Gamershell writes:

"Demiurge Studios today revealed that they are co-developing with BioWare the PC version of Mass Effect. Demiurge began working with BioWare during the final stretch of development for the Xbox 360 version, allowing the studios to collaborate closely throughout the co-development process."
» Read More 

EA Games president reveals "extension" of driving and skateboarding series in next fiscal year, commits long-term to Mass Effect, and says next Need for Speed will return to series' roots.

Another new franchise EA is prepping a sequel for is Mass Effect, which was announced for the PC today. From the very first time now EA-owned developer BioWare showed it off in 2005, the role-playing game franchise was touted as trilogy. EA Games president Frank Gibeau's presentation today suggested it may not end there, as he told analysts that it "will be a franchise for [EA] for a very long time." He also said that going forward, EA will take over publishing duties on the Mass Effect franchise from Microsoft Game Studios, which handled the game's initial release on the Xbox 360.
» Read More 

Optimized for the PC, Mass Effect for the PC incorporates the following features:

- Optimized controls designed specifically for the PC.
- High resolution visuals ¿ Mass Effect for the PC features highly detailed textures, characters and environments.
- Fully customizable controls ¿ PC gamers can re-map the control scheme any way they like.
- Run & Gun Control ¿ Players can assign biotic powers or skills to 'hot keys' allowing them to play Mass Effect with a heavier focus on action.
- New decryption mini-game.
- New inventory screen GUI and functionality ¿ The enhanced inventory system makes it easier for players to equip and modify their weapons and armor.

"Mass Effect serves as a powerful example of video games as an art form, delivering new levels of emotional intensity, realistic characters and a gripping storyline ¿ all set in a compelling new universe," said Ray Muzyka, General Manager, BioWare and Vice President, Electronic Arts. Frank Gibeau, President of EA's Games Label added, "EA has struck an agreement with Microsoft to handle future publishing for Mass Effect. We are looking forward to releasing Mass Effect on the PC this Spring and brand new titles in the future."
» Read More 

From Playfuls.com: "Apparently, US retailer Target is either too scared or has the same experience in gaming as Cooper Lawrence, since they've begun pulling Mass Effect off shelves. What's even more absurd is that the game is actually in stock, but Target employees are not allowed to sell it..."
» Read More 

Stephen Totilo from MTV Multiplayer writes:

"The "Bring Down The Sky" pack announced on Wednesday and slated for release on March 10 offers 90 minutes worth of bonus interplanetary exploration and combat. But if you saved the game where I did, you'll have to spend a couple of hours reach a point of the game from which you can access it."
» Read More 

CVG writes:

"New details regarding the Bring Down the Sky downloadable content for Mass Effect have been confirmed by Bioware's community co-ordinator Chris Priestly.

Apparently, the new content doesn't take place after the game's conclusion, but in fact exists as one of the exploratory side-missions you can understake in the middle of the game.

So that means you'll need to dig out those save files if you've already completed the RPG."
» Read More 

BioWare has revealed the first downloadable content pack for its excellent 360 RPG Mass Effect - and it's looking far better than we expected.The Bring Down the Sky pack will arrive on Xbox Live on March 10 for 400 Microsoft Points (like $5 or about £3) and is the first in a series of planned DLC waves that expand the Mass Effect universe and continue the plot.This pack includes an uncharted world that introduces the elusive Batarian race ... » Read More

"To date, over 1.6 million gamers have explored the engaging sci-fi universe of Mass Effect. Beginning on March 10, fans everywhere will be able to expand the "Mass Effect" experience with the release of the first ever downloadable content for the award-winning saga.

The Bring Down the Sky downloadable content pack will be released to Xbox LIVE Marketplace on Monday, March 10 at 2 a.m. PST, and will be available for 400 MS points. This is the first in a series of planned downloadable content that further expands the Mass Effect universe and continues the adventures of Commander Shepard and the Normandy crew."
» Read More 

Destructoid: Until there's an official statement, this is slapped with a rumor tag, but one of our Destructoid Community Bloggers has seemingly discovered that his videogame store will be receiving copies of BioWare's Mass Effect for PC.
» Read More 

Hal Halpin, president of the Entertainment Consumer Association -- a consumer advocacy group for computer and video game players -- issued an open statement to Fox News after the network aired a misleading debate segment about the Xbox 360 RPG Mass Effect last week. Both news anchor Teri Van Horn and guest Cooper Lawrence claimed that Mass Effect featured ponographic content and that the game was being marketed towards young boys.

X-Play has Halpin's full statement on the issue.

In addition, X-Play contacted Halpin for further comment regarding the controversy. Halpin has responded in defense of the legitimacy of the video game medium.
» Read More 

The self-help book author who criticised Mass Effect in the now notorious Fox News Channel 'sex' slamming of the RPG has finally admitted she didn't know what she was talking about in the first place. "I recognise that I misspoke," Cooper Lawrence, who appeared in the news segment in question on The Live Desk with Martha MacCallum, has now told The New York Times (check Kotaku for the story). Lawrence, who admitted during the segment she'd never actually played Mass Effect, added, "Before ... » Read More

Kotaku writes: "Believe it or not Jack Thompson and I email sorta regularly. Granted he usually emails me bizarre, over-the-top press releases (which I often don't post) and I respond with disjointed quotes from movies, which I hope will one day remove that last wobbly hinge of his. (No luck yet).

Last week Jack emailed me a press release entitled "Grand Theft Auto IV to Be Released April 29; Culture War Begins Now" and after my typical poking, I got on to the topic of the Mass Effect controversy and was shocked, literally out of my socks, to find him defending the game... sort of. Apparently, even anti-gaming crusader Jack Thompson found self-help author Cooper Lawrence (who he refers to as a man), uninformed and the entire controversy contrived".
» Read More 

Do not adjust your set, you really did read that Cooper Lawrence, the psychologist who appeared in Fox's unfair and unfounded slander against Mass Effect, has admitted that she "misspoke" about the game and has actually done the right thing in retracting her comments. Having now actually done what she should have done and watched the sex scenes in question, Lawrence has realized that the game was not the foul and degrading porno she told everyone it was:

"I recognize that I misspoke. I really regret saying that, and now that I've seen the game and seen the sex scenes it's kind of a joke.

Before the show I had asked somebody about what they had heard, and they had said it's like pornography. But it's not like pornography. I've seen episodes of Lost that are more sexually explicit."

This is actually incredibly pleasing news, to see someone who has enough of a spine to admit something like that, especially when it comes to videogames. While it does little to justify her going on air and defending a viewpoint she had no right claiming to hold, and doesn't make up for the disrespect she showed Geoff Keighley and the games industry, it is at least a respectable move and a sign that not everyone on "the other side of the fence" has to remain ignorant and offensive in the face of the truth.
» Read More 

January 25, 2008 - Earlier this week, Electronic Arts asked Fox News to correct false statements the publisher believes the channel made about Mass Effect on a recent installment of Live Desk With Martha MacCallum.

The news channel's apparent response? Come on the show, and we'll talk about it.

According to a post on MTV's Multiplayer gaming blog, an unnamed Fox News spokesperson said the network has "extended several invitations to EA through a company representative to appear on 'Live Desk With Martha MacCallum' to discuss 'Mass Effect' and the segment which aired on Monday. We have received no response."
» Read More 

"Well the Fox and EA scenario has been in the x360a headlines today. It started with a reporting of a typical news agency spreading propaganda about gaming and ultimately ended with Fox giving EA the cold shoulder with the old "contact the PR department" line. It has definitely got a few of our backs up and ruffled a few feathers. It seems as if Fox don't care what they report and we believe in reporting truthful facts so we decided to start a petition to unite ourselves against the propaganda that these agencies continue to spread. So we stand here, side by side with EA and toe to toe with Fox. Show your support and sign the petition and then tell a friend."
» Read More 

EA's Jeff Brown has told GameDaily BIZ that his company will continue to stand up for its creative teams and the games they make. He says, "We're going to fight back."
» Read More 

Jeff Cork from Game Informer writes:

"If you watched the recent FOX News piece about purported hard-core sex in EA's Mass Effect, it may have left you fuming. Between the inaccuracies, ignorance and misinformation, it showed yet again that it's virtually impossible to have a reasonable discussion about mature themes in video games within the constraints of a bite-sized news debate. If you count yourself among the peeved, you're in good company. Jeff Brown, EA's VP of communications, wrote a letter to Teri VanHorn, producer of Live Desk with Martha MacCallum, taking issue with the way Mass Effect was presented. Here's the virtual smackdown, in all its glory."
» Read More 

Gaming Today · Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008

After hearing the offensive and biased attack against Mass Effect on Fox News by Cooper Lawrence, the psychologist who took part in the biased strike on the game, her book on Amazon.com titled 'The Cult of Perfection: Making Peace with Your Inner Overachiever' is full of one-star reviews, mostly coming from gamers.

Ms. Lawrence may think that it's ok to bash a product she has never used, so gamers are now bashing a book they have never read to drop her book rating on Amazon. Currently, there over 40 negative reviews posted. Check out the Amazon link via Gaming Today if you'd like to throw your two cents in or to just read some of the funny comments against her.
» Read More 

BioWare is holding a contest for the best Flux dancing. From BioWare's site:

"Mission

Recreate the sweet dance moves Commander Shepard does at the Flux nightclub in a setting of your choosing and posting it on the web. Download a sample of Shepard dancing at the Flux (MOV 1 MB).
How to Enter

* Grab the Flux Dance music, or if you really need it, there's an extended video loop.
* Film yourself or your friends doing the Flux dance in the locale of your choosing (home, the mall, work, etc.).
* The total length of the video should be between 10 and 30 seconds.
* Post it on the web for all to see.
* E-mail the link to the video to bulletin@bioware.com and we'll link to the best on the Mass Effect Community page.

We're looking for the best or funniest situation involving at least one dancer and one non-dancer/hapless observer/fan/groupie/nervous bystander. The coolest videos get sweet Mass Effect swag!

First round of prizes announced February 15th, 2008."
» Read More 

Valve's Portal and 2K Boston/Australia's BioShock lead the nominees for the eighth annual Game Developers Choice Awards with five nominations each, including the coveted Game of the Year title, organizers have announced.

The Game of the Year category also includes Infinity Ward's Call of Duty 4, which follows with four nominations and, with both games receiving two nominations each, Harmonix's Rock Band and Nintendo's Super Mario Galaxy.
» Read More