Maybe it's just me, but when going into a new game, I'd like to have the backstory first and not after the fact. Take for example Mass Effect: Retribution - a prequel to the upcoming Mass Effect 2. The problem, however, is the fact that the book doesn't come out till July. What? Well, at least it sounds pretty interesting.

"Retribution is set in the universe fans know well from the video game and novel series - one in which humanity has explored the very farthest reaches of the universe, only to discover the ruthless Reapers, a race bent on extinguishing all organic life. One man is bent on discovering the Reapers' secrets, the mysterious Illusive Man, the leader of a pro-human, black ops group, Cerberus. And he's devised the perfect plan: implant a human subject with Reaper technology in order to study the enemy.

He also has the perfect test subject--Paul Grayson, an ex-Cerberus operative. Grayson betrayed Cerberus in order to save his daughter. So when Grayson is kidnapped and made the subject of Cerberus' evil experiments, the Illusive Man will finally have his revenge..."