Mass Effect 2 Collector’s Edition Detailed

Continuing the recent string of announcements regarding special/limited editions of upcoming monster titles, BioWare has revealed details about the Mass Effect 2 Collector’s Edition being released alongside the standard edition on Jan. 26.

For $69.99, the following goodies can be yours:

• Premium, tin case
• 48-page hardcover “Art of Mass Effect 2” book
• Issue one of the Mass Effect Redemption comic book
• Bonus DVD with behind-the-scenes and making-of videos
• Unique in-game weapons and armor

In a statement, BioWare big-brain Dr. Ray Muzka said the collector’s edition content will “surprise Mass Effect fans,” and “The limited edition comic book and bonus DVD will really enhance and expand the overall Mass Effect 2 experience.” While I wouldn’t expect anyone from BioWare to encourage gamers not to go for the more expensive edition, I don’t doubt that diehard ME fans will eat up the bonus content.

And for those PC gamers looking to catch up on the space saga before the next one is released, you can pick up Mass Effect for just $10 on Steam this weekend.

Anyone liking the looks of the ME2 collector’s edition? What was the last limited/collector’s edition you bought?

New Call Of Duty, Guitar Hero, Tony Hawk, Spider-Man Games Coming In 2010

None of this should come as a surprise given Activision’s love for sequels, but during the publisher’s quarterly financial results conference call, the company confirmed new installments in Call of Duty, Guitar Hero, Tony Hawk, Spider-Man and Shrek throughout 2010.

The company has not revealed specifics about any of these follow-ups.

Stay tuned.

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

As every gamer patiently waits for the chance to play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 as we rapidly approach its release date next Tuesday, I’ll actually be taking the time to catch up on some games that have slipped through the cracks so far. After wrapping up Brutal Legend last night (thought I do want to dive back in and find all the guitar solos eventually), I’m moving on to Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony. With any luck, I’ll manage to see that adventure to the end on Sunday.

That’s just me, though. What are you playing this weekend?

Splinter Cell: Conviction Collector’s Edition Details

Ubisoft has revealed details about Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction Collector’s Edition, and for the price, it’s one of the better collector’s editions I’ve seen in a while. For just $79.99, you’ll get all of the following goodies:

• Custom USB drive – This credit card-sized 3rd Echelon USB drive can stealthily fit in your wallet, is compatible with Xbox 360, and is loaded to the max with exclusive content you won’t find anywhere else, including:
  • Full-length “Making of Splinter Cell: Conviction” video
  • Wallpaper
  • Concept art
  • Renders
  • Screenshots
  • Storyboards
  • And more…
• “Fifty Freedom: The Art of Splinter Cell” book – Relive the best of Splinter Cell from past to present. This comprehensive hard-bound art book by Prima includes detailed art from the original Splinter Cell, Pandora Tomorrow, Chaos Theory, Double Agent, and Conviction, as well as in-depth commentary and notes from the developers.

• Two exclusive in-game content items
  • Gain first access to the MP5-SD3, a lethal close-quarters submachine gun with an integrated suppressor.
  • Customize your multiplayer character with an exclusive 3rd Echelon outfit.
• Collectible Decals – Available only in the Collector’s Edition are two unique Xbox 360 decal stickers.
  • 3rd Echelon Logo Decal
  • Iconic Bullet Hole Decal
• “Digging in the Ashes” comic book – Watch the sequence of events preceding Splinter Cell: Conviction unfold before your eyes in this one of a kind digital Splinter Cell comic book.
• Steelbook DVD case – Premium embossed metallic steel case packaging with iconic imagery.

So what do you think? Is it worth the extra $20? Only a limited amount will be made available, so if you like the looks of it, a pre-order might be a good idea.

Smoke Retro With Namco’s Game Zippo Lighters

Namco Bandai’s Zippo lighters may not hold a candle to similar—okay, far superior—recent combustible offerings from Sega, but if you’re a huge Xevious fan, Banpresto has a lighter for you, buddy.

Four Zippos themed on classic Namco properties Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Xevious and Galaxian are yours for the pre-ordering and importing, should you have the desire and funds to complete the transaction. I say that because, like the Sega Saturn and Mega Drive Zippos, these aren’t cheap. Each is 10,000 yen, equating to a $108.90 USD price at importer National Console Support.

But if you’re expecting to need a Zippo in January, these might be exactly what you’re looking for.

BioWare’s Massive Mass Effect 2 DLC Plans Revealed?

Good news for anyone who felt less than satisfied by BioWare’s minimal downloadable content offerings for its galactic RPG Mass Effect: the sequel will most likely perhaps seemingly might could possibly be getting quite a bit of DLC down the road. That is, as Destructoid reports, if a Microsoft Expert Zone quiz tipster is to be believed.

Some of the future Mass Effect 2 content revealed includes weapon, armor and character downloads, as well as “new downloadable worlds” and “full campaign expansions.” There is also mention of “periodic updates,” which doesn’t reveal much, but I guess it’s better than “no periodic updates.”

Mass Effect 2 was already shaping up to be epic-to-the-eleventh-power, so the idea of having substantial DLC tacked on top of that is, if I may, stellar? Plus, the thought of having entire planets being offered as DLC is just too cool for space school. Then again, until BioWare confirms this info, this info will continue to float in the rumor belt.

Rare Looking Toward A Natal Shooter

Buried near the bottom of an interesting article on the history of the first-person shooter comes an interesting look into the genre’s future from Rare’s Mark Betteridge. When asked how Microsoft’s Project Natal and Sony’s motion control system, Betteridge said,

“Right now our sights are trained on Natal, which is a great opportunity to break new ground with content and gameplay, It’s also an opportunity to exercise some genre evolution, so hopefully we’ll be able to develop something on that front.”

It shouldn’t exactly shock anyone that Rare would like to work on a Natal game (after all, it’s owned by Microsoft) but hopefully, if Rare does develop a Natal-based shooter, it will rise to the standards set by games like GoldenEye and the Perfect Dark games. In

No Demo for Assassin’s Creed II

Ubisoft’s decision to not publish a public demo for the first Assassin’s Creed disappointed fans. They’re going to be disappointed again, because a spokesman has said Assassin’s Creed II won’t get a demo, either. Connected Consoles reports that, at the Eurogamer Expo, an Ubisoft rep told them straight up the game will not be getting a demo. Your only opportunity to try before you buy is if Ubi brings it to a public expo near you.

AO-Rated Manhunt 2 is Available Next Week

Manhunt 2, notoriously edited by Rockstar to not earn an Adults Only tag from the ESRB, will be released Nov. 6 in that AO form, on the PC. Direct2Drive will have the download, for $29.95. Manhunt 2, as an M-rated game on the PSP, PS2 and Wii, was very poorly received when it went out in 2007. While Rockstar hasn’t specified what’s going out in the super-duper adult version, it’s my hunch that “adult” here doesn’t mean what it means on pay-per-view. But there will be plenty of bodies.

All the perks and weapons from Modern Warfare 2