All or Nothing for Mass Effect on PS3

"Mass Effect is a brilliant gaming experience. Legendary RPG developers Bioware created one of the most immersive Sci-Fi universes in entertainment history, and then managed to infuse traditional genre elements with fast-paced real-time action and an organic multi-threaded conversation system. The net result was one of the genre's most approachable experiences, sucking many a hater into a style of gameplay they would usually avoid. With all this in mind, you can understand why persistent rumours that the series could be going multi-format for its sequel have been latched upon by hopeful PlayStation gamers worldwide.

However, that hope may very well have been squashed by the recent run of Mass Effect 2 related information to surface from the GDC." - from gameplayer

[SasanovaS777]

do your self a favor and listen carefully to what the guy said. the beginning of the game, opening, will be different with the save file. but the beginning never made the game. the story of the first mass effect can easily be covered by playing the second one, and thats what it will happen. if by any chance you do have a saved file, which you probably dont since you have no Gigs to save your file and keep it saved since you deleted it to try and fit a demo of another game on your harddrive (lol), but if you do, you will be treated to an opening that will easily connect the first story with the second. no, i am not a developer, but i think like one, and im sure thats how it will go. dont worry, that saved file wont have much effect on the rest of the game after the first couple of missions in the opening of the game...

[SasanovaS777]

and 1 more thing, they have to include some relevance to the first mass effect to add more to its sales. its the final step in selling the first game, which is why they have to give you some incentive to play the first...this has been done so many times before and NEVER did it effect the game the way most people want it to

[lord_of_balrogs]

You can choose to have the full story, or a story you won't fully understand by buying a story driven sequel but not having played the 1st one. Obviously there will be a plot summary at the beginning but that does not equal knowledge of the story. I only see the PS3 getting number 2 if it gets number 1 and at this rate, a year and half it doesn't seem likely that the PS3 to recieve the original.

[ravinash]

Fact is that its possible that people playing Mass Effect 2 on PS3 have played it on the first one.
Just because they started playing it on one system does not mean that they will forever have to play it on that system.
MGS is a good example of a story driven series that have crossed platforms but didn't require you playing the first one before you could get into the second...third, etc.
Plus its crazy for them to not make it accessible for people who have not played the first one no matter what system its on as they don't want to limit a sales number to only what the first one did.

[Masta_fro]

it would be great

if we learned to use

paragraphs.

:P

[SlappingOysters]

yeah but previous games didn't intigrate the gameplay and story such as Mass Effect plans. If you had both consoles and had Mass Effect on one, would you buy the sequel on the other given the way the save games behave?

[aldesko]

The original ME didn't sell as well as it deserved... I highly doubt EA would allow BioWare to make a game that can only be played by people who played the first.

I personally know two people who bought Mass Effect and hated it. So let's say 2 million people bought the original on 360 and 75% will buy ME2... that's 1.5 million sales for ME2 if EA is lucky. Now ME3 comes along and 75% of the people who played ME2 are interested... that's less than 1.15 million sales.

Usually sequels are designed to attract new players, not the other way around... although there aren't many AAA RPG trilogies like Mass Effect to compare with. Also, let's remember this is EA we're talking about. There's no reason for them not to port it to PS3 considering it will be a AAA game. PS3 has few good RPGs and I'm sure Mass Effect 2 would be a welcome addition.

[morganfell]

I played Mass Effect. I still have it on the 360 and PC. The article acts as if there is a dire necessity for the first one in order to even understand the second one. That isn't necessary for PS3 owners any more than it will be for 360 owners that did not get the first one.

As far as story, please. PS3 owners played MGS4. We know all about intricate stories. For fans that did not play the prior 6 canon games, they did miss plenty in MGS4. Still the game as a stand alone offered an experience better than any last year. The Mass Effect story spans a single game thus far and the nuance and detail doesn't approach even the outer solar system of Metal Gear complexity.

[beardpapa]

I played kotor 1 and kotor 2. Even though I saved the galaxy from doom in the first game, the 2nd game started off with the Sith controlling everything. With that in mind, it's possible for ME2 to be designed in a way like kotor 2, without really needing the player to have played ME1 to be able to enjoy the game.

[pixelsword]

It's on the PC.

You don't need a 360.

The PS3 doesn't need it.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

Yeah just get it on PC I'm sure Microsoft wont mind.

[harrisk954]

However, Bioware simply cannot make ME2 inaccessible to newcomers... it doesn't matter if it ever comes to PS3 and stays exclusive to the Xbox... the fact of the matter is that many people will not go back and play the first game just to play the second one. Many who either did not by ME or did not have an Xbox at the time or didn't save the file or lost their original Xbox due to RROD might even be turned off if they feel that they need to play the first.

The fact that you can use an ME game save to enhance your experience sounds like an awesome concept and may push some to buy and ME before playing ME2 (thus creating additional sales)... However, it is unreasonable for Bioware to expect people to do so. They will, by necessity, have to have an alternative to maintaining the gaming experience to make it just as exciting for newcomers to the game. Plus, would anyone expect EA to make a game inaccessible to newcomers?

As a non-gaming analogy, look at Lost. It is one of the best, most innovative shows of all time -- a genre changer. However, anyone who may be interested in getting started will have a difficult time figuring out what the hell is going on if you haven't seen the first 4 seasons... Because of this, the show has lost viewers over the course of the series and is nowhere near as popular now as it was the first season. To take that a step further, the Lost experience can be enhanced by going on the internet and participating in all of the forums, games, etc. Some will do that, but most won't.

The same thing is true of a video game such as ME (or even more true, since a game is an active experience that involves work, while a television show is a passive experience requiring no work). How many will go back and do the extra work involved in enhancing the ME experience by playing the first one??? Who knows. And doesn't that issue become even more pronounced by the time that ME3 comes out?? I don't believe that EA or Bioware will take that risk and will make sure that everyone has a great experience playing ME2 even if they didn't play ME.

[xwabbit]

played ME 1 on my PC, was good

[raztad]

@aldesko, @harrisk954

Pretty spot on. I fully agree with both. I dont see BioWare or even more EA, making a game ONLY for ME1 owners, that is totally nonsense. What about xbox newcomers? this is a problem every story based franchise needs to solve. God of War is a good example, it is very nice to have played the first but you dont need to in order to play the second.

That said, Im almost sure MS wants to keep this game as a timed exclusive to counter GoWIII launch next year. If true it will cost a lot of money to MS cause a very good chunk of EA profits come from the PS3.

[morganfell]

Just get the PC version. It is published by EA and you likely already have windows so you aren't having to give MS any more money.

[IcarusOne]

Very well thought out points. Have a bubble.

I seriously doubt Bioware is expecting everyone to have played ME1. I have no doubt the game will be inclusive enough to allow new players into the fold. It sounds like the save game function will, as you speculated, only enhance the ME2 and ME3 playthroughs. The beauty of this design is that when players get sucked into ME2 and hear all the little references to Shepherd to in the first game, they will be more inclined to do check out ME1.

As for your Lost analogy: I've loved Lost since the beginning, but I didn't start watching it until after Season 2. Let me tell you, buying those first two seasons was one of the best purchases of my life. For two weekends, I've never had so much fun getting Lost. And I speculate that the reason the viewership has dropped off is because the show is now starting to unravel (last week's episode notwithstanding). Plus, ABC's marketing is retarded. But I digress. The point is I had no qualms about shelling out the dough to get into this show correctly. And gamers are an obsessive bunch. If ME2 works on them, they'll have no problem getting into the first.

I think this type of storytelling is not something to be feared but embraced and applauded.

[No Way]

Hmmm, I also think like a developer, and, I must say, you sound like an idiot..

@harrisk954 - Whether or not they use a previous save file, the story is still going to branch on from the first game, so you'd just be missing out on a lot of story..

@beardpapa - True.. But, their is a BIG difference. In Kotor1 and Kotor2 there was like separation of a few hundred years.. Whereas ME1 and ME2 there will only be a few year separation.

[Acidicpack]

I really hope that this game drops on the PS3. Having played both the 360 and PC versions of Mass Effect 1 I have to say that this will truly be a great game and it should not be missed by any gamer given what console that he or she mite own.

I hope that they keep the user interface that was given to the PC. It made playing ME much easier. They also need keep the new inventory system that was on the PC as well.

If your going to disagree with my comment please explain why. I'm getting tired off all these phantom disagrees by stupid fan boys.

[Rmagnus]

people will disagree with you if you make too much sense ^^

Having said that I don't really care for mass effect 1 nor 2 simply because I am not a big fan of sci-fi. Give me dragons, knights and mages anytime =)

[Acidicpack]

Bioware is dropping a game this summer call Dragon Age that looks to be killer. I'm definitely going to pick it up.

Even if you don't like ME you should still try to play or at least watch the last 45 min of the game. The ending to ME was just plain epic as hell.

[Rmagnus]

ya after i read that "BioWare co-CEO Ray Muzyka describes Dragon Age: Origins as a 'spiritual successor' to the Baldur's Gate series"

I can't wait for it! and they said 2008 was a good year for gaming, 2009 is just crazy!!!

[cmrbe]

because i think it should remain on the x360. I want bioware to do the best they can with ME2 on the x360. However with EA publishing. I know for sure it will eventually be on the PS3.

ME and bioshock started on the x360. If it was up to me they would be exclusive and be showcases for the x360. This is why there should be more than 1 conoles.

There is no point in having multiple consoles if there are little or no exclusives to justify their existence.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

Why would anyone buy the PC version and the 360 version? both are the same game, you ether waste money or your lieing.

[Babypuncher]

"Why would anyone buy the PC version and the 360 version? both are the same game, you ether waste money or your lieing."

i own several of the same games on all platforms. Why? Because I can.

[Acidicpack]

Well Jason I'm no lair. I bought the PC version on steam due to the revamped inventory system, better hud layout, faster load times, better graphics and it was on sale for $14.99. Given the fact that I work nights for 7 days and get a 3 hr break I can play it on my laptop at work.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

So when games come out on 3 platforms PC, 360, and PS3 you buy all 3? Why don't you give that wasted money to the bum down the street so he can eat tonight. Sorry bro I think your just full of it.

[blackpanther25]

its not special having more than one copy of a game.
I have 2 copies of:
Rock band (first one is badly scratched still works sometimes)
Halo 3
Halo 2
L4D(steam)
Age of Empires III
Mass effect (one for 360 and one for pc)

Mass effect is a special. i got the a pc version as well because they said they were gonna fix bugs and make improvements. I bought an extras of my fps so that i can play with someone on two 360s or two Pc

[Acidicpack]

I guess some people cant seem to grasp how kick ass it is to be playing an epic game like Mass Effect on your laptop at work and be able to get away with it lol.

Seems a damn good reason to buy an extra copy of the game if you ask me lol

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

I hope the second one comes to PS3.

I played the first one through on PC.

It's only 20 bucks people. Come on!

EDIT: Disagrees?

What? You guys don't want a PS3 version?

[SlappingOysters]

This could be the biggest single thing holding back the PS3 version of the game. The original was made on that I believe, and it probably isn't worth the time investment to get the bloody thing working smoothly.

And while the game was awesome, its sales were merely solid (2 mil I think) not blockbuster.

[DelbertGrady]

2 million on 360 alone. For an rpg that's pretty impressive.

In comparison, "blockbuster" exclusives like LBP and Uncharted sold in the same range while Resistance 2(1.53 mil) and Motorstorm 2(0.63 mil) bombed in comparison. Games that were aimed at a much broader audience.

Also, Mass Effect was never bundled like the other games were. If it had been it would probably have reached 3 or 4 million.

[meatnormous]

R2 and MS2 are still fairly new games while ME has been out for awhile now. I picked up ME and played it for a short time. I haven't devoted time to ME yet cause if the game is as good as people say it is, I want plenty of time to play it when it sucks me in.

[SlappingOysters]

I like it. But if Gears went to PS3, for example, the sale potential would make it much more worth it. I think Mass Effect would get a decent but not stellar Ps3 audience.

Look how hard Bioshock flopped on PS3.

[RememberThe357]

Are you kidding me? MS pushed the hell outta Mass Effect, much more then Sony pushed R2.

MS advertises their games, their not Sony.

And to me R2 and MS:PR aren't nearly as good as ME, so I'm glad to see the better game sell more, that usually isn't the case.

@SlappingOysters: Bioshock bombed because they released a game that was a year old at full price. If it was even 49.99 it would have sold much better.

[cayal]

"Motorstorm 2(0.63 mil)"

Motorstorm 2 has hit over 1 million.

[cmrbe]

who are you trying to fool?.

You know very well that ME had way more advertising and game journalist attention than R2 or M2.

again. Who are you trying to fool?.

[DelbertGrady]

What's the point of releasing games on the PS3 if they don't sell as well as on the 360? Sony's 1st party devs must be under some heavy contracts. I bet Sega learned their lesson with Valkyria Chronicles. I expect the same reception for Mass Effect 1 or 2, if any of them go multi.

[Pennywise]

Soda/Mart You try so hard to convince others of what you are saying, but I am unsure if you even believe it.

[DelbertGrady]

Is that so, Pennywise/SasanovaS777/ultimol u/Juuken/morganfell/crmbe/nasim ?

[Tiberium]

That's right, multiple accounts = fanboy.

[deshon09]

sad to hear but not to big of a loss

[RememberThe357]

since it was never actually on the system.

[anubis12]

i cant wait for this game to grace my presence Playing the first one right now over again good times

[ShinFuYux]

The story is pretty straight forward, nothing spectacular. But the way they actually told it; it was told in a very unique way.

[forcefullpower]

I really do hope this comes to the PS3 as Mass Effect was awesome.

Have to admit it was heavy on processing power on the PC. But i will be playing it on the PC again. ME running at 1900x1200 on sli machine is awesome compared to playing it on a 360.

Please why do fanboys keep coming up with this PS3 can't have it as you need a save file from the first ME. The DEV's said if you have a save from the first it means you can use your characters you had before. It DOES NOT stop you playing ME2.

[Neo604]

too many crazy ps3 games to look forward to and that's a lot of time and money on games already.

[GameOn]

I know the PS3 has a load of exclusives on the way, but I didn't realise they had many WRPG's coming.

[JD_Shadow]

...you'd think they are actually keeping the thought that they want to keep that option avaliable. They haven't ever come out and deny that they were making it. They have only done this shoddy beating around the bush BS that they've always done around the question.

Thing is, we do need an answer one way or another. Bioware, if you're not going to make it a same-day release for the PS3 or at all, then deny the rumors outright. If you're going to make it, come out and say you will, then tell us your solution as to how the PS3 gamers will be able to experience this entire story. But say SOMETHING other than the "we COULD, but we don't know if we SHOULD" BS because it's getting annoying.

You know, though, it IS funny that THIS article is made just some hours before we're supposed to get a major announcement about the PS3 system. Did anyone think about a possible announcement that the Mass Effect trilogy could be gracing the PS3, and maybe THAT is the announcement? Remember, the announcement is about the PS3, NOT the PS2.

[RememberThe357]

I would like a straight HONEST answer to the question myself, but I bought it will even come.

[Baba1906]

i think this has been a fun ride for bioware. they are teasing and teasing with a ps3 version that will never come, just to make all fans of all consoles really interested in the game.

i would so love this on the ps3 couse i dont own a 360, but i have really lost hope. it has passed way to much time for this to be announced and than released on ps3.

[jkhan]

You know the most funniest thing that could happen. EA bundles MassEffect 1 & 2 on a single bluray for the ps3 6 months after MassEffect 2 xbox360 launch.

[meatnormous]

With a blu ray disc, you could fit numerous 360 games on 1 disc. I wish Square Enix would re release all past ff titles on 1 Blu Ray. Could you imagine the strategy guide for that game.

[Microsoft Xbox 360]

After seeing the video clips of ME2, I suddenly don't want that piece of crap game you call Mass Effect 2. Keep it on the garbage ass Xbox 360.

[STONEY4]

Those clips were part of a development video. You're judging a game based on a development video from GDC, and the game isn't even finished yet.

[Mr Tretton]

This idea that in order for Mass Effect to hold relevance on the PS3...or that it can't...just remember that MGS2 was on the Xbox.

Or, remember that MGS2 was on the PS2 for that matter..which might have been sold to many people that didn't play the first. No different from MGS4 on the PS3....OR, that's right...Halo 3 on the Xbox 360

[GUNS N SWORDS]

...............you know, i thought that no ps3 gamer would be interested in the game after all the insults that it received in the past.

......were these insults real insults or were they out of jealousy, cause if they were real then........why would any care for a port in the first place?

[RememberThe357]

No "ps3 gamer" was talking sh*t about that game. Only the stupid fanboys that don't know what to do with themselves were the ones saying anything negative.

Not all PS3 gamers are PS3 fanboys, just like not all 360 gamer are 360 fanboys. Don't generalize a small group of vocal individuals as being the representation of the whole of the PS3 user base.

Most of us either don't care, have a 360, or are openly envious of the game.

[cmrbe]

I don't care. Not really a big RPG fan.

[solidjun5]

So bringing up flamebait comments just to justify your purchase truly shows your colors. Stop generalizing when a small sample (mainly Nasim and his multiple accounts) usually say those stupid comments.

[RowSand 84]

lool me2 looks terrible..

[Why dis]

I find it funny the notion of this game being on PS3 is still being forced.

[cmrbe]

and publish by anyone else other than EA. People would stop talking about it.

[Valkyre]

Yeah , i hear ya....i suppose you also found it quite hilarious when there was a notion for Bioshock , Dead Rising , Lost Planet , Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 ,Eternal Sonata , etc etc coming to PS3...

Yet all these ex-exclusives of 360 , actually made it to PS3.
And now with EA owning Mass Effect IP you still find it funny.(can any1 please tell me an exclusive game coming from EA?)

But you know what?Even if Mass Effect doesnt come out for PS3 , PS3 has a ton of exclusive games coming in 2009 , that most people wont even care as much...Heavy rain , Uncharted 2 , God of War III ,Ratchet and Clank , Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, Gran Turismo 5,MAG and many more both for retail and PSN.Νot to mention a huge amount of exclusive titles still unannounced like Team ICO and level 5 projects etc etc...

Really what has 360 announced for 2009?Everyone said "wait for GDC announcements" sooo, where are the announcements?Where are the games?I guess it is now the era of the argument "360 has no games" just like xbots where saying all this time for ps3.

So i find it funny that Mass Effect 2 is one of the last exclusives for 360 worth talking about.I find it even more hilarious about how desperate some people are for it to stay exclusive.So i pray for you.And i hope it does stay exclusive.

Just so you can have a better argument than "360 had Halo 3.5 in 2009".And i pray you get a couple more exclusives , cause as of right now 360 looks like a multiplatform gaming fest.

[GUNS N SWORDS]

(Valkyre)

"Really what has 360 announced for 2009?Everyone said "wait for GDC announcements" sooo, where are the announcements?Where are the games?I guess it is now the era of the argument "360 has no games" just like xbots where saying all this time for ps3."

XBOTS?

hey that's offensive, just say gamers.

[Valkyre]

@ GUNS AND SWORDS

No man , i wont say gamers.I was mostly sarcastic when saying this.Because even now , if you ask 360 fanboys about PS3 , they will STILL tell you PS3 has no games.I could agree with this argument in 2007 (which is normal cause the 1st year of any console isnt that awesome , the same happened with 360 too), but from 2008 and afterwards PS3 had a ton of great games coming out for it.Yet , throughout all of 2008 , the never-ending argument "PS3 has no games" was still being thrown at all the time.

I do know that 360 has great games , it is just that at this point in time , 360 lacks exclusive and most importantly ORIGINAL content big time.

So i am being sarcastic to all those people who were bashing ps3 for no reason all these years.

[Tony P]

"I do know that 360 has great games , it is just that at this point in time , 360 lacks exclusive and most importantly ORIGINAL content big time."

^^^Ugly but accurate truth. Will we have to wait till E3 to finally get some new exclusives for our 360s? Sure, I have other consoles and my PC to play, but I don't want one of my current gen consoles collecting as much dust as my **********.

Edit: Removed console name to avoid flaming.

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

That wasn't footage from the game itself. They were just showing how they develop a game.

What are you people smoking lately?

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

LOL

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

Droids must be getting tired of playing Killzone 2 for the next 8 months so they want ME.

[Beg For Mercy]

Actually Droids just wanna take one of the 360 exclusives, so you can se how it feels but its ok though cause we have so many games to play and look forward to.

[Deadman64]

lol "so you can see how it feels", man this console war has gone too far.

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

Jason...

Shut up. Nobody wants to hear that crap. You're just trying to make people mad.

I have and love Killzone 2.

I would still love to see Mass Effect 2 on the PS3. I played through the first one on PC and loved it! I just don't really care for the PC setup or for taking more HDD space.

[SprayandPreycom]

they make the guy faster .... way faster

[Christopher]

While I can agree with the author of the article in regards to getting the full experience, there is no way that BioWare isn't presenting Mass Effect 2 in a manner that isn't intended to be played from start to finish without any need for previous content.

Even the modification and addition of new skills (dual wielding) alone will separate the two in a major way that most players will likely start from scratch rather than bringing their old character over from the old game.

The level of 'episodic investment' in Mass Effect 2 will be the same as that in Metal Gear Solid 4. You may miss a lot of the plot elements, but it's still a great game to play even if you haven't played any of the other Metal Gear games.

[Arcturus]

when you have both consoles its all good

[deividpaulo]

this game is ridiculous, let this s***t to stay with Microsoft....

uaheuheuahea

[skottey]

It is funny how rumors change. The original rumor was that Mass Effect 2 would be changing platforms (example here from a story I read earlier this week, http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/... )

But then the fact that this game was planned as a trilogy and that you could carry over your character from game one to game two and that it would be impossible to import a game save on the PS3 from the first game on the 360, the rumor changed from Mass Effect 2 being a possible PS3 exclusive to it being a muli-platform release. They were calling it fuel in the fire of what has Microsoft worried about Sony and the PS3. Why would it worry MS if the game is multi-platform? I can understand why it would worry MS if Bioware released it as a PS3 exclusive, but why would it bother them if it was multi-platform? The fact is, it wouldn't. And the fact is, it is not changing platforms. Could it be released on the 360 and PS3? Sure. Can you play it without having played the first game or having a game save? Sure. But there is a HUGE difference between a game being a multi-platform game and a game that is exclusive to a single system. At most, this game would be released on the 360 and the PS3. Again, it is impossible to bring over a saved game into the PS3 from the first game on the 360. So, it is either going to be a 360 and PC release, or a 360, PC, and PS3 release. It is NOT going to be a PS3 exclusive release. And yes, it is true, a Playstation 3 player might be able to get the background story and play the second game as a new character, but it would not be near as fun as having actually played the first game and importing your character into the second game. That is a big part of the excitement about the series.

This rumor was tainted from the beginning for anybody that actually has played Mass Effect and knows about carrying your character over. They picked the wrong game to lie about.

Also, I have seen literally hundreds of PS3 fanboys calling the game stupid or crummy. Why on earth would they want the sequel to such a rotten game on the PS3 if they hate the first one so bad? Maybe the truth is coming out, even the PS3 fanboys realize how wonderful Mass Effect is and they only wish the sequel was a PS3 exclusive.

[anubis12]

all i see are jealous people who only own a ps3....the ones who said they have it on pc..well then buy it for pc support and thank MIcrosoft STILL and stop saying so ill just for pc...........or ill say everything my ps3 can do my PC can do makeing the ps3 basically useless besides PS3 games......................... ............................... ...

until this BELOW changes then you talk crap

1. wii
2. 360
3. ps3

[pippoppow]

1.Wii= lowest amount of high quality titles
2.360= most unreliable hardware and least amount of true exclusives
3.PS3=Most expensive
This Gen really is screwy. Oh and unless MS publishes or owns the IP they will not see a dime from PC game sales.

[skottey]

pippoppow-

Isn't "Games For Windows" a certifiable guarantee to customers that that game will work on your Vista PC. It takes it further than just reading on the side of the box and seeing a system requirement that has never been tested by MS. There is no small payment to MS for MS to test and certify it as a GFW? Anybody can create a game and use the GFW logo with no limit or standard in place by MS to insure that it works? I'm honestly asking because I do not know for sure. I am MS certified and an MS partner in the computer world and I know they don't just let you use their logos for their various certifications and specializations.

Are you really saying Games For Windows means nothing, anybody can put the logo on their box, and that MS gets not even a dime for approving these games?

I just picked up one of my PC games and read the fine print and it does say the Games For Windows logo is licensed from MS. So I answered that part of the question there. We now know not just anybody can use the logo. So they are evaluating these third party games free of charge and giving them the stamp of approval to use the logo? Wow. Amazing. Doesn't sound like the Microsoft I know.