During the Microsoft press conference, Ray Muzyka stepped on stage to announced Kinect support for Mass Effect 3. However, Kinect isn’t planned as the primary input of the game; it’s used to “augment” the experience.

When the game releases, players will be able to command their team on the battlefield using the motion device — in addition to verbally using the dialog three, the main conversation feature from past installments of the series.

With the impending release in a couple of months, BioWare have announced the collectors’ edition for their upcoming futuristic space adventure, Mass Effect 2.

Available on January 26 in North America alongside the standard edition, the Collectors’ Edition of Mass Effect 2 comes in a premium, tin case and includes the full version of the game, a 48-page hardcover “Art of Mass Effect 2” book, Issue 1 of the Mass Effect Redemption comic book, and a bonus DVD with behind-the-scenes and making-of videos.

In addition, the Mass Effect 2 Collectors’ Edition will include unique in-game weapons and armor that can only be obtained by purchasing this version.

“We’re really excited to roll out this Collectors’ Edition featuring so many unique items, including special Collectors’ Edition armor and weapons and content that will surprise Mass Effect fans,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, co-founder of BioWare. “The limited edition comic book and bonus DVD will really enhance and expand the overall Mass Effect 2 experience.”

Mark your calenders, and set your lasers on stun. Because Electronic Arts announced today that their upcoming futuristic, alien-killing RPG, Mass Effect 2, will be hitting stores shelves on January the 26th of next year in North America and on the 29th in Europe.

And, as a plan to increase Mass Effect 2′s pre-orders, those how pre-order the game at their local Game Stop in North America will receive a code giving them legibility to receive the Terminus Gear armor and the M-490 Blackstorm(click to view) Heavy Weapon.

However, those that pre-order the game at “other retailers” will receive the Inferno Armor, which gives Shephard “an increase in run speed and augmented damage from combat powers.” 2010 can’t come soon enough.

“Our fans are in for a genuine thrill in the New Year with Mass Effect 2 – the second installment in the trilogy will be of amazingly high quality,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, BioWare co-founder. “BioWare’s fans worldwide have been eagerly awaiting this epic sequel, and we couldn’t be more excited to reward them for pre-ordering by delivering some awesome bonus content!”

Four years ago, co-founder Ray Muzyka revealed that “[BioWare] definitely [has] plans to continue the Jade Empire franchise” – teasing the possibility of a Xbox 360 sequel. However, since then, the heat over Muzyka’s comments have since been turned into smoke.

When speaking to Strategy Informer, Dragon Age‘s lead designer Mike Laidlaw stomped on whether, or not, a follow-up was in development. “At this point, Jade Empire is a staff favorite, and a lot of us love it, so we’d love to revisit it at some point. But right now, we are very focused on Dragon Age and Mass Effect 2,” Laidlaw stated.

On another note, BioWare’s official site reveals that it currently has one unidentified “new next gen game” in development which hasn’t been announced yet.

[Thanks to GameSpot]

With the recently released “The Thane” screenshots, players have been wondering who exactly is that new Krogan, seen featured with Thane. Now, BioWare has announced the identity of the newest Krogan and his name is Grunt.

A violent and unpredictable Krogan fighter, Grunt has never faced true defeat. His unsurpassed physical strength makes him a strong asset to Commander Shepard’s team, if he can be tamed, and if he can be trusted.

“The Mass Effect trilogy is an epic saga with consequences that will carry through from chapter to chapter” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, GM and CEO BioWare, VP EA. “Building out a diverse and loyal party is one of the features that makes the Mass Effect series unique. The characters Commander Shepard recruits are not only pivotal to the storyline but essential to the players overall success.”

Grunt is the second party member to be revealed in the Mass Effect 2 universe following Thane a deadly assassin who was first introduced in June. More details about the rest of Shepard’s crew will be revealed in the coming months.

BioWare wasn’t keen on releasing any details on the newest alien character, which debuted as an assassin, at E3, however, now, that has changed because it’s “Meet Thane” day over at the official Mass Effect 2 website. And you won’t believe who’s the star of the event.

“We’re going to surpass the extraordinary gaming experience we brought our fans in Mass Effect by delivering intensified combat and expanded weapon options as well as increased depth of planet exploration, all while delivering a powerful, emotionally engaging story,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, General Manager and CEO, BioWare and General Manager and Vice President, EA when announcing the game. “Mass Effect 2 is shaping up to be an unforgettable RPG-shooter experience, taking players on a non-stop roller-coaster ride filled with stunning plot twists and no-holds-barred action.”

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Well, I did some small title editing there so… it’s really ‘controversial moments’ not controversy, just so that people don’t get it mixed up. Anyway, it seems that Mass Effect 2 is going to retain the ‘dirty boy’ attitude from within the first game.

When being interview by VG247 at GDC, it was revealed that one of BioWare’s co-founders, Ray Muzyka, that they’re promising more “emotionally engaging moments” in Mass Effect 2, which means alot more ‘alien sex’.

“We don’t shy away from emotionally engaging moments. We try to make them contextually appropriate. They’re not gratuitous for the sake of gratuity. We put them in to actually drive an emotional response, but the journey you’ve gone through to get to that point in the game, it has to feel like that is a real point, a real outcome that makes sense to the player to get that point. They’re not there for shock value,” he told VG247.

“If there’s surprise and delight in the emotionally engaging moment then that’s great too, but they have to feel contextually appropriate. We just make games with great stories and characters and, just like in real life, some of the interactions are emotionally charged between some of the characters. There could be all types of different emotions. And even the experience itself, we strive for emotion… We’re not shying away from it.”