Mass Effect 2 Interview

USA Today has cranked out an interview with BioWare's Greg Zeschuk about Mass Effect 2, its "Cerberus Network" service, and some of the game's upcoming DLC. A taste:
Talk a bit about the Cerberus Network and the first character delivered through that, Zaeed. How and when did that character come about?

One thing we wanted to do was try and create something that creates an enduring connection to the fans. So that they felt, hey, it benefits me to be part of the Cerberus Network. And part of it is content. Zaeed was created, I think people had sort of a thumbnail with him but he was fleshed out a fair amount more after the fact. He was done most recently. So the benefit of all the ins and outs and tricks that we learned for the other characters we have applied to him.

The Cerberus Network also provides a connection to fans to keep them informed of what is going on in the world of Mass Effect. I think we talked about a few other things (available for download) like the eviscerator shotgun and the super assault armor and the Hammerhead, which is a new vehicle prototype we're going to try out. The Cerberus Network is also a place where we can try things out and say we're putting up this piece of content for fans to try out and see what you think and if you like it we can make more of it. The goal for us is to be connected to them. We obviously also want to be part of their lives on the social networks they enjoy but also if the game itself can provide a connection that is very valuable as well.