Mass Effect - Bring Down the Sky (Download)

Straight from mouth of Chris Priestly over at the Mass Effect forums on the Bioware web site:

The Bring Down the Sky downloadable content pack will be released to Xbox LIVE Marketplace on Monday, March 10 at 2 a.m. PST, and will be available for 400 MS points. This is the first in a series of planned downloadable content that further expands the Mass Effect universe and continues the adventures of Commander Shepard and the Normandy crew.

Bring Down the Sky includes a new uncharted world that introduces the notorious and feared alien race of the Batarians. A Batarian extremist group has hijacked a mobile asteroid station in the Asgard system, setting it on a collision course with the nearby colony world of Terra Nova. Only Commander Shepard can save the millions of innocent civilians before the asteroid completes its deadly descent.

Bring Down the Sky contains approximately 90 minutes of heart-pounding action and a new Achievement worth 50 Gamerscore points.

Looks like I will get a chance to play some more. Yippee!

Virtual, Reality, or Both?

"Second Skin takes an intimate look at computer gamers whose lives have been transformed by the emerging genre of Massively Multiplayer Online games (MMOs). World of Warcraft, Second Life, and Everquest allow millions of users to simultaneously interact in virtual spaces. Second Skin introduces us to couples who have fallen in love without meeting, disabled players who have found new purpose, addicts, Chinese gold-farming sweatshop workers, wealthy online entrepreneurs and legendary guild leaders - all living in a world that doesn't quite exist." - Directly quoted from the Second Skin Web site.

I saw this trailer and thought about my friends, family, and myself. Although I have toned down my game playing, the hours I spent playing FFXI, Guild Wars, WoW, and even getting involved in beta testing, took its toll on my health and the relationship with my wife. Thankfully, it didn't end either.

Unlease the Writer In You

I recently, ok it was last year, came across a web site called Aelyria. This is a free Play-by-Post (PbP) site that has a lot to offer those with the knack for writing. I have been playing on sites like this one for the past couple of years. The uniqueness of Aelyria however is in the way you can tell your story. Most PbP are d20 related. d20 represents Dungeon and Dragons, a game I still love. It takes me back to my middle school years of sweet talking the librarian into letting us hand out for an hour or so after school a couple days during the week.

Aelyria, as I said, is different. There is no rolling of dice, real or computerized. All you need is an imagination, the ability to read, and some time. After reading through the Getting Started, I was on my way creating my character and getting mail from the Game Masters. These, GMs, are real people that can help you get that first post and also help with the creation of your story.

The world is always expanding. Your character can do anything, well almost anything. There are variety of races to choose from. Good at poetry, become a bard. Want to learn the art of arcane magic, go for it. Learn a trade, open a store and sell. The possibilities are endless. I think I even read of a few pirate character sailing around some of the islands.

I will admit that I am not the greatest of writers. You will probably notice that throughout the continuation of the blog, but I do stand behind this game 100%.