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EA not bowing to 'political harassment' over LGBT inclusion in games
EA's executives, board of directors and creative leads have been inundated with "several thousand" letters protesting the inclusion of same-sex relationships in BioWare titles, reports GamesIndustry International. In addition to threatening a boycott of EA titles, most of the letters received allege that EA was pressured into including non-heterosexual relationship options in its games by LGBT groups, with the expressed purpose of exposing children to LGBT ideas."Every one of EA's games includes ESRB content descriptors so it's hard to believe anyone is surprised by the content. This isn't about protecting children, it's about political harassment," VP of corporate communications Jeff Brown said in a statement to GamesIndustry.The letter-writing campaign is believed to be the work of the Florida Family Association and the Family Research Council. The Florida Family Association's recent call to arms over Star Wars: The Old Republic claims that LGBT groups are "demanding that the makers of Star Wars video games add LGBT characters for kids to select as their character when playing the games." Meanwhile, the Family Research Council maintains that "the biggest threat to the empire may be homosexual activists."
'No plans' to pull or charge for Mass Effect 3 'Extended Cut' DLC after expiration date
Regardless of the seemingly arbitrary April 12, 2014 expiration date attached to this morning's announcement of Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut, EA told Joystiq it has "no plans to ever pull that content down or charge for it." That goes for "the foreseeable future after the April 12 date." According to a company rep, the expiration addendum was only attached due to EA's internal policy of putting expiration dates "on all 'no additional cost' content."Announced this morning, Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut aims to assuage fan concerns over the trilogy's finale by adding "additional cinematic sequences and epilogue scenes" beyond the content already on the game's disc(s). Following Mass Effect 3's early March launch, fans responded with mixed feelings toward its conclusion, some going as far as to raise a chunk of money in a donation protest (the money was later returned).Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut will arrive on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC this summer for free (and will remain as such, regardless of required legal notes).Update: We're currently clarifying with Child's Play regarding the status of the donated funds.
Mass Effect 3 'Extended Cut' DLC free this summer, offers 'further clarity to the ending'
EA this morning announced Mass Effect 3's "Extended Cut" DLC, which adds to the game's ending and will arrive for free at some point this summer. According to the publisher, the content will add "additional cinematic sequences and epilogue scenes," which will apparently offer fans "further clarity to the ending of Mass Effect 3" and "deeper insights into how their personal journey concludes."The additional content comes as a response to a group of fans who felt the third game ended in an unsatisfactory manner. That outcry apparently had a serious effect at BioWare internally, as project lead Casey Hudson says the team has, "reprioritized [its] post-launch development efforts to provide the fans who want more closure with even more context and clarity to the ending of the game, in a way that will feel more personalized for each player."No specific information is given about what said content will be, but we sure hope it means we won't see other DLC packs delayed or scrapped as a result. Studio co-founder Ray Muzyka notes,"With the Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut we think we have struck a good balance in delivering the answers players are looking for while maintaining the team's artistic vision for the end of this story arc."Extended Cut will arrive on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC "this summer." It will remain free for download until April 12, 2014, at which point who knows what'll happen.
FIFA Street holds top UK spot for third week
FIFA Street sales may have dropped another 44 percent in sales last week around the UK, but that didn't stop the footie franchise reboot from taking Chart-Track's top spot for a third consecutive week.Mass Effect 3 chugged a krogan energy drink and received a 28 percent sales boost to find itself in second place, followed by newcomer Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13. Capcom's Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, once again, breaks EA's monopoly on the top five, inserting itself in fourth place, with EA's FIFA 12 running up in fifth.New titles this week included Namco Bandai's (eye-roll inducing title) Narto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations, which debuted at number six. There was also a Silent Hill double-header, as Silent Hill HD Collection and Silent Hill: Downpour debuted at number 12 and 15, respectively. Find the UK top ten after the break... if you dare.
Mass Effect 3 multiplayer kicks off 'Operation Raptor' this weekend
Xbox 360 and PC Mass Effect 3 players have a new N7 Bounty Weekend event kicking off at 5pm PST on Friday. Operation Raptor will run until Monday at 5am PST, awarding players in the co-op multiplayer mode a Commendation pack for meeting the individual goal of promoting two characters from the multiplayer to the single-player game. The allied goal is for the community to promote 150,000 total characters to the single-player campaign, which will net all players a Victory pack.The contents of these packs will be revealed next week when eligible players are rewarded the goods for completing the requisite tasks. Additionally, all players will earn an extra 10% XP this weekend. As for PS3, BioWare says it's working with Sony to bring these N7 Bounty Weekend events to the platform and will update accordingly.One catch: All willing to participate must set the "Upload Gameplay Feedback" option to "on."
Amazon holding 'buy two, get one free' sale
Amazon has been on a roll with discounts on digitally distributed titles for PC, but for a "limited time" the online retailer has physical games in a "buy two, get one free" promotion. The eligible titles cover a large selection, including very recent titles like Mass Effect 3, SSX, Ninja Gaiden 3 and Uncharted: Golden Abyss.Now, please divert the cost of that third game into inventing a machine to slow time, so we can all get through the dramatic backlog of games already building in 2012.
Oh, The Places You'll Go: Mass Effect's Citadel
Oh, The Places You'll Go is a weekly column by Kimberley Wallace where she visits an in-game world, acting as a travel agent. Read as she explores the nooks and crannies of each (probably war torn) landscape. This week, we bring you to The Citadel, recently featured in Mass Effect 3. The view from space shows the Citadel teeming with life. Each of its five arms is illuminated with a criss-crossing series of lights, almost like a circuit board. These talon-like extensions connect to the Presidium ring, the center of Galactic commerce and politics. They can also change like a chameleon; when closed, the Citadel becomes a fortress, no longer looking like it's the bastion of life, but instead a sleek, clean cylinder into which nothing can enter - or from which no one can escape. Hey, if you're going to find a safe place during the war, this is probably your best bet.Yes, the Reapers are coming, ready to slay us with their steely tentacles and laser eyes. And in these moments when you feel so small and helpless in the fight to save the galaxy, there's only one thing to do: escape. Let Shepard worry about the Reapers; take a load off and come on down to the Citadel, a marvel of technology, not only full of mysteries, but also the core of civilization.%Gallery-149496%
FIFA Street holds off Resident Evil: ORC from taking first in UK
Capcom broke EA's monopoly of the top four titles in the UK last week with Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, which debuted in second on the charts. The top spot belonged to EA's FIFA Street for a second week in a row, with the publisher grabbing third through fifth with Mass Effect 3, FIFA 12 and SSX, respectively.Kid Icarus: Uprising flew in with a seventh place debut, becoming the only Nintendo title in the top ten, as Mario Party 9 dropped from fifth to 13.There were two new titles that sliced up some competition to crack the top 40, as Total War Shogun 2: Fall of the Samurai cut in at 17 and Ninja Gaiden 3 made a mess a couple spots later at 19. Sneak past the break to check out the UK top ten.
Child's Play shuts down fundraiser aimed at changing Mass Effect 3's ending
Recently, part of that whole "We're the Internet and we're upset about Mass Effect 3's ending" thing manifested itself in a Child's Play fundraising initiative called "Retake Mass Effect 3." The movement attempted to combine raising money for the charity with convincing BioWare to change the ending of its game.BioWare was completely unaffiliated with the fundraiser, however, and no amount of money raised would guarantee a new ending -- a fact severely misunderstood by many people that donated. "We were dealing with a lot of very confused people, more every day, and that told us we had a problem," said Penny Arcade's Jerry Holkins in an update on his site. "Apparently some of the people giving to the cause seemed to think that they were paying for a new ending to Mass Effect."Holkins also said that Child's Play project manager Jamie Dillion was "buried under mail" about the fundraiser from people wanting to know "what the goal is, and how much they need to raise in order to get the ending produced." The charity was also contacted by PayPal, on account of a "high number" of donors requesting refunds. As a result, Child's Play requested that the fundraiser come to an end.As an organisation, Child's Play has guidelines regulating how money is raised (Child's Play can't be used to sell anything, for instance). Since Retake ME3 technically fell within the boundaries of the charity's existing framework, Holkins has created a new rule to prevent future misunderstandings: "Child's Play cannot be a tool to draw attention to a cause. Child's Play must be the Cause."
Mass Effect 3 face import bug will be fixed in next patch
Did you encounter an error when trying to import your Commander Shepard into Mass Effect 3? Did you spend hours trying to recreate him or her, only to reach the conclusion that he/she just don't look right? There is hope, friend, as BioWare community coordinator Chris Priestly has revealed that the face import problem will be fixed in the next Mass Effect 3 patch. Unfortunately, the release date for said patch is still up in the air, as it still has to undergo certification at EA, Microsoft and Sony.The error arises for players who attempt to import faces from Mass Effect 2 that were previously imported from the original Mass Effect -- a sensitive issue given that these players are probably pretty attached to their Shepards by now. Rest assured, we'll be keeping track of the patch's progress. In the meantime, maybe it's finally time to finish that Mass Effect 2 Renegade run you've been putting off.
Final Fantasy XIII-2 offers Mass Effect costume DLC in Japan
In addition to the Assassin's Creed crossover DLC, Final Fantasy XIII-2 will soon host some Mass Effect costumes. Starting March 27 in Japan, players will be able to outfit Serah and Noel in completely inappropriate N7 armor for 300 yen or 240 Microsoft Points. It is, at least, inappropriate in a different way from bikinis.Though Square Enix would never release numbers (so we'll never know), we'd be surprised if this DLC took off in Japan. After all, Mass Effect 3 sold 8,142 copies there in its debut week.
Mass Effect 3 player feedback spawns 'content initiatives,' details in April
BioWare co-founder Ray Muzyka has become the latest company exec to address his constituents' myriad of complaints regarding Mass Effect 3's contentious ending. In addition to reiterating BioWare's company-wide policy on seeking out and consuming constructive criticism, Muzyka also gave a small bit of insight into the developer's plans for said feedback:"Casey Hudson and the team are hard at work on a number of game content initiatives that will help answer the questions," he said, "providing more clarity for those seeking further closure to their journey. You'll hear more on this in April." Muzyka stressed that BioWare is actively working to maintain the story's artistic integrity, and that these new "content initiatives" are separate from the company's pre-existing plans to continue the Mass Effect universe's expansion. "Rest assured that your journey in the Mass Effect universe can, and will, continue."
Mass Effect 3 on sale for $40 at Microsoft Store Online
If you're still trying to finish the fight against the Reapers, the Microsoft Store is offering a pretty sweet deal on Mass Effect 3 for Xbox 360. While the game is listed there for $59.99, adding it to your shopping cart reveals a much cheaper price: $39.99, complete with free shipping.
FIFA Street reboot kicks it in UK top spot
It's good to be EA in the UK right now, as the publisher holds the top four spots on the all formats sales chart. The company's latest addition, FIFA Street, debuted at the top of the charts, pushing Mass Effect 3 and SSX into second and third, respectively. Fourth is held by stalwart footster FIFA 12.Chart-Track dug into the archives and unearthed the last time EA claimed the top four spots was in week 48 and 49 of... 2003. At that time -- a tumultuous period, because Madonna kissed both Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera on TV and the world was going to end -- it was FIFA 2004, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Medal of Honor: Rising Sun and Need for Speed: Underground.The bottom half of the UK top ten is full of familiars, including the sweatastic return of Zumba Fitness. Another reboot, Sony's Twisted Metal, drove into 12th place for its launch. Check out the UK top ten after the break.
Mass Effect 3 multiplayer strategy videos to help you destroy everyone
Mass Effect 3's multiplayer has more depth than a panel at the "I'm A Reality TV Star And I Have More Twitter Followers Than You" convention (IARTVSAIHMTFTY Con), or at least that's what we think BioWare developers are trying to get across in the two mulitplayer strategy videos viewable right here.The above video explains tactics for taking out specific enemies in multiplayer combat, and the one below discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each combat class. Get educated:
Hudson: 'Your feedback has always mattered' in Mass Effect 3, even now
Franchise director Casey Hudson has previously spoken out in brief defense of the Mass Effect 3 endings, but now he's made it official in a written message that explains BioWare's dedication, passion and reverence for the series and the feedback it receives from fans -- all of it. Yes, even the popular "you deserve to be skinned alive, made into jerky and eaten by rabid goats" (paraphrased) feedback.Hudson avoids spoilers, but suggests finishing the game for yourself and forming your own conclusions before reading his missive: "For us and for you, Mass Effect 3 had to live up to a lot of expectations, not only for a great gaming experience, but for a resolution to the countless storylines and decisions you've made as a player since the journey began in 2007," Hudson writes. "So we designed Mass Effect 3 to be a series of endings to key plots and storylines, each culminating in scenes that show you the consequences of your actions. You then carry the knowledge of these consequences with you as you complete the final moments of your journey. "We always intended that the scale of the conflict and the underlying theme of sacrifice would lead to a bittersweet ending -- to do otherwise would betray the agonizing decisions Shepard had to make along the way. Still, we wanted to give players the chance to experience an inspiring and uplifting ending; in a story where you face a hopeless struggle for basic survival, we see the final moments and imagery as offering victory and hope in the context of sacrifice and reflection." Hudson stresses that the Mass Effect team takes fan feedback seriously and often incorporates it into the games directly, and says it is still listening to that response now. "Throughout the next year, we will support Mass Effect 3 by working on new content. And we'll keep listening, because your insights and constructive feedback will help determine what that content should be. This is not the last you'll hear of Commander Shepard."
'Mass Effect Team Assault' was a canned multiplayer FPS
In 2010, BioWare Montreal was developing a competitive, multiplayer first-person shooter called Mass Effect Team Assault, but it was reshaped into the third-person co-op mode that shipped in Mass Effect 3, according to a Kotaku report based on the iPad app The Final Hours of Mass Effect 3.Mass Effect Team Assault saw four months of production before being presented to the Mass Effect hierarchy and transforming into Mass Effect 3's multiplayer skirmish mode.
Mass Effect 3 director defends DLC, endings with 'common sense'
Turns out Mass Effect 3 is controversial. Some people like its DLC, ending and storyline, some don't, and some want to see the entire BioWare team thrown into pools of mud and flogged for days to pay for the things they put in their own game. Franchise executive producer and director Casey Hudson seems to be taking the mixed reactions in stride, and even has some simple, logical reasons behind a few of the supposed scandals, such as Mass Effect 3's day-one DLC, From Ashes."I think a lot of the common sense is prevailing," Hudson told Digital Trends. "Initially, it was spun in a direction that suggested that we had taken the lore out of Mass Effect 3 and were holding it inside the DLC only, which now the people who actually have played Mass Effect 3 and the DLC they know that that's not true."From Ashes is an optional piece of content not integral to the main story, Hudson noted."When we finish a game, we finish it many months before it actually hits the shelves and that team goes on to work on something else that in those intervening months represent millions of dollars of development time.... So in this case, we chose to work on a DLC which people really enjoyed for Mass Effect 2 and we also wanted to make sure that people had it as an opportunity to build it into their first play-through if they wanted that as an optional thing."As for the ending, Hudson said he likes its mystery and interpretation possibilities, and having a reactive ending is better than one that falls flat and fades out. "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."
Mass Effect 3 Datapad companion app now available
It's brunch. You and your friends are having a heated debate on the intricacies of Elcor inflection and what caused their massive, elephant-like genetic evolution. Your friend is dead wrong about all of it.Sure, you could open up your phone's browser and head over to Wikipedia, searching for something that would help you win this argument and harvest the subsequent experience points. Or you could open up your Mass Effect 3 Datapad and access its rich codex database spanning all three games.Aside from the aforementioned codex, Mass Effect 3 Datapad sends you messages from your in-game cohorts and from the Alliance News Network. There's also a mini-game called Galaxy at War, which lets you deploy ships to increase your Galactic Readiness level for the Mass Effect 3 single-player campaign.The app is free to download on iPhone 3GS and later iDevices, and available in the App Store right now.
Mass Effect anime coming this fall, all about James Vega
All of the storytelling, none of the player choice. The Mass Effect anime is still on the way from Funimation, and, as social media manager Justin Rojas revealed at SXSW ScreenBurn, it's focusing on Mass Effect 3's James Vega.Mass Effect: Paragon Lost is being written and created by Funimation (who usually works primarily on existing content from Japan) working with EA and BioWare, and tells Vega's backstory before his appearance in Mass Effect 3, which includes some "epic" things, Rojas assured.Funimation picked up some anime stars to work on the visuals, including studio Production I.G and a character designer from Eureka Seven (presumably Kenichi Yoshida). We'll see how this Texas studio's collaboration with Japanese artists on a Canadian sci-fi license works out this year -- "We're estimating fall or so," Rojas said.
