Mass Hysteria

...The Elcor will likely be next.

After nearly an entire month of angry rants, charity drives, and cupcake making, the hysterical reaction to the ending of Mass Effect 3 is finally winding down, with most of the major groups claiming victor after Ray Muzyaka stated that Bioware has been listening and will be doing something with what they have heard.

This is no victory, and it depresses me greatly that people are thinking of it as such. To be fair, I think it's another sign of just what the gaming community is capable of when it wants to get something done. A lot of people could learn a thing or two from how we do things, and that part of this makes me ecstatic that we once again are showing our stuff.

But the entire idea of this bothers me. A lot of people have spent a lot of time trying to get across the idea that games are in fact art. So much so that there is a temporary exhibit in The Smithsonian currently on display about that very idea. It has taken us a while to get to this point, and there are plenty of people who still aren't convinced. If video games are art, then they are the creative work of others. The entire campaign to change Mass Effect 3's ending is not only refuting the idea that games are works of art, it is supporting the idea that games are a product. Games can be changed yes, but the line that we are crossing is where we are demanding that a creative decision be reversed to fit our desires. Regardless of how that decision was made, it should only be changed if the developers feel it needs to be.

Being a fan of a game is like being a fan of a band. A band needs fans to survive, but the band is the one in control of the music they ultimately  For example, take Green Day. They spent a good decade or so playing solid punk music. Then they decide to go in a bold new direction with their album American Idiot, doing a rock opera of sorts that still has it's roots in classic punk. The reaction was very mixed, Green Day became a much bigger band, but many long time fans accused them of selling out and demanded that they go back to their old style. Yes they should at least listen, but ultimately the band creates the music. They are the ones who decide what they should do creatively. The fans can give input, but they can not demand things of the band. Once the band releases it's music, it's released and any changes to it are the bands business. If you created a song, and were happy with it, would you change it based on what other people think? Same thing with game designers and production teams most of the time. Bioware does a better job than a lot of companies at listening to fans and reworking their next game based on that feedback. Hell, they pretty much are starting off with fan comments and ideas on where to go with the next Dragon Age title. But once a developer has decided they are happy with the game as it is, we can not demand they change it for us. They are not obligated to give us exactly what we want from them.

There is truth in the idea that Bioware did not deliver on it's promises, but most games don't in some fashion or another. The idea that we should take a developers word as a written code or commandment is absurd. Developers are people too, and they make changes about their decisions. You don't have to like them, and you are welcome to be angry about them. I am by no means saying that people don't have the right to be upset by Mass Effect 3, but there are lines that are being crossed that bring to mind a lot of somewhat difficult to answer questions. You deserve a quality experience, but does that mean that you are a consumer of art or of a product? Can it be both? Is it the developers responsibility to craft an experience for fans, or to take creative risk?

At the end of the day, Bioware is a creative company. They made creative decisions, and regardless of the way it has been handled and what they told us we were getting, they should not feel obligated to change the ending, or any part of their game for that matter, based on what we think. They have final say as storytellers, and that right needs to be respected. You may hate it with every fiber of your being, but you need to respect the idea that this is the way they wanted to tell their story.

That said, again, I applaud the people who took a stand in a respectful way and simply told Bioware and EA their thoughts, and were not forceful about it. Moving mountains is awesome, and the idea of changing the way companies like EA do business (which really seems to be at the core of the issue) is certainly worth it, but we need to be very cautious of how we approach the issue. Sacrificing creative choice for us to be somewhat happy is not in anyone's best interest.

Now that Bioware has made their decision though, we will wait and see if we end up truly happy, or if we end up in an even worse place than before...



As always please share, post this where ever you can. Comments are always appreciated, any at all. They make me happy.

Until next time!

Image Sources:
#1. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincgdQ96Kvcj5NFCApCBVZTq5P5x5nW06-G3xh0TYAZQ6fA0jIvtDdOPSmrbsMeeCqZg2cU-VhLz75HuAOj7HjJhsAU5AiNW0HEOFZCYXwU0bzmUIRA5ZNeDCVj2ZcyjLwKNKzTmOiDSY6/s1600/SHEEN-WINNINGMUSTACHE.jpg
#2. http://fourplayer.wpr.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mass_effect3_review1.jpg

Flufflist: The Seven Greatest Original Game Soundtracks of the Past Ten Years

...The sound of music.

I love music. It is essentially tied with video games as my favourite hobby. I love playing and listening to it. So I thought it would be kind of interesting to dig through all the video game soundtracks I've listened to or own. I was about halfway through the Elder Scrolls III soundtrack when I realized I've never actually professed my love of game soundtracks on Marshmallow Fluff!. Oh the horror. So I thought this would be a good way to fix that. However, for a couple different reasons I decided it would be better to narrow my choices to the past ten years or so. I'll probably do a 'best of all time' list at some point, but this is a good jumping off point.

So without further adieu, here are the seven best video game soundtracks of the past ten years.

(Note: I take into account all the songs I can find from each game, not just their physical soundtrack releases. Some of the games don't even have one after all)

Honorable Mention - Fable

It was very hard for me to leave this off the top seven because it's just so good at giving a great musical context for the world your in. Few games soundtracks support their world as strongly as Fables did, though it lacks a true standout piece of music, unlike most of the other soundtracks that made it into the list. The thing the soundtrack does reallywell is distinguish the different areas of Albion that you visit. Oakvale has a very natural sound to it's associated music, while the music in Bowerstone sounds much more city-like. It won't ever win an award for being exceptional, but the Fable soundtrack is a great example of how music can add to the experience of exploring a new world.

Check Out: Summer Fields - A relaxing song that really puts on display the ability Fable's soundtrack has to really set a great backdrop for your journey around the world of Albion

#7. Advent Rising

Advent Rising is one of those games that had a lot of potential, but will likely never be able to show it. Originally supposed to be the first part of a trilogy, Advent Rising has built up quite the cult following. However, the one thing that Advent Rising should never be forgotten for is it's soundtrack. It's not original, it's not without obvious influences, but it makes up for that with impact. The opening track 'Muse' is one of the most hauntingly beautiful pieces of music in a game ever, and the rest of the soundtrack does an incredible job of keeping you immersed in gameplay. There are a lot of big budget movies and games that could learn from what Advent Rising does with it's musical score.

Check Out: Muse - Few games boast the kind of standout musical opening that Muse gives Advent Rising.

#6. Halo 3: ODST

It may not be the best Halo game, and it may not be your favourite, but ODST's soundtrack finally gave the complete package for a Halo soundtrack. The Halo series has always had some standout pieces of music, but they've always felt  a bit lacking, it never really delivered a whole games worth of epic music. Marty O'Donnell did a masterful job of changing up the soundtrack for the new campaign but also still finding a way to make it sound distinctly like it came from the Halo universe. The thing that places this soundtrack above all the other Halo games is how the whole thing stays with you. Everyone remembers the classic theme from Halo, but not many tracks are memorable outside of that. ODST's entire soundtrack will follow you around long after you've completed the game, something the main series of Halo games has never really done. The soundtrack itself does a masterful job of reflecting the mood of the setting. Walking around New Mumbassa City at night with that music will send shivers up your spine. It reaches out to you in a way none of the other Halo soundtracks have. In fact, this is the soundtrack all the other Halo games wish they had.

Check Out: Deference For Darkness - It might not be the Halo Theme, but it is defiantly on that level.

#5. Radiant Historia

Radiant Historia itself is one of those rare games that snuck under the radar. Once people realized how good it was though, the copies disappeared. Literally almost. They actually had to re-release the game because there are so few copies to be had right now. Among the the many things that Radiant Historia does right is it's soundtrack. Yoko Shimomura absolutely knocked the soundtrack to this game out of the park. While it doesn't quite reach the level of Nobou Uematsu and Yasunori Matsuda's work, it is certainly within reach of it. The various locations are brought to life with the music, and the combat scores are tense and pulse raising.  Each track brings something else to the table, and it is really something to hear what Simomura was able to create despite the Nintendo DS' very weak sound system. It puts to shame just about every other DS' game soundtrack. Radiant Historia will likely go down as one of the better JRPG's of all time, and the games incredible soundtrack will be right there with it. 

Check Out: An Earnest Desire Of Grey - This track really captures the ability this soundtrack has to raise your pulse a bit and make you feel like your in an epic struggle. 

#4. Mass Effect 3

The most recent release to grace this list, Mass Effect 3's soundtrack is one amazing piece of work. It takes the sci-fi elements from the first two Mass Effect titles, but also introduces a more orchestral arrangement to some of the more important tracks. While a few tracks are more ambient or background noise than anything, there are several standout tracks that really drive the emotion level through the roof. There are plenty of moments in Mass Effect 3 that will make feel a gamut of emotions and the soundtrack does a beautiful job at supporting the really big scenes. The final scenes of the game have one of the most incredible musical scores I have heard in a long time. Most missions still have the sci-fi style that Mass Effect usually brings to the table, and they do a great job of setting up combat sections and making you feel like your in the Mass Effect universe. This maybe the most recent Mass Effect game, but it also brings a detailed and strong soundtrack. A few tracks are forgettable, but the number of outstanding pieces of music far outweighs the ones that you'll forget. Also Faunts song "Das Maelfitz" as the end credits track is just a wonderful thing.

Check Out: The Fleets Arrive - This song takes the Mass Effect theme that has evolved through all three titles and turns into the track that you ride into the final battle on.

#3. Kingdom Hearts

From the opening menu theme, Kingdom Hearts soundtrack is a beautiful, mystical, and lighthearted set of music that paints the world of Kingdom Hearts perfectly. In fact, it might be a little too lighthearted. Very few of the tracks ever sound particularly dark, which kind of holds the soundtrack back from realizing it's full potential. That doesn't mean this Kingdom Hearts music is without sad or pulse raising moments. A few of the battle tracks have great power and force behind them. Kingdom Hearts also does a great job of mixing in Disney elements with it's soundtrack when the situation calls for it, something that could have been just as easily ignored or done halfheartedly. Instead it stays true to the source material, and every song that is affected by it benefits from the extra effort, especially Kingdom Hearts take on the Little Mermaid Song "Under The Sea." Ultimately this is one of those soundtracks that fans will remember for a long time, and although it doesn't have quite the variety of some of the other soundtracks on this list, it's superior quality more than  makes up for it. 

Check Out: Dearly Beloved - One of the most magical and mystical opening themes of all time. It sets the mood well for the entire game.

#2. Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

The Elder Scrolls has become known for incredible soundtracks, and Morrowind is a big part of the reason for that. It's incredible what Jeremy Soul has done with Morrowind's soundtrack. Using the usual orchestral instruments, Soul creates a mystical and otherworldly musical experience. Though much of the music is on the ambient side, the opening title music has earned a place as one of gaming histories most iconic themes. Really that might be the only thing holding Morrowind's soundtrack back from true greatness. Sometimes the music is just so perfectly blended into the game, you don't even notice it. It almost becomes a part of Morrowind itself. Although that could also be praise, given that Morrowind is a bit different than the standard fantasy setting. Thats not to say the music is boring though. Prior to Morrowind I had never heard a game with this kind of a soundtrack. Both Oblivion and Skyrim have also provided excellent soundtracks for their games, but Morrowind still holds out as the best in the series because of how different it is from anything before it. Even today, few games have a soundtrack as original as Morrowinds.

Check Out: Morrowind Main Theme - Few games will ever have as epic a piece of theme music as this. Just listing to this will make you want to play the game.

#1. Bastion

Bastion isn't even a year old yet, but it will be a very long time before we get a soundtrack as strong and unique as Bastion's. Darren Korb really knocked it out of the park with this one. A very unique mix of western, electronica, and even some eastern Arabian themes may not sound appealing to the ears, but Korb found a way to blend all three elements into a soundtrack that paints the world of Bastion so masterfully that it's hard to imagine this soundtrack being part of any other game. It is rare for a soundtrack to actually make a game better, but Bastions does exactly that. From the simpler walking around tracks to the driving beats of the battle music, every track pulls you into the game world and keeps you immersed in the experience. Each of the theme tracks is also very well crafted, offering slower and quieter moments that will blow you away. The ending theme blending two of the main characters themes together into one of the most magically entrancing songs I have heard in a game. Not many soundtracks have the ability to be loved even without having played the game, but if there were ever a case for it, this is it. Make no mistake, Bastion may not be the greatest game ever, but the soundtrack will go down as one of the most unique and memorable of all time.

Check Out: Apart from the whole thing, Setting Sail, Coming Home is an amazing mash-up of two of the themes from earlier in the game. The result is otherworldly.


That was a nice update I think. Still working with some graphical things here, you'll notice the background for posts is white now. Thought it was easier on the eyes.

As always, comment, share, critique. I like hearing from people, even if I know you already (and I usually do.)

Until next time then!

Image Sources:
#1.
#2. http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/6/62830/1633300-fable_ost_super.jpg
#3. http://wallpapers.latestscreens.com/1024x768/adventrising/adventrising-01.jpg
#4. http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/2/23286/1148403-halo_3_odst_super.jpg
#5. http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/radianthistoria/backcover.jpg
#6. http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0uozuXJrF1r8fltpo1_1331688021_cover.jpg
#7. http://rpgfan.com/soundtracks/k-hearts/cover_l.jpg
#8. http://morrowindon.ru/uploads/posts/2010-06/1277866519_1871972.png
#9. http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/bastion/cover_l.jpg

Marshmallow Fluff Reviews: Mass Effect 3

The first ever Marshmallow Fluff! review is here! Since I have never done a review before let me break down how this works. First up, no scores. At all. I'll break each section of the review up to cover different areas of the game (sound, gameplay etc.) Then at the end of the review the game is given a rating of one of the following four, Extremely Fluffy, Very Fluffy, Kind of Fluffy, and Not Fluffy At All and then there's a breakdown of what the game does well/not so well. Extremely Fluffy is a game that you is well worth your time, and doesn't have a lot of flaws or mistakes that take away from the experience, Very Fluffy might have a few problems but it's still a good game, Kind of Fluffy is a game that is kind of mixed or might just not deliver a very good experience, and Not Fluffy At All is a game that isn't very good at all. The breakdown gives people who want more details an opportunity to see just how high of a pass (or how low of a fail) a game is. If a game is good enough it will receive a Fluff Choice, a game that is truly exceptional and can not be missed by most players out there. Not every game that is Extremely Fluffy gets a Fluff Choice!

So without further adieu, let the review commence!

-----

Six years ago Bioware first debuted Mass Effect. Their goal was a simple one: to craft a trilogy of games where player decisions mattered throughout the entire series. They wanted to make you think about how your decisions would effect the story, not just in the present or near future, but all the way to the grand conclusion. Bioware has finally delivered the final installment of their storytelling experiment. Bioware has spent the last six years fine tuning the Mass Effect experience, taking fans comments into account and trying to steer this series towards a conclusion worthy of it's ambition.

And boy did Bioware deliver.

I'll be clear about this upfront, you will defiantly appreciate this game a lot more if you've played the previous two games in the trilogy. You don't have to, Bioware does a solid job of setting the stage for those who haven't, but you should if you really want to feel the true impact of this game.

The path that Bioware takes to tell the final chapter in Commander Shepard's story is a brilliant examination of war and the price individuals pay in it, both physically and mentally, and Biwoare often pauses briefly to show the toll that this war against the Reapers takes on Shepard. In fact two of the scenes that paint his state of mind are not traditional Mass Effect moments, but they are among some of the most emotionally powerful moments in any game. In fact the whole game never sugarcoats the galactic situation. The Citadel, one the center of activity and political togetherness in the galaxy has become a place for refugees and casualties of the war, and there are many very small moments you will hear in passing that will impact you just as much as the big ones that  Shepard is directly involved with.

The characters and univerese are incredibly well presented, as they always have been. The voice acting for just about every character is outstanding, and the settings you visit are well detailed,. even the places you take return trips to manage to find a way to feel fresh and offer a new take on their location. The sounds of the various locations at war reel you into the action, whether it's the sound of a Reaper preparing to fire it's laser, or a gunship racing over head as it's chased by Reaper air units just keep, or even just a conversation between two refugees the sound design will keep you sucked into the experience. The past two titles have had some of the best original soundtracks in recent memory, and Mass Effect 3 delivers another epic musical backing to the universe. The music is more orchestral than it has been in the past games, but it also stays true to the sci-fi roots. The final overture is one of the most intense and satisfying and emotional moments of music in game ever. This is one of the most immersive game universes of all time.

Every major decision you make is tough one. For the first time in this series the right choice is never necessarily the easy one, and no matter what you do, or how hard you try, some people will make the ultimate sacrifice. Your decisions from the past two games play an important part in the story, including how has made it this far, but Bioware has done well to make sure that you don't miss out on sections of the game because of your choices, though those moments will change depending on who is alive or what choices you have made, making for different experiences for different playthroughs.

The story is presented fantastically. I have never played a game with a more cinematic feeling to it. Nearly every moment in this game is framed perfectly, and it really adds to the experience. The story rarely takes it's foot off the accelerator once it starts, nearly every hour is filled with pulse-raising excitement, and emotionally striking moments. Mass Effect 3 will often leave you stunned or speechless, especially when they involve the characters you've come to know from the past two games. Rarely has a game made me feel so much for it's characters but Bioware has found a way to really bring the characters life.  The ending of this game left me with no words at all. I could only sit there, as the credits rolled, and reflect on everything I had just seen. The story leaves no real questions either, wrapping the story up nicely. Bioware has become known for crafting amazing stories, but it will be hard to outdo what the experience that Mass Effect 3 brings to the table.

However, despite the intense narrative, the combat is not to be forgotten in Mass Effect 3. Combat is hectic, intense, and provides a good mix of challenge and entertainment. This really is the first Mass Effect title to embrace the shooting aspect of it's combat. The mechanics are solid, though the cover system can sometimes be a tad finicky, something Mass Effect has always seemed to struggle with. Level design is well thought out, and the environments are such that cover areas never feel forced. Some levels offer various opportunities to get you out of your comfort zone. Taking control of turrets to control a position or taking out a mech pilot and using the mech yourself changes up your tactics from time to time, and are often welcome changes in pace during a mission. The omni-blade also finally overs a viable option for melee in the game, though it can be somewhat difficult to line your enemy up properly to strike him down. Bioware has done a very good job of offering a multitude of different enemies to face off against, and each class of enemy has it's own purpose. I sometimes found myself having to retreat back a bit because the enemy tactics forced me to fall back to a better position, and dealing with some enemies like the banshee requires good strategy and use of you and your squad mates powers.

Fear not however, you have vast inventory of different weapons at your disposal to help you through combat, along with a multitude of modifications that can be made to them. Each weapon has it's own strengths and weaknesses, and Bioware has also found a really nice balance between customization of your weapons and armor, and keeping inventory management to a minimum. You'll find yourself sometimes saving credits for the things your really want, because you often times won't have enough for everything you want to get, making stores and finding credits during missions important once more.

When your not fighting to save the galaxy on the battlefield, you'll find yourself searching for resources to help your cause. Don't be concerned if you hated the system from Mass Effect 2 though, the scanning is streamlined this time around, and it can actual get kind of addicting to wander from system to system looking for additional ships and resources to aid in the fight against the Reapers. The minigames have also been otherwise removed, and there are no awkward vehicle segments to deal with.

The multiplayer, once upon a time, was something I was the most concerned about. However, Bioware has really delivered a great horde mode like co-op mode that ties into the single player. Playing multiplayer can increase your "Galactic Readiness" meter in your single player story, but it's not required to succeed in the story at all. The mode itself is extremely fun, and offers objectives during the mission where it isn't just about shooting every enemy on screen. The missions are also challenging, especially as you up the difficulty, and it truly takes a team working together to achieve victory. At the end of every mission you gain experience to level your character with and credits to spend on packs that will give you new equipment, weapons, characters, and customization options which will keep you coming back for more all the time. Whether you want to supplement your single player experience or not, this mode is a solid addition to the game, and is well worth spending some time with.

Bioware has struggled somewhat with trying to find where this game belongs. The first title was heavy on the RPG, but the combat was weak and the side missions felt tacked on at times. The second one was much more action oriented, which made the combat much stronger, but the RPG elements seemed to all but disappear. Mass Effect 3 finds a happy medium between the two. Really across much of the game it'd be fair to say that it is a marriage between the best parts of the first two titles in the trilogy. 

Mass Effect 3's conclusion brings to an end one of the most finely crafted stories of all time. This is the kind of game experience that defines a generation of games. We haven't had a game series with a story so far above the rest in a long time, and for the people who played the first two, Mass Effect 3 is something so much more. It is impressive to see what Bioware has accomplished with this game. The Mass Effect series  has shown what a game is truly capable of when it comes to storytelling. As the credits rolled I felt the story was truly finished, but in the best way possible. It will take years for another game to deliver this kind of experience again. Mass Effect 3 delivers on it's promises and surpasses them. A masterpiece in every sense of the word.

(Final Note: This review is based on the 360 version of the game. I did not play this game with the 360's Kinect Function so I can't report how well that functions.)

Gameplay

Combat is intense, and offers plenty of complexity. The shooting aspects of this game finally feel like part of a shooting game, but the cover system is still not perfect though, and the omni-blade cane be frustrating to use sometimes.

Sound

The sound design of this game will pull you in and never let go. One of the most beautiful soundtracks of the past five years in gaming.

Story/Writing

One of the most intense and emotional stories of all time. It will be hard to outdo what Mass Effect 3 has done here. The pacing is perfect, and even small moments have impact. It can get a bit depressing at times but given the situation thats more something to be expected than it is a mistake.

Graphics and Design

The game is visually stunning, and the settings feel vibrant but also show how the war with the Reapers has taken it's toll. Some sputtering and stiffness can at times detract from the experience, but the important moments are well presented, and wonderfully executed.

Lasting Appeal

Playing through this game time and time again to see how things play out with different decisions, from the whole series and Mass Effect 3 on it's own, is well worth the time and the multiplayer is fun and addictive, which will also keep you busy for a while.

Final Verdict

Extremely Fluffy
Fluff Choice

Where Mass Effect 3 Succeeds
+ The story is intense and emotional throughout the whole game
+ Gameplay is hectic and fun
+ The universe is extremly immersive
+ The game leaves no "what if's" The end is clearly defined and wraps things up nicely
+ The cinematic quality is beautiful and the entire game is well presented

Where Mass Effect 3 Struggles
- A few graphical hiccups can detract from some of the big moments of the game
- Can get a bit too depressing for some people
- The cover system still doesn't always function properly. Omni-blade could use an auto targeting feature.


I hope you enjoyed the review, you can look forward to more in the future, I actually had fun doing this and I like the system I have in place. I have a few more changes coming, possibly in the near future. Will keep you posted (maybe) on whats going on, but I'm excited about some of the things I'm looking at doing.

Until next time!


Image Sources

#1. http://cdn.medialib.computerandvideogames.com/promo/promo_1572.jpg
#2. http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/5911/2141069-at02_042.jpg
#3. http://punchdrunkgamer.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/257/files/mass-effect-3-2-1-12/mass-effect-3-screenshot-4.jpg
#4. http://images.eurogamer.net/2012/articles//a/1/4/6/4/5/5/9/Mass_2.jpg.jpg
#5. http://www.nohighscores.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/masseffect3_nuked.bmp
#6. http://www.thunderboltgames.com/s/img600/me3pm.jpg

Ashes Cause Anger

...Look at the wall of rage.

I've been kind of out of it for the past two weeks, so I haven't been getting into a whole lot of writing for my blog. I am getting back into it and I have a ton of stuff I'm working on that will hopefully be done shortly. To tide you over until then, I will be talking about that Mass Effect DLC so, uh just gonna leave this here...


Spoiler Alert!
You've been warned!



Mass Effect 3 Day One DLC Causes Huge Community Backlash

By now just about everyone knows that Mass Effect 3 will be getting a bit of day one downloadable content. I don't think Bioware really planned on telling us so soon though. And can anyone really blame them giving the huge tsunami of backlash they have gotten? Maybe they knew we'd react like that. For the uninitiated who have decided to ignore my spoiler warning, Mass Effect 3 will have a piece of downloadable content available called "From Ashes" that will introduce a new mission and a new squad member. And he's Prothean. Yeah. That's a pretty big bit of DLC. Now, if you've got your N7 Edition preordered then your all set, the DLC ships with that version of the game. If not, it will be available for 800 Microsoft Points on the Xbox Live Marketplace.

Now that those bases are covered...

A lot of people have gotten very upset with Bioware and how they seem to be moving to monetize Mass Effect as much as possible as of late. The art book, the figurines, and now this downloadable content, some people are saying that it's going to far. To be fair, something like this as downloadable content seems a bit of an odd move. Bioware's Michael Gamble explained that "The content in "From Ashes" was developed by a separate team (after the core game was finished) and not completed until well after the main game went into certification." He also mentioned that this DLC wasn't really aimed at newcomers or casual players of the series, but more for the longtime and die-hard fans (such as myself).

As far as the downloadable content goes, I have mixed feelings. I understand the point of the downloadable content being geared towards the longtime players but, I feel as if this is the kind of huge important revelation that's should be weaved into the main story. Not reduced to some kind of side show. I am kind of upset about that. At the same time though, the only reason this would be reduced to an optional side mission is if it isn't actually important to the end game result, or that it is not necessary. I will be a bit disappointed if that is the case but Bioware has a much longer history of success than they do failure. Michael Gamble himself said that the game you get out of the box is completed and is as they intended it to be released. Which means that The Prothean was not originally going to be in the game at all (I assume.) If that is the case, then "From Ashes" would have been downloadable content whether it was released day one or day 217 and a half. Actually, when it comes to DLC why do we seem to be so upset when it's something that is being released at a games launch but don;t seem to have as much of a problem with content that comes out after the game is released? I understand some of the underlying pieces sometimes, especially when it's something that could be perceived as being hacked right off the main game and then sold. But as far as Bioware has said, that was not the case here. I have never heard a developer come out and say that a piece of day one content was unrelated to the main game, but Bioware has done just that. What reason do we have to not believe them?

On the maximizing of sales from the Mass Effect franchise I can only say this. So what?

This is a game series that is going to go far beyond this trilogy, and it already has. No one bats an eye if Halo or Call of Duty push out figures and books but if Bioware decides they want to release an art book celebrating the artistic history of the series people start screaming like spoiled children? I have seen way more backlash against this OPTIONAL extra stuff that Bioware and EA have been releasing related to Mass Effect than I have most other game franchises. I just don't understand, especially since all of this is OPTIONAL and can be passed over or ignored one doesn't want anything to do with it. It's just silly how much people are overreacting to these things. Mass Effect has a huge expansive universe that has been developed, and it would make much, much less sense to not try and capitalize on that than it would to do exactly what Bioware and EA are doing. No one is forcing anybody to buy this stuff either. As they also are not forcing you to buy "From Ashes." It is there if you want it, and if you don't, then thats great too.

Did I mention it's OPTIONAL?

Some people have gone so far as to cancel their preorders or decide not to purchase Mass Effect 3 because of all of this. To the people doing that, it is your right to do so. But really think before you do it. I don't see as much of a cause to not pick the game up because of marketing moves. As I said above, much of this is merchandise that is made specifically for fans of the series. Yes they have a DLC code or two tied to them but if it really bothers you so much that some people will be getting a new weapon or armor set that is just extra content, you may want to reexamine how excited you are for this game. Mass Effect 3 will be one of the most important games of the year, and will likely be one of the best. If you've stuck it through the first two and loved them, then trust in Bioware to deliver on their promises.

Of course that's just what I think...


I will have some excellent new content coming soon, so keep your eyes peeled. As usual, spread the word, go like the facebook page, and keep reading. Oh and you guys should comment now and again! I am open to feedback, criticism, suggestions, and discussions.

Until next time...

Image Sources:
#1. http://social.bioware.com/forums/forum/1/topic/323/index/9382439/18
#2. http://xboxlivemedia.ign.com/xboxlive/image/article/121/1219156/image1_1329863585.jpg

Flufflist: Top Five Games I Can't Wait For

...My turn!

This is only my second Flufflist, but I wanted to do some kind of 'anticipation list." The problem is that I didn't want to make it sound like a countdown of the games everyone is waiting for, or make it sound like some kind of award. My solution? Make it my personal list of games I can't wait for. I tried to stick to only games currently set for release this year, but game development be a harsh mistress and I have no doubts at least one of these will slip into 2013 (much to my dismay.)

So here we go.

#5. Far Cry 3

The original Far Cry was one of the best shooters of the past decade or so. Far Cry 2 was a good successor that offered some cool changes and differences from the original, but at times felt like a boring and rather empty game. With Far Cry 3 I'm hoping that Ubisoft can find a good mix of the two. The gameplay trailer that we say at E3 is all we have to go on right now, but from what they showed it looks like Far Cry 3 will indeed be some kind of hybrid of the first two games. The main villain, Vaas, is something that stood out to me (I even discussed this after first seeing the trailer.) His animation is erratic and slightly unpredictable, his design makes him look just as insane as his actions are, and his voice acting is bewitching. The devlopers have said they really wanted to make the characters in this game memorable, and if they can do even half as good a job with the others as they did with Vaas, this game could have some surprisingly deep characters. The gameplay is also looking very solid. The one thing that I am curious about is the experience system that showed up in the demo. It could throw even more depth into the game. On the other hand it could be just a rehash of something similar to Call of Duty's. Only time will tell.

#4. Rhythm Thief & The Emperors Treasure

Odd choice? Perhaps, but if you own a 3DS this might be the first good rhythm game you'll get. Or maybe I should call it an action game. Adventure perhaps? If that description sounds odd, that would be because this game is shaping up to be a very unique experience. The gameplay revolves around mastery of several different music-based rhythm games that involve use of the stylus as well as the 3DS gyroscopic capabilities. The animation and visual style are obviously anime-inspired, I mean you could watch the cut scenes and mistake it for an anime. The story is about Ralph and his dog Fondue and their search for Ralph's missing father. He was taught to never steal by his father, but  the only way for Ralph to get the clues he needs to track down his dad is to steal works of art and antiques from museums and galleries. When your not thieving priceless works of art or tapping your way through a rhythm sequence, the game is a point and click adventure. You can interact with people and objects to collect information or medallions, which are used as in game currency. You will also collect sounds at times by clicking on certain objects but the developers have not yet revealed what purpose they are for (presumably another of the rhythm sections.) This game may not be on your radar yet, but it should be. If executed properly, this could be one of the best games on the 3DS this year.

#3. Bioshock: Infinite

Bioshock: Infinite could be one of the biggest game releases of the year. Unlike Bioshock 2, Infinite is being developed by the team that made the original Bioshock, and it appears that they have once again created an incredibly detailed fantastical setting that has been turned from an ideal place to live into a dystopian nightmare. The game takes place on the air-city of Columbia in 1912. The city had initially been created and launched as a kind of traveling World's Fair by the United States. People could live on the ship and travel the world in the air. However it is revealed to also be an extremely powerful battleship a bit before the game begins through an international incident. The US disavows any knowledge of the ship, and it's location is essentially lost to most of the world, with the ship showing up randomly here and there to impose its will on others. When the game begins, several factions have been fighting for control of the ship, but only two still stand. The Vox Poppuli, a sort of amalgamation of several smaller factions with similar views. They had at one point simply been seeing to restore freedom to the people, but now simply want to destroy the city. The other faction is the Founders, the last remnants of the people of power on Columbia. A woman named Elizabeth has become the central figure of the conflict, and the main character, Booker DeWitt, has been sent to rescue her. The game is extremely gorgeous and the combat seems just as fluid and fun as the original, if not more so. The story is incredibly complex and there seem to be a multitude of ways to work your way through it. Bioshock: Infinite is shaping up to be one hell of a game, and if it is just as good as it appears to be, it might be the best game coming out this year.

#2. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

Despite numerous critics, sites, and magazines praise of it, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning continues to go largely under the radar. That is a real shame because this could be a real dark horse for game of the year. I went over the game in my look at 2012, but to reiterate, Reckoning is a game developed by a new company called Big Huge Games and 38 Studios, which are owned by former MLB superstar pitcher and self proclaimed gameaholic Curt Schilling. Acclaimed fantasy author RA Salvatore has created the universe and lore, as well as penning some of the story. Todd MacFarlane, the cartoonist genius and figure and sculpture creator, is the art director, and Bethesda lead design vet Ken Rolston is the executive designer. Those are three brilliant men appear to have created the next big RPG based on what we have seen so far. The games visual style is impressive, detailed, and colorful. The combat has been touted as simple, yet intuitive and the mechanics have been one of the most impressive features of the game. The skill tree is also somewhat unique and different, offering different "destinies" that yu work your way up to that cover different skills and abilities. You can swap out different destinies throughout the game if you get bored with one, allowing you to essentially change classes if you wish, instead of being stuck with the same class the whole way through the game. The game world is refreshingly different, providing several different regions to explore along with a story that is also looking to be very solid. If this game isn't on your watch list, the upcoming demo will give you a chance to see this game in action for yourself so you can get it on there. It's one of the early releases of the year as well which might give it a chance before the bigger titles drop a little later.

#1. Mass Effect 3

This is the game I have been waiting for since I first played Mass Effect almost five years ago. Commander Shepard's story will end, one way or another, on March 6th. The story starts with  Reaper invasion finally occurring. Despite Shepards best attempts to delay them, they arrive quickly without warning and strike at Earth first. Shepard is forced to flee and rally the other races to stand against the Reapers, or the galaxy will be faced with extermination. All of the relationships with the characters you've met will play a part in how this story plays out, as well as your personal choices in many of the past two games missions. Combat will be very similar to Mass Effect 2 with some interesting and welcome tweaks. Melee has largely been absent in the prior Mass Effect titles, but that changes with the introduction of the omniblade, a knife that is generated by the characters wrist computer. The blade will have a different special attack depending on your class, and since this makes melee a real possibility to use, enemies focused on melee combat will also be introduced. Weapons are also no longer class restricted and along with many different models of each type to choose from you can edit them with different scopes, barrels, attachments, and accessories to personalize your weapon load out to how you want to play. Multiplayer will also be introduced in the form of a Horde-esque co-op mode. You can pick different races and classes and take on wave after wave of enemies with friends. This game will do something we've never seen before in a game series like this. You will see the decisions you made and will make through the Mass Effect 3 will determine how the story ends, letting you see how all of your actions changed the story. If executed correctly, this could be one of the absolute timeless classics that you'll want to play over and over and over again.


So there you go. You'll notice more than few high-caliber titles missing from this list, but there's only five slots after all. Next time I'll be talking about why we should stop our harsh words against the industry for a moment and reflect on how good we've got it in gaming these days.

So long until next time!

Image Sources (always go in descending order of appearance):
#1.
#2. http://www.tfmx.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/FarCry_vaas_post.jpg
#3. http://nscene.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/rhythm-thief-the-emperor_s-treasure-contains-throwbacks-to-old-rhythm-based-dreamcast-games.jpg?w=640&h=392&crop=1
#4. http://media.pcgamer.com/files/2011/12/Bioshock-Infinite-hello-golden-man.jpg
#5. http://ps3media.ign.com/ps3/image/article/116/1165907/new_village_night_1304492429.jpg
#6. http://fronttowardsgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/mass-effect-3-teaser.jpg

A Look At 2012

 ...I patiently await the day the zombie apocalypse begins.

Well 2011 has ended. We've all reflected more than enough so now we look towards the coming year in gaming. If the Mayans are right, it will be our last and (re: they aren't) it looks like this will be a pretty good year to end it on. Plenty of high caliber titles are due out this year, and some big announcements seem imminent, and who knows what else we might see this year. So lets take a look at whats on the way.

The Games 
(Note: I can not possibly talk about every last game here, so I'm only touching on a few of the bigger ones, or ones I feel should be on the radar for most people.)

There will be plenty of huge games getting released this year, and we have one of the biggest dropping at the end of the month. Final Fantasy XIII-2 is set to hopefully mark a return to form for the Final Fantasy series. The past two titles have not been received well. In fact, the MMO styled Final Fantasy XIV was so bad they had to temporarily shut the game down so they could fix the myriad of troubles that plagued the title at launch. Luckily, it seems that the sequel to Final Fantasy XIII seems set to fix the things that upset players and keep the things that worked. A new combat system should also prove to help keep things interesting. Soul Caliber V is also set for release at the end of the month as well, a day all fighting genre gamers should have circled. In fact the first three months of the year seem to be set to be one of the bigger parts of this years game release schedule, with The Darkness II, Syndicate, Twisted Metal, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Asura's Wrath, Max Payne 3, Tom Clancy's Future Soldier, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, Ninja Gaiden III, Dragons Dogma, DOTA 2, Kid Icarus: Uprising and SSX are all set for release in the first three months of the year.

There's two games also out in the first three months that RPG fans everywhere should be waiting with baited breath for. Mass Effect 3 is set to cap off Commander Shepard's trilogy with a huge bang. Every event in the past two games has lead to the epic finale and given what we've seen so far, this could be the best game from Bioware yet. They have made the bold claim that every plot point will be wrapped up nicely in this game, and the potential for the game to end in many different ways, including a few where you fail to save the galaxy, could make for one of the best endings to a story in gaming history. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning has flown far under the radar so far but that seems hard to believe from my viewpoint. With a story penned by fantasy author RA Salvatore, a visual style courtesy of Todd MacFarlane, and the design being overseen by Ken Rolston, a Bethesda veteran, there should be plenty of interest to begin with. Then there's the games refreshingly new story and universe. Along with that a very cool combat system and condensed, yet deep skill tree. Most gaming critics and experts have walked away from previews with nothing but nice things to say about the new IP.

Then at the end of March brings us the launch of Diablo III (hopefully, finally.) This is a game people have been waiting years to see release, and finally Blizzard fans can rejoice that the games March 31st release date seems set in stone. The dungeon crawler has some new classes and improved AI and combat, not to mention a beautiful graphics system and the marketplace where players can sell the gear they find online for real cash. People have been waiting a long time for this one, and hopefully, Diablo III can live up to the hype.

Sadly after that awesome start to the year, there won't be a whole lot in the way of top caliber titles to look for. Aside from Prototype 2 in April, Darksiders 2 in June, Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time at the end of June, and Dust 514 also at the end of June, there won't be a lot to look for, which should give those of us strapped for cash plenty of time to get caught up and get ready for the usual flurry of releases in the Fall. Right now the only games to really be looking for are the Tomb Raider reboot, Halo 4 and Far Cry 3 but most of the big name titles won;t be announced until E3. The big game people are waiting for in the fall/winter is Bioshock Infinite. Given the gameplay we've seen so far, it's a safe bet that this game is set to be among the biggest of the year. The visuals are impressive, and the narrative is shaping up to be pretty deep, though it might not top the original Bioshock.  The city of Columbia also appears to have been just as well crafted as Rapture. It's a safe bet we'll be seeing the usual release from Call of Duty but aside from that we're not really sure what else to expect after September ends. Borderlands 2, Transformers: Fall of Cybertron, and Metro: Last Light are among the games that have no release date set but are expected to ship at some point this year.

The Announcements and Reveals


We've already heard some bubbling rumors about what we might be seeing this year, but this entire section is mere speculation and personal thought. So don't take too much of it to heart.

We've seen an awful lot of stuff regarding Half-Life 3 as of late. First the shirt worn by a Valve employee, then the supposed references in the acceptance speech from Wheatly's VGA award win, and finally the appearance of a website that bore the Half-Life 3 logo and appropriate logos related to the games development (if it exists). Valve has dismissed it all as "the community trolling the community" but there's an awful lot floating around right now, so something must be up right? Sadly, we'll likely have to wait until E3 until we get our answer, if we get one at all. 

There's also been a lot of rumors that the next Xbox console is set for a reveal at E3 2012. While I have never seen Microsoft come out and say it won't be, my gut says that it won't be. They've just redesigned the dashboard and tried to get the Kinect to become a big pat of the Xbox 360 experience. Not to mention there are several big titles, chief among them Halo 4, that would make more sense to hold off until next year if an announcement and then hopeful launch next year. Then again, it may be time to start at least considering the rumor as a possibility. A few years back Microsoft told us the 360 was halfway through it's life cycle, and if that's true, we only have two or three years left until the next console. That's not the only reason this could be true. The eighth generation of consoles is starting. The Wii-u is set for a release at some point this year (likely the fall), both Sony and Nintendo have released their newest handhelds (North America will be getting the PS Vita in Feburary). But like with Half-Life 3, we'll have to wait until E3 before we really figure this one out.

Then there are all the games and companies that are due to make some announcements. Bioware did just announce Command and Conquer: Generals 2, but that's being developed by a new studio. Given some of the rumors surrounding Dragon Age, I'd wager we'll be seeing the next installment announced at some point. Grand Theft Auto V has been announced but that's about it. Expect lots of details to be fleshed out in the coming months leading up to E3. Something else to watch for is more information about Halo 4. We saw the reveal at E3, but have learned little else since. Expect E3 to be the place where we will really get a solid look at 343's first game with the franchise.


Well there you go. It's not much, but there's a brief little look at what to look forward to in 2012. It's shaping up to be an awesome year yet again to play video games, bu then again , when isn't it awesome? I'd also like to wish everyone a (late) Happy New Year. I hope that you'll keep reading and checking out this place through this year too.

Oh! And if you want to comment on any of my blog posts, feel free to do so. I welcome input and other opinions.


Image Source Links
#1: http://www.kaheel7.com/userimages/2012-mystery.JPG
#2. http://www.gamepur.com/files/images/2011/final-fantasy-xiii-2-screen.jpg
#3. http://media.pcgamer.com/files/2011/08/Mass-Effect-3-41.jpg
#4. http://theallgamingblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ss29-hires.jpg
#5. http://theurbangamer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/xbox720-pic-3.jpg

Mass Effect 3 - Why Multiplayer Is and Is Not a Big Deal

...Once you co-op.

While the news seemed unsure at first, Casey Hudson put the doubts to rest once and for all with a simple tweet:

Yes, co-op MP missions for #ME3: they're real, and they're spectacular. Rest assured it's nothing of what you've feared. More soon...

So, now we know the truth. The very thing some of us were dreading has become reality.

And it is nowhere near as big a deal as we think it is.

Don't get me wrong now, as Mass Effect and Bioware diehard, I'm a bit concerned about what this co-op will be like exactly, but I'm not nearly as concerned as some are. Maybe it's because I trust Bioware to do the series justice, just as they usually do. Reguardless of what EA may say or have in store for Bioware's development plans, Bioware has almost never stumbled, and is always listening to fans reactions and opinions.But there's more to it than that.

When the initial rumors of multiplayer started spawning a few months back a lot of people thought immediately that we were dealing with something along the lines of Call of Duty or Gears or something similar to that. Very few people thought the rumors might mean co-op. It's important to not the difference because this means that, while it will take plenty of work to do right, it won't take nearly as much as a full on multiplayer mode. In fact, depending on how they do it (it won't take anything away from singleplayer we've been told) , it could open up new stories or moments. At the very least, we can see it as just another feature, and instead of taking something away from the game, it instead adds to an already incredible experience.

However, as I said, I have my concerns.

The biggest one with me is why they're introducing something like this in the final game of the Mass Effect trilogy. Bioware has said before they plan for Mass Effect to continue long after ME3's final credits role. So why add this in now? Why not wait until the next game to do something like this? In a series that has been all singleplayer, all the time up to this point it seems a somewhat fairly sized risk to me. It might even lend evidence to the rumors that EA has started demanding there to be some kind of multiplayer mode in all it's games.These are all questions that will be answered as we move along I'm sure but I almost feel like I was lied to by Bioware in a way. They said time and time again that Mass Effect 3 would not deviate very far from Mass Effect 2. This co-op mode seems like a pretty big step away from what Mass Effect 2 was.

Yet, the one reassuring thing for me, that allows me to remain cautiously optomistic about the co-op mode, is how the changes from Mass Effect to Mass Effect 2 went. Story wise, there were some slight steps backwards, but gameplay wise I felt the game was much smoother and much more fun. Every moment of the combat felt active and tension mounted several times for me during key firefights, whereas in Mass Effect some fights felt kind of dull and uninspired in retrospect. Bioware boldly made changes to the Mass Effect formula, knowing that they could have played it safe instead, and while not everything went over so smooth (I.E. fewer RPG elements), the game as a whole felt much stronger than the first title.

As long as Bioware keeps their word that the co-op and singleplayer won't mix, I see no reason why we can't wait and see on how this turns out. Who knows? Maybe it will be even more of the awesomeness that is Mass Effect.

One side note here:

Extra Life is almost here! I have managed to raise some money, but time is nearly up and I could still use help. I'd really love to see a lot of last minute donations from you people out there, even if it's small amounts. I'm super excited for this, and I can't wait to get to work!

One last thing! Marshmallow Fluff! has a facebook page now, so go like it, and you can get direct links to this blog, as well as links to interesting stories, info, and pictures about all things gaming.
Marshamllow Fluff! Facebook Page

And with that, I will bow out until next time...

News: Shepard Can Lose, Skyrim Same-Sex Marriage, and more!

...investigative reporting without the investigation.

This week was filled with interesting information reveals for games coming out over the next few months, as well as a Warthog preview in Forza. Yes, the Halo Warthog as it will appear in Halo 4 (supposedly)was show off in Forza 4. No you can not drive it. Not in Forza anyway...

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Will Allow Same-Sex Marrige
In case you didn't hear already, Bethesda is taking a page out of Peter Molyneux's book and allowing you to marry NPC's and have relationships with them in Skyrim. Skyrim will allow men to marry men, and ladies to marry ladies, if they so choose. As far as I'm concerned, good on Bethesda for not restricting marriage to men and women only. I also like their response that it's not even that big a deal. The same-sex part not the relationship mechanic itself. That part is supposed to be very useful, partially because your partner can accompany you around the game world, offer you relationship-specific quests, and probably some other things we haven't seen yet.

You Can Lose In Mass Effect 3

As much as I didn't want to read this, I already kind of knew it should be possible. Bioware has confirmed that if you play Mass Effect 3 and have been screwing things up royally from Eden Prime to the final showdown with the reapers, you can fail to stop them. Bioware has already said there are many possible endings for Mass Effect 3 and that it all comes down to the choices you've made, so really this isn't so much a shocking reveal as it is a confirmation of our suspicions. Still, failing so bad the entire galaxy is wiped out. How many games can say you can even do that?

Turn 10 Shows Off Halo 4's Warthog in Forza 4's Showroom
Turn 10 has made on hell of a crossover with Halo at Halofest, showing off the first look at Halo 4's version of the Warthog in Forza 4's car viewing garage mode. You can check it out yourself when Forza 4 ships this fall, but the Halofest execs stressed that you can not race the vehicle in the game (they say because it's too slow, I say because it'd be too much awesome) , and even unlocking the vehicle to view will involve some dedication from players. They haven't said what it will take to unlock it, but they have said it won't be easy.

Man Sues Microsoft for $500 Billion Dollars

I really wish I was making that up. To sum the story up for those of us non-legal folk, David Stebbins found a loophole that allows Xbox consumers to amend the Terms of Service. Microsoft, by law, has to respond to the letter by either adding the changes or (as per Stebbins terms) cancel his account. If they didn't respond in ten days, Microsoft would be forced to submit to the new terms. Stebbins' added in a 'forfeit victory clause' that said Microsoft would have to pay him $500 billion dollars if they did not respond within 24 hours of the new Terms going into effect. Guess what Microsoft did not do? Now let me be upfront about this: No matter the legal implications of this, there is no chance that Microsoft will ever be forced to pay all that money to this guy. I can't even speculate what the hell is going to happen with this, but I can tell you right now, this guy has a better chance of being bit by a shark, hit by lightning, winning the lottery, and winning a Nobel Prize in the space of five minutes, then he does of getting that money.

Thats all for this weeks news. Check back next week to see if Half Life 3 has been announced! (spoiler alert: it won't be.)