Video game news and reaction

[Foghorn]

Cruisers are fun to play. But if you're planning on running Elite STFs, please consider getting either the Defiant or Prometheus instead.

I'm very happy to hear that my favorite little ship is capable of being used in the endgame stuff, which I am quickly approaching

[Sletchman]

Did you guys see the ME3 leak?  It's pretty spoileriffic, so read at your own risk (seriously, don't read it if you don't want any of ME2 or 3 to be spoiled):

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From Ashes DLC was leaked onto the marketplace.  Don't rush out and try to download it though - anyone who bought N7 Collectors gets it for free, the DL is just for anyone who missed the limited pack.  You'll note that it contains a motherflipping Prothean squadmate!  I wonder if it's an OG Prothean that was frozen in a stasis pod, or if it's a Collector with modified indoctrination (indoctrinated to serve Shepard perhaps)?

From The Art of the Mass Effect Universe it looks kinda Collector-ey (which makes sense, really - why would the Reapers change how their bio-weapon looks?) Here is a picture from said Art book so you can see what I mean.  I'm not sure if it's a retcon of their appearance (the statues looked like Illithids IMO) or perhaps they really were an insectiod species to begin with and had a cast system with varying appearance - the Soldier Cast were basically the Collectors, the Tacticians were the Collector General and the Nobility / Ruling Cast were the Illithids from the statues.  All rampant speculation of course.

OMG I can't wait for ME3! I'm avoiding the demo b/c I don't want any spoilers, but it's killing me not to play it just for the mp aspect.

I'd say download it and give it a go - the MP is far more fun then I expected and actually gives you a better understanding of the new mechanics then the singleplayer part of the demo.  Also you can make a new class in seconds and play with all 6 to test them out before you commit to one for the full game in a couple of weeks.

[Sletchman]

In non-Mass Effect news: Borderlands 2 has a trailer and date (Sept 18th in the US and 21st in the rest of the planet).  I really enjoyed the first one (the DLC in particular) so I'm looking forward to this - the fact that it's got the style and gameplay of the first along with a stronger narrative then "kill some things and take their stuff" bodes well if you ask me.

[Krensky]

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Scuttlebutt is he's from a status pod.

[Sletchman]

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Scuttlebutt is he's from a status pod.

Seems the most sensible explanation.

[TheTSKoala]

In non-Mass Effect news: Borderlands 2 has a trailer and date (Sept 18th in the US and 21st in the rest of the planet).  I really enjoyed the first one (the DLC in particular) so I'm looking forward to this - the fact that it's got the style and gameplay of the first along with a stronger narrative then "kill some things and take their stuff" bodes well if you ask me.

This may be the reason I return to Console gaming. (My buddies who I played #1 with are on console.)  I loved Borderlands 1.

As for ME3 DLC.. is the DLC pay to play for non-CE buyers? 

[foproy]

800pts about 10 usd

[Sletchman]

As for ME3 DLC.. is the DLC pay to play for non-CE buyers? 

According to Michael Gamble of Bioware - yes.  It's 800pts on Xbox Marketplace (sorry, I'm unsure how it will translate for you PC/PSN guys).

Hi all!

We're happy to confirm that Mass Effect 3: From Ashes DLC will be available at launch for all platforms. For those of you who have purchased the N7 Collector's Edition (including the PC Digital Deluxe Edition), you will get this content at no extra charge. We'll have a lot more details for you later this week! Stay Tuned!

I wouldn't read through that thread - there's a whole lot of bile coming from their "fans" about a whole lot of different things.  I'm just glad that I get free extra DLC with my N7 CE, and that they aren't stopping others from getting it - which I think is pretty cool.

[TheTSKoala]

See.. this hurts my head.  (800 pts.. anyone got the math for that in non-Microsoft currency?)  I guess it's an "extra" for CE owners.. but.. man.. talk about giving the middle finger to the majority of your fan base...

[Mister Andersen]

Meh. From the Ashes and it's new squadmate has been advertised as part of the CE since the beginning.

The fact that it's a Prothean, though? Yeah, that's the same level of douchery as making other plot-vital stuff like LotSB and Arrival DLC

[TheTSKoala]

Meh. From the Ashes and it's new squadmate has been advertised as part of the CE since the beginning.

The fact that it's a Prothean, though? Yeah, that's the same level of douchery as making other plot-vital stuff like LotSB and Arrival DLC

Right.. like.. if From the Ashes was.. something like the Crashed Ship DLC that came with "new" ME2.. I might be okay with.  Ancient extinct Alien Race as a squad mate with story?  Preeeettttty sure that's not as trivial.  I dunno.. I think I'm burning out on this "pay for DLC" concept.  I don't mind it.. if it's something resembling an expansion.. or mini expansion.. fine.. but stop trying to fight the war on used games on the backs of your consumers.

[foproy]

See.. this hurts my head.  (800 pts.. anyone got the math for that in non-Microsoft currency?)  I guess it's an "extra" for CE owners.. but.. man.. talk about giving the middle finger to the majority of your fan base...

as i said in my first post on the subject $10 us

[TheTSKoala]

See.. this hurts my head.  (800 pts.. anyone got the math for that in non-Microsoft currency?)  I guess it's an "extra" for CE owners.. but.. man.. talk about giving the middle finger to the majority of your fan base...

as i said in my first post on the subject $10 us

My apologies Foproy.  You most certainly did.  Reading from a Blackberry.  My bad!

[MilitiaJim]

... plot-vital stuff like LotSB and Arrival DLC

I would not go so far as to call LotSB or Arrival vital.  Explanatory, but not vital.  There is room for debate here, but the events are clarified in the DLCs, not created from whole cloth.

[Sletchman]

Meh. From the Ashes and it's new squadmate has been advertised as part of the CE since the beginning.

The fact that it's a Prothean, though? Yeah, that's the same level of douchery as making other plot-vital stuff like LotSB and Arrival DLC

Right.. like.. if From the Ashes was.. something like the Crashed Ship DLC that came with "new" ME2.. I might be okay with.  Ancient extinct Alien Race as a squad mate with story?  Preeeettttty sure that's not as trivial.  I dunno.. I think I'm burning out on this "pay for DLC" concept.  I don't mind it.. if it's something resembling an expansion.. or mini expansion.. fine.. but stop trying to fight the war on used games on the backs of your consumers.

It actually is the same as the stuff that came with new copies of ME2 - remember that Cerberus network also came with Zaeed.  So From the Ashes is much the same - just a Prothean instead of a grizzled merc veteran.  The only difference here is it's part of collectors instead of every new copy - something I consider fair, given that it's like $30 more (here anyway - $100 vs $130 for Standard vs N7 CE).