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A recent Mass Effect forum thread has revealed that a sizable snafu has cropped up among the early adopters of the game's recently released (and still unannounced) Pinnacle Station DLC -- while players can download the intergalactic Fight Club scenario problem-free, the content isn't actually showing up in-game for some folks. Posters in this forum thread report that Pinnacle Station conflicts with the Bring Down The Sky DLC content that was bundled with the Platinum Hits version of Mass Effect.

Unfortunately, if you've played through Bring Down the Sky's added areas and missions, you can't load your game without having that DLC on the hard drive. This means that the only way for Platinum Hits players to reach Pinnacle Station is to delete their bundled Bring Down the Sky DLC, purchase it from the Marketplace for 400, and then reinstall it. As you can imagine, this has given rise to some unhappy feelings among afflicted players.

A BioWare rep responded to these complaints by saying the developer is working on a fix for the problem, but couldn't give an ETA as to when the fix would arrive. We certainly hope it shows up before torches and pitchforks get involved.

Bioware isn't all about Mass Effect 2, you know. The company is also trying to get more folks to play the original Mass Effect through its special edition two-disc set of the first game that includes the original title and the 'Bring Down the Sky' DLC, among the other small goodies you see in the trailer above. We guess this puts to bed all those rumors about additional Mass Effect DLC, which is a real shame because, well, we like Mass Effect and totally want to play more of it. Thankfully, we can do just that when Mass Effect 2 hits shelves early next year.

PC gamers have long had to deal with the problems of their platform of choice (frequent upgrading, higher price, etc.) but they've also reaped the rewards: Namely, a lot of crap for free that their console-wielding brethren pay for. Just a few days after Microsoft of all companies finally realized that, PC gamers get another dollop of free content with the "Bring Down the Sky" DLC pack for Mass Effect.

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.

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.

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.

We never forget a face. That explains why we nearly overlooked the charming fellow above, as his disturbing assemblage of teeth, eyes and wrinkles really stretches our definition of "face" to its very hideous limit. Apparently, we were supposed to meet him for a round of Mass Effect today, foiling his and his fellow Batarians' plan to toss an asteroid at an unsuspecting planet.

If you feel like your galactic romp across BioWare's rich galaxy is in need of extension, the "Bring Down the Sky" Mass Effect add-on promises "approximately 90 minutes" of gameplay and 50 gamerscore points. It's available on the Xbox Live Marketplace now for $5, or 400 MS Points. Oh, and you can win a download code for it right now.

• To enter this giveaway, suggest a caption for the above image in the comments section.
  
• You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec).
  
• Limit 1 entry per person. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified and jettisoned into space!
• This entry period ends tomorrow at 5:45pm ET Tuesday 3/11/08. We'll randomly select 10 winners at that time.
  
• For complete rules capable of generating extensive dialogue trees, click here.

[Update: The contest is over. We'll be contacting the winners shortly, so please keep an eye on your inbox!]

The name of the content pack comes from the story premise in the featured mission. A Batarian extremist group has hijacked a mobile asteroid station in the Asgard system, setting it on a collision course with the nearby colony world of Terra Nova, and for 400 MS points (about five bucks) you can saddle up and save the planet.

With the new DLC for Mass Effect hitting next week, Bioware has updated their Galactic Codex with information about the major new "feature" of the DLC, the new race, Batarians. First appearing in the Mass Effect universe before the game had even hit store shelves, Batarians featured largely in the prequel novel Mass Effect: Revelation and made no appearance in the retail game at all. The four-eyed humanoid species is isolationist and resides mainly in the Terminus systems, which are mentioned frequently in-game as a source of instability and insurrection. The website update includes some short history and back-story, along with a new screen and a small flash video of the species facial animations. Hopefully we'll get more on the species during the supposed 90 minutes of gameplay the pack provides. Entitled Bring Down the Sky, the DLC hits this Monday for 400 MS Points.

The folks over at IGN had a chance to sit down and chat with Casey Hudson, Project Director for Mass Effect about the game's upcoming Bring Down the Sky DLC. And in the process, we get learned! We learn that Bring Down the Sky (which is scheduled for release March 10th) is focused on furthing the Mass Effect storyline by introducing The Batarian race as well as learning more about how they've impacted the lives of those around you. Also, we should mention that the DLC can be played by any Mass Effect owner as long the player is on or has access to the Normandy. Because that's where the mission starts off. Make the jump to read IGN's complete Bring Down the Sky interview in all its interview glory and learn a bit more of what's to come this March.

Literally moments ago, BioWare announced that brand spanking new and flashy Mass Effect downloadable content will be headed to the XBLM on March 10th and boy oh boy is it juicy good.

The Mass Effect Bring Down the Sky DLC pack will cost 400 Microsoft points and expand upon the Mass Effect story by introducing a new world featuring the Batarian race. According to the description, Bring Down the Sky will feature over 90 minutes of additional gameplay where a "Batarian extremist group has hijacked a mobile asteroid station in the Asgard system, setting it on a collision course with the nearby colony world of Terra Nova" and (of course) "only Commander Shepard can save the millions of innocent civilians before the asteroid completes its deadly descent." Intense stuff.

The new DLC will also pack one new achievement worth 50 Gamerscore and is confirmed to be the first of many planned Mass Effect expansion packs. We guess Surfer Girl was right about this one.

[Thanks, teknomusik]