 First off, let me say I'm a huge BioWare fan. I'm also a Sega fan in general and while Sonic isn't super high on my top lists of titles or franchises, especially lately, I still enjoy the Sega Genesis titles from that series. So while you read this, keep in mind that these impressions come from someone with no particular loyalty to the series but instead, from an RPG fan, a BioWare fan and someone who doesn't get as much use out of his DS for lack of games suited to his tastes. In fact, this is the first DS game I've bought this year.
Now I admit, I was a bit hesitant on picking this up. This is after all BioWare's first title on the DS and also it's first ever handheld title period. Sonic as a franchise seemed almost un-salvageable as a quality series and it has earned some harsh criticism due to it's overall downfall. Don't get me wrong, I was looking forward to it's release, but that's as much from curiosity as it was the prospect of a DS RPG from my favorite developer. In the end it was my faith in BioWare as a developer while owning and loving every game they've made so far that convinced me to take a leap of faith and plunk down the $40.
Continue reading Initial Impressions: Sonic Chronicles for the DS
 Maxis was a great company. Who didn't love SimCity 2000? Certainly, it's no Stunt Driver, but boy was the game fun. Could you get the Launch Arcos to actually launch? I couldn't. I suck. But hey, at least I could start major floods like the best SimCity players. Floods are something that all the new SimCity games surely miss. Bring them back Maxis. I beg you. Maxis was certainly a great company. Today, however, it is part of the behemoth known as EA. Sure, they still have reign to make potentially amazing games such as Spore, but let's look at the other, unfortunate studios. Take for example Westwood Studios, the original developer of the hugely successful Command and Conquer Series. Red Alert" quality game. Red Alert 2" also a quality game. So you'd think a studio with a series as successful as Command and Conquer would have been allowed to survive, right? Well, you'd be wrong. Instead EA ate them. No more. Completely assimilated. That's apparently what you get for screwing up on an offshoot of your major franchise. Thanks C&C Renegade. So, there went Westwood, and other studios have seen similar fates, becoming less autonomous and on occasion just not existing anymore. Bullfrog? What's that? They've been gone for a while.
EA likes to buy companies. In the past, they would assimilate the companies, but recently their CEO mentioned that this model just was not a good idea. Of course, this statement was made right around the acquisition of a high profile developer. You may know them as Bioware. They make good games. Most recently they released Mass Effect, and before that they had hits such as Jade Empire and Neverwinter Nights. Hugely successful. Congrats to them. But you got to wonder, will their success keep them from becoming a footnote in EA's corporate history? Sure, EA says that assimilation is a bad thing, but was that just said to placate the masses of people who find Bioware to be the be all end all of developers? (I'm looking at you, Tan) History shows they have no problem making developers part of the bigger EA. So, is that fate subject to Bioware? What could it take? A bad game? A whim of the CEO? Nothing? Who knows? But what I do know is that I'd take Mr. Riccitiello's comments with a grain of salt. It might make a future assimilation even more stinging than it should be.
So, why am I writing this article? Is it because there is a Blizzard Warning out right now and I am cooped up in the house, or is it because EA is trying to become ultra-mega EA upon the purchase of either Take Two or perhaps Ubisoft. Maybe it's both. But yeah, doesn't EA's Grand Theft Auto sound delightfully evil? The Evil Publisher, with what is considered by some to be the devil's game. How delightfully maniacal. Damn you EA for owning Maxis. You'll get my money for that. But, will you or will you not keep your future and new acquisitions autonomous? I certainly hope that you do, but at the same time I certainly will not keep my hopes up.
A post over on the Kotaku blog has info on Bioware working on a new KOTOR title. There is not much info yet, so it is still on borderline. All we can do is hope and pray. What do you think about the info? I can't wait. I just finished KOTOR 2 and am about to play through 1, and love it so far. Bring on more Star Wars goodness.
Link: http://kotaku.com/355808/...re-at-work-on-a-new-kotor
 PC gamers rejoice! This May, Electronic Arts will be publishing Mass Effect for the PC. The kick-ass award winning "western" RPG that Fox News loves so much will be available in a mere 3 months from now.
As with BioWare's usual standard, this won't be a straight up port. It has several enhancements and optimizations for the PC platform, among them:
- 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.
Of course with it being such a great looking game with further enhanced graphics, it'll be a pig to run on a decent system. So don't expect to get your game on or see all of the great hardcore pr0n on your 486 DX or Pentium 90.
Original article:
http://kotaku.com/355399/mass-effect-coming-to-pc
 Yesterday afternoon Chris Priestly, Community Coordinator and active forum mod from BioWare, posted a thread in the official Mass Effect forum with the message "If I were you, I'd be around here at 10am tomorrow" without revealing exactly why.
In the 15 pages worth of speculation and impatient time checking that followed before the thread was locked just prior to the announcement, everything from a big prank, PC version, DLC content to a certified gold expansion had been suggested.
Then at approximately 10:00am Mountain time, It was announced that new DLC will be released in March. Here's the official announcement quoted for your reading pleasure:
Chris Writes:
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.
Bring Down the Sky includes a new uncharted world that introduces the notorious and feared alien race of the Batarians. A Batarian extremist group has hijacked a mobile asteroid station in the Asgard system, setting it on a collision course with the nearby colony world of Terra Nova. Only Commander Shepard can save the millions of innocent civilians before the asteroid completes its deadly descent.
Bring Down the Sky contains approximately 90 minutes of heart-pounding action and a new Achievement worth 50 Gamerscore points.
Mass Effect is exclusively available on Xbox 360 and is rated M for Mature by the ESRB
This is both welcome news and reasonably priced. As one not particularly fond of disposable downloadable content, 400 MS isn't too bad. Cheap enough to splurge on, big enough to be worth it. XBL marketplace could use more content at that price as far as I'm concerned. It should hopefully help tide us addicted BioWare RPG lovers over until the next dose of crack fun piece of Albertan gaming comes along.
Official announcement:
http://masseffect.bioware...ml?topic=616574&forum=104
So, it has been known for some time that Bioware was going to be working on a Sonic RPG. Today, we have more news about the Sonic RPG that is sure to make fans of Sonic and Bioware squeal with excitement. A couple of highlights are as follows:
- Watercolor Style of Animation
- 4 Members in you Party at once, 11 party members total.
- No random battles, in a definite homage to Chrono Trigger
- Turn Based Fighting
- Special Moves play like Elite Beat Agents
If you wish to see more than a few highlights, perhaps scans hosted at Jeux France will tickle your fancy. Those scans are bright, colorful, and look as good as graphics seen in Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. I'm certainly impressed by the graphics... are you?
Certainly, this game has the potential to rock one's socks off. I am predicting pure awesome. We'll find out for sure when this game is released later in 2008.
Lock up your daughters: New info on Bioware's Sonic RPG [Dtoid]
Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood info [GoNintendo]
 An interesting story popped up this weekend by Dean Takahashi, journalist for San Jose Mercury News and the author of "Opening the Xbox" and "The Xbox 360 Uncloaked". In the article, he claims to know someone who has seen game code for an Xbox 360 sequel to Jade Empire that's apparently in the works. Not known as a drama queen or a news fabricator, Dean blogging about it adds a lot of weight and fuels further speculation.
Being a huge fan of all things BioWare, it's hard not to get excited at this, even if it's a semi-rumor awaiting confirmation or disapproval. However the recent acquisition by Electronic Arts will certainly raise some concerns about shameless ports for every system, OS and cell phone in existence. BioWare is a company who makes high quality games, one at a time, usually for one system at a time. When they do port something they take the time to improve it and add new content, not EA's typical "If it gets to the title screen without crashing, certify it gold". Yeah that's right, I said it. EA and BioWare couldn't be any farther apart on the spectrum of policy and quality than they are right now.
But imagine the possibilities. The Mass Effect engine and dialog system tweaked and improved. A new melee/martial arts combat RPG set in a part magic, part sci-fi, mystical Asian land. If you haven't had the pleasure of playing Jade Empire on the Xbox, or on the PC, I suggest you give it a try. A richly rewarding game with lots of replay value and a great story, or as I like to call it, "a typical BioWare game".
In any case, keep it tuned to this channel for future updates on this as they break. Like a beagle on a foxhunt, if there's news on a new BioWare game, you better believe I'll be on it's heels. 
Original article:
http://blogs.mercurynews....e_empire_2_is_coming.html
For the crazy folks who haven't bought this game yet and those of you sitting on the fence, let me share my initial impression of this game with you. Furthermore, Let me convince you that tracking down a Limited Collector's Edition online is well worth it. This game certainly deserves a review but that will wait until I've beaten it a couple different ways first and that make take a while so hopefully this blog entry will suffice for now.
First off, I'll tell you that I'm among other things, both a huge BioWare fan and a staunt supporter of western RPG's. I've played BioWare games since Shattered Steel and they've always managed to impress me. I'm also not a particularly huge fan of Star Wars yet KOTOR ranks very highly on my top list of games. I say that because this game reminds me a lot of it, but IMO Mass Effect is a better universe to play in.
Ok, enough with the "HTMbiography". Let me be frank: This game f*cking rocks. Becoming Keith once more here's what I call the "you've seen it" formula: Ths game reminds me of Babylon 5 mixed with KOTOR, Stargate, GRAW, Jade Empire and some dark humor reminiscent of Firefly. Maybe throw in a few likenesses to games like Elite and Freelancer as well.
Having read the novel I was already familiar with the Mass Effect universe, it's factions, races, technology etc. I've also read the author's work before in other series like Forgotten Realms. The same author is the lead writer for this series so it's nice to be spoiled by a game that matches the mind's eye of things written in the novel.
Jumping into the game felt both familiar because of BioWare's style of presentation as well as the familiarity I mentioned earlier. The game presents itself like an epic movie and gives you that big screen cinema feeling even in your living room. Gameplay consisting of various mini-games, exploration, squad combat, vehicles and dialogue sequences both keep the game fresh and interesting. The combat can be either strategic and complex or simple and efficient, the controls well thought out and easy to use with minimal effort. The leveling system and equipment customization is all they said it'd be and the morale choice thing provides humor, intrigue and a deeper connection with the main character that you play.
Graphics and sound so far are outstanding and although it has some minor pop-in and slowdown, it doesn't hinder the experience nor it is as bad as I keep reading on the 'net. The amount of instantly recognizable voice actors adds more of that big screen appeal as well.
One other major thing I personally found impressive is the character creation. Should you choose to make a custom character, the options are well laid out, easy to use and you can finally make a perfect moustache-less goatee!!!!! This truly is a next gen age we live in.
Should you buy the LCE version versus the regular? Is it worth the extra $10? You bet your space-faring ass it is! Besides the awesome tin case with artwork etched into it's surface, there are two mini books, one artwork and the other a Codex which is a guide to the various races you encounter. Also a second disc with loads of goodies like gamerpics, themes, videos, soundtrack etc. Those of you with a pre-order disc or have heard of it, imagine that content x3.
This game feels like a GOTY to me. It's also shaping up to be every bit the reason to buy a X360 I thought it would. BioWare is one of those few developers that I'd follow to any platform needed to play their games. Hell for a great game like this, I'd even go to Arby's the Wii. Yes I said it, thankfully however they spared me that indignity.
 Following in the steps of the Halo 3 Future Weapons special on the Discovery Channel, the Sci-Fi Channel will be airing a special on the making of the hotly anticipated game on November 20th at 10PM (that's Central time because it's the only time that matters). Some details on the special can be found on Sci-Fi Channel's website. Nothing really is known about the special other than it will be on Sci-Fi, will show a look behind the game, and they will be giving away copies of the game. Very descriptive, I know.
 Here's the headline from the official Bioware website:
SEGA ANNOUNCES BIOWARE WILL CREATE SONIC ROLE PLAYING GAME FOR THE NINTENDO DS
Wow, that's a mouth full. The game which is expected to hit stores sometime in 2008 is what I would call a serious effort on Sega's part to both reinvigorate the Sonic franchise as well as make a high quality game. Bioware being a leader among RPG game design will do an amazing job I'm sure. I always wondered when Sonic would get a Paper Mario or Mario & Luigi equivalent title.
For more on this announcment head over to the Bioware website for the article HERE, not much more info is given but you can tell both parties are taking this very seriously.
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