BioWare
BioWare business and news from across the web.
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Mass Effect Universe sägs ha haft Hitman-liknande inslag
Details have emerged about the cancelled Mass Effect Universe, which was set 600 years after the original trilogy and featured a cold war between factions. The player character was customizable with abilities inspired by John Wick and James Bond, and mission structure allowed for Hitman-like approaches. Despite BioWare stating the project was in early development, YouTuber Dantics suggests it was further along than believed.
Canadian political party leader blames BioWare's closure on private equity, says government should help former employees buy it back
Avi Lewis, leader of Canada's NDP, has criticized the closure of BioWare, attributing it to private equity practices that prioritize short-term profit over business longevity. Lewis suggested that federal support should be provided to allow BioWare employees to buy back and run the studio themselves. This incident is part of a broader trend of politicians engaging with video game industry issues.
Mass Effect Universe sägs ha hämtat inspiration från Hitman
Details have emerged about the cancelled Mass Effect Universe, which was set 600 years after the original trilogy and featured a cold war between three factions. The player character was customizable and inspired by action heroes, with gameplay that allowed for more strategic approaches akin to Hitman. Despite BioWare stating the project was in early development, information suggests it was further along than believed, though development was hampered by the need to assist with Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
MMO Week in Review: Lament for BioWare
Electronic Arts has officially shut down the legendary studio BioWare, laying off 400 employees in the process. This move has been met with significant criticism, highlighting concerns about venture capital and corporate practices in the gaming industry. Several other MMOs and studios also saw news this week, including updates on MapleStory Classic World, Chronicles of Elyria, and the closure of Zenith.
The Fall of Mass Effect – Where Did It All Go Wrong?
This article analyzes the decline of the Mass Effect franchise, attributing its downfall to BioWare's closure and Electronic Arts' business interests overriding creative vision. Despite the success of the Legendary Edition and promising early development on a new title, the project was ultimately cancelled, leaving the future of the series uncertain.
Almost 200,000 Mass Effect fans sign petition to save the series after BioWare's demise, and both Commander Shepard…
Following the unexpected shutdown of BioWare and the cancellation of Mass Effect 5, a fan petition to "Save Mass Effect" has garnered nearly 200,000 signatures. Voice actors Mark Meer and Jennifer Hale have voiced support for the initiative, which urges Electronic Arts to commit to continued development of the beloved RPG series, either internally or by licensing it to another studio.
Commander Shepard actors Jennifer Hale & Mark Meer mourn BioWare: 'It was in the hands of ownership that may…
Voice actors Jennifer Hale and Mark Meer expressed sadness and concern over the reported closure of BioWare and the fate of its intellectual properties. They reflected on the impact on employees and the potential loss of beloved franchises like Mass Effect, with Hale even humorously suggesting a fan-led Kickstarter to save the studio. The article also touches on the broader trend of industry consolidation and the potential for IPs to be mishandled by new ownership.
187K+ fans call for EA to "Save Mass Effect"
A petition urging Electronic Arts to commit to the continued development of the Mass Effect franchise has garnered over 187,000 signatures. The petition calls for proper funding and staffing for BioWare, or alternatively, for EA to license the IP to another studio. This comes amid widespread job cuts at BioWare and other EA studios, and reports of a cancelled next Mass Effect game.
'Save Mass Effect' petition hits over 180,000 signatures within days of BioWare's closure
A petition to save the Mass Effect series has garnered over 180,000 signatures following the reported closure of BioWare and cancellation of Mass Effect 5. The petition urges Electronic Arts to commit to the series' continued development or license the IP to another studio. Fans express deep disappointment and a strong desire for the franchise's survival.
The creator of our running RPG of the year weighs in on BioWare's closure: 'They were fundamental to the…
Developer Christoffer Bodegård, creator of the RPG Esoteric Ebb, reflects on the closure of BioWare, acknowledging its foundational role in the CRPG genre and inspiring his own career. He fondly recalls playing MDK2 and Dragon Age: Origins, highlighting BioWare's significant impact on game development.
Mass Effect Leaks Reveal Canceled BioWare Game's Story Would Have Accounted for 'All' Choices From Previous Games
New details have emerged regarding a canceled Mass Effect game from BioWare, which reportedly would have incorporated choices from the original Commander Shepard trilogy. The project was allegedly shut down by Electronic Arts.
'This is the bit where the comet hits the earth and the dinosaurs die:' Tim Sweeney revisits scathing 26-year-old eulogy for beloved studio Looking Glass
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney's 2000 statement on the closure of Looking Glass Studios, which described the event as an 'economically realistic day' and criticized the studio's overhead and niche appeal, has resurfaced. While Sweeney stands by his assessment that game businesses must be profitable, industry figures have criticized his 'asshole CEO' mindset, highlighting the artistic impact of studios like Looking Glass and the often illogical reasons behind modern studio shutdowns and layoffs.
Mass Effect 5 would have let players generate alternate timelines based on their choices in previous games, according to…
Details have emerged about BioWare's cancelled Mass Effect 5, which would have featured a sophisticated system for importing player choices from the original trilogy to generate alternate timelines. Franchise Technical Director Romain Toutain explained that the game, initially codenamed Mass Effect Universe, aimed to give players "absolute autonomy" by dynamically solving logical equations based on player decisions. The ambitious plans for handling player choice and its consequences have led to disappointment over the game's cancellation.
The Sunday Papers
This week's gaming news roundup features an interview with multimedia artist Jeremy Couillard about his game Soul Injector Commando, a discussion on game development team sizes and outsourcing, and an analysis of why games like Manhunt sometimes fail to maintain their simulated worlds. It also highlights a Game Boy Museum project and the eccentric life of Timothy Dexter.
Mass Effect 5 Set 600+ Years After the Original Trilogy, Featured “Hitman-Style” Freedom – Rumor
A rumor suggests that the next Mass Effect game, potentially Mass Effect 5, is set over 600 years after the original trilogy and would feature a customizable N7 agent protagonist. The game reportedly includes three ruling factions, an alliance between humans, Krogan, and Batarians, and a "galactic Cold War" setting. Gameplay is described as having "Hitman-style" freedom with hacking and executions, while Liara returns as an Asari Matriarch.
BioWare's incredible legacy will continue as long as there are RPGs
This article reflects on the significant legacy of BioWare, a studio that has profoundly influenced the RPG genre with titles like Baldur's Gate, Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age. Despite acknowledging BioWare's own missteps and the detrimental impact of corporate decisions, the author emphasizes the enduring impact of its innovative design choices, storytelling, and representation in games, suggesting its influence will persist as long as RPGs are made.
Mass Effect Universe "looked incredible" says creator who claims he advised BioWare
A content creator named Dantics, who claims to have been part of a BioWare community council, has shared alleged details about the cancelled Mass Effect Universe game. He described a game set over 600 years after the Reaper War, featuring a galactic Cold War between factions and a customizable N7 agent with advanced hacking abilities. Dantics expressed disappointment that the game, which he described as "incredible," may never be released following BioWare's closure and EA's job cuts.
Mass Effect Universe supposedly featured "Hitman-style freedom" and a "galactic Cold War," according…
New details have emerged about the canceled Mass Effect Universe game, which reportedly featured a galactic Cold War, espionage mechanics similar to Hitman, and romance options. The game was set over 600 years after the original trilogy and aimed for a player character described as a blend of John Wick and James Bond. Despite being further along in development than initially suggested, the project was ultimately scrapped by BioWare.
Award-winning sci-fi author NK Jemisin joins BioWare's mourners and scorns a broken industry for killing geese that…
Award-winning author NK Jemisin expressed sadness over the decline of BioWare, citing the Mass Effect and Dragon Age series as inspirations. She also criticized the current state of the game industry, particularly the trend of large-scale layoffs that impact developers while executives remain largely unaffected.
Mass Effect 3 ending discourse ignored the RPG's scale, ambition, and exuberance, including that of its oddly great co-op
This article argues that Mass Effect 3's ending discourse unfairly overlooks the game's overall ambition, scale, and the exuberance of its surprisingly robust co-op mode. While acknowledging criticisms of the ending, the author highlights the game's successful conclusion of numerous plot threads and character arcs across the trilogy, alongside its intense action and impactful decision-making. The co-op mode is praised for its fun, synergistic gameplay and unique character abilities, which stood out from more balance-focused multiplayer games.
