Category Archives: Mass Effect

BLOG: Does This Unit Have a Soul?

Does This Unit Have a Soul?

By: Assistant product manager Nick Clifford

Mass Effect is so many things to so many people. It’s different for everyone, and that’s the beauty of it. Each player gets a unique experience and walks away with their own feelings after playing it. For me, it’s a collection of moments crystalized in time that I will never forget. Yes, it’s the story of one man or woman (Commander Moxxie Shepard in my case) that rallies the galaxy to break a timeless cycle of death and destruction, but there’s more to it than that. It’s what you do along the way and who you meet that defines your adventure.

You might be wondering who I am, exactly. I’m Nick in marketing. WAIT, before you jump to the “scheming super villain” conclusion, let me say that we’re not all bad. When EA first partnered with BioWare, I had the wonderful fortune of joining the team almost immediately. As a huge fan of BioWare’s work and, in particular, the original Mass Effect, how could I turn down the opportunity?

That was all back in 2009 when we first showed Mass Effect 2 at E3. I’ve been slaying dragons and Reapers ever since. If you’ve been to any of our live events, San Diego Comic Con, or PAX, you might have seen me. Crazy dude dressed up as Shepard? Yup, that’s me. I help with live events, work with the dev team, develop artwork for the website and packaging, and have fun with the community. You remember the Mass Effect 3 Space Edition? Yeah, I was there in San Francisco, not sleeping for 26 hours, tracking those damn balloons down. But you guys were right there with me, including those of you following us online.

 

I’ve been a Mass Effect fan since dropping an ME1 disc into a tray back in 2007. Having played Jade Empire and KotOR, I thought I knew what to expect. Nope, I was wrong. I wasn’t even close to prepared for how big the game felt: the entire galaxy to explore, being the one person who could uncover the truth about the rogue Spectre and the plot to destroy everything in existence, and the poignant moments, epiphanies, and choices you couldn’t go back on. Since then, nothing has been the same.

These encapsulated, beautiful moments are what Mass Effect will always be to me. You remember in ME1 (spoiler?) when you first talk to Sovereign on Virmire and you find out that Saren’s ship is actually a Reaper?! It’s alive?! Or, better yet, how about when you are on Ilos and you meet Vigil? That’s my favorite moment in the game. Your perception of what Mass Effect is up to that point is totally shattered. Sovereign isn’t just one big robot, but the vanguard of an entire army of ancient malevolent machines! Oh, and by the way, humans aren’t the first. Vigil saw them wipe out the entire Prothean Empire. Yeah, Shepard, you had your work cut out for you.

Then Mass Effect 2! Shepard survives everything in Mass Effect 1 just to be ripped away from us. Watching the Normandy burn and Shepard getting spaced, running low on air… it still haunts me. And then the Collector-Prothean connection and how it’s the future of the human race if we lose? Mind=blown.

Mass Effect 2 was great because we met so many amazing characters and learned more about the ones we held close in ME1: Archangel, the STG scientist, the spiritual assassin, and Legion, my favorite.  Legion has an ideology all his own and, for me, he’s the best-developed character in the story, which is a quirky paradox seeing that, as a machine, he’s meant to have no character. But he does somehow, right? Why did he choose to attach Shepard’s armor to his frame? “Because there was a hole.”

Sadly, the trilogy has come to an end. Mass Effect 3 took everything I loved about the first two games and turned it up to 11. Everything has lead up to this; we have all invested so much. Would my love interest survive? Would Earth? Would the galaxy? Could I make every moment count? Mordin making the ultimate sacrifice, watching Tali get sauced, shooting cans with Garrus… you don’t realize how much these characters mean to you until the moment is gone. You think you’re prepared for it—that it won’t hit you so hard—but it does.

Oh, Tali, it’s okay. One day you’ll learn. Actually, don’t learn. I love you just the way you are. Tequila se ‘lai.

And that’s how I remember Mass Effect, its amazingly well-crafted story and characters. The time I spent in the universe and the moments crystalized forever. Nothing will ever be the same as my time spent aboard the SSV Normandy.

Mass Effect: Paragon Lost Available Now in the UK

Mass Effect: Paragon Lost is out now!  This anime movie follows the early career of Alliance Marine, James Vega (Freddie Prinze Jr.) as he leads an elite Special Forces squad into battle against the Collectors.

As a special release bonus, the first 200 fans in the UK to send us a picture holding their copy of Paragon Lost will receive a code for a Reinforcement pack for use in Mass Effect 3 multiplayer!

Remember, in order to qualify, YOU must be 15+ years old, in the picture, and Paragon Lost must be visible. Okay? Then please send your photo and a scanned copy of your ID to paragonlostuk@ea.com  and you could be one of the lucky recipients of a Reinforcement pack!

Please read below for the full terms and conditions. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You are providing your information to Electronic Arts Ltd and not to Facebook. The information you provide will only be used for the purposes of organising, running and monitoring the promotions, as well as for carrying out publicity activities on it.

 

Mass Effect: Paragon Lost – Codes Giveaway Terms and Conditions

 

1. General

 

The opening time and date of the prize draw is Monday 4 March 2013 at 00:01 GMT. The closing date and time for receipt of entries is the earlier of (i) Monday 18 March 2013 at 23:59 GMT or (ii) Once 200 codes have been distributed. Entries submitted after this time will not be considered.

 

2. Restrictions

 

This prize draw is open to UK (excluding Northern Ireland) residents aged 15 and over only. Employees (and members of their immediate family) of “Electronic Arts” (“EA”) (“Promoter”), their agents and anyone connected to this competition are not eligible to enter. Subject to all applicable laws and regulations.

3. Rules to participate

 

To enter entrants must have purchased the film Mass Effect: Paragon Lost (“Film”). To utilise the prize entrants require the game Mass Effect™ 3.

 

Entrants must send a picture of themselves holding their copy of the Film to paragonlostuk@ea.com to receive a code for a Reinforcement Pack for use in Mass Effect 3 multiplayer. The Film and the entrant must be visible in the picture in order to be eligible. The first two hundred (200) entrants to send their picture will win a prize.

 

Each entrant may enter the prize draw one (1) time during the Contest Period.  Submissions received from any person or email address in excess of the stated limit will be void.  Submissions generated by script, macro or other automated means are void.

 

The prize draw will be conducted by the Mass Effect Community Team. The judges’ decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.

 

4. Prize(s)

 

There will be two hundred (200) winners. Prize winners will receive a Reinforcement Pack code for use in Mass Effect 3 multiplayer.

 

Codes will be sent to winners by email. Codes are redeemed on the BioWare Social Network (BSN) at http://social.bioware.com/redeem. Winners must log in to the BSN with the same EA/Origin account that they use to play Mass Effect 3.

 

Redemption requires an Internet connection and an Origin account. Codes must be redeemed by Tuesday 31 December 2013.

 

There are no alternatives to these prizes. They are as stated and are non-transferable. If due to circumstances beyond the control of EA, EA is unable to provide the stated prizes, EA reserves the right to award substitute prizes of equal value. All prizes are subject to the terms and conditions of the supplier.  Any taxes due on the prize will be paid by the winner.

 

5. Results

 

The winners will be contacted via email by Tuesday 19 March 2013.

 

If the winners of the prize cannot be traced after reasonable efforts have been made by EA, EA will be entitled to select alternative winner from among the entrants.

A full list of who won will be available for four (4) weeks following the day of the selection of winners. This list can be obtained by writing to Mass Effect Paragon Lost – Codes Giveaway, Electronic Arts, Onslow House, Onslow Street, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4TN

 

If proof of age is requested, and if satisfactory proof of age is not received, EA reserves the rights to choose another winner.

 

6. General Conditions

 

Any entry, which does not comply with the rules, may be deemed invalid at the sole discretion of EA. EA is not responsible for technical, hardware or software malfunctions, misdirected entries, lost or unavailable network connections, failed, incorrect, garbled, delayed electronic or other communications or other technical problems related to mobile entries. Proof of sending will not be deemed to be proof of delivery.

 

Any participant who enters or attempts to enter the prize draw in a manner, which in Promoter’s determination is contrary to these rules or by its nature is fraudulent or unjust to other entrants including without limitation tampering with the operation of the competition, cheating, hacking, deception or any other unfair playing practices such as intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other entrants or Promoter and/or any of its agents or representatives, or who submits an illegible or incomplete entry may be rejected from the competition at Promoter’s sole discretion.

 

Entrants agree that their names and/or pictures may be used to announce the winners via Facebook, on EA websites and be included on the winners list as mentioned in section 5 above. Entrants may be required to take part in publicity without further consent or payment. Such publicity may include their names and/or likeness.

 

7. Data protection

 

In order to participate in the prize draw participants must provide certain information on themselves. This personal information is collected and processed only for the purposes of organising, running and monitoring the campaign, as well as for carrying out publicity activities on it. The organising entity shall be considered the data controller for the database containing this personal information and provides for an appropriate data protection level.

 

Personal information includes name and email address.

 

Entrants have the right to access, withdraw, and correct their personal data. Entrants may request such action by sending a message with the request, subject line Mass Effect Paragon Lost – Codes Giveaway to paragonlostuk@ea.com.

 

By entering this prize draw, participants agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions and by any other requirements set out in the promotional material.  Promoter reserves the right to modify, cancel, terminate or suspend the competition in whole or in part, at its sole discretion, if it believes the competition is not capable of being conducted as specified in these rules or in the event of a virus, a computer bug or unauthorised human intervention or any other cause that is beyond reasonable control of Promoter that could corrupt or affect the administration, security, impartiality or normal course of the competition.

 

The Promoter of this prize draw is EA Swiss Sàrl, Place du Molard 8, Geneva 1204, Switzerland.

 

This prize draw is governed by and is in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.

 

This promotion is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook. Any questions, comments or complaints will be directed to Electronic Arts.  Facebook is not associated with this promotion and by entering, you fully and completely release Facebook from any liability arising out of this promotion.

© 2013 Electronic Arts Inc. All Rights Reserved.  All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Happy International Women’s Day

There has been much discussion about the challenges faced by women in our industry and why these challenges are worth facing and overcoming. In my years in the industry I have seen tangible, concrete changes occurring in this respect, from “things best not spoken of” turning into open topics of discussion, to advocacy becoming a concern for many developers regardless of gender identification. We’ve gone from ignorance about many issues to openly discussing them, confronting them, fighting to make our industry–our house– a better place.

While I am thankful for the women in my life every single day, today is International Women’s Day. Across the world, people are joining together to celebrate women and those who identify as women for their accomplishments. And so, I say this…

Thank you to the women who came before me in this industry, for showing me it could be done, for showing me the path to follow and the goals to aspire to. Thank you to the women with whom I work with today, side by side, who enrich my experience every day, who support me and inspire me to try harder and reach for more. And thank you to all the women who work in the industry, who contribute to changes every day, be they small or large, seen or unseen. Thank you to everyone in our industry who cares about these issues, who discuss them, who speak out. Everything you do is felt, even if you don’t see immediate results.

As Gandalf once said: “I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay.”

To the girls and women wanting to join the industry, wondering how to break in, worrying about issues related to gender and to –isms in general – I promise you, there are many of us reaching out to you, with open hands.

We look forward to meeting you.

Ann Lemay
@annlemay
Writer | Mass Effect

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#1reasonmentors resource list: Curated by @pixelsprite

#1reasonwhy – a twitter hashtag started by Rhianna Pratchett, with women in the industry stating why they work in games

Happy One-Year Anniversary, Mass Effect 3!

Months have passed and seasons have changed since we released Mass Effect 3—many of which here in Edmonton containing snow—and yet it’s still hard to believe that an entire year has gone by! From beginning to end it has been an amazing experience, and we were so happy to be able to keep Mass Effect 3 alive with additional single-player and multiplayer DLC.

We dove further into Commander Shepard’s adventure with the From Ashes, Leviathan, Omega and Citadel single-player DLCs and introduced new allies and enemies along the way. Players got to meet Javik, the last surviving Prothean, learn more about the origin of the Reapers, and revisit the Omega space with Aria. We also saw an opportunity to expand upon the events at the end of Commander Shepard’s journey with the Extended Cut DLC.

We are extremely proud of the work done by our multiplayer team, who has supported players with five add-on packs and weekly challenges over the last twelve months. Over 40 new kits, 10+ new maps, and dozens of new weapons and upgrades.  And let’s not forget the Collectors, and entirely new enemy faction and the return of the dreaded Praetorian.

To help us in celebrating this milestone, our multiplayer team has provided two new updates that we’d like to share with you.

First, is the “Stood Fast, Stood Strong, Stood Together” banner, which can be earned by participating in Operation: LODESTAR and completing the second-tier challenges.  This banner features the entire cast of Mass Effect’s multiplayer mode.

 

 

 

 

 

Second, is an all-new infographic with updates on the multiplayer war front.

So, on behalf of the team here at BioWare, thank you for making this one incredible year, and thank you for your continued love and support!

Operation: LODESTAR

Operation: LODESTAR (Mar 5th-10th)

We are coordinating the largest-scale attack in the brief history of this war. N7 unit actions will pave the way for resistance and conventional forces trying to retake the population centers of our homeworlds. There is no retreat. When an objective is finished or a target destroyed, you will immediately focus on the next. Our assets will provide cover to network ships that will update your targets in real-time. Rally points are at your disposal in the event that all space assets meet with catastrophic casualties. From there, you will fight as your CO sees fit or until further orders arrive.

I cannot fully express my deep respect for all of you, the sapients of the Milky Way who serve together under our banner. When future generations look back on this war, they will see the courage and commitment it takes to change the fate of a galaxy. It has been a hard road, but at last: the end is in sight.

Finish it.

–Admiral Steven Hackett

Individual Goal: This challenge is tiered:

  • Participation earns the 1st-tier reward.
  • Extracting against all four enemy factions on Silver difficulty or higher earns the 2nd-tier reward.
  • Extracting against all four every enemy factions on Platinum difficulty earns the 3rd-tier reward.

Rewards:

  • 1st tier – Commendation Pack.
  • 2nd tier – A second bonus Commendation Pack and a banner, (“Stood Fast, Stood Strong, Stood Together”)
  • 3rd tier – A third bonus Commendation Pack.