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Mass Effect 2 launch date and pre-order incentives revealed

by Steven Williamson on 19 October 2009, 13:49

Tags: Mass Effect 2, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Action/Adventure

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Electronic Arts today announced that Mass Effect 2 will be on store shelves in the UK on January 29.

In support of the launch, BioWare is releasing unique Mass Effect 2 pre-order incentives at key retailers in North America and across Europe. Codes for downloading these items will be provided to players who have pre-ordered, usable when the game is released.

Pre-order bonuses include special-ops armor and weaponry that are designed to boost Commander Shepard’s skills and abilities. Terminus Gear includes the powerful Terminus Assault Armor and the M-490 Blackstorm Heavy Weapon. Terminus Armor is designed for use in extreme planetary conditions, increasing run speed and personal shields, and augmenting weapons with an additional magazine of reserve ammo. The M-490 Blackstorm Heavy Weapon generates a high-powered localized gravity well, accelerating particles to near-infinite mass, and ultimately expanding the selection of heavy weapons available to players when they gear up for combat missions in Mass Effect 2.

Inferno Armor will also be available as a separate pre-order incentive. This item is used by officers to monitor battlefield conditions by recognizing elevated heart rates, and regulates sub-systems with extreme efficiency to allow for greater response times – together these abilities translate in-game into a negotiation bonus for Commander Shepard and an increase in run speed and augmented damage from combat powers.

Specific UK retail partners for the two pre-order bonuses will be revealed soon.

The Mass Effect trilogy is a science fiction adventure set in a vast universe filled with dangerous alien life and mysterious, uncharted planets. In Mass Effect 2, players step into the role of the heroic Commander Shepard, commanding their crew of some of the most dangerous operatives from across the galaxy on a mission so challenging that it’s potentially suicidal. Featuring shooter action, a futuristic storyline, space exploration and character interaction, the game plans to deliver an unparalleled cinematic experience.


HEXUS Forums :: 8 Comments

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Posted by Perfectionist - Mon 19 Oct 2009 14:06
Looks like they are trying to move American-style preordering onto the UK:

Codes for downloading these items will be provided to players who have pre-ordered, usable when the game is released.

Pre-order bonuses include special-ops armor and weaponry that are designed to boost Commander Shepard’s skills and abilities. Terminus Gear includes the powerful Terminus Assault Armor and the M-490 Blackstorm Heavy Weapon. Terminus Armor is designed for use in extreme planetary conditions, increasing run speed and personal shields, and augmenting weapons with an additional magazine of reserve ammo. The M-490 Blackstorm Heavy Weapon generates a high-powered localized gravity well, accelerating particles to near-infinite mass, and ultimately expanding the selection of heavy weapons available to players when they gear up for combat missions in Mass Effect 2.

Inferno Armor will also be available as a separate pre-order incentive. This item is used by officers to monitor battlefield conditions by recognizing elevated heart rates, and regulates sub-systems with extreme efficiency to allow for greater response times – together these abilities translate in-game into a negotiation bonus for Commander Shepard and an increase in run speed and augmented damage from combat powers.

Specific UK retail partners for the two pre-order bonuses will be revealed soon.

So basically you'd have to buy the game twice if you wanted to have all equipment available… I bet there'll be a player-made patch out within a few days of release - Well for people not playing on their idiot boxes anyway. ;)
Posted by Gunbuster - Mon 19 Oct 2009 14:20
I don't have any problem DLC being added as an incentive to pre-order as long as the vanilla game is complete. WH Smith often gets extra DVDs and magazines bundled in with computer magazines.

Really looking forward to Mass Effect 2.
Posted by finlay666 - Mon 19 Oct 2009 16:16
Perfectionist
Looks like they are trying to move American-style preordering onto the UK:



So basically you'd have to buy the game twice if you wanted to have all equipment available… I bet there'll be a player-made patch out within a few days of release - Well for people not playing on their idiot boxes anyway. ;)

Or you pre-order from 2 places, then return one to Game under their 28 day policy still sealed for a full refund :)
Posted by Mogglewump - Tue 20 Oct 2009 12:25
Perfectionist
Looks like they are trying to move American-style preordering onto the UK:

Not so much trying as this has been a standard tactic for quite a long time now. I'm struggling to remember the first, but certainly Fable 2 had these kind of incentives. Not to mention Game / Amazon / HMV / Play special editions which have an extra x or y that only they have.

Dragon Age Origins has probably one of the most confusing product lineups - pre order, digital preorder, bonus edition, digital collectors edition, collectors edition + preorder bonuses from various shops, EA online store incentives…reminiscent of the “Choose a Vista” idea really.
Posted by Perfectionist - Tue 20 Oct 2009 12:48
I think the only other time I saw it done for a PC game was Hellgate London. I guess it's part of the consoleification movement led by MS, it's all going to blow in their face though like with games for windows/windows live - PC Gamer mag had a good feature bashing on that this month. :)

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