mass-effect-2
Latest
E3 2009 highlights: The Xbox roundup
E3 was brütal! If you blinked, for a split/second, you missed something. Even if you were trine to keep up, it was a blur -- staying a.wake like that, you only pushed yourself to the brink of your own dark void. That's where Joystiq comes in; to crackdown on the madness; to reach out ... with conviction -- phew! Crysis averted. We've scoured the dark corners and survived the inferno to piece together this roundup of all things Xbox at E3. Why? Just 'cause we love you. So, draw nier and shift your eyes past the break.
Hands-on: Mass Effect 2 is a shooter!
We know, we know. The first Mass Effect was also a "shooter" (note: in quotes), but after demoing a slice of combat in the sequel, we're dropping the quotes. Mass Effect 2 is a shooter -- if you want to play it that way.BioWare dropped us into the role of a Soldier-class Commander Shepard and set us loose upon several waves of robotic and human combatants, as we traversed a few outdoor corridors. Our first thought was, uh-oh, Shepard's still stiff on his feet (loosen up, guy, you move like a tank). But as we pressed up against the first barrier (cover is actually useful!), and rose up our assault rifle, taking aim down sights, it all clicked.%Gallery-45499%
Impressions: Mass Effect 2 'suicide mission'
Is Commander Shepard alive or dead? Mass Effect 2 project director Casey Hudson raised the big question again today at E3 to begin a behind-closed-doors demo of the dark sequel from BioWare. The short answer is no, of course he's not dead. Players will take control of Shepard (either fresh or imported from save data from the first game) in the next chapter of the three-part space opera, which Hudson forewarned would explore "the most brutal parts" of the universe.Apparently, humans have been reported missing all across the galaxy and, as players, we are working with a "shadowy" pro-human group to get to the bottom of this body-snatching business. This is generally considered a suicide mission (more on that after the break), but nonetheless, we do proceed, recruiting a squad of "the most dangerous, powerful individuals" (oh c'mon, they're aliens) from the known universe to help us.
Mass Effect Special Edition trailer relives game's better moments
Bioware isn't all about Mass Effect 2, you know. The company is also trying to get more folks to play the original Mass Effect through its special edition two-disc set of the first game that includes the original title and the 'Bring Down the Sky' DLC, among the other small goodies you see in the trailer above. We guess this puts to bed all those rumors about additional Mass Effect DLC, which is a real shame because, well, we like Mass Effect and totally want to play more of it. Thankfully, we can do just that when Mass Effect 2 hits shelves early next year.
Roundup: GTTV's E3 trailers
Did your late night Canasta tournament keep you away from your television last night, preventing you from catching all of GameTrailers' exclusive ... trailers for a number of highly anticipated titles that will be appearing at E3? Fear not -- we've got them posted conveniently after the break. What games are present and accounted for, you ask? Well, let's see (deep breath): Mass Effect 2, Brutal Legend, Lost Planet 2, Split/Second, Brink, DJ Hero, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Just Cause 2, Dragon Age: Origins, Supreme Commander 2, Dante's Inferno, Madden 10, NHL 10, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2, Need for Speed Shift, Alpha Protocol and Heroes of Telara. Check 'em out!
Shepard returns in latest Mass Effect 2 trailer
You just can't keep a good Spectre down, and the first human Spectre -- one Commander Shepard -- is no exception. In a new E3 trailer for BioWare's highly anticipated Mass Effect 2, we learn that Shepard's fate isn't as grim as we were led to believe. In fact, it looks like he -- or she -- will be resuming dual duties of kicking ass and taking names when the sequel releases in early 2010.Head past the break to check out the new gameplay footage.
OXM cover shows familiar face to promote Mass Effect 2 preview
The July issue of Official Xbox Magazine, spotted by Deeko News, features a Mass Effect 2 character that may actually be -- the supposedly dead -- Commander Shepard. To be honest, considering Mass Effect allowed players to customize the look (and even gender) of Shepard, who knows who this sleep-deprived chump is. Maybe it's a new character! Maybe it's a race of clones taking over the galaxy! Okay, to be honest, it probably is Shepard ... and he's totally a zombie.
GameTrailers gets big BioWare show this Thursday
When we get our info about BioWare, we like to do it the old-fashioned way: Sneaky peeping through the windows of its secret Canadian compound. But we understand that's not for everyone. Maybe you're worried about the trespassing charge or the feral, blood-thirsty moose that roam the tundras. For a more conventional approach, tune in to GameTrailers TV this Thursday night to see (according to the company's Twitter) a "big pre-E3 show." Our prediction? MDK 3. The signs are there!
Mass Effect 2 is Empire Strikes Back: totally dark, broody
You've probably already made this inference after viewing the demise-filled teaser trailer (or last week's E3 sneak peek), but BioWare's second space opera installment, Mass Effect 2, is going to be a downer. Much like The Empire Strikes Back (the angsty middle child in the Star Wars trilogy), ME 2 will be the series' "dark act," according to producer Casey Hudson, who sees the game as "an opportunity to really explore the tougher, more brutal parts of the universe."Hudson went on to describe the themes of the Mass Effect trilogy's story arc, explaining, "In the first act you put a guy in the tree, in the second act you throw rocks at him, and in the third act you get him down." And how do you get the guy out of the tree? With a really slow elevator, of course!
Mass Effect 2 video shows us the darker side of things
The second installment of BioWare's sci-fi action series finally gets more video love today, and this time it's not telling us that the main character is dead. Instead we notice ... well, we'll just let the above video, "Prelude to E3," speak for itself. Just please stop toying with our fragile emotions, already! We'll have hands-on Mass Effect 2 goodness from E3 soon, where we look forward to "killing someone a thousand times."%Gallery-45499%
Commander Shepard probably isn't dead in Mass Effect 2
Following the release of the Mass Effect 2 teaser trailer, we've all been nervous wrecks about the assumedly unfortunate fate of the first Mass' protagonist, Commander Shepard. We really do not want him to be dead. We spent so much time molding him, as if from clay, to look just like us, only much more attractive.Fortunately, at the end of a recent Mass Effect 2 dev blog post, the game's executive producer, Casey Hudson, responded to the notion of Shepard's corpsification, saying he "better not be." He continued, "we had a lot of big plans made, so if someone's gone and killed Shepard then things are going to take an unexpected turn." So, there you have it. Either Shepard is still alive, or some unknown, shadowy agent murdered him without Bioware's noticing. Either way, we should know more about Shepard's status when we see the game next month at E3.
BioWare's Muzyka, Zeschuk keynoting GDC Canada 2009
With jetlag only just starting to subside from attending the recent Game Developers Conference, plans are already in place for the annual gathering's sister event in Canada. Taking place next month, the show will feature a keynote address by BioWare co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk speaking on what the pair describe as gaming's "new frontier."The keynote, titled "Emotionally Engaging Narrative: Gaming's New Frontier," will likely build on comments made in April regarding the impassioned Mass Effect sequel, which according to BioWare won't "shy away from emotionally engaging moments." The event will also feature a keynote by Microsoft's Don Mattrick, as well as speakers from EA's Black Box and Maxis studios, both of which have been looking noticeably thinner of late. GDC Canada is scheduled to take over the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre from May 12-13, leaving us a little time to find a way out of these tauntaun husks and brave the chilly north.
Mass Effect 2 won't 'shy away from emotionally engaging moments'
In response to the dumb, dumb controversy surrounding the original Mass Effect's thoroughly non-erotic, two-minute-long sex scene, Bioware co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk recently addressed the inclusion of further intergalactic sexcapades in Mass Effect 2 during an interview with VG247. In short, they said the sequel won't "shy away from emotionally engaging moments," provided they're "contextually appropriate."Before you start planning another crusade to tear some poor psychologist's new book's Amazon rating asunder, it's important to discern what the two men meant when they said "emotionally engaging moments." While deep space lovemakin' seems a safe bet, they could just as easily be referring to a quick-time event in which you must euthanize your trusty space-dog, who has contracted a serious case of space-rabies.We're just kidding, of course. They're definitely talkin' 'bout bonin'.
Cut the elevator music: Mass Effect 2 to feature faster loads
Somewhere in the galaxy, in the year 2183 ...Tali: You would think that with all the advancements made by all our species, we'd be able to create a faster transport system. We have been standing in this elevator for at least a minute right now. I feel anxious knowing that while the Geth plan their new attack on this galaxy, all we can do is just stand here and do nothing. I feel so powerless! Thankfully, BioWare's Casey Hudson told MTV Multiplayer that our next adventure will utilize "a completely new system" to handle load times. The loads will be faster in Mass Effect 2 and will become "part of the game experience." It seems like in the future, we might not have to utilize such primitive technology.Wrex: My people are dying.Shepard: ...[Image Source]
GDC09: Designing a Mass Effect 2 level, in video
Here's your first look at a level from Mass Effect 2! And if it's anything like the first Mass Effect, you'll see it on every planet you visit. We kid, sort of.This footage comes courtesy of the "Iterative Level Design Process of Bioware's Mass Effect 2" panel at GDC 2009, showcasing the process involved in designing levels for the upcoming RPG. Of course, don't expect any major spoilers or megatons in the videos (embedded after the break). With a planned 2010 release, this footage is far from indicative of anything that'll be in the final game.[Thanks, Crusty Magic!]
GDC09: Bioware drops Mass Effect 2 details
IGN recently had a chance to talk to Bioware execs Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka about the three huge projects the developer is currently working on -- most notably among these being the much anticipated sequel to 2007's alien-sexin' sim, Mass Effect. Though the two hardly spoke in absolutes (they promised more concrete details and footage "a little later"), they did reveal some intriguing facts -- for instance, they're already planning on bringing DLC to Mass Effect 2 that will appease the franchise's widely varied fan base. In other words, extra extraterrestrial sex scenes.They didn't confirm whether the PC version of Mass Effect 2 would be released in tandem with the 360 installment, but did reveal that the two versions are being developed simultaneously. As far as gameplay improvements go, they explained that they're building on the framework of the original while fixing certain aspects that were harangued by critics -- namely, they're working to make the game's shooter element more intuitive, and to make the optional planetary exploration less mind-numbingly repetitive. Finally, they re-iterated that though the recent teaser trailer for Mass Effect 2 depicts a doornail-dead Shepard, you should still hold on to your Mass Effect saves. Maybe they'll help determine the stats of his ghost.
Mass Effect 2 coming to Xbox 360, PC in 'early 2010'
While officially announcing Mass Effect 2 -- a game we already knew to be in development for some time now -- to the world, publisher EA confirmed the franchise's continuation on the Xbox 360 and PC platforms, while staying mum on PS3. Notably, Matt Atwood of BioWare told CVG last month, "I believe we'll be Xbox 360 exclusive for at least a short period of time. We're still working out the details on that, but we've had a great relationship with Microsoft and done very well."Although EA stated Mass Effect 2 would be destined for multiple platforms, the lack of a PS3 announcement is rather disconcerting. That's BioWare and Valve (both EA-published developers, mind you) omitting certain major titles on the PlayStation 3. Why no love for Sony?We've put in word to BioWare and EA for comment, and, you know, just to make sure. We'll update this post as the news comes in. In the meantime, why not check out that sizzlin' hot teaser trailer after the break!UPDATE: We spoke with Heather Rabatich at BioWare this afternoon who said, "We have no comment beyond the platforms we've announced it for." That's not a confirmation or a denial of it coming to PS3. The jury is apparently still out on that possibility.
BioWare opens new studio in Montreal, Mass Effect 2 up first
GameDaily is bringing us news hot off the presses that BioWare has just announced the opening of a new studio within EA's Montreal studio. The new group will be comprised of 30 people and "about half the staff will be brought in from BioWare's Edmonton studio," the studio that worked on the original Mass Effect, BioWare co-founder and CEO Ray Muzyka told GameDaily. The game they're starting with, you ask? Why it's none other than the recently teased Mass Effect 2. "We're really excited about it, and we think it's going to be a huge opportunity to tap into the talent base in Montreal while supplementing our existing teams in Edmonton and Austin, which are doing some great stuff on all the other projects BioWare's working on," Muzyka noted, adding that other than Mass Effect 2, Dragon Age, and Star Wars: The Old Republic, BioWare has some "super secret projects." As you might expect, Muzyka and co. are holding their tongues on those announcements for another day.
BioWare: Keep your original Mass Effect saves
BioWare community representatives are telling players not to delete their original Mass Effect saves, giving the impression that they will affect something in the recently announced sequel. Dropping a tiny nugget of information in the intergalactic freak-out (over the alleged death of hero Commander Shepard) taking place on the BioWare forums, no less than three employees have made sure to point out that players should not erase previous save files.No further details about the game were mentioned, and this does not guarantee Shepard will survive to fight in the sequel. Worst case scenario: The game may use the save file information to show Shepard in a space coffin. [Via VideoGamer]
Mass Effect 2 teaser suggests grim fate of Shepard & co.
Looks like BioWare is ready to start hyping up the (multiplatform) Mass Effect 2. This initial teaser summarizes the key events of the first game -- the induction of the first human Spectre, his alliance with key alien partners -- and then teases quite an ominous fate for Shepard and the gang. "Killed in Action," you say? We don't quite believe that. Nay, we don't want to believe it. Download HD version at Big Download %Gallery-45499%
