Picture: Totally related.

Seeing lots of reports in the BioWare forums this morning of Mass Effect 2 codes for the Cerberus Network not working properly after following the directions that came with the game.

So now, not only are people who buy used missing out (Update: You can now buy Cerberus Network access for $15), but it looks like BioWare’s loyal “original purchasers” are, as well.

Both BioWare’s Xbox 360 and PC forums are filling rapidly with eager gamers who just want to get the free downloadable content promised to them.

Some users are reporting that after using the code on their computer, they’re unable to access Cerberus Network on their 360s. Others claim that a Cerberus download becomes available after using their code – for 1200 MS points. A few can’t even get their code to be accepted in the first place. Mac users who bought the game for 360 are unable to redeem the code for the time being, since it seems that the computer-side of things isn’t Mac-compatible, even if the user is playing on a 360. People who picked up the game from GameStop have also reported being given a code for a PC instead of 360 and vice versa.

EA’s Live Help option went offline sometime between midnight and 4 a.m. Eastern, so many users are left in limbo for the time being (or even until BioWare releases updated instructions).

Some solutions suggested by other users involve checking the accuracy of your EA account (are you using the same e-mail to register your game copy and Cerberus code?), restarting your Xbox, registering the individual disc to the EA account linked with the code, and making sure your Xbox Live account is registered to the same e-mail address as your EA account.

Did EA, BioWare and Microsoft underestimate the demand of this game? Are codes just too easy to hack and outdated? Did you have any problems with the Cerberus Network or find the printed card’s directions unclear? (I’d post the directions verbatim, but I don’t have Mass Effect 2.) Looks like this could end up being a big mess, but what happens to the people who have already “messed up” their codes? Hopefully this gets cleared up soon, or else BioWare could already have 2010′s biggest gaming fiasco only 26 days into the year.

UPDATE: BioWare has provided updated instructions in the forum for Gamestop customers who couldn’t quite get it right with the instructions they were given. However, this doesn’t seem to be working for everyone. BioWare’s instructions:

Go to the Code Redemption page here: http://social.bioware.com/redeem/
Enter the Cerberus code you received from Gamespot (This applies to both PC and Xbox 360 copies)
PC Users will get a file to download and install. Please do so. Then restart the game and you will get your Cerberus activation.
Xbox 360 users DO NOT need to download the file. Simply redeem the code, restart your game and you will get access to the Cerberus network.

It seems that if your Gamertag doesn’t use the same e-mail you use in BioWare’s own system, it could cause additional problems and you actually need to call EA to get that straightened out. This is getting pretty sticky, isn’t it? I’m going to attempt to contact EA to see what else they can do for anyone stuck in the lurch.

Another update: New character Zaeed apparently won’t be available until later today or tomorrow. But Daddy, we want him now!

Updated, again: Zaeed is now available. Also, I got a response from the Mass Effect 2 team about the codes not working for some. (Through Twitter, but hey, they’re customer service, and it counts.)

According to whoever was running @MassEffect2 a little while ago: “Our customer support team tells us they’re working through every contact individually. Our apologies for any inconvenience.”

So, kiddies, don’t sit around and wait for a fix – you have to bring the mountain to Shepard. Or something.

Contact info if you’re having a problem: support.ea.com or 650-628-1001.