It took me three separate tries to make it through the original Mass Effect, because for whatever reason I never could "get it." Characters got stuck behind objects. Difficulty fluctuated wildly. Shepard ran on what looked like a slant when you turned him. Regardless, something clicked that third time, and I fell in love with the game, despite the flaws it had. Mass Effect 2 feels much like that third time for me. I love the game, and yet there are things changed – for better and worse – that somewhat take away from the original game and the potential of this sequel.

EA just revealed their financial earnings and a schedule of when big name projects will be coming out next. Noteworthy among the news is the reveal that something "far-reaching" would be appearing for the Mass Effect franchise within the January 1 and March 31 of 2011 timeframe. Are we getting installment three so soon? Is it going to be an expansion like Dragon Age: Awakening? Is it going to be a spin-off? I'm looking forward to finding out.

Also, on a side note, we'll have a review of Mass Effect 2 this week soon. Stay tuned.

Here are all the sex related scenes in Mass Effect 2 for your viewing pleasure. More after the jump.

Must. Have. Now!

Mass Effect 2 isn't even out yet, but there's already talk of DLC and what the first content will actually be. It seems to be going the Dragon Age route, as there's content such as weapons and armor, plus a new planet, and even a new character to join you on your adventure - Zaeed Messani.

Some of this stuff better be free or there's going to be a lot of pissed people. How can you have day one DLC and justify it as not being a part of the game though left out for the sole sake of making a buck?

Maybe it's just me, but when going into a new game, I'd like to have the backstory first and not after the fact. Take for example Mass Effect: Retribution - a prequel to the upcoming Mass Effect 2. The problem, however, is the fact that the book doesn't come out till July. What? Well, at least it sounds pretty interesting.

"Retribution is set in the universe fans know well from the video game and novel series - one in which humanity has explored the very farthest reaches of the universe, only to discover the ruthless Reapers, a race bent on extinguishing all organic life. One man is bent on discovering the Reapers' secrets, the mysterious Illusive Man, the leader of a pro-human, black ops group, Cerberus. And he's devised the perfect plan: implant a human subject with Reaper technology in order to study the enemy.

He also has the perfect test subject--Paul Grayson, an ex-Cerberus operative. Grayson betrayed Cerberus in order to save his daughter. So when Grayson is kidnapped and made the subject of Cerberus' evil experiments, the Illusive Man will finally have his revenge..."

This character reveal of Subject Zero has made picking my team of misfits all that easier, because Subject Zero scares the crap out of me. I don't think I like the idea of having someone on my team being so morally corrupt.

I mostly used the various aliens in the original Mass Effect, but after seeing this video, I might just have to add a human to the group. I could also see myself hooking up with Miranda throughout the course of the game if presented the chance. Being voiced and made to look like Chuck's Yvonne Strahovski is certainly going to make it hard for me to stay true to my love from the first game - Liara.

I always used my alien buddies in the original Mass Effect, so after watching the following video featuring Thane, I definitely know of one guy that's already going to be on my team. Grunt - meh - not so much. After what went down between Wrex and me in the first game, I think I've sworn off working with Krogans.

Do.Want.Now!

I just finally finished the first game yesterday, so I'm really excited about Mass Effect 2 now. Already have the collector's edition pre-bought. If you need something to get you ever more pumped and wishing the game was here now, watch the following cinematic trailer.

Bioware likes using quality voice actors. Dragon Age Origins had an excellent cast for the most part and many recognizable celebrity voices. The vocal talent continues with Mass Effect 2, as Bioware has just revealed some of the big actors lending their voices to the game.

- Martin Sheen -- Illusive Man commanding Cerberus
- Shohreh Adhdashloo -- Admiral Shala'Raan vas Tonbay
- Seth Green -- Joker
- Yvonne Strahovski -- Miranda Lawson
- Adam Baldwin -- Kal 'Reegar
- David Keith Keith David -- Admiral David Anderson
- Michael Dorn -- Gatatog Uvenk
- Tricia Helfer -- EDI, voice of the "new Normandy"
- Michael Hogan -- Captain Bailey
- Carrie-Anne Moss -- Aria T'Loak

I want to say Yvonne's character is the woman on the box cover. Doesn't it look like they have the same face? All I know is I better get to have a relationship with Yvonne's character...and I mean that in the most carnal way possible.

Overall it's an excellent cast and one that should be familiar to any sci-fi fan worth anything.

Mass Effect 2 is set to be another huge release for Bioware and in more ways than one. Sure, we knew it was going to have a massive quests and lots of side-stories and stuff like the first game, but now there's so much stuff happening that the game has to be told over two discs. Chris Priestly - the Community Coordinator for Bioware - revealed on the forums yesterday:

"Ok some details for you.

1 - Yes, there are 2 game discs for both the PC and Xbox 360 versions, both the Collector's and standard editions.

2 - There is a 3rd disc with the Collector's Edition. This is a movie DvD containing making of and other bonus information.

3 - The PC version is a standard install. You install the information from both discs and then play with 1 disc in the drive. No swapping.

4 - The Xbox 360 does not have an install and does require disc swapping during play.

5 - Even though there is a disc swap, it occurs at a carefully planned place in the game (that does not interfere with gameplay) and is done once. You do not swap back and forth. 1 swap and then done.

6 - Why 2 discs? Answer: Because you cannot fit this much awesome on one disc."

Mass Effect 2 is yet another game getting the collector's edition treatment when it releases on January 26th of next year. So what will you get for forking over ten extra bucks?

The Collectors' Edition of Mass Effect 2 will feature a 48-page, hardcover art book, the first issue of the Mass Effect: Redemption comic, a bonus DVD with making-of footage, and exclusive in-game weapons and armor.