As the first human Specter – sworn defenders of galactic peace – your mission is to halt the advancing armies of a legendary agent gone rogue. But as you lead your elite team across hostile alien worlds, you will discover the true threat is far greater than anyone imagined.

Three hundred years ago the quarians created the geth, a species of rudimentary AIs, to serve as an efficient source of manual labor. But the geth rebelled against their quarian masters and drove them into exile. Now the quarians wander the galaxy in a flotilla of salvaged ships, secondhand vessels, and recycled technology. Other species tend to look down on the quarians, seeing them as scavengers and condemning them for unleashing a dangerous synthetic life form on the rest of the galaxy.

"BioWare's Mass Effect, a science fiction role-playing game being launched exclusively for the Xbox 360, is widely regarded as one of the most anticipated interactive entertainment software titles of 2007," said Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz. "The addition of the Mass Effect license further expands our portfolio of high-profile entertainment and sports licenses and is consistent with our goal to align ourselves with important, mass-appeal brands and interactive entertainment software launches. We recently demonstrated the success and value of this strategy with our well-received line of officially-licensed merchandise for Epic Games' Gears of War® video game. We look forward to delivering stylish accessories to fans of this futuristic epic when it launches."

"Mad Catz has established a strong track record of producing and delivering quality products to coincide with major software launches," said Greg Zeschuk, President of BioWare Corp. "We look forward to the addition of the Mad Catz accessories to Mass Effect's highly-anticipated launch and are delighted that Mad Catz is offering our fans another outlet to show their enthusiasm for the game."

The Mass Effect-themed products will include a faceplate and Console Skinz(TM) combo pack for the Xbox 360 with an MSRP of $29.99 which includes a faceplate and graphics to customize the sides of the console. The products will be available at major video game retailers throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Features :

• Immersive RPG: Determine the fate of mankind as you lead an elite tactical strike force as an epic galaxy-wide conflict unfolds. "Mass Effect" will take the player into new depths of an action-roleplaying game, with choice-based gameplay.
• Rich and engaging storyline. While defending galactic peace and earning a position of respect for humanity in the community, gamers will discover that a greater conflict between organic life and artificial intelligence exists. Players' decisions and actions will serve to shape the destiny of all life in the galaxy as you become absorbed in the story that is "Mass Effect," the first game in an epic trilogy from BioWare. They will become the center of an engrossing story as they battle against alien life forms to save the galaxy from threatening armies.
• Player controls the ultimate fate of the galaxy: The player's decisions and actions will serve to shape the destiny of all life in the galaxy, while raising humanity to the pinnacle of galactic civilization via noble means or via tyranny.
• Real-time squad based combat: "Mass Effect" employs a real-time, squad based, tactical combat system. Players will be immersed in intense, challenging and exciting combat.
• Explore uncharted worlds: In addition to the main story arc of the game, players will be able to visit a large number of uncharted, unexplored planets which are not directly tied to the main story. At any time during the campaign, a player can choose to explore one of these planets in an all-terrain rover in order to discover new alien life, resources, ruined civilizations and powerful technologies.
• Digital actors: "Mass Effect" features a huge cast of in-engine digital actors that you will encounter as NPCs, enemies or as party members. Each will have life-like facial and body movements, and an advanced dialogue system will give them engaging personalities.
• Character customization. Players will be able to choose from a variety of stunning, photo-realistic character appearances at the start of the game, and throughout the game can increase various statistics which will have an impact on their performance during gameplay. Equipment, weapons and armor that are acquired during the course of the story will change the appearance of the characters.
• Next-generation gaming defined. "Mass Effect" takes advantage of Xbox 360's hardware providing gamers with exciting new experiences, including photo-realistic, high definition graphics on an epic scale. As the future of gaming goes online, Xbox360 live features, including premium downloadable content and recognition of achievement will be available via the Xbox Live service.