Mass Effect 2 Collector’s Edition details

A Collector’s Edition of BioWare’s Mass Effect 2 will also be released in limited quantities on January 26 in North America (Jan 29 in EU) alongside the standard edition. The Collectors’ Edition comes in a tin case and includes the full version of the game, a 48-page hardcover “Art of Mass Effect 2″ book, Issue 1 of the Mass Effect Redemption comic book, and a bonus DVD with behind-the-scenes and making-of videos. In addition, the Mass Effect 2 Collectors’ Edition will include in-game weapons and armor that can only be obtained by purchasing this version.

Mass Effect 2 will be available on the Xbox 360 and PC. The Mass Effect 2 Collectors’ Edition will retail at an MSRP of $69.99 on Xbox 360 and $59.99 on PC.

Find out more at masseffect.bioware.com.

Dragon Age: Origins in stores

BioWare’s newest action RPG, Dragon Age: Origins, is now in stores and available for the PS3, Xbox 360 and Windows PC. Dragon Age present an original RPG created by BioWare, best known for creating such hits as Neverwinter Nights and Mass Effect. Dragon Age: Origins introduces a dark and gritty approach to the fantasy genre where players must make ruthless decisions and be willing to sacrifice their friends and loved ones for the greater good of mankind. Several downloadable content packs are also now available, including Warden’s Keep, The Stone Prisoner and the Blood Dragon Armor.

The Stone Prisoner gives players access to new environments, items, hours of additional gameplay and the stone golem Shale who can become one of the most powerful party members in the game. The Warden’s Keep DLC provides a new dungeon-exploring adventure, new loot including a set of ancient Grey Warden armor, a chance to gain two of six mysterious new abilities, a new base complete with merchants and a party chest to store their hard-earned items. In addition, BioWare has released the Blood Dragon Armor DLC, a set of themed armor that gives players additional protection in combat and will be available for use in both Dragon Age: Origins on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC and in Mass Effect 2 on the Xbox 360 and PC.

Dragon Age: Origins is available today in North America on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. In Europe, Dragon Age: Origins will be released on November 6th on the Xbox 360 and PC and later in November on PlayStation 3. The game is rated M by the ESRB and 18+ by PEGI.

For more information on the game check out www.dragonage.com.

Star Wars: The Old Republic: Jedi Knights

The official site for Star Wars: The Old Republic, BioWare and LucasArts’ upcoming MMO set in the early days of the Star Wars Universe, offers a deeper look at the Jedi Knight. For countless ages the Knights of the Jedi Order have been the guardians of peace and justice in The Old Republic using disciplined training and meditation, to achieve a perfect union of body and mind.

Strengthened by the Force, they are able to turn this training into lightsaber combat that is unmatched in the universe. The latest HoloNet entry on the official Old Republic web site now offers a full profile of the Jedi Knights, including videos showing them in action The media section is also offering downloadable screenshots, concept art, and wallpapers!

Find out more at www.swtor.com.

Dragon Age: Origins event: Wardens’ Quest

BioWare announced the Dragon Age: Origins Wardens’Quest, a 24 hour gaming event for Dragon Age: Origins. To celebrate the launch of the game, BioWare is inviting gamers and press from North America and across Europe to put their skills and endurance to the test. On October 28, at 10:00 AM GMT, ten teams of four players each will explore the game in their 24 hour quest to claim the grand prize. Each winning team member will receive $12,500. Official rules can be found at www.wardensquest.com.

There will be ten participating teams representing their countries: the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands and Belgium, Spain, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and a specially selected team comprised of BioWare fans from around the world. The competition will take place in the Debating Chamber at County Hall in London, England. BioWare staff and costumed actors will further make the event even more uncomfortable to watch or be a part of. I’m glad I am not one of those people. Just saying.

Dragon Age: Origins will be released on November 3 in North America on the PlayStation 3, the Xbox 360 and PC. The game will ship on November 6th in Europe on PC, the Xbox 360 and later in November on the PlayStation 3. Dragon Age: Origins is rated M by the ESRB and 18+ by PEGI.

Dragon Age: Origins gold, in stores Nov. 3

BioWare’s Dragon Age: Origins has gone gold and will be released on Nov. 3 in North America. And for those PS3 owners concerned with having to wait longer than the rest, BioWare confirmed that the PS3 version would in fact ship on the selfsame days as the Xbox 360 and PC versions. Dragon Age: Origins will be released on November 6th in Europe on the Xbox 360 and PC. The European PlayStation 3 version will follow later in November. At launch Dragon Age: Origins will be available on all three platforms with several packs of downloadable content (DLC) including The Stone Prisoner, the Blood Dragon Armor and Warden’s Keep.

While waiting for this original action RPG to ship, players can begin to immerse themselves in the culture of Dragon Age: Origins early by joining the BioWare Social Network - a destination to share in-game screenshots, review game data and share story information. Players can also download the free to download Character Creator. The Character Creator lets players create and customize a player character on the PC and then upload their character data and avatar to the BioWare Social Network before Dragon Age: Origins launches. The Dragon Age: Origins Character Creator will provide players with the tools to create a character with a large amount of options.

Dragon Age: Origins is rated M by the ESRB and 18+ by PEGI. Learn more about the Character Creator, Social Network and the recently launched Flash game Dragon Age: Journeys, by visiting www.dragonage.com.

Dragon Age Journeys now live

BioWare has launched the first chapter of Dragon Age Journeys, a free to play browser based game set in the Dragon Age world. Dragon Age Journeys lets players explore the underground dwarven kingdom of Orzammar, uncovering a dastardly plot that threatens to unleash a great evil that won’t stop until it destroys every single living thing. Based on BioWare’s original fantasy RPG, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age Journeys also gives players the chance to earn exclusive in game content for Dragon Age: Origins on the day of its release.

The game was produced by a new browser-based production team at EA and an all-star team of independent development talent, with the goal of creating premium quality browser games.

Dragon Age Journeys features tactical combat, a story that ties into Origins and deep customization for a web game. Players can choose from one of six different origin stories, each offering a unique background that shapes how the player perceives the world and how the world will perceive them. The game mostly serves as an introduction to Dragon Age: Origins, which ships on Nov. 3 for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

Mass Effect 2 dated, pre-order items revealed

BioWare revealed that its sci-fi action RPG sequel, Mass Effect 2, will be on store shelves in North America on January 26, and on January 29 in Europe. The company also revealed a number of unique in-game items consumers can get when they pre-order.

In North America, the pre-order bonuses include special-ops armor and weaponry that are designed to boost Commander Shepard’s skills and abilities. At GameStop, Terminus Gear is available with pre-orders, which includes the Terminus Assault Armor and the M-490 Blackstorm Heavy Weapon. The Terminus Armor is designed for use in extreme planetary conditions, increasing run speed and personal shields, and augmenting weapons with an additional magazine of reserve ammo. The M-490 Blackstorm Heavy Weapon generates a high-powered localized gravity well, accelerating particles to near-infinite mass, and ultimately expanding the selection of heavy weapons available to players when they gear up for combat missions in Mass Effect 2.

Players that pre-order Mass Effect 2 at other retailers in North America will receive the Inferno Armor, which gives a negotiation bonus to Commander Shepard and an increase in run speed and augmented damage from combat powers.

Mass Effect 2 will be available on the Xbox 360 and PC.