One game that I am excited about is BioWare’s epic, “The Old Republic”, and yes… in case you live under a rock, that is a reference to Star Wars. It’s being published by LucasArts and hopefully will be the sci-fi MMO we’ve all wanted.

Players will also be able to play with Kasumi throughout the campaign, the character will react with other characters the same way Zaeed did in the day one DLC and will even unlock a new part of the Normandy where she will hang out in between missions.

That’s great and all Bioware but I kind of feel you should have created a much bigger world if you wanted to keep players playing for longer then 25 hrs it took to play though once.

Think Oblivion, why couldn’t there be more skill based side quests where Shepard could earn ranks in certain organisations and guilds. These could be added as cross trilogy DLC later this year that meant players would go back and play the last two games again, gaining resources that would help in the final fight with the reapers. Thats the kind of stuff I want from the Cerebus network, not another 90 mins (more like 40 if the last character DLC is anything to go by, unless Bioware skimped on the free DLC?) of a loyalty mission thats not going to have any real impact on me if I already played the finale.

Kotaku have a Bioware interview on the add on from GDC – here

If I’m honest, as great as it looks I may have been more inclined to keep ME2 if this had been released a few weeks ago. Instead all I was left with was a 2nd play through and some updated text to read at the title menu.

The fixes mainly deal with graphical issue but also fixes that really annoying ”you are not logged into a valid EA acc” screen that sometimes pops up when you start the game.

More useful ‘ Don’t forget to buy Mass Effect 3′ messages will also pop during the epic load screens. No word when it will hit consoles but the PC version is alive.

Mass Effect 2

• Fixed video hitching and crashes related to single core machines

-  Single core users may experience short periods of black screen that may last up a few seconds between level loads, cinematic transitions or movies

-  In rare cases, some single core users may notice dialog lines in certain conversations may be delayed up to a few seconds

• Fixed an issue where it appears ammunition can be picked up, but can’t
• Fixed an issue where all Codex entries were marked as ‘viewed’, even if the player chose not to view them
• Fixed an issue where weapon icons are re-organized after downloadable content is used
• Fixed an issue where pressing F9 after the mission completion screen reset Shepard to Level 1
• Fixed an issue where remapping the right mouse button blocks camera control in the command HUD
• Fixed an issue where remapping the ‘use’ command affects the decryption minigame
• Fixed an issue where users were not prompted to restart when logging in to a different EA Online account
• Fixed an issue where movies do not play in DLC
• It is recommended that players reset their keyboard mapping to default values to ensure proper vehicle control
• Added useful messaging during the ME1 save game import
• Weapon icon for henchmen never changes from Collector Assault Rifle
• Czech language – Issues with Czech localization (subtitles) were amended, all text was corrected and improved
• Fixed an issue where the Mass Effect 2 launcher was being associated with files that have no extension

Whats your poison going to be? Bioware’s rich expansive space opera or Zipper Interactives almost too good to be true stats driven dynamic online war? Or will you be picking both up first thing Friday morning?

Anybody out there want to admit they have taken some annual leave to see February in with a gaming  joygasm? Let us know.

Here’s some hype to get the juices flowing.

VS

Expect this expansion on the 16/03/10 (hopefully it wont suffer from the same delay yesterdays DLC did) and if you haven’t played the game yet or are half way through it then be aware that there are major spoilers in this video.

The expansion looks like a kind of Broken Steel; picking up from the end of the retail release so you may be wondering what some characters are doing in certain roles in this trailer. You have been warned!

Vid Below.

I was pleasantly surprised to hear the guys in the 1up podcast speaking about the game now that the embargo is lifted. Apparently this is very much a shooter with RPG elements as opposed to the last games slightly tacked on Gears of War lite shooting.

Its also good news to hear that cover actually works this time! Can Bioware deliver a sequel that’s going to blow the original out of the water? Hopefully so.

Gametrailers have a great interview with a number of the guys working on the title and I have embedded below for you’re viewing pleasure.

Enjoy

Well I’m glad you asked.

EA and Bioware released the contents list along with a nice photo.

Included in the SE is:

• 48 page full-color concept art booklet (pretty standard I guess)
• A collectable tin box (oh….. thanks)
• Mass Effect Redemption comic (hmm not excited so far)
• Limited Edition Armor and access to the Cerberus Network (the wha?)
• 3 Disc including a making of Disc that will include special features and ”making off” content.

See official pic below. [Bioware.com]

Seems like Remedy is  trying its hardest to make us not care about this title.

Seriously I don’t even know what I’m looking at here or if I’m supposed to care? 45 Seconds of flares? wha?

The developers were showing us screens of this at the same time as Bioware were showing us early footage of Mass Effect 1 at E3 2005!!

What the hell? Remedy claimed in August this year that the game was done, so God’s damn it just release it already.

Video – watch. Mass Effect 2, good.

Engineer Class.

Enjoy