PixlBit

Just think, online gaming has really only got started in a big way this generation. Yea, there was such stuff back in the 90's and early 00's, but it's really gotten to the mainstream now with millions of players online at once. That's not been a lot of time to work out all the problems with this on consoles.

I got to thinking about this listening to E on Major Nelson's podcast talking about the huge growth in numbers of players on Xbox Live all logging into a game on day-one and the problems that creates. 

So yes, this thing called video gaming has gotten very complicated. I agree.

I was just joking with a friend the other day how games use to be nearly free and now every little bit of content costs something. Once they get your credit card online, it's sell sell sell and they never leave you alone. It's never enough. Of course my joke was that you used to go out and buy a pack of cards or chess set for $20 or less and you were good. That's going back pretty far. It's not quite that bad but it's not too far fetched.

I got a nice silver Gamecube and PS2 slim a while back. I love that they are so small and easy to hook up. I'm always scared to death of jostling my 360 and making it red ring. My PS3 is so bulky too. I need a huge case to move it anywhere.

Every so often I boot up the last gen systems or older and yea, it's nice to not have to worry about whether you're connected to the internet and have to log into your ID to play a game. But I guess that's the price we pay to be connected to other people online. It's both good and a pain sometimes.

Also, I got that screen once on the PS3 and I just ignored it and restarted the system. So far no problems. 

Awesome! I can't wait to pick it up. 

I read the first Mass Effect book. It gives you the story of the mission that got Capt. Anderson removed from the Spectres. It's recapped by Anderson if you talk to him in the game. I just thought it was neat they linked up the stories of both novel and game so closely. I should probably read the other books too. I've read all the comics which are excellent. The first one deals with Liara and her dealings with the Shadow Broker and Cerebus.

After one  and 1/4 playthroughs, I'm still not comfortable with the combat, but I think if I play again not as an engineer, I'll have access to more weapons and can do more. I've got to figure out the special skills too. I think I managed to hack one robot that was attacking me the other day. Aim and hit "X" I think.

I tried the other day to talk up Liara, but it was getting nowhere. I don't know if its possible to romance other characters in the game. I think maybe that was a feature in Mass Effect 2 and 3, but not 1, because I remember people talking about it alot when 2 came out.

Dragon Age Origins is another one I recently bought. I have been wanting to play it for years. 

I think next time I go back to Mass Effect I will choose to be a soldier and use Wrex and Liara. 

Yea, it's amazing. I love the way you can play it as easy or hard as you want and that the character's responses can be different depending on what you say to them. I've only replayed the very beginning of the game up until you become a Spectre, but I've already noticed new things in the dialog.

Direct answer: Of course not. 

I think with the growing ability to render facial expressions acurately we'll get deeper more meaningful games. I mean, shooting things is like the simpliest thing you can do in a game. Conveying emotions, now that's hard.