When EA became the parent company for BioWare, gamers across the universe were relentlessly nervous over the fear their beloved studio would take a hit in quality. Then just a few short days ago, Mass Effect 2 was released and was met with unbelievable reviews from critics and currently holds a 96/100 score on Metacritic. So the brief protest was quickly proven wrong; however the next question was, would EA’s wallet help the developer sell more titles? The answer is yes.
EA just sent out a press release announcing the sequel to the space RPG is “hailed as the 1st blockbuster of 2010,” and they just might be right. According to their numbers, Mass Effect 2 has already sold over 2 million units worldwide. A mighty feat indeed — considering the game came out last Tuesday in the States and today in Europe.
“Mass Effect 2 is poised to be one of the biggest games of 2010,” said Ray Muzyka BioWare’s co-founder. “We could not be more proud of the game’s universal acclaim and early commercial success.”
As a whole, this is great news for the videogame industry. It’s proving even in the economic recovery, games that aren’t already considered established franchises can still sell.
BioWare has created some of the most sought-after games of this generation. FromMass Effect to Dragon Age, the studio has redefined RPGs for the home console. The company has been so successful that they announced last year that they are opening up a whole new studio in Montreal, Quebec, which means more original games will come out from the studio.
While having a live chat with Eurogamer earlier today, the CEO of BioWare Ray Muzyka confirmed with viewers that BioWare is developing titles for the PlayStation 3. When asked if some games, not necessarily for the PS3, will be unveiled at this year’s E3, he responded with the simple answer of “yes!”
Sadly, he didn’t reveal if we should expect completely new titles or sequels to already successful franchises. Although, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see something about Mass Effect 3, even if it’s a tease. Muzyka has confirmed the third installment of the space RPG is already in the early development stages.
I love videogames, I love them to death. But honestly, I could never spend what I considered an insane amount of money on a object that is not real. But apparently there are people out there, that are willing to shell out huge sums of money to pixelated objects. Don’t believe me? Well, just take “Buzz Eric Lightyear” for example. The guy plays a free MMORPG game called Entropia Universe, where players are supposed to colonize a untamed planet named Calypso. While the game is free to download, the title uses its own currency called Project Entropia Dollars, or PED for short.
One way people get PEDs is by actually using their own money, and one $1 USD equals to $10 PED. While you might think the title sounds like a snore, and you believe there is no way the developer, MindArk, makes any kind of cash off the title — you would be wrong. So far, according to them, the turnover has been $3.6 Billion PEDs, or $360 Million USD — aka real money.
Because there is a lot of cash being made off the MMO, some players have to be spending a crap-load, which brings me back to this “Buzz Eric Lightyear” guy. According to reports, he recently just dropped $330,000 of real money to purchase his own virtual space station, that orbits Planet Calypso.
Now before you make fun of him, which I already have and I’m sure you will too, make sure you understand that his newly acquired space station will actually be a virtual business, and he’ll even make real money in the end. Apparently, anyone can hang out in this station and while they are there, they can hunt and shop. Since”Lightyear” owns the business, he has the ability to set the tax rates of everything, which in the end turns into REAL cash in his REAL pocket.
Everyone says you should make money off of something you enjoy, so I guess you could say he just took the phrase to the extreme.
Eiji Aonuma, the producer of the next Zelda game for the Wii, chatted with ONM and the topic was that very next installment of the legendary adventure series. He told the publication that he wants to take the franchise in a whole new direction. If you ever played the Zelda consistently, you would know every game is generally a must own; however, the formula has always stayed the same. Each game displayed was at a different point/time of the Hyrule Kingdom, though the way linked learned about his journey was for the most part, the same.
According to Aonuma, this next version of Zelda will have a complete overhaul and change how we play the game. “It is something we used to talk about with Mr Miyamoto, and he and I agree that if we are following the same structure again and again, we might not be able to give long time Zelda fans a fresh surprise,” said Aonuma. “So we have been trying something new in terms of the structure of the Wii version of the new Zelda game this time. I am really hopeful that people will be surprised with the changes we have implemented for this Wii version.”
While he didn’t go into detail about what changes we should expect, he did say more information should be forthcoming and E3 could be the time we see the next big reveal. “I hope that we can show you something at the E3 show next year and it is something we are hopeful will be surprising,” he teased.
I absolutely love the Zelda formula. Not only has it lasted for 20+ years, it has inspired countless other franchise — which is a basic hero’s journey. On one hand I’m really excited to see how Nintendo plans on changing it up, but the last time I think they might have done something similar was with Majora’s Mask for the Nintendo 64. While still a great game, it might have been the worst Zelda title on a console.
It has been heavily rumored that the third installment of the role-playing game Fable, would have ‘Project Natal‘ support. According to the co-founder of Gamesbrief Nicholas Lovell, Peter Molyneux has confirmed it’ll take advantage of the body-motion accessory. “Fable 3 will have Natal support,” Lovell tweeted.
Exactly how this will work is still unknown, but it shouldn’t come to a surprise to anyone. We already know Molyneux is a big fan of the new technology. If you remember correctly, during Microsoft’s E3 press briefing, Molyneux was a presenter for Natal. At the same time, Molyneux introduced his new ambitious game tentatively called Milo, which took full advantage of Natal.
I have a hard time believing that Fable III will require Project Natal and I still think it’ll use a controller. I think if you want to either ‘enhance’ Fable, than you would be require to own Project Natal. But I don’t think it will be a ‘major’ factor to enjoy the anticipated RPG.
It should be noted that Fable III is expected to come out sometime at the end of 2010; meaning Natal should also make a 2010 launch.
Microsoft held their own press conference during Gamescom to counter Sony’s big announcements. Peter Molyneux, boss over at Lionhead Studios, took the stage and revealed something great. According to him, the UK based company is already underway developing Fable IIIfor the Xbox 360. Molyneux promises the third installment will be about choice, and the consequences that surround each one made
He went on to tease the audience that there is something wrong with RPGs today and its been an issue ever since the very first title was released in the popular genre. From the sounds of it, he wants to forever change that problem, however, he did not specify exactly what he meant.
After the jump, check out more details about Fable III. (more…)
A French fan site for BioWare’s Star Wars: The Old Republic, has given a a broad release date for the much anticipated massively-multiplayer online game. According to what they call ‘a reliable source,’ the website is dating BioWare’s next epic adventure for sometime in September of 2010. Basically if this ends up being correct, we’ll be playing The Old Republic in about a years time.
Obviously both LucasArts and BioWare have yet to confirm anything and they haven’t commented on the rumor. September of 2010 does seem like a legitimate number, but that’s kind of the problem. Could this source pick a believable date or is the company really planning to release that month?
Hopefully more concrete evidence will be revealed as GamesCon gets closer.
Rumors had been running around the internet that game designer Warren Spector (Deus Ex) was working on a super secret project with Disney. The rumors started to emerge because Spector’s studio was acquired by Disney in 2007. Then last December, gamasutra suggested that Spector’s studio was indeed developing a “epic Mickey title.”
According to the website, they had received concept art to confirm their reporting, which showed “mockups of the potential game’s environment, including pencil sketches of cities assembled from junk,” as well as other images. In 2008, EGM ran a rumor which speculated the same idea. “Spector’s new Disney project will be a platformer looking to compete with a certain pesky plumber,” wrote Quartermann from the defunct magazine. “And who’s big enough to take on Nintendo’s star? Only the mouse himself,” he added. Meaning whatever game this is going to be, it’ll probably be on the Wii.
Today, internet guru ‘Supererogatory,’ has apparently found these same images that gamasutra saw last year. He also decided to release them, and it looks like the “cat is out of the bag,” to say the least. Up top is a picture of the world famous Epcot, which looks like it’s attached to something (dead whale from Pinocchio?), while being surround by rough seas.
More sketches are available after the jump, and are drawn by Fred Gambino and Gary Glover, and boy do they look incredible. These pictures are posted on their own personal website and they are titled “Epic Mickey.” Coincidence? I think not. After the jump, you’ll see disturbing images of things like a robot Goofy, who has been torn apart. As well as other famous Disney landmarks in places you would have never expected them to be.
Yeah — this is definitely going to be epic. (more…)
So Pokémon used to annoyed the sh*t out of me. When I was younger and working at Gamestop, anything Pokémon was an instant seller. Boy & girls loved the cartoons, games, cards and everything else that had to do with the franchise. If you didn’t love them, you hated them with a passion.
As much as I was irritated by the very presence of Pokémon, I can now appreciate what Nintendo was trying to do. I don’t believe for a moment it was for money, either.
The franchise started in the mid 90s and some of the girls who enjoyed Pokémon were mostly underage, but now they have grownup. Some of these girls are officially over the age of 18 and a select few are even good looking. And some… even like to cosplay — just like the girl up top.
Itching to play Mass Effect 2 when it’s released next year? Yeah, I am too but Bioware might have something cool to fill the void. It looks like we will be seeing some new downloadable content for the first Mass Effect and it will be confirmed this week. The news comes straight from the company’s Twitter account.
“Getting the feeling some news about the next ME1 DLC may be coming this week. Keep your eyes peeled. – Evil Chris”
So unless their Twitter page was hacked somehow, this sounds like a nice tease from the talented developers. For a brief moment, a posting of some content was available at the Xbox Live Games on Demand page, which might have indicated what we will see when DLC hits. According to the site, we will be able to, “download new systems and worlds to visit” as well as “meet new characters and encounter never before seen alien species,” and on top of that have “new weapons, armour and items as you experience a whole new adventure“.
Check back because we should have some sort of official announcement soon.
Anyone could argue that BioShock and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion could be two of the best games to come out for the Xbox 360. So what better way to celebrate their greatness than to combine both games to a bundle, and that is exactly what 2K Games and Bethesda are doing.
Both publishers have agreed to package both games and sell it for $39.99 and release the bundle on July 7. There will also be a PC version and it will be ten dollars less at $29.99.
Separately, BioShock retails for $19.99, while Oblivion is currently is $29.99. If you haven’t checked out either game, you should highly consider buying this combination. As of now, BioShock is receiving 96/100 on metacritic and the Elder Scrolls: Oblivion is sitting at a 94/100.
One of the highlights of the Nintendo E3 Press Conference was Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days for the Nintendo DS. “The game centers on the daily life of the main character Roxas, exploring the time from his creation during the first game, Kingdom Hearts, and leading directly into Kingdom Hearts II. It features 3D graphics, and single and multiplayer modes of play.” The visuals looked to be catching up to PS2 and the whole storyline and action kept our attentions hardcore.
Hey lookie here, it’s a trailer for Mass Effect 2. Is Shepherd dead? I have no clue, but he looks like he could be alive. Oh god, I don’t know, stop asking questions and just watch the first full length trailer to BioWare’s sequel for the critically acclaimed sci-fi role-playing game.
When we get to E3, maybe we’ll actually find out more about the game.
Proof:World of Warcraft would be 100 percent more adorable if it included Sackboy. Or would this be called a level 80 Blood SACKelf Warlock? You know what? I honestly don’t care…
Anyway, it’s damn cute, right?
The credit goes to maggiewang and her co-worker. Now, if only I could make something as cool as this, then my life would be complete.
Japanese research site Macquarie, is making some strong statements about what they believe Nintendo is about to unveil at E3. According to what the website “understands,” Nintendo is set to showoff the sequel to Wii Fit called, Wii Fit Plus. They expect the title to be sold separately to financially benefit from the already 17 million boards in households. Macquarie also believes that a bundle will be available at the same time.
Additionally to Wii Fit Plus, Macquarie thinks Nintendo has learned their lesson from horrible E3 showing last year. They are reporting that Nintendo plans on focusing more on the hardcore gamer, as opposed to the causal. If everything goes according to their plan, the makers of the Wii are expected to reveal a brand new Legend of Zelda for the Wii, along with a new Mario game.
I do agree that Nintendo will show of either Mario or Zelda at E3. However, I have a hard time being convinced that they will showboat both titles at one show, never mind release them in the same year. The reason why I say this, is because Nintendo traditionally ships only one of those two titles in a span of a year. Hands down, Mario & Zelda are the company’s biggest franchises, and it is a smarter business decision to releases those games between years, rather in the same one.
Of course we’ll officially know who is right next week.
