Microsoft announced today that
Mass Effect has gone gold and will be on shelves in November (the 20th if I recall correctly). This is the game that I've been waiting for since it blew me away at the 2006 E3. Between the amazing visuals and extraordinary plot of the game it's a Bioware game so you know it's going to be a quality product.
Microsoft also announced that they will be selling a Limited Edition version of the game which will include (I'm quoting here):
"· A “Mass Effect” fiction book titled “Galactic Codex: Essentials”
o A 36-page guide to the “Mass Effect” universe, including a Citadel timeline and a guide to all non-human races, biotics and the key locations in the Perseus arm of the galaxy
· An additional “Mass Effect” art book titled “A Future Imagined”
o A 36-page collection of BioWare’s concept art for the game
· A bonus DVD of exclusive “Mass Effect” background material and additional content including:
o “The Vision of “Mass Effect” documentary
o “The Making of “Mass Effect” documentary
o “Interactive Storytelling” documentary
o “Inside BioWare” documentary
o 18 “Mass Effect” themed gamer pics (three unique sets of six)
o 16 dashboard themes (four unique sets of four)
o Ten songs from the “Mass Effect” soundtrack
o Five historical “Mass Effect” trailers from X05 through E3 2007 and the official TV trailer
o A demo for “Blue Dragon” and videos for “Lost Odyssey,” “Halo 3” and “Halo Wars”
o Design galleries featuring 600 concept images fully commented by the Art Directors
The exclusive bonus disc will be offered to consumers who pre-order either edition of the game at participating retailers and will include the following contents:
· A short documentary on DVD introducing the game
· 12 “Mass Effect” themed gamer pics (two unique sets of six)
· Eight dashboard themes (two unique sets of four)
· Three songs from the “Mass Effect” soundtrack on a CD
· Four historical “Mass Effect” trailers from X05 through E3 2007 on DVD
· A demo for “Blue Dragon” and videos for “Lost Odyssey,” “Halo 3” and “Halo Wars”
Doesn't seem like a bad deal if you can get your hands on it.
Fans of this year’s hottest RPG - available exclusively on Xbox 360 - can get their hands on unique and collectible content by pre-ordering ”Mass Effect” at participating U.S. retailers
Microsoft Game Studios and BioWare Corp. announced today that the highly anticipated action role-playing game (RPG) “Mass Effect” has gone gold, and will be offered in a limited collector’s edition. Additionally, an exclusive bonus disc will be offered to consumers who pre-order the game. The bonus disc is available at participating U.S. retailers while supplies last.
The limited collector’s edition will be offered through participating retailers, and will include the following bonus materials:
· A “Mass Effect” fiction book titled “Galactic Codex: Essentials”
o A 36-page guide to the “Mass Effect” universe, including a Citadel timeline and a guide to all non-human races, biotics and the key locations in the Perseus arm of the galaxy
· An additional “Mass Effect” art book titled “A Future Imagined”
o A 36-page collection of BioWare’s concept art for the game
· A bonus DVD of exclusive “Mass Effect” background material and additional content including:
o “The Vision of “Mass Effect” documentary
o “The Making of “Mass Effect” documentary
o “Interactive Storytelling” documentary
o “Inside BioWare” documentary
o 18 “Mass Effect” themed gamer pics (three unique sets of six)
o 16 dashboard themes (four unique sets of four)
o Ten songs from the “Mass Effect” soundtrack
o Five historical “Mass Effect” trailers from X05 through E3 2007 and the official TV trailer
o A demo for “Blue Dragon” and videos for “Lost Odyssey,” “Halo 3” and “Halo Wars”
o Design galleries featuring 600 concept images fully commented by the Art Directors
The exclusive bonus disc will be offered to consumers who pre-order either edition of the game at participating retailers and will include the following contents:
· A short documentary on DVD introducing the game
· 12 “Mass Effect” themed gamer pics (two unique sets of six)
· Eight dashboard themes (two unique sets of four)
· Three songs from the “Mass Effect” soundtrack on a CD
· Four historical “Mass Effect” trailers from X05 through E3 2007 on DVD
· A demo for “Blue Dragon” and videos for “Lost Odyssey,” “Halo 3” and “Halo Wars”
From the creators of the critically-acclaimed “Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic” and “Jade Empire” comes an epic space saga exclusively for the Xbox 360 that spans the entire galaxy. Combining a rich and engaging narrative with intense sci-fi tactical combat, “Mass Effect” features an immersive and cinematic gameplay experience rarely seen before in video games.
“Mass Effect” will have an estimated retail price of $59.99, and the limited collector’s edition will have an estimated retail price of $69.99. “Mass Effect” is rated “M” for “Mature” by the ESRB. For more information, visit www.masseffect.com.
About BioWare
BioWare Corp. is an electronic entertainment company which develops computer, console, handheld and online video games focused on rich stories and memorable characters. Since 1995, BioWare has created some of the world's best-selling titles including the award-winning Baldur's Gate™ and Neverwinter Nights™ series, as well as the 2003 Game of the Year, Star Wars®: Knights of the Old Republic™. Original BioWare-created IPs include the 2005 RPG of the Year, Jade Empire™, with next-generation titles Mass Effect™ and Dragon Age™ currently in development. Mass Effect will ship to retailers globally in November, 2007. The game has received more than 50 awards, including the 2007 Game Critics Awards for “Best Console Game” and “Best RPG” at the Electronic Entertainment Expo. With studios in Edmonton, Canada, and Austin, Texas, BioWare is also hard at work on a new title for the Nintendo DS™ based on Sonic the Hedgehog, as well as several unannounced projects including a massively multiplayer online game. For more information on BioWare, visit www.bioware.com.
*BioWare, BioWare Corp., Mass Effect, Dragon Age and Jade Empire are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by BioWare Corp. in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
About Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the Xbox® and Xbox 360 video game systems, the Windows® operating system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse games for Windows (http://www.microsoft.com/games), including such franchises as “Age of Empires®,” “Flight Simulator” and “Zoo Tycoon®”; Xbox and Xbox 360 (http://www.xbox.com), including such games as “Gears of War” and franchises such as “Halo,” “Fable®,” “Project Gotham Racing®” and “Forza Motorsport®”; and MSN® Games (http://www.games.msn.com), the official games channel for the MSN network and home to such hits as “Bejeweled” and “Hexic®.”