Empire, Zoo Mumba, and Zuma Blitz as nominees. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on March 16. Until then, you can vote for the GAME Award winner online.
Mass Effect 2 wins GOTY, RPG, storytelling awards at DICE 2011
Tonight's 14th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards (i.e., the DICE awards) saw Mass Effect 2 cruise off with honors for Game of the Year, RPG of the Year and Outstanding Achievement in Story. However, Red Dead Redemption ended up with more trophies, riding away with wins for Action Game of the Year and Outstanding Character Performance, along with Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction, Art Direction and Gameplay Engineering. The portable and casual categories were filled with rage, as God of War: Ghost of Sparta won the award for Portable Game of the Year, while Casual Game of the Year went to the ferocious fowls of Angry Birds HD. Check out the full list of award recipients after the break.
