Mass Effect 3: Special Edition Wii U

Released on 30-Nov-2012

• Mario, Mass Effect and Batman: Nintendo reveals Wii U line up

  Nintendo has rolled out details on the games planned for its upcoming Wii U console, and it seems there'll be something for everyone when the machine launches later this year.

  With comparable graphics and power to the current Xbox and PlayStation models, and with an iPad-style tablet controller, the Wii U has attracted a lot of interest from developers who avoided its less muscular predecessor. That'll be why Mass Effect 3 will debut on the system when it launches, alongside other hardcore treats such as a new "Armoured Edition" of Batman: Arkham City. Cult Japanese developer Platinum, responsible for games like Bayonetta and Vanquish, is working on an action-packed cartoon strategy game called P-100.

  The Nintendo faithful will be well served by the return of many beloved franchises, including the long awaited Pikmin 3, in which players control a crowd of cute miniature aliens in a puzzle-based adventure. There'll also be New Super Mario Bros U as well as Paper Mario: Sticker Star, which promises an innovative sticker-based combat system. There's also Game & Wario, a minigame compilation in the style of the awesome WarioWare.

  Nintendo Land, which has been dubbed the Wii U equivalent of Wii Sports, features numerous solo and multiplayer challenges based on classic Nintendo series. The Legend of Zelda: Battle Quest, Luigi's Ghost Mansion, Animal Crossing: Sweet Days, Donkey Kong's Crash Course and Takamaru's Ninja Castle are just some of the titles revealed.

  The Wii U is scheduled for launch at the end of 2012, with the aim of getting it on UK shelves in time for Christmas.

• Bioware writer hints that Dragon Age III is getting closer

  Although EA and Bioware have yet to offer an official line on the next chapter in the Dragon Age saga, its existence has been heavily suggested through job listings at the Canadian developer, and a very public engagement with fans to see what they'd like from a third entry in the series.

  Now lead writer Jennifer Hepler has offered a fresh nugget of information, in an interview posted on the official Bioware blog. While discussing her average working day, she says: "At the moment, we are at the end of pre-production and beginning of production, so I am bouncing between outlining new stories and starting to write dialogue for the larger plots that are already developed."

  Bioware boss man Ray Muzyka hinted in December last year that the legendary RPG studio was playing close attention to hits like Skyrim, saying that while Dragon Age III will combine the best elements of the first two games,"it's also gonna have a lot of things I think players are gonna find compelling from some of the games that are out now that are doing really well with more of an open world feel."

  Regardless of where Dragon Age III stands, Bioware is busy at the moment, working on an expanded ending for the hit Mass Effect 3 as well as updating Star Wars MMO, The Old Republic.

• Microsoft hints at more Xbox 360 games on Nintendo Wii U

  Microsoft hints at more Xbox 360 games on Nintendo Wii U
  
  Just as British and German troops emerged from the trenches in World War I to play football on Christmas Day, so Microsoft has extended the hand of peace across the scorched earth of the console wars.

  "They are building a platform that is effectively a 360 when you think of graphical capability," Microsoft Studios boss Phil Spencer told GamesIndustry.biz in a revealing interview. He went on to suggest that Nintendo was planning to encourage more publishers of Xbox 360 games to port them across to Nintendo's new console, which comes with a touchscreen tablet controller.

  "Now they are really making an on-ramp for the back catalogue of games that are on 360", mused Spencer. "It is easy for those games to move over the Wii U. They've moved the buttons around, and they've made a controller that feels familiar for 360 gamers, so I get why they are putting those pieces together."

  Nintendo's president Satoru Iwata has also been talking up the graphical muscle of the Wii U, given that the Wii was the last home console to resist the move to HD graphics. "Other companies might launch a next-generation console with more power," he said in a presentation to investors this week, "but we don't necessarily think that the difference between the Wii U and such console will be as drastic as what you felt it was between the Wii and the other consoles, because there will be fewer and fewer differentiators in graphics."

  The Wii U is Nintendo's first HD console, and has already attracted admiring glances from lots of publishers. Hardcore titles heading to the platform include Mass Effect 3, Batman: Arkham City and Assassin's Creed III.

  The Wii U launches in the UK later this year.,
  

• BioWare details Mass Effect 3 collector's edition

  BioWare details Mass Effect 3 collector's edition

  BioWare has spilled the beans on the full array of content that will be included in the special N7 Collector's Edition version of Mass Effect 3.

  The limited edition package for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC sci-fi epic will come in a premium metal case that features artwork of both the male and female versions of the heroic Commander Shepard.

  Packed into the box will be a hardback 70-page art book, a Dark Horse comic book, a lithographic print of the Normandy spacecraft and a premium N7 fabric patch.

  Meanwhile, in-game content includes a variety of alternative costumes and weapons, a robotic dog sidekick for Shepard and a top-secret extra downloadable mission and character.

  A digital soundtrack, bonus Xbox 360 Avatar items and various social badges complete the deluxe package, which will hit stores alongside the standard release next March.

  Mass Effect 3 is the final instalment in the acclaimed role-playing trilogy and will introduce new features such as a multiplayer mode and Kinect voice commands.

  Published: 23/11/2011

• Everything you need to know about the Wii U launch

  Nintendo's new console, the Wii U, launches in the UK from November 30th and you can secure yours now from GAME from just £259.

  The console comes in two different packages. The basic edition comes with the 8Gb White Wii U console and the new touchscreen gamepad controller. It'll work with existing Wii remotes as well as the Wii sensor bar. If you don't have those, you can buy them separately in a starter pack.

  Alternatively you can opt for the premium black console, for £309.99. This comes with a 32Gb console and gamepad, plus a sensor bar, HDMI cable and membership of Nintendo's Premium Network which will allow you to earn points every time you buy Wii U software. The premium bundle also includes a copy of Nintendo Land, a cool minigame compilation featuring dozens of classic Nintendo stars.

  Finally, if minigames aren't your thing, check out the £349.99 ZombiU bundle with comes with a copy of Ubisoft's grisly horror game as well as a Pro Controller joypad.

  What else can you pick up on launch day? Seven games will be on the shelves, with loads more to follow in the following months. NintendoLand and ZombiU will be available as standalone games, of course, and no Nintendo console would be complete without a Mario game, so make room for New Super Mario Bros U. Platform fans can also look forward to the fantastic Rayman Legends, the sequel to the wonderful Rayman Origins and a Wii U exclusive. Those with a more hardcore mindset, meanwhile, will be able to take home Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, FIFA 13 and Mass Effect 3: Special Edition on launch day.

  If, for some reason, that doesn't keep you busy then the coming months will bring dozens more titles, including Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Wii U Edition, Transformers Prime, 007 Legends, Aliens: Colonial Marines, Assassin's Creed III, Batman: Arkham City Armoured Edition and Darksiders II.

  Published: 14/09/2012

• Nintendo's Wii U will be region locked

  Bad news for anyone thinking of importing a Wii U console from America or Japan. Nintendo has confirmed that the console will be region locked, meaning that it will only play games from the region it was purchased in.

  This doesn't come as much of a surprise, given that the Wii, 3DS and DS have all been strictly limited to local software in order to cut down on importers bagging games early and cheaply.

  It does, however, mean that demand for the UK console will be higher than ever. The Wii U, which uses a new touch pad controller as well as the Wii remote, launches on November 30th in a variety of bundles. The basic console comes with 8Gb of storage and can be picked up for £259.99. The premium console, with 32Gb of storage and a copy of NintendoLand, is just £309.99.

  For the truly hardcore, the ZombiU bundle includes the premium console plus a Pro Controller joypad and a copy of Ubisoft's grisly horror game, ZombiU. All premium bundles also include a subscription to Nintendo Premium, which will allow you to earn points whenever you buy new games.

  The Wii U launches with a mouth watering line up of games. New Super Mario Bros U and Rayman Legends arrive on the same day, as well as touch pad enhanced versions of Mass Effect 3, Batman: Arkham City and Call of Duty: Black Ops II.

  That's Christmas sorted then.

  Published: 25/09/2012

• Mass Effect Trilogy boxset brings original game to PS3 at last

  Completists and people who love to make the best use of their shelf space will be pleased to learn that a Mass Effect Trilogy boxset is due for release on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC in November.

  As the name cleverly suggests, it'll contain all three games from Bioware's blockbusting sci-fi RPG saga. This is particularly noteworthy for PlayStation 3 owners, as only the last two games in the series have been released for that console. The first game, which debuted back in 2007, was published by Microsoft and was exclusive to Xbox 360. A PC version eventually followed, and PlayStation 3 owners got to join in from Mass Effect 2 onwards, once EA took over the publishing rights.

  The exact contents of the trilogy set have yet to be announced, so it's unclear whether the set will also include all the bonus missions and material previously available as downloadable content.

  What we do know is that FemShep, the female version of series hero Commander Shepard, won't be on the front cover. The first two games showcased only the default male version of the character on their cover art, and for the third instalment Bioware offered a reversible sleeve so players could choose. When fans reacted with disappointment that FemShep would be left out again, Bioware tweeted: "Well, we've got a little something special planned for FemShep coming, so keep that chin up. Not with the cover art. We're doing something separate."

  Mass Effect Trilogy is due for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC in November.

  Published: 27/09/2012

• Rolling The Dice: The History of Bioware

  
  

  

  Role-playing fans are used to risking everything on the roll of the dice, but those gambles are usually reserved for the fictional fantasy tales unfolding on kitchen tables and in college dorm rooms. In 1995, doctors Greg Zeschuk, Ray Muzyka and Augustine Yip rolled the dice in real life when they turned their back on lucrative medical careers and decided to devote their time to making computer games instead. They called their company Bioware, and you only have to look at the games bearing that name today to see if their gambit paid off.

  

  This Christmas week sees Bioware release its first online multiplayer RPG, Star Wars: The Old Republic, while next year brings the third (and final?) instalment in their epic sci-fi saga, Mass Effect 3.

  So how did the Canadian code factory reach the top of the RPG tree? Surprisingly, the first game from the newly formed studio wasn't a role-playing game at all, but a 3D action title about combat mechs. Shattered Steel was the title, and by taking advantage of the power of new PC video graphics cards it offered destruction and 3D scope that was beyond the capability of older hardware. Titles like Quake and Half Life were yet to redefine PC gaming, so Shattered Steel's technology earned the fledgling developer a lot of attention.

  That attention wasn't enough to stop Dr Yip from returning to life in a white coat, but Zeschuk and Muzyka weren't about to let go of their dream. They wanted to make games inspired by the lengthy Dungeons & Dragons sessions that had seen them through medical school. And they already had the game in mind - Battleground: Infinity.

  

  Don't be surprised if you've never heard of it. By the time the game arrived on shelves it had been taken on by Interplay. The publisher held the video game rights to the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons brand, and so almost overnight Bioware went from developing games inspired by the role-playing classic to making an official Dungeons & Dragons game.

  Baldur's Gate was the result, and it was an immediate smash. The RPG genre was in rude health in 1998, with The Elder Scrolls, Fallout and Diablo all well established, but Bioware's relative inexperience was balanced with a deep understanding of what made role-playing fun.

  Dungeons & Dragons remained the company's bread and butter for many years after, with expansion packs for Baldur's Gate leading into the sequel, Shadows of Amn, following in 2000. Neverwinter Nights continued the studio's D&D heritage in 2002, reviving the classic AOL online role-player for a more savvy internet audience.

  While these titles were critically acclaimed and embraced by RPG fans worldwide, they were still very much niche games. Few outside of role-playing fandom were aware of the Bioware name. That changed in 2003, when the company launched its first console game, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. At a time when Star Wars fans were torn by misgivings over the prequel movies, and punchdrunk from a slew of half-baked spin-off games, it was Bioware's narrative nous that saved the Jedi. Epic in scale, and with the freedom to explore the galaxy far, far away, it fulfilled the dreams of many Star Wars fans and earned Bioware a promotion to the ranks of legendary game developers.

  

  Buoyed by this success, the company turned its attention to something new, the first original Bioware title since Shattered Steel, in fact. Jade Empire was the game, and it took the RPG framework and applied it to a tale of rival martial arts masters in feudal China. Kung fu combat added a surprising wrinkle to the familiar cloth, but critics noted that the story was a virtual retread of Knights of the Old Republic, with open-palm strikes replacing lightsabers.

  Only a few years later, and with a new console generation to play with, Bioware silenced any doubters with the 2007 smash hit Mass Effect. A slick, thrilling space saga with the pace of an action game and the depth of an RPG, it heralded a new era for the developer. Super-publisher EA swooped in to buy the company, and so began a period of blockbuster genre-hopping that is still in full swing.

  

  Blood-soaked fantasy epic Dragon Age found the company recasting the swords and monster tropes of the D&D years in its own style. Mass Effect 2 reached new heights of cinematic sizzle, showcasing an elastic storyline that allowed any of the characters to pop their clogs during the climactic suicide mission. And Bioware even found time to dabble in less obvious areas, creating a Mass Effect spin-off game for mobile phones and developing Sonic Chronicles for the DS, the first RPG to star Sega's blue spiky mascot.

  Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka are still at the head of the company they found over fifteen years ago, and their passion for role-playing is still tempered by a desire to innovate and stretch the boundaries of what can be done with the genre. With its ties to the developer's first breakout smash hit, and its desire to shake up the world of MMORPG gameplay, Star Wars: The Old Republic is perhaps the quintessential Bioware experience. Enormous in scale, complex in intent yet an absolute joy to play.
  
  Let the dice roll.
  

  Published: 22/12/2011

• New Year Revolutions: The games of 2012 that we want to play now

  
  

  New Year Revolutions: The games of 2012 that we want to play now

  Towards the end of last year, we saw veritable avalanche of amazing games roll over us, leaving us swamped but happy with top-notch titles such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Batman: Arkham City, Skyrim, Super Mario Land 3D, Assassin's Creed Revelations, Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Saints Row The Third and, oh, you get the idea.

  Surely that's more than enough new games to leave even the greediest gamer feeling stuffed and satisfied? Well, yes, but don't pretend you can't hear that little voice whispering in the back of your mind. What's next? it says.

  Here's the answer: our guide to the big games of 2012 that we can't wait to play.

  

  GTA V

  The genre-busting open-world crime caper makes its long-awaited return, with an all-new tale set in the pseudo-L.A. of Los Santos. Details are limited to one cryptic trailer, but where Rockstar is concerned it's safe to set expectations high.

  
  

  

  Mass Effect 3 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)

  Bioware brings its grand space opera to a cataclysmic finale, as the world-devouring Reapers declare open war on Earth. The game adds optional multiplayer modes, as well as Kinect voice features for Xbox 360.

  
  

  

  Halo 4 (Xbox 360)

  Who seriously thought that Halo 3 would be the last we saw of Master Chief? He's back for the start of a brand new trilogy, which will find the Spartan super soldier confronting his own destiny as well as an ancient evil poised to destroy the universe. No pressure then.

  
  

  

  Bioshock Infinite (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)

  Swapping the bottom of the ocean for the top of the world, this continuation of the smartest sci-fi shooter in recent memory casts you as a Pinkerton agent in 1912, trying to escape a dystopian city in the clouds. Expect gorgeous views and gruelling terror in equal measure.

  
  

  

  Borderlands 2 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)

  Return to Pandora for another round of co-operative role-playing mayhem. The game promises more dynamic quests which will alter the path of the story, as well as smarter enemies and more independent non-player characters. Bring it.

  
  

  

  Hitman: Absolution (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)

  It's been five years since Agent 47 last graced our joypads in Blood Money, and his latest adventure will take full advantage of the updates in technology since. Expect to be able to set up more elaborate assassinations, as well some form of multiplayer.

  
  

  

  Max Payne 3 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)

  Rockstar's other big game for 2012 finds the dual-wielding anti-hero cop disgraced and working as a bodyguard in Brazil. Of course, it all kicks off when the family he's guarding are targeted by gangsters, and slow-motion shooty-diving is the only way to settle the score.

  
  

  

  Tomb Raider (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)

  After drifting out of the spotlight, the first lady of gaming returns with this series reboot which follows a more vulnerable teenage Lara Croft, as she grows into the confident adventurer we all know and love.

  
  

  

  PlayStation Vita

  Sony's incredibly powerful handheld drops in February, bringing next-gen muscle to the portable gaming market. With 3G and Wifi-enabled models available - and boasting exclusive Uncharted, Wipeout and Call of Duty games - it's the console to watch in 2012.

  Published: 19/01/2012

• Wii U Preview - Pick of the Third Party Titles

  
  

  Between the platforming thrills of New Super Mario Bros U and Nintendo Land's brilliant and quirky mini-games, we all know that Nintendo's upcoming Wii U console's going to be great for brand new games, but what about the titles that have already come out for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, the games that Nintendo fans are only just getting the chance to try? What about space operas like Mass Effect 3, or hack-and-slash fantasies like Darksiders II?

  Luckily, Nintendo's been letting us check out some of these games in the build-up to their new console's release, and things are looking pretty special. Here's what we think of some of the best third-party stuff you'll be playing with your brand new Wii U games console.

  

  Mapping New Territory!

  The Wii U's not like other consoles, of course: its brilliant new GamePad comes with all the regular thumbsticks, triggers and face buttons, but it also has a glorious 6.2 inch touch screen set in the very centre of it. When it comes to a complex action role-playing game like Mass Effect 3: Special Edition, that means you'll be able to get a top-down view of the battlefield whenever you look down at your controller, which should make fighting your way through the action-packed campaign a cinch.

  As well as a map, the Wii U GamePad will also allow you to move your team-mates around the Mass Effect landscape with a tap of your finger - and you'll even be able to target specific enemies for them. Then, when someone comes in and wants to use the big telly in the living room, you can move the main action onto your GamePad, and save the universe while they catch up on Eastenders.

  

  Dungeons And Dressing Rooms

  Darksiders II takes much the same approach: THQ's huge action game has already wowed us on the PS3, 360 and PC, but on Nintendo's dream machine it's at its best yet. Not only do you get the option to keep an eye on the game's sprawling dungeons with a handy touchscreen map, you can also use the GamePad as a kind of portable wardrobe, paging through your character's inventory, changing weapons on the fly, and even altering which special power-ups you take into battle. And yes, it also doubles as a main screen when the family telly is being used, too.

  Elsewhere, Assassin's Creed III isn't even out yet on any console, but when it hits the Wii U you can expect a similar attention to detail. Ubisoft's planning an epic adventure which will take you to the wilds of revolutionary America, and the Wii U GamePad will chart the course, offering a familiar blend of maps, menus and weapon-swapping. Not to be left out, Ninja Gaiden III: Razor's Edge provides fans of frantic beat-'em-up action with a GamePad screen that doubles as a scrolling move list as they unleash furious attacks on their enemies, while also allowing players to trigger magic attacks and re-centre the camera with a tap of their fingers.

  

  Old School Challenges

  Ninja Gaiden III also showcases another benefit that's specific to the Wii U. When the game initially hit the PS3 and the Xbox 360, it was widely considered to be a little bit too easy to complete. Beat-'em-ups like this are meant to be fast and furious, and the best players like a real challenge as they learn all the Ninjitsu moves and master each weapon.

  Razor's Edge is a chance for the development team to rebalance things, then, ratcheting up the difficulty, throwing in more character customisation options as you unlock new moves for your deadly Ninja, and even chucking in a new playable character in the form of the beautiful and deadly Ayane. If that isn't enough, you'll be able to play through the entire campaign in online co-op, too, which means you can take on the worst that the world of magic and martial arts can lob at you with a friend watching your back.

  That's the Wii U, then: great for original games, and great for more traditional fare, too. Whether you want action, adventure, sci-fi or fantasy, Nintendo's new console has you covered. Wii can't wait for release date! Can U? (Sorry.)

  Published: 05/10/2012

• New Mass Effect game already in development

  The dust has barely settled on Mass Effect 3's controversial ending, but Bioware is already thinking ahead to what will come next. "We're in early stages of designing a completely new Mass Effect game," tweeted Casey Hudson, the man in charge of the series. "What would you want to see in it?"

  One thing is for sure: the game won't feature Commander Shepard, whose story was wrapped up in the first three Mass Effect games. If you missed out on that, don't panic - the Mass Effect Trilogy boxset compiles all three games, plus bonus content, into one bumper volume from December 7th.

  That marks the first time that the original 2007 game will be available on PlayStation 3. The game was originally published by Microsoft as an Xbox 360 exclusive.

  Bioware has always said it plans to continue exploring the sci-fi universe of the series beyond the original trilogy. There have already been four novels and four comic book mini-series based around the saga, as well as a couple of mobile games. Where will the developer take the series next? Bioware specialises in role-playing games, but the potential is huge. A Mass Effect first-person shooter? Real-time strategy game? What would you like to see? Bioware wants to know!

  Published: 09/11/2012

• Mass Effect 4 will use Battlefield 3 game engine

  Work on the next game in the Mass Effect saga is ramping up, with Bioware announcing that development has been handed over to its Montreal studio. The previous games in the series were created at Bioware's HQ in Edmonton, although Montreal has contributed many of the sidequests and DLC episodes as well as Mass Effect 3's multiplayer mode.

  More interesting from a gameplay perspective is the news that whatever form the next game takes, it will be built using DICE's Frostbite 2 game engine, most famously used for the extravagant destruction and epic scale of Battlefield 3.

  The game definitely won't follow Commander Shepard, whose story came to a close in Mass Effect 3, and speculation is rife as to what form a new Mass Effect game would take. For now, Bioware is keeping its cards off the table.

  "While [the next game] will be very respectful of the heritage built over the course of the first three games, with the original trilogy now concluded and the switch over to a new engine, we are exploring new directions, both on the gameplay and story fronts," studio head Yanick Roy said in a post on the Bioware blog. "You can still expect the pillars the franchise is known for to be fully intact though, including diverse alien races, a huge galaxy to explore, and of course rich, cinematic storytelling."

  If you want to catch up on the Mass Effect series, the Mass Effect Trilogy compilation is out now for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, marking the first time the original game has graced SONY's console.

  Published: 13/11/2012

• SONY's Journey dominates DICE Awards

  Journey, the stunning ambient explore-em-up from designer Jenova Chen, swept the board at the annual DICE Awards. Voted for by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, the awards are the closest thing the games industry has to the Oscars, although the ceremony inevitably involves less dance numbers.

  Already a favourite with critics and a top selling game on SONY's PlayStation Network, Journey took home eight awards, including the big three: Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction and Outstanding Innovation in Gaming.

  No other game came close to Journey's haul, but several games came away with multiple awards. The brutally brilliant XCOM: Enemy Unknown took home prizes for best strategy/simulation game as well as Outstanding Achievement in Gameplay Engineering. Microsoft's Halo 4 also took home two gongs, for Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering and Outstanding Achievement in Connectivity.

  Topping off a 2012 that was stuffed with superb titles across all genres, the exuberant Borderlands 2 was crowned Action Game of the Year, while Need for Speed: Most Wanted took the prize for best racing game and Mass Effect 3 was dubbed best role-playing game. Skylanders Giants beat Lego Batman 2 and Nintendo Land for Family Game of the Year, while PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale provided an upset in the fighting game category, as SONY's character crossover mash-up beat such genre mainstays as Tekken Tag Tournament 2 and Street Fighter X Tekken.

  Telltale Games' gruelling episodic adventure series The Walking Dead, based on the hit comic, also won big. It was awarded Adventure Game of the Year, and also took home honours for story and voice acting.

  Published: 08/02/2013

As a valued customer we now offer you the facility to sign up to email price alerts. Please enter the price you want to be, or below, and if drops to that level we will let you know...