GameSpasm

Commander Shepard can pick up the keys to the Hammerhead hover tank on March 23, the official release date of the Firewalker pack. The new wheels, er, propulsion things are the latest piece of free Mass Effect 2 DLC. Available through the game's Cerberus Network, the pack includes five missions that utilize the new vehicle -- which will hopefully handle a little better than the first game's infamous space car.

(Of course, a drunk krogan successfully engineering a geth self-destruct algorithm was more likely to yield success than the Mako's control system ... )

Mass Effect 2 'Firewalker' DLC coming March 23 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Tags: Bioware, cerberus-network, Ea, Electronic Arts, firewalked, hammerhead, mass effect 2

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While Mass Effect 2's in-game DLC pipeline, The Cerberus Network, continues to transport new weapons (and soon, a new vehicle) to players for free, BioWare has announced the game's first pack of paid downloadable content. "Kasumi's Stolen Memory" finally completes Commander Shepard's dirty dozen, adding a confident female thief to your anti-Reaper repertoire. It's currently scheduled to launch for Xbox 360 and PC on April 6th.

After downloading the DLC, players can get in touch with Kasumi on the Citadel, either in the middle of an ongoing Mass Effect 2 game or after the completion of the main story (lesson learned from Mass Effect 1 DLC!). Once recruited, Shepard aids Kasumi on a secretive mission of recovery, which requires a suave disguise and a run-in with an influential and predictably corrupt art collector. The content, which also provides the "Locust" SMG, a flash-bang grenade loyalty power and a new Achievement, should take about an hour and a half to complete.

BioWare is currently in the midst of "internal discussion" to determine the price of the DLC, but we'll keep you updated as soon as it's finalized. Look for some impressions of "Kasumi's Stolen Memory" on Joystiq later today. Spoiler: It looks great.

Mass Effect 2 DLC 'Kasumi's Stolen Memory' lands on Apr. 6 (don't forget!) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments Tags: Bioware, cerberus-network, DLC, gdc-2010, kasumis-stolen-memory, mass effect 2, rpg

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Commander's Log:

Well, whaddya know? I get up this morning and ride down to Deck 2, and the first thing outta Kelly's mouth is that I have a new message at my Private Terminal. About time -- things have been hella boring around here since beating up the Collectors! Anyway, it's from Illusive Man -- who else -- with a tantalizing subject line: "Arc Projector."

So, get this: Ol' Smoking Man says Cerberus has passed off a new "advanced electrical attack device" to me. It was recently tested on some geth during a "highly successful" skirmish in the Skyllian Verge. (I won't tell Legion that part, but "they" probably already know.)

Well, I'd sure like to test it myself, but the galaxy's awfully quiet these days -- still waiting on that Hammerhead delivery. I guess I'd better just start up that New Game+ ...


P.S. I've been feeling really homesick for Cali lately. That's where I grew up before enlisting in N7, fool.

---

The Arc Projector heavy weapon add-on is available for free to Mass Effect 2 owners with a Cerberus Network account.

In-game item description: "The arc projector ionizes targets with a nonvisible laser to ready them for a high-voltage electrical attack. As the lightning-like bolt hits its first target, a sophisticated autotargeting system paints succeeding targets with the ionization laser, allowing the electricity to take the path of least resistance and arc between them. An entire enemy strike team can be shocked to death with a few pulls of the trigger."

[Thanks to Paul & Kris120890!]

Mass Effect 2 gets free Arc Projector heavy weapon, courtesy of Cerberus DLC Network originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments Tags: arc-projector, Bioware, cerberus-network, DLC, Ea, mass effect 2, Project ten dollar

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BioWare has detailed another dose of Mass Effect 2 DLC, dubbed the "Firewalker" pack. The upcoming release includes five missions featuring the Hammerhead vehicle, according to an update on the Cerberus Network page, part of the official Mass Effect site. BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk described the Hammerhead as a "hover tank," during a recent interview with Joystiq, adding, "It's not a wheeled vehicle, so it's going to have a bit of a different control scheme" than did the much-maligned Mako vehicle featured constantly in Mass Effect 1.

On the website, the Hammerhead is promoted as "a heavy assault vehicle that hovers over the battlefield at up to 120 kilometers per hour [75 mph] and features a guided missile system ensuring accuracy even during aggressive maneuvering." In other words, it's everything the Mako wasn't -- and it's optional.

The Firewalker DLC pack is scheduled for a "late March" release and will be accessible free of charge through the Cerberus Network in-game delivery system. Of course, nothing's really "free" when it's got Cerberus' shady name attached to it, is it, Mr. Illusive Man?

[Thanks Runyon C!]

Mass Effect 2 'Firewalker' DLC coming late March, includes Hammerhead vehicle and 5 missions originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Tags: cerberus-network, DLC, firewalker, hammerhead, mass effect 2

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We've been big supporters of BioWare and EA's approach to churning out lots of DLC for its new releases, but it seems to have hit a serious snag this morning. Due apparently to some scheduled downtime for BioWare's social site, players have been unable to download DLC from Mass Effect 2's Cerberus Network (unfortunate, but understandable) and some have been completely unable to play Dragon Age: Origins -- kind of a big issue for a single-player game.

Near as we can figure with our limited staff testing, the Dragon Age issue might involve whether or not you chose to submit your feedback and character profile data to Bioware.com. We'll keep up with the situation and let you know when it's resolved. The server maintenance was scheduled to end at 9 a.m. EST, so here's hoping it'll pass soon.

[Update: Judging by those same forum threads, things seem to be up and running now.]

[Thanks, requiemvalorum]

BioWare server maintenance makes Dragon Age unplayable for some [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Tags: Bioware, cerberus-network, DLC, dragon-age-origins, mass effect 2, psn, rpg, Xbox Live

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During this week's quarterly earning's report, EA COO John Schappert answered an investor question with a somewhat vague but potentially far-reaching comment regarding the publisher's future strategy for implementing online functionality into its games. "In fiscal 2011 [from April 31, 2010 to March 31, 2011], every one of EA's releases will have an online component, both downloadable content and online play," Schappert said, according to a VG247 report. CFO Eric Brown then cited Mass Effect 2's Cerberus Network as the company's "most recent example" of how this plan might manifest.

The obvious question: Does the plan apply to all platforms, including Wii, DS, PSP, and mobile? Schappert clarified to Joystiq today: "My statement wasn't in reference to any specific platform as most of our titles are multiplatform and have different features per platform. Though you can expect our PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 titles to have very robust online features. Of course, depending on the title, this may extend to other platforms as well."

While this clarification is not exactly the firestarter statement one might interpret from Schappert's original comment, the plan still raises concerns -- based on recent experiences -- that EA games' online components could continue to induce headaches so long as they are tied to EA.com accounts and the issues that have arisen as EA has increased its DLC efforts. If the plan is to include online components in all EA games in the future, then the wrinkles need to be ironed out of Project Ten Dollar now.

Schappert clarifies EA's sweeping DLC and online strategy originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A post on the Bioware forums has revealed that two new bits of DLC will be coming to Mass Effect 2's Cerberus Network tomorrow, February 9. Players will be able to download both a new set of armor and a new shotgun for free via the game's DLC pipe. The Cerberus Armor ups heavy weapon ammo capacity, shields, and health by 10 percent each, and the M-22a Eviscerator Shotgun is "a longer-range shotgun with armor-piercing loads" that "also violates several intergalactic weapons treaties."

But those "treaties" were never ratified by the Citadel Council anyway, so who cares? The new DLC should be released by 2pm ET, so you can start ganking with the new space shotty then.

[Thanks, Michael]

New Mass Effect 2 DLC armor, shotgun available tomorrow originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Registered Cerberus Network members will be receiving a special treat tomorrow, when the Cerberus Assault Armor and M-22a Eviscerator Shotgun become available for free download.

According to a post in the BioWare community forums, the two new pieces of equipment will be available to download free for Xbox 360 and PC players tomorrow at noon Mountain time. All that's required is an active membership in the Cerberus Network, which you should have, unless you somehow picked up a copy used, in which case you are made of magic.

Here are the stats for the new equipment:

Cerberus Assault Armor
Cerberus assault armor is designed for shock troops, turn the tide of battle against creatures or forces that would decimate normal soldiers.
Increases heavy weapon ammo capacity by +10%
Increases shields by +10%
Increases health by +10%

M-22a Eviscerator Shotgun
The M-22a Eviscerator Shotgun is a longer-range shotgun with armor-piercing loads. This design also violates several intergalactic weapons treaties, so the M-22a is not distributed to militaries.

Being a firm believer in the power of longer range shotguns, I approve wholeheartedly.

You can see more shots of the Cerberus Assault Armor in action at the Mass Effect 2 arsenal page. I wonder if the helment comes off?

Cerberus Armor and Eviscerator Shotgun DLC Available Tomorrow Feb 9 [BioWare Community Forums - Thanks Luke!]

Tags: cerberus-network, Free DLC, mass effect 2, PC, Xbox 360

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It would appear that BioWare has gotten things with our buddy Zaeed all sorted, as his Xbox 360 DLC pack is now available through Mass Effect 2's Cerberus Network. Coming in an update this morning, the disgruntled, padded mercenary is now available for the low, low price of zero dollars.

As BioWare doc Greg Zeschuk explained to us recently, additional content arriving for Mass Effect 2 through the Cerberus Network will be free of charge, with "paid DLC packs" available separately.

PSA: Mass Effect 2's Zaeed DLC now available originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The BioWare forums are being flooded with fan outcry over non-working downloadable content codes, Cerberus Network congestion, and helmet issues. If you've got problems, we have a few solutions, courtesy of BioWare's Chris Priestly.

The gaming masses attempting to take their first steps in Mass Effect 2 for the Xbox 360 and PC today have run into several issues with the game, mainly surrounding the downloadable content offered via the Cerberus Network, BioWare's in-game DLC delivery system. The Cerberus Network is a nifty way for Mass Effect players to access downloadable content without taking themselves out of the game, but right now it looks like more trouble than it's worth.

Players are reporting non-working GameStop Cerberus access codes, problems activating the network once they've entered their codes, and, in the case of the PC version, issues connecting to the network at all.

Chris Priestly has addressed many of these issues in a helpful message, recently posted on the BioWare forums. We've posted Priestly's helpful suggestions for those having issues below, as the forums are likely to explode if this keeps up.

One issue brought to our attention is not addressed in the forum topic, mainly because there isn't much that can be done about it. Some fans are outraged over the fact that the special armors in the game do not feature removable helmets. The situation is getting particularly heated in this forum thread, sent to us by Kotakuite Dorikin, in which players call for the termination of whoever made the decision to not include a helmet toggle feature.

Having watched my Shepard down several alien drinks directly into her Blood Dragon helmet, I suppose I can see their point.

While this is an important issue to some, I'd say we should let BioWare concentrate on getting the DLC working first. After that's out of the way, maybe we can do something about helmet removal, after which we can rally against the company for not including helmet hair.

Thanks to everyone who sent in tips about this issue. Hope this helps!

How can you tell if you are Cerberus Enabled:
When you start Mass Effect 2, there are two computers on the main menu. The computer on the right hand side of the screen should be open. If it is not then check to see that you've entered your Cerberus Code in the account creation screens located in game.

PC Collector's Edition Issues :
We're aware that some PC Collectors' Edition Cerberus Codes are not working. If you have the number 1688108 on the bottom right of your Cerberus Network card and have not associated it to your EA Online account at 4:00 PM PST your codes will be fully functional. If you already have associated it to your EA Online account at 6:00 PM PST you can restart the game and your Cerberus Account will be available automatically!

Zaeed :
Some of you may be looking for Zaeed as a way to check your Cerberus Account. Zaeed is being propagated to Xbox Live as we speak and will be available mid day tomorrow (MST).

Timeouts:
Some users are reporting timeouts or connection drops to Cerberus Network. We are actively pursuing a fix to this and will update everyone once it is fixed on the server-side.

General Cerberus Issues:
If you've entered your Cerberus Activation Code through the web interface and have played other EA Games with EA Online accounts but are not seeing the Cerberus Mission Computer open on the main menu. You'll need to contact EA's Customer service line to ensure that the Gamer Tag in Xbox Live is associated with your EA Online account you've used to activate Cerberus.

Code Redemption Clarification and Important information about your Social.bioware.com and Xbox Live account

****Make sure that your account that you are using on social.bioware.com is linked to your gamertag****

How to Redeem and activate Cerberus

Xbox In-Game Redemption:

o Start the game
o Cerberus Connection will automatically prompt
o Sign in with your existing account or create a new account
o When prompted enter Cerberus code
o The Cerberus laptop will open on screen and display the available downloads

Xbox Online Redemption

o Go to the Code Redemption page here: http://social.bioware.com/redeem/
o Sign in with your existing account or create a new account (make sure to sign in using the exact same account on your xbox)
o Enter the Cerberus code
o Upon successful redemption restart your console and load the game

PC Online Redemption

o Go to the Code Redemption page here: http://social.bioware.com/redeem/
o Sign in with your existing account or create a new account (make sure to sign in using the exact same account that you used on social.bioware.com)
o Enter the Cerberus code
o Upon successful redemption load the game and login

How to Redeem and activate Gamestop Terminus Armor code

Xbox Online Redemption

o Go to the Code Redemption page here: http://social.bioware.com/redeem/
o Sign in with your existing account or create a new account (make sure to sign in using the exact same account on your xbox)
o Enter the Terminus code
o Upon successful redemption restart your console and load the game

PC Online Redemption

o Go to the Code Redemption page here: http://social.bioware.com/redeem/
o Sign in with your existing account or create a new account (make sure to sign in using the exact same account that you used on social.bioware.com)
o Enter the Cerberus code
o Upon successful redemption load the game and login
o Upon successful redemption right-click on the download link and save to your computer
o Install file
o Restart game

How to enable Mass Effect Galaxy dialog

Xbox
- You must play and finish the Mass Effect Galaxy iPhone game and log into your EA account to upload the unlock
- When playing Mass Effect 2 you must have Miranda and Jacob in your party to witness dialog

PC

- You must play and finish the Mass Effect Galaxy iPhone game and log into your EA account to upload the unlock
- When playing Mass Effect 2 you must have Miranda and Jacob in your party to witness dialog

As mentioned previously, when we have more information for you on these or otther issues, we will let you know.

Tags: Bioware, Bugs, cerberus-network, Codes, DLC, Helmets, Launch Day Woes, mass effect 2, PC, Xbox 360

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