Don’t hold your breath for any new gameplay footage from Mass Effect: Andromeda anytime soon because there isn’t any coming. Bioware has recently confirmed this. However, you can start thinking about the games story, characters, and combat. The developer has at least shed some light on those elements.

First, let’s get some of the story stuff out of the way for Mass Effect: Andromeda. In 2012, it was reported that Commander Shepard, the protagonist of the trilogy, will have absolutely no part to play in the new game. So, this opens the door to another question regarding characters. Will we see any return from previous Mass effect games? Well, according to senior development director Chris Wynn, “story-wise, it wouldn’t make much sense” – he teased on Twitter.

So don’t expect to see any familiar faces in Mass Effect: Andromeda, but minor characters still have some potential to show up. Wynn stressed the game still remains in active development and, “given that we haven’t added every single character to the Andromeda build yet, can’t really answer this one yet,” he said.

As far as combat goes, it sounds like Mass Effect: Andromeda will behave very much like Mass Effect 3, but polished and more dynamic.

There are some new elements that make it more dynamics, but overall similar feel [to Mass Effect 3].

In the upcoming weeks, Bioware will be in the casting process for voice actors. Hopefully when that’s completed that they will share some new details.

Mass Effect: Andromeda launches in fall 2016 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

If you haven’t seen the concept art for the upcoming and as yet untitled Mass Effect game from BioWare, I’m giving you heads up right now — they are awesome! BioWare is colliding heads for neat planets, new alien races and species. From what we have heard so far, the fourth installment is really shaping up to be more than just another sequel in the franchise. In fact, Mass Effect 4 is going to be so much more with larger and more diverse worlds and characters, perhaps something bigger than Bungie’s Destiny.

Mass Effect 4 may even feature some form of online multiplayer. A recent job posting from BioWare hints that the game will support multiplayer because the developer in Montreal is looking for an Online Producer who will “create and champion the vision of the multiplayer, connected experiences and online features of the game…”

Besides a solid progress on the game mentioned above, BioWare’s senior development director Chris Wynn recently teased that Mass Effect 4 is finally “getting real” via a tweet on Twitter:

Things are getting real now and I need an excellent Producer to come shape online for the next Mass Effect.

Mass Effect 4 is still in the very early stages of development, so expect the action RPG to be released sometime in 2016.

Mass Effect 4

Mass Effect 3: Citadel was the final DLC pack released for ME3, and that was barely five months ago from today. Heck, I didn’t even get a chance to play it yet, but I’m sure some die-hard fans are deeply missing the series, unless they’re fine with replay or are keeping busy with the multiplayer mode. For one, I’m not a fan of replaying the game since it’s pretty long for my tastes. Second, multiplayer just never caught my interest in Mass Effect 3.

Fortunately for a gamer like myself, Mass Effect producer Mike Gamble teased that the next installment is moving forward, which got me excited and wondering what new things they will bring to the Mass Effect universe. Doors are wide open for the team, and it sounds like great things are being planned.

Gamble wrote via Twitter,

“Lots of great Mass Effect meetings today. Things are really moving forward. It’s great to be involved in the universe again.”

Since our longtime hero Commander Shepard will not be returning in the series, cinematic director Ken Thain also teased about the new story and main character.

“New Mass Effect story and main character reviews today. This sh**’s gettin’ real! I think the fans will be really excited to play this story.”

No word yet on when the game will be released, but expect it to be completely “fresh and new” since it will run on the latest Frostbite 3 engine (Battlefield 4, Mirror’s Edge 2) developed by DICE.

Variety recently reported that a newcomer will replace Mark Protosevich, an experienced writer in the industry who previously wrote the screenplay for films such as Thor and I Am Legend. Morgan Davis Foehl will now take over the job of writing the script for the Mass Effect film, which would also be his first script ever produced. Apparently, Foehl is already a fan of the Mass Effect series and has experience writing similar scripts to the general plot of the video game, according to Gamespot. For this reason alone, the producers have selected him, and are confident that Foehl is the man to help deliver a Mass Effect film script that will appeal to the fans of the video game.

Mass Effect Film

BioWare has also briefly spoken about Mass Effect 4 with VG247, unveiling very little details about our new protagonist in the franchise. based on what BioWare’s Montreal producer Fabrice Condominas said, it sounds like Commander Shepard will no longer star in Mass Effect 4, and the trilogy is officially complete.

“This is really our starting point. Now the Mass Effect universe is vast, and very, very rich. So at this point in time, we don’t even know what kind of time frame we’re going to be in. All we’re doing is more gathering ideas from the teams, gathering feedback to see several things.”

“So first, we don’t want to make ���Shepard 2,′ or Mass Effect 4 with like, ‘oh, there’s no more Shepard but you’re a soldier in the universe.’ So this will be a very, very different context for sure, and nothing has been decided on the rest.”

That’s all we’re going to get, folks, on Mass Effect 4 as BioWare is still in the brainstorming stage, and is collecting ideas from the team. For now, just continue to enjoy Mass Effect 3 with the new DLC, and we’ll be sure to keep you in the loop on ME4, right here on Yell! Magazine.

No more Shepard in Mass Effect 4

It’s not often that a video game franchise can claim to have reached the end. Milking franchises till the teat runs dry is a popular business practice in the industry. As long as there’s a few more bucks to squeeze out of a brand name, publishers will keep shoving sequels out the door. It’s a rare event for a mega-franchise such as Mass Effect to be allowed to reach a proper conclusion. Granted, the game’s ending, which is already the ongoing subject of vast Internet moaning and the genesis behind several Facebook pages dedicated to persuading Bioware to release entirely different DLC-exclusive conclusions, does not preclude the possibility of further game’s set in the Mass Effect universe. However, Commander Shepard’s tale is indeed over.

Whether you’ve casually played the first two games in the series or devoured each one by playing both the Paragon and Renegade paths, Mass Effect 3 has something for everybody. Longtime fans will be richly rewarded for their loyalty. Newcomers will appreciate the game’s presentation but won’t be as moved by some of the series’ more emotional payoffs. Character deaths and the resolution of ongoing plots are tailor-made for true fans rather than casual observers. Your faithful reviewer is secure enough to admit he cried on two different occasions during his time with Mass Effect 3. Whoops, my inherent wussyness is showing. Quick! Gotta blurt out something epically manly!

My Shepard totally tapped dat ass! Then he made out with a Krogan. CUZ THAT’S HOW HE ROLLS!

Ok, now that I’ve managed to offend every single reader with an X chromosome… wait, we have female readers, right? The Evil Tormenting Bosses assured me writing for Yell! was a great way to meet chicks. Then again, they also promised me a paycheck and yet I’m still living out of the copy room, using the photocopier on an infinite print loop for warmth at night and sustaining myself with carbon paper fettuccine. ANYWAY! Here’s Yell! Magazine’s review of Mass Effect 3, available on PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. For review purposes, the PC version was used. For enhanced girly weeping during the sad parts, a Crazy Cat Lady-size tub of Rocky Road was used.

Read about the story of Mass Effect 3 after the jump…

Yell! Rating (x/5 Skulls):

[rating:4.5]

Published by:

Electronic Arts

Developed by:

BioWare

Year Released:

March 6, 2012

Also Available On:

PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Genre:

RPG

Official URL:

Mass Effect 3 Official

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Xbox owners will get first crack at the pair of downloadable add-ons for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. It’s not so bad, it’s only a 30-day exclusive. Skyrim will be out on November 11th.

Dead Rising 2: Off The Record

Capcom’s Frank West retelling in Dead Rising 2 : Off the Record sounds like a great zombie filled proposition. New areas, weapons, missions, and our favorite wartime photojournalist to boot. All at a bargain price. To sweeten the deal, at the Penny Arcade Expo this week, Capcom announced Sandbox Mode. Finally, you can kill zombies to your heart’s content without having to worry about things like tasks, and time limits. Dead Rising 2: Off the Record will be out on October 11th.

Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice: Episode 3

Its been almost 3 years since episode 2 came out, and after a long search, Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice: Episode 3 finally has a developer. Zeboyd Games, makers of retro style throwback games Breath of Death VII, Cthulhu Saves the World, will be taking the reins, and promises to take the series in a new 8-bit direction. Expect episode 3 some time next year.

Mass Effect 3

This week, Bioware’s Director of Marketing, David Silverman revealed that the nifty Mass Effect: Genesis interactive comic that allowed PS3 players to determine key decisions in part one for Mass Effect 2, won’t be a feature in Mass Effect 3. Instead the story will be recapped with two “Previously on Mass Effect” vignettes. So for newcomers to the series, all those pivotal choices, like who dies, who lives, and who sleeps with who, will be already decided for you. Mass Effect 3 will be out on March 6, 2012. That should give you enough time to play through the first 2 games, or at least part 2. On the bright side, the new default female Commander Shepard looks great.

Gears of War 3

Like most games nowadays, you can pay upfront for season pass to all the upcoming DLC for a title. Gears of War 3 will be no different. 2400 Microsoft Points will get you access to the first 4 downloadable add-ons for the new Gears. That’s a 33% discount. The first content pack is already slated for November. As an added bonus for those who buy in, will also get the “Liquid Metal Weapon Set”. Gears of War 3 will be out on September 20th.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

The limited edition version of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will come with the obligatory orchestral soundtrack, and a gold-colored Wii Remote Plus. I can’t wait to swing around my golden Wii…remote. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will be out on November 20th.

Nintendo 3DS

The first wave of free “I’m sorry for making you pay too much for a system” games came out this week. If you bought a 3DS before the August price drop, and updated or connected to the eShop, go download your 10 free NES virtual console games. Simply connect to the eShop, go to “Settings / Other”, and select “Your Downloads”. Scroll down the list to find your free copies of Super Mario Bros, Metroid, The Legend of Zelda, Wrecking Crew, NES Open Tournament Golf, Donkey Kong Jr., Balloon Fight, Ice Climber, Zelda II – The Adventure of Link, and Yoshi. There’s still more free games to come in the form of another 10 Gameboy Advance games coming before the end of the year. We’ll let you know when to get your hands on them here at Yell! Magazine.

Persona 4: The Ultimate In Mayonaka Arena

For all you Japan RPG aficionados, your favorite high school simulator / role-playing game is taking all your beloved characters and making them fight each other in Persona 4: The Ultimate In Mayonaka Arena. The game will take the heroes from Persona 4, and Persona 3 and pit them in mortal combat. If you want more Persona, an enhanced version of Persona 4 is coming to the PlayStation Vita. And of course, series developer Atlus is still hard at work on Persona 5. Get all your esoteric J-RPG news here at Yell! Magazine.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

The contents of the “Hardened Edition” of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 were leaked this week. So what do you get for the extra cash? How about a one year Elite membership that gives you free access to all DLC during the life of the membership. But wait, you also get exclusive emblems, camo, and much much more! Of course it’ll come in a nice shiny metal box with something resembling an art book to boot. That’s all fine and well, but what I’m waiting for is news on the “Prestige Edition”. We’ve gotten night vision goggles, and RC cars. I can’t wait to see how they top that this year. I’m hoping for something more practical, like an army utility vest. That would be sweet!

Red Dead Redemption

If you’ve been itching to get back into some Red Dead, now’s your chance. Rockstar is giving away the Myths and Mavericks add-on. This DLC includes 11 multiplayer maps, and 8 new playable characters. All at the low low price of free. The content will be available for download on September 13th for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Be sure to check back next Friday on the latest gaming news at Yell! Magazine.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Top 10 Video Game Movies That Need To Be Made

Gamers have an odd relationship with movies based on video games. On the one hand, the thought of some Hollywood ace adapting our beloved characters for the big screen should be cause for celebration. On the other, well, just try to mention Uwe Boll to any gamer and watch him foam at the mouth. And let me tell you, it’s not happy foaming. It’s pure, unbridled hatred and rage at how the jewels of the video game industry get treated by movie makers. When all you can do is point to 1995’s Mortal Kombat and say: “Yeah, that one wasn’t so bad,” you know there’s a significant dearth of quality movies based on video games.

The problem is twofold. Firstly, much like many of the comic book films, there is a general lack of respect from film makers toward the original material. Sure, the game is loved by millions, has mass appeal, sold like hotcakes, and has a well-established world and characters… but let’s ignore all of that in favor of our vision. After all, we’re artists, they’re just video game makers, what do they know? Secondly, out of all the games turned into movies thus far, roughly 95% had very little story to speak of. Mortal Kombat? Fighter histories and motivations does not a movie make. Super Mario Bros.? Mario needs to save Princess Peach. Simple, yet they still managed to fuck that up. Resident Evil? They got the action right, but this is not a franchise known for its witty banter.

However, these faults describe the previous generation of movies based on video games. Since video games have become more and more cinematic, the next generation promises to be something totally different. And, for a change, Hollywood is finally taking a stab at adapting video games with actual plots, massive amounts of dialogue, and fully-developed characters with histories that go beyond “bad guy killed my (insert significant other here) so I’m entering this martial arts tournament to get revenge” cliché.

So, my faithful readers*, without further ado, here is Yell! Magazine’s Top 10 List Of Movies Based On Video Games That Need To Be Made, along with rumors, castings, potential pitfalls, and all the reasons why these films would kick ass.

*Except for that one reader who totally cheated on me with IGN. You know who you are. Bastard.

No.10 Uncharted

The plot:

Wise-ass adventurer Nathan Drake goes hunting for fabulous treasures all around the world with his sidekick and beautiful love interest(s) in tow. Huge amounts of cliff-climbing, spelunking, and gunfights ensue. Fun is had by all.

Why it could work:

Nathan Drake is Indiana Jones. And people love Indy. Hell, they even loved geriatric Indy. Drake is an easy-going hero, flippant but loyal and brave to a fault. With the correct handsome leading man he’ll easily appeal to a large demographic. Toss in some tomb raiding, complete with a series of traps still well-oiled after hundreds of years for some reason, a plucky reporter tagging along for some romantic sparks, marinate with some explosions and a treasure that ends up having a supernatural component, shake well and voila! Blockbuster!

Why it might not work:

It’s all about the acting. Casting is going to be key for this movie. If you choose actors devoid of chemistry for the roles of Nathan Drake and Elena Fisher, people won’t buy into their relationship. Drake is a wiseass with a heart of gold, imperfect casting would completely undermine the character’s charm.

Who should be involved:

Uncharted fans were in an uproar when Mark Wahlberg was announced as Nathan Drake a few months ago, soon followed by his “The Fighter” director David O. Russell. Online petitions were soon written up begging the studio to reconsider this. While Russell has the requisite action chops (Three Kings) to direct the movie, the dour, intense Wahlberg irked fans. Luckily, both men seem to have abandoned the project. In the minds of many fans, the perfect Nathan Drake would be Nathan Fillion. Not only does he resemble the character physically, but also his Captain Mal Reynolds on Firefly was essentially Nathan Drake… in space. A second possibility would be Josh Holloway from Lost, who might not look like the character but certainly possesses the right personality quirks required for the role.

Come on, Sony! They’re both named Nathan!

The potential:

A rip-roaring, summer action blockbuster capable of launching a movie franchise.

You’ll have to click through to find out what the other nine movies based on video games are…