A post on the BioWare Social Network by BioWare's Chris Priestly has word that EA's Origin service will indeed be a required to play Mass Effect 3, as well as word that the RPG sequel will not be sold via Steam (thanks Voodoo Extreme). Here's word:

3) Is Origin required for the retail versions of the game?
Origin is required for the PC versions of Mass Effect 3, both physical and digital.

4) Will ME3 be available on Steam?
During initial release Mass Effect 3 will be available on Origin and a number of other 3rd party digital retailers, but not on Steam at this time. Steam has adopted a set of restrictive terms of service which limit how developers interact with customers to deliver patches and other downloadable content. We are intent on providing Mass Effect to players with the best possible experience no matter where they purchase or play their game, and are happy to partner with any download service that does not restrict our ability to connect directly with our consumers.

5) Is there an opt in or opt out clause for data collection?
Users will be allowed to opt-out of Mass Effect 3 data collection from inside the game.

6) I’ve seen reports that Origin is spyware. Is this true?
Origin is not spyware, and does not use or install spyware on user’s machines. In order to allow Origin to install games and their patches for everyone to use, Origin implements a permission change that results in Windows, not Origin, reviewing the filenames in the ProgramData/Origin folder. This is an ordinary Windows function, not an information-gathering process.

Here's Valve's report of the ten bestselling titles for the past week on Steam:

1. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
2. Dead Space Pack
3. Age of Empires Complete
4. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
5. Anno 2070
6. Terraria
7. Jagged Alliance: Back in Action
8. Q.U.B.E.
9. Dead Space 2
10. Saints Row: The Third

• Mass Effect 3 on Hooked Gamers.
• Syndicate on Hooked Gamers.

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• “I Will Be Your Girlfriend at Facebook for 10 Days for $5″. Thanks Ant.

Thanks Ant.

• Data breach could affect 100,000 students. Thanks Boing Boing.
• Activists alter 85 BofA ATMs in SF to become -Automated Truth Machines.

• Rupert Murdoch squares off with Obama over online piracy legislation. Thanks Acleacius.

• Jurassic Park: The Game on Adventure Classic Gaming.
• Minecraft on Computer and Video Games.

• HIS HD 7970 3GB Overclocked Graphics Card on TweakTown.
• Solid State Drive Roundup on circuitREMIX.
• Toshiba Portégé Z830 Ultrabook on t-break.

Thanks Ant.

• Matt Chat 132: Fracture, Force Unleashed, Clone Wars, and More with Mark Soderwall…
• Game Giveaway of the Day - CubeDrift…
• Richard Garriott's "Apogee Of Fear," First Sci Fi Movie Ever Shot In Space, Fails To Launch. Thanks Acleacius…
• Call of Duty Retrospective: Episode 1 - History Retold, Episode 2 - Redirecting a Legacy, and Episode 3 - A New Frontier. Thanks videosift…

Wow, the Saints/49ers game degenerating into a shootout was pretty unexpected, but what an incredible game that turned out to be. Today we will have 40% of the remaining games of the season, and I'm just going with my bias: Texans and Giants.

Giant Links:	Thanks Ant and Mike Martinez and Acleacius.
Play:	Symphony. Volt Connect 2.
Links:	20 Amazingly Weird Pieces of 'Classic' Video Game Box Art. Thanks Neatorama. Bookseller removes apostrophe from own name.
Stories:	Star Trek 2 filming has begun. Thanks HARDOCP.
Science:	New record: toilet paper folded 13 times. Take that, four-minute mile! Scientists Create World's Tiniest Ear. Thanks HARDOCP.
Media:	GLaDOS responds to Princess Celestia about "Friendship". Jimmy Fallon pokes fun at NFL star Tim Tebow. Thanks nin. One Happy Dog. Reminds me of the Gunnar-man.
Follow-up:	Newly discovered molecules in atmosphere may offset global warming. Ted Williams One Year Later. Brittany Murphy's Father Angelo Bertolotti Sues Los Angeles Coroner's Office. R.I.P. Milo the Sea Otter.