election posts

Last month, Electronic Arts announced plans to publish some kind of new Dragon Age game in the first quarter of 2011. Now there's further proof of some kind of new entry in BioWare's fantasy RPG series as 1Up.com reports on a mysterious piece of art in the retail box of Dragon Age Origins: Awakening, the upcoming expansion to last fall's game.

As you can see there's a big dragon and the date 02.01.2011 on top. That suggests that something Dragon Age related is going to be released on February 1, 2011. But is it another large expansion pack or a true sequel to Dragon Age Origins? If it's a sequel it would be released less than 18 months after the original game came out.

In June of 2009, an executive at Electronic Arts confirmed that Digital Illusions was indeed working on Battlefield 3 and that it was "a product that is looking very good." Now comes word from another source that the next game in the multiplayer shooter series is not only looking good, but that "it's going to absolutely blow everyone away."

Those words come from former DICE CEO Fredrik Liliegren, who left the developer in 2006 to help form a browser-based PC development studio called Antic Entertainment. However, in a chat with Gaming Union, he states that he still knows what DICE has planned for Battlefield 3, saying, " I can't tell you what it is, but it will blow people away." Strong words, especially from a source that hasn't been a part of DICE for over three years.

[Via VG247.com]

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.

Comedy Central's Indecision 2008 blog guest writer is also the Lead Writer of our sister site, WoW Insider. Mike Schramm has posted a tongue-in-cheek editorial suggesting methods guaranteed to encourage gamers to vote this November.

"Videogames are a big deal nowadays," wrote Mike Schramm, "and their formerly young players are quickly becoming captains of industry and progress. People who once played hours of Dr. Mario and Tetris are getting jobs as pharmacists and bricklayers. Gamers come from all walks of life, trailing their Fritos wrappers and Bawls energy drink bottles behind them, and any candidate who wants in the White House will have to do a little pandering to the Pac Man vote."

One suggestion: join in the console wars, but be sure not to upset one of the three delicate sides. Mike Schramm feels the best response is to don a grave expression and growl, "It's a shame the Dreamcast never got the chance it deserved."

Another sure-fire method of winning a gamer's vote is to make prolific use of scantily-clad women wielding big guns in all campaign materials. "It's a strange attraction that is almost certainly specific to the gamer population," wrote Mike Schramm. "Oh, and if you arm them with large futuristic weapons and/or have them hug or otherwise interact with more barely-dressed women, people seem to enjoy that, too."

For more insight into Mike Schramm's expert opinion, visit indecision2008.com to view the article in its entirety.