Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/BioWare eyeing iPhone developmenthttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/01/bioware-eyeing-iphone-development/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/01/bioware-eyeing-iphone-development/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/01/bioware-eyeing-iphone-development/#commentsFiled under: ,

Speaking to MTV Multiplayer, the developer of such epics as Mass Effect and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic confirmed that it is looking into games of a much smaller (physical) scale. Specifically, BioWare co-CEO Greg Zeschuk states that he finds Apple's iPhone "intriguing" as a games platform. Mind you, he's not saying development is underway, but he is a fan.

"Something that's as big a cultural and technical success as the iPhone is something you've really got to take a close look at," explains Zeschuk, adding that, "We've got a lot of folks looking at it." Zechuk's statements come just a few days after the project lead on BioWare's Nintendo DS RPG, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, revealed that the company is also investigating Wii and PSP dvelopment. Now BioWare just needs to look into developing for those LCD games you see at mall kiosks and it'll have all bases covered.

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]]>biowareiphonekotormass-effectsonic-chroniclesRandy Nelson2008-07-01T18:25:00+00:00BioWare considering Wii, PSP developmenthttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/bioware-considering-wii-psp-development/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/bioware-considering-wii-psp-development/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/bioware-considering-wii-psp-development/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Mass Effect creator BioWare likes console development. In fact, it would like to do more of it - on more platforms - so implies Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood project lead Mark Darrah in an interview with Gamasutra.

"We're looking into Wii and PSP as a company," Darrah revealed, although "nothing's been decided." BioWare is also intent on broadening its portfolio, Darrah says.

While its forte is definitely in the RPG genre, we have seen solid effort from BioWare in the action category with MDK2 for Sega Dreamcast and PlayStation 2. Company co-founder Greg Zeschuck has previously told Joystiq that he's keen to take another stab at the genre ... it's just a matter of clearing its already very full plate first and catching the right idea.

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]]>biowaresonic-chroniclesRandy Nelson2008-06-20T15:00:00+00:00EA: Saboteur, Dragon Age to miss '08http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/ea-saboteur-dragon-age-to-miss-08/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/ea-saboteur-dragon-age-to-miss-08/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/ea-saboteur-dragon-age-to-miss-08/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Delays are never good, but in the case of two titles emerging from EA's acquisition of BioWare and Pandemic, it's nice to see the publishing giant giving its studios the time they need to get the job done right. In particular, we're talking about BioWare's all-new original RPG title, Dragon Age, and Pandemic's WWII action game, Saboteur, both of which EA boss John Riccitiello revealed are now 2009 titles during a speech Tuesday.

BioWare, hot off the PC release of Mass Effect, has been crafting its first fantasy RPG since Neverwinter Nights for some time. Saboteur showed substantial promise when we saw it last year; it's a third-person action game set in Nazi-occupied France, starting off in black & white, with color appearing as Nazis are driven out of areas of Paris.

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]]>biowaredragon-ageeapandemicsaboteurRandy Nelson2008-06-20T00:30:00+00:00PSA: Mass Effect PC still locked at 3 activations, uninstalling won't helphttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/17/psa-mass-effect-pc-still-locked-at-3-activations-uninstalling/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/17/psa-mass-effect-pc-still-locked-at-3-activations-uninstalling/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/17/psa-mass-effect-pc-still-locked-at-3-activations-uninstalling/#commentsFiled under:


When we first reported on EA's reworked DRM scheme for Mass Effect PC - one that removed the onerous 10-day re-validation process but now only allows a maximum of three activations - we teased that we were ready to "pick up our torches and pitchforks and join the mob outside."

Now, a little over a month later, that mob has grown to some considerable size, spurred on by a forum thread on BioWare's site being referenced on consumer-advocacy blog The Consumerist. The problem: some confusion over whether or not uninstalling the game reinstates one of your three activations. After some wrangling (you know how support centers can be) EA confirmed that "unfortunately, you will not gain an activation by uninstalling the game." So, be stingy with those installs, gamers.

Gallery: Mass Effect (PC)


[Via Consumerist; thanks, Eric]

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]]>BioWareDRMEAElectronic-ArtsMass-EffectChristopher Grant2008-06-17T22:31:00+00:00Mass Effect PC DLC right around the cornerhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/mass-effect-pc-dlc-right-around-the-corner/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/mass-effect-pc-dlc-right-around-the-corner/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/mass-effect-pc-dlc-right-around-the-corner/#commentsFiled under:


Mass Effect PC players will soon have a chance to "Bring Down the Sky" (did you see what we did there?), as BioWare has announced that the free downloadable content will be available very soon for the PC version of the giant space epic.

The content -- available on the Xbox 360 since March -- includes a brand new uncharted world, and the inclusion of the ass-ugly Batarian race. And did we mention that it's free? That's incredibly good per-eyeball value.

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]]>biowaredlcmass-effectScott Jon Siegel2008-05-29T23:00:00+00:00Metareview -- Mass Effect (PC)http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/metareview-mass-effect-pc/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/metareview-mass-effect-pc/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/metareview-mass-effect-pc/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We always thought BioWare's galaxy-spanning RPG, Mass Effect, was just a teensy bit too epic to fit into that whirring beige box beneath the TV. Now, the game has been enhanced -- improved inventory, expanded squad control and less clunky interface, all check -- and released roughly six months later on a computer that doesn't sound like it's constantly sawing the disc in half. The first batch of reviews seem to approve.
  • IGN (92/100): "This is easily one of the best RPGs on the platform in recent years, delivering a terrific new universe, a fun blend of action and role-playing, and a deeply satisfying story. If you have any love of science fiction or space opera, then you owe it to yourself to check it out. There are hours upon hours of joyful discovery here, and an undeniable love for science fiction, as well."
  • GameDaily (90/100): "Although the game suffers from a few minor bugs, including a small number of missions that don't show as completed when finished, some computer controlled teammates that have trouble following orders and occasional glitches when switching between movement and hacking mode, the PC version of Mass Effect is superior to the Xbox 360 release. The mouse and keyboard controls are so natural that they improve the game's performance at practically every level."
  • Eurogamer (80/100): "It's an incredibly ballsy game, not afraid to take on any of its competitors, in any field. Story-lead games? Shooters? Even genuine, non-game populist sci-fi? Mass Effect has a try at them all, and leaves more wounds in them than they leave in it, before blasting off into a space all of its own."

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]]>BiowareEAMass-EffectSpace-AlienzLudwig Kietzmann2008-05-29T21:00:00+00:00BigVersus pits Mass Effect PC against Xbox 360 versionhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/bigversus-pits-mass-effect-pc-against-xbox-360-version/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/bigversus-pits-mass-effect-pc-against-xbox-360-version/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/bigversus-pits-mass-effect-pc-against-xbox-360-version/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Much like they did with Penny Arcade Adventures, the mouse-loving folks at BigDownload have pitted both version of Mass Effect - Xbox 360 and PC - against one another to see which is the best portrayal of Prothean technology. The verdict is probably unsurprising, given the new version came out some six months after the original (and with a vastly improved inventory system). Head over to BigDownload for all the details.

Gallery: Mass Effect (PC)

Much like they did with Penny Arcade Adventures, the mouse-loving folks at BigDownload have pitted both version of Mass Effect - Xbox 360 and PC - against one another to see which is the best portrayal of Prothean technology. The verdict is probably unsurprising, given the new version came out some six months after the original (and with a vastly improved inventory system). Head over to BigDownload for all the details.

Gallery: Mass Effect (PC)

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]]>big-versusbigversusbiowaremass-effectRoss Miller2008-05-29T14:30:00+00:00Joystiq interview: BioWare's Ray Muzyka talks Mass Effect 2, DLC and his favorite interfacehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/joystiq-interview-biowares-ray-muzyka-talks-mass-effect-2-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/joystiq-interview-biowares-ray-muzyka-talks-mass-effect-2-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/joystiq-interview-biowares-ray-muzyka-talks-mass-effect-2-dlc/#commentsFiled under: ,


Normally, when we want to talk to Ray Muzyka, General Manger of BioWare, we have to camp outside his palatial mansion and wait for him to get his morning paper. He's pretty spry though, so we can usually get out "When is Mass Effect 2 go--" before he slams the door in our face. But this time, EA actually asked us to pick the good doctor's brain. Here are the results:

BioWare has worked in several fantastical settings. How did working in a sci-fi world like Mass Effect differ from some of your earlier titles?

That's a great question. The creative inspiration for both fantasy and sci-fi, and contemporary settings for that matter, certainly come from very different sources on different projects - for example, we're inspired by the classic fantasy novels for our fantasy games like Baldur's Gate or Dragon Age, and by classic science fiction films for science fiction IPs like Mass Effect, and by contemporary setting movies and novels for other titles. We're always striving to deliver powerful emotional experiences to our audience.

With a game like Dragon Age, we're creating a rich fantasy universe that's equally compelling and deep compared with a science fiction universe like the galaxy of Mass Effect - both are different, but there are certainly a lot of similarities in terms of gameplay, and the characters, even when alien or non-human, still need to evoke an essential humanity, and make you feel something. With our future DS title, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, we're pursuing a brand new direction that's really fun to play. Whatever universe you're exploring you need to feel powerful emotion as you explore strange lands, fight awesome battles, converse with compelling characters, or progress and customize your character.

Do you prefer creating stories in the confines of someone else's mythology (Star Wars, etc.) or the freedom of making your own?

Both choices have their own unique appeal. In the end, both are ends of the same spectrum, since successful new intellectual properties become licenses. In the case of Star Wars, it was an incredible honor to work with LucasArts as we were - and are - huge fans of the Star Wars IP! Lucas has created a universe that allowed us to be very creative, so it really wasn't confining when we considered the freedom available in the Knights of the Old Republic setting, some 5000 years before the movies. The other side of the equation, creating new intellectual property, is literally creating your own fiction and is a lot of fun as we are starting from scratch for new IPs like Mass Effect or Dragon Age. Dragon Age is awesome by the way - I was playing it just the other day and it's shaping up pretty marvelously - we're looking forward to showing more on DA later this year. But the ultimate answer to your question is, we love working on both types of properties and you can expect both kinds from BioWare in the future.

It seems that a higher percentage of video games (as compared to movies, TV) skew towards a sci-fi universe. Why do think that is?

In science fiction a key concept is exploration and discovery. This really lends itself to interactive entertainment as it is a more personal experience. In other words, the audience is taking the role of director and the star, which means they are both discovering and shaping the experience. A good example for me personally was the first time I set foot on Luna, the Earth's moon, in Mass Effect. I looked up in the sky and could see the Earth - that was a pretty incredible experience; it made me feel like I was part of the NASA Apollo program!

I know that Mass Effect PC has a new interface, but I'm curious: Which do you prefer -- Xbox 360 or PC?

First off, I'm very proud of what both teams accomplished, and I've played both SKUs extensively, but from a personal perspective I have to say that I really am enjoying the new PC controls. The platform really lends itself to control customization and some of the new features we have like the new Tactical HUD with individual squad command and the ability to map Shepard's biotic powers to hot keys are really fun, particularly when you combine them together.

Is there more DLC being planned for Mass Effect? What can we expect?

We are definitely planning on doing more DLC, but we haven't yet announced any details. Stay tuned for more information later this year!

Where does Mass Effect 2 stand in terms of production phases?

We are working on future installments in the Mass Effect franchise and the team is implementing some very cool stuff that we aren't ready to discuss yet. Hang tight; we'll have more information as we get closer to formally announcing new products in the Mass Effect franchise!

The new interface is pretty PC-centric, how much of it will you be able to roll into Mass Effect 2?

Each platform has inherent strengths. The Xbox 360 control is really strong in the fact that it is very easy and intuitive to control. Comparing the Xbox 360 version versus the PC, we are looking at two different audiences with different expectations and needs. That being said, I really like what the team has done with the PC version and we are looking at implementing mechanics in future Mass Effect products where they make sense. However, we'll continue to support our fans on both PC and Xbox 360 in the future, so both SKUs need, and will have, different core interfaces.

Will Mass Effect 2 be an Xbox 360 exclusive again? Will they bring a PC port day and date for Mass Effect 2? Any plans for a Mac port, since EA has pledged support for that platform?

We haven't announced any specific plans yet with Mass Effect 2, so other than saying that I love the Mass Effect universe, I'll have to plead the fifth on this one!

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]]>biowaredragon-agejoystiqfeaturesmass-effectmass-effect-2ray-muzykaJustin McElroy2008-05-23T14:25:00+00:00Muzyka: Dragon Age looking sweet, Us: [gasp]http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/muzyka-dragon-age-looking-sweet-us-gasp/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/muzyka-dragon-age-looking-sweet-us-gasp/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/muzyka-dragon-age-looking-sweet-us-gasp/#commentsFiled under: ,


Can you remember back to November 3? No, young one. Not November 3, 2007. That'd be easy. No, we're talking about Nov. 3, 2006. The nation was tuning in to watch the antics of The Honeymooners, bell-bottoms were all the rage and a young Dwight D. Eisenhower was just gearing up his bid for the presidency. It was a crazy time. But it's also when we first got a release window for Dragon Age, a BioWare RPG that was supposedly due in late 2007 or early 2008. As a quick check of your calendar will tell you, both have come and gone.

But fear not! Speaking at yesterday's EA spring showcase in San Francisco, BioWare co-founder Ray Muzyka said that the game is not only still in the works but is "Looking really sweet." Well, we should certainly hope so, Ray. We should certainly hope so.

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]]>biowareray-muzykaJustin McElroy2008-05-14T12:00:00+00:00BioWare drops 10-day validation from Mass Effect PChttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/10/bioware-drops-10-day-valdiation-from-mass-effect-pc/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/10/bioware-drops-10-day-valdiation-from-mass-effect-pc/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/10/bioware-drops-10-day-valdiation-from-mass-effect-pc/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


After stirring up a hornets' nest of gamer contempt last week by announcing that the forthcoming PC flavor of Mass Effect would require re-validation every 10 days, BioWare community manager Jay Watamaniuk has come forward as the voice of reason on the game's official forums, stating that the developer has now removed the "feature" from the game.

Instead of employing the previously revealed DRM madness, Watamaniuk explained that Mass Effect will include just a one time online authentication, allowing players to play the game once validated without the disc in the drive at all. That said, if any new content is downloaded, the game will again have to bite the disc to make sure it's real. The caveat to all of this, however, is that each Mass Effect purchase will only be able to be installed a maximum of three times, news that has again incited us to pick up our torches and pitchforks and join the mob outside.

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]]>biowaredrmeaelectronic-artselectronicartsmass-effectmasseffectsecuromJason Dobson2008-05-10T09:25:00+00:00Spore, Mass Effect to require online validation every 10 dayshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/spore-mass-effect-to-require-online-validation-every-10-days/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/spore-mass-effect-to-require-online-validation-every-10-days/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/spore-mass-effect-to-require-online-validation-every-10-days/#commentsFiled under: ,

BioWare technical producer Derek French lit up the Mass Effect forums this past week announcing that both their game and (on page 2) fellow Electronic Arts title Spore come with SecuROM, a DRM system that requires activation the first time you play the game and then a re-check every ten days, with the first check on the fifth day.

French explained that there is no external program installed and the check will be run through MassEffect.exe (or Spore.exe, presumably), the data transfered will be the CD key and a "unique machine identifier of some type" and that he has been told, "there will be clear labeling on the package."

Despite all these reassurances, an unfortunate scenario brought up by one poster -- of ignoring the game 11 days and then trying to play with no internet -- was proven true, as French confirmed you wouldn't be able to play the game under that situation. Of course, it's not like you're gonna put any of these games down for ten days, right? Right? Eh, we hate DRM.

(Note: We do understand the irony of making a Samara/The Ring joke when -- spoiler -- her primary goal was to have people make as many copies as possible.)

[Via Shacknews]

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]]>biowaredrmeaelectronic-artsmass-effectsecuromsporeRoss Miller2008-05-07T14:00:00+00:00Bioware devs debate whether Wii is part of gaminghttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/bioware-devs-debate-if-wii-is-gaming/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/bioware-devs-debate-if-wii-is-gaming/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/bioware-devs-debate-if-wii-is-gaming/#commentsFiled under: ,

CEO Ray Muzyka and President Greg Zeschuk of Bioware, a company founded on narrative-centric RPGs, can't seem to decide if the Wii is a game (as opposed to, from what we gather, a toy). In an interview with GameDaily, Zeschuk said, "If gaming is defined by story, then generally Wii may not be," though he immediately expands on that, "The game [4 to 5 people together are] playing is actually very different than the rest of us. What they're doing as a company is like a different flavor."

Providing a counterpoint, Muzyaka noted that the Wii experience is "more toy-like" but also said, "there's also a narrative between the players outside the game and kind of fulfills the same things games do. Games are 'toys' in the sense that they're fun." Warren Spector had made a similar designation in an Escapist piece last year, categorizing games like Tetris and Madden akin as "retold" narratives. The above is a rather bare-bones highlight of their discussion, so check out the full interview for more.

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]]>biowaregamesgreg-zeschukmass-effectnarrativenintendoray-muzykarpgstorystorytellingtoyswiiRoss Miller2008-04-23T17:30:00+00:00Mass Effect's 'Bring Down the Sky' DLC free on PChttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/mass-effects-bring-down-the-sky-dlc-free-on-pc/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/mass-effects-bring-down-the-sky-dlc-free-on-pc/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/mass-effects-bring-down-the-sky-dlc-free-on-pc/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Though they've had to wait several months before experiencing the thrills of chatting up aliens and gallivanting across the galaxy, PC gamers are going to receive yet another bonus alongside their version of BioWare's planet-hopping RPG, Mass Effect. The first batch of downloadable content, entitled "Bring Down the Sky" and available on Xbox 360 since March, will be offered for free to registered members of BioWare's community website. The 90-minute, $5 add-on won't be packed inside the box, but we imagine you PC folks can handle an internet registration and download.

Provided your system meets the technical requirements, you can also look forward to an improved inventory system, an enhanced HUD and (hopefully) much shorter elevator rides. Mass Effect PC is out on May 28.

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]]>BioWareBreakingNewsBring-Down-The-SkyDLCEAMass-EffectRPGLudwig Kietzmann2008-04-18T13:30:00+00:00Mass Effect PC requires 'processor,' 'memory' and 'video card'http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/mass-effect-pc-requires-processor-memory-and-video-card/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/mass-effect-pc-requires-processor-memory-and-video-card/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/mass-effect-pc-requires-processor-memory-and-video-card/#commentsFiled under: , ,


While scouring the Mass Effect forums for a guide on how to place our girl, Beyoncé, into BioWare's space epic (found one!), we stumbled across the "system requirements" of the PC version. Not only will you require a PC, but one filled with the following rams, gigabytes and geforces:

Minimum System Requirements
  • Operating System: Windows XP or Vista
  • Processor: 2.4+GHZ Intel or 2.0+GHZ AMD
  • Memory: 1 Gigabyte Ram (XP); 2 Gigabytes Ram (Vista)
  • Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 6 series(6800GT or better); ATI 1300XT or better (X1550, X1600 Pro and HD2400 are below minimum system requirements)
  • Hard Drive Space: 12 Gigabytes
  • Sound Card: DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card and drivers
Recommended Real System Requirements
  • Operating System: Windows XP or Vista
  • Processor: 2.6+GHZ Intel or 2.4+GHZ AMD
  • Memory: 2 Gigabytes Ram
  • Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GTX or higher; ATI X1800 XL series or higher
  • Hard Drive Space: 12 Gigabytes
  • Sound Card: DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card and drivers - 5.1 sound card recommended
Mass Effect PC is out on May 28th.

Gallery: Mass Effect (PC)

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]]>BioWareEAMass-EffectRPGSci-FiSpecsLudwig Kietzmann2008-04-16T21:00:00+00:00Joystiq impressions: Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhoodhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/15/joystiq-impressions-sonic-chronicles-the-dark-brotherhood/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/15/joystiq-impressions-sonic-chronicles-the-dark-brotherhood/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/15/joystiq-impressions-sonic-chronicles-the-dark-brotherhood/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


A turn-based RPG, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood moves the speedy Sega characters into a role-playing world. After a big, "Huh?" I gave this DS-only game a shot at the Nintendo Media Summit. But especially with Bioware behind the project, I came away thinking it could be a fun game for kids and even adult RPG players. And forget Sonic; the deep game mechanics, dialogue options, and great-looking world could combine into a portable RPG favorite.

Gallery: Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood


The game features Sonic and his band of friends, but I never thought that these mascots got in the way of the game. I didn't get far enough into the story to see how dialogue snippets and character customization define my own world, but Bioware says Sonic Chronicles has lots of choices.

Before wandering through the world, I picked a team of Sonic and three other characters, building my own party. Each character -- about 11 will be in the final version -- has unique abilities and attacks that are needed to beat certain areas. Like other RPGs, characters can be outfitted with equipment to make them faster, stronger, or otherwise improved. And most characters team up with another specific member for a combined attack.

I tapped the stylus onto the game world, leading Sonic around the map. Rings act as currency, although I didn't spend any I collected. The world looked great, with the backgrounds all drawn from scratch -- no repeating tiles -- and settings from the old Sonic games recast in an angled, overhead view. I even tapped a loop, and Sonic raced through the stunt.

After getting a general sense of the simple, screen-tapping controls, I faced off in a battle. The turn-based combat pits the player's team against many enemy types; roughly 40 to 50 should be in the final game. And while the combat relies on player stats, Bioware added some DS flourishes to the fighting. Certain attacks succeed or fail with a player's timing; I tapped, Elite Beat Agents-style, on closing circles to activate a simple offense. More difficult moves rely on well-timed, circular stylus swings or accurately tracing the path of a line.

I liked these mechanics because they gave me more control over the turn-based outcome. The ones I sampled felt well-executed, although I'm cautious-but-hopeful about other touch-screen moments in the game. (I was told about a way to hack computers by tapping the screen quickly in the same place. I didn't get to try that, but it sounds less interesting than the other moves.)

Bioware says the Fall, DS-only game will include a detailed, player-driven adventure. With the engaging combat, great-looking worlds, and intuitive control, the story is the final piece to the game. I get nervous when a big franchise is loaned to another company, wondering how much control Sega is retaining. Hopefully Bioware has been trusted to have its run of the Sonic universe.

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]]>biowarenintendo-media-summit-08segasonic-chroniclessonic-chronicles-the-dark-brotherhoodsonic-the-hedgehogZack Stern2008-04-15T14:45:00+00:00Mass Effect PC will 'Bring Down the Sky' at launch [Updated]http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/10/mass-effect-pc-wont-bring-down-the-sky-at-launch/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/10/mass-effect-pc-wont-bring-down-the-sky-at-launch/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/10/mass-effect-pc-wont-bring-down-the-sky-at-launch/#commentsFiled under: ,


Don't expect to play Mass Effect's "Bring Down the Sky" downloadable content on the day the game releases for PC. Developer BioWare tells IGN that the DLC will not be included in the PC release, though there will be an "announcement soon" about "additional content" for it. Update: The DLC will not be included in the box, but will be offered for free to BioWare community members

BioWare dodges the question about whether future DLC will be staggered and released on Xbox 360 first, followed by PC. Either way, the PC gamer race is sure to giggle with delight as they experience less texture popping and shorter elevator rides when Mass Effect launches May 28.

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]]>biowarebring-down-the-skyDLCmass-effectmasseffectAlexander Sliwinski2008-04-10T14:25:00+00:00HUDs up! This is what Mass Effect PC's HUD looks likehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/huds-up-this-is-what-mass-effect-pcs-hud-looks-like/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/huds-up-this-is-what-mass-effect-pcs-hud-looks-like/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/huds-up-this-is-what-mass-effect-pcs-hud-looks-like/#commentsFiled under: ,


click to enlarge

"But how could the PC port of a game that was released in November be delayed?" you moaned, upon hearing the unfortunate news that Mass Effect would be delayed from May 6 to May 28. Beats us, but we've got three letters to make it all better, friend. Aich. You. Dee. Put it all together, and that spells HUD. And then, err ... break it all apart again and you've got heads-up display, an "entirely new" one of which BioWare wants to share with you after this morning's downer.

The new HUD, activated with a simple slap of the space bar, brings up access to squad commands ("Get your ass behind that rock, Williams!"), Biotics powers ("Get thrown, Geth scum!"), and abilities and weapons interfaces (sorry, it's hard to narrativize this one). Hey, we're already sold. We're just wondering if any of this lovely UI work will find a place in the (for a time) gamepad-saddled sequel.

Gallery: Mass Effect (PC)

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]]>BiowareMass-EffectChristopher Grant2008-04-08T18:27:00+00:00Mass Effect PC slips to May 28http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/mass-effect-pc-slips-to-may-28/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/mass-effect-pc-slips-to-may-28/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/mass-effect-pc-slips-to-may-28/#commentsFiled under: , ,


BioWare's community coordinator, Chris Priestly, has announced via the official Mass Effect forum that the PC version of the interstellar RPG has experienced a slight delay. Originally scheduled for release on May 6th, Mass Effect's retooled conversion will now arrive on May 28th in North America and June 6th in Europe.

Reasons given for the extra development time include the incorporation of further play-testing feedback, the tuning of additional features and, of course, the ever-popular application of "extra polish." Trust us, PC gamers, the wait will be worth it. You'll forget all about these extra few weeks once you're having a gas with our old pal, Saren.

[Thanks, Matt]

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]]>BioWareBreakingNewsDelayEAMass-EffectLudwig Kietzmann2008-04-08T10:30:00+00:00Mass Effect, Too Human devs justify their trilogieshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/mass-effect-too-human-devs-justify-their-trilogies/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/mass-effect-too-human-devs-justify-their-trilogies/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/mass-effect-too-human-devs-justify-their-trilogies/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Dear developer, does your game need to be a trilogy? MTV's Multiplayer blog decided to make two developers -- Too Human's Denis Dyack and Mass Effect's Ray Muzyka -- justify their trilogy ambitions. Dyack responds that their three-part epic is already mapped out, story-wise, and that each iteration has a specific theme: discovery, revenge and enlightenment, respectively.

As for Mass Effect, BioWare co-founder Muzyka was more vague in his reasoning, citing how "great science fiction arcs often occur in trilogies" and that they allow for a different pacing. The feeling we get is that BioWare isn't as interested in the story aspect so much as it is in the building of a virtual world, akin to what Will Wright discussed at this year's GDC.

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]]>biowaredenis-dyackmass-effectray-muzykasilicon-knightsthreetoo-humantrilogiestrilogyRoss Miller2008-04-07T14:30:00+00:00BioWare: Mass Effect 2 likely a timed Xbox 360 exclusive, PC version confirmed [updated]http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/14/bioware-mass-effect-2-likely-a-timed-xbox-360-exclusive/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/14/bioware-mass-effect-2-likely-a-timed-xbox-360-exclusive/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/14/bioware-mass-effect-2-likely-a-timed-xbox-360-exclusive/#commentsFiled under: ,


When EA snapped up BioWare, common wisdom was that the game's main attractions would be ported to any system that would have them. But it seems that (for now, at least) that doesn't hold true for space opera Mass Effect. As BioWare senior manager Matt Atwood told CVG, "I believe we'll be Xbox 360 exclusive for at least a short period of time. We're still working out the details on that, but we've had a great relationship with Microsoft and done very well."

There's plenty of wiggle room here, of course, because there's no telling how long a "short period" is. But it's not like we blame them. Heck, if we had a game company, we'd promise Microsoft a "short period" of exclusivity on everything. That way, when we inevitably had to delay the PS3 version to make it work, we'd make some free coin on the deal. Everybody wins! ... Well, we'd win.

Update: Atwood continued to elaborate with Videogamer.com, confirming a PC version, saying "We haven't announced plans for timing on Mass Effect 2, period, so at this point we're not really ready to talk about it, but because we've got a really great PC fan base we think it's really important to deliver the PC experience as quickly as possible."

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]]>biowarebreakingnewseaexclusivitymass-effectmass-effect-2microsoftJustin McElroy2008-03-14T09:10:00+00:00