As soon as Electronic Arts acquired BioWare, many folks — including myself — believed Mass Effect and its sequel Mass Effect 2 will eventually end up on the PlayStation 3.

That didn’t happen. Or at least not yet.

Hidden away in the PC version of Mass Effect 2 were references to an unavailable PS3 version of BioWare’s critically acclaimed sci-fi epic.

[SFXGame.BioSFHandler_CharacterR?ecord2]m_nMaxRenegade=1900
m_nMaxParagon=1957
m_srXPFormat=340881
m_srSpendTalentPointsMessageXBox?=348754
m_srParagonRenegadeMessageXBox=3?48755
m_srSpendTalentPointsMessagePC=3?48753
m_srParagonRenegadeMessagePC=348?755
m_srSpendTalentPointsMessagePS3=?348755
m_srParagonRenegadeMessagePS3=15?3007

Some people pointed out that these references could be default Unreal Engine 3.0 code found in games such as the PC version of BioShock. However, those people would be wrong. The Unreal Engine doesn’t use “ParagonRenegade” messages.

I don’t think it’s a matter of “if“ anymore; it’s a matter of “when”. When will Mass Effect 2 come to the PlayStation 3? Will the original Mass Effect make it over as well? Many questions and, of course, EA is mum about it.

I wanted to repurchase Mass Effect for the Xbox 360, but I think I’ll hold off on that until we hear something about the PlayStation 3 versions. Why wait? Well, there could be a remote chance that the PlayStation 3 version will be re-worked and improved over the technically sketchy Xbox 360 build.

Who knows? By that time, I could probably pick up the Xbox 360 version for $10 again. Or maybe even have a new PC which can handle Mass Effect with 1080p resolution and at 60 frames per second.

I also wonder how much EA will charge for a three year old port of Mass Effect.

Announcements

• Google Apps drops beta moniker (via Cnet)
  • Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar and Google Talk out of beta phase
  • Gmail has been in beta for five years
• Eidos becomes Square Enix Europe (via Edge)
  • Eidos name will live on as a developer, but not as a developer
• Fight Night Round 4 patch to re-add button punches (via GiantBomb)
  • Button based punching will return as an option
  • Patch slated for an early September release
  • A content patch with new gym, accessories, and gameplay sliders will be released in August
  • Xbox 360 version of the August patch will sport an alternate version of Sugar Ray Leonard

Rumors

• PSP2 to feature quad core GPU? (via Digital Foundry)
  • PSP2 to feature quad core iteration of Imagination Technologies PowerVR “Hydra” (SGX543MP) GPU
  • It will be an enhanced version of the same GPU found in the iPhone 3GS
  • As a result, the approximated power of the device will rival the original Xbox
  • The “Hydra” is also a GP-GPU meaning it can function as a CPU and GPU
• Two “Mechwarrior” teasers surface
  • Being developed by Piranha Games
  • Evidence of it being a Mechwarrior game can be found here. (Davion emblem)

(more…)

The all knowing ArsTechnica mole (PSP go, RE5 360 bundle etc.) revealed some price cut plans for both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Here’s the breakdown:

PlayStation 3

• 80 GB model will encounter hardware constraints as Sony has given approximately 60 days worth of inventory
• 160 GB models will not be constrained yet
• PS3 Slim and price cut lined up for this fall

Xbox 360

• Pro (60 GB) will be replaced by Elite (120 GB) model after an early September price drop of some sort
• Pro models will begin disappearing in July/August; will be heavily promoted with bundles
• Holiday bundle coming in October

And that’s it. Sounds logical and this person hasn’t let us down yet. Expect price cuts, people!

E3 2009 officially starts on June 2nd and as per normal, there were leaks

This year’s E3 2009 may be decidedly less surprising thanks to numerous leaks. Many of the leaks centralized around Sony and Microsoft. I’m going to take some time brief you all on some of noteworthy ones.

Sony

PSP go Confirmed

After 1UP’s story, confirmation from Ars Technica’s mole, the June 2009 edition of Sony’s very own Qore “online magazine” confirmed the PSP go. It was not on purpose and the dude responsible for PlayStation Network Store releases will surely be reprimanded for this accidental release.

(more…)

Announcement

• Dead Space: Extraction Debuts September 29 for the Wii (via PR)
• Xbox 360 Hits 30 Million Sales Worldwide (via Edge-Online)
  • From February 2009, PlayStation 3 @ 21.3 Million worldwide
  • Wii @ over 50 million units sold
• 64 Player Buzz! Quiz Show Coming to PlayStation Home (via PlayStation.Blog)
  • This is how it will work:

Four colored answer buttons are laid out on the floor and you need to make sure you’re standing on the right answer when the time runs out. The winner’s decided over four rounds, and there are a number of exclusive Home prizes up for grabs for the greatest players.

(more…)

Announcements

• GTAIV: The Ballad of Gay Tony DLC Coming This Fall (via PR)
  • Will play as Luis Lopez, part-time hoodlum and full-time assistant to legendary nightclub manager Tony Prince aka “Gay Tony”
  • Retail disc of both “The Lost and Damned” and “The Ballad of Gay Tony” will be made available for $39.99 — will not require GTAIV to play
  • Cost 1600 MS Points
  • Exclusive to Xbox 360
• Windows Vista Service Pack 2 is now available
  • Notable changes can be found here.
• Raiden IV is Coming to North American Xbox 360s (via 1UP)
• BioShock 2 Coming November 2 (via Examiner)
• Zune HD is Official; Zune Marketplace Coming to Xbox Live! (via Engadget)

(more…)

Two pieces of good news today.

First, 3D Realms isn’t dead. The Duke Nukem developer lost funding and had to let go the development team behind Duke Nukem Forever which explains all the work being posted by employees. 3D Realms is now a much smaller studio and hopes to continue licensing and co-creating games based on Duke Nukem.  Hopefully, some brave studio will pick up the pieces and continue creating bad ass games with Duke!

Next piece of good news comes courtesy of Nintendo Power and Capcom. Tatsunoko vs Capcom is braving the licensing storm and making its way to the west. Capcom confirmed “Mystery Game #1” via their blog today. There are rumors that this Wii fighter will be boasting new features such as online play and of course Capcom is tight lipped about it.