The game was science fiction and thus did not have to follow any realistic pattern. Any justification of Bioware not creating more of an interesting setting for sidequests is merely justification in hindsight. We could come up with any reasons to excuse the developers from this disappointment but in the end, I felt a bit let down. I don't think any gamer would have been at Bioware's throat if they had included a few more diverse planets.

I'm 10 hours in Mass Effect, truly a great game in the same vein as Jade Empire and Kotor.

Agreed, but still not bad for the first game. :)

Wow what an awesome game. I am about 15 hours into it and I love the universe Bioware has created. I am totally addicted. Sorry that I can't write much more but I have a galaxy to save :)

;) So erm, tell me, Soccsie: Did you say 'yes' to the consort? Heh heh...

You'll eventually reach an emotionally difficult crossroad where you must make a heart wrenching decision that will affect the details of your story. It took me several minutes to decide myself.

I finished this recently. Great graphics and story. The main quest is a bit shorter than KOTOR, which is a bit annoying, since it ends just as it's really getting good. And the lack of a Tali romance sub-plot is a bummer. Otherwise, outstanding game.

:) Giligan, Bioware promised us some DLC while we wait for Mass Effect 2.

I know, but I don't have XBL. I'm actually forced to hope that there isn't a Tali romance sub-plot until Mass Effect 2.

How is it that you don't have Live? Do you mean to say you don't have the Gold version of Live? Is your 360 hooked up online?

The phone company doesn't have highspeed internet in my area (yes, stupid rural midwest :P), so I can't sign up for Live until they do offer it. I'm not sure what you mean by "hooked up offline"; I haven't bothered to hook up my 360 to the computer or phone lines yet, if that's what you mean.

http://smilies.vidahost.com/otn/sad/iiworry.gif Suckage! Not even wireless internet, huh? When I was living with my sister in Belvidere we had wireless internet. Thankfully the house was within visual distance of one the towers and we got good speeds (unless there was a severe electrical storm). The only problem with it was that it didn't allow dtp, which sucked for my sister 'cause she works at home half the time.

I'm now on my second playthrough of Mass Effect. I'll share my Sheps and those of you who can, please share yours!!

This is my first Shep, her name is Commander Otterley Shepard. She is an emerald eyed Adept, Earthborn, and orphaned:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...d_1_chasca.jpg

Otterley pic 2
Otterley pic 3
Otterley pic 4

And this is my current Shep. She is Commander Sureyya 'Botox' Shepard, a sapphire eyed Vanguard, colonist, orphaned:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1.../Picture21.jpg

Sureyya pic 2
Sureyya pic 3
Sureyya pic 4

Wireless is probably available, although I had heard that online gaming doesn't work on wireless, for all intents and purposes. Does it?

You should be able to game online with wireless. But note that there is a difference between wireless internet and satellite internet. Satellite internet is outdated, the upload speed is pathetically slow, it's practically dial-up.

Call your local wireless provider and tell them you want speeds on which you can game online, do they have it and can they guarantee good speeds.

I'll look into it, thanks.

So, I got curious and decided to create a brand new Shep (third one, first male version). But this time I tried to make him look like me. Turns out he doesn't look exactly 100% like me, but we share similar features - shaved head, olive skin, almond shaped eyes, arched thick black brows, high cheekbones, narrow angular face, delicate jaw, full defined lips. In real life I'm very short, skinny, boyish looking & acting; nowhere NEAR heroic looking as popular culture would envision.

But once I got a good look at this Shep version in cinematic action complete with that voice and all the facial expressions and nuances, and knowing his background and class, I said, "Wow. This looks like one iconoclastic Shep. Not your typical thick-necked, overtly macho, overtly tough looking heterosexual/homoerotic fantasy kind of man hunk. This playthrough should be interesting."

The problem now is trying to decide if I should continue this guy's campaign now that I started it, or to move forward with Commander Sureyya 'Botox' Shepard whose story I also recently started. http://smilies.vidahost.com/cwm/3dlil/uhh.gif

So here I am So here he is: Commander Trep Shepard, born of military parents, war hero, Paragon & Renegade (depending on situation), and a Sentinel trained in biotics, tech, and medical:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1.../Picture34.jpg http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1.../Picture38.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1.../Picture37.jpg http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1.../Picture33.jpg

I found a side quest I must have overlooked on my first playthrough, involving Talitha, a woman who as a little girl...

Spoiler:

...had her humanity violated by the Batarians when they inserted metal and tubes into her force her to into slavery. She escaped and ended up in the Citadel and 'Botox' Shepard prevented her from committing suicide.

Hands down the most poignant side quest in the game. The facial expressions and voice acting for Talitha were excellent.

I only had that sidequest appear on my latest (4th) playthrough. I've had other random ones come over the radio from the admiral just as I'm en-route to Ilos. Every time I think I've seen everything, ME throws something else at me.

Have you done the weird search the monkeys quest.

Every playthrough :) Although, after doing it the first time, you know exactly which monkey to search in future.

Still, I like hearing the various monkey sounds when you touch them.

intrepid i seemed to have lost your xbox live gamertag, would you be so kind to give that to me?

and to anyone else here

mine is "its tasty bacon" with the spaces.

;) Interesting. I don't remember giving it to you the first time.

Wow. Just played two of the three alternate 'endings' of one of my character mates in the story (Virmire)...

Spoiler:

1:

Wrex: "You bitch."

BLAM!!!

2:

Shepard: "We can discuss this!"

Wrex: "No more talking, Shepard. We'll do this my way."

BLAM!!!

Ashley: "Not today, friend."

:) In the third one, the one I picked on my first playthrough, I was advanced enough in paragon skills to be able to talk Wrex out of it. But now it seems, after this, I have one less squad mate to choose from.

Well, I could have swore you did in one of our aim conversations or through PM.

Poor Wrex He is my favorite character

Not so poor. He made whatever choices led him to where he ended up. My first Shepard (as Adept) saw him and Tali in the very final battle with Saren.

I finished my second playthrough last night (as a female Vanguard), with Tali and Liara (thus earning the Achievement for using Quarian squadmate all the way through).

I'm now on my third play as Trep Shepard (Sentinel), this time with Liara (once she joins up) and Garrus (hopefully to earn the Asari squadmate Achievement).

;) What games you got?

I was surprised by how early I got Tali's achievement in my current playthrough (fourth time). I'm using Tali and Liara, and her achievement unlocked with 7 or so clusters still to visit, including Virmire - much earlier than any of the other ally achievements have. Liara's has still to unlock though.

Edit: Hurrah, Liara's finally unlocked when opening the gate on Ilos.

Well, I was recently diagnosed with lyme disease so I really havent been able to buy much of anything latley. All my money is going towards medical stuff.

Right now, I only own... Guitar Hero 3, Oblivion, Bioshock, Burnout Revenge, Guitar Hero 2, and im striving to get Mass Effect.

oh and now rock band..

First bit of Mass Effect DLC announced.

Mass Effect for the PC in May 2008. With controls and resolutions and everything!

This is awesome.

I wasn't expecting that announcement quite so soon, especially with a May release date. Curious as to whether they'll include the Bring Down the Sky content in the PC release.

Phew! Now I'm relieved I didn't invest in that Xbox after all last week (what really put me off was that the games have horrendous prices. Who they think I am? Croesus? :crazy: ).

And May, they say? Hmmm, I might have to poke my mother to give me that to my sister's birthday (or actually, to her own birthday). :P



- :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

May? Why must everything interesting come out while I'm trying to sit finals? :crazy:

The Publishers are conspiring against you.

I'm happy more people will be able to enjoy this marvelous game.

Just finished last night my third playthrough, this time as a paragon/renegade mixture male Sentinel class Trep Shepard. Romanced Liara, picked Ash over Kaiden on Virmire, spared Wrex, and eventually chose Anderson for the Council in the end. I swear I'm inclined to play a fourth time! But I've run out of biotic class choices (I've played as Adept, Vanguard, and Sentinel). I could play again as a female Adept, but opt for the hot Liara over Kaiden this time.

Or I could wait for the Bring Down The Sky DLC in about two weeks and get back into Oblivion or Half-Life 2 til then. :)

http://news.filefront.com/wp-content...ass-effect.jpg

Bring Down The Sky is now available to download from XBL. Gonna cost you around 5 bucks (400 points) and weighs in at about 240MB and should take about 90 minutes to experience.

You may need to replay the game proper to when you are given the Normandy in order to access it once it's downloaded to you.

So awesome, that they are bringing the PC-version so soon. Finally I get to enjoy this game. I knew I shouldn't invest in X360. :)

Go read my arguments from a couple of years ago from this very thread. They still apply. :D