Switch Lights

The lights are on

GameInformer

What's Happening

archangelus76 commented on 2pacalypse's post about re: How To Dominate In Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer.
Samo commented on Dan Ryckert's post about Super Replay: Half-Life: Episode 7.
Darkmightyaj commented on Tim Turi's post about Replay: Mischief Makers.
archangelus76 commented on KazanCurry's post about re: How To Dominate In Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer.
archangelus76 commented on The Edge's post about re: How To Dominate In Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer.
archangelus76 commented on Jake Fong's post about re: How To Dominate In Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer.
archangelus76 commented on Rumo13's post about re: How To Dominate In Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer.
archangelus76 commented on Kyle Hilliard's post about The Upcoming Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer Bounty Weekend Detailed.
Bozzie commented on Jim Reilly's post about Reports: 38 Studios Lays Off Staff.
archangelus76 commented on Elfstrum's post about re: Mass Effect 3: Rebellion Pack Announced.
Bozzie commented on Jim Reilly's post about Reports: 38 Studios Lays Off Staff.
RMPR commented on Dan Ryckert's post about Super Replay: Half-Life: Episode 7.
archangelus76 commented on Meyphrooz Zocton's post about re: Mass Effect 3: Rebellion Pack Announced.
archangelus76 commented on OhDihBot's post about re: Mass Effect 3: Rebellion Pack Announced.
archangelus76 commented on Bob Howell's post about re: Mass Effect 3: Rebellion Pack Announced.

The Mass Effect Covers That Could Have Been

media

by Joe Juba on May 14, 2011 at 01:05 PM

50,799 Views

115

During our recent trip to BioWare's Edmonton studio to check out Mass Effect 3, we got to see a lot of cool stuff related to the franchise...including these mock-ups of box art possibilities for the original Mass Effect.

During the filming for our Mass Effect 3 video features, we were allowed to capture some footage of these preliminary tests for the game's cover (which are hanging up in a hallway of the office). It's interesting to see how some of these covers highlight different characters and aspects of the game. My personal favorite is the one above, accompanied by the tagline "In 2007, The Reaping Begins." Of course, that gives away something about the story, so I can see why BioWare steered away from it.

Check out all six in the gallery below.

Email the author Joe Juba, or follow on Twitter, Facebook, and Game Informer.

Filed under: News, EA, Mass Effect, BioWare, media, Box Art

Screenshots

Comments

sort by date:

by falconIZE Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 01:11 PM

I like these much better than the ones for 1 and 2.
by Bohemian Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 01:14 PM

I like the middle one in the top row. And I didn't like the cover for ME2 at all. It looked too.....cheesy?
by empty gesture Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 01:15 PM

i'm sure one of them was used for the European cover art since theirs are always better than the US art
by Weston Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 01:16 PM

WHO IS THE IDIOT THAT DIDN'T USE THESE!!!!!! my guess is some hobo Microsoft
by Krazy 00nothing Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 01:19 PM

Some of those covers are so much cooler than the two they eventually went for, even if the sixth one reminds me of Alpha Protocol (although I admit that came out 3 years later), and the fifth one looks like KotOR.

Interesting to see the different looks Shepard had to start with too.
by Solfleet Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 01:21 PM

Im confused. These covers are way better than the actual ones. I have to question biowares judgement here.
by Anthony C. Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 01:22 PM

These look 100x better than the covers for ME1 and ME2
by rorschach_15 Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 01:22 PM

I really like all these covers, especially the first one. Is there an artbook that came with the first game that contains all these cause if so I want it.
by jonathan surber Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 01:23 PM

Yeah I personally think that all of these look better than the one they choose for the first game. And is it just me or, wouldn't the one GI liked still worked if they just removed the tagline? Just keep the reaper claw around the earth and release it as is? I would so have that as a PC wallpaper. That's just wicked!
by Gunfire Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 01:24 PM

I can kind of see why Bioware didnt pick these. They give too much away, and are a bit generic, but the bottom middle one is pretty epic.
by svahol146 Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 01:27 PM

I liked the cover for Mass Effect 2 collector's edition much better than the ordinary so I bought that instead
by Weston Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 01:30 PM

GI get Bioware to look at this and maybe it will persuade them to make the cover like these!
by Sgt_7up Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 01:30 PM

I always hated the Mass Effect cover. Those are so much better!
by vonfinell Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 01:32 PM

The Reaping begins? Talk about lame taglines.

Other than that, I agree with the sentiments that all of these other covers were better.
by Mray901 Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 01:35 PM

I really like the third and sixth one myself, but the all look pretty cool. I hope there's some kind of special edition of ME3, with an art book included.
by maeso22 Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 01:39 PM

All of these covers have one thing in common, they're all better than the cover Bioware ended up going with. lol
by JohnnyBNL Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 01:40 PM

I like the first 1... :D
by Shadeshooter Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 01:42 PM

Wow, it's hard to pick a favorite, they are all amazing. I can see why the reaping begins didn't make the cut, but how did none of the others not make it? It would be cool if Bioware made this art available for purchase
by Deliquin Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 01:42 PM

Where were these? Shepard looks kind of creepy on the actual cover. D:
by Chuck117 Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 01:48 PM

The one with the blue line dividing the characters and Earth is amazing!!

Please do something similar for ME3!