News
79 CommentsEA has 'no games in development for the Wii U,' spokesman says
By Dave Tach on May 16, 2013 05.16.13
Electronic Arts isn't currently developing any games for the Wii U, EA spokesperson Jeff Brown told Kotaku. EA published several games for Nintendo's console since its November 2012 launch, including FIFA 13, Madden NFL 13, Mass Effect 3: Special Edition and Need for Speed Most Wanted, but its studios have nothing in the pipeline right now. "We have no games in development for the Wii U currently," Brown said, but he didn't rule out future Wii U development, according to Kotaku. Earlier this month, EA announced that Madden NFL 25 would not make its way to the Wii U in 2013, while reiterating that the company has "a strong partnership with Nintendo." EA DICE's technical director Johan Andersson recently explained that the Frostbite engine, which powers games like those in the...
News
36 CommentsOrigin update embraces powerful PCs, tweaks interface, achievements and more
By Dave Tach on May 09, 2013 05.09.13
An update for Origin, Electronic Arts' digital distribution service, adds options for powerful computers, tweaks the interface, achievements and more, according to an update posted on the official website. Origin version 9.2.1 adds a new "multilauncher" for 64-bit systems that gives "additional options for taking advantage of your hardware when starting supported games." Origin's Application Settings menu has also been revamped, and users can now track achievements and the Origin Points they earn from playing Battlefield 3, Mass Effect 3, and Dead Space 3 on their profile page. Finally, those who broadcast their gameplay now have the option to automatically archive it. If you'd like to install the update for Windows PC or Mac now, you can sign up for the Origin beta program. Those...
Good Game
111 CommentsControlling creativity: Eight developers discuss the dilemma of interactive art
By Brian Crecente on Apr 15, 2013 04.15.13
That blow up between the people who made Mass Effect 3 and the people who played it may have been the most notable debate over video game creative control, but it isn't the only one: Diablo 3, DmC: Devil May Cry, Sonic the Hedgehog video games, there's a growing tug-of-war over creative ownership of video games fueled by the interactive nature of this form of story-telling and art. More than any other artistic medium, video games are a two-way conversation between creator and consumer, game maker and game player. That blurred line is further obscured by the rise of player-created content. We recently spoke to a number of developers including the duo behind Mass Effect, Minecraft's maker and other independent developers and award winners to get their wildly differing views on the...
News
90 CommentsEA's Peter Moore vows to 'do better' in response to 'worst company in America' poll
By Michael McWhertor on Apr 05, 2013 04.05.13
For the second year in a row, video game publisher Electronic Arts is on its way to being named "worst company in America," according to Consumerist's reader-voted poll. This year, the company has already defeated Facebook, Anheuser-Busch InBev and AT&T for the dubious honor. Today, EA faces Ticketmaster in a battle of who's worse. EA chief operating officer Peter Moore is, unsurprisingly, not thrilled at the prospect of "winning" the contest. But in a post on EA's official blog, it appears Moore's taking the poll's outcome to heart, writing, "We are committed to fixing our mistakes." "Are we really the 'Worst Company in America?'" Moore wrote. "I'll be the first to admit that we've made plenty of mistakes. These include server shut downs too early, games that didn't meet...
Feature
179 CommentsWhy aren't video game actors treated like stars?
By David Griner on Apr 02, 2013 04.02.13
The women behind the game The women behind the game Jennifer Hale "Nathan Fillion said to me, 'If you don't do one of these games, fans are going to be upset, but they're still going to buy the game,'" Taylor recalls. "There's only so much footing that you have as a voice actor. I don't know if it's because you don't see us physically or what." To put Halo's success — and Taylor's low public profile — in context, think of it this way: She is the most frequently recurring and plot-central actor in a franchise that has earned well over $3 billion, an amount equal to the combined global box office sales for the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy. But Fillion is right. She, along with each of her hard-working peers in the competitive world of video game voice...
Mass Effect 3’s combat helped support narrative themes
By Megan Farokhmanesh on Apr 01, 2013 04.01.13
Mass Effect 3's combat was used to convey narrative themes and emotions throughout the game's story, BioWare senior designer Dave Feltham said during a recent GDC Panel. "Emotional Journey: BioWare's Methods to Bring Narrative into Levels" covered the emotional hallmarks of the series' final entry, including visual manipulation and character connections. While creating the game, designers discovered they could tailor every aspect of Mass Effect 3 to their narrative advantage. "We know each section of our story and what emotions and things have to be done in those sections," Feltham said. "We utilize some things that were part of Mass Effect and Mass Effect levels and actually brought those in to help support the narrative, the first one being combat. What we found is that we can...
News
13 CommentsMass Effect 3 live producer says multiplayer modes are a service, not a 'ship and forget' package
By Alexa Ray Corriea on Mar 28, 2013 03.28.13
Launching a multiplayer mode is less about shipping an additional game component and more about managing an ongoing service, Mass Effect 3 live producer Scylla Costa said in a panel at the 2013 Game Developers Conference today. "Going from a product to a service is a chansge of mentality. It's a 180 degree turn for many people," he said, noting developers can't just "ship and forget" their product after pushing a multiplayer service live. "You have to continue to add value." Mass Effect 3's Galaxy At War feature forms the backbone of the multiplayer service, Costa said. The system, which is optional, allows players to manage Commander Shepard's resources and which directly affects the outcome of the Mass Effect 3 single-player campaign. The Mass Effect 3 Datapad app, which allows...
Report
25 CommentsMass Effect developers reminisce about the trilogy, the ending and the fans
By Samit Sarkar on Mar 25, 2013 03.25.13
As divisive as the original ending of Mass Effect 3 turned out to be last spring, the Mass Effect universe remains a series with which millions of players feel a deep emotional connection, and a few of the people who helped make it happen spent an hourlong panel at PAX East reminiscing about their work on the trilogy. Much of the session played out with journalist Geoff Keighley, the moderator, asking the panelists to relate their favorite moments from the games themselves, or their work on them over the past eight years. The audience of Mass Effect fans who packed the convention's Main Theatre laughed, cheered and applauded along with each mention of a cherished memory they shared with the panel, and there was a palpable feeling of love for BioWare's creation in the room. Discussing...
Deals
9 CommentsMass Effect 3: Citadel DLC soundtrack is free to download
By Jenna Pitcher on Mar 12, 2013 03.12.13
Twenty tracks featured in the Mass Effect 3: Citadel DLC are available to download for free, according the BioWare Social Network. The soundtrack was composed by Sam Hulick (Mass Effect trilogy, Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition), Cris Velasco (Borderlands 2, Mass Effect 3, God of War 3, ZombieU) and Sascha Dikiciyan (Borderlands 2, Mass Effect 3, Prototype). To download the soundtrack, gamers can log into the BioWare website using the Origin Account they used to play Mass Effect 3. Released on March 5, Citadel is Mass Effect 3's final content pack. Set in the middle of the Reaper War, the DLC revolves around Commander Shephard breaking shore leave prematurely when an assassination attempt is made on Shepard's life. It features characters from Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2.
Deals
18 CommentsMass Effect PC titles half off through Origin, trilogy $25
By Megan Farokhmanesh on Mar 10, 2013 03.10.13
In celebration of Mass Effect 3's one-year anniversary, all three titles in the series, as well as the trilogy set, are currently on sale for Windows PC through Origin. The sale knocks each individual list price down 50 percent. Mass Effect is $7, and buyers can pick up regular editions of Mass Effect 2 or Mass Effect 3 for $10. The Mass Effect 3 Digital Deluxe Edition is available for $15. The Mass Effect Trilogy, which includes the entire series and downloadable content Pinnacle Station and Bring Down the Sky, is available for $25. The anniversary sale ends on March 12.
