bioware posts

What does a "far reaching" plan for Mass Effect 2 mean?

by John Callaham Feb 8th 2010 @ 9:30PM

During Electronic Arts' financial conference call with analysts, EA execs mentioned something in passing; they had "far reaching" plans for their just released sci-fi RPG Mass Effect 2 in their fiscal fourth quarter of 2011 (January-March 2011). While this may mean some kind of downloadable content for the game, the suggestion seems to be something more is in the works?

Is it a big expansion pack? Is it a full-fledged sequel to BioWare' acclaimed game (although that seems unlikely)? At the moment, EA is not saying what that "far reaching" statement means. An EA spokesperson would not comment to our sister site Joystiq on the matter, saying only, "Both Dragon Age and Mass Effect are referenced in the FY11 SKU plan." Hmmmm.....

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Filed under: RPG, Mass Effect Series

Free Mass Effect 2 armor and weapon coming Tuesday

by John Callaham Feb 8th 2010 @ 6:30PM

BioWare promised last week that some free downloads would be coming for Mass Effect 2 players and today they revealed that a new armor and a new weapon will be made available via the game's Cerberus Network sometime on Tuesday. The first item, the Cerberus assault armor, increase health, sheilds and heavy weapon ammo by 10 percent for the player character that uses it.

The new weapon that will be included in the update is the M-22a Eviscerator Shotgun which uses armor-piercing rounds and has a longer range than normal shotguns. If you use it be aware that this weapon "violates several intergalactic weapons treaties." Which of course makes us want this even more.

Gallery: Mass Effect 2 Screenshots

Filed under: Downloads, RPG, Mass Effect Series

New Dragon Age game coming in first quarter 2011 [Update]

by John Callaham Feb 8th 2010 @ 4:30PM

Electronic Arts is apparently very pleased with the release of BioWare's fantasy RPG Dragon Age Origins. So much so in fact that the publisher has already revealed in their new fiscal 2011 release schedule their plans to release a new game in the franchise sometime in their fourth fiscal quarter. That is equal to a first quarter 2011 (January-March) calendar release date.

Dragon Age Origins was a major critical hit when it was released in November 2009 and the game has already spawned a number of paid downloadable content expansions. A retail expansion, Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening, is due for release in March.

Update: During their financial conference call EA exec stated that Dragon Age Origins sold 2.7 million copies worldwide. That total includes both PC and console sales.

Gallery: Dragon Age Origins Screenshots

Filed under: RPG, Dragon Age: Origins

Mass Effect 2 PC multi-core CPU issue workaround released

by John Callaham Feb 6th 2010 @ 8:00PM

Mass Effect 2 is a terrific game on the PC. Let's get that out of the way. But for folks who own PCs with multi-core CPUs, there's an issue with very long load times when the player goes through decks of the Normandy space ship. There is a workaround for this issue; simply shut off one of your CPUs and then put it back to two cores. However that's clearly annoying if you have to run BioWare's sci-fi RPG more than once (and that's most of you).

A software developer has created a utility called MassAffinity that, after a brief set up, fixes the issue automatically when you run the app with Mass Effect 2. Obviously this is a third party program not made by BioWare so download and use at your own risk. However if you are experiencing these long Normandy load times and don't want to wait for the developer to issue a patch this is better than nothing.

Gallery: Mass Effect 2 Screenshots

Filed under: Downloads, RPG, Mass Effect Series, Tools

Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening trailer bears ugly children

by Steven Wong Feb 5th 2010 @ 6:30PM

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Children can be cruel... especially when they're the of the insectoid Darkspawn variety like the ones featured in this Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening trailer. These kids are hungry and looking to munch down on some unwary heroes.

Continue after the jump to watch a trailer introducing Anders, one of the new traveling companions included in Awakening. He's a powerful apostate wizard who goes against the rules governing the Circle of Magi. Ever since hanging out with Morrigan in the main game, adventuring without an apostate just doesn't seem right. Awakening is scheduled to release on March 16.

Download HD Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening 'The Children' Trailer (45MB)
Download HD Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening 'Anders' Trailer (47MB)
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Continue reading Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening trailer bears ugly children

Filed under: Downloads, RPG, Trailers, Dragon Age: Origins

Mass Effect 2 and the Syfy Channel treat you to some Sci vs Fi

by Steven Wong Feb 3rd 2010 @ 7:45PM

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Presented here in its entirety is the Syfy channel produced special 'Sci vs Fi' for Mass Effect 2. In it, video game journalists and developers from BioWare discuss the game, its characters, the plot and what sets it apart as an epic action role-playing game. The first part is shown above and the other parts can be seen after the jump.

Download HD Mass Effect 2 'Sci vs Fi' Part 1 (294 MB)
Download HD Mass Effect 2 'Sci vs Fi' Part 2 (424 MB)
Download HD Mass Effect 2 'Sci vs Fi' Part 3 (1 GB)
Download HD Mass Effect 2 'Sci vs Fi' Part 4 (172 MB)
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Filed under: Downloads, RPG, Video, Mass Effect Series

Mass Effect 2 to get more free content later this month

by John Callaham Feb 3rd 2010 @ 6:00PM

Mass Effect 2 continues to be a game that generate both a lot of praise and also a lot of debate among gamers. The sci-fi RPG from developer BioWare already has given its players some free extra content via its internal Cerberus Network. Now it looks like some more free content is coming our way much sooner than anticipated.

BioWare's Twitter web site reports,"Free in-game content in a couple weeks for those who have activated Cerberus Network!" The network already has a new free mini-mission to download for new players of the game. It also adds a new character, Zaeed, to the storyline.

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Filed under: Downloads, Expansions, RPG, Mass Effect Series

Mass Effect 2 trailer shows off the Blood Dragon Armor

by Steven Wong Feb 2nd 2010 @ 1:30PM

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Players that already own Dragon Age: Origins are eligible to get the sci-fi version of the Blood Dragon Armor in Mass Effect 2. As seen, the armor is clearly made for kicking ass. It increases power damage by 15% and shield strength by 10%.

Speaking of extra content, continue after the jump to watch a Mass Effect 2 trailer featuring Zaeed, a mercenary with anger management issues available through purchasing the individual DLC or the Mass Effect 2 Deluxe Edition. To round out the crew member trailers, also check out the trailer for Mordin - an alien genius scientist who helps develop weapons and technology for players. He's not too bad in a fight either.

Download HD Mass Effect 2 Blood Dragon Armor Trailer (78 MB)
Download HD Mass Effect 2 'Zaeed' Trailer (47 MB)
Download HD Mass Effect 2 'Mordin' Trailer (56 MB)
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Filed under: Downloads, RPG, Trailers, Mass Effect Series

Dragon Age Origins - Awakening trailer discovers a threat in the Black Marsh

by Steven Wong Feb 1st 2010 @ 8:30PM

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It probably goes without saying that players will encounter more than a fair share of challenges when playing the Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening expansion. Although there are more than a few dragon encounters in the main game, this is probably the first one that's made of magic. Players will have a chance to test their might in the Black Marsh when the expansion releases on March 16.

Download HD Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening 'Queen of the Black Marsh' Trailer (49 MB)
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Filed under: Downloads, RPG, Trailers, Dragon Age: Origins

Review: Mass Effect 2

by Steven Wong Feb 1st 2010 @ 5:00PM

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If you like tons of big sci-fi action, Mass Effect 2 doesn't disappoint. The game starts with a huge surprise, then continues two years after the events of the first game. Players again take the role of Shepard, who must save the galaxy from a force that threatens to wipe out all life in the galaxy starting with the human race. To this end, the player must assemble a new crew aboard a Mark 2 Normandy spacecraft. The Alliance plays a very small role in the sequel, and Shepard can't use the status of Spectre much to his benefit anymore. However, being a renowned hero has its perks, the least of which being a lot of room to bend or break the rules for the sake of the mission. Funding now comes from a mysterious organization called Cerberus, which was hinted at in the previous game, and the task is deceptively simple: Gather together a crew of the best fighters from across the galaxy and prepare for a suicide mission. The amount of preparation depends completely on the player.

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Filed under: Features, RPG, Opinion, Mass Effect Series

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