Mass Effect 3

So, last weekend I completed Mass Effect 3, the third instalment of the Mass Effect Trilogy by Bioware and EA Games.

When I first bought my first XBox 360 back in 2009 (I was a bit of a late bloomer at 23), Mass Effect was the first game that I bought and played.

The first game I loved playing, completely. I wasn't entirely sure how it would be topped. Then in 2010, Mass Effect 2 arrived. And in March this year, Mass Effect 3. Each game beating the other into submission, each better than the last, but each one brilliant enough that you would play them through all over again.

Mass Effect offered the completionist closure on completing the game. You fought a great battle, giving you closure...with a small hint of 'there is something more to come.' As was with Mass Effect 2.

In my opinion, there is nothing worse than a game series that keeps you hanging on a cliff edge, only for you to be able to carry on the story two years down the line when the next in the series is released.

Mass Effect 3 was the culmination of the first two games. Each game has its own story line to follow and complete, yet both stories link into the final saga that is Mass Effect 3. The way you keep the same character through the entire trilogy, the decisions you have made through your Mass Effect life, follow you into the next game, and the next. By the time I was playing Mass Effect 3 I was already so immersed in the whole experience, 'my' life as Shepard, I felt a real drive and commitment to the cause - taking back Earth.

Verdict

My verdict is quite simply a 5 star WOW! The story line that captures you, that provokes an emotional reaction really engages you in the whole experience. The beauty of the graphics is just so pleasing and enjoyable to watch. The Kinect features really brought the game to a whole other level of reality. The multi-player gaming brings a whole new depth to the whole game, along with extensions such as the iOS app. and Mass Effect Infiltrator which bring the entire experience away from the console (I would actually sit at my desk, deploying fleets to help toward my galactic readiness).

The people at Bioware really pushed out all stops for this game...and it was completely worth it. Mass Effect has completely spoiled me and I find it very difficult to find other games that fulfil my gaming needs - this is not sarcasm. This is probably why I have played the first two games through twice, and why I intend to start all over again.

I tweeted to @MassEffect telling them I had completed it, and them being so committed to their gamers replied and offered me the chance to give them feedback - and this is it.

The Nyko Zoom for Kinect

Like a lot of gamers, when Kniect (known as Project Natal during development) was first mentioned it wow'ed a lot of people. Many of those people where some of the first to buy Kinect when it was released this time last year.

For most people, the initial set-up was a disappointment. Little did buyers know, you needed 8 - 10 feet of clear space in front of your TV for the Kinect to function as more than a bit of voice command hardware.

Myself, luckily had the room in my old place to be able to use the Kinect to its full potential, even though I had to do a bit of the old furniture relocation that so many people had to do.

But, when I moved in Spring this year...I was no longer able to use Kinect other than to tell it to play disc when I was too lazy to press the play button on my remote control...until now!!!

In September, Nyko released the Zoom for Kinect to the UK market. Initial convention reviews were promising, the primary selling point being that it reduced the Kinect play space by 40%. So I pre-ordered mine, and shipped toward the end of the month.

When it came, I was excited...when I got home to use it...that excitement diminished, with that same gut dropping feeling as when I first set-up the Kinect.

With the Zoom being new to the UK market, there were no user reviews I could find. Once I had trawled the internet I came to the actual Nyko website (should've just gone there in the first place).

The guide that is shipped with the Zoom isn't all that great, you can download much more indoeth information, guides, and view FAQ's on the product website.

My Kinect was mounted on top of my TV unit, and worked great up there when I had the space. However, the Kinect with the Zoom attached seemed to suffer from vertigo. So, I looked through the troubleshooting section of the Nyko website and found that, not for optimum performance, but for the kit to actually work it had to be set to a height of 2 - 4.5 feet from the ground.

So my next purchase was to buy a TV mounted bracket for my Kinect. Thankfully, the top of my TV was at the required height, and I am pleased to say my Kinect works great now.

So, just a few things to think about if you are thinking of buying the Zoom.

1. Make sure you can mount the Kinect between 2 - 4.5 feet from the floor.
2. Make sure you have 4 - 6 feet of space in front of you.
3. It's costs around £25.00, so shop around.

And now, a few pointers to help you set-up your Zoom if you decide to buy.

1. Track and calibrate your Kinect again.
2. Use the lens protectors to protect your Kinect.
3. Be patient.

WINEHOUSE DEAD! Really, does anyone care?

Some of you will have already seen my complete displease in the publicity surrounding the death of Amy Winehouse.

Cpl Mark Anthony Palin - Rest in Peace

The most common comments I am seeing on the social plethora's is "it was such a waste of a life." My response, a question, is where were these people when she was constantly high on drugs and alcohol? The truth of the matter is that Winehouse's life had been wasted a number of years ago...then everyone is surprised that she had died.

The BBC reported that Winehouse had died, and the cause was unknown but she had "battled problems with drugs and alcohol," and they wondered how she died? Since when has the press been so delicate on such matters? There is an entire page worth of news reports on the subject - click here.

Yes, I do sympathise for her family...as I sympathised for them a number of years ago when her Father was dragged into the shame of her life. But the truth is, there are people dying by the millions across the planet each day. We cannot mourn the death, or sympathise with the families of all of these people. We choose to sympathise for the families of those important enough to deserve our sympathy, and the fact that the story of the death of Winehouse made such big news against the story of the death of but one of our own troops fighting for our freedom is fucking disgraceful.

This status update is making its way around Facebook:

"5 days ago a true British hero was killed fighting for our country. Did you know this? Do you know his name? Did you care? A singer addicted to drugs and alcohol dies and its all over the news, Facebook and Twitter in minutes! RIP Corporal Mark Anthony Palin from 1st Battalion the Riffles! Will you put this as your status?"

Now take a look at the news reports on this man - click here.

Yes I never knew Mark Palin, but neither did I know Amy Winehouse. I would much rather sympathise for the death of Palin than Winehouse. After all, what did Winehouse give to us, against what Mark and his other comrades are giving to us now? As you sit reading this, remember who actually deserves our prayers and sympathies. The men and women fighting for our freedom and well being, and not some fucking crack head with a year long bad hair day!

"Not my daughter, you bitch." (M. Weasley, 2011)

The date, July 15th 2011, marked the end of a ten year...following, for me. I remember reading the first Harry Potter book in college when I was 15 years of age, and watching the first film shortly after.

After I had read that first book and watched that first film, I was hooked. I had completely fallen into the Potter craze that was sweeping the globe. People were coming to college with their house scarves on, even though it wasn't even winter, the craze had well and truly begun...for me as well as millions of others.

I remember looking forward to every upcoming book and film release, and even when I had read the latest book and seen the latest film...I always had another to look forward to.

The latest, and final movie poster titled 'it all ends,' couldn't be more true.

The film itself amazed me, I was so scared that the end of the Potter era would end in a flop...but it didn't I am pleased to report. There was even room for the infamous Molly Weasley one liner, 'not my daughter' you bitch!

The film had the audience fully engaged, through laughter, awe, tears, and applause. And it was at the end of the film, when the auditorium applauded that the sudden rush of 'that is it' fell on the crowd. It was as if you could sense the atmosphere change, as everyone came down from the Potter high! There will be no more books to look forward to, no more film releases to put in your calendar. This it is, its all ended!

The one remaining thing to look forward to is the DVD release...and for the books to be made available in the Kindle store.

Murder she wrote, by May Kitbetter.

The time was 20:00, on Saturday July 9th, 2011.

Eight friends had gathered in a medium-large, stone terrace cottage on the outskirts of Denshaw Village, for some light mannered mysterious mischief...and muuuuur-deerrrrrrr! (That was murder just in case you missed it.)

So my friend, Kirsty Jones, invited me and a few of our mates to a murder mystery evening. It's the first one I've ever done, and it was a brilliant night.

Now Kirsty has a reputation to uphold when it comes to throwing parties, and that reputation was certainly upheld. My name, was Phil Sleepy, an anaesthetist working in a cosmetic surgery...surgery! Yes...the name was apt for the roll, as was everyone else's. The event had innuendoes names, cheesy DVD scenes, and many many sexual connotations, and topped off with a three course meal and lashings of alcoholic beverages...it was the best night I'd had in a long while.

I don't want to divulge too much information specific to the murder mystery (just in case someone buys the same one), but...

...Sal done it!!!