Shepard's Journal
Entry 47
It is over
I'm sitting in my cabin. The smell of ozone, epoxy, and paint still lingers from the recent repairs. Surprisingly all of my fish and Giggles (my space hamster) survived the trip through the Omega 4 Relay. It's strange, them being alive while two bodies sit in the cargo hold beneath my feet. I'll always regret what happened between me and Miranda. We never patched things up after I broke up the fight between her and Jack. Such a petty squabble to have before setting off on such a dangerous mission, but there's nothing to be done for it now.
Legion gave its life(?) securing our passage inside the Collectors' base. I haven't decided whether to give its body to Tali for research or try and contact the Geth to see if they want to collect its body. I doubt they hold any value for one individual, let alone the physical shell it resided in, but my heart tells me that it's the right thing to do.
After the dead have been buried and those who survived go their separate ways, I wonder who will remain. No one expected to come back alive. Now it's almost as if we've been given a second (in my case third) chance at life. I'm sure Thane will want to return to the Citadel and spend the remainder of his days with his son. Both Tali and Grunt have their own people to return to. I'm afraid of what Jack might do if I set her loose on the galaxy. Jacob might stay, but I hope he doesn't. Taylor is ready for his own responsibilities and his own team. Samara has her duty as Justicar to fulfill, but I wouldn't be surprised if she decides to stay on the Normandy for a while. After all the Normandy SR2 and Captain Shepard will be long gone before her life ends so she might as well enjoy us while we last, ha.
Joker, Dr. Chakwas, Garrus, and the rest of the crew are likely to stay on, but who knows? With no imminent threat and one deadly mission done they may want to go home. They have more than done their part. As for me, I have not finished my fight with the Reaper's. Even with this new body I can still feel and see the horrors of the Reapers given to me by the Promethian artifact. The Illusive man knows I won't quite and that he can only use me so long as our goals remain the same.
For now though, all is relatively peaceful. I haven't had much time for leisure and relaxation in a long time, but it's definitely time to relax. Besides, if I ever do get tired of resting there's always more adventures to be had, more people who need killed. I did hear a rumor that the wreckage of the original Normandy had been detected. I might just go try to find it and see if there's anything worth salvaging.
end journal entry 47
Initiating EDI sub-routine 47156...Connecting to Cerberus servers...Establishing secure connection...Transmitting...Confirmation received from Illusive Man
1.10.2010
Slow as Sunday: 3D and motion controls
Looking into the future of video games is a past time that is more than a hobby for some. I count myself among those who look toward the coming years with optimism and hope for the increased quality and new innovations to come in the next decade. Certainly we will see new platforms, physical or otherwise, that elevate the user experience of video games but also change the how we interact with the games we play. Motion controls have become well established as the next big tool in game developers belts but there is a new and exciting technology emerging to the forefront of home entertainment; three dimensional displays.
As I have yet to experience 3D gaming first hand I am constrained largely to speculation and the promise of future technologies that have been displayed to the public. One aspect of 3D displays cannot escape my mind; the use of 3D with motion based controls. I have some trepidation concerning the period of time in which this coupling of technology will become viable. I do feel that this revelation is close at hand. With the big three already employing or making plans to utilize motion controls with their home video game consoles, its hard not to imagine how 3D would effect this type of experience. Sony is pushing big for 3D and Nintendo has not sighted high definition as a big part of their plans for the future; maybe they're looking further into the future?
Whoever manages to bridge the individual experiences of 3D and motion controls they will be the harbingers of the next revolution in gaming technology. Nintendo was on the forefront of motion controls but their technique of appeal to a larger market with affordable technology hardly seems viable given the huge leap their console would have to make in order handle 3D. Sony certainly has the console that can handle 3D, motion controls, and a huge investment in 3D technology but I'm not sure how well they can execute the combination and still create a user friendly experience. Microsoft doesn't seem to have any interest in pushing for 3D/motion controlled games, leaving the impression that they will quietly sit in the back and let someone else take the financial risk of investing in new technologies. So, Sony seems to be the company to watch for the next big leap in video game tech in the next ten years but, just as with motion controls, Nintendo can't be counted out and must also be closely watched.
As I have yet to experience 3D gaming first hand I am constrained largely to speculation and the promise of future technologies that have been displayed to the public. One aspect of 3D displays cannot escape my mind; the use of 3D with motion based controls. I have some trepidation concerning the period of time in which this coupling of technology will become viable. I do feel that this revelation is close at hand. With the big three already employing or making plans to utilize motion controls with their home video game consoles, its hard not to imagine how 3D would effect this type of experience. Sony is pushing big for 3D and Nintendo has not sighted high definition as a big part of their plans for the future; maybe they're looking further into the future?
Whoever manages to bridge the individual experiences of 3D and motion controls they will be the harbingers of the next revolution in gaming technology. Nintendo was on the forefront of motion controls but their technique of appeal to a larger market with affordable technology hardly seems viable given the huge leap their console would have to make in order handle 3D. Sony certainly has the console that can handle 3D, motion controls, and a huge investment in 3D technology but I'm not sure how well they can execute the combination and still create a user friendly experience. Microsoft doesn't seem to have any interest in pushing for 3D/motion controlled games, leaving the impression that they will quietly sit in the back and let someone else take the financial risk of investing in new technologies. So, Sony seems to be the company to watch for the next big leap in video game tech in the next ten years but, just as with motion controls, Nintendo can't be counted out and must also be closely watched.
1.03.2010
Slow As Sunday: Modern Warfare 2 retold (part five)
Spoiler alert! The following feature contains story elements from the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. This is not a review but an analysis of the story told in Infinity Ward’s Modern Warfare series. For those of you that will never play the game, skipped the “No Russian” mission, or missed the subtleties I encourage you to read on.
Shepherd is almost proud as he declares to the 141 that he has a blank check and the intelligence to capture Makarov and bring him to justice. Two location are identified as possible hideouts for Makarov and the 141 splits to engage. Along the Russian border deep in the woods there is a hunting cabin where Makarov has organized his troops. Roach Sanderson and Ghost attempt an infiltration only to be ambushed as they approach. Despite overwhelming odds both Ghost and Roach are able to locate a secure the information stored on the computers in the cabin and are rescued by Shepherd’s men. After confirming that the data is secure Shepherd executes Roach and Ghost, secures the data, and then burns the bodies. General Shepherds reasons for this betrayal are not made clear however as the semi-conscious Roach is being covered in gasoline he is told by Captain Price that Shepherd cannot be trusted. What Price learned while in the African bone yard, an airplane junkyard , is not revealed but after Soap tries to contact Roach and Ghost Captain Price assumes them KIA and contacts Nikolai for extraction. As Price and Soap are making their escape, Price contacts Makarov with a stolen enemy radio and offers to work with the terrorist to take out Shepherd; an offer Makarov refuses.
The information that Price learns is not revealed in the game but there are enough details to wager a guess at Shepherd’s true intentions. The General secured data hidden on a computer owned by Makarov, which indicates that he had evidence of Shepherd’s plans, and it was through Makarov indirectly that Price learned of Shepherd’s plot. Shepherd also tried to secure information captured by the Russian military during its invasion of US soil, only to have what little information left fall into the hands of Private Ramirez. Thanks to the Russian attack and attempted nuclear launch, perpetrated by Price, General Shepherd has been given a blank check by the US secretary of Defense to capture and kill Makarov. All signs point to General Shepherd planting false information in order to implicate the Russian government with Makarov in order to have the United States declare open war on Russia and invade. Soap and Price see that the only way to prevent open war and the death’s of millions of Russian innocents is to kill General Shepherd before he has a chance to complete the falsified information. They go in alone to the General’s base of operations in Afghanistan with the sole purpose of General Shepherd’s assassination not expecting to survive the attempt. They manage to corner the General and kill him after a desperate struggle. Nikolai picks them up in a helicopter claiming to know somewhere they will be safe. With Makarov and soon the brunt of the US military aligned against them, Soap and Price have become the same kind of outlaw terrorists they used to hunt.
Shepherd is almost proud as he declares to the 141 that he has a blank check and the intelligence to capture Makarov and bring him to justice. Two location are identified as possible hideouts for Makarov and the 141 splits to engage. Along the Russian border deep in the woods there is a hunting cabin where Makarov has organized his troops. Roach Sanderson and Ghost attempt an infiltration only to be ambushed as they approach. Despite overwhelming odds both Ghost and Roach are able to locate a secure the information stored on the computers in the cabin and are rescued by Shepherd’s men. After confirming that the data is secure Shepherd executes Roach and Ghost, secures the data, and then burns the bodies. General Shepherds reasons for this betrayal are not made clear however as the semi-conscious Roach is being covered in gasoline he is told by Captain Price that Shepherd cannot be trusted. What Price learned while in the African bone yard, an airplane junkyard , is not revealed but after Soap tries to contact Roach and Ghost Captain Price assumes them KIA and contacts Nikolai for extraction. As Price and Soap are making their escape, Price contacts Makarov with a stolen enemy radio and offers to work with the terrorist to take out Shepherd; an offer Makarov refuses.
The information that Price learns is not revealed in the game but there are enough details to wager a guess at Shepherd’s true intentions. The General secured data hidden on a computer owned by Makarov, which indicates that he had evidence of Shepherd’s plans, and it was through Makarov indirectly that Price learned of Shepherd’s plot. Shepherd also tried to secure information captured by the Russian military during its invasion of US soil, only to have what little information left fall into the hands of Private Ramirez. Thanks to the Russian attack and attempted nuclear launch, perpetrated by Price, General Shepherd has been given a blank check by the US secretary of Defense to capture and kill Makarov. All signs point to General Shepherd planting false information in order to implicate the Russian government with Makarov in order to have the United States declare open war on Russia and invade. Soap and Price see that the only way to prevent open war and the death’s of millions of Russian innocents is to kill General Shepherd before he has a chance to complete the falsified information. They go in alone to the General’s base of operations in Afghanistan with the sole purpose of General Shepherd’s assassination not expecting to survive the attempt. They manage to corner the General and kill him after a desperate struggle. Nikolai picks them up in a helicopter claiming to know somewhere they will be safe. With Makarov and soon the brunt of the US military aligned against them, Soap and Price have become the same kind of outlaw terrorists they used to hunt.
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