March 5 – March 9

Section: 

Bad news, Earth lovers. Looks like Earth is totally getting invaded this week. The good news is that a short-tempered, morally compromised, alien sympathizing ex-Spectre who has spent the past few years moonlighting for what most people consider a terrorist organization has totes got this covered. Worry not, Shepard is back!

Mass Effect 3 brings us the final installment of the over-arching Reaper driven story to date, and hopefully big answers to big questions. Questions like: will we return to the Citadel and be forced to suffer Ambassador Udina again without having the option to shoot him? Will Joker and EDI finally consummate their love? Will we ever get to hang out with the Illusive Man in his cool sun-facing office? These are just a few of the questions that are only remotely funny if you've played the previous games. And even then, still probably not.

I wrote last week about my deep, sinful love for Mass Effect 2, and I also mentioned that because of this I am concerned that 3 will fall short. But, if it doesn't, then this is perched to become one of if not the best sci-fi gaming epics in decades. All things considered, I'm hoping that Shepard's third journey is the stuff of legends.

PC
- Major League Baseball 2K12
- Mass Effect 3
- The Sims 3 Showtime
- Adam's Venture - Episode 3: Relevations (download)

Xbox 360
- Blades of Time
- Major League Baseball 2K12
- Mass Effect 3
- Street Fighter X Tekken
- I Am Alive (XBLA)

PS3
- Blades of Time
- Major League Baseball 2K12
- Mass Effect 3
- MLB 12: The Show
- Street Fighter X Tekken
- MotorStorm RC (PSN)
- Start The Party! Save the World (PSN)

Wii
- Major League Baseball 2K12
- Mario Party 9

PlayStation Vita
- MLB 12: The Show
- Unit 13
- MotorStorm RC (PSN)

Nintendo 3DS
- Crush3D
- Fun! Fun! Minigolf Touch! (eShop)
- Zuma's Revenge (eShop)

PSP
- Major League Baseball 2K12

Nintendo DS
- Major League Baseball 2K12
- Zuma's Revenge (DSiWare)

Comments

Maybe instead of complaining about what exists, we offer suggestions about what we'd like to see. You know, take a positive approach.

Gravey wrote:

Hey everyone, stop liking that thing you like so much! I don't like it at all, so you should like it less!

I'm sorry, that's not fair. You should be able to like that thing, as much as you want. Just don't talk about it around me. Which could be anywhere. So don't talk it about it all.

There, that's fair.

That seems unnecessarily snarky for one mild negative comment and a joke.

But other than Elysium's Mass Effect article and the Skyrim fanfic, there hasn't been a whole lot of talk about either series on the front page the last few weeks. It's hard sometimes to remember that the GWJ front page doesn't reflect the rest of the internet's seeming obsession with just a handful of games. There's been a good variety to the week ahead articles, and there's the employee profiles and the Pokédrag series. So carry on and keep up the good work.

I'm actually pretty caught up with myself in Skyrim. I'm going to have to figure out what to do next before I can write more.

ClockworkHouse wrote:
Gravey wrote:

Hey everyone, stop liking that thing you like so much! I don't like it at all, so you should like it less!

I'm sorry, that's not fair. You should be able to like that thing, as much as you want. Just don't talk about it around me. Which could be anywhere. So don't talk it about it all.

There, that's fair.

That seems unnecessarily snarky for one mild negative comment and a joke.

To paraphrase General Chang: on the Internet, all warriors are clocky warriors. In truth, I'm just teasing. I feel like there's been an undercurrent of tension on the Interwebz since Skyrim charged in and took over. Not the Front Page, but the Web in general and the meme-o-sphere and so forth. I understand that can be frustrating for someone when it seems like literally everyone and their mother (no really: literally) is playing it but it doesn't appeal at all to them.

Now I've got nothing positive to say about the Mass Effect games, so I really do sympathize. But what can I do about it? I hope what my teasing post hints at is: nothing; but there's nothing to be done. Tastes differ, time passes, and sighing loudly is least productive of all.

I tried to offer up my counter point of I realized that without such articles we would be seeing nothing. But it got overlooked... I know that you guys just write what you are feeling more than trying to just generate traffic, so I don't really have a suggestion. Plus I feel then it would be putting you into a place where you're not doing what you love. I just figured a lone voice of despair would at least show that we're not all in love with Bioware/Bethesda.

I also don't expect articles on Nintendo games and old games hardly anyone is playing anymore (which, coincidentally on the console side, they are one and the same). And by hardly anyone, I mean me and maybe, just maybe, one other GWJ'er.

Sorry to be of no help.

Oh wait, to be completely contradictory, did anyone write an article about Shadows of the Damned and how they loved playing with their big johnson?

Gravey wrote:

Now I've got nothing positive to say about the Mass Effect games, so I really do sympathize. But what can I do about it? I hope what my teasing post hints at is: nothing; but there's nothing to be done. Tastes differ, time passes, and sighing loudly is least productive of all.

I agree, but I don't think there's anything wrong with expressing a bit of frustration at the Skyrim (and now Mass Effect) over-saturation we've all been subjected to. Even the non-gamer people in my life are tired of arrow-to-the-knee and fus ro dah jokes. I know we're all told to Be Positive and Don't Say Anything At All if you can't be positive, but there's value in non-destructive negative expression that shouldn't be discounted. Sometimes people need to vent a little.

wordsmythe wrote:

If I explored a child the way I explore Skyrim, I would be rightfully arrested.

Unfocused and meanderingly?

With an emphasis on sneaking and alteration?

Rifling through all of their pockets and stealing their rare ingredients?

As an unapologetic supporter of Imperial eminent domain?

Sprinting away from a big-ass bear?

I read Shawn's comment more specifically as asking what you would like to see more of instead.

ClockworkHouse wrote:
Gravey wrote:

Now I've got nothing positive to say about the Mass Effect games, so I really do sympathize. But what can I do about it? I hope what my teasing post hints at is: nothing; but there's nothing to be done. Tastes differ, time passes, and sighing loudly is least productive of all.

I agree, but I don't think there's anything wrong with expressing a bit of frustration at the Skyrim (and now Mass Effect) over-saturation we've all been subjected to. Even the non-gamer people in my life are tired of arrow-to-the-knee and fus ro dah jokes. I know we're all told to Be Positive and Don't Say Anything At All if you can't be positive, but there's value in non-destructive negative expression that shouldn't be discounted. Sometimes people need to vent a little.

For sure, I'd just advise where. Maybe a couple years ago when I was an angry young coffee grinder, I'd've been happy to vent anywhere. But for someplace like TWA, where people can post how excited they are for any game, well, let the babies have their bottle I say. (Er, sorry about the metaphor, ME fans. )

Elysium wrote:

I read Shawn's comment more specifically as asking what you would like to see more of instead.

Sexy pictures of you and Certis on horseback.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:
Elysium wrote:

I read Shawn's comment more specifically as asking what you would like to see more of instead.

Sexy pictures of you and Certis on horseback.

Second.

I can say that I'm looking at two articles today that are about neither Skyrim nor Mass Effect.

wordsmythe wrote:

I can say that I'm looking at two articles today that are about neither Skyrim nor Mass Effect.

Unacceptable.

I think CY's working on a couple things, too. I don't think they're about Dark Souls, but we could probably force him to tie them back.

wordsmythe wrote:

I think CY's working on a couple things, too. I don't think they're about Dark Souls

Unacceptable.

More importantly, who is the guy in the picture? What with Shepard being a woman and everything.

Elysium, you had a good thing going until you used the word 'totes'.

Elysium, you had a good thing going until you used the word 'totes'.

But, I used it ironically! Like my beard, and my music collection.

Elysium wrote:

I read Shawn's first comment more specifically as being what you would like to see more of instead.

Fixed?

BNice wrote:

Mass Effect 3 is pre-loaded and ready to go :D

This.

MeatMan wrote:
BNice wrote:

Mass Effect 3 is pre-loaded and ready to go :D

This.

Right there with you.

Mass Effect 3 is the first major release title I've gone preorder/digital download on. Not sure what that says about me, Mass Effect or Origin.

BlackSabre wrote:

Elysium, you had a good thing going until you used the word 'totes'.

Maybe instead of complaining about Elysium's word choice you could offer suggestions of what you'd like to see instead. Take a positive approach.

I used to respect Elysium's word choice, but then I took a tote to the knee.

How very NPR.

Concave wrote:

More importantly, who is the guy in the picture? What with Shepard being a woman and everything.

I think he's some kind of Systems Alliance recruitment poster boy or something. I guess they make them all wear that godawful buzz cut. Thank God Shepard made Spectre and can wear her hair any way she damn well pleases.

I hope Mass Effect 3 can deliver, but I suspect it won't have that ME2 magic. ME2 set the bar so high (kinda like Uncharted 2 did), I don't know how 3 can possibly live up to the hype.

And now a 180: Is anyone else as excited as I am about Pinball Arcade on consoles?

wordsmythe wrote:

How very NPR.

Lock the thread; we're done here. All the comments, half the time.

TheHipGamer wrote:
wordsmythe wrote:

How very NPR.

Lock the thread; we're done here. All the comments, half the time.

Sorry to interrupt you, but I've got Ira Glass here to talk about our membership drive.

Minarchist wrote:
MilkmanDanimal wrote:
Elysium wrote:

I read Shawn's comment more specifically as asking what you would like to see more of instead.

Sexy pictures of you and Certis on horseback.

Second.

All in favour say 'Aye'

Aye.

Mass Effect 3 spoiler (end of Act 1):

Spoiler:

That "shooting Ambassador Udina" comment is... ironic?