Brilliam

Only just starting to listen now. Re: Mass Effect, the checkpoints get less stupid as you play. In fact, a lot gets less stupid as you play, like the previously mentioned non-action-ness.

The Mako, however, I enjoyed using. It was sluggish and difficult, but for some reason I enjoyed it. The weird sluggishness made it feel more like "SPAAAAACE!!!" (as compared to just, you know, "space."). Whatever, it worked for me. A bunch. I loved killing things in the Mako.

HERE'S something nobody's talked about before, at least that I know of. Mass Effect death music sounds EXACTLY like the bass line from "Terrorist" by DJ Vadim, released in 1999. Here's some lame fan video with the song in it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmFfp4mrOBA

I used ot be a HUGE Vadim fan; every time I died in Mass Effect, I got that song stuck in my head. Surely I'm not the only one who thinks it sounds EXACTLY the same?

Me too! Man I spent a lot of time in that thing. I think I also used to talk to it. I was a lonely little boy.

Agree with almost everything Ludwig says about Mass Effect. Incluing the Mako. I love rolling around on these planets, just looking for whatever junk. I'm immersed! Or I was until I beat it last night.

And re: punishment for not being a soldier... I'd say that changes after a while, but I am the exact opposite class as Ludwig (Adept). When dudes run at me for melee, I have about 8 powers that make him fly through the air like a metal dumbass.

Airbus Reconstruction... man, your friend sucks. He can't even come up with a name on his OWN! The Portishead "Glory Times" comp had a remix of Sour Times, iirc, called Airbus Reconstruction. Because it was reconstructed by a dude named Airbus.

Why not give liberalism a try? Our games are more fun! We also believe that, since we can afford, as a society, to keep pretty much everyone healthy, fed and educated, that there's no reason not to... and that my gay friends should get the right to inevitable divorce, just like my less gay friends. Plus we have better nicknames! How did conservatives ever manage to get the "red" color, anyway? Isn't that OUR dirty, pinko color?

Fellow Canadian/UK users,

I don't want to recommend that you spoof MTV by finding a free proxy that's based anywhere but the UK/Canada, because that would be bad. I definitely wouldn't recommend googling "free proxy" or something like that. I'm definitely not LITERALLY WATCHING THIS RIGHT NOW, I swear to jesus...

Hey joystiq, please remove ths comment if it will get anybody involved (yourself and myself included) in trouble. But don't ban me! I mean well!

I'm skeptical about this, simply because it will be incredibly difficult to work into older games without breaking Xbox compliance guidelines-- like, for example, never cutting a player off without the ability to save.

I'm from Canada, but my favourite chocolate bar is from the UK. Mr grandmother brought them back at some point. She always brings us back weird chocolate bars. Which is funny, because nobody in the house really cares about candy... I don't even think she does! Anyway, it's called a Yorkie. Its marketing is a giant misogynist chunk of hilarious. All, "NOT FOR BIRDS!" and stuff. And they have one with Raisin and Biscuit, which tastes better than it sounds.

No mention of TimeShift? You guys should discuss it next week... I haven't played it, but the multi sounds like the thinking man's Halo.

It's significant to remember that the 360 still has been on the market for twice as long as the PS3 or Wii. While the current numbers look great for Microsoft, this is by no means a measure of the long-lasting software success of the systems. You can also assume that the first few months or so of any console will find it in a sort of lurch, software-wise, as launch titles aren't really successful, and most people have spent a significant amount of their disposable income already on the system itself, perhaps only picking up a single game or so. This statistic will be a lot more relevant in one or two holiday seasons from now.

Also, does this study cover downloaded games as well? I'd be interested to see a dollars per console spent on downloadable content. That might be something that 360 TRULY dominates-- I'm pretty sure I've spent close to $100 dollars on DLC like Arcade games, but I've only spent about... $150 on new, retail games (I bought a couple of games very cheap used on Craigslist, but that doesnt really count, does it?)

I should also mention that I'm in no way affiliated wit the makers of this game or anything. I am, however, really excited to rent it, at least (and uy it if I like the MP as much as I hope to). I just hopw other people end up playing the multi too. :P