The PC version of Mass Effect is going to require an Internet connection to play as the game comes with a copy protection/activation procedure that requires the Internet to go online and activate your copy. Gamers will be able to play Mass Effect for 10 days, but the game won't start up after this period until the software is able to go online and register your copy.
The Mass Effect screenshot gallery has been updated with 8 new screenshots.
EA has released a new Combat Gameplay trailer for the PC version of Mass Effect.
Demiurge Studios was behind the recent PC docking for BioWare's previously Xbox360 exclusive sci-fi RPG, the galaxy spanning Mass Effect. In an interview with Shacknews, Demiurge’s studio head Albert Reed talks about what life's like as an independent development studio today.
Recently Australian blog site XboxOZ360-gamer claimed that BioWare's Ray Muzyka muttered confirmations the franchise would only touch the Xbox360, and not the PS3. This, as a BioWare rep has been keen to point out, is factually inaccurate. With EA's acquisition of the studio its likely most games will be multi-platform in the future.
During an interview with MTV Multiplayer, BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk said that regarding "other post-release content" the team is looking into it. He noted that the studio is "pretty busy these days." Mass Effect's first DLC was 'Bring Down The Sky', an optional side quest that sadly didn't meet much fanfare.
According to a report on The Cut Scene, the movie rights for Mass Effect have been purchased by producer Avi Arad. Arad is best known for his work on such Marvel movies as Iron Man, and the X-Men and Spiderman franchises. He is currently running his own production company and is reported to be at work on a movie adaptation of Lost Planet. Mass Effect was developed by Bioware and published by Electronic Arts, who own the property. Neither EA nor Arad has commented on the sale of the movie rights for Mass Effect.
With the revelation that BioWare will be talking about the "Iterative Level Design Process" for the second instalment, could it be ready for Christmas? The lecture will be devs discussing how they've managed to shave time off developing levels, keep quality high and costs down. This is the first 'showcase' for Mass Effect 2.
While Mass Effect is starting to play on the minds of fans once again with increased chatter of a sequel, a two-disc combo will be arriving for Xbox 360. The second disc will come with a "Documentary, Game Trailers, Music, Design Galleries and Bring Down the Sky". The US retailer lists the edition for just $20, not bad.
Community Coordinator Chris Priestly has posted on the official game forums that BioWare and Demiurge are jointly hammering out a new update. Priestly thanks the user feedback to help make it "a better game." He didn't elaborate on what this patch will address though and neither did he give hint toward a release schedule.
BioWare's sci-fi RPG Mass Effect 2 and a sequel to DICE's shooter Battlefield: Bad Company will arrive in the last quarter of next year's fiscal for EA. That means the two games should arrive sometime from January 1st to March 31st, 2010. It's believed Mass Effect 2 will hit Xbox 360 and PS3 but follow PC a few months later.
According to Blend Games' report, BioWare community manager Jay Watamaniuk revealed the team are in fact working on a new piece of DLC. Before they could extract anymore from Watamaniuk though he "steered the conversation" toward the upcoming PC patch, which he expects to be ready in two months.
Lead designer Preston Watamaniuk has revealed during a Mass Effect documentary video that they intended a "fight club or an arena" to make it into the game. Unfortunately they couldn't pull it off in time for retail so now DLC looks to address that issue. He reveals that's what the team is working on for the "next downloadable content piece".
BioWare's Edmonton team will have thirty new hands on deck for Mass Effect 2's development as EA Montreal drafts in thirty new developers. BioWare's new presence will be "within the existing EA Montreal facilities," says Ray Muzyka. They're after artists, animators, designers and other talent to pitch in on the sci-fi RPG.
EA and BioWare have announced the "highly anticipated sequel" will be gracing our lives early next year, but doesn't mention the PS3 at all. A fresh new concept artwork has been released to the community from BioWare but otherwise all is quiet on the Mass Effect front. Hopefully a new teaser clip will go live soon.
Amazon has recently begun listing Mass Effect 2 and has accompanied its product profile with some gossip, and 5 bullet points no less. BioWare teases that Mass Effect's Shepard could be dead. Amazon says players will travel the galaxy to "assemble a team of soldiers" to launch an assault in the "heart of enemy territory."
During a Dragon Age: Origins demo at the GDC, BioWare man Ray Muzyka refused to be drawn into specifics on a PS3 release for Mass Effect 2. He confirmed that EA and themselves have confirmed it's coming to Xbox 360 and PC, but won't offer comment beyond those platforms. Development is likely behind, if at all in the works.
Broadly speaking the developers at BioWare are "interested in exploring" multiplayer in their future lineup, reveals Greg Zeschuk. When probed if Mass Effect 2 could see some co-op action come release, fellow BioWare man Greg Zeschuk states they've yet to disclosed "a feature set at this point." Dun-dun-dun.
BioWare seems to have confirmed the existence of better elevator technology coming to the Mass Effect universe next year, they're "reducing" load times. Transitioning between areas in Mass Effect were often handled by elevator rides, leaving players largely plunged into an awkward silence; BioWare has a "completely new system" now.
BioWare's community man Chris Priestly, otherwise known as Evil Chris, has Twittered fans and gamers could get more Mass Effect 2 info soon. June 2nd is the date for E3, meaning we could be showered with clips and the like sometime around mid-May. It was from a team meeting that Priestly brings us this "marketing hint".