Mass Effect gets animated next summer

The Mass Effect series is already pretty cinematic, but it's about to get even more so. BioWare and Electronic Arts announced a deal with FUNimation Entertainment today, to produce a Mass Effect anime movie. Work on the movie has already begun, and it's due in stores (not theaters) in summer of 2012. T.O Entertainment, which is also handling the Dragon Age anime, has signed on as co-producer.

The movie will take place within the Mass Effect universe, but the annoucment doesn't mention the series protagonist Shepard. More likely, this movie will expand the universe like the series of Drew Karpyshyn-penned novels, or the movies EA has financed to cross-promote Dead Space and Dante's Inferno.

"Over the last few years, we have revealed different pieces of the Mass Effect world through different media," said executive producer Casey Hudson. "Extending the story through an anime medium is another amazing opportunity for us. Partnering with FUNimation ensures that we will bring this rich universe to life with the utmost quality and the same attention to detail that the Mass Effect games are known for."

The movie might be good and all, but can you hit a button prompt to punch a reporter in the face? No. And that is why the games will always be better.