Though Mass Effect 2 isn’t even officially available yet, there is already talk of Mass Effect 3. After all, Mass Effect was supposed to be a trilogy from the start. According to [url=http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2010/01/ ... /:2mbb2118]MTV[/url:2mbb2118] we might get Mass Effect 3 late 2011 or early 2012. According to them project director Casey Hudson told them the following:
[quote:2mbb2118] "We're already working on 'Mass Effect 3' right now. We do want to develop it in concert with listening to the way people are experiencing 'Mass Effect 2'. We've got a lot of DLC coming out for 'Mass Effect 2' that we're also working on, and then we'll kind of blend that into developing and finishing 'Mass Effect 3'. We don't want to take forever with it. We want people to be able to conclude this trilogy that have been with us over the years... [Development will be] along the same kind of time frame as 'Mass Effect 2'."[/quote:2mbb2118]
But back to Mass Effect 2. A couple of days ago BioWare and Xfire held a live event where BioWare plays through a brief section of the game followed by a Q&A round. The videos of this event ([url=http://www.livestream.com/xfire_masseff ... 4:2mbb2118]part 1[/url:2mbb2118] [url=http://www.livestream.com/xfire_masseff ... 5:2mbb2118]part 2[/url:2mbb2118]) are available for viewing, coming in at about an hour of viewing time.
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The German site VideoGamesZone has a [url=http://translate.google.de/translate?u= ... 8:2mbb2118]whole bunch of spoiler videos[/url:2mbb2118] (which I won’t embed here) including the first eight minutes of the game, all three (main) love scenes for male characters and the final boss fight.
There has been a lot to do with Mass Effect 2’s downloadable content as well the last few days. First of all, [url=http://bitmob.com/index.php/mobfeed/mas ... l:2mbb2118]bitmob confirms[/url:2mbb2118] that access to the Cerberus Network will cost about $15. This money should give you access to a bunch of DLC made available on release day as well as potentially more in the future. People buying a new copy of the game will get the access code for free with their game (in other words, unless you’re got a second hand or pirated copy it won’t cost you anything).
But there was some confusion over whether this means that people will have to pay $15 just for the privilege of paying for more content later (next to the free DLC you get; if you’re not interested in that free DLC do you have to pay anyway to then again pay for the content you [i:2mbb2118]do[/i:2mbb2118] want?). In an [url=http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/22/mass- ... /:2mbb2118]interview with Joystiq[/url:2mbb2118] it seems that Dr. Greg Zeschuk confirmed that they will release paid-for downloadable content that you don’t need the Cerberus Network for.
To put it simple; content through the Cerberus Network is free (once you get the network) and besides that there’ll also be paid for content outside of the Network.
On a side note, here is that [url=http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/22/inter ... /:2mbb2118]video interview with Dr. Greg Zeschuk[/url:2mbb2118] that they took that from:
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If you’re still confused about how Mass Effect 2 DLC will work and what role the Cerberus Network plays in it then perhaps [url=http://kotaku.com/5454608/mass-effect-2 ... d:2mbb2118]Kotaku’s explanation[/url:2mbb2118] might help.
For the rest, as far as DLC is concerned, it seems that all the free DLC was made available to everyone by mistake for a brief period, as [url=http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/106/ ... l:2mbb2118]IGN reports[/url:2mbb2118]. In general not a problem, but it seems that it is even available to those who don’t have legally obtained the game (which would be most people at this point as the game releases tomorrow, though a number of stores apparently broke the street date). With the game being pirated already that means that a lot of people ostensibly could illegally get to this content too.
Reportedly the content has been pulled off of Live since then and there is also [url=http://www.360sync.com/2010/01/25/mass- ... m:2mbb2118]a report[/url:2mbb2118] that you need an activation code anyway which would make the whole point moot.
Kotaku also explains how [url=http://kotaku.com/5456070/mass-effect-2 ... n:2mbb2118]disc swapping will work[/url:2mbb2118]. You might be aware that Mass Effect 2 comes on two discs. While one might expect to swap discs 50% through, instead you swap disc earlier and then swap back again later in the game. Not that this matters one way or another for PC gamers who, after installing, don’t have to swap anyway.
Another post from MTV is that apparently there’s [url=http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2010/01/21/ex ... /:2mbb2118]interest in a Mass Effect movie[/url:2mbb2118]. That’s not that surprising with how popular the series is and how cinematic it is, but somehow I can’t help but feel that a lot would be lost. Is the story really that interesting if [i:2mbb2118]you[/i:2mbb2118] aren’t the person in the middle of it? I have my doubts. Anyway, here’s an excerpt:
[quote:2mbb2118]"Obviously we have a tremendous amount of interest from people in Hollywood to make a major motion picture about 'Mass Effect,'" he said. "The most important thing for us is, we don't just want to see a movie get made. We want to see a great movie get made, if it's going to get done at all."[/quote:2mbb2118]
PCGamesHardware has two posts up. The first is a [url=http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,7036 ... /:2mbb2118]brief look at technical requirements[/url:2mbb2118], particularly looking at graphics cards, for Mass Effect 2. Here’s an excerpt:
[quote:2mbb2118]The first part already used Epic's popular engine and so Mass Effect is also based on the Unreal Engine 3. From a technical point of view there is not much information about the changes Bioware has made, but some things are obvious. Primarily the lighting has been upgraded and the graphics options now offer ‘Cinematic Lights' or ‘Spherical Harmonic Lighting' for example. Apparently Illuminated Labs Beast is also used again. The textures are more detailed and especially the figures are looking better. Bioware also dealt with the loading times and the streaming - successfully.[/quote:2mbb2118]
The second post is a [url=http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,7036 ... /:2mbb2118]graphical comparison between Mass Effect 1 and 2[/url:2mbb2118]. It’s mostly some images to look at.
RPGSite has a (text) [url=http://pc.rpgsite.net/articles/152/189/ ... l:2mbb2118]interview with Mark Meer[/url:2mbb2118] (who voices the male Shepard). He seems like a nice guy; here’s an excerpt:
[quote:2mbb2118][b:2mbb2118]RPGSite:[/b:2mbb2118] We are here primarily to discuss your voice acting, but you are also a live performer, appearing in and hosting various improv shows. How did that first get started?
[b:2mbb2118]Mark:[/b:2mbb2118] I got my start in acting through improv, specifically Theatresports. I was in my first year of Science at University when I discovered improvised comedy - my high school didn't have a drama or music program, and Dungeons & Dragons was about as close as I'd ever come to acting. I quickly learned that I preferred performing to looking at petri dishes. I was very fortunate to be mentored by members of the Canadian comedy troupe Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie, who suggested training with Edmonton's Rapid Fire Theatre, and here I am today.[/quote:2mbb2118]
Over to some official BioWare updates. First of all BioWare released an [url=http://www.masseffect.com/info/cerberus/:2mbb2118]official page for the Cerberus Network[/url:2mbb2118], which kind of goes over all the previous DLC details in a much more succinct form.
BioWare also posted an [url=http://www.masseffect.com/info/faq/:2mbb2118]official FAQ[/url:2mbb2118] answering a number of questions. This too goes over a number of DLC questions again, but also answers a lot of other questions such as how save importing works. Here’s an excerpt:
[quote:2mbb2118][b:2mbb2118]Q: How does the save import work?[/b:2mbb2118][list:2mbb2118][*:2mbb2118]If you played Mass Effect 1, and kept your save game files, you will be able to continue your progress in Mass Effect 2. You will be able to select the import on a by career basis. From the main menu, start a new game then choose to Import ME1 character. The save game import utility will walk you through the rest, including giving you basic information on the save file. For example, did you save the council, did Wrex survive, what was your character level, and more. On PC there is a Configuration Utility that will help you locate and import your ME1 save games. On Xbox 360 all you need is the gamer profile and save games to get started.[/*
2mbb2118][/list:u:2mbb2118][/quote:2mbb2118]Last weekend the Mass Effect 2 official launch trailer was shown on tv and [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwQpzeJI5T8:2mbb2118]here is a video[/url:2mbb2118] of BioWare watching it:
[center:2mbb2118][youtube:2mbb2118]HwQpzeJI5T8[/youtube:2mbb2118][/center:2mbb2118]
But I’m saving the (hopefully) best for last. As I said at the start a number of reviews have started to surface as well. And all the scores tend to be quite high (in the 90+). For example, [url=http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/14235019/ ... l:2mbb2118]here is[/url:2mbb2118] IGN’s video review:
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IGN also has a [url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/106/10630 ... l:2mbb2118]written review[/url:2mbb2118], giving the game a [b:2mbb2118]9.6[/b:2mbb2118].
I’d link to a bunch of other reviews here as well, but instead I think that I’ll just be lazy and link to a [url=http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic ... 8:2mbb2118]forum post listing reviews[/url:2mbb2118] instead. But they all seem to be giving high scores.
With the game releasing tomorrow I expect a lot more reviews from the big gaming sites soon as well.
[[url=http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2010/01/ ... /:2mbb2118]link[/url:2mbb2118]] to Mass Effect 3 post at MTV.
[[url=http://www.livestream.com/xfire_masseff ... 4:2mbb2118]link[/url:2mbb2118]] to Xfire video stream part 1 at LiveStream.
[[url=http://www.livestream.com/xfire_masseff ... 5:2mbb2118]link[/url:2mbb2118]] to Xfire video stream part 2 at LiveStream.
[[url=http://translate.google.de/translate?u= ... 8:2mbb2118]link[/url:2mbb2118]] to spoiler videos at VideoGamesZone (through Google Translate).
[[url=http://bitmob.com/index.php/mobfeed/mas ... l:2mbb2118]link[/url:2mbb2118]] to Cerberus Network post at bitmob.
[[url=http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/22/mass- ... /:2mbb2118]link[/url:2mbb2118]] to Cerberus Network and paid-for DLC post at Joystiq.
[[url=http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/22/inter ... /:2mbb2118]link[/url:2mbb2118]] to video interview with Dr. Greg Zeschuk at Joystiq.
[[url=http://kotaku.com/5454608/mass-effect-2 ... d:2mbb2118]link[/url:2mbb2118]] to DLC clarification at Kotaku.
[[url=http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/106/ ... l:2mbb2118]link[/url:2mbb2118]] to DLC available post at IGN.
[[url=http://www.360sync.com/2010/01/25/mass- ... m:2mbb2118]link[/url:2mbb2118]] to DLC available post at 360Sync.
[[url=http://kotaku.com/5456070/mass-effect-2 ... n:2mbb2118]link[/url:2mbb2118]] to disc swap post at Kotaku.
[[url=http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2010/01/21/ex ... /:2mbb2118]link[/url:2mbb2118]] to Mass Effect movie interest post at MTV.
[[url=http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,7036 ... /:2mbb2118]link[/url:2mbb2118]] to technical requirements post at PCGamesHardware.
[[url=http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,7036 ... /:2mbb2118]link[/url:2mbb2118]] to graphics comparison at PCGamesHardware.
[[url=http://pc.rpgsite.net/articles/152/189/ ... l:2mbb2118]link[/url:2mbb2118]] to interview with Mark Meer at RPGSite.
[[url=http://www.masseffect.com/info/cerberus/:2mbb2118]link[/url:2mbb2118]] to Cerberus Network information at BioWare.
[[url=http://www.masseffect.com/info/faq/:2mbb2118]link[/url:2mbb2118]] to Mass Effect 2 FAQ at BioWare.
[[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwQpzeJI5T8:2mbb2118]link[/url:2mbb2118]] to video of BioWare watching trailer at YouTube.
[[url=http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/14235019/ ... l:2mbb2118]link[/url:2mbb2118]] to video review at IGN.
[[url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/106/10630 ... l:2mbb2118]link[/url:2mbb2118]] to review at IGN.
[[url=http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic ... 8:2mbb2118]link[/url:2mbb2118]] to forum post listing reviews at BioWare.
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