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See Commander Shepard's first steps
Straight from the Twitter feed of Mass Effect 1 and 2 Lead Animator Jonathan Cooper, Mass Effect protagonist Commander Shepard was a woman in the game's very first animation tests 10 years ago. Turns out, FemShep is the OG Commander. Ten years ago this month, my very first anim test for Mass Effect. Yup, Commander Shepard was originally a woman: pic.twitter.com/FhC2E0FSrA - Jonathan Cooper (@GameAnim) January 9, 2015 "For those asking, I repurposed mocap from Jade Empire," Cooper said in a follow-up tweet. "Shepard was always planned to be both male & female after JE's pre-set characters."
Credit-stealing space cows and other Mass Effect series facts
A new video from the folks over at Did You Know Gaming will take you on a space odyssey, as guest host Really Freakin Clever narrates little-known bits of trivia related to the Mass Effect series. There's a lot of behind-the-scenes information here that explores the series' origins, as well as why the iconic races look the way they do. The Krogan, for example, were created by combining attributes of bugs and bats, while Salarian scientist Mordin's grizzled look was inspired by Clint Eastwood. Oh, and then there's that shifty space cow out to steal your money. Yes, that is a real thing in the original Mass Effect. Want to see it in action and learn some more interesting facts? Check out the video after the break.
I'm Sarah Shepard, and these are my favorite names in Mass Effect 3
When it comes to saving (and romancing) the universe, Mass Effect 3 players turn to Commanders Jack and Sarah Shepard. Outside of default choices John and Jane, those are the most popular male and female names for the RPG hero in the series' latest incarnation, as detailed by a new BioWare infographic. Other favorites on the male side include James, Chris, Alex and Michael, while leading the way FemShep-style are Kate, Alice, Jessica and Alex. I was dull and went with Jane, but I'm still disappointed to see a lack of "The" in the top monikers. Head past the break to check out BioWare's infographic, including the most popular names for various languages. And while you're here, what did you call your Shep? [Image: EA]
The Daily Grind: Are you (still) interested in a Mass Effect MMO?
I just finished playing through Mass Effect 3 for the second time, though it was my first time through the extended cut ending and all of the DLC. Speaking of, thanks for reminding me what it's like to enjoy BioWare games via that sugary sweet Citadel story, guys. Much appreciated. Anyway, we've talked about a possible Mass Effect MMO before, of course. But it's been a while and it's obviously fresh on my mind. So how about it, Massively readers. At this point in time, would you be interested in a Mass Effect MMO? Why or why not? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
BioWare offers coy tease of next Mass Effect
BioWare celebrated its self-imposed Mass Effect holiday "N7 Day" yesterday with special Mass Effect 3 multiplayer sessions and livestreams. The game's developers also took to Twitter, compiled in one Storify post, to tease the next game in the series. There are five teaser images in total, though gameplay designer Manveer Heir noted on Twitter that there are "10 other pics on the internet from BioWare devs." The images show developers working on the next game's character and location designs as well as omni tool equipment. It's hard to glean anything worthwhile out of the images other than a reminder that another Mass Effect game is definitely in development and we should all be excited for that.
Get your Garrus and Tali on with these Mass Effect hoodies
Made from space-age materials like cotton and poly fleece, the Mass Effect hoodies, featuring designs evoking Garrus Vakarian and Tali'Zorah nar Rayya, are available for pre-order. The hoody designs are officially gendered, so we aren't sure if the proportions are different because of this, but it's something to take into consideration if you're a guy with a penchant for Tali's purple suit. Hoodies are priced $58 at the BioWare store and are expected to ship November 18, barring Reaper invasion.
Mass Effect texture pack lands on Minecraft Xbox 360
Mass Effect is the first mash-up pack coming to Minecraft on Xbox Live Arcade, including 36 Mass Effect skins, 22 songs from Mass Effect 3, a pre-build Mars Facility world, and a Mass Effect texture set and UI. It's a massive amount of Mass Effect. The mash-up pack hits XBLA on September 4 for $4.
Ex-BioWare writer reveals alternate endings to Mass Effect trilogy
Potential Spoiler Warning Mass Effect fans! Toronto's AM640 did a radio interview recently with former BioWare scribe Drew Karpyshyn, in which he chatted about some of the alternate story theories and endings that BioWare tossed around for the Mass Effect series. Eurogamer has the highlights, including the theory that the Reapers were trying to stop organic life because they were somehow making use of "Dark Energy" (an element only mentioned briefly throughout the series) to bring about the end of the universe. "It's very vague and not fleshed out," says Karpyshyn, adding that "it was something we considered but we ended up going in a different direction." BioWare also played with the idea that Shepard might be an alien at one point, though eventually deemed that too close to the story of Revan in Knights of the Old Republic. Karpyshyn also says BioWare thought about turning Shepard into some combination of organic and cybernetic, a theme that did eventually get generally included in the ending of Mass Effect 3. But in the end, says Karpyshyn, these ideas were just ideas, and should be judged as such. "It's like vaporware," he says. "Vaporware is always perfect, anytime someone talks about the new greatest game. It's perfect until it comes out." Karpyshyn says that even if fans are disappointed with the story as it is, a story that included these other considered ideas, "whatever we came up with, it probably wouldn't be what people want it to be."
Mass Effect 3 'Datapad' logs out
No more beefing up your Galactic Readiness on the go, no more convenient codex cruising, and no more text messages from Miranda. That's because EA removed the Mass Effect 3 'Datapad' this week, relieving the iPad companion app after 15 months of active service. The app's removal is no great shock given the existence of the N7 HQ portal, which was released late last year, works on mobiles now, and fits a similar bill. Still, we thought you should know the news, Commander.
Limited edition Mass Effect 3 Paladin pistol replica available for pre-order
BioWare has just revealed this snazzy real-life replica version of Mass Effect 3's M-77 Paladin pistol, available for pre-order today. The weapon weighs 7 pounds, is hand-finished and hand-painted, and is one of a set of only 200 made by collectible firm Triforce. Buying one for yourself will run you a total of $400: You'll need to put down $200 now to reserve your own fake space gun, and then another $200 when it's ready to go, which is expected to be later this year. That's not cheap, but then again nobody said fighting off the Reaper Invasion would be.
BioWare Edmonton and producer Casey Hudson working on 'a whole new fictional universe'
During a panel this weekend at PAX East, Mass Effect producer Casey Hudson revealed that his team at BioWare Edmonton has started work on "a whole new fictional universe." Other details weren't shared, except that Hudson said that he and BioWare's Senior Creative Director Preston Watamaniuk are going to be "building something new" together.Hudson oversaw Mass Effect 3 as an executive producer, and he says he'll still serve that role on the next Mass Effect title. But that game is being developed at BioWare Montreal, so Hudson's team at BioWare Edmonton has moved on to something completely new. Hopefully we'll hear more about it soon.
Mass Effect 3's 'Citadel' DLC demonstrates the franchise's messy, wonderful soul
This is a weekly column from freelancer Rowan Kaiser, which focuses on "Western" role-playing games: their stories, their histories, their mechanics, their insanity, and their inanity. One of the reasons that the Mass Effect series has been one of the most-discussed franchises of the generation is because the games are many different things to many different people. They're science-fiction epics. They're cover-based shooters. They're dating sims. They're long-term serialized stories. They're slowly wandering through cities in space, engaging in long conversations. They're tough battles against overwhelming odds. The core divide is between the self-serious saga of Shepard versus the Reapers that the franchise attempts to convey, and the entertaining – if slightly goofy – glorious mess that some perceive it to be. The final story-based expansion for the series, the recently-released 'Citadel' add-on, demonstrates how big that divide can be and then it bridges the gap.%Gallery-179472%
Mass Effect series for PC on sale via Origin through March 12
The last iteration of the Mass Effect series went on sale one year ago this week, and to celebrate, EA is offering a big sale on all three versions of the game over on Origin. You can grab the original Mass Effect for just $7, the critically acclaimed Mass Effect 2 for $10, or a digital deluxe edition of the third game for $15, all about half off the standard prices. Or if you haven't yet taken a trip aboard the Normandy, the whole trilogy is on sale for only $25, which is less than half what it would usually cost. That's a whole lot of excellent gaming hours, but then again, you'll need something to do while waiting for those SimCity servers, right? [Thanks, Alex]
Free for All: The continued standardization of selling power
Selling power is a much quieter controversy than it used to be. I've been in gaming long enough to remember when selling anything desirable at all was taboo. At the same time, it's always been OK to sell some things like subscriptions or special boxed editions, proving that MMO gamers and others are brilliant at segmenting their rage. If it's a cool, special box with a neat virtual item inside, it somehow does not fall under the same umbrella as selling powerful, useful items in game. I think it does. But geeks in general are good at justifying poor behavior if they get what they want; just ask the hackers and file-swappers. Still, it doesn't matter how we feel about selling power because the industry is already moving in the direction of selling power, lots of power. EA recently announced that every title it produces from now on will feature microtransactions. While that doesn't guarantee the sale of powerful items, I can promise that it will include some. This train ain't stopping. Sure, the console community seems a bit late to the party when it comes to the power-selling controversy, but that's likely because of MMOs' always-on multiplayer mode.
Mass Effect 3 hosts a five-day multiplayer event this week
BioWare has announced another Mass Effect 3 multiplayer event, but this is no standard combat skirmish: Admiral Hackett says this is "the largest-scale attack in the brief history of this war."Instead of just a weekend special, Operation Lodestar will last from today through March 10, which means you'll have five days to complete all three tiers, and earn three Commendation packs and a special banner.To pick up all three rewards, players will need to finish and extract from missions against all four enemy factions on Platinum difficulty. Extracting on any difficulty wins you the first award, and beating Silver difficulty wins the second. It'll be good practice for taking on the Citadel DLC, which you can also find in Mass Effect 3 starting this week.
Mass Effect 3 Citadel DLC trailer features Kodak moment
Mass Effect 3's final piece of single-player downloadable content, Citadel, will be available tomorrow, March 5, for $15 (1200 MS Points). The pack reconnects Shepard with past crew mates for one final adventure on the Citadel. Expect the ME3 GOTY bundle by year's end.
PSA: Mass Effect 3 Reckoning DLC out today, here's what it entails
Mass Effect 3's Reckoning multiplayer DLC pack is live today, bringing six new characters, seven new weapons, two weapons mods and four fresh accessories, all for free.BioWare showed off Reckoning in a livestream yesterday and a NeoGAF user collected the details: The new characters are a Geth Juggernaut, a female biotic Turian, an Alliance Infiltration Unit, Krogan Warlord Sentinel, a human mercenary with a tech bow and a Collector Adept. Weapons include a venom shotgun, a high-powered Blood Pack Executioner Pistol and a Blood Pack Punisher SMG, and the mods are pistol and SMG power amplifiers.Reckoning is the final Mass Effect 3 multiplayer DLC pack. Citadel, the final round of singleplayer DLC, hits on March 5 ($15/1200 MSP) and will give players the "opportunity to reconnect with some of their favorite characters from all three of the Mass Effect games."
PS Plus brings Europe Mass Effect 3, DOA5, MGS HD, more next month
European PlayStation Plus subscribers can rub their hands and smack their lips at another decent haul of Instant Collection games in March. For PS3 there's Mass Effect 3, Dead or Alive 5, and Joe Danger 2: The Movie, while on the way to Vita are Puddle and Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, which includes MGS2: Sons of Liberty and MGS3: Snake Eater.The newbies start rolling out on March 6 with a triple substitution: Mass Effect 3, DOA5, and Joe Danger 2 are in, while Sleeping Dogs, Vanquish, and Limbo depart the service. Next up are the two Vita games, with MGS HD Collection swapping in for Wipeout 2048 on March 13, and Puddle for Lumines Electronic Symphony on March 20.Those are some very brief runs for Sleeping Dogs, Wipeout 2048, and Lumines ES, which all came to PS Plus in February, so now's the time to snap them up.
Mass Effect 3 Citadel DLC stars late Zaeed actor, BioWare pays multiplayer tribute
Mass Effect 3's newly announced Citadel DLC features Zaeed and the work of Robin Sachs, the late actor who portrayed the bounty hunter. BioWare producer Mike Gamble revealed Sachs' involvement, marking one of the very last pieces of his acting work to be published. Sachs, known for his roles in other BioWare games as well as TV shows Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Babylon 5, passed away earlier this month at the age of 61.BioWare, following a suggestion from fans on its forums, is also paying its respects to the actor through this weekend's Mass Effect 3 multiplayer operation. The aim of the operation, called 'Tribute,' is to "honor and avenge our comrades who fell – and let the Reapers know this was a mistake, not a victory." The goals are to earn points using the M-8 Avenger and Inferno Grenades, referencing Zaeed's old 'Jessie' rifle and his loyalty power from Mass Effect 2. The operation begins today and runs through to Sunday, February 24.[Thanks, Sigfodr]
Mass Effect 3 'Reckoning' and 'Citadel' DLC on Feb. 26, Mar. 5
BioWare and EA have announced two more bundles of DLC for Mass Effect 3, with one focused on multiplayer and the other serving as "one final, sentimental journey with Commander Shepard and their squad," according to the press release.The first batch of content, "Reckoning," is a free bundle of multiplayer DLC that'll be available for free when it lands this Tuesday, February 26. The pack adds new characters, weapons and item upgrades for use in multiplayer, though what any of those things are specifically remains to be seen."Citadel," meanwhile, is Mass Effect 3's last chunk of single-player DLC, arriving on March 5 for $14.99/1200 MS Points. The pack returns Shepard and crew to (where else) the Citadel, on a mission that will give players the "opportunity to reconnect with some of their favorite characters from all three of the Mass Effect games." Well, provided you didn't get them horribly murdered, we figure. You know what you did.%Gallery-179473%%Gallery-179472%
