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.

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.

Mass Effect Pinnacle Station DLC released

Microsoft and BioWare have released a new add-on for Mass Effect called Pinnacle Station on Xbox Live Marketplace for right around $5 USD. In this new DLC players explore a top-secret Alliance space station and discover the danger therein. Feature 13 combat scenarios, Pinnacle Station will keep Mass Effect players busy for a little over a couple of hours.

As Gus Mastrapa points out in thisGame | Life story, this content seems like a way to remind fans that Mass Effect is a great game universe and that a new game is waiting in the wings - Mass Effect 2. Why? Because it has been a very long time since we’ve seen any Mass Effect DLC and it’s fairly cheap.

Oh, you’ll need to have reached Spectre status within the game to play this, but chances are you have already hit that level considering that this game is nearly two years old.

Add it to your queue by visiting xbox.com.

Mass Effect plot points, character revealed

BioWare today revealed new plot points in its sci-fi fantasy sequel Mass Effect 2. Once again playing as Commander Shepard, gamers will command their crew on a suicide mission in space. Players will strategically select each member of their squad, all of whom have a direct impact on the direction of the story and the squad’s chances for survival. Players will select from a motley cast of characters including the newly revealed Grunt – a blood-hungry Krogan.

Once players have assembled their squad from amongst the mystics, geniuses, and convicts, they must lead them on a suicide mission to discover why humans are vanishing from the galaxy. The success of the mission hinges on the squad recruited and their loyalty to the mission. Shepard’s future depends on it.

The new character revealed in the Mass Effect 2 squad is Grunt. A violent and unpredictable Krogan fighter, Grunt is strong, but he’s also a bit unpredictable and not necessarily trustworthy.

Grunt is the second party member to be revealed in the Mass Effect 2 universe following Thane a deadly assassin who was first introduced in June. More details about the rest of Shepard’s crew will be revealed in the coming months.

Dragon Age: Origins pre-order, Collector’s Edition details

BioWare revealed details on the Dragon Age: Origins Collector’s Edition and pre-order incentive program today. The Collector’s Edition is a premium package available in limited quantities featuring exclusive Dragon Age: Origins collectibles including a unique steel case, a cloth map of the world of Dragon Age, a Making-of documentary DVD, a digital version of the Dragon Age: Origins soundtrack, game trailers, wallpapers, strategy tips and a concept art video, plus three exclusive downloadable items that will provide special advantages to the player.

The Collector’s Edition is available for pre-order today at www.eastore.ea.com for an MSRP of $74.99 (console) and $64.99 (PC) in North America. As an added bonus, both original and Collector’s Edition of the game includes two special pieces of downloadable content: The Stone Prisoner, as well as a suit of Dragon Age themed armor that can be used in Dragon Age: Origins as well as in the upcoming BioWare Shooter RPG, Mass Effect 2 on all available platforms.

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Dark Horse, BioWare team for Mass Effect comics

BioWare and Dark Horse Comics have teamed up for a new comic book series based on Mass Effect, its popular sci-fi action RPG. In Mass Effect: Redemption, the story takes readers through the events leading up to Mass Effect 2, which opens with galactic hero Commander Shepard mysteriously missing and left to fight for survival. What unfolds next will expose readers to new locations, aliens and extended storyline in the Mass Effect universe. Mass Effect: Redemption is scheduled to launch in January 6, 2010.

The Mass Effect: Redemption story is written by Lead Writer Mac Walters at BioWare, who is also the script writer behind Mass Effect 2. The comic is scripted by John Jackson Miller (Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, The Invincible Iron Man) and drawn by Omar Francia (Star Wars Legacy). This first four-part series explores the “exotic and dangerous future Milky Way of Mass Effect,” revealing new locations, aliens, and enemies.

Mac Walters and Omar Francia will be autographing a Comic-con exclusive Mass Effect signing card at the Dark Horse booth (#2615) on July 24th at 4:00pm - 5:00pm at Comic-Con International 2009 in San Diego, CA.

Mass Effect: Redemption issue 1 hits comic shop shelves on January 6, 2010. Mass Effect 2 is scheduled for release on Xbox 360 and PC in early 2010.

Mythic, BioWare under one umbrella, Jacobs out

According to this Gamasutra story, Electronic Arts is consolidating its BioWare and Mythic Entertainment studios into a single group to be headed by BioWare’s founders. Mythic’s general manager and co-founder, Mark Jacobs, has reportedly left the company. BioWare co-founder Ray Muzyka will serve as the new unit’s Group General Manager, while Greg Zeschuk has been named chief creative officer. Mythic co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Rob Denton has been named general manager.

According to the report, companies’ structures, development team and personnel will change as each team works on various projects including Dragon Age, Mass Effect 2 and Star Wars The Old Republic. The only real change, apparently, is that studio heads will now report to Muzyka. What happens after these projects are complete is unknown, and how this changes development teams handling products like Warhammer Online and Ultima Online is also up in the air. One would assume the maintenance of these games would be the responsibility of Denton.