I'm sure there are many sci-fi inspired pants-tent parties in at least a few computer rooms as I write this: Mass Effect 3 has gone gold ahead of its March 9 release. And that is of course confirmation there be no further delay and we'll all be playing as Shepard very shortly. If you're not sure what going 'gold' is, it simply means the game is finished and is ready to be written to discs for distribution. Joy....