BioWare: Mass Effect for iPhone is 'side story,' series 'branching out'
by Randy Nelson 
{ May 1st 2009 at 7:00PM } 
He denies speculation the game is a prequel to Mass Effect 2, saying, "[The game] is not a 'bridging' story between Mass Effect 1 and Mass Effect 2. It is a cool little side-story about one of the upcoming Mass Effect 2 characters. It is not 'required reading' to enjoy the core trilogy, but if (sic) a fun optional 'extra' game."
Among other details revealed in the post is the fact that Jacob's Story is "being done by a separate, dedicated team with no connection to any Mass Effect DLC development or patches," stressing it's not the reason there hasn't been any more Mass Effect add-on content since the release of Bring Down the Sky. Finally, Priestly notes that "BioWare and the Mass Effect team want to branch out in a number of ways with the ME universe, and this is just one example of such branching out." More details on the title are said to be inbound "later this month." (That'd be late May for those disoriented by the end-of-week month change.)
[Via VG247]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
BUGz @ May 1st 2009 7:09PM
is it like Chinatown wars? with the camera view from the top?
ziggy82323 @ May 1st 2009 7:42PM
yeah it's a top-down shooter
KingOfGods @ May 1st 2009 7:11PM
They are owned by EA so when can I expect Mass Effect on my toaster?
BUGz @ May 1st 2009 7:25PM
While the Bread is toasting it plays the long elevator music.
LegendaryRedass @ May 1st 2009 7:11PM
The only thing I read is that there is a team working on dlc, and not being distracted by this. More ME is always a positive development, though.
Tehman @ May 1st 2009 7:25PM
That chick on the title screen his HAWT
Ohhhhhhhh god
Uhhhhhhhhhhh
BUGz @ May 1st 2009 7:30PM
maybe you can audition for this version sex scene since they need everything small.
Rein @ May 1st 2009 7:34PM
How about they branch out onto something I actually own?
Bored Exchange Student @ May 1st 2009 7:42PM
More overpriced Apple iPhone trash.
Generic role-playing game Caucasian space marine number 145?
Snowblind @ May 1st 2009 7:59PM
Mass Effect.. generic..?
Now you're just looking at the pictures and making up comments, huh?
BunnySlapper @ May 1st 2009 7:46PM
I don't understand games like this for iPhone...the battery life is crap, and it's not exactly a fun experience having your finger(s) obscuring the playing area.
For casual games the iPhone is great...but for RPGs, shooters, etc? Gimmie a break...
Same thing with getting eBooks on iPhone. Who wants to stare at a 2 inch screen and try to read a novel which expires their mobile phone battery in 20 minutes?
Levi @ May 1st 2009 11:46PM
This is why the iPhone can't replace EVERYTHING. It does quite a freakin bit, but some things just aren't suited for it, no matter how much people want to deny it.
I'll reserve judgement for when it comes out tho.
ill trooper @ May 3rd 2009 3:02AM
You will never understand. Don't worry about it.
Anticrawl @ May 1st 2009 8:04PM
"Mass Effect for the iPhone is a [retarded idea]" "When our producer asked us to develop a port for the iPhone I [reached for the nearest office supply and bludgeoned him to death]"
Markez @ May 1st 2009 8:56PM
Do you think if Joystiq were to actually create an iPhone spoke, that you might actually just spontaneously combust?
Ace Harding @ May 1st 2009 8:15PM
Can we stop covering the iphone as if it were in the same league as the DS and PSP? It has one touch screen with no buttons,crosspads,stylist,or even nubsticks to play the damn thing with. Using fingers to emulate real play control on the same screen your looking at is beyond retarded! Cover the iphone games when they make one with standard control buttons and features! Untill then just let it fade away!
Anticrawl @ May 1st 2009 8:35PM
[This comment was deleted for being far to truthful and because we have our hands in Apple's pockets.]
smcn @ May 1st 2009 8:38PM
I'm with you man, it's so hard scrolling down an extra quarter of a page in Google reader. Dear Joystiq: My scrolling finger isn't made of titanium you know!
ill trooper @ May 3rd 2009 3:21AM
Hell no, please cover iPhone games MORE! A lot of people like me want to know what's happening with games on the platform (myself more than the DS or the PSP anymore). It CO-EXISTS with the DS and the PSP, it's not trying to replace them, so why panic? EVERYONE other than 'tweens and kids has their phone on them more often than their DS or PSP - The point of games on the iPhone or any other phone is for people that want to game a little bit on the device they have with them.
Maybe you just don't like Apple or the iPhone - fine. But that's not a good enough reason to NOT cover it.
Major platform, quality developers, affordable titles, interested readers... viable argument for more coverage. Sorry, haters.
Anticrawl @ May 1st 2009 9:09PM
"create an iPhone spoke"
I'm not sure what an iPhone spoke is. That like when you have rims with spokes fashioned from iPhones? If there were to do that I may spontaneously combust.
I just get fed enough "Apple is better than you so buy some iShit" from engadget each day so I don't really need it from Joystiq.
Anticrawl @ May 1st 2009 9:10PM
Forgot to click reply twice, was directed at Markez.
Markez @ May 1st 2009 9:20PM
Like up at the top, they have dedicated tabs for xbox/PS/Nintendo that they've dubbed spokes. So imagine they had a dedicated tab for the ol' iPhone. Having rims lined with iPhones would be siiiiick.
You ever seen the iRack bit? Swear it's the only quality thing MadTV has ever done... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw2nkoGLhrE
Rein @ May 1st 2009 9:25PM
@Markez
Clearly you've never seen Prehistoric Glamazon Huntresses AD.
Anticrawl @ May 1st 2009 9:32PM
Yes the day Joystiq adds and Apple/iPhone tab is the day the rivers will run read with the blood of the Joystiq bloggers. I will slaughter them like a wolf among lambs!
Kenny Powers Fastball (PSN johnnynumber5) @ May 1st 2009 9:59PM
They already have a segment devoted to iPhone games. I don't expect to see a tab here on the site, though. Maybe something like that on TUAW.
Anticrawl @ May 1st 2009 10:00PM
Red* also.
ill trooper @ May 3rd 2009 3:02AM
I agree about the "that will be the day it is 'read'" part...
Kenny Powers Fastball (PSN johnnynumber5) @ May 1st 2009 10:03PM
Man I love me some Mass Effect and some iPhone games. Rolando, Zombieville, Fieldrunners, Hero Of Sparta, Payback, FF Crystal Defenders, MGS Touch, Oregon Trail and Diner Dash are my favorite games and they are all super fun. I want to find a good turn based RPG on the thing. I've seen a few that looked decent but nothing that got me excited enough to make a purchase. It's certainly a viable portable gaming platform. Best. Phone. Ever.
lasersanchez @ May 2nd 2009 4:27AM
I'm a little excited.
bakes @ May 2nd 2009 12:30PM
Me too, although the games I have purchased on my Ipod Touch leave MUCH to be desired. Like others I will wait for the reviews to lay judgement.
So far the only game I found myself really enjoying is HERO OF SPARTA which is a cheap GOD OF WAR knock off that is dumbed down to a hack n slash on the Ipod.
Velsar @ May 2nd 2009 1:04PM
I'll repost what I already said since this is beyond stupid and just another one of EA's corruption techniques.
Velsar @ May 2nd 2009 1:05PM
This trilogy was supposed to be an Exclusive to the Xbox... and while I can understand it making a port to the PC now I hear that people are having ME2 go to PS3 and possibly the "Wii"? This isn't right at all, and is in fact the reason some of the better game series are becoming so warped and rotten... I blame EA since they acquired Bioware, and I always figured it would destroy the company, just like every other series and company they bought.
ME2 and 3 and other versions should go to the Xbox first, then the PC through a port.
I shouldn't have to get a mobile phone and play a game to read about story that isn't located in the books or the game.
This is a waste of time and I fear that a series with such potential is now going to become rotten and warped... sigh.