Mass Effect 2 And The Curse Of The Tiny Text [Mass Effect]

I’ve been playing Mass Effect on a 50″ screen, and even I noticed that in some places the game has some tiny, tiny text. So spare a thought for people playing it on a standard-definition TV set. In the latest example of a developer building games for only half the market, it’s been revealed that not only does Mass Effect 2 feature text that for some people is too small to read, but that there’s no way to really fix it. Responding to user complaints on the matter on the developer’s forums, BioWare’s Michael Gamble writes “I’ll have to talk to Casey about this (as any way to address it would have far reaching changes in the game), but please don’t expect any decisions or a fix in the near future (as we are supporting a number of issues at this time). This was a design choice, not a bug”. Inother words, don’t hold your breath. Actually, I think he means don’t hold your breath, then go out and buy a bigger TV. Mass Effect 2 text illegibility on SD TVs result of design decision [Ars Technica]

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Mass Effect 2 And The Curse Of The Tiny Text [Mass Effect]

Mass Effect 2 And The Curse Of The Tiny Text [Mass Effect]

I’ve been playing Mass Effect on a 50″ screen, and even I noticed that in some places the game has some tiny, tiny text. So spare a thought for people playing it on a standard-definition TV set. In the latest example of a developer building games for only half the market, it’s been revealed that not only does Mass Effect 2 feature text that for some people is too small to read, but that there’s no way to really fix it. Responding to user complaints on the matter on the developer’s forums, BioWare’s Michael Gamble writes “I’ll have to talk to Casey about this (as any way to address it would have far reaching changes in the game), but please don’t expect any decisions or a fix in the near future (as we are supporting a number of issues at this time). This was a design choice, not a bug”. Inother words, don’t hold your breath. Actually, I think he means don’t hold your breath, then go out and buy a bigger TV. Mass Effect 2 text illegibility on SD TVs result of design decision [Ars Technica]

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Mass Effect 2 And The Curse Of The Tiny Text [Mass Effect]

Mass Effect On PS3? BioWare Says No [Rumor Smash]

We were inundated with tips this week about supposed ” proof ” that code found within Mass Effect 2 on PC “confirmed” the presence of a PS3 version of the game. It does not. Seeking to clarify the situation, a statement on BioWare’s forums reads: The Unreal Engine is cross platform, hence the PS3 code. This was brought up back in Mass Effect 1 days as well. Mass Effect is for the PC and Xbox 360. LOCKDOWN! Lockdown indeed. If you check the code for other Unreal Engine games – like Gears of War – you’ll find the same thing. Nothing to see here, people.

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Mass Effect On PS3? BioWare Says No [Rumor Smash]

Sid Meier Keynotes GDC 2010 [Gdc 2010]

Sid Meier , the legendary creator of the Civilization franchise, has been tapped to deliver the opening keynote address at the 2010 Game Developers Conference, which means this could be the most addictive opening keynote speech ever delivered. Unless of course the keynote isn’t two hours of Sid playing Civilization, which it probably isn’t. Instead, the keynote, titled “The Psychology of Game Design (Everything You Know Is Wrong),” will feature Sid arguing the importance of the psychology of the player versus historical and mathematical facts in forming the foundation of a successful game design. Wake up, GDC event director Meggan Scavio has something to say! “It’s an honor to have Sid Meier, a true pioneer in game development, share his decade’s worth of insight at the 2010 Game Developers Conference. We’re also delighted to welcome so many other high quality lectures from the industry’s leading developers.” Leading developers like BioWare’s Armando Troisi, speaking on interactive storytelling in Mass Effect 2 , and Ubisoft’s Patrick Plourde, who will discuss designing Assassin’s Creed II . The 2010 Game Developers Conference will take place March 9th through the 13th in San Francisco. We’ll be there, staying awake during a lecture on the psychology of game design so you don’t have to. Image Credit

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Sid Meier Keynotes GDC 2010 [Gdc 2010]

Mass Effect 2’s Downloadable Companion Delayed [Dlc]

Aging human mercenary Zaeed, meant to join Commander Shepard’s crew in Mass Effect 2 via downloadable content, is having a little trouble making it to the Normandy. Zaeed shows up as downloadable content in the Mass Effect 2 menu on the Xbox 360 , but when you try to download the grizzled warrior, he isn’t available. According to a forum post on the BioWare Social Network titled “Zaeed – unavailable for X360 until Wednesday/Thursday.” it’ll be another day or two before he makes his debut. “Sorry all, we’ve had some delays with Zaeed. Your Cerberus account should still be able to access Normandy crash.” And indeed it does. Hopefully he’ll make it online soon. In the meantime, haven’t you got enough new companions to play with? Zaeed – unavailable for X360 until Wednesday/Thursday [BioWare Social Network Forums - Thanks Matt! ] [Sponsored] NEC

Mass Effect 2 Has Some Fancy Disc-Swapping Action [Mass Effect]

Like many sprawling role-playing games, Mass Effect 2 is coming on two discs. Unlike other two-disc affairs, however, it’s taking a different approach when it comes to swapping said discs. Normally (this of course only applies to the 360 version of the game), you swap a disc halfway through a game. Or, if there’s four discs – like there was in Lost Odyssey – you swap a disc roughly every quarter of the way through. Mass Effect 2 will instead ask you to swap from disc 1 to disc 2 around 1/3 of the way in. You then play the “middle” section of the game using disc 2, before swapping back to disc 1 for the game’s concluding stages. “The decision was made due to the nature of having to go to two discs for what is a non-linear game and fitting the right amount of content onto each of the discs,” BioWare’s Jessie Houston told IGN. “This way players won’t have to swap their discs multiple times during the middle of the game.” Oddly, we’ve found with our review copy that even players electing to install the game to their HDD will have to perform the above disc-swap routine. Mass Effect 2’s Strange Disc Swapping Explained [IGN]

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Mass Effect 2 Has Some Fancy Disc-Swapping Action [Mass Effect]

BioWare: Hollywood Very Interested in Mass Effect Film [Hollywood]

BioWare’s Casey Hudson, the project director for Mass Effect 2 , acknowledged a “tremendous amount of interest” from Hollywood in a Mass Effect film but vows such a movie, if done, will be done right or not at all. “Obviously we have a tremendous amount of interest from people in Hollywood to make a major motion picture about ‘Mass Effect,’” Hudson told the MTV Movies Blog. “The most important thing for us is, we don’t just want to see a movie get made. We want to see a great movie get made, if it’s going to get done at all.” Way back in the middle of 2008, Avi Arad, best known for several successful (and some less so) comic-book adaptations, optioned the rights to a Mass Effect film . But there has been no news of such a project since then. This may be deliberate. Hudson’s comments make it apparent that BioWare isn’t in a hurry and wants to be sure the film has a story worthy of this franchise. “We’re just looking at our options there, but waiting to make sure we have something really right before we do it,” he told MTV Movies. EXCLUSIVE: There’s ‘A Tremendous Amount Of Interest’ In Developing A ‘Mass Effect’ Film [MTV Movies Blog]

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BioWare: Hollywood Very Interested in Mass Effect Film [Hollywood]

GameStop Launches Mass Effect 2 And MAG At Midnight [Midnight Launch]

Video game retailer GameStop has deemed both Mass Effect 2 and Sony’s MAG worthy of keeping its employees up past midnight to get them into gamers’ hands. More than 2,500 GameStop stores will be opening late on Monday night to dole out preordered copies of Mass Effect 2 and MAG to eager fans, with certain locations hosting various themed games of skill to keep players from bashing down the doors before the clock strikes twelve. Customers at GameStop locations where it’s safe to be outside that late can expect a tank building challenge, a commando dress up contest, a grenade launch, and more, while those who frequent seedier stores will instead stand outside until around midnight, huddled together for safety. To see if your store is participating, visit the GameStop midnight openings list , brought to you by the letter M.

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GameStop Launches Mass Effect 2 And MAG At Midnight [Midnight Launch]

BioWare’s Greg Zeschuk Has A Massive Effect On Kotaku Talk Radio [Kotaku Talk Radio]

Our second studio episode of Kotaku Talk Radio is in the can! Listen now to hear one of Canadia’s finest, BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk , discussing Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2 , and beyond. Dr. Gregory P. Zeschuk kicks off this week’s episode of Kotaku Talk Radio by mocking Totilo’s winter wear, and it only gets better from there. Greg discuss every aspect of Mass Effect 2, from the shooter-esque combat to the joys of emotional engagement, all from the comfort of our sound studio at CBS Radio in Midtown Manhattan. Hosts: Brian Crecente and Stephen Totilo Guest: Greg Zeschuk Download the MP3 [Chat About It] Listen to it [Chat About It] Subscribe via RSS [Chat About It] Download to your iPod or iPhone [iTunes] Subscribe to podcast on iTunes [iTunes] Download to your Zune [Zune]

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BioWare’s Greg Zeschuk Has A Massive Effect On Kotaku Talk Radio [Kotaku Talk Radio]

BioWare’s Greg Zeschuk Takes Your Calls During This Week’s Podcast [Podcast]

Our podcast adventures continue this week, with our second week recording live from CBS Radio’s studios. This time, the co-founder of Dragon Age and Mass Effect 2 studio BioWare will take your calls live. Greg Zeschuk will be our in-studio guest for the hour. On Wednesday at 11am Kotaku Time (that’s 1pm ET, 10am PT), you will be able to call in and ask Zeschuk anything you want. And, knowing BioWare fans, you’ll have plenty of questions for the man. Zeschuk follows the Kotaku Talk Radio guest-appearance trail-blazing of Amy Hennig, Ken Levine, Tim Schafer, Todd Howard, Cliff Bleszinski, Jeremiah Slaczka, Jeff Gerstmann, Major Nelson and Randy Pitchford. Nice way to start the new year. Look for a reminder post about the podcast at 11:00 AM mountain time (1:00 PM ET) on Wednesday. The post will include call-in info so you can ask your questions. The show will be live a few minutes after the hour. I’ll expect to hear you calling our switchboard then. Regular listeners please note that our iTunes feed has changed. Subscribe to ” Kotaku Talk Radio ” in iTunes to continue to follow our show that way. We’ll also continue to provide direct downloads of the show a couple of hours after showtime each Wednesday.

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BioWare’s Greg Zeschuk Takes Your Calls During This Week’s Podcast [Podcast]

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