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Free 'Extended Cut' DLC for 'Mass Effect 3' Will Offer Closure, Context and Clarity
Thu Apr 05, 2012 at 12:30 PM ETTags: Mass Effect, Mass Effect 3, BioWare (all tags)
It's not the new ending that some fans have been demanding, but it should help to provide what fans are looking for.
'Mass Effect 3' was met with critical acclaim and commercial success, with a tremendous fan response to boot. Of course, not every fan of the 'Mass Effect' series was satisfied. There was tremendous outcry at the ending, which many players felt was lacking.
The game's project lead, Casey Hudson, says that the petitions and letters were effective, and caused the team to reprioritize their DLC plans. Currently, the folks at BioWare are working on a free addition to the game that will "provide the fans who want more closure with even more context and clarity to the ending of the game, in a way that will feel more personalized for each player."
The extended cut of 'Mass Effect 3' will be available as a free download this summer and will remain until April 12, 2014.
Source: Joystiq
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Fans Raise $45,000 for Charity to Change 'Mass Effect 3' Ending – BioWare Responds to Story Complaints
Thu Mar 15, 2012 at 12:30 PM ETTags: Mass Effect, Mass Effect 3, BioWare (all tags)
The end of the game doesn't bring the kind of closure fans were looking for, and they're not happy about it.
There may be minor spoilers in this article
Things don't always end the way we want them to, whether it's real life or not. The endings to games, movies and books aren't always happy ones. Apparently that's what people were looking to get from 'Mass Effect 3' though.
A group of fans have created an online presence for those that want to see a new ending to 'Mass Effect' and they've raised $45,000 for charity in order to make the point, and do so something more effective than simply signing a name. The folks at Retake Mass Effect say that they respect BioWare's right to do whatever they like with their game, but that the current ending is unsatisfying.
These fans are looking for a new ending that they think better suits the 'Mass Effect' series – one that's heroic and provides a sense of "succeeding against impossible odds."
Executive Producer Casey Hudson says that the choice of ending was fully intentional and that he wanted people " debating what the endings mean and what’s going to happen next, and what situation are the characters left in. That to me is part of what’s exciting about this story."
Source: GameSpot
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'Mass Effect 3' Ships with Reversible Cover for Female Shepards
Thu Feb 23, 2012 at 12:30 PM ETTags: Mass Effect, Mass Effect 3, EA, BioWare (all tags)
It's a nice touch for those that prefer a female lead.
One of the very cool things about the 'Mass Effect' series, and BioWare games in general, is that your protagonist can be anyone you want. Well, anything you can create at least. Want a sexy female lead, guy that looks like John Waters or something in between? You can make it happen.
'Mass Effect 3' ups those options by giving you a choice in box art too. If you prefer a male Shepard, just leave the box as is, if your Shepard is a woman, flip the insert and you'll be represented on the cover too. Of course, these are the generic versions of the character, so unless you stick with default, it's not going to be the truest representation.
Still, the option is nice for gamers that want to keep their games on display and don't want to be stuck with one cover option.
Source: Game Informer
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'Mass Effect 3' Ships with Reversible Cover for Female Shepards
Thu Feb 23, 2012 at 12:30 PM ETTags: Mass Effect, Mass Effect 3, EA, BioWare (all tags)
It's a nice touch for those that prefer a female lead.
One of the very cool things about the 'Mass Effect' series, and BioWare games in general, is that your protagonist can be anyone you want. Well, anything you can create at least. Want a sexy female lead, guy that looks like John Waters or something in between? You can make it happen.
'Mass Effect 3' ups those options by giving you a choice in box art too. If you prefer a male Shepard, just leave the box as is, if your Shepard is a woman, flip the insert and you'll be represented on the cover too. Of course, these are the generic versions of the character, so unless you stick with default, it's not going to be the truest representation.
Still, the option is nice for gamers that want to keep their games on display and don't want to be stuck with one cover option.
Source: Game Informer
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BioWare Lead Writer Drew Karpyshyn Leaves the Company and the Industry
Fri Feb 17, 2012 at 11:30 AM ETTags: BioWare (all tags)
He says that he won't be severing ties with the company though, and is still working on an Old Republic novel.
Drew Karpyshyn is a household name only if your household is obsessed with PC RPGs or 'Mass Effect' novels. Karpyshyn is a name the folks at BioWare know very well though - he's written for many of their largest titles over the years, including 'Mass Effect 2' and 'Star Wars: The Old Republic.'
Two days ago, the prolific game writer made a major life decision. He decided to retire from BioWare. "For the past twelve years I’ve had the privilege to work at one of the best companies in the video game industry, side by side with the most talented and incredible group of people I’ve ever had the good fortune to know," he writes. "I’ve enjoyed my time at BioWare immensely, but it’s time for me to move on."
Karpyshyn's current project is a novel in the Old Republic series, but he's planning on working on his own novels, screenplays and more.
Source: Drew Karpyshyn
(via: Game Informer)
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BioWare says the Next 'Dragon Age' Will Take Cues From 'Skyrim'
Wed Dec 21, 2011 at 11:47 AM ETTags: BioWare, Dragon Age, Skyrim (all tags)
The game may end up providing characters with more of an open-world experience than in the past.
The 'Dragon Age' series is similar in theme to 'Skyrim.' Both games have dragons, adventurers, swords, magic, elves - all the stuff that makes the fantasy genre tick. In terms of play style though, they're very different experiences.
While 'Skyrim' is famous for its open world style, 'Dragon Age' games are focused down a linear path to provide players with a specially crafted experience. Both are valid ways to build a game, but with so much praise from critics and players alike, the 'Skyrim' model is well worth looking at.
In an interview with Wired, BioWare CEO Ray Muzyka says that the company will be "checking out 'Skyrim' aggressively" when creating the new 'Dragon Age' game. He says that the new title will have the things people already love about 'Dragon Age' but that "it's also going to have a lot of things I think players are going to find compelling from some of the games that are out now that are doing really well with more of an open-world feel."
Source: GameSpot
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BioWare says the Next 'Dragon Age' Will Take Cues From 'Skyrim'
Wed Dec 21, 2011 at 11:47 AM ETTags: BioWare, Dragon Age, Skyrim (all tags)
The game may end up providing characters with more of an open-world experience than in the past.
The 'Dragon Age' series is similar in theme to 'Skyrim.' Both games have dragons, adventurers, swords, magic, elves - all the stuff that makes the fantasy genre tick. In terms of play style though, they're very different experiences.
While 'Skyrim' is famous for its open world style, 'Dragon Age' games are focused down a linear path to provide players with a specially crafted experience. Both are valid ways to build a game, but with so much praise from critics and players alike, the 'Skyrim' model is well worth looking at.
In an interview with Wired, BioWare CEO Ray Muzyka says that the company will be "checking out 'Skyrim' aggressively" when creating the new 'Dragon Age' game. He says that the new title will have the things people already love about 'Dragon Age' but that "it's also going to have a lot of things I think players are going to find compelling from some of the games that are out now that are doing really well with more of an open-world feel."
Source: GameSpot
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'Star Wars: The Old Republic' Early Access Program is Now Live
Wed Dec 14, 2011 at 10:30 AM ETTags: Star Wars: The Old Republic, MMORPGs, BioWare, EA (all tags)
The full launch less than a week away, but fans who preordered are able to get on now.
If you preordered 'The Old Republic' then it's a very good time to be you. The game is being made playable for wave after wave of those that preordered. You'll need to swing over to the game website to register your preorder code if you haven't yet. Game access will be given out in the order that codes are entered.
After entering your code, you'll be put into a queue of people waiting for their access. When it's your turn, you'll get an email that lets you know that you're finally able to log into the game. Emails seem to be going out fairly regularly - once an hour or so.
Source: Gamespot
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'Star Wars: The Old Republic' Early Access Program is Now Live
Wed Dec 14, 2011 at 10:30 AM ETTags: Star Wars: The Old Republic, MMORPGs, BioWare, EA (all tags)
The full launch less than a week away, but fans who preordered are able to get on now.
If you preordered 'The Old Republic' then it's a very good time to be you. The game is being made playable for wave after wave of those that preordered. You'll need to swing over to the game website to register your preorder code if you haven't yet. Game access will be given out in the order that codes are entered.
After entering your code, you'll be put into a queue of people waiting for their access. When it's your turn, you'll get an email that lets you know that you're finally able to log into the game. Emails seem to be going out fairly regularly - once an hour or so.
Source: Gamespot
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Two Million Players Participate in 'Old Republic' Beta
Tue Dec 06, 2011 at 10:30 AM ETTags: Star Wars: The Old Republic, MMORPGs, BioWare, World of Warcraft (all tags)
It's looking like the 'Star Wars' MMO may stand a real shot in the marketplace.
When a new massively multiplayer game comes out, there tends to be media and fan buzz that we may finally see the "WoW killer." Whether or not BioWare's game can do that - if it's even possible to do - there's no question that 'Star Wars: the Old Republic' is an exciting prospect for gamers.
Thanksgiving weekend gave a good chunk of gamers access to the Beta version of 'Old Republic' in an effort to work out the kinks, check server capabilities and the like. According to EA, the game's Beta brought in two million players, with 750,000 playing last weekend.
Numbers like this could mean very good things for 'Old Republic' and give it some real sustainability. It may not be the 11 million that 'Warcraft' has, but converting those Beta testers into paying customers would be a big step towards a successful MMO.
Source: Massively
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