Provide Context:

     Main Trilogy

          Mass Effect:  The original Mass Effect and first of the Mass Effect trilogy is an action role playing game developed by Bioware and produced by Microsoft Studios. Released in November of 2007, the game was originally developed for only the Xbox 360 but was later ported to the PC as well as the PS3. The following is Bioware's official plot summary for the game. "The galaxy is trapped in an endless cycle of extinction. Every 50,000 years, an ancient machine race invades the galaxy. With ruthless efficiency, the machines wipe out all advanced organic civilization. They leave behind only the scattered ruins of technology, destroying all evidence of their own existence.

Few believe this ancient legend. You, however, know it to be true. The fight to stop this extinction event has become the most important mission in the galaxy. It is your mission. As Commander Shepard of the SSV Normandy, you will take your elite recon squad across a galaxy in turmoil, in a desperate race to stop the return of an enemy without mercy. To stop this enemy, you must act without remorse, without hesitation, and outside the limits of the law. Your only imperative is to preserve the safety of civilized life in the galaxy - at any cost. You must become the tip of the spear of humanity, for you alone know the full extent of what is at stake if you should fail." 

          Mass Effect 2: The sequel to the critically acclaimed Mass Effect. Mass effect 2 was released on the Xbox 360 and PC January 26th, 2010 and was later ported to the PS3 and released on January 18th, 2011. The following is the official plot summery from Bioware. "Two years after Commander Shepard repelled invading Reapers bent on the destruction of organic life, a mysterious new enemy has emerged. On the fringes of known space, something is silently abducting entire human colonies. Now Shepard must work with Cerberus, a ruthless organization devoted to human survival at any cost, to stop the most terrifying threat mankind has ever faced.

To even attempt this perilous mission, Shepard must assemble the galaxy's most elite team and command the most powerful ship ever built. Even then, they say it would be suicide. Commander Shepard intends to prove them wrong." 

          Mass Effect 3:

     Spin-offs

          Mass Effect: Galaxy-

          Mass Effect: Infiltrator-

          Mass Effect: Datapad- is a free app for iOS devices which allows players to check on status of map, receive messages from characters and contain information about characters, races, vehicles, weapons, and storyline of the Mass Effect universe on Mass Effect 3.

     Novels

          Mass Effect: Revelation- This is the first novel of Mass Effect. It was released in the year 2007. The story is about Lieutenant David Anderson and stories about how he cam to know Saren. The novel expands on the history of Mass Effect universe and shows how Anderson failed to become the first human Spectre.

          Mass Effect: Ascension- The second novel of the game Mass Effect was released in the year 2008. The story centers around a Cerberus protagonist, Paul Grayson. He is in charge of raising a biotic girl named Gillian. This is happeing after two months of the ending of the main game Mass Effect.

          Mass Effect: Retribution- This is the thrid novel of the game Mass Effect. It was released on July, 2010 by BioWare. It was written by Drew Karpyshyn. It was the sequel to the second novel, Mass Effect: Ascension.

          Mass Effect: Deception- This is the fourth novel of Mass Effect. It was written by William C. Dietz. The novel centers on Gilliam Grayson. There are many negative reponses to the novel due to inconsistencies with lore and characterization. Many fans had petition BioWare to disregard the novel  as canon. BioWare and Del Rey announced that there is going to be changes in the future novels.

          Fan novel

               Mass Effect: Pick Your Path- a fan novel that offer the same role-playing and make a choice that can effect the ending like Choose Your Own Adventure series of books.. It was written by Mike Kayatta and released on 2012. Later, the full story was published by The Escapist on March 2012. The novel is parrallel to Mass Effect 2. It features the unnamed Citadal merchant who chases Commander Shepard around the galaxy to get an endorsement for his shop. 

     Comics

          Mass Effect: Redemption- four part mini series comic that is about stories that revolve around Liara T'Soni, which is set in the interim between the prologue and the main game Mass Effect 2.

          Mass Effect: Incursion-a 8 pages comic that follows Aria T'Loak's encounter with the Collectors one week before the events of  Mass Effect 2. It was released June 21, 2010 through IGN.

          Mass Effect: Inquisition- a 8 pages comic that was written by Mac Walters. It was released on October 26, 2010. It takes place after Mass Effect 2. The story follows Captain Armando-Owen Bailey during his investigation of Executive Venari Pallin and the corruption within C-Sec.

          Mass Effect: Evolution- four part mini series comic. It was released on January 2011. It focuses on the origin of the Illusive Man and set in the First Contact War after the dicovery of the Mass Relays.

          Mass Effect: Conviction- a 10 pages single comic that was written by Mac Walters. It was released on September 2011. The story forcuses Lieutenant James Vega during his first stay on Omega and departure back to the Systems Alliance service before the main game Mass Effect 3.

          Mass Effect: Invasion- the fourth comic book series that was released between October 2011 and January 2012. It follows the pirate queen of the space station Omega, Aria T'Loak that has becomes under attack from the Cerberus, the human survivalist organization.

          Mass Effect: Homeworlds- the fourth issue comic book series that was written by Mac Walters. It was released on April 25, 2012. Different serie forcuses on different character from the Mass Effect game series.

          Mass Effect: Blasto: Eternity Is Forever- a 14 pages single comic that was written by Mac Walters. It was released on November 7, 2012 through digital distribution. Blasto is the main character, Blasto is a Hanar Specture.

          Mass Effect: He Who Laughs Best-a 10 pages single comic that was written by Mac Walters for the Free Comic Book Day. It was released on May 4, 2013. The comic tells the story of Jeff "Joker" Moreau.

          Mass Effect: Foundation- the 13 issue comic series that was written by Mac Walters. It runs parralle to the main game trilogy and is purposed to help expand the Mass Effect universe. It was released on July 24, 2013.

     Films

          Mass Effect- with Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. acquired BioWare's executive producers, Casey Hudson, Ray Muzyka, and Greg Zeschuck rights to a Mass Effect film, Legendary Pictures planned to produce the film with Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, and Avi Arad. And screenplay by Mark Protosevich. The film was to follow the plot of the original game.

          Mass Effect: Paragon Lost- was released as an anime on December 28, 2012 and distributed by Funimation Entertainment and Japanses studio T.O Entertainment. It is served as the prequel to Mass Effect 3. It follows Alliance Marine James Vega's early career as he leads speacial forces squad into battle against The Collectors.

          Fan Films

               Mass Effect: Assignment- a fan film that is the sidequel of the Mass Effect series and is released in 2012. The film follows Meer and Hale, N7 soldiers, who are hunting down the smuggler, Defoe. The film was produced by filmmaking duo Sneaky Zebra. The film features interractive like the game series that allow the viewers to choose a path of the four possible ending.

               Red Sand- a fan film that is the presuel to Mass Effect series, and it is released in 2012. It was created by students and faculty of the Digital Video Program at the University of Advancing Technology in Tempe, Arizona.

     Action Figures

          Series one: Commander Sherpard, Grunt, Tali, and Thane- released by DC Direct and Big Fish Toys for Mass Effect 2 and 3.

          Series two: Garrus, Legion, Miranda, and Mordin- released by DC Direct and Big Fish Toys for Mass Effect 2 and 3.

     Board Games

          Risk: Mass Effect Galaxy at War Edition- annouced by USAopoly and released in Fall of 2013.

     Art Books

          Art of Mass Effect: released in 2007 and published by Prima Games.

          The Art of the Mass Effect Universe: released in 2012 and published by Dark Horse Comics.

Sales Figures:

This is a graph of Mass Effect game series sales in the year 2012.

Bioware's latest game, Mass Effect 3 made over $200 million in sales. Mass Effect 3 topped the software charts on the March sales chart, and it also doubled the first month sales of Mass Effect that was put up in January 2010. Even though Mass Effect 3 was very profittable; however, it wasn't enough to save the game industry from its third straight month of rapid declining sales. The game industry's total retail was $1.1 billion for the month, but there was also a 25% decrease year-over-year.

MARCH 2012 US GAME SALES 
OVERALL DOLLAR SALES
Total retail sales: $1.10 billion (-25%)
Non-PC hardware: $323.5 million (-35%)
Non-PC software: $553.1 million (-25%)
Total software: $585.1 million (-26%)
Accessories: $222.5 million (-8%)

TOP 10 GAMES FOR MARCH 2012
Title (Platforms) - Publisher
1. Mass Effect 3 (X360, PS3, PC) - Electronic Arts
2. Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City (X360, PS3) - Capcom
3. MLB 12: The Show (PS3, PSV) - Sony
4. NBA 2K12 (X360, PS3, PS2, PSP, Wii, PC) - Take-Two
5. SSX (X360, PS3) - Electronic Arts
6. Street Fighter x Tekken (PS3, X360) - Capcom
7. Mario Party 9 (Wii) - Nintendo
8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (X360, PS3, PC, Wii) - Activision
9. Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations (X360, PS3) - Namco Bandai
10. MLB 2K12 (X360, PS3, PS2, PSP, Wii, PC) - Take-Two

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