Microsoft is running an "Extended Play Download Days" promotion between now and the end of October, with select downloadable content discounted for six Xbox 360 titles. Sure, half of the promotion consists of Beautiful Katamari accessories and stages, but we've also got Forza Motorsport 2, Mass Effect, Guitar Hero 3, Lost Odyssey and a deep discount for Oblivion Shivering Isles (from $30 to $20). Not coincidentally, today also marks the first day of the new Xbox 360 price drop.
Select Xbox Live DLC discounted until end of October
Microsoft is running an "Extended Play Download Days" promotion between now and the end of October, with select downloadable content discounted for six Xbox 360 titles. Sure, half of the promotion consists of Beautiful Katamari accessories and stages, but we've also got Forza Motorsport 2, Mass Effect, Guitar Hero 3, Lost Odyssey and a deep discount for Oblivion Shivering Isles (from $30 to $20). Not coincidentally, today also marks the first day of the new Xbox 360 price drop.
Continue reading Select Xbox Live DLC discounted until end of October
BioWare considering Mass Effect DS
... and Jade Empire DS and Dragon Age DS and pretty much any BioWare property is on the table, according to the company. Lead designer of upcoming DS title Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood Miles Homes told Eurogamer.de that the company would consider small screen versions of their IPs, "basically anything that reinforces the franchises."As much as we'd like to get totally pumped by the revelation, we're going to withhold pumpitude until we see how Sonic turns out. But hey, don't let us rain on your parade: Which BioWare franchise do you hope goes DS first?
BioWare 'talking about' more Mass Effect DLC
The space opera has only had one episodic DLC adventure with Bring Down the Sky, which was made available free for PC purchasers of the game. Since then, the space around The Citadel has been pretty quiet ... but not in that normal space sort of way ... you know what we mean.
Mass Effect DLC now on PC for free
To get it, just boot up Mass Effect and look for instructions at the launch screen. Alternatively, hit up Big Download to grab the BDtS update and 1.01 patch before heading to BioWare's site to get yourself all registered up. Then, just focus not on how long ago the 90 minutes of content came to 360 (spoiler: four and a half months ago) but rather just on how very, very free it is.
BioWare has 'never confirmed any plans' for Mass Effect 360 exclusivity

While there's no question about the rad-tacular sweetitude that's bound to emanate from BioWare's future entries in the Mass Effect franchise, it's time to hang up on another telephoned rumor -- this one has the unannounced trilogy locked into Xbox 360 exclusivity. According to the eloquently named Australian blog, XboxOZ360-gamer, BioWare bigwig Ray Muzyka told Australian 360 magazine that the RPG developer was committed to bringing the Mass Effect trilogy exclusively to the Xbox 360. Yeah, not so much.
Speaking to Joystiq, a BioWare representative deemed the information "incorrect," noting that Muzyka has "never confirmed any plans of Mass Effect exclusivity for the trilogy." So ... there is a trilogy, right?
[Via X3F]
BioWare to combat piracy through customer loyalty
"That's ultimately the best, most successful path to prevent piracy," noted BioWare's co-CEO Ray Muzyka, "to have players that want your games, want to believe in them and think they're high-quality and realize they're going to get a lot of value out of them as platforms for long time afterwards." It's a great theory, though we imagine that getting players to want your game isn't exactly the problem; it's getting them to open their wallets for them that's the trick.
BioWare eyeing iPhone development
"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.
PSA: Mass Effect PC still locked at 3 activations, uninstalling won't help
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.
[Via Consumerist; thanks, Eric]
Amazon has Mass Effect and Gears of War for $35
Now, if you want our advice, we're gonna say to hold off on Gears of War – what with the two-disc special edition being released later this month for just $40. Don't care about all that "special" crap, just want to shoot bug monsters in the face? Then place your order, friend. We like your style.
[Thanks, Curtis]
The Best Of Big Download: May 23-31, 2008

Exclusive Features
- In-Depth: Mass Effect: We go in detail on the new PC port of BioWare's acclaimed science fiction RPG
- Big Iron: Mass Effect's effective mass: We find out if your PC rig can run the game with all the bells and whistles.
- Big Versus: Mass Effect: How do the PC and Xbox 360 versions of the game compare to each other? We find out.
- PvP vs PvE: EA Mythic on Warhammer Online: Our series of PvP interviews for MMO games continues with EA Mythic's Jeff Hickman on their plans for the feature in Warhammer Online.
- Running With Scissors Vince Desi on the Postal movie: We chat with the Postal development head on the newly release movie version of their dark satire action game series.
- Big Versus: Penny Arcade Adventures - Episode One: We compare the PC and Xbox 360 versions of the new downloadable adventure-RPG from Hothead Games
- Casually Speaking: Are causal games really gateway games?: Our weekly casual games column looks at the debate on how playing casual games could lead some players to try more hardcore titles
- Freeware Friday: Abuse: The weekly column on free games takes a look at a golden oldie; the side-scrolling sci-fi shooter Abuse
- MODvelous Monday: This week's look at game mods looks at the Classic Doom 3 total conversion for Doom 3
Mass Effect PC DLC right around the corner
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.
Metareview -- Mass Effect (PC)
- 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."
BigVersus pits Mass Effect PC against Xbox 360 version
Continue reading BigVersus pits Mass Effect PC against Xbox 360 version
Counting Rupees: Digital Rights Madness

The reason for this has a lot to do with what's been going on with PC gaming in the last few years. While the "death" of PC gaming has been talked about for years, it isn't quite here. The landscape is just shifting. While the total NPD sales for each year has been decreasing, other avenues of making money have been developed. For instance, subscription-based games (mostly MMOs, but also games available on GameTap), cheaper more casual downloadable games (eg, PopCap Games), and even free, ad- or feature-driven games (eg, Dungeon Runners, Battlefield Heroes, Quake Zero) make up an ever increasing portion of PC-based revenue. Thus, the actual retail sales are taken up mostly by a few casual games, MMO starter kits or expansions, and maybe the occasional shooter or RTS game. Take, for example, the most recent NPD PC numbers for the week of May 4-10:
New games this week: Enemy Territory: Quake Wars
But we decided to go with Enemy Territory: Quake Wars largely because it's on two platforms this week instead of one like Mass Effect PC, and we're all about pleasing the masses. Check out the full list after the jump.
Continue reading New games this week: Enemy Territory: Quake Wars




























