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Download: Dragon Age Origins v1.02 Patch

This patch updates Dragon Age: Origins to v1.02 and introduces a number of bug fixes and gameplay balances to the game. Continue reading after the jump for a full list of changes.

Download Dragon Age: Origins v1.02 Patch (37 MB)
Download Dragon Age: Origins Character Creator (318 MB)
Check out all Dragon Age: Origins downloads
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New Mass Effect 2 trailer showcases the Engineer class and its killer robot

BioWare has just released a new trailer for Mass Effect 2, featuring the exploits of strategic tactician "Commander Shepard the Engineer" and his murderous robot. Much like the first game, engineer class players will rely more heavily on strategery and tech management than direct confrontation.

Lead gameplay designer Christina Norman guides us through some combat-heavy gameplay, which depicts the aforementioned android aggressor along with some cool abilities, like freezing enemies on the spot and hacking mechanized enemies. Oh, Mass Effect 2, you had us at killer 'bot.
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Mass Effect 2's Engineer class picks up some new skills

Download HD Video

The Adept class isn't the only one that's getting new abilities added to it in Mass Effect 2. This developer video showcases the power of the Engineer, which uses electronic devices to overcome enemies. Some of the abilities that will be at players' disposal include freezing, calling in a combat drone, and hacking into mechanized enemies to turn them to your side. Mass Effect 2 is scheduled to release on January 26, 2010.

Download HD Mass Effect 2 'Engineer' Class Gameplay Video (115 MB)
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Mass Effect 2 ditching elevators for ... load screens

Expanding upon statements from BioWare's Casey Hudson earlier this year, associate programmer Thomas Roy took to the developer's forums (requires login) recently to explain how Mass Effect 2 would be handling the promised lack of elevators (used in place of loading screens). As it turns out, rather than executing on BioWares's promise of "a completely new system" that's "part of the game experience," the studio will be implementing "loading screens and movies."

Though the game will still ask players to walk into an elevator, it will apparently cue up a loading screen that offers "interesting visuals and information." We'd like to point out that before Mr. Roy explains any of this, he says that the first game used elevators "so we [BioWare] didn't have to show boring loading screens" and they only made it into the second due to "a lot of complaints."

We're so broken up here -- on one hand, the developer is caving to the demands of the fans and critics. Score! On the other hand, Mr. Roy is telling us that loading screens are totally boring. If we demanded it, does that mean we're boring? Great, now we've got a total complex.

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Play a Facebook game, contribute to charity and get a Dragon Age Origins discount

BioWare doesn't just make PC and console games; they also have a special team called BioWare Labs that makes small titles. The first of these games of these debuted today on Facebook. It's called Gift of the Yeti and even if you never play Facebook games you might want to check this out.

The game itself has a friendly monster from the cold North trying to help Santa deliver presents to children. Each time someone plays the game on Facebook, BioWare will donate one penny up to $10,000 to the Child's Play charity. And if by some chance you haven't bought the PC version of BioWare's RPG Dragon Age: Origins you can get the PC version for a 10 percent discount via the EA Store if you play the game.

BioWare opens the Jedi Consular's class page

Emphasis on non-melee abilities? Check. Robes? Check. Hm, if it weren't for those lightsaber moves, we'd almost have to say Star Wars: The Old Republic's Jedi Consular is a "magic" class. BioWare's released the official page for the newly revealed class, and looking through it proves that even in a galaxy far, far away you can find clothies.

The primary difference between the Knight and Consular is how they fight; one gets up close, while the other prefers to hang back a bit. Sure, the Consular can throw down in melee if need be, but when you command a significant degree of force powers why bother? Check out the new Consular screens below, and check out the official class page for all your lore related goodness.%Gallery-35033%

BioWare's Facebook game gives to charity, takes $10 off Dragon Age for PC

BioWare has launched a browser-based game on Facebook that benefits charity ... and gamers looking to save some scratch on the PC version of Dragon Age: Origins. Called Gift of the Yeti, it's a simple yet surprisingly fun arcade-style dash to deliver presents ... as a yeti subbing for Santa Clause.

Outside of the game, BioWare is playing the part of old St. Nick for hospitalized children, donating $10,000 to the Child's Play charity. And by simply loading up the game, players are presented with a link to the EA Store, where they're automagically given a $10 discount off of Dragon Age for Windows.

The press release announcing the game indicates that it's just the tip of the iceberg for the company's foray into social gaming. BioWare co-founder, Dr. Ray Mazuyka, said of the endeavor, "Gift of the Yeti is a fun, engaging holiday present from BioWare to our fans, the first in a series of compelling social experiences from BioWare Labs." Sure, they likely won't be for consoles -- but who are we to look a gift yeti in the mouth?

Mass Effect 2 goes for challenge and sophistication, not pampering

Mass Effect 2 producer Adrien Cho thinks developers are pampering players, making games much easier now than in previous generations. "It goes back to that learning mechanism of "Well, I tried this – it didn't work. I'm going to try something different." And I think that's going to be something in Mass Effect 2, we don't want it to be a cakewalk, you want a challenge," he told Video Games Daily.

Using the brutally difficult From Software title Demon's Souls as an example, Cho says hardcore players today want to earn progress in games. "I think gamers want a more sophisticated game, they don't want a breezy game where you see all the cinematics and just put in your hours and play it through." According to Cho, Mass Effect 2 aims to give players a healthy dose of challenge and sophistication when it launches early next year. We're all for hard work and challenge, but our idea of sophistication doesn't include the ancient mechanic of trial and error.

Star Wars: The Old Republic reveals more info on Jedi Consular class

While all eight character classes for Star Wars: The Old Republic have been revealed, the last two classes in the upcoming MMO from BioWare, EA and LucasArts were still something of a mystery. The game's official web site has now put up more info on one of those two classes, the Jedi Consular.

This class is apparently designed not just for combat but for diplomacy. Playing as a Jedi Consular the player will have "the insight and empathy to deftly handle charged conflicts that confound even the most cunning Senators and governors." However, that doesn't mean the character is all peace and love; they can also whip out a light saber and fight with the best of the Jedi Knights. The other player class, the Sith Inquisitor, has not yet been posted on the site, However our sister site Joystiq got a brief hands-on demo of the class and posted up their impressions.
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Mass Effect 2 to span two discs

How awesome is Mass Effect 2? Well, if BioWare Community Coordinator Chris Priestly is to be believed, it is about twice as awesome. "You cannot fit this much awesome on one disc," Priestly stated on the BioWare forums, after revealing the game content will span two discs.

The necessity of two discs may mean a staggering amount of content for the RPG sequel -- the original was certainly no slouch in content. While some may lament the necessity of having to get up at least once during Mass Effect 2, Priestly promises that the disc swap happens at a dramatically appropriate point in the story. "Even though there is a disc swap, it occurs at a carefully planned place in the game (that does not interfere with gameplay) and is done once. You do not swap back and forth. 1 swap and then done."

We're going to fathom a guess as to when the swap will occur: immediately after the "suicide mission" revealed in the game's initial teaser.

[Thanks, Darth B.; Via Kotaku]

Hands-on with the Sith Inquisitor of Star Wars: The Old Republic

With the recent announcement of the final two classes in Star Wars: The Old Republic, there was at least a little bit of genuine apprehension. After all, while the idea of playing a different flavor of Force-user with the Consular or the Inquisitor was indisputably entertaining, how different could they really wind up being from their cousins? The lucky dogs over at our fellow site, Joystiq, recently got a chance to play a hands-on demo with the Sith Inquisitor, and the answer is in: they really are a whole other ball-game.

The term "hands-on" is a bit ironic, considering that the Interrogator is actually a very hands-off sort of class. Keeping in line with the game's classes having a strong set of archetypes drawn from the films, the class is drawn from the mold of Emperor Palpatine, with a variety of ranged Force attacks including the ever-popular arcs of lightning. The demo they got to play, unfortunately, was on the shorter side and didn't include such perks as the still largely unseen companion system, but as the article states, the game feels very solid in this demo. There's still a lot more to be seen for Star Wars: The Old Republic, but even this little taste should help encourage fans of the game.

Star Wars: The Old Republic universe expanded with tie-in books

If the unique, fresh setting of BioWare's upcoming Star Wars: The Old Republic interests you, you may want to check out the three books just-announced books, which will offer additional stories in the game's universe.

Star Wars: The Old Republic Volume 1: Threat of Peace, out this April from Dark Horse, is a collection of Threat of Peace webcomics originally posted on The Old Republic's website. It'll be followed in July by a hardcover novel (of the non-graphic variety), Star Wars: The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance by Sean Williams. Paul Kemp is planning another novel.

If the game turns out to be a hit, this "Star Wars" storyline invented for it could turn into a big multimedia franchise! With its sci-fi action and "light sabers," we could see this turning into a decent movie series.

[Via Big Download]

Star Wars: The Old Republic getting two novel tie-ins

On Wednesday, we reported that Star Trek Online was going to have a tie-in novel released next year. Now it looks like BioWare's MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic is getting not one but at least two such prose novels to help expand and promote the long awaited game.

The official Star Wars web site reports that the first such novel is set for release by Del Rey Books in July. The novel, titled Star Wars: The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance, will be written by Sean Williams. A second, and as yet untitled novel, is also in the works and will be written by Paul Kemp. We've already reported that the current online comic book that's being serialized on the game's official web site will be collected into a trade paperback later in 2010. The writer of the comic book, Rob Chestney, will also write a Old Republic-based short story that will be posted on StarWars.com at some point.
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Hands-on: Star Wars: The Old Republic

Click to give in to the Dark Size

If you're a Star Wars fan, you've no doubt read about the recently revealed, final two classes in BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic: the Jedi Consular and Sith Inquisitor. The latter is a powerful Sith warrior who harnesses the dark side of The Force to perform a range of powered-up attacks, such as Force Lightning. We recently paid a visit to LucasArts HQ at San Francisco's Presidio, where we got a chance to zap a few dozen enemies while playing as the new class.

The Inquisitor should be thought of as the uber-Sith, beyond the likes of Darth Vader and Darth Maul, and more in line with Darth Sidious / Emperor Palpatine from the films. This isn't a character whose strength lies primarily in mastery of lightsaber dueling; the Inquisitor likes to let others get their hands dirty while they turn the tide of battles in more grandiose ways through Force manipulation. Still, like all the classes in SW:TOR, they have to start out somewhere. In their case -- as with the Sith Warrior -- it happens to be the Sith's homeworld of Korriban. Instead of fighting Jedi during our (all-too-brief) demo, we went ... tomb raiding.
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Mass Effect 2 sidequests to benefit from 'handcrafted gameplay'

For such a dark adventure, BioWare's first Mass Effect provided a surprisingly optimistic viewpoint on universal unity. Sure, an occasional crinkled forehead or an extra filongidler might visually separate the denizens of the galaxy, but it's nice to know that in all the unrestrained hugeness of space, we all still come from completely identical, prefabricated installations. Well, we did until Mass Effect 2 decided to terraform its sidequest planets with some variety.

"Now when you find mission[s] out there in the uncharted worlds, there are always missions where something special happens, and you get really good handcrafted gameplay and art that you can't see elsewhere in the game," project director Casey Hudson told VideoGamer.com. "I think people will find them to be really rewarding, really rich, because there's something different around every corner."

Even the process of discovering planets has been made more interesting, Hudson explained, with space-faring explorers sending out probes and expending fuel to make new discoveries. It's nice to know the shooter RPG still allows you to go boldly -- and not just go badass.

Mass Effect 2 trailer takes on a very agreeable crew member

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The newest character to be revealed to be joining the Normandy crew is Samara, an alien that clearly has very formidable biotic abilities. Not only that, but she has pledged her rather flexible sense of morality to follow any decision you make. Mass Effect 2 releases in 2010.

Download HD Mass Effect 2 'Samara' Trailer (64 MB)
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BioWare reveals Samara, Mass Effect 2's biotic bombshell

With Dragon Age: Origins out the door and making friends, BioWare has switched the Mass Effect 2 hype machine into full gear, inviting us to play the game and provide a peek at some of the new squad mates who'll be joining Commander Shepard on his/her most dangerous mission yet. The latest cast member to make a debut, Samara, should have absolutely no problem taking care of herself -- as well as anything (or anyone) that gets in her way.

Samara is an elite Asari warrior who controls some incredibly potent biotic powers. Forget simply tossing enemies around -- she manipulates dark energy in order to levitate herself, as evidenced in the above video. The footage also confirms that there are still five potential party members yet to be introduced before the game ships for PC and Xbox 360 on January 26 (not March 23 as originally noted by Randy, who's clearly met his recommended daily allowance of paste.)
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The Digital Continuum: SWTOR's 'inquistoring' Consular conundrum

The revealing of Star Wars: The Old Republic's final two classes has incited much discussion amongst the community and inside my own brain. On one hand, lots of people are happy to have more Sith and Jedi classes to choose from. However, on the other hand, some people are disappointed in the lack of creative and unexpected class options.

In all reality, BioWare probably made the right choice, but let's look at the view of both sides for the sake of argument and to have a little fun.

Return to Alderaan in Star Wars: The Old Republic

Bioware has revealed the planet of Alderaan will be one of the environments for players to explore in the upcoming MMO, Star Wars: The Old Republic. Before it was reduced to an asteroid field by the Death Star, Alderaan was a planet known for its natural beauty and peace. Thankfully, a bloody civil war begins, giving gamers plenty of stuff to viciously click on.

Honestly, while we're excited to see the planet again, we also can't help but be a little sad. Like watching the movie Titanic or Lindsay Lohan's career, it just doesn't feel right when you know the whole thing will end in tragedy. For those of you looking to practice epic MMO-clicking, Bioware's official site houses more media and information on the doomed planet.

Alderaan is new location in Star Wars The Old Republic

BioWare continues to expand the locations that players will be able to check out in Star Wars: The Old Republic. This week BioWare updated the MMO's web site to show off yet another new planet addition; Alderaan. Fans of the Star Wars franchise most likely know the planet already as the adopted, and later destroyed, home of Princess Leia.

In the timeline of the MMO, Alderaan has actually withdrawn from the Republic and the planet is now in a massive civil war. Will House Organa survive? Well of course it does. Otherwise, Leia could not live to see her planet blown up by the Death Star. Such is life.
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