Mass Effect 2 Packs Free DLC When Bought New

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Joining the likes of Dragon Age: Origins, The Sabotuer, The Sims 3 and other games, Mass Effect 2 will be the latest Electronic Arts-published game to bundle free downloadable content with new copies, the company announced today.

"Retail and digital versions" of BioWare's PC and Xbox 360 shooter-RPG come with a "single-use unlock code" to activate "The Cerberus Network," described as "a conduit for players to receive bonus content as well as daily messages and [Mass Effect 2] news."

Accessing "The Cerberus Network" on or after the game's January 26 release will grant players the first downloadable add-on, which includes "new missions and in-game items" and a new character named Zaeed, described as "a rugged and deadly gun-for-hire who is recruited to join Commander Shepard's mission to save mankind."

More downloads packs coming post-launch will bring an "agile hover tank," more missions and addition items, including "Cerberus Assault Armor which boost shields, health and heavy weapon ammo and the M-22 Eviscerator Shotgun."

Those that buy Mass Effect 2 will be able to access "The Cerebus Network," and thus obtain the game's downloadable add-ons, for an as-yet-undisclosed price.

Chris Faylor was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
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    January 19, 2010 9:18 AM

    Damn you BioWare, I'm not even 30% done with Dragon Age. Please stop tempting me!

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      January 19, 2010 9:49 AM

      Am I the only one that breezed through the main story of DA quickly? I think I have sunk 50 hours max. into it and I'm at the end.

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        January 19, 2010 10:19 AM

        I don't often play RPGs but 50 hours sounds epic!

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          January 19, 2010 11:26 AM

          Umm, considered one could easily go well into the 100s in FFVII with doing everything...

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            January 19, 2010 4:45 PM

            I was like in the 140s, and still didn't master all the Materia.

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            January 20, 2010 2:20 AM

            I'd probably end up depressed if I thought about just how much time I spent playing that game. I knew I was in trouble when I maxed out the clock at 99:99:99 at a little over halfway through the game :/

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          January 19, 2010 2:08 PM

          I think since they've come out, I must have sunk at least 10 days or so in BG2 and ToB. 50 hours for a single playthrough is decently respectable for Bioware's latest games.

          I did pretty much everything I could on my goody goody character and ended up at around 56 hours I think.

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        January 19, 2010 10:37 AM

        Yeah, DA:O was pretty short.

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          January 19, 2010 11:26 AM

          Thank you, now I don't feel like as much of a tool.

          Although, to be honest, the wife was hounding me for various chores, so that explains my haste perhaps more than the game's length.

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          January 19, 2010 3:57 PM

          Compared to what? DA:O is the longest PC game I've played in ages that didn't come from Bethesda.

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        January 19, 2010 11:59 AM

        i'm at 50 hours and i haven't gotten to the dwarf city at all yet.

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        January 19, 2010 2:36 PM

        It took me 80 hours :-D

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      January 19, 2010 11:58 AM

      I'm actually glad its short becuz i plan on running through it for all 6 origin stories and possible playthrough. /gives self wedgie

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