Survey reveals Mass Effect: Jacob's Story for iPhone
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Apr 28th 2009 at 7:05PM } 
Click to check out more screenshots.
The mobile game will feature top-down shooter combat and a stylized, cartoonish look. The survey notes that Jacob's Story will function as a predecessor to the upcoming Mass Effect 2, revealing some of the backstory of characters featured in the console game. The handheld adventure would be about two hours long and cost $2.99.
Depending on the success of this first mobile adventure, EA and BioWare would look into expanding the Mass Effect game into an entire series. The survey also mentions the possibility of mobile games based on the Dragon Age universe.
We're certainly intrigued by this expansion of the Mass Effect universe, but we can't help but wonder why EA and BioWare would limit it to just the iPhone audience. We're pretty certain DS and PSP owners wouldn't mind a portable Mass Effect experience either. We've contacted EA and BioWare for more details, and will update the post if/when they respond to our inquiries.
Gallery: Mass Effect Galaxy (iPhone)
[Thanks, Matt P.!]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Irving M @ Apr 28th 2009 7:09PM
sweet...
Cosmo @ Apr 28th 2009 7:12PM
Wouldn't be surprised to see a Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 game in the future.
finnith (gamertag-epimeth1us) @ Apr 28th 2009 7:17PM
Probably not a COD game, but it does say "more games" in the bottom left hand corner on one of the screens. I wonder if it means other franchises will get iPhone games as well
Moptimus Slime (Ziggy played Guitar Hero, but not Smash Hits) @ Apr 28th 2009 7:14PM
Hmmm, maybe this is the result of the DS version they talked about making.
Hopefully not, since I'm minus an iPhone but plus a DSi
finnith (gamertag-epimeth1us) @ Apr 28th 2009 7:15PM
Can anyone figure out what that thing in the background of the first screen is?
mike @ Apr 28th 2009 7:27PM
That's a girl. Has it been that long?
The Dark Wayne @ Apr 28th 2009 8:18PM
in the top left it's a batarian, on the bottom left it looks like an unmasked volus? And the right is a lady
finnith (gamertag-epimeth1us) @ Apr 28th 2009 9:44PM
I was referring to the batarian, but still, ouch.
Rein @ Apr 28th 2009 7:16PM
Why do you forsake me, Bioware? I love the Mass Effect universe and can't wait for more of it (more books plzkthnx), but why did you have to go and make a game for something that I'll never have!? :(
Look like I'll have to go beat someone up for an ipod touch.
The Baron @ Apr 28th 2009 7:23PM
You could beat up someone with a credit card on a monthly basis and get an iphone
Cosmo @ Apr 28th 2009 7:23PM
I feel your pain. I don't want to buy a PSP again to play the Metal Gear games on it for instance.
The Dark Wayne @ Apr 28th 2009 7:16PM
AUGGH!! I dont have an Iphone! NOOOOOOOOOO!!
MystileArmor @ Apr 28th 2009 7:24PM
Your utility-belt doesn't have an Iphone Touch?
The Dark Wayne @ Apr 28th 2009 8:16PM
The utility belt does everything an iphone could!
josh lavine @ Apr 28th 2009 8:28PM
...except play Mass Effect for the iPhone. Zing!
smcn @ Apr 29th 2009 12:46PM
Maybe it will run on a Sony iTouch?
Marty @ Apr 28th 2009 7:17PM
Oh sure, let's keep delaying the sequel so we can work on garbage like this. I blame EA for this crap.
sk8monroe81 @ Apr 28th 2009 9:51PM
thats all it is...
did kojima really want to make metal gear touch... come on...
if you hear him explain his expectations of the ps3 and the final MGS4 product, you would probably figure out that metal gear touch was not his art or direction....
i would have no problem if this game did not connect the stories of ME1 and ME2 which are only playable on other platforms.
who really wants AT&T phone service just to play a game....
this is EA surveying the field and seeing how and where money can be made..
does anybody honestly think bioware wanted to make this game? when its already hard enough for them to make ME2 and meet deadlines and make sure a quality product was made...
its probably made by another developer, hence EA's move 100%.
nice call marty.
WiNG [XBL&Steam: WiNGSPANTT] from lifeinagame.com @ Apr 28th 2009 7:31PM
Joystiq, I've had enough of your snide insinuations.
Andrew Yoon @ Apr 28th 2009 7:42PM
What am I insinuating?
WiNG [XBL&Steam: WiNGSPANTT] from lifeinagame.com @ Apr 28th 2009 9:39PM
It's a Mass Effect joke =(
Dirtgoblin @ Apr 28th 2009 8:07PM
damn, anything mass effect and im all over it like white on rice
Ostentaneous @ Apr 28th 2009 8:08PM
Why limit it to just the iPhone? Cause the iPhone is sick as hell for games that's why. And didn't you guys do a story on how ridiculously low the development cost for it as a platfrom are. I'm sure the 17 billion in iPhone sales and 1 billion in app downloads also look pretty nice too.
Moptimus Slime (Ziggy played Guitar Hero, but not Smash Hits) @ Apr 28th 2009 8:43PM
yeah, Im sure the creator of iFart is rolling in the dough after 500 million downloads
Ostentaneous @ Apr 28th 2009 10:05PM
Yeah, there's a difference between iFart and good games. Enigmo has mad something like $2M. I'm pretty sure that it didn't cost them near that much to make.
THE Ezio Auditore de Firenze (PSN slycooper_rocker) @ Apr 28th 2009 10:23PM
do you mean 17 million iphone sales? because if it was 17 billion, every person on earth would have at least 2.
Ostentaneous @ Apr 28th 2009 10:36PM
LOL yeah, my bad
Misfit Toy @ Apr 28th 2009 8:42PM
Now this annoys me because I can't even 'get' an iPhone where I am. There's no AT&T cell service here. So even though I totally loved Mass Effect and bought it on PC and 360 I'm screwed on this. Awesome.
One more reason for me to be bitter about the whole uprising of iPhone games.
Moptimus Slime (Ziggy played Guitar Hero, but not Smash Hits) @ Apr 28th 2009 8:46PM
you know, you could always get an iPod Touch then download the skype app. Its the same thing....but with better phone service
http://instantrimshot.com/
sk8monroe81 @ Apr 28th 2009 9:55PM
ipod touches are a rip off IMO and more than an iphone, however you have many more apps and options with an iphone.
skype in no way replaces a land line or cell phone for most of us....
so when your walking around with your ipod touch, with no free wifi hot spot, how do you expect to answer a phone call??
there is a reason millions of people purchase phone service, and that reason is because we are receiving a service in return.
Misfit Toy @ Apr 28th 2009 10:44PM
I have a Zune because I like the service better than iTunes. So lets see, in order to play this game I need to go buy ANOTHER mp3 player or move. Lame. I'll just have to write this off as not existing because neither is happening anytime soon.
I can't be the only one in this scenario. I mean, seriously. There are tons of people on other services like Sprint, US Cellular, etc. But only AT&T has these phones.
sk8monroe81 @ Apr 28th 2009 11:41PM
misfit- i actually prefer my zune also.
it just works better with my PC IMO and no DRM and other things that were better for me..
i think most people say the ipod is better due to more accessories and reasons that dont really mean much for what the device is for.
verizon will be getting a iphone sooner or later.
and ms is going to either make a zune phone or put their zune app's and a windows programs in another phone companies new phone.
almost.design @ Apr 29th 2009 1:54AM
What's so hard to understand? Yes you will need a iPod or iPhone. Deal with it. You brought the Zune for what it did. Just like others buy the iPod for what it can do. Who cares if your missing out.
"One more reason for me to be bitter about the whole uprising of iPhone games."
-Misfit Toy
The App Store is great and was made by Apple for Apple. So sorry that it is growing a large support from developers.
Misfit Toy @ Apr 29th 2009 8:03AM
The whole point is that it is clearly leaving a section of the gaming market out in the cold. That, of course, is beside the point of how I dislike when game companies place stories from a console midstream onto portable gaming devices. Kingdom Hearts comes to mind. If the games are coming out on the XBOX 360, why should developers expect me to go out or already own an iPhone or iTouch to get the story that falls in between two XBOX games. Its so random.
I think this sort of thing would fall well into an XBOX LIVE Arcade game. That way it can be 'mini' without being a full retail game. At least its staying on the same platform. That, of course, is in my ideal world. Which seems to be not how things are.
Clearly by you telling me to 'deal with it' you already own one of these two Apple platforms so its no big deal for you. If you were in my shoes you'd think differently I'm assuming. It's no different than if all you owned was a Playstation 3 or XBOX 360 and they told you if you wanted to get the prequal to Dead Space that you'd have to go out and get a Wii. Oh wait. That's happening too.
Bored Exchange Student @ Apr 28th 2009 8:51PM
Zzzzzz... Just like the first Mass Effect videogame. BioWare's role-playing games aren't very good in my opinion.
The Dark Wayne @ Apr 28th 2009 8:52PM
DIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIE
Jason Statham (Aka Vegeta) @ Apr 28th 2009 8:53PM
"BioWare's role-playing games aren't very good in my opinion."
Joking, of course.
But may i ask why you think this?
Bored Exchange Student @ Apr 28th 2009 9:22PM
@Jason Statham (Aka Vegeta)
the art direction in all of their games
boring characters
boring stories
THE Ezio Auditore de Firenze (PSN slycooper_rocker) @ Apr 28th 2009 10:24PM
what would you consider fun? because everything seems to bore you.
Jomolungma @ Apr 28th 2009 9:19PM
From the star map screen grab, it looks like you'll be visiting the lovely country of Colombia and the warm waters of the Caribbean. Tortuga and Cartagena? WTF?
Stan @ Apr 28th 2009 9:39PM
The main guy looks like Cheapy D.
Orangecoke @ Apr 28th 2009 9:56PM
This will be on ipod touch not just iphone (in case that wasnt obvious).
mgsrocks1 @ Apr 29th 2009 4:25AM
Very nice. I bought Mass Effect for $10 bucks at Gamestop and It's one of the best purchase I've ever made. I hated RPGs till I played Mass Effect. Because of that, I'm buying anything Mass Effect. :D
Duke @ Apr 29th 2009 5:11AM
This looks really good
Teabag @ Apr 29th 2009 6:31AM
Woaw. That look's extremely good. I have an iPhone and i will definitely get this when it comes out. Oh please!
Avada Kadavra 9 @ Apr 29th 2009 10:44AM
I am really tired of the iPhone it isn't that awesome for one and I only know of one person that still has it out of all the people that I know that had it before. It's old technology get over it.
bak @ Apr 29th 2009 10:58AM
This sounds great as an iPod Touch app. Two hours of Bioware for 2.99 is a good thing.
As for the the other portables; I would love to see some Bioware RPG goodness on my DS or PSP, but no way I would pay $30.00 for 2 hours of content. That would have to be a much bigger game...
Cr4sh Dummy @ Apr 29th 2009 6:46PM
I would buy an iPhone just to play this game!
Boff @ Apr 30th 2009 5:02AM
I'd be ALL OVER a PSP version. Or XBLA for that matter..... (hint hint - come on Bioware).
I'm keeping 'em crossed that it'll happen.
John Flush @ May 1st 2009 3:49PM
You know what pisses me off, when a franchise starts putting different stories on different hardware that all gives hints to the universe you are trying to follow. This needs a XBLA release or you risk alienating those that want to follow all the details...