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Mass Effect 3 delayed to adjust mechanics for 'larger market opportunity'
As saddened as we were by the news that Mass Effect 3 wouldn't reach us until next year, after an EA earnings call today we're hovering between befuddled and intrigued. When asked about the delay, EA boss John Riccitiello said, "Essentially, step by step, [BioWare is] adjusting some of the gameplay mechanics and some of the features that you'll see at E3 that can put this into a genre equivalent of shooter-meets-RPG, and essentially address a far larger market opportunity than Mass Effect 1 did and Mass Effect 2 began to approach." ... So what does that mean? Well, mentioning that Mass Effect 2 was closer to what EA's targeting would seem to indicate more of an emphasis on action. But if the company's looking for "a larger market opportunity" a multiplayer component seems a surefire way to achieve that. Here's hoping we remember to check this post after E3 to feel either really smart or a little sheepish about our prognosticating. Also, hello future us! Hope you're having a good summer!
Mass Effect 3 delayed until Q1 2012
Mass Effect 3 will arrive later than expected, BioWare has announced. A nebulous new release date is to be found somewhere within "the first three months of 2012." Executive producer Casey Hudson addressed fans on the game's official forums, writing, "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." A new Shepard team photo was sent out alongside the announcement, but don't take those heroic and steadfast poses as conciliation. (It's clear only one of them is Asari.) Before you storm off to Twitter and document 2011's ruination, we ought to point out that there's some relief to be found in this news. When we last consulted the office's crystal ball and requested a peek at our prestigious Game of the Year 2011 award ceremonies, we were greeted by a gruesome portent: a bloodied, pockmarked urban battlefield littered with expired game critics, internet commenters, torn N7 hoodies and ... spongy cake detritus. Perhaps this is for the best. %Gallery-122824%
Mass Effect's Normandy SR2 is ready to dock (on your desk)
You tried your best. You really did, but the scale model of Mass Effect's SSV Normandy SR2 you made out of toilet paper tubes and Q-tips just doesn't look right. Swallow that shame, because Dark Horse has you covered with the 6 1/4" scale model seen above. These puppies are available for pre-order at $27.99 with an expected October release date. Mass effect drive not included. Sorry. [Thanks, Brian]
Mass Effect 3 introduces new Heavy Melee class; screens show Shepard taking on Cerberus
We're breathing into a paper bag as we type this, driven to hyperventilation by new Mass Effect 3 information. Imagine our surprise when we not only saw a pair of new (and quite beautiful) screens over at Game Informer, but also Eurogamer's translation of information from the Spanish mag Marcaplayer (originally posted on the BioWare forums) revealing a new Heavy Melee class. There aren't enough paper bags in the world to calm us down now! According to the info in Marcaplayer, the Heavy Melee class plays off some new melee moves -- kicks, punches and "a SWAT turn." Shepard is apparently more maneuverable this time around, able to roll, jump smaller gaps and dive into cover like Max Payne. There are some potential spoilers in the rest of the info, so for the sake of keeping you pure for the last stand against the Reapers, we're going to tuck that info past the break. You've been warned!
Mass Effect the MMO?
Could Mass Effect be an MMO? In a recent interview with Game Informer, Executive Producer Casey Hudson of BioWare says that the intellectual property makes sense for an MMO. We know that many Massively readers would absolutely pick up a multiplayer version of the series. Do the producers of the game think it is possible to transport the Mass Effect universe to the MMO space? Hudson told Game Informer, "We've been trying to think of a way that makes sense for people to experience Mass Effect with their friends. We haven't yet come up with a way to do that, so we don't have anything to announce at this time. But, obviously, multiplayer is something we want to do more of in the future as a company." We have to assume that Commander Shepard saves the galaxy once and for all at the end of Mass Effect 3, which comes out later this year. Is that world going to be interesting enough to continue? Hudson thinks so: "I think Mass Effect has that quality to it. If you get rid of the Reapers and win that, wouldn't it be amazing to just live on the Citadel or just take a ship to Omega? That makes sense." Whatever the case, we will have to wait for Mass Effect 3 to come out before any sort of official announcement, but that doesn't mean we can't hold out hope.
Mass Effect 3 details emerge in Game Informer, multiplayer ruled out
Subscribers have gotten their first look at Game Informer's cover story on Mass Effect 3, and while you'll have to read the magazine to get all the details, a reader posting on the GameFAQs forum is providing hints of what's to come -- and sorry, that doesn't include multiplayer. Expect more RPG elements this time around -- if still not on par with Mass Effect 1 -- with beefier skill trees and more evolution of powers. You can also expect more weapon modification, though, again, likely not as much as we saw in ME1. All weapons will be usable by all classes, though each class (except for the solider) will be limited to a certain number of weapons that can be equipped for a mission. As far as Mass Effect 3's plot ... well, suffice it to say that Shepard is on Earth due to the events of the "Arrival" DLC. But that's all we'll spill. As for returning characters -- you really don't want to know, do you? ... You sure? ... OK, fine. For now, we know Liara and Garrus (if he survived) will be playable. Favorites like Wrex and Mordin (again, if they're alive) will also make appearances, though whether they'll be full-fledged teammates is unknown. Sorry, but that's all you're getting from us. You can check out the new issue of Game Informer if you want to spoil more for yourself, but we certainly won't be party to it.
Mass Effect anime jumps home in 2012
The Mass Effect universe will expand with a direct-to-video anime film in the summer of 2012. The film will be co-produced by Japanese animation house T.O. Entertainment, and FUNimation Entertainment -- the same company that hooked up with EA for the Dragon Age anime (due sometime this year). BioWare's sci-fi series joins Halo and Dante's Inferno in the very specific category of western-developed games that provide the basis for anime adaptations. This movie represents another drop in the Mass Effect transmedia bucket, which currently contains several novels, comics and plans for a Hollywood venture. There's no word yet on the plot -- or how, exactly, Shepard will be drawn this time.
Fourth Mass Effect novel, 'Deception,' coming this fall
When you need a game-related sci-fi novel -- like, stat! -- you call William C. Dietz. The man's something of a legend, churning out at least a book a year since the mid-80s, and in recent years adapting the likes of Halo, Hitman, Resistance and StarCraft into those neat little paper-filled rectangles you see piled into shelves at your folks' place or stacked by the toilet. This is why William C. Dietz was hired to get a fourth Mass Effect novel in to publisher Del Rey early this year, so it could be released ahead of Mass Effect 3. (That, and Drew Karpyshyn, lead writer of the first game and author of the existing three companion novels, has made a galactic shift to The Old Republic.) Right on schedule, Del Rey today announced the title of this latest work of fiction, Mass Effect: Deception. Due out this fall, Deception will continue the story of Gillian Grayson, who was introduced in the second book, Ascension -- in case you've been reading along. We're not sure if William C. Dietz has or not, but then he's pretty adept at making stuff up.
New Mass Effect comic series from Dark Horse coming 'later this year'
Fans anxious for another Mass Effect comic run will get their wish soon, according to coverage of a Chicago Comics & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) panel over on Newsarama. There, Dark Horse representative Jeremy Atkins revealed that the company will "publish another Mass Effect series later this year." With Mass Effect 3 set to launch at the tail-end of 2011, we anticipated more tie-ins -- EA loves its transmedia promotions, after all. Sadly, no other details were offered on the proposed third Mass Effect mini-series.
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."
What's in a Name: BioWare
It's time for the BioWare: Origins name story. At DICE 2011, we had the opportunity to ask Drs. Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk how their studio got its name: Dr. Ray Muzyka: "The three founders, Greg, myself and [Augustine Yip] our third partner, we were all medical doctors by training, so it was a tongue-in-cheek reference to us being medical doctors. It was also a reference to software for humans. The original logo had the BioWare name and then a robot hand and human hand, the idea of a machine and human interface. ... We thought it was a memorable name and it was free [for use], as well. The idea of the medical reference was quite popular, it's continually come back up over the past couple decades, so in that sense it was a pretty good name, I guess." Dr. Greg Zeschuk: "I think it was that and the software for humans concept. We're making software for people: Bio. Ware. ... We wanted something interesting, cool, memorable. I think the medical piece was the big thing, but also the interface concept." Muzyka: "We dropped the two hands as part of the logo. Our early business cards had it ..." Zeschuk: "... and T-shirts. Collector's T-shirts." BioWare will launch Dragon Age 2 in March and The Old Republic sometime in 2011. Like this feature? Be sure to check out the What's In A Name Archives.
'Black Swan' composer Clint Mansell working on Mass Effect 3 soundtrack
Dubbed "one of modern cinema's most expressive and inventive soundtrack composers," Clint Mansell should be -- and sound -- familiar to fans of Darren Aronofsky films, including The Fountain, Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler and, most recently, Black Swan. In a thoughtful interview with music publication The Quietus, Mansell revealed that he's working on the musical component of BioWare's Mass Effect 3. Mansell, who got a more interesting video game than Hans Zimmer did, describes his role as "more like a DJ," with the aural accompaniment being almost modular and reactive to the player. "You've got the holding pattern, then the big explosion where you need the score to kick in," he says. "Then you need to take it off on a tangent. You've got all these different elements that change depending on what the player does. You have to figure out an overall symphony, but be able to break it down into component parts. You can bring the pain when required." The pain will be brought to your eardrums this holiday, when Mass Effect 3 concludes the sci-fi trilogy on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. Of course, your excitement might be more focused on the game's next promotional video: Clint Mansell's Requiem for a Dream piece, "Lux Ӕterna," was re-orchestrated to great effect in a trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Remember how you watched it a zillion times?
Mass Effect 2's 'Cerberus Daily News' to go on hiatus, pick back up before more DLC
One of the key props in the grand illusion of Mass Effect 2 is the Cerberus Daily News, a news feed that has displayed daily happenings from around "the universe" (in 2185 CE and into the new year) on Commander Shepard's computer terminal -- the game's title screen. These briefings began on launch day, January 26, 2010, and kept us hooked into a wide array of galactic goings-on over the months: from a Cerberus "torture den" to a trapped family in decaying orbit to the long-term effects of performance-enhancing drugs on athletes. Then, yesterday, a fourth wall–smashing "out-of-game notice" confirmed that the Cerberus Daily News would go on hiatus beginning January 24, ending its surprisingly long run of (phony) news updates. It seems that even a hundred and seventy-five years from now, we'll still be struggling to keep the news in business. (Read the update in full after the break.) On the bright side, the CDN editors will get some temporary work during three weeks this year (2011 CE). The first week of updates will precede what we assume will be the final Mass Effect 2 DLC release, which BioWare has continually insisted is in the works and will likely feature the completion of that treacherous bridge ... to the next game. Speaking of Mass Effect 3, two additional weeks of Cerberus Daily News reports will lead up to its release at the tail end of this year. Is it wrong to want 2011 to be over already? [Thanks, Anthony]
BioWare doctors add 'AIAS Hall of Fame' to credentials
BioWare co-founders Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk will be inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) Hall of Fame. Muzyka and Zeschuk will be the fourteenth and fifteenth (they can quibble about which is which) members in the hall of fame, which includes folks like Mike Cerny, Mike Morhaime and Dani Bunten. This is the first time the award has been given to a pair. "The Doctors," as they are referred to in the industry, took the leap from medicine to game design and have been more than marginally successful, heading up the studio that created top-tier franchises Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect and Dragon Age. The awards will be presented to the pair by Epic Games prez Mike Capps at the 2011 D.I.C.E. Summit in February. We really hope someone chooses the renegade option when the duo get up to accept their awards.
Mass Effect 2 on PS3 outfitted with Mass Effect 3 engine
Mass Effect 2 will have "improved graphics" on PlayStation 3, BioWare claims on the most recent company podcast. The improvement isn't simply a benefit of the PS3 version being released a full year later, but also stems from the fact that the PS3 version employs Mass Effect 3's version of Unreal Engine 3. "We actually created the engine for Mass Effect 3 and used that to make Mass Effect 2 on PS3. So we took the content, the story, and all of the other assets that made up Mass Effect 2, and we put it into the Mass Effect 3 engine," producer Jesse Houston explained. He added that the controls have been update with the PS3 controller in mind ("you can switch it back to the old Xbox [layout] if you'd like"), and the patches that ended up on 360 and PC will be "rolled up" into the PS3 version (faster planet scanning ahoy!). Also, if you were worried about a possible launch delay for whatever reason, the BioWare folks noted that the game on PS3 has "gone gold" (read: it's done). And if you're still on the fence about ME2, well, you're a crazy person ... but you'll also be happy to know that a PSN demo arrives on December 21.
Mass Effect 3 launching on PC, PS3 and 360 simultaneously
Electronic Arts confirmed this morning that Mass Effect 3 will launch simultaneously on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC in holiday 2011. This marks the first time the franchise will set foot on all consoles on the same day. The first installment is still not available on the PS3, while the critically acclaimed sequel will "save the lost" on Sony's console beginning January 18. Mass Effect 3 was officially unveiled over the weekend at the 2010 Spike VGAs. As evidenced by the trailer and the description from the EA Store last week, the "final" chapter in the Mass Effect saga will see Shepard saving Earth from the Reaper invasion. Come on, Shepard has saved the galaxy twice now -- he (or she) should have no difficulty saving one measly planet.
Mass Effect 3 officially revealed (no, seriously this time)
As speculated and teased (and accidentally outed), BioWare and EA tonight revealed the next installment in the Mass Effect series: Mass Effect 3. Alongside the official announcement at tonight's Spike VGAs came the first trailer of Shepard and Co. in action. Surprise, surprise -- Earth's burning! The final chapter to BIoWare's trilogy will launch sometime in "holiday 2011." Head past the break for the debut tease!
Mass Effect 3 outed on EA Store [Update: Listing yanked by EA]
[Update 3:56pm ET: Well, that was fast. Unsurprisingly, EA assassins have leapt into action, lobbing a throwing star into the unlucky server that housed the just-there-a-second-ago Mass Effect 3 listing. We've got our screen grabs after the break if you want to relive the memories.] The EA Store has added a pre-order listing for Mass Effect 3 for PC, Xbox 360 and PS3. The listing includes a description that notes the "Earth is burning" and Commander Shepard (that's you!) has to gather the races of the galaxy to launch "one final mission" against machines striking from beyond known space. No release window is provided on the site. Well, we guess that confirms the rumors we've been hearing about. The game is expected to be officially announced tomorrow during the 2010 VGAs on Spike. Just in case the page gets pulled, we've saved a full screengrab after the break, along with the game's description, just below. Also of note, the search screen which lists Mass Effect 3 releases for the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 platforms. This, of course, is likely placeholder data (evidenced by the PC release's unlikely $59.95 price tag) and there's no release dates, placeholder or otherwise, so it's anybody's guess as to whether all three versions will be released simultaneously. Earth is burning. Striking from beyond known space, a race of terrifying machines have begun their destruction of the human race. As Commander Shepard, an Alliance Marine, your only hope for saving mankind is to rally the civilizations of the galaxy and launch one final mission to take back the Earth. [Thanks, Devin M]
Rumor: Mass Effect 3 to be revealed at the VGAs, will include multiplayer [update]
Joystiq has learned from a trusted source that BioWare's enigmatic teaser from last month represents the first glimpse of Mass Effect 3. As many have guessed, the third installment looks to feature something brand new to the series: multiplayer. We're currently unable to confirm that the multiplayer component will be part of the game's unveiling at the upcoming Spike Video Game Awards. The Spike VGAs will air this Saturday night, preceded by a good deal of internet speculation brought on by the above teaser image. As spotted by one of our commenters, Arth Vader, the gun above looks exactly like the M-29 Incisor Sniper Rifle from Mass Effect 2. BioWare has also blasted out curious QR codes via its Twitter feed, all of which indirectly reference things from the Mass Effect universe, including the Vostok system and the surface temperature of the planet Aequitas. So, who's ready for more Mass Effect? Do we even need to ask? Update: While the game was indeed revealed during the VGAs, Game Informer's feature article on Mass Effect 3 has seemingly ruled out multiplayer (though it may appear in a different game tied to the franchise).
BioWare revealing new project at VGAs on December 11 [Update: clues coming in!]
BioWare will reveal its next game at Spike's Video Game Awards on Saturday, December 11. From the one screen we received from EA and the teaser (posted after the break), we suspect it might be called Mass of Honor: Dragunov Age. Yeah, let's go with that for now. Along with the BioWare reveal, VGA emcee Geoff Keighley also tweeted that the event would feature a new trailer for Batman: Arkham City. The show should also reveal the Guillermo Del Toro project over at THQ and maybe, just maybe, something involving Gears of War and Kinect. Update: The sharp eyes of commenter Arth Vader picked up that the gun in the pic is either the M-29 Incisor Sniper Rifle from the Mass Effect 2 Aegis Pack DLC or a reused asset. If it is the M-29, it would imply the game will be Mass Effect related. Update 2: Recall that EA said last February that something "far-reaching" was coming to Mass Effect during the fourth quarter of the publisher's current fiscal year -- or in layman's terms: January 1 – March 31, 2011. Update 3: Okay, now things are just getting nerdy. BioWare blasted out the adjacent QR code on Twitter which, when decoded, spits out a string of 1s and 0s. When you convert this binary code (we told you: nerdy), it reads: 55.845. Of course, as everyone knows, 55.845 is the atomic mass of iron. Maybe the presence of the word "mass" in our findings isn't quite enough to go on, but we're sure you'll agree that the presence of the word "mass" coupled with a piece of fan fiction titled Mass Effect: Iron Rebirth is practically a smoking M-29 Incisor Sniper Rifle. Update 4: And another QR code has been loosed upon the unsuspecting people of Twitter. This one is again some binary that translates into: -128.5°F. Converted to Celsius, that becomes -89.16666666666667°C. "The coldest temperature ever recorded on earth is -89.2 degrees Celsius (-128.5 degrees Fahrenheit) at Vostok, Antarctica on July 21, 1983," says Wikipedia; and this Mass Effect wiki page describes the Vostok solar system as "a medium system with four planets and an asteroid belt," itself named after the Soviet "Vostok Program" that resulted in the first manned space flight. Oh, and that asteroid belt that was mentioned? The wiki page calls it a "metal-rich asteroid." You know what else is metal? That's right, iron! Update 5: A few folks have also written in about the planet Aequitas, which is also from the Mass Effect universe. Logic train: 1st QR code = 55.845, the atomic mass of iron. 2nd QR code = 128.5. -128.5 deg F = Vostok, Antarctica record-breaking temperature. -128.5 deg F ~= -89 deg C = surface temperature of Aequitas, a planet known for its "famous Iron Canyons." Update 6 11/19/10 5:30pm ET: It's been a couple of days, but BioWare is back at it dropping yet another QR code into the webosphere, this time using Facebook. When read and converted out of binary, this QR reads: "http://www.sis.gov.uk/output/sis-home-welcome.html" which, evidently, is the official site for Britain's Secret Intelligence Service or, as it's also known, MI6. Beyond the two-letter acronym beginning with 'M' and followed by a number format it shares with a would-be ME3, we've got no idea what this means.
