<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
is	O
an	O
action	B-Application
role-playing	I-Application
game	I-Application
developed	O
by	O
BioWare	O
and	O
originally	O
released	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
in	O
2007	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
series	O
,	O
and	O
takes	O
place	O
within	O
the	O
Milky	O
Way	O
galaxy	O
in	O
the	O
year	O
2183	O
,	O
where	O
civilization	O
is	O
threatened	O
by	O
a	O
highly	O
advanced	O
machine	O
race	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Reapers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Planned	O
as	O
the	O
first	O
chapter	O
of	O
a	O
trilogy	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
was	O
developed	O
over	O
the	O
course	O
of	O
three	O
and	O
a	O
half	O
years	O
,	O
and	O
uses	O
the	O
Unreal	B-Operating_System
Engine	I-Operating_System
3	O
as	O
a	O
groundwork	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
combat	O
was	O
designed	O
to	O
offer	O
the	O
tactics	O
and	O
customization	O
of	O
a	O
role-playing	O
game	O
,	O
but	O
through	O
a	O
simpler	O
and	O
real-time	O
third-person	O
shooter	O
interface	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2008	O
and	O
2009	O
,	O
two	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
packs	O
that	O
introduced	O
new	O
missions	O
to	O
the	O
base	O
game	O
were	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
received	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
,	O
and	O
sold	O
over	O
one	O
and	O
a	O
half	O
million	O
copies	O
by	O
January	O
2008	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Critics	O
praised	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
interactive	O
storytelling	O
and	O
cinematic	O
design	O
,	O
but	O
chastised	O
its	O
unbalanced	O
combat	O
mechanics	O
and	O
poor	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
.	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
was	O
ported	O
to	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
in	O
2008	O
and	O
2012	O
,	O
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
followed	O
by	O
the	O
sequels	B-Language
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
in	O
2010	O
and	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
in	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2021	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
was	O
remastered	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
Legendary	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
is	O
a	O
single-player	O
action	B-Application
role-playing	I-Application
game	I-Application
in	O
which	O
the	O
player	O
takes	O
the	O
role	O
of	O
Commander	O
Shepard	O
from	O
a	O
third-person	O
perspective	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Combat	O
in	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
is	O
squad-based	O
and	O
two	O
squad	O
members	O
accompany	O
the	O
player	O
on	O
the	O
battlefield	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
has	O
direct	O
control	O
of	O
Shepard	O
while	O
the	O
squad	O
members	O
are	O
controlled	O
by	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
.	I-Application
</s>
<s>
The	O
health	O
bar	O
only	O
takes	O
damage	O
once	O
the	O
shields	O
have	O
been	O
destroyed	O
,	O
but	O
environmental	O
hazards	B-General_Concept
like	O
heat	O
or	O
toxic	O
agents	O
may	O
directly	O
affect	O
the	O
health	O
bar	O
if	O
they	O
are	O
not	O
negated	O
entirely	O
by	O
wearing	O
appropriate	O
armor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
conversations	O
with	O
characters	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
employs	O
a	O
radial	O
command	O
menu	O
,	O
called	O
Dialogue	O
Wheel	O
,	O
where	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
dialogue	O
options	O
depend	O
on	O
wheel	O
direction	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
is	O
set	O
within	O
the	O
Milky	O
Way	O
galaxy	O
in	O
the	O
year	O
2183	O
where	O
interstellar	O
travel	O
is	O
possible	O
through	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
mass	O
transit	O
devices	O
called	O
Mass	O
Relays	O
,	O
a	O
technology	O
believed	O
to	O
have	O
been	O
built	O
by	O
an	O
extinct	O
alien	O
race	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Protheans	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
term	O
"	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
"	O
is	O
defined	O
as	O
a	O
form	O
of	O
mass-negating	O
technology	O
,	O
allowing	O
the	O
creation	O
of	O
physics	O
phenomena	O
,	O
like	O
artificial	O
gravity	O
or	O
FTL	O
travel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
alien	O
races	O
seen	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
include	O
the	O
reptilian	O
krogan	O
,	O
the	O
environmental	O
suited	O
quarians	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
hostile	O
race	O
of	O
networked	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligences	I-Application
called	O
geth	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
characters	O
include	O
[ [ 	O
Normandy	O
(	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
)	O
|SSV	O
Normandy ] ]	O
captain	O
David	O
Anderson	O
(	O
Keith	O
David	O
)	O
and	O
Normandys	O
pilot	O
Jeff	O
"	O
Joker	O
"	O
Moreau	O
(	O
Seth	O
Green	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
the	O
colony	O
of	O
Feros	O
,	O
Shepard	O
acquires	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
comprehend	O
and	O
interpret	O
the	O
images	O
seen	O
in	O
the	O
vision	O
from	O
a	O
former	O
subordinate	O
of	O
Benezia	O
,	O
and	O
learns	O
that	O
Saren	O
's	O
flagship	O
,	O
Sovereign	O
,	O
possesses	O
unique	O
mind-control	O
capabilities	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
the	O
last	O
extinction	B-Application
cycle	O
,	O
a	O
few	O
Protheans	O
survived	O
on	O
Ilos	O
via	O
cryopreservation	O
and	O
then	O
re-entered	O
the	O
Citadel	O
via	O
the	O
Conduit	O
,	O
a	O
reverse-engineered	O
miniature	O
Mass	O
Relay	O
disguised	O
aboard	O
the	O
station	O
as	O
a	O
statue	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Destiny	O
Ascension	O
,	O
the	O
Citadel	O
's	O
flagship	O
with	O
the	O
Council	O
on	O
board	O
,	O
then	O
requests	O
assistance	O
;	O
Shepard	O
must	O
either	O
risk	O
heavy	O
human	O
casualties	O
to	O
save	O
them	O
or	O
sacrifice	O
the	O
Destiny	O
Ascension	O
to	O
allow	O
Alliance	O
reinforcements	O
to	O
concentrate	O
on	O
Sovereign	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
right|thumb|Jack	O
Wall	O
was	O
the	O
main	O
composer	O
of	O
Mass	O
Effect.Mass	O
Effect	O
was	O
developed	O
by	O
BioWare	O
and	O
directed	O
by	O
Casey	O
Hudson	O
,	O
who	O
previously	O
directed	O
BioWare	O
's	O
2003	O
title	O
Star	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
:	I-Application
Knights	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Old	I-Application
Republic	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Preproduction	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
began	O
in	O
early	O
2004	O
,	O
shortly	O
after	O
the	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
version	O
of	O
Knights	O
of	O
the	O
Old	O
Republic	O
was	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
the	O
development	O
team	O
was	O
already	O
experienced	O
with	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Application
console	I-Application
,	O
they	O
decided	O
to	O
develop	O
the	O
game	O
originally	O
for	O
its	O
successor	O
,	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
,	O
due	O
to	O
its	O
improved	O
processing	O
power	O
and	O
development	O
tools	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
uses	O
the	O
Unreal	B-Operating_System
Engine	I-Operating_System
3	O
as	O
a	O
groundwork	O
,	O
but	O
on	O
top	O
of	O
that	O
the	O
team	O
developed	O
additional	O
components	O
for	O
advanced	O
digital	O
actors	O
,	O
space	O
exploration	O
,	O
and	O
squad	O
combat	O
,	O
resulting	O
in	O
BioWare	O
's	O
largest	O
programming	O
project	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Because	O
BioWare	O
wanted	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
memorable	O
story	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
was	O
envisioned	O
as	O
the	O
first	O
chapter	O
of	O
a	O
trilogy	O
from	O
the	O
very	O
beginning	O
,	O
and	O
having	O
a	O
considerable	O
technological	O
basis	O
would	O
help	O
shorten	O
the	O
development	O
cycle	O
of	O
its	O
future	O
sequels	B-Language
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hudson	O
explained	O
that	O
they	O
wanted	O
to	O
evolve	O
the	O
pseudo-turn-based	O
combat	O
of	O
Knights	O
of	O
the	O
Old	O
Republic	O
into	O
a	O
real-time	O
third-person	O
shooter	O
interface	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
combat	O
was	O
meant	O
to	O
offer	O
the	O
tactics	O
and	O
customization	O
of	O
a	O
role-playing	O
game	O
,	O
but	O
through	O
a	O
simpler	O
and	O
more	O
intuitive	O
user	B-Application
interface	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
worked	O
closely	O
with	O
Microsoft	O
on	O
several	O
elements	O
of	O
the	O
interface	B-Application
to	O
make	O
sure	O
the	O
combat	O
was	O
tactical	O
enough	O
,	O
and	O
went	O
through	O
a	O
lot	O
of	O
trial	O
and	O
error	O
to	O
balance	O
the	O
combat	O
between	O
role-playing	O
game	O
and	O
shooter	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Classic	O
space	O
exploration	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
Starflight	B-Application
and	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
were	O
cited	O
as	O
a	O
major	O
inspiration	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
II	I-Application
would	O
also	O
be	O
an	O
inspiration	O
for	O
their	O
writing	O
and	O
character	O
design	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Drew	O
Karpyshyn	O
,	O
who	O
previously	O
served	O
as	O
a	O
senior	O
writer	O
for	O
Knights	O
of	O
the	O
Old	O
Republic	O
,	O
was	O
the	O
lead	O
writer	O
for	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Films	O
such	O
as	O
Star	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
,	O
Alien	O
,	O
Star	O
Trek	O
II	O
:	O
The	O
Wrath	O
of	O
Khan	O
,	O
Blade	B-Application
Runner	I-Application
,	O
Starship	O
Troopers	O
,	O
and	O
especially	O
Final	O
Fantasy	O
:	O
The	O
Spirits	O
Within	O
,	O
were	O
major	O
influences	O
on	O
the	O
atmosphere	O
and	O
artistic	O
qualities	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
chose	O
Jack	O
Wall	O
,	O
who	O
also	O
penned	O
the	O
music	O
for	O
BioWare	O
's	O
2005	O
title	O
Jade	B-Application
Empire	I-Application
,	O
as	O
the	O
main	O
composer	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
due	O
to	O
his	O
ability	O
to	O
produce	O
a	O
wide	O
range	O
of	O
musical	O
styles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Marketing	O
and	O
releaseMass	O
Effect	O
was	O
officially	O
announced	O
at	O
the	O
X05	O
trade	O
show	O
in	O
Amsterdam	O
on	O
October	O
4	O
,	O
2005	O
,	O
as	O
an	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
exclusive	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
was	O
then	O
presented	O
at	O
E3	O
in	O
July	O
2007	O
,	O
where	O
it	O
received	O
Game	O
Critics	O
Awards	O
for	O
Best	O
Console	O
Game	O
and	O
Best	O
Role	O
Playing	O
Game	O
,	O
and	O
at	O
the	O
Games	O
Convention	O
in	O
Leipzig	O
,	O
Germany	O
in	O
August	O
2007	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
If	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
pre-ordered	O
at	O
certain	O
retailers	O
in	O
Australia	O
,	O
players	O
could	O
receive	O
a	O
complimentary	O
bonus	O
disc	O
which	O
included	O
a	O
five-minute	O
behind-the-scenes	O
documentary	O
,	O
tracks	O
from	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
soundtrack	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
trailers.Mass	O
Effect	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
on	O
November	O
20	O
,	O
2007	O
,	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Limited	O
Collector	O
's	O
Edition	O
included	O
a	O
bonus	O
disc	O
of	O
exclusive	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
background	O
material	O
,	O
a	O
soundtrack	O
,	O
and	O
design	O
galleries	O
featuring	O
more	O
than	O
600	O
pieces	O
of	O
artwork	O
with	O
full	O
audio	O
commentaries	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
soundtrack	O
album	O
titled	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
Original	O
Soundtrack	O
,	O
which	O
features	O
37	O
tracks	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
and	O
covers	O
a	O
duration	O
of	O
1:15:59	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
conjunction	O
with	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
version	O
ported	O
by	O
Demiurge	O
Studios	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
May	O
28	O
,	O
2008	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
version	O
features	O
optimized	O
controls	O
designed	O
specifically	O
for	O
personal	B-Device
computers	I-Device
,	O
high-resolution	O
graphics	O
,	O
a	O
new	O
user	B-Application
interface	I-Application
,	O
and	O
other	O
minor	O
changes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
BioWare	O
initially	O
intended	O
to	O
use	O
SecuROM	B-Operating_System
,	O
a	O
digital	O
rights	O
management	O
software	O
which	O
would	O
require	O
online	O
activation	O
after	O
installation	O
and	O
additional	O
authentication	O
checks	O
every	O
ten	O
days	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2012	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
was	O
ported	O
to	O
Sony	O
's	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
console	O
by	O
Edge	O
of	O
Reality	O
,	O
featuring	O
lighting	O
and	O
visual	O
effects	O
improvements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
released	O
digitally	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Network	I-Device
and	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
Trilogy	O
compilation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2015	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
was	O
added	O
to	O
the	O
list	O
of	O
backward	O
compatible	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
games	O
on	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2021	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
was	O
remastered	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
Legendary	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Downloadable	O
contentMass	O
Effect	O
features	O
two	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
packs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
pack	O
,	O
Bring	O
Down	O
the	O
Sky	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
as	O
a	O
paid	O
download	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
on	O
March	O
10	O
,	O
2008	O
,	O
and	O
as	O
a	O
free	O
download	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
on	O
May	O
28	O
,	O
2008	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
pack	O
is	O
included	O
in	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
December	O
4	O
,	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bring	O
Down	O
the	O
Sky	O
was	O
remastered	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
Legendary	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
second	O
pack	O
,	O
Pinnacle	B-Application
Station	I-Application
,	O
was	O
developed	O
by	O
Demiurge	O
Studios	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
released	O
as	O
a	O
paid	O
download	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
and	O
as	O
a	O
free	O
download	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
on	O
August	O
25	O
,	O
2009	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
pack	O
introduces	O
a	O
training	O
facility	O
where	O
the	O
player	O
can	O
compete	O
in	O
eight	O
virtual	B-Application
reality	I-Application
combat	O
scenarios	O
,	O
divided	O
into	O
four	O
different	O
game	O
types	O
like	O
Deathmatch	O
and	O
Capture	B-Application
the	I-Application
flag	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Pinnacle	B-Application
Station	I-Application
was	O
not	O
included	O
in	O
the	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
Legendary	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
of	O
the	O
game	O
due	O
to	O
a	O
loss	O
of	O
its	O
source	O
code	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Upon	O
release	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
received	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
from	O
video	O
game	O
publications	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kevin	O
VanOrd	O
of	O
GameSpot	O
described	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
as	O
"	O
a	O
great	O
game	O
with	O
moments	O
of	O
brilliance	O
and	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
small	O
but	O
significant	O
obstacles	O
that	O
hold	O
it	O
back	O
from	O
reaching	O
its	O
true	O
potential.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Similarly	O
,	O
IGN	O
's	O
Erik	O
Brudvig	O
considered	O
it	O
greater	O
than	O
the	O
sum	O
of	O
its	O
parts	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
although	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
features	O
numerous	O
technical	O
issues	O
,	O
most	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
"	O
is	O
so	O
expertly	O
delivered	O
that	O
it	O
can	O
transcend	O
its	O
weaknesses.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Cameron	O
Lewis	O
of	O
GamePro	O
praised	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
story	O
,	O
depth	O
,	O
and	O
presentation	O
,	O
while	O
Paul	O
Curthoys	O
of	O
Official	O
Xbox	B-Device
Magazine	O
remarked	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
"	O
bothers	O
with	O
emotions	O
and	O
moments	O
that	O
most	O
games	O
do	O
n't	O
concern	O
themselves	O
with	O
"	O
,	O
describing	O
it	O
as	O
"	O
a	O
great	O
science-fiction	O
novel	O
in	O
video	O
game	O
form.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
contrast	O
,	O
Edge	O
concluded	O
that	O
the	O
space	O
opera	O
setting	O
failed	O
to	O
provide	O
"	O
the	O
myth	O
and	O
exotica	O
to	O
adequately	O
follow	O
Star	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
publication	O
also	O
criticized	O
the	O
cast	O
of	O
characters	O
and	O
overall	O
tone	O
,	O
saying	O
that	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
"	O
strives	O
so	O
hard	O
to	O
be	O
taken	O
seriously	O
that	O
it	O
winds	O
up	O
feeling	O
relentlessly	O
dour.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
combat	O
was	O
generally	O
criticized	O
for	O
its	O
unbalanced	O
mechanics	O
and	O
poor	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
of	O
the	O
squad	O
members	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
galaxy	O
exploration	O
was	O
favorably	O
compared	O
to	O
the	O
1986	O
adventure	O
game	O
Starflight	B-Application
and	O
the	O
number	O
of	O
optional	O
missions	O
was	O
highlighted	O
positively	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
Mako	O
sections	O
were	O
disparaged	O
for	O
their	O
rocky	O
planetary	O
design	O
and	O
clumsy	O
combat	O
mechanics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
versions	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
received	O
similar	O
criticism	O
to	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
version	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
debuted	O
at	O
#6	O
on	O
The	O
NPD	O
Group	O
's	O
video	O
game	O
sales	O
chart	O
for	O
November	O
2007	O
,	O
with	O
sales	O
of	O
473,000	O
copies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
proceeded	O
to	O
sell	O
over	O
one	O
million	O
units	O
worldwide	O
within	O
fewer	O
than	O
three	O
weeks	O
on	O
shelves	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
Microsoft	O
vice	O
president	O
Jeff	O
Bell	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
November	O
2008	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
version	O
received	O
a	O
"	O
Gold	O
"	O
certification	O
from	O
the	O
Entertainment	O
and	O
Leisure	O
Software	O
Publishers	O
Association	O
,	O
indicating	O
lifetime	O
sales	O
of	O
at	O
least	O
200,000	O
copies	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
Kingdom	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
April	O
2011	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
reported	O
that	O
both	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
and	O
its	O
sequel	B-Language
have	O
combined	O
sold	O
more	O
than	O
seven	O
million	O
units	O
worldwide	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
,	O
The	O
New	O
York	O
Times	O
selected	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
as	O
its	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2008	O
,	O
IGN	O
editors	O
ranked	O
the	O
game	O
number	O
1	O
on	O
their	O
list	O
of	O
Top	O
25	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
scene	O
first	O
came	O
under	O
scrutiny	O
in	O
an	O
article	O
by	O
neoconservative	O
blogger	O
Kevin	O
McCullough	O
,	O
who	O
employed	O
statements	O
such	O
as	O
"	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
can	O
be	O
customized	O
to	O
sodomise	O
whatever	O
,	O
whomever	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
player	O
wishes	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
with	O
its	O
over	O
the	O
net	O
capabilities	O
virtual	O
orgasmic	O
rape	O
is	O
just	O
the	O
push	O
of	O
a	O
button	O
away.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
interim	O
,	O
largely	O
as	O
a	O
reaction	O
from	O
an	O
offended	O
gaming	O
community	O
,	O
her	O
latest	O
book	O
attracted	O
many	O
customer	O
reviews	O
on	O
Amazon	B-Application
which	O
rated	O
it	O
one	O
star	O
out	O
of	O
five	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
was	O
also	O
banned	O
in	O
Singapore	O
for	O
a	O
short	O
time	O
before	O
it	O
was	O
lifted	O
with	O
an	O
M18	O
rating	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Since	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
was	O
planned	O
as	O
the	O
first	O
chapter	O
of	O
a	O
trilogy	O
,	O
development	O
of	O
a	O
sequel	B-Language
began	O
shortly	O
before	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
sequel	B-Language
,	O
entitled	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
on	O
January	O
26	O
,	O
2010	O
,	O
and	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
on	O
January	O
18	O
,	O
2011	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
import	O
of	O
a	O
completed	O
saved	O
game	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
,	O
the	O
player	O
can	O
impact	O
the	O
story	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2''	O
in	O
numerous	O
ways	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
sequel	B-Language
was	O
a	O
critical	O
success	O
and	O
received	O
multiple	O
year-end	O
awards	O
,	O
including	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
at	O
the	O
2011	O
D.I.C.E.	O
</s>
