Did I hear you say sale numbers?

Well here is it less than a week into the game's launch.

http://www.newgamenetwork.com/news/783/mass-effect-2-first-week-sales/

my review of the game coming soon.

Mass Effect 2 launch center, part 5

IGN.com putting up first video review of the game.

More Mass Effect 2 Info

Mass Effect 2 launch center, part 4

Mass Effect 2 launch trailer. Contains spoiler like 8 billion Mass Effect 2 promotional videos out there.

Video Games | Mass Effect 2 | Launch Trailer HD

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Mass Effect 2 launch center, part 3

Mass Effect 2 is almost here and in light of its greatness I decided to do a review on the first Mass Effect. People need to know why why a game that didn't even out sell Star Wars Knights of the old Republic is so deserving a sequel when Bioware has always been quick to pass up opportunities when it comes to milking a popular franchise. And the game also has many of its shortcomings, by no means is the first Mass Effect a perfect game and some will even go as far as to say its one of Bioware's weaker games. We shall look into all of the above with the following review.

A blast from the past.

-StoryIf you have played any Bioware games at all then you would know that it does not disappoint in the story department no matter how bad the rest of the game is. Mass Effect is no different, it will leave dazed thinking about it long after you have completed the story, as it is as well crafted as any science fiction novels out there. The story takes place hundreds years in the future where not only travelling through out the galaxy is no problem for humans but also living with other aliens. You are playing as Commander Shepard, elite soldier of the human alliance military. Chosen to go on a secrete mission turn out to be an evaluation of the Alien council to determine if humanity is ready to join its ranks. From there all hell breaks lose. With any Bioware games a few things come as standard, rich background story that can compile several novels and almost every npc that you interact with has his/her own unique story to explore. Dialog system has somewhat been simplified compare to previous games where now its pretty clear the good and evil paths. And this time around the morale choices also have less meaning in the whole scheme of things which is another weak link in this game. Over all the whole experience from beginning to end feels like a well crafted yet somewhat cheesy B rated Scifi film. Which all fine by me since this is the closet thing as a space opera that comes to mind compare to Battlestar Galactica. Playing as a heroic spaceship captain on a grand journey to save the galaxy, what more can you ask?-Graphics
When the game first came out in 2007, it was considered by many one of the best looking game on console. Details of space travelling and different areas you explore are truly a cinematic experience, and the character models and their animation were superbly done as well. At the time only Crysis on PC had better looking characters. However the game was hampered by graphic glitches and texture pop-ups famous to those who used Unreal Engines. The PC version fixed most of these glitches and pop-up were less severe as well. Overall the game still looks good even by today's standards.
-Game play
Where do I begin, the game is obviously not your Daddy's RPG with its unique tactical based third person shooter play, however it just works. But thats another thing people will say about this game, its not a true RPG but a shooter wana be RPG. To me that claim is just ludicrous, you still have the stats, the skills, the leveling up, the hot bars and different classes/roles to play as, so just because it doesn't use the age old DnD dice roll everyone else uses its not an RPG? Bioware took a chance with a whole new idea and ran with it, and in the end I think although game play is somewhat lacking it still works. At the end of the day, none of Bioware's games are focused on game play but that seems to be changed in Mass Effect 2.

-Presentation
This is probably the one of the first game from Bioware that gives you the "Epic" feeling through out the game. Not saying their other games aren't so but they usually are presented in a more toned down, reserved manner. Not with Mass Effect, its not afraid to show its Epic story with Epic Scifi music through out. And knowing its a Bioware game its not complete unless it has a romantic subplot hidden with the inevitable sex scene. Just ask Fox news about it, they taught me that arm and bare back is considered full digital nudity...


-Conclusion
Mass Effect is a memorable game like most Bioware's works, but its not with its share of flaws. But if you can over look these flaws then its one of those game you just simply can not pass up. Bioware did a great job exploring new territories in the RPG plane and now its only a short while before we can see how they will improve upon this already epic adventure with the upcoming Mass Effect 2.

Mass Effect 2 launch center, continued

Mass Effect 2 is undoubtedly the most hyped Bioware game to date. This comes to no surprise as Bioware is trying to transition itself from that niche PC developer into the lucrative console market.
Thus many so called hardcore PC gamers would be hating on what comes inevitably when someone goes for the mass market appeal, dumb everything down in order to get more people to buy your product. The most heat I have seen are toward project director Casey Hudson. After all Casey had his hands on virtually all Bioware's console games, from being an art director of a little known game called MDK 2 to being the lead designer to the hugely successful Star Wars Knights of the old Republic, which ended up winning over 40 game of the year awards. People hate him because he represents nothing that made Bioware one of the beloved company among PC gamers but everything that's wrong with today's simplistic approach to games.
To me, Casey Hudson is an extraordinary designer in the industry, and he is every bit what Bioware does best, which is taking a new IP that no one want to touch and make an RPG out of it (see star wars). And he continues to push the boundary in modern WRPG with the release of Mass Effect series. Yes I have no doubt that if Black Isle Studio is still here they would probably make the best DnD based fantasy RPG ever, but the truth is they are gone and what make Bioware great is that they are not afraid of change for the traditional swords/magic setting. To that I applaud them for thinking outside the box and Casey for having the balls in making something everyone thought would fail.
One thing I do hate about Casey is his constant smirking and blinding white teeth, which angers me greatly. See below.

Top 5 TV Shows

What are your top 5 favorite television shows?  Readers and authors please list them in comments.

Mine are:

1) Top Gear

2) Dr. Who

3) The Daily Show

4) The Colbert Report

5) Torchwood

Crash Test 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air VS. 2009 Chevrolet Malibu

Mass Effect 2 launch center

Video game developer Bioware has made a name for itself as one of the best WRPG maker on the planet since the 1990s, and with the help of popular home consoles their games are also becoming extremely hyped with various media outlets. Hardcore PC gamers might see Bioware only as the shadow as its form self after the split with Black Isle studio but as far as I am concerned Black Isle is no more while Bioware still stand and continues to push the envelop on an aging WRPG formula.

A new decade is just upon us and Bioware has already got big items on the menu. Next on the order list comes the higly thought after sequel to the 2007 critically acclaimed space opera RPG Mass Effect. Due out on 1/26/2010 Mass Effect 2 has created such a hype train that I have not seen since the day of Halo 2. With its release upon us I have a few items of my own to complete launch experience, and first to come is a comprehensive video showing various results on what happens in Mass Effect when you decide to be naughty rather than nice, and I have to say I have put in well over 100 hours in the game and some of these scenes are still new to me, and quite funny.

Top 10 of the last decade, part 2

Virtually everything about the last 10 years sucked balls, the financial world sucked, job market sucked, gas prices sucked, movies sucked, music sucked, my life sucked...however I will try my best to do this top 10 count down.

Top 10 cars of the last decade.

10. Toyota Prius
Tree huggers unite! What car driven by someone on the road has made a even bigger "status" show off than BMW and Mercedes? You guessed it.

9. Mazda RX-8
Plenty of faster and more flashy sports cars out there but none is more unique than this rotary engine gas hog.

8. Nissan GTR
Fast and Furious nerds unite! No car has made a bigger impact than the famed Nissan skyline after those shitty movies and now with the new GTR Nissan has officially dropped the skyline from the name and changed it from a cheap tuner car to an expensive super car.

7. BMW X5
What do Germans and large gas hogging SUVs have in common? Absolutely nothing. What is this thing doing in this count down? Absolutely no idea. Though an advise to all German automakers, stick to what you do best which is fast, luxury sedans and let us Americans worry about big, poorly designed, poorly engineered gas hoggers.

6. Lamborghini Murcielago
Perhaps not as well known as its older brother the Diablo but all I can say is, Cmon its a Lambo.

5. Porsche Cayman S
Perhaps not as well known as its older brother the 911 GT but all I can say is, Cmon its a Porsche.

4. Tesla Roadster
0-60 in 3.9 seconds in a electric car...ARE YOU FUCKING SHITTING ME?

3. Audi R8
Okay so Audi doesn't have quite the same luxury as Mercedes or the driving experience as BMW, and this super car is clearly a Lambo want to be but Audi does all those very well but the car just looks freaky sweet going on ice.

2. Rolls Royce Phantom
half million dollars can buy you a lot of things, a small jet, a company, a boat load of slaves...or a phantom. Old world class and luxury oozes from this state of the art car that is reserved for only two kinds of people in the world: old white billionaires living in a chateaux or large thuggish looking gangster rappers.

1. Bugatti Veyron
There are couple numbers I want you to know. 0-60 in 2.9 seconds. Top speed of 261 mph. cost 4 million dollars. Enough said.

Top 10 of the last decade

It seems everywhere I turn people were doing the best of last decade, but was the last 10 years really so memorable? I decided to give it a try and do one of our own top 10 of the last decade, and I will start off with something I know the best, a game themed count down.

Top 10 RPGs of the last decade.

10. Pokemon(pick a color) - Nintendo.

9. Deus Ex - Eidos.

8. SMT: Persona 4 - Atlus.

7. Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic - Bioware.

6. Elder Scrolls: Morrowind - Bethesda

5. Final Fantasy 10 - Square Enix

4. Diablo 2 - Blizzard

3. World of Warcraft - Blizzard

2. Neverwinter Nights - Bioware

1. Baldur's Gate 2 - Bioware

XL's Dream car

JT's car is nice but can his car do this?



nope. And by the way Mercedes AMG makes the engine for the Zonda so there is nothing special about it sorry Noah =P.

JT's dream car

Here is a video of JT's dream car, AMG SLS by Mercedes Benz. Driven by Jay Leno through a part of L.A.



I would just like to point out that if you are not watching the video but listening to it sounds like he is riding a Harley Chopper rather than driving a car, that's how unique this car sounds.

Teen found after meeting his 42-year-old online 'soulmate'

The Grade 11 student was found Thursday afternoon, after his parents spent two days desperately appealing for his safe return. On Wednesday, police had released pictures of Lauri Price, a Texas mother of four who had allegedly flown to Toronto and driven a rental car to collect the teen after striking up a relationship with him while playing the popular online game.

His disappearance this week is the latest instalment of the family battle over World of Warcraft, an online multiplayer swords-and-sorcery game.

For more than a year, Ms. Kane said her son has played the game “every waking hour,” and has rarely attended school because of the addiction.

His parents took his computer away for four weeks last year and put him in a counselling program, but after a month, Andrew's psychologist suggested that his computer privileges be reinstated as a reward for the progress he had made.

“We thought he was managing it well, but eventually he was back to his old habits,” said Ms. Kane. “It turned out to be not so great advice.”

But Andrew's safe return Thursday was still a happy ending.

In 2008, 15-year-old Brandon Crisp ran away from his Barrie home after having his XBox confiscated. He died after falling out of a tree and was found three weeks later by hunters.

According to his parents, Brandon was addicted to the video game Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. They took away his game console and when Brandon threatened to run away, his father helped him pack his knapsack, assuming he would soon return.

Link

LOL of the day. The so called game industry experts and jounalists

I usually find most so called game industry experts and journalists being morons that have no idea what they are talking about, maybe they all worked at Gamestop one time. One thing that has always puzzled me is over the last 2 or 3 years experts have been proclaiming the coming death of PC gaming and I have been trying to find evidences to this claim. Here is one example:

http://www.devhardware.com/c/a/PC-Gaming/PC-Games-a-Dying-Breed/

If you read the article it claims several reasons PC gaming is dying. All of them pointing to PC market in decline, but don't you have to have a high point in order to have decline? When has PC gaming been more popular than now? When has it been more popular than home consoles? PC gaming has always been a niche market if anything it has gained popularity steadily over the years as now more people understands the technology and what it takes to build a gaming rig. So that argument is obviously flawed when trying to compare it to home consoles. Video games has moved toward mass market as a whole so maybe PC gaming is not moving as fast compare to consoles but its definitely not dying. Other reason given in the article are also laughable, things such as hardware. Again more people understands what is needed to play games on PC then ever, no one goes best buy and buy a 300 dollar pre-build with the intention to play Crysis. And as for Pirates they have always been there, now so now but that only attribute to the rising popularity of PC gaming. If its that big of a problem then why are people still making games for PC with rate 3 times faster than consoles?

What makes me laugh is people that hold real job as analyst in Tech market, who works for a real investment company and making millions for statements like these. I want to laugh and cry at the same time, this guy makes millions!!!(no name) for saying no computer in the world is as powerful as PS3. Fuck how do these people do it? Remember kids only people that are more full of shit than politicians are probably the ones that work on Wall street.

At the end of the day the only reason I like PC gaming is because its niche. Sounds crazy but the best PC games are made by little known companies targeted at the hardcore gamers rather than this mass market bullshit consoles are trying to pull. Looking back in time Bioware made their best games when they were just a small unknown company and so did many many others like Black Isle and Blizzard.