Mass Effect to PC!

BioWare has just announced that their new parent company Electronic Arts will be bringing Mass Effect to the PC in May 2008.

Mass Effect has received high scores from the media as well as many awards, including RPG of the Year from the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences. It is a sci-fi RPG originally available only for the Xbox 360. However, EA and Microsoft have recently come to an agreement allowing the title to come to the PC.

EA promises that the game will be optimized for the PC, with high-resolution visuals, hotkeys, customizable controls, and more!

More Mass Effect

Microsoft has announced the first bit of downloadable content for their hit Xbox 360 RPG Mass Effect.

This additional content, titled Bring Down the Sky, features an all-new world to explore complete with a new alien race known as the Batarians. Overall, Bring Down the Sky will include 90 minutes of additional gameplay and 50 more achievement points, along with an expanded storyline.

Expect Bring Down the Sky to be released on March 10 for 400 Microsoft Points (or $5).

Mass Effect Touches Down at Retailers

Microsoft has recently announced that their highly anticipated RPG from BioWare, Mass Effect, has arrived at retailers today!

Mass Effect is an epic sci-fi RPG from the developers of Jade Empire and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. It is an Xbox 360 exclusive title that promises to blend a deep and exciting story with tactical combat.

“We set out to redefine the video game experience with ‘Mass Effect’ and create an immersive, highly interactive game that draws players into a compelling universe,” said Ray Muzyka, chief executive officer for BioWare Corp. “‘Mass Effect’ creates an emotional connection between players and the characters they encounter, and Xbox 360 provided us with the perfect platform to tell this incredible story.”

Head to your nearest gaming store and pick up Mass Effect now!

Mass Effect Goes Gold!

Xbox 360 owners will be excited to hear that BioWare's Mass Effect has gone gold!

Along with the news of the recent gold status, Microsoft has als revealed details about pre-order goodies and a special edition of the game.

The limited collector’s edition will feature a wide assortment of bonuses, including A Mass Effect fiction book titled Galactic Codex: Essentials, A 36-page guide to Mass Effect, An additional Mass Effect art book, A demo for Blue Dragon and videos for Lost Odyssey, Halo 3 and Halo Wars, and plenty of additional videos and documentaries.

Gamers who pre-order the game will also be rewarded with freebies, including 12 Mass Effect themed gamer pics, Three songs from the Mass Effect, and much more!

Mass Effect will have an estimated retail price of $59.99. The collectors edition will have a price tag of $69.99. Both will be in stores in November, 2007.

Mass Effect Voice Actors Revealed

Microsoft and BioWare have revealed the voice over talent for their upcoming Mass Effect.

Most notably, the part of Joker will be voiced by actor Seth Green of Robot Chicken and Family Guy fame. Of more personal interest to me, the role of the Matriarch will be played by Star Trek: The Next Generation's Counselor Troi, Marina Sirtis.

Mass Effect is an epic sci-fi RPG set for release on November 20th, 2007. It will have an estimated retail price of $59.99 and will be available exclusively for the Xbox 360.

EA Buys BioWare!?

Wow, major news for the RPG industry! Renowned RPG developer BioWare has recently been purchased by Electronic Arts.

BioWare is famous for creating top notch games like Neverwinter Nights, Knights of the Old Republic and Jade Empire, with the latest title Mass Effect coming out next month.

EA acquired BioWare and Pandemic Studios for $620 million plus an additional $190 million in other charges. These studios and their 800 employees will now become part of Electronic Arts.

EA CFO Warren Jenson was quoted as saying, "We're very excited about the revenue potential. We see that in both '09 and '10 to be in excess of $300 million."

Will this have an impact on the quality of BioWare's games? Will it change anything about the highly anticipated Mass Effect? Let's hope not. BioWare is one of gaming's most respected developers, so it would be an atrocity to see something hinder their game development. One one hand, having the funding and resources of a massive company like EA behind them could be great! On the other hand, I worry that it might force BioWare into becoming a "slave" company of EA. I fear that BioWare might lose some of their unique identity and start churning out mainstream titles. After all, EA is known for making a lot of games, but they aren't necessarily known for making quality games like BioWare is. We'll have to wait and see...

Read more about this breaking story here!

Mass Effect Release Announced

Today Microsoft announced the official release date of Mass Effect to be November 20, 2007, meaning Mass Effect will be the top of every RPG fan's Christmas list!

Mass Effect is developed by BioWare, creators of the hugely popular Neverwinter Nights and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. It promises to involve players in an engaging sci-fi storyline, a unique game universe, and deep gameplay experience. Mass Effect will feature a multi-directional story, allowing gamers to play a part in how the game unfolds.

Mass Effect will have an estimated retail price of $59.99 and is exclusively available for the Xbox 360.

Game Critics Loving Mass Effect

Microsoft has just announced that the upcoming Xbox 360 Exclusive RPG from BioWare, Mass Effect, has received several Best of E3 2007 nominations from the Game Critics Awards.

Not suprisingly, Mass Effect received a Best RPG nomination as well as a Best Console Nomination. Most impressive of all, it also received a Best in Show nomination. Mass Effect is sounding good so far, but then again, with E3 as downsized as it was this year, it just doesn't seem like the awards mean as much.

Mass Effect is set for release this fall exclusively for the Xbox 360 and is already one of the most hyped games of the holiday season. With titles like Neverwinter Nights and Knights of the Old Republic under their belt, it's no wonder gamers are excited about BioWare's upcoming offering. Not to mention, the Xbox 360 is fairly dry in the RPG area right now, so patient RPG fans have something to look forward to!

BioWare has recently released an extended E3 trailer of the game. Check it out on the game's official site: http://www.masseffect.bioware.com/

A Sonic RPG?

Sega and BioWare have just announced that they are partnering to develop an RPG based on Sonic the Hedgehog. BioWare is among the hottest RPG developers around, creating titles like Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire and Mass Effect.

Little information has been announced about the game aside from that it will be an RPG for the DS and is currently due to be released in 2008.

Nintendo has been successful at creating RPGs about their flagship character, Mario. Can Sega do the same? Perhaps if anyone can help them do it, it's BioWare!