Mass Effect 3 PlayStation 3

Released on 09-Mar-2012

• Mass Effect 3: early details leaked

  It not easy to keep a secret in the games industry these days, and no sooner had it been announced that the much-anticipated Mass Effect 3 would be gracing the cover of US mag Game Informer, than the first tidbits of story and gameplay info had emerged.

  If youe still not finished the second game, you may want to look away now: Mass Effect 3 starts with Commander Shepard standing trial on Earth forell, that would be telling. As (s)he waits to be judged, however, those pesky Reapers with admittedly fortuitous timing - start invading the planet.

  It seems Shepard has more than one enemy to face, as mysterious organisation Cerberus is also after him (or her), with former order-giver The Illusive Man set to play a key part in the game story.

  Like the PS3 version of its predecessor, Mass Effect 3 welcomes beginners with an interactive comic that allows those new to the series to make the decisions they have taken had they played the previous two. As before, these choices will ultimately shape the narrative and decide which crew members will be available.

  There more flexibility in the character development, too. Those disappointed in the streamlining of the RPG elements in Mass Effect 2 will be pleased to learn that skill trees will offer more branches, while Shepard powers will evolve several times. Weapons can now be modified to suit your style of play, and some of the restrictions on which guns can be carried by which characters have been lifted.

  Flexibility is evidently the name of the game here, and Bioware has promised multiple endings to add substantial replay value to what already set to be a galaxy-sized space opera. Mass Effect 3 lands on Xbox 360, PS3, and PC around Christmas or just before. We can wait!

• Mass Effect MMO "Makes sense" says BioWare

  Mass Effect 3 isn even out yet, and publisher BioWare is already discussing the future of the space-RPG series. Mass Effect 4 would be the obvious next step, but the Canada-based publisher is thinking along different lines. A Mass Effect MMO, then? Director Casey Hudson suggests that such an idea "makes sense"

  "We've been trying to think of a way that makes sense for people to experience Mass Effect with their friends,"said Hudson, speaking to US magazine Game Informer. "We haven't yet come up with a way to do that, so we don't have anything to announce at this time. But obviously multiplayer is something we want to do more of in the future."

  Mass Effect 3 won't have a multiplayer component, so Hudson suggests that might emerge in the form of an MMO. "A lot of people say that they want to see an MMO that kind of makes sense for this universe," he teased.

  "Part of what you're trying to do is save the universe so you can live in it. That's part of the promise for any great IP. It has to be a world worth saving. Mass Effect has that quality to it.

  "If you get rid of the Reapers and win that," he added, "wouldn't it be amazing to just live on the Citadel or just take a ship to Omega? That makes sense."

  That rather a lot of sense-making, which perhaps suggests this is more than just a possibility we wouldn't be surprised to learn that this was well past the concept stage. In the meantime, sci-fi fans have just a little over six months to wait for Mass Effect 3, which is due to land on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC sometime around November.

• E3 2011: Mass Effect 3 to feature Kinect support?

  E3 is almost upon us and the rumours of what Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo and all the rest have to show us are getting more and more interesting. Today stand out effort? Could Mass Effect 3 be getting Kinect support?

  It a tantalising idea: BioWare latest science fiction blockbuster promises to blend the worlds of action games and RPGs together more closely than any game before it, and it not hard to think of all those cover-based fire-fights being given a neat twist with Microsoft motion-sensing peripheral.

  The reason everybody talking about the possibility, however, is that a new image, spotted on the website of Mass Effect 3 publisher EA, shows the game box art with a tagline that reads etter with Kinect.That according to NeoGAF, who spotted the image before it mysteriously disappeared, anyway.

  We already know that Microsoft is planning to offer hardcore gamers Kinect-related treats they won be able to refuse at this E3, and there isn much that hardcore gamers like as much as Mass Effect. Wel definitely be keeping an eye on Commander Shepard and company during the Microsoft conference, then and we suggest that you keep an eye on this website if you want to be sure youl hear any news first.

  Mass Effect 3 is hitting shelves in early 2012, and will be available for the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.

• Meet James Vega, your new Mass Effect 3 crew member

  Bioware has finally unveiled one of the new characters you'll be barking orders at in the upcoming Mass Effect 3. His name is James Vega, and he's very pleased to meet you. As his name suggests, Vega is a human crew member and his build suggests someone who spends a lot of time in the gym wrestling with Krogans.

  In terms of abilities, he's a Soldier class with no Tech or Biotic powers. aven't we already got one of those? we hear you whine. Worry not, as Mass Effect lead designer Preston Watamaniuk has already taken to Twitter to put fans at ease. ames = Survivability and Ashley = Lethality. Both are Soldier types but play very different he tweeted.

  Even so, Vega's pug-like face and surly demeanour haven't exactly gone down well with some Mass Effect fans but executive producer Casey Hudson also tweeted to let everyone know that he's, like, totally not bothered. njoyed your first impressions of Vega! he joked. "We have fun with our ensemble casts: chars are designed to be loved by some players but not all./p>

  We'll be able to judge James Vega's loveliness for ourselves in early 2012 when Mass Effect 3 brings the epic space RPG trilogy to a close.

• Actions have astronomical consequences in Mass Effect 3

  Ever since Mass Effect first stormed onto the scene back in 2007, the idea of player choice impacting across the planned trilogy has been a key part of the series' appeal. The impact itself, however, hasn't exactly been massive. Even the seemingly enormous choice at the end of the first game made only a small narrative difference in the second.

  That's all set to change in Mass Effect 3, as the end of the story means that Bioware can open the floodgates without worrying about how our choices will affect games that have yet to be written.

  ith the first one, wee kind of launching everything, and wee kind of throwing up these huge threads to the later stories,producer Casey Hudson told Destructoid.

  layers can do whatever they want with the remainder of the story producer Casey Hudson explained in an interview with Destructoid. our decisions can have much bigger consequences, things that youe done earlier can have much bigger consequences. So we can really throw around a lot of big impacts from your decisions, from prior games and from decisions youl make in Mass Effect 3. It really astronomical./p>

  Mass Effect 3 brings the Reapers to Earth for a final showdown on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC in March 2012.

• Weapon modification returns in Mass Effect 3

  Epic intergalactic role-playing game Mass Effect 2 earned an airlock full of awards and plaudits, but that doesn't mean developer Bioware is resting on its laurels for the explosive final chapter of its trilogy. Taking on board fan criticism of the limited options for customising weapons and equipment for your squad, they're bringing back full weapon modification.

  Rather than tinkering around in menus, you'll now be able to strip down your chosen weapon and add scopes, barrels and different ammo magazines during live gameplay, with the gun in question laid out in front of you. This will also be reflected in the game's internal economy, with more shops buying, selling and trading parts to customise Shepard and the rest of the team.

  t's real and visceralexplained producer Casey Hudson in an interview with RipTen. ou literally see your weapon laying there on a bench, in more detail than you'd otherwise be able to see. Then you can just plug in these mods that you're finding./p>

  With the narrative scope of Mass Effect 2 and a more in-depth RPG structure, Mass Effect 3 is shaping up to be the first big blockbuster of 2012, which is when it finally touches down for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

• Mass Effect 3 marks the end of Commander Shepard

  Fans of Bioware's epic sci-fi RPG trilogy Mass Effect should prepare to shed a single noble tear: the developer has confirmed that the upcoming Mass Effect 3 will be the last we see of Commander Shepard, the malleable avatar that we've all been following since 2007.

  "After this, Commander Shepard's story is complete", producer Michael Gamble told PC Gamer while discussing where the series will go next. Don't be too sad, however, as there's a very good chance that more games set in Mass Effect's rich universe will follow.

  In an earlier interview with PC Gamer, Bioware boss man Ray Mazuka promised: "We have ambitious plans to continue this franchise going forward. Mass Effect 3 is simultaneously a couple of different things; a thrilling and epic conclusion to the trilogy as we promised our fans we'd provide for Commander Shepard, but it's also a brand new beginning it's an entry point for new fans and it's also a brand new beginning."

  Mass Effect 3 not only brings the Reaper storyline to a close, but will also include a four-player co-op mode and Kinect voice commands for Xbox 360 players. It's due to arrive early in 2012 on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.<

• Interview with Ray Muzyka at Gamescom 2011

  At Gamescom 2011 we were lucky enough to get time alone with Ray Muzyka, co-founder and CEO of BioWare. With an impressive array of big-hitters to his name and the upcoming Mass Effect 3 demoing at Gamescom, there was a lot to get our teeth into.

  [GAME] It's great to get the chance to talk to you! BioWare seems to be one of those companies that really gets people passionate.

  [Ray Muzyka] Yeah, yeah, we have great fans. And there are a lot of core fans who buy everything we make.
  

  So, in the industry at the moment all the RPG developers are saying they're building a deeper, richer gaming experience. As you're considered one of the leaders in the RPG field, what does that mean to you? How do you build a deep, rich experience?

  Well, looking at individual games like Mass Effect 3, we got great reception for Mass Effect 2 but we also got feedback that people wanted a deeper experience in some of the aspects of RPG progression and character development. So when you see the build, you'll see that we've taken that apart and we've tried to integrate it into an RPG-action experience. It's very visceral and intense, but you can also do a lot of things that the fans have been asking for, like weapon modifications on the fly. We have a weapons bench and you can put your weapon down and make modifications to really personalise it and make it your own. And it works really well, it gives a sort of in-the-field kind of perspective.

  We've also got some innovations around the way the characters progress. New abilities, and just a more refined system that we've learnt from doing Mass Effect 1 and Mass Effect 2. You can see that there are more interesting, more engaging ways to push your character in Mass Effect 3. The best thing you can do is check it out, then you can see for yourself.

  At the same time it's also got an integrated action experience, so it's an RPG and an action game at the same time. There are better movement controls for Shephard and he has the Omni Blade that kind of extends out of the Omni Tool, and he can jump over obstacles now and vault things, and he can grab enemies now and pull them over, and there are some specialisations.
  

  Everyone's talking about Atlas, the giant machine that you can snipe the pilot and get in.

  Yeah you can get in it! We're not trialling that here yet, but yeah, you'll be able to drive it.
  

  What are you most proud of in Mass Effect 3?

  Well, I think it's more intense in the actual moment-to-moment experience but we haven't lost any depth at the same time, and I think we really nailed the aspects of that. We're in the third iteration now and we're really comfortable with the tools. The team has been able to get to some things that they really wanted to do in the first one and the second one that we now know how to do. You know, we have some things we haven announced yet.
  

  I was going to be cheeky and ask you what they were, but you wouldn't tell me, would you?!

  No, no! But they're really good. They're really big things. They're to do with the campaign. They're in line with the experience that we're showing here today, so they're not separate parts.
  

  In the presentations on Mass Effect 3 that I've been to they've been talking about the emotional side of the game.

  I think that's been key to all of our games, emotional engagement. Mass Effect exemplifies that as well. The intensity of the experience, the personalisation of your actions and how you're going to play your equipment and your character in the deep RPG system.

  And then the story is unusually powerful. It's not the Reapers invading some planet in the galaxy somewhere - now they're invading your home, invading Earth, and they're taking other worlds too. You're still saving the galaxy, but really you're saving your home AND the galaxy, so it a lot more personal. The story arc is very compelling and emotionally engaging.

  It's the end of a trilogy, so it brings the whole story to a satisfying conclusion but at the same time it's the beginning of a new galactic adventure, a new galactic war. So it's kind of launching both things.
  

  Of all your portfolio of games, which was the most challenging in terms of dev work?

  They're big games. We have small games, too. We have social games, but then at the other end of the spectrum we have big MMOs like Star Wars: The Old Republic, which has an amazing amount of rich content that people will be discovering for years and years to come. And then RPGs like Mass Effect and Dragon Age. None of them are easy to build, they're all challenging in different ways, I think.
  

  So how about working with a big IP like Star Wars. Is it challenging? Do you have an awful lot of sign off on what you do?

  Yeah, yeah, well it's a very tight partnership, very close cooperation and they've been great partners. We've worked with them now for like a decade since Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic I, and now the Old Republic for many years, and they've been great collaborative partners.

  We set the game in a period thousands of years before the movies, so it's a really rich period where we get to explore and make new content, and they've been very supportive of that. We've learned a lot about the Star Wars licenses. I mean obviously they're experts on that. They understand the fans, they understand the audiences, and we benefit from that.
  

  So which of your games is most challenging in terms of fan expectation? For example, I notice that RPG fans seem to be much more intense about gaming and all the different aspects of it.

  They do seem to be. I mean, they like an intense, accessible experience, but they also want the depth, the richness, the story and the choice. And it's one thing to give a choice, but you also need to show the impact of that choice in a meaningful way, which means creating new content for different paths and non-linear storytelling. It means investing more time in development to enable that choice in a personally engaging way that means something to the player, and so they can see how their character reacts to their events, and the world changes based on their actions. That's part of what makes an RPG satisfying. You see the consequence to your actions.
  

  So based on that there must be a lot of emphasis put on the writing and the storytelling.

  Yeah, that's certainly one aspect of it. Cinematic animation is another aspect for the games that have that. World building, you have to change the world if something happens in one area. The downstream effects of changing one line of writing can be massive.
  

  You must sit at events like this being interviewed a lot! Is there anything that you're dying for an interviewer to ask you that you've never been asked?

  There probably is but I can't remember right now, it's been a long day! I think someone asked me a question today that I've never been asked which was, 'What were you like growing up?', and I was like, wow, no one ever asked me that before! I used to play a lot of videogames andmy parents let me play whatever I wanted because I got good grades at school. And for me, it was a real motivator, you know. I see it as an art form. I have a passion about the evolution of games. I love the fact that now there so many manifestations of them. It's like movies, there's such a spectrum of different types of games, like there are different movies and books. And those are art forms as well.
  

  I remember way back to the beginning of gaming when kids used to programme their own little pixelly games on a Commodore 64 and the like.

  Yeah, and people can program those sorts of games on their mobile devices now, so it's almost come full circle!
  

  And is there any question you get asked all the time that you wish people wouldn't ask anymore?

  Well, one question I get asked a lot is, 'What's your favourite BioWare game?' That's a question I can't really answer, and I don't have an answer actually, because I like all of our games. Otherwise, why would we be making them if we didn't like them?! I like them all for different reasons, but I don't like one more than the other.

  I'm pretty passionate about all the things we're doing. We have great teams and they're excited about making games and the opportunities, whether it's a smaller social game or an MMO, or an RPG or the strategy games that come out of L.A. And theres some exciting stuff coming out of all of our teams.
  

  Over all the studios is there something that's a big focus at the moment? We see that motion control is a focus for some companies at the moment.

  Kinect. We're doing a Kinect version of Mass Effect 3. It's not a seperate version, but it's going to be really cool. It's voice control. We're using voice commands to control your squad so you can tell squad members to do different things, different actions like help me or heal me. Or you can read the voice lines, the dialogue.

  I wouldn't say that's an overarching focus though. For our label it's really about our vision, which is emotionally engaging games, and all the games we build are achieving that vision in different ways, but they're all achieving that vision. It's our core value for all our studios, it's how we operate, it's how we build our games, it's how we make decisions.

  We want to make quality games for our fans, andbe a really great workplace for employees, a place they can be proud of, and use their passion and entrepreneurship. For us, all these things are important, and that's what makes us a sustainable business.
  

  Like I said at the beginning, you are one of those companies that people do get really passionate about. Why do you think that is?

  I think it's a trust thing. You can try very, very hard to make games and for us, the quality is very important. And we aren't perfect, we make mistakes and we always take feedback very humbly and say, yeah we can jig that to make our games better. We're only as good as our next game, and we have a promise and an obligation to our fans. And I hope that's how fans see BioWare. I hope they trust our brand to not let them down, and if we ever do we always make sure that we try and improve on it in the next game. It's a promise, I guess, and we want to maintain that quality.
  

  Thanks for giving us the time to talk to you.
  

  Interviewed by Amanda Hepburn
  

  Published: 31/08/2011

• Mass Effect Interview at Gamescom 2011

  At the end of the trade day at Gamesom we managed to grab a quick few minutes with the the dev team of Mass Effect. We threw the questions open to you on our Twitter feed @GAMEdigital and here is what you asked . . .
  

  @Limbatron - Tell me Miranda Lawson is back on board with Shepard!

  So yeah, Miranda's back in the game, we can confirm that. To what extent - I can't tell you!

  @SteveCampbell01 - Given that ME2 was such a success - what new mechanics can you bring in to make it even better?

  It's something that we struggle withall the time. You set the bar so high you have to keep on pushing it. So Mass Effect 3 is more along the lines of large-scale galactic war and that's what'll really push it to the next level. I mean, we've been talking about the Reapers for two games now and they're finally here in Mass Effect 3 - that's pretty damn satisfying in itself. And we get to conclude it, we get to wrap everything up and that's the big set piece for it.

  @birkalo - Can you give us any examples of the weapons modifications we've been told about?

  So, you can add things like scopes, you can add things like gun barrels to add damage, decrease noise, increase accuracy - handles and stuff like that - so basically, things that will modify statistics on the weapon. Anything you can think about, we can possibly do. There are in-level weapons tables you have to approach, then you can do your thing.

  @UKVampire - How will the size of the game compare to ME2?

  We haven't exactly figured out the exact play length, but generally, you know, comparing it to Mass Effect 2 in terms of size and scale is fair - it's about the same.

  @ - How will Kinect be used in Mass Effect 3?
  
  So, like we showed off at E3, Kinect is basically just the voice recognition system. You'll be able to command your squad mates throughout the battlefield and then when you're done, and you're in conversation you basically paraphrase what you see on screen and choose that appropriate response.

  @CanaryWundaboy - Are you planning to reward people who have certain (or all) achievements on the previous Mass Effect games?

  Oh yeah, yeah, absolutely! We can tell all that stuff from the save game that you import. Players who have put a lot of time into Mass Effect there's a couple of things that we're throwing in there extra.

  But you'll have to wait to find out!

  Mass Effect 3 is available on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC next year.

  Published: 29/09/2011

• Multiplayer coming to Mass Effect 3

  Saving the galaxy is a gruelling business, so why do it on your own? Thankfully it looks like that won't be the case for EA and BioWare's Mass Effect 3, as reports are beginning to trickle in that you'll be able to play the epic sci-fi RPG with your mates.

  Word comes from Australian mag Powerplay, with our intrepid friends down under remaining infuriatingly tight-lipped as they tease their November issue.

  "Fight alongside your friends as the galaxy goes to war!" screams the mag as they reveal they've been lucky enough to fly to developer BioWare's offices and play the new mode for themselves.

  Will it be co-op or straight up competitive play? With the game coming to stores next March, we're sure to find out more sooner rather than later - and it looks like another string to the bow of what's guaranteed to be one of 2012's biggest games.

• Mass Effect 3 Online Pass details revealed

  Mass Effect 3 Online Pass details revealed

  EA and BioWare have provided full details of the Online Pass system that will allow gamers to enjoy a full range of web-based content for Mass Effect 3.

  Each new copy of the eagerly awaited Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC title will include a single-use code that will provide users with access to various online features.

  These will include the game's newly announced multiplayer mode Galaxy at War, which allows players to form their own special forces squads aiding Commander Shepard's efforts to save the galaxy from the Reapers.

  Online Pass registrants will also be able to gain access to the BioWare Social Network, helping them keep abreast of the latest Mass Effect news and access downloadable add-ons.

  Casey Hudson, executive producer of the Mass Effect series, said: "The theme of galactic war in Mass Effect 3 presents us with the perfect opportunity to introduce multiplayer into the Mass Effect series."

  Mass Effect 3 will hit stores in March 2012 and will receive a feature-packed Collector's Edition release, while the Xbox 360 edition offers support for Kinect voice controls.

  Published: 14/10/2011

  Published: 14/10/2011

• Mass Effect 3 writer on the urdlesof multiple endings

  Mass Effect 3 writer on the urdlesof multiple endings

  Mac Walters, writer of both Mass Effect 2 and the upcoming Mass Effect 3, has said that allowing players to have multiple endings can be a problem when planning a continuation of the story.

  don't think I'd call it 'trapped'," he told the Official Xbox Magazine UK when asked about writing himself into a corner with various endings. hey're more hurdles. Sometimes they're hurdles that we've given ourselves, so we kind of smack ourselves in the head and say 'What the hell were we thinking? Why did we do that?'/p>

  "The classic example is 'Hey, let's make the ending of Mass Effect 2 a suicide mission where all your henchmen can possibly die, and Shepard can even die!'he continued. h right... and then we're gonna do another game after that. What the hell are we gonna do with all those guys?"

  Walters also used the interview to reveal that the upcoming trilogy-ending sequel will include a mission set on the Citadel, the seat of power in the Mass Effect universe, originally intended for Mass Effect 2.

  here was a Mass Effect 2 plot that was a kind of callback to the first Mass Effect that was going to be on the Citadel, and we cut it. But now it's made a resurrection in Mass Effect 3,he said. hat's the nice thing about trilogies, sometimes you get a second chance."

  Mass Effect 3 lands on March 9th next year, for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.
  

• 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 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 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)

  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.
  

  The Last Guardian (PS3)

  The latest game from Ico and Shadow of the Colossus creator Fumito Ueda follows a young boy attempting to escape from a grim castle with some help from his friend, a giant griffin-creature called Trico. Action, puzzles and beautiful loveliness ensue.
  

  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.
  
  

• Mass Effect 3 demo coming in February 2012

  Mass Effect 3 demo coming in February 2012

  Mass Effect fans should clear their Valentine's Day schedules for the release of the playable demo of Mass Effect 3.

  The trial version of BioWare's new sci-fi blockbuster will be out on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC on February 14th 2012, allowing players to sample both the solo and multiplayer components of the game.

  In the single player section, fans will be able to experience the explosive Reaper assault on Earth that opens the adventure, getting to grips with the game's enhanced combat, deep customisation options and Kinect voice features on Xbox 360.

  Meanwhile, the cooperative multiplayer mode, which allows players to team up and save the galaxy in standalone missions, will also be playable from February 17th, or from the 14th for those who have qualified for early access by activating their Battlefield 3 online passes.

  Casey Hudson, executive producer of the Mass Effect series, said: "We are excited to be able to give gamers an expansive demo that will put them right on the front lines of this all-out galactic war."

  Fans who play the Mass Effect 3 demo will also be able to unlock bonus content in EA's fantasy role-playing game Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning.
  

  Published: 20/01/2012

• Mass Effect 3 story will be easier for new players to understand

  If you've been eyeing up Mass Effect 3 but worrying that you've not played the first two games, don't worry. Bioware is making sure that you won't need intimate knowledge of the plot so far in order to enjoy this third - and final - chapter in the story of Commander Shepard.

  "In all honesty, we didn't do a really good job of new player orientation [in Mass Effect 2]," producer Nick Clifford admitted to IGN. "If you didn't play the first game then two was pretty jarring for the first half hour. If I'm a new player and some guy walks up to me and is like, 'Oh Shepard! Remember that one time?' I would be like, 'No, I don't remember that one time.'"

  If you don't import an existing save file into Mass Effect 3, the game will automatically replace any dialogue scenes that rely on prior experience with the storyline to minimise confusion. The game will also feature �tory so far" recaps to bring new players up to speed, and explain just why giant space squids are attacking the Earth.

  Not that there's any excuse for not having played through two of the best games of the current hardware generation. Mass Effect is available for Xbox 360 and PC, while Mass Effect 2 is on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. You've got about a month and a half until Mass Effect 3 comes out on March 9th. So go on. Get on with it.

• Mass Effect 3 'will be welcoming to newcomers'

  BioWare has stated that Mass Effect 3 will be just as welcoming an experience to Mass Effect newcomers as it will be for long-term fans.

  Nick Clifford, head of product marketing for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC title, told IGN that he believes the opening of Mass Effect 2 may have been a little "bewildering" for those who hadn't played the original, an issue BioWare is striving to fix.

  "We wanted to make sure that there aren't those moments that the player is like, 'Who is this? What's going on? What are they talking about?'," he explained.

  As such, the upcoming trilogy finale will provide plenty of junctures through which newbies can be brought up to speed on the story so far, similarly to how the PlayStation 3 edition of Mass Effect 2 featured an interactive comic retelling the first Mass Effect story.

  However, those who have been playing the series since the start will also be rewarded, as save games from the first two titles will still carry across, allowing committed fans to see their own personalised stories to conclusion.

  Mass Effect 3 is released in March 2012 and is now available to pre-order both in standard and collector's edition packages.

  Published: 24/01/2012

• "You'd better be doing everything well, or you'll die" - Mass Effect 3's Insanity Mode explained

  You'll need more than a speedy trigger finger to make it through the Insanity Mode in Mass Effect 3, Bioware has revealed. Hardly a pushover in the two previous games, the toughest difficulty of all has been given special attention for this closing chapter in the saga of Commander Shepard.

  "On Normal you'll be able to power your way through the game or shoot your way through the game, but when you try Hardcore or Insanity, you're not going to be able to do that any more," lead designer Preston Watamaniuk told Official Xbox Magazine. "We've tried to make it so that it just feels like if you're working the problem, using all your squad, all your powers, picking the right guns, you're going to get through that combat. It's not going to be 'I sat in cover and popped out five or six times to use powers and stuff.' "

  In other words, you'd better master all those biotic powers and brush up on your squad management, rather than relying on one tactic to get by. "You'll notice that if you play on Insanity, that sort of general rule of thumb is even harsher," explained Watamaniuk. "You'd better be doing everything well, or you'll die."

  Mass Effect 3 hits on March 9th for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

• All-star voice cast confirmed for Mass Effect 3

  EA and BioWare have lifted the lid on some of the big-name actors that will bring life to the dramatic and emotional storyline of the upcoming Mass Effect 3.

  Stars such as Martin Sheen, Seth Green, Carrie-Anne Moss, Tricia Helfer, Yvonne Strahovski, Keith David and Lance Henriksen have all been confirmed to return to their established roles in the final instalment of the acclaimed sci-fi role-playing trilogy.

  New additions to the cast include Freddie Prinze Jr as battle-hardened marine James Vega, while popular games journalist Jessica Chobot will play a news reporter called Diana Allers.

  Meanwhile, fans will welcome the return of voice acting veterans Mark Meer and Jennifer Hale in the central role of Commander Shepard, playing the character's male and female versions.

  Casey Hudson, executive producer of the Mass Effect series, said: "In a story where Earth and the entire galaxy are at war, we needed to take the performances to a level of dramatic power and intensity that we've never previously attempted."

  Mass Effect 3 hits Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC in March 2012, with an extensive demo version set to be released online on February 14th.

  Published: 02/02/2012

• Mass Effect 3 ending will "make some people angry", says Bioware

  Fans of epic sci-fi RPG saga Mass Effect have been nervously anticipating what the trilogy's closing chapter will bring when it launches on March 6th. Bioware has already confirmed that the game will be the last we see of Commander Shepard, but will our carefully developed character make it to the end credits alive? Bioware isn't saying, but producer Mike Gamble has admitted that the ending will divide opinion.

  "It's going to make some people extremely happy," he told Eurogamer. "It's going to make some people angry. But that's part of it, right? To invoke the emotion putting some of these stories to bed will naturally bring up. I honestly think the player base is going to be really happy with the way we've done it. You had a part in it. Every decision you've made will impact how things go. The player's also the architect of what happens."

  Don't worry that the finale will be a cheap cliffhanger that leaves questions unanswered though. "You'll get answers to everything," Gamble promises. "That was one of the key things. Regardless of how we did everything, we had to say, yes, we're going to provide some answers to these people."

  Mass Effect 3 hits on March 6th for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

• Mass Effect 3 demo to include free Xbox Live Gold access

  Gamers who download the forthcoming demo version of BioWare's Mass Effect 3 will also be able to take advantage of a limited-time trial of the Xbox Live Gold subscription service.

  Speaking on the official BioWare forum, the studio's community coordinator Chris Priestly revealed that Microsoft will be letting Silver members enjoy the benefits of Gold for free when the demo launches on February 14th 2012.

  Since Xbox Live Gold membership enables players to access online multiplayer modes across all games, the promotion will allow all Xbox 360 users to try out the brand new multiplayer component of the Mass Effect 3 demo.

  The eagerly awaited mode sees players creating their own teams of soldiers and taking part in skirmishes to aid Commander Shepard's galactic efforts to defeat the Reaper menace.

  Silver members will also be able to use the Gold trial to check out some of the service's other premium features, including access to online video and social media apps, as well as special deals.

  Mass Effect 3 launches on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC in March, with Kinect voice support offered exclusively for Microsoft's console.

  Published: 03/02/2012

• Expect the Mass Effect 3 Collectors Edition to be seriously rare

  If you haven't pre-ordered your limited edition of Mass Effect 3, the final chapter in Bioware's epic sci-fi saga, you'd better get a move on. The developer has revealed that these limited editions aren't messing around - they won't be producing any more copies before the game launches. If you've not got one by then, it's gone.

  "Sorry, there simply cannot be any more physical CEs made before launch," BioWare community coordinator Chris Priestly posted on the game's forums, after angry US fans voiced their displeasure at missing out. "The items included in the physical edition cannot be made in time for launch. Sorry, it will not happen. This is why, back in November, I started warning people that the CE would run out."

  The N7 Collector's Edition comes with a fancy art book, official comic, Normandy insignia patch and a bunch of unlockable in-game extras.

  Mass Effect 3 is out on March 9th for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. That's just over four weeks away. Try not to squeal too loudly.

• Mass Effect 3 players 'should keep their save game files'

  BioWare has dropped a tantalising hint for fans by suggesting that players should keep hold of their save game files once they complete the forthcoming Mass Effect 3.

  In an interview with GamerZines, associated producer Mike Gamble said it "wouldn't be a bad idea" for gamers not to delete their saves, though he stopped short of revealing any details as to why.

  The Mass Effect games allow players to carry their save files between instalments, meaning any decisions they make as Commander Shepard have lasting repercussions affecting the storyline of the whole trilogy.

  Mass Effect 3 is billed as the final chapter in Shepard's story, but Mr Gamble's comments hint that future Mass Effect titles could continue the same narrative.

  However, the BioWare man offered assurances that the upcoming threequel will still offer a proper conclusion, saying: "We want the outcomes to be satisfying to the player. That doesn't necessarily mean they're all going to be happy or positive, but they have to be satisfying."

  Mass Effect 3 launches on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC in March 2012, with an online demo set to be released next week.

  Published: 06/02/2012

• Mass Effect 3 - Preview

  An Epic Finale

  Just as millions waited on tenterhooks for the final season of epic TV shows like Lost or Battlestar Galactica, the world of gaming is on the brink of discovering what will happen to Commander Shepard and his (or her) gallant brigade of space heroes when the final chapter arrives on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. The difference with Mass Effect 3, however, is that here the fate of the Galaxy is in your hands alone - and not the fevered dreams of a crazed Hollywood executive.

  This threequel If you've played through the previous games then even the way the tale begins will be different. Any one of your crew could have died in the finale of Mass Effect 2, or one of Ashley or Kaiden will be missing after you left them to die in the original game; developers BioWare have primed many of your previous moral decisions to come back to haunt you. If you're new to the series, however, well just sit back and buckle up - this is still going to be one hell of a ride.

  Fear the Reapers

  The story posits that the Reapers - vast death-bringing creatures who wipe the Galaxy clean of civilized life every 50,000 years as if they're reformatting a hard drive - have finally returned. The game begins with Shepard and his mentor Anderson called to an emergency meeting of Earth's leaders - during which contact with the rest of the planet gradually cuts out. Suddenly the scene is bathed in white light - windows smash and walls cave in. The Reapers have arrived.

  What follows is a sequence that sees Shepard traversing the exterior of the building - leaping over gaps, sliding down ledges and taking potshots at marauding Cannibals and Husks. In the background, meanwhile, Reapers stalk the skyline and ignite everything that stands in their way. When they take down a huge Dreadnought ship with a sinister 'ftang' noise and a laser blast, you'll pretty much be thrown back into your sofa.

  

  Good Shepard

  As you play it becomes clearer and clearer that Shepard's silky moves and combat have seen a significant overhaul. Even minor tweaks like the ability to leap over gaps or climb ladders pay dividends, while combat rolls, stealth kills and vastly improved snaps into and out of cover make the action feel far more fluid.

  It's when you're on Mars, however, that you start to notice the upgrades in your foes. You've turned up in the Prothean Archives to take custody of an artifact that may well help in the war effort, but unfortunately Cerberus - the extremist branch of humanity - wants it too. In fact they want it so badly that they'll murder the base's workers to get it, blowing airlocks and asphyxiating all those operating within.

  Mars Attacks

  So for Shepard, new cast member James Vega and the surviving party of the Ashley/Kaiden collective, it's high time for a spot of biotic combat and some violent exchanges of fire. You take to vast Martian corridors, monorail systems and dark airless laboratories - and throughout the base Cerberus feel much more than a heavily armoured shooting gallery. They push forward, pull back, flank and regroup - to the extent that it swiftly becomes a far more challenging affair than in previous games.

  The biggest threat, meanwhile, are heavy troopers that carry shields the size of doors - although once Liara has joined proceedings they represent nothing that a quick dose of her Singularity biotic can't handle. Throughout the game's opening hours your favourite characters are drip-fed into the story, building up to the long-awaited return of Shepard's starry-eyed nemesis - The Illusive Man, as played by the brilliant Martin Sheen. It's a roster of both familiarity and fame, with Freddie Prinze Jr joining the existing cast of Seth Green, Lance Henriksen and Tricia Helfer. It really is a gang you simply can't wait to fight alongside.

  

  Whether you're witnessing the destruction of Earth, or fighting in the shadow of a vast red dust storm on Mars, the opening hours of Mass Effect 3 are simply epic. The conclusion of gaming's first great sci-fi trilogy is at hand, and it's time for us gamers to reap what we've sown for the best part of five years. See you on the Citadel...

• Mass Effect 3 demo available for download now

  Gamers across the world are getting their first chance to enrol in the galactic war of Mass Effect 3 thanks to the release of the eagerly awaited playable demo.

  Downloadable now for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC, the trial version of EA and BioWare's sci-fi blockbuster lets fans step into Commander Shepard's shoes and lead the fight against the terrifying Reaper invasion of the galaxy.

  The demo showcases Mass Effect 3's amazing visuals, refined combat, improved customisation options and engaging storytelling, with options available to cater for long-term veterans and series newcomers.

  Meanwhile, fans will also be able to try out the brand new cooperative multiplayer mode from February 17th onwards, with owners of Battlefield 3 already enjoying early access.

  Casey Hudson, executive producer of the Mass Effect series, said: "I'm incredibly proud of what the team has accomplished with Mass Effect 3 and am very excited for fans around the world to experience something really special when they play the demo."

  The game will be released in March 2012 and will feature Kinect support on Xbox 360, as well as a voice cast including Martin Sheen, Carrie-Anne Moss, Seth Green and Freddie Prinze Jr.

  Published: 15/02/2012

• Mass Effect 3 - Preview

  
  

  

  All the marbles

  The most impressive aspect of BioWare's Mass Effect 3 is its scale. Sure, the previous two games had you trotting around the galaxy putting together a ragtag band of misfits to join you on a suicidal mission to save the universe, but it was never very cohesive.

  Up until this point in the trilogy, players spent most of their time visiting different planets to complete loyalty missions or settle disputes. On each occasion a skirmish would kick off one way or another and you'd end up having to shoot your way out. However, Mass Effect 3, coming to Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC, ups the ante by pitting Commander Shepard and his crew against the Reapers, a highly advanced machine race of starships with the desire and power to wipe out anything and everything, and their next target is Earth.

  Essentially, then, Mass Effect 3 elevates the battle to save the universe from a series of playground slap ups to an all-out war in which the winner takes all and the loser is wiped from existence. The stakes have never been higher.

  

  New threat

  In one mission, Shepard is tasked with taking the fight to the enemy by attacking a Reaper base. He (or she - let's not forget FemShep) does this by marking his target with a laser and calling in the Normandy, his trusty ship, to drop a destructive payload. Naturally things don't go as planned and our hero finds himself face-to-face with a Reaper ship and dozens of enemy troops.

  While this might sound like the kind of situation video game heroes deal with on a day-to-day basis, it's important to note that until now, battles against the Reapers have only taken place in cinematic cut-scenes, where the player has no control over the characters. This time round, players have to directly engage their colossal enemies and bring them down once and for all.

  On top of that, grunt enemy forces have also been bolstered to give Shepard extra trouble. Regular infantry have been turned into freakish hybrids by an enigmatic and technologically advanced race known as the Collectors, a significant foe players faced in Mass Effect 2. Now they've worked their evil magic to mash together other alien races such as the Batarian, Asari and Krogan to form freakish chimera-like creatures. They're ugly, formidable foes who possess the combined characteristics and powers of each of their parts.

  Hop, skip and a jump

  To offer Shepard a fighting chance, Mass Effect 2's combat mechanics have been given a significant overhaul. Gone is the clunky cover-to-cover gameplay, which has been replaced with a far more fluid system that makes battles fast and furious. Shepard is now a sprightly vessel of destruction capable of vaulting over cover, gliding round corners, using guns and grenades in combination, and getting up close to enemies to deliver devastating melee attacks using his new Omniblade, Mass Effect's version of a lightsaber. Thanks to the new tricks, Mass Effect 3 feels like a distinct third-person game and far less like yet another run-of-the-mill Gears of War clone.

  

  All talk

  Initially it may seem like Mass Effect 3 is geared towards action junkies, but saving the galaxy doesn't always have to centre on how quickly you pull the trigger. BioWare has once again provided plenty of opportunities for players to engage with a diverse and interesting range of characters and delve deep into series lore, crafting three distinct experiences to satisfy all types of gamers.

  Story mode keeps combat to a minimum and places more of a focus on making important moral decisions that impact story progression, with players spending more time exchanging words than bullets. Action mode does the opposite by dialling down the chit chat and decision making in favour of shooting and action set-pieces. But most will likely choose to play the role-playing mode, which offers the traditional mixture of both story and action.

  With an exciting conclusion to the trilogy in sight, and the series' most accessible, well-rounded gameplay yet, BioWare has aimed for the stars with Mass Effect 3, and all the signs currently point to it being a stellar success.

  Published: 22/02/2012

• Mass Effect 3 drops in from space

  In what must rank as one of the most extravagant promotions ever for a video game, from today six special Mass Effect 3 modules will be launched into the stratosphere around the world on weather balloons.

  Topped off with a model of the Normandy, the iconic spaceship that Commander Shepard uses to jet around the galaxy, these modules will then return to Earth and the first person to find them will win an early and exclusive �pace edition�of the game.

  Eager Mass Effecters will be able to track the games by GPS, and hurry to the landing sites in order to claim their booty, described as a �ne-of-a-kind fan prize package. Runners up prizes are also promised, presumably to stop people tearing each other limb from limb should they arrive second.

  The first launch goes up today in San Francisco, with Las Vegas and New York following tomorrow and Saturday. UK fans should start revving their engines on Februrary 27th, as that's when our balloon goes up from London. Paris and Berlin follow. Who knows, with the wind blowing in the right direction, we might get those as well.

  Mass Effect 3 is the final chapter in the saga of Commander Shepard, and finds you defending the Earth from the Reapers, a galaxy-devouring alien race from the dawn of time. No pressure then. For everyone who doesn't have a copy fall out of the sky, it's out on March 9th for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

• Bank Holiday Games!

  
  

  It's the May Day Bank Holiday weekend, which means we all get an extra day off. So with the weather being predictably unpredictable, why not spend it in the company of some great games?

  Here's our handy guide for some of the best games to enjoy this bank holiday weekend, with ideas for children, for friends and family, or for getting some serious single-player gaming done!

  Games for the kids:

  

  If you have a kids and a Kinect, there's really only one choice - Kinect Rush: A Disney Pixar Adventure, giving the chance for the little ones to play along with all their favourite Pixar characters, like Woody and Buzz, Remy the Rat, Lightning McQueen and the Incredibles. Kids will love using the Kinect to interact with their Pixar friends, lifting, steering, flying, swimming and smashing their way through a variety of fun games that will keep them occupied for hours, and feeling like they're part of the story.

  
  

  

  For more quirky fun with their favourite characters, it's hard to go wrong with our wide choice of LEGO games. Kids can take a trip to Hogwarts and help Harry Potter and chums defeat Voldemort, set sail with the Pirates of the Caribbean, use the Force in Star Wars, or hero-up alongside Batman or Indiana Jones. With classic adventures recreated in LEGO's trademark building blocks, and delivered with LEGO's trademark sense of humour, there's plenty for kids of all ages to enjoy - and for parents to enjoy once the children have gone to bed!

  

  Skylanders continue to be a big hit with the kids, and you'll be a big hit with your kids if you bring Skylanders home! The age-old battle of good versus evil is brought to life not only through the video game itself, but enhanced by the collection of character toys that interact with the game. There's a whole host of cool characters to collect and who join are brought to life in the game via the Portal of Power, so the opportunities for new games and new challenges are endless!

  Games for friends and family:

  

  When's the plenty of people round, a little friendly competition always goes a long way. Where better to find out who's best than at the Olympic games? And who better to play with than Mario and Sonic? Well, as luck would have it, Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games is chock full of fun contests that test a wide variety of skills, with unique ways of interacting with the action. There's everything from sprinting to table tennis, canoeing to show-jumping, as well as some imaginative twists in the 'Dream' events, like a long-jump that takes you flying from cloud to cloud. And all for a lot less than a ticket to the real Olympics!

  

  If you - or your party - starts to get a bit more active, then there's always Just Dance 3. The latest chapter in the hugely successful dancing game series continues to challenge all to bust their best moves. This time there's an even wider variety of dancefloor-classic songs from almost every era and a range of different game modes to keep the party fresh and four-player action for the ultimate dance-off! It's compatible with Wii, PlayStation Move and Kinect, and pushes motion controls to their funky limits!

  Games on your own:

  

  Looking for a game to put some serious single-player hours into? Well, you can always journey into space with Mass Effect 3, one of the biggest and most talked-about games of the year. This sci-fi adventure is as much an in-depth role-playing experience as it is a third-person shooter, promising a journey where you choices really define the way the game is played. Thousands of people all over the world have committed almost as many hours following Commander Shepard across the Trilogy, so why not spend this weekend finding out just why?

  

  If you prefer your role-playing a little more traditional, then the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Pandora's Tower are two fantastic offerings. Questing in fantasy worlds, battling mythical beasts, swords, sorcery and an ending based on how you play - the whole RPG experienced wrapped up in a complete package! Skyrim offers a first-person adventure and dragons, while Pandora's Tower gives you classical music and a very personal quest. Either game will take up your entire weekend!

  

  For time consumption of a different kind, Minecraft has finally made its way to Xbox 360 thanks to Xbox LIVE. This 8-bit phenomenon has become a global cult classic, with it's simple sandbox gameplay: mine things and then build things. What sounds so simple becomes perilously addictive as your skills and ambitions become greater and greater still, and the long weekend is ideal to get settled into a time-sucking game like this!

  Published: 30/04/2012

• 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.

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Please don't call the next game Mass Effect 4, says Bioware

  We've known for some time that Bioware is working on a new entry in the Mass Effect saga, following the huge success of last year's Mass Effect 3, but please don't call the new game Mass Effect 4. That's the message from a new post on the Bioware forums that offers a few hints as to what shape the new game might take.

  "Thinking of the next Mass Effect game as Mass Effect 4 would imply a certain linearity, a straight evolution of the gameplay and story of the first three games," said Yanick Roy, head of Bioware's Edmonton studio which is handling the new title, having cut its teeth on the side quests and multiplayer of Mass Effect 3.

  "If you had three games centred around a group of key soldiers in the US army during World War I and then decided to make a game about another group of people during the Second World War, the games could have many points in common and feel true to one another," Roy added. "You likely would have to recognise how the events of the first war influenced the ones of the second, but you would not necessarily think of it as a sequel. Again, the analogy is not great, but what I'm trying to say is that the ME universe is so rich that we are not limited to a single track when coming up with a new story."

  Roy also suggested that choices made in the existing trilogy will be acknowledged, but "likely won't be what this new story will focus on". He also reassured fans that while the story won't be connected to the saga of Commander Shepard, it would still feature all the alien races and lore that fans love. "What makes it Mass Effect is indeed the alien races, the technology, the lore, history, etc," he posted. "You can safely expect those in the next Mass Effect."

  Mass Effect 3 is out now for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. There's also a boxset of all three games, which features the original 2008 game on PS3 for the first time.

  Published: 07/02/2013

• 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

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