Microsoft announced that BioWare’s epic Mass Effect 2 will hit the Land of the Rising Sun this winter.

Considering that the sequel launched in January of this year, Japan had a very short wait compared to the first game, which didn’t see Japanese consoles until May 2009 (and had a western release in November of 2007).

Watashi wa Commander Shepard. Watashi no ichi ban mise wa koko desu.

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In addition, Dragon Age II’s lead designer was up on stage, letting us know that the game will be out  at 11. March, 2011 in Europe, and 08. March in the US, along with their first pre-rendered trailer, showing of Hawke’s powers.

I guess we are looking at another Bioware-dominated Q1.

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BioWare, those lovable guys, have patched the 360 of Mass Effect 2 to make planet-scanning more efficient. And I cried tears of joy.

PC players, you’re currently out of luck, but a fix is promised for you in the near future.

Here’s a list of all the fixes the 360 patch offers.

Scanning for minerals has been optimized

Fixed an issue with marking all entries as viewed in the Journal

Fixed an issue relating to text and the menu screen

Fixed an issue relating to players starting a new game and loading a save

Fixed multiple issues when loading a save containing DLC when DLC isn’t present

Fixed an issue with ammo flashing when it can’t be picked up

Fixed an issue with crosshairs

Fixed an issue with Grunt’s Fortification power

Fixed an issue with enemies and cover

Fixed an issue where players could receive additional talent points

Fixed an issue where squad members would overwrite ammo powers the player had assigned them

FINALLY.

FINALLY!

;_; I’VE NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY.

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Considering the recent legal issues between GameStop and customer James Collins, who is currently suing the retailer over supposedly deceptive DLC with second hand games, retailer GAME is apparently playing it safe and has started putting warning stickers on pre-owned games regarding the lack of free DLC with second hand titles.

“We have been developing a policy for notifying customers at the point of purchase which was implemented last week in-store,” a GAME spokesperson told MCV.

“Pre-owned copies of applicable titles have stickers on them saying ‘check with staff for availability of downloadable content’, giving staff the chance to explain clearly the difference so that our customers understand the benefits of buying both pre-owned and mint.”

The observant gamer will note that most games that fall under this category already have adequate warnings on their boxes regarding DLC codes that come with the game. Apparently, this is not enough.

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BioWare has released a new trailer for the next piece of Mass Effect 2 DLC, which gives us an insight into the motives and personality of new playable character Kasumi Goto, as she and Shepard take on a rogue art collector.

The Kasumi DLC will be the first piece of premium content for the game, whether you have Cerberus Network access or not. It will set you back and will set you back 560 MS points on Xbox Live and 560 BioWare points on PC.

Watch the trailer after the cut.

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BioWare threw up their own countdown, ending in just over five days as of right now.

The timer also appears on the websites for Mass Effect 2 and Dragon Age: Origins.

The clock is set to stop at noon (EST) on Monday, March 29th.

What could it possibly be?

My guess is that it’s related to the teased Dragon Age sequel (according to the latest expansion, Awakening), but it could be a new title altogether. I don’t think it has anything to do with The Old Republic, since the timer does not appear on that website.

In the meantime…

’cause maybe they’ve seen us and welcome us all…

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BioWare has just announced the next piece of free DLC for Cerberus Network users, based around the awesome Hammerhead tank, which is due to hit Xbox Live and PCs in March.

The “Firewalker” DLC pack will contain five missions centred around the formidable tank (pictured above), which “hovers over the battlefield at up to 120 kilometers per hour and features a guided missile system ensuring accuracy even during aggressive maneuvering.”

So says BioWare. So it must be awesome.

Only players registered with the Cerberus Network – claimed by inputting a redeem code provided in first-hand copies of the game – will have access to the downloadable content.

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BioWare has long been, in this journalist’s humble opinion, one of the masters of video game storytelling. Whether it’s in a futuristic sci-fi setting, a Tolkienesque fantasy world or a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, the boys at BioWare know how to tell an engaging story. But the best is yet to come, says BioWare’s co-boss Dr. Ray Muzyka

In an interview with CVG, Muzyka said the developer is up to the challenge of topping its recent title Mass Effect 2, which has received universal acclaim from various gaming outlets.

“The way we approach it is that each game has to be better than the last one,” said Muzyka in the interview. “That’s always been true for the last 20 years we’ve been doing this, that’s just what we do. It’s kind of in our culture now.

“I think the team finds it reassuring that you’ve done something good, you’ve got great sales, great critical success, but they’re driven by making the next thing even better. That’s what drives me.”

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BioWare seems to be taking a page out of Bungie’s book in announcing “The Cerberus Network” for Mass Effect 2. The Network is an in-game Mass Effect 2 portal that will keep fans updated on Mass Effect 2 DLC as well as news.

“The Cerberus Network augments and extends the rich universe of Mass Effect 2,” commented Dr. Ray Muzyka, co-founder of BioWare, “We’re thrilled to be able to reward loyal BioWare and Mass Effect fans with ongoing, high quality content and provide a direct channel for our players to dive deeper into the intriguing lore of Mass Effect.”

The Cerberus Network is activated through a single-use code that comes included with the game at retail. Players who purchase the game used can unlock The Network through an in-game purchase. All content recieved through The Cerberus Network will be absolutely free.

The press release also contained information concerning two DLC packs for Mass Effect 2 featuring new missions, vehicles and in-game items, weapons and armour.

Edmonton, Alberta (January 19, 2010) – BioWare™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), today revealed ‘The Cerberus Network’, an in-game portal in Mass Effect 2 that will keep fans engaged with the rich and dynamic Mass Effect universe through downloadable content (DLC) and news. ‘The Cerberus Network’ is activated exclusively by original purchasers of Mass Effect 2 through a single-use unlock code that comes included in retail and digital versions of the game worldwide. ‘The Cerberus Network’ is a conduit for players to receive bonus content as well as daily messages and news on upcoming releases for Mass Effect 2 for no extra charge. For players who do not buy the game new, ‘The Cerberus Network’ can be unlocked through a one-time, in-game purchase of a new activation code*.

Mass Effect 2 is the first blockbuster video game release of 2010, having recently been named as one of the “Most Anticipated Games of the Year” by the New York Times, IGN and Wired.

“The Cerberus Network augments and extends the rich universe of Mass Effect 2,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, co-founder, BioWare and Group General Manager of the RPG/MMO Group of EA. “We’re thrilled to be able to reward loyal BioWare and Mass Effect fans with ongoing, high quality content and provide a direct channel for our players to dive deeper into the intriguing lore of Mass Effect.”

Players who access ‘The Cerberus Network’ will receive the first DLC pack on January 26th (launch day in North America) featuring new missions and in-game items. Included in this pack is a mission that introduces Zaeed, a rugged and deadly gun-for-hire who is recruited to join Commander Shepard’s mission to save mankind.

After launch, BioWare will release another DLC pack for Mass Effect 2 that introduces the Hammerhead, a new vehicle in the Mass Effect universe. This agile hover tank features improved handling on rough terrain and maneuvers deftly in combat — a necessity for players traveling across harsh planetary environments throughout the galaxy. In addition to this new vehicle, BioWare will release new missions and unique in-game items, including Cerberus Assault Armor which boost shields, health and heavy weapon ammo and the M-22 Eviscerator Shotgun.

The Mass Effect trilogy is an epic science fiction adventure set in a vast universe filled with dangerous alien life and mysterious, uncharted planets. In Mass Effect 2, players will step into the role of the heroic Commander Shepard, commanding a crew of the most dangerous operatives from across the galaxy on a mission so challenging that it’s potentially suicidal. Featuring intense shooter action, a rich futuristic storyline, stunning space exploration and emotionally engaging characters, the game delivers an unparalleled cinematic experience.

Mass Effect 2 is scheduled for release on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and PC on January 26, 2010 in North America and January 29, 2010 in Europe and has been rated ‘M’ for Mature by the ESRB and ‘18+’ by PEGI (please visit www.esrb.org and www.pegi.eu for more information on ratings). For more news from the development team, please follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/masseffect2 or visit the game’s official website at http://masseffect.bioware.com/.

• Activation is tied to a specific EA Online account and is non-transferable.

###

About BioWare
BioWare develops high quality console, PC and online role-playing games, focused on rich stories, unforgettable characters and vast worlds to discover. Since 1995, BioWare has created some of the world’s most critically acclaimed titles, including Baldur’s Gate™, Neverwinter Nights™, Star Wars®: Knights of the Old Republic™, Jade Empire™ and Mass Effect™. BioWare operates in Edmonton (Alberta, Canada), Montreal (Quebec) and Austin (Texas). BioWare’s announced projects include the dark heroic fantasy game Dragon Age: Origins, as well as Mass Effect 2™, the epic sequel to Mass Effect, and the story-driven massively multiplayer online game, Star Wars®: The Old Republic™. In 2008, BioWare was acquired by Electronic Arts, a leading global interactive entertainment publisher. For more information on BioWare, visit www.bioware.com; to join the millions of fans already registered on our community, go to social.bioware.com.

About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA™, EA SPORTS™, EA Mobile™ and POGO™. In fiscal 2009, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.2 billion and had 31 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA’s homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA’s products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.
BioWare, Mass Effect, Dragon Age and Jade Empire are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by EA International (Studio and Publishing) Ltd. in the U.S. and/or other countries. EA, EA SPORTS, EA Mobile and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Xbox and Xbox 360 are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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It’s time for more fun with ESRB ratings, this time with the rating for Mass Effect 2. While the rating summary for Mass Effect 2 is not as funny as previous entries we’ve posted, but there’s the odd nugget of comedy here and there. One that sticks out is a reference to an alien strip club:

“During the course of the game, players may enter a bar where alien pole dancing exists (choreography highlighted on big-screen monitors) or hear suggestive comments such as “krogan sexual deviants enjoy salarian flexibility” and ”if this is just about sex, maybe you should just f**king say so.” [Italics added]“

There’s also mention of a “romantic encounter”, which players can engaging in with both humans and aliens. These encounters can vary from a normal conversation, unzipping a “future-blouse” (whatever that is), kissing, hugging or a full on sex scene.

Full summary can be found here

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BioWare revealed on the official Mass Effect forums today that the sequel would arrive on two discs, with the 360 version requiring  a disc swap at some point in the story.

“Even though there is a disc swap, it occurs at a carefully planned place in the game (that does not interfere with gameplay) and is done once,” stated community coordinator of BioWare Chris Priestly, “You do not swap back and forth. One swap and then done.”

The PC, on the other hand, will be a two-disc install

If you consider this disc swapping to be a serious problem with the game, then I would personally suggest going out and getting more exercise.

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Highlights included Dante’s Inferno, Dragon Age, Mass Effect 2, Fight Night Round 4, a new martial arts fighting game called EA MMA, Grand Slam Tennis, The Saboteur and the first ever cinematic trailer for BioWare’s epic MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic.

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