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BioWare's very own 'Empire Strikes Back'.

[Image credit: Danny McL] "Huh?" you say, confused by the very prospect of the Mass Effect trilogy getting the film treatment. Dont' worry buddy, we're right there with you. The BioWare space RPG may be getting just that, though, according to Mass Effect 2 project director Casey Hundson in a recent interview with MTV. "Obviously we have a tremendous amount of interest from people in Hollywood to make a major motion picture about Mass Effect," Hudson said. Thankfully, Hudson followed up his statement with a conditional position for the possibility of a Mass Effect film. "The most important thing for us is, we don't just want to see a movie get made ... we want to see a great movie get made, if it's going to get done at all." We have but one humble request should a movie ever be made of the series: it goes the fully 3D -- if only for text trees in the third dimension.

Looks like you'll have to get up twice after all.

Trade in some games at the Game Salesman's shop, and catch an earful about the galactic gaming industry in this Mass Effect 2 gameplay.

BioWare ups the ante once again.

2010's biggest videogame explodes into 35 million homes.

Which are you picking up this Tuesday?

The announcement of Mass Effect 2's in-game DLC pipeline, "Cerberus Network," left some details unclear. For example, will DLC through Cerberus be free, since the network itself costs money to install for those without a code from a new copy of the game? And will DLC only be available through Cerberus? In a video interview with Joystiq (to be published later today), BioWare's Dr. Greg Zeschuk cleared up some of the confusion around the DLC portal. "We'll definitely have for-pay DLC down the road too," he said, revealing that the DLC through Cerberus will be free. "It's not going to be all free DLC for Mass Effect 2 -- far from that. There'll be paid DLC packs, and there'll be stuff available through Cerberus as well." The way Zeschuk puts it, there will be two separate types of DLC: free material that is offered through the Cerberus Network and paid DLC that can be purchased without Cerberus (through BioWare or Xbox Live Marketplace).

As the release draws near we take a look back at the best trailers of Mass Effect 2.

From Baldur's Gate to Mass Effect 2, we trace the legacy of a beloved RPG developer.

About Mass Effect 2, specifically.

We know, we know -- there's been a constant flood of Mass Effect 2 media over the past few weeks. What with your SyFy channel specials and your six trailers being released at once, we can appreciate that you might feel a bit overwhelmed. That's why we're promising that today's clip -- the launch trailer, mind you -- will be the very last bit of media you see for the game on Joystiq before the game launches. That is, of course, unless there's something really, really amazing released in the next five days. But, ya know, it'd have to be pretty sweet. Like, the sweetest. Gallery: Mass Effect 2

Shepard faces humanity's greatest threat in the sequel to BioWare's sci-fi shooter.

If you have a 360 you can stream all the character videos from the dash, and I did.

Also I put the Subject Zero reveal trailer instead of the profile, because hey: *crag* you.

So what is the deal with these guys anyway?

Thane: I like to kill shit

Grunt: I like to kill shit and am obviously not a replacement for Wrex

Miranda: I'm the obvious romance sub quest

Subject Zero: I like to kill shit, also I'm going to rape Shepard

Is anyone getting the feeling that Bioware may be taking the "Dark Second Chapter" thing too far? Is there a single crew member that is not *crag*ing insane?

But no seriouisly, Thane and Grunt are my go to guys if Wrex doesn't come back.

If Wrex comes back than *crag* Grunt. *crag* him up his four testicled ass.

Syfy, the network formerly known as Sci-Fi before it experienced a tragic spelling accident, will broadcast Sci vs. Fi: Mass Effect 2 numerous times over the next week. The half-hour special is supposed to take an "in-depth look at both the science and fiction of Mass Effect 2" -- but you'd never be able to extrapolate that from the above fluffy marketing clip. The "documentary" features the game's voice actors, like Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica) and Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck) saying whatever they want, along with industry perspective from "journalists Jessica Chobot and Adam Sessler." The special premieres tonight at 11PM EST/PST and 10PM middle-time. Find a listing of additional airdates after the break. Find us contemplating Sci-Fi's name change for the rest of eternity.

The era of the morning launch begins. Come along to get your copy and free stuff to boot.

The Mass Effect 2 universe is a sprawling place -- but BioWare is prepared to expand it in ways far more elaborate than demonstrated by the delayed and haphazard additions to the original game. Available to new purchasers of the galaxy-hopping RPG later this January (digital and retail), "The Cerberus Network" will offer an in-game delivery mechanism for Mass Effect 2 downloadable content, including a free day-one pack featuring new missions, in-game items and Zaeed, a mercenary sporting very appealing proportions of deadliness and ruggedness. He might also have a scar on his face. Though BioWare's future plans seem ambitious -- a second DLC pack featuring the Hammerhead hover tank is promised, as are pieces of armor and new weaponry -- some may consider them to be equally aggressive. Exhibit A: Yo three-headed dawg, I heard you like DLC, so I put the Cerberus Network DLC in your DLC so you can get more DLC. In other words, if you buy a used copy of Mass Effect 2, you'll need to unlock The Cerberus Network through a "one-time, in-game purchase of a new activation code." We've asked BioWare and EA to comment the price of that activation code, and whether or not Cerberus will act as the exclusive mechanism to obtain future DLC. BioWare's most recent title, Dragon Age: Origins, also offered in-the-box DLC in the form of "The Stone Prisoner" add-on, which costs $15 separately. Update: Reiterating that the day-one DLC will be "free to those who access The Cerberus Network", EA has told Joystiq that additional details regarding "all ways to access DLC" are forthcoming. As for the price of Cerberus Network access itself? "More details to come on that."

In part three of the exclusive Sci vs Fi documentary, art imitates life as your decisions will determine the persona of Commander Shepard in Mass Effect 2.

The Mass Effect 2 universe is a sprawling place -- but BioWare is prepared to expand it in ways far more elaborate than demonstrated by the delayed and haphazard additions to the original game. Available to new purchasers of the galaxy-hopping RPG later this January, "The Cerberus Network" will offer an in-game delivery mechanism for Mass Effect 2 downloadable content, including a free day-one pack featuring new missions, in-game items and Zaeed, a mercenary sporting very appealing proportions of deadliness and ruggedness. He might also have a scar on his face. Though BioWare's future plans seem ambitious -- a second DLC pack featuring the Hammerhead hover tank is promised, as are pieces of armor and new weaponry -- some may consider them to be equally aggressive. Exhibit A: Yo, I heard you like DLC, so I put the Cerberus Network DLC in your DLC so you can get more DLC. In other words, if you buy a used copy of Mass Effect 2, you'll need to unlock The Cerberus Network through a "one-time, in-game purchase of a new activation code." We've asked BioWare and EA to comment the price of that activation code, and whether or not Cerberus will act as the exclusive mechanism to obtain future DLC. BioWare's most recent title, Dragon Age: Origins, also offered in-the-box DLC in the form of "The Stone Prisoner" add-on, which cost $15 separately.

New in-game pipeline will give players access to new content, news.

In one week's time, rather than wading through the torrent of new media released today for Mass Effect 2, you'll be picking up your copy of the game and rushing home to get started on Commander Shepard's second big adventure. For now, though, if you're anything like us, you're raptly watching the above dev diary (and likely heading after the break to the five "Fight for the Lost" character videos), already plotting how your own Shepard is going to spread his intergalactic vengeance -- we like to play as the ruthless monster with sporadically humane moments. Also, the one who can charge into dudes real fast. Regardless of how you plan on playing it, the sheer amount of new media released today should suitably tide you over (at least in terms of time) until next Tuesday. Get a comfy chair -- it's gonna be a while. Gallery: Mass Effect 2

EA has confirmed it will only be shipping its $600 AUD ($550 USD), 250GB HDD-equipped "super elite" Xbox 360 bundle (breath) to Australia, according to a report from VG247. "This is a local bundle deal that the [EA Australia] team has sorted," an EA representative explained. The bundle is said to contain two black wireless controllers (standard Microsoft issue) and a wired headset; a regular, non-fancy copy of Mass Effect 2; an Xbox 360 Elite (sans promotional artwork, unfortunately); and a 250GB HDD. Just like the Modern Warfare 2 "Super Elite" console, we imagine supplies will be limited -- to Australia, in this case.

Shepard the soldier, meet Shepard the ladies man! Just watch out for space parasites in part two of this exclusive Mass Effect 2 Sci vs Fi doc.

If rumors of day-one DLC for Mass Effect 2 sent shivers down your wallet's spine, take heed of BioWare's soothing tweet: "BioWare will not be charging extra for any new Mass Effect 2 content on launch day." While that could mean about 50 different things depending on how you parse it, we at least feel comfortable with the idea that we won't be doling out more than $60 right at the outset. The tweet goes on to say that more details would arrive this week, so don't expect to be in the dark much longer. And yes, we did just turn a 130-character tweet into an unnecessarily elaborate news post. Thank you so much for noticing.

The fate of humanity rests in the hands of the Dirty Dozen assembled and lead by Commander Shepard in Mass Effect 2.

Details coming next week from BioWare.

10 lucky game purchasers will win a D2D-edition iPod Touch.

[Image source: DagBladet] Norwegian newspaper DagBladet is reporting DLC will likely be available day one or soon thereafter for Mass Effect 2. DagBladet says the usual items like armor and weapons will be available, but also other things, such as an unlockable planet and even a new ally by the name of Zaeed Messani, the grizzled bounty hunter pictured above. The piece also mentions an in-game store for unlocking DLC called "Cerberus Network," which sounds a lot like Dragon Age: Origins' DLC platform. There's more info available, but in the interest of being as spoiler-free as possible, we won't go into it. So, if you don't mind braving spoiler territory, hit up the link below. [Thanks, Thomas] Source - DagBladet article [machine translation]

How do you create the illusion of free will with a fixed ending? Find out in part one of this exclusive Mass Effect 2 Sci vs Fi doc.