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All Articles: Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 DLC makes an “Arrival” on March 29
Commander Shepard just recently made an arrival on the PS3, but now the Normandy has one last voyage to embark on, completing this fantastic second installment of Shepard’s conquests. BioWare recently announced “Arrival,” the third and final DLC pack for Mass Effect 2.
“Arrival” presents Shepard with information regarding an imminent Reaper invasion, an event which has been in the cards since Mass Effect’s start. Returning to the series is fan-favorite Admiral Hackett, who made a prominent appearance in the first Mass Effect game, and is voiced by sci-fi actor Lance Henriksen.
As previously noted, “Arrival” will do just that on March 29th, and will be available for both the PS3 and Xbox 360 for $7.00/560 Microsoft Points. God, I can’t wait for Mass Effect 3.
Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Mass Effect 2
The 2010-2011 Video Game Awards Season
Beginning with the Spike TV Video Game Awards in early December and culminating with last night’s BAFTA Games Awards, the 2010-2011 “video game awards season” has come to a close. And after four months of awards, acceptance speeches and arguments, we have a clearer picture of what really were the best games of the year.
The snobbier segments of the game community love to decry the Spike TV Video Game Awards as an embarrassment and not representative of the feelings of “real” gamers. Typically, the show’s world premiere trailers overshadow the actual awards themselves. But the event is spearheaded by Geoff Keighley of GameTrailers TV and the winners are voted on by a well-respected contingent of game journalists, so I guess it could be worse.
That said, this year’s Spike TV Video Game Awards “Game of the Year” was awarded to Rockstar’s epic western Red Dead Redemption. Keighley and company spread the love as the remaining major awards all went to other games: “Best PC Game” StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty; “Best PS3 Game” God of War III; “Best Wii Game” Super Mario Galaxy 2; “Best Xbox 360 Game” Halo: Reach; “Best Handheld Game” God of War: Ghost of Sparta; and “Best Downloadable Game” Costume Quest.
If Spike TV’s annual awards attempt to reach the mainstream, Time Magazine‘s top ten is the polar opposite, reaching into corners of the gaming world that are often ignored. This year’s selections are no different, including Alan Wake being awarded the #1 spot with iOS phenomenon Angry Birds at #2. The rest of the list was pretty typical, but the lack of Alan Wake’s spiritual twin, Heavy Rain, was the baffling part. Also, Limbo received its first love of the year-end awards with a sixth-place selection. (more…)
Mass Effect 2 named Best Game at 2011 BAFTAs
The final Game of the Year awards ceremony for 2010 releases, the BAFTA Games Awards, have been handed out in London and BioWare’s Mass Effect 2 has been named “Best Game.”
But aside from its big win, Mass Effect 2 was shut out during the rest of the show. Instead, Quantic Dream’s Heavy Rain took home the most trophies, three, for “Original Music,” “Story” and “Technical Innovation.” Heavy Rain’s heavy hand on the podium also resulted in a shutout for Call of Duty: Black Ops, which was nominated in an astounding six categories. Though, Treyarch’s shooter did capture the “GAME Award of 2010,” which is the only BAFTA award voted on by the public.
The other special award, the “BAFTA Ones to Watch Award,” was presented out to That Game Studio’s Twang.
Hit the jump for the complete list of winners. (more…)
Posted in Mobile, News, PC, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
Tagged Heavy Rain, Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 Review: Shepard’s Back and There’s Gonna Be Trouble
It was one of the best-reviewed games of 2010. It received many accolades and dozens of Game of the Year awards. Now… Mass Effect 2 is finally available on the PlayStation 3, one year after its initial release on the PC and Xbox 360. The late-releasing port is usually a wasted venture that appeals to a small subset of gamers who own just that platform, but BioWare has done everything it can to make it appealing to those who haven’t yet experienced the game. Whether it’s touching up the visuals (check), using it to demonstrate the engine that’ll be used in Mass Effect 3 (check), or including $20 worth of bonus content (check), Mass Effect 2 for PS3 is in many ways the prototypical “Game of the Year” re-release… only in this case it’s done specifically to satisfy PS3 owners that have been waiting an entire year to play one of 2010’s best games. (more…)
Posted in PS3, Reviews, Top Story
Tagged Mass Effect 2
Red Dead Redemption, Minecraft clean up at GDC Awards
The Game Developers Conference continues to roll on in San Francisco, and the game industry honored their own last night with the 11th annual Game Developers Choice Awards.
Red Dead Redemption was the most honored game of the night, winning the Game of the Year award as well as Best Game Design, Best Technology and Best Audio. The developers at Rockstar San Diego had to share the spotlight with Mojang’s Minecraft, which won three awards: Best Debut Game, Innovation Award and Best Downloadable Game.
Three other games were winners at last night’s GDC Awards: BioWare’s Mass Effect 2 for Best Writing, ZeptoLab’s Cut the Rope for Best Handheld Game, and Playdead’s Limbo for Best Visual Arts.
Three special awards were also handed out. The man behind the Fable franchise , Peter Molyneux, won the Lifetime Achievement Award. Another big name among RPG producers, Yu Suzuki, won the Pioneer Award. Maybe this’ll give him the clout he needs to create the long-rumored Shenmue III.
Finally, the Ambassador Award was given to Tim Brengle and Ian MacKenzie, two early organizers of the Game Developers Conference.
Posted in Mobile, News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Mass Effect 2, Minecraft, Red Dead Redemption
Gaikai offering public demos of Mass Effect 2, Dead Space 2, and more
Cloud computing and game streaming sure have come a long way, and today Gaikai is offering public demos of the service for some of the hottest titles out. Going to their official website can give you access to the Mass Effect 2 demo via pop up, provided your connection is fast enough and you have the latest Flash and Java updates (more info here). It seems to be all EA titles available now, as you can check out The Sims 3 and Spore on the service at the links provided. Completing the survey here unlocks access to the Dead Space 2 demo. Oh, and Second Life is currently running as well. It’s recommended you access the service via a wired connection.
Streaming game services like Gaikai and OnLive have been touted by some as the future of the industry, a kind of no-console utopia. The service is currently in beta to select members, and they plan to start embedding demos of games onto news sites like the one you’re currently visiting right now.
Posted in News, PC
Tagged Dead Space 2, Mass Effect 2, The Sims 3
Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood leads BAFTA noms with seven
Somebody alert the world, a Brotherhood of assassins has infiltrated the British Academy Video Games Awards. Ubisoft’s stealthy sequel, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, garnered seven nominations, more than any other game, including one for Best Game.
Other big honorees from this year’s Video Games Awards include Call of Duty: Black Ops, Heavy Rain (six nominations apiece) and Mass Effect 2 (four nominations).
Awarded annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), the winners of this year’s Video Games Awards will announced in a ceremony on March 16.
The full list of every nominee and every award up for grabs can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in DS, Mobile, News, PC, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360
Tagged Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Call of Duty: Black Ops, God of War III, Heavy Rain, Mass Effect 2, Super Mario Galaxy
AIAS names Mass Effect 2 their Game of the Year
BioWare’s Mass Effect 2 walked away with Game of the Year honors at the Interactive Achievement Awards last night.
The game, which was just recently released on the PS3 after its PC and Xbox 360 debut last year, was given the award by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. This is the Academy’s 14th year handing out the IAAs and Mass Effect 2 beat out Call of Duty: Black Ops, God of War III, Red Dead Redemption and Angry Birds to win the prize.
But among the honorees, only Black Ops went home empty-handed. Angry Birds was named Casual Game of the Year, God of War III won Outstanding Achievement in Animation and Red Dead Redemption galloped away with five awards.
You can watch the entire ceremony at G4tv.com/DICE2011 or you can see the full list of winners after the break. (more…)