Mass Effect 2 - DLC Details & More

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Shir'le E. Illios
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Mass Effect 2 - DLC Details & More

Post by Shir'le E. Illios »

I’ve got a number of Mass Effect 2 updates for you again, including details on some (free) DLC for the game.

But we’ll start with a developer movie titled “[url=http://www.machinima.com/film/view&id=44692:2zgwp0q0]Art of the Game[/url:2zgwp0q0]” (part 1 of 5) where one of the concept artists talks about the game’s concept art.

[center:2zgwp0q0][html]<script language="javascript">var VideoID="44692";var Width = "640";var Height = "427";var Background = "#ffffff"; var Style="29"</script><script src="http://www.machinima.com/flv_player_mas ... Height=427" language="javascript"></script>[/html][/center:2zgwp0q0]
Another movie is up at the Polish site [url=http://tvgry.pl/?ID=811:2zgwp0q0]GryOnLine[/url:2zgwp0q0]. It shows some gameplay (of one of the ‘N7’ side missions I think) with a guy talking over it in Polish. Since I don’t speak Polish I’ve no idea what he’s saying, but seeing the gameplay is nice. Also I didn’t find any embed code, so you’ll have to watch the video at the [url=http://tvgry.pl/?ID=811:2zgwp0q0]link[/url:2zgwp0q0].

Back to English and Guardian has [url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/ga ... s:2zgwp0q0]an interview with producer Adrien Cho[/url:2zgwp0q0]. It talks about the changes they made since the previous game in the series, influences for making this game, roleplaying aspects and more. Here’s an excerpt:

[quote:2zgwp0q0][b:2zgwp0q0]How do you keep your Role Playing Game fans happy while attempting to reach this new shooter audience?[/b:2zgwp0q0]

There is a fine line here. But if RPG fans liked the original Mass Effect then they shouldn't have a problem as we haven't removed any of role playing elements. There is still plenty of number crunching going on in the background, probably more than in the original. What we did do was take a look at what didn't work in the original game and make it more streamlined and efficient. For example we took a lot of flak about the inventory system in the first game. We've now streamlined that so that it is much easier to scroll through your items and customise your armour. The key thing is that focussing more on the shooter elements has not taken away from the role playing. The story is still amazing and there is plenty of freedom.[/quote:2zgwp0q0]
One thing I find a bit odd is that the title claims that Mass Effect 2 has been influenced by Modern Warfare 2. I get how that sound interesting (because MW2 is so ridiculously popular), but I’m not sure the timing really works for that; by the time MW2 was released ME2 was likely too far along to take any direct influences from it. So I guess we should just read it as “games like MW2”.

BioWare has aso updated the official website to include information on some alien races, namely the [url=http://masseffect.bioware.com/universe/ ... /:2zgwp0q0]Drell[/url:2zgwp0q0] (that squadmate Thane belongs to) and the [url=http://masseffect.bioware.com/universe/ ... /:2zgwp0q0]Collectors[/url:2zgwp0q0] (a new enemy in the series). Here’s an excerpt from the first:

[quote:2zgwp0q0]Most drell are content to live on Kahje. They are afforded every opportunity to thrive by the hanar, yet some outsiders and even some hanar regard the drell as second class citizens. However it is quite the opposite, they have integrated themselves into every level of hanar society as respected, productive citizens.[/quote:2zgwp0q0]
The big news over the past couple of days however was that BioWare officially announced their plans for the first DLC. This includes two pieces of DLC, one to be released on launch day and one to be released shortly after. The first ill be free and a number of sites claim that the second one will be as well (but I’m not convinced). Both of them, and any future DLC be it paid-for or not, you’ll get through the Cerberus Network that comes free with new games (and you’ll have to pay for when you get a used copy).

Here’s an excerpt from [url=http://www.ea.com/news/bioware-unveils- ... k:2zgwp0q0]their press release[/url:2zgwp0q0], detailing the two DLC packages:

[quote:2zgwp0q0]Players who access '[i:2zgwp0q0]The Cerberus Network[/i:2zgwp0q0]' will receive the first DLC pack on January 26[sup:2zgwp0q0]th[/sup:2zgwp0q0] (launch day in North America) featuring new missions and in-game items. Included in this pack is a mission that introduces Zaeed, a rugged and deadly gun-for-hire who is recruited to join Commander Shepard's mission to save mankind.

After launch, BioWare will release another DLC pack for [i:2zgwp0q0]Mass Effect 2[/i:2zgwp0q0] that introduces the Hammerhead, a new vehicle in the [i:2zgwp0q0]Mass Effect[/i:2zgwp0q0] universe. This agile hover tank features improved handling on rough terrain and maneuvers deftly in combat -- a necessity for players traveling across harsh planetary environments throughout the galaxy. In addition to this new vehicle, BioWare will release new missions and unique in-game items, including Cerberus Assault Armor which boost shields, health and heavy weapon ammo and the M-22 Eviscerator Shotgun.[/quote:2zgwp0q0]
There has been some confusion about the Cerberus Network though. In many ways it sounds like it’ll work the same way as the ingame store in Dragon Age: Origins, except that it seems that it’s something that you have to unlock first (which is free when you buy a new copy, but you’ll hav to pay for it when you get a second-hand copy). Considering that future paid-for DLC is likely to be released over this Network as well, that makes it seem that you’d have to pay to be able to pay.

I also find the following line in the press release to be somewhat suspect: “'The Cerberus Network' is a conduit for players to receive bonus content as well as daily messages and news on upcoming releases for Mass Effect 2 for no extra charge.” So basically, we’ll get advertising free of charge... I’m not sure how that’s a benefit. I’d rather not have advertising.

Anyway, 1UP has a brief article giving [url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3177659:2zgwp0q0]their take[/url:2zgwp0q0] on the Cerberus Network; here’s an excerpt:

[quote:2zgwp0q0]The Cerberus Network, named after an organization in the game, is an online portal for downloadable content. New purchasers get the unlock code for the portal for free, which will give players access to the game's DLC. Those who buy the game used will have to pay for the Cerberus Network separately, meaning EA will still get a small bump in profits from those who save some money at the check-out. We don't know how much the Cerberus Network will cost yet, of course. But even at a hypothetical $5, it seems like players will essentially be paying for the ability to buy more content. GameStop, the most famous (or infamous) retailer in the used game business, tends to mark down popular games by $5-8. By roping off used copies from that amount (or more) worth of DLC, EA is essentially stripping any savings from buying used -- and that may be exactly the point.[/quote:2zgwp0q0]
Hey, I’m fine with them trying to encourage people to buy new copies. I’ve moved completely digital anyway.

The [url=http://www.gametrailers.com/video/exclu ... 8:2zgwp0q0]third part of Sci vs Fi[/url:2zgwp0q0] is online at GameTrailers as well. Though I originally neglected to mention it with the previous two (for which my deepest apologies), these Sci vs Fi videos are quite full of spoilers.

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IGN also has a (fairly short) video showing how [url=http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/14235019/ ... l:2zgwp0q0]importing a savegame[/url:2zgwp0q0] works. Importing a savegame into Mass Effect 2 allows the game to change things based on the decisions that you’ve made in the first game.

[center:2zgwp0q0][html]<object id='ignplayer' width='640' height='360' data='http://media.ign.com/ev/embed.swf' type='application/x-shockwave-flash'><param name='movie' value='http://media.ign.com/ev/embed.swf' /><param name='allowfullscreen' value='true' /><param name='allowscriptaccess' value='always' /><param name='bgcolor' value='#000000' /><param name='flashvars' value='vgroup=me2_spc_import_011910&object=14235019'/></object>[/html][/center:2zgwp0q0]
On the Official Xbox 360 Magazine’s website they have a brief article titled “[url=http://www.oxm.co.uk/article.php?id=16631:2zgwp0q0]What We Know So Far[/url:2zgwp0q0]” which lists some of the things we now know about the game, though this includes spoilers. Here’s an excerpt:

[quote:2zgwp0q0][b:2zgwp0q0]New Abilities[/b:2zgwp0q0]

On the biotic side, new abilities include Pull, Shockwave, Charge and Slam. The new tech abilities include Combat Drone, Cryo Blast, Incinerate and Tech Armor.[/quote:2zgwp0q0]
The soundtrack for Mass Effect 2, consisting of 27 tracks, is also [url=http://www.amazon.com/Mass-Effect-2-Exp ... 6:2zgwp0q0]available at Amazon.com[/url:2zgwp0q0] (as a digital download). It’ll set you back about $18.


And that’s all for now, though I don’t doubt that there’ll be plenty more over the coming two weeks (not the least of which the game itself ;) ).


[[url=http://www.machinima.com/film/view&id=44692:2zgwp0q0]link[/url:2zgwp0q0]] to Art of the Game video at Machinima.
[[url=http://tvgry.pl/?ID=811:2zgwp0q0]link[/url:2zgwp0q0]] to gameplay video at GryOnLine.
[[url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/ga ... s:2zgwp0q0]link[/url:2zgwp0q0]] to interview with Adrien Cho at Guardian.
[[url=http://masseffect.bioware.com/universe/ ... /:2zgwp0q0]link[/url:2zgwp0q0]] to Drell race information at BioWare.
[[url=http://masseffect.bioware.com/universe/ ... /:2zgwp0q0]link[/url:2zgwp0q0]] to Collectors race information at BioWare.
[[url=http://www.ea.com/news/bioware-unveils- ... k:2zgwp0q0]link[/url:2zgwp0q0]] to DLC press release at EA.
[[url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3177659:2zgwp0q0]link[/url:2zgwp0q0]] to Cerberus Network article at 1UP.
[[url=http://www.gametrailers.com/video/exclu ... 8:2zgwp0q0]link[/url:2zgwp0q0]] to Sci vs Fi part 3 at GameTrailers.
[[url=http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/14235019/ ... l:2zgwp0q0]link[/url:2zgwp0q0]] to Importing Shephard video at IGN.
[[url=http://www.oxm.co.uk/article.php?id=16631:2zgwp0q0]link[/url:2zgwp0q0]] to What We Know article at OXM.
[[url=http://www.amazon.com/Mass-Effect-2-Exp ... 6:2zgwp0q0]link[/url:2zgwp0q0]] to soundtrack at Amazon.


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Shir'le
F'sarn natha tithaur wun l'su'aco.

-= Shir'le E. Illios =-
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Alaric Darkrose
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Post by Alaric Darkrose »

This game looks pretty sweet. I can't wait to get a copy. Well, once I finish up the first one, lol.
"There are those who think, and those who dream. I, for one, refuse to choose between the two." -Liriel Baenre.

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