all made up with nowhere to go

I have beaten The Zodiac Age!

Now I have a new game+ on strong mode, and Reks has 4K+ HP and it's hilarious!

I am not going to play through again on strong mode yet, though. It's too soon, even though it would be the funniest thing ever. (I'd (probably) be able to get all the espers on that mode? *shrug emoji* I mean, if I knew where they all were).

I think I am going to play Mass Effect: Andromeda next, since the TVT page for it made it sound way more interesting than I expected (I mean, I'm still mad that we have to play as a human and OH LOOK HERE ARE ALL YOUR FAVOURITE RACES FROM THE ORIGINAL TRILOGY! I get why now, but it doesn't stop my annoyance). Also Clancy Brown voices Your Dad, and how is that not awesome?

So yeah, probably that next.

~

In other news, the zine/book/thing progresseth! Although I had to make myself a mock-up from scrap paper so that I got the text/images in the right order for printing.

Now I just have to do final tweaking, and then print off a trial copy and \o/

I don't know who remembers or cares, but a while back (a few years ago?), there was a phase of people altering the keys of songs from major to minor or the opposite and seeing what it sounded like. I specifically remembering hearing a major key version of an REM song, and also Smells Like Teen Spirit.

Anyway the point is that last night, the following wandered across my dash: The X-Files Theme tune in major key - as comments note, it sounds like it could be the music for the starting village in an RPG. It's utterly bizarre, and I can't stop listening to it.

(On a related note: do you like Mass Effect? Have you heard I Was Lost Without You speeded up? because it makes it a way more chirpier tune than what's on the soundtrack. And, you know, also music that could be in a happier RPG).

I've spent the morning (and some of the afternoon) reading the comments on this (warning: link is reddit, if you don't like the place. I avoid it usually but google threw me this link and I thought I'd check it out).

It's a interesting read and, for the most part, a pretty sensible discussion (also most of the comments here are WAY more sensible than a lot of those encountered on the BSN). Although the further down you go, the more it descends into THE ENDING WAS SHIT IF YOU DON'T THINK SO YOU'RE WRONG.

(Personally, I thought the ending was fitting, although I do wish it had been handled in a different way. I agree with them that The Catalyst feels like a cop-out, because it does. But I like being given the choice of what to do.

Also on a side note: the ME wikia for ME3 makes no mention of not having the Extended Cut installed, because I mean why would you ever play it without it you must be crazy right).

I found it interesting and happy-making to see that I am not the only person who thinks ME1 is the best. Also that there is disappointment with the actionised sequels. This is a thought that crossed my mind last night as I did the turian bomb on Tuchanka quest. I spent ages gunning down husks and a Harvester and man, I was bored out of my mind. I don't mind killing things but honestly, I don't want to have to repeatedly kill things for ten to fifteen minutes. If I wanted to play an FPS, I'd buy Call of Duty.

(I don't want to play an FPS. I was surprised enough when I realised shooting things was an integral part of the first game).

(Man, I miss running over geth with the Mako).

(Also someone in there agrees with me about Star Trek: Voyager being good. Because it was. And it was the only Star Trek I watched and enjoyed. Oddly though, Syfy are running repeats right now, and I have no desire to ever watch it again).

I do wish the Dark Energy storyline had been carried on, though, although I don't know that it would've done any good for the Reapers, if you see what I mean (one thing I like about 1 is that the Reapers are ancient and unknowable, and it remains that way to some extent throughout 2, but come 3, they have weak-sauce motivation, and I'm not so happy about that. I'd prefer that we didn't get an explanation for them, it makes for a creepier story in the end.

Here's the original article those Reddit comments are about. There's heck of an interesting comment from Hell_Toupee (they say that maybe the Reapers initially started as a small race, then evolved, and have kept committing this cycle for so long that now they don't know why they do it, they just do. Which is hella interesting to me). But check out the comment, because they say a bit more than I surmised there.

(YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS. TOO MANY OKAPIS AND NOT ENOUGH BUTTS. Thank you, Ursula V, you are the gift that keeps on giving :) )

I'm going to shut up about it now, because while I do enjoy the story as a whole, there are things about 2 and 3 that I really don't like and start getting irritated about if I stop and think about it. So I'm not going to do that. I'm going to nap instead, because I can.

(P.S. Totally not sure this post had a point, but oh well. Here it is).

ETA: Interesting nerdy stuff about the differences in endings here (from an IGN wiki) /eta

So I've been playing Mass Effect for the third time (or not in save files are anything to go by) with my Renegade Shep, Ras. I started doing it as a means to blow off some steam. I can be horrible to virtual people and I'm not hurting anyone except maybe myself because I did some REALLY HORRIBLE THINGS. I killed Shiala! I killed all the colonists in Zhu's Hope! I killed the Rachni Queen! I did absolutely no side quests! I didn't take Garrus or Liara anywhere (not that that matters, but it was weird). I killed Ashley! (Oh. Wait. I always do that. The only reason she's around in Lucas' game in ME2 is that I don't have Genesis, so automatic bad routes for him. My male Sheps are all going to have THE WORST DAY EVER when they get to ME3*). Weirdly, though, I saved the council, because I'd forgotten Zoe had done that in her game.

(Oh hey, but, somehow I saved Wrex by renegade persuading him? I deliberately didn't go after his family amour, because I knew that equalled automatic save (I don't know if not going after Dr Saleon does/doesn't do anything for Garrus?) so I thought he'd have to die. Which. Of all the horrible decisions I had to make, bwaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh ;_; nooooooo. Wrev'll show up in Lucas' game, and prob ME3!Shep's, however).

And then because I didn't feel like playing Ras through 2 and 3, I whacked 3 in the Xbox so I could finish up with Zoe. And you know how the import bug is supposed to be fixed? It isn't, entirely. She looks the more or less the same, but still kind off to me (I checked in 2 to make sure), and it didn't load her hairstyle correctly. I did try googling about it this morning, but didn't dig too deep, and the first batch of results are from when the game first came out.

Eh, I'll either figure it out, or I'll have to load up 1/2 and take phone photos to refer to with the character creator in 3.

So yeah. Zoe. Have I ever mentioned how traumatic this game is? I only just finished Mars/first visit to the Citadel, and my nerves are all on edge (thanks, Bioware). Also bwahhhhhhh I legit jumped when Kaidan got his arse kicked again. I knew it was coming this time!

Beating James up will never get old, though :D

(Also I know I didn't save everyone - save file said eight people survived, and the only ones I can remember who died are Miranda and Thane (I killed Thane on purpose. I don't like him, what did you expect? Zoe isn't a purebred Paragon like Nev) ).

~*~

*I dread to think how ME3 generated Shep's game is going to go. Horribly, I should imagine.

I thought I'd check what digital radio stations were available in my area, so I went on a website, plugged my post code and house number in.

It told me: "No digital coverage is currently available in this area"

I feel I should mention I am listening to Absolute 90s the entire this is happening, and Absolute 90s is a digital only station. Which I'm listening to on my digital radio.

YEAH.

What the hell, technology?

~*~

Mum wanted me to purchase ME3 (she's paying me back), presumably so she doesn't buy the wrong copy (I can see it now: "But I didn't know it came on PS3/PC AS WELL!"), and because I did, Amazon gave me £2 to spend on a digital music download! Presumably I can buy individual tracks, rather than having to use it against an album (although I'm sure I could find something I want if I can't).

So that was cool and unexpected!

~*~

Relatedly, I keep dreaming about ME3, and what I think the gameplay will be like. I know for certain my brain is actually making things up and the actual game will be nothing like I think it will. Because I know it won't.

Talking of which (kind of), I managed to lose Miranda's loyalty AGAIN by siding with Jack when they argued. It amuses me, even though it probably shouldn't. And I found two non-Tali related sidequests involving the geth! :D (I like geth for the same reason I like the reapers, which I can't actually explain).

~*~

I am working on a wishlist, although I keep forgetting to write things down. I will attempt to change this when I am not digging things out from underneath the kitchen table tonight (don't ask). Although my brain keeps suggesting horribly expensive things, so I'm trying to change that.

I wish there was a button I could click on the internet that says, "YES BUT WHAT DOES IT DO???"

(This brought to you by learning about XNA (Specifically XNALara) and, although I'm an utterly lazy sod, wanting to mess about with the 3D models in it. Because apparently that's what it's for - in part - but ask me how long it took to find that out).

There are Mass Effect models for it! Imagine what fun I could have messing with those!

*casually wonders if there is a Reaper model* *figures there probably is* (Update: THERE IS. THERE IS SOVEREIGN. *makes loud squeeing noises*)

(I just. I know Reapers are evil, but for some reason, they fill me with glee. No, I don't know why).

*wonders what else there is out there*

*resolves to look at some point in the near future*

~*~

I've stopped the sleeping tablets. I feel they're not working. Well, they worked for a week. The week that I would have slept well anyway. The first night I took them, I was really spaced out the next day, and interacting with people was REALLY hard (seriously, it was like someone had taken my brains out and left...I dunno, mashed potato in there instead). So no more of that.

Also they kept giving me headaches after taking them, and that was not fun.

~*~

Christ almighty, I feel nauseous. Time to go and shoot things in ME2 for a bit and then sleep until I feel better.

~ Want to reblog aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaall the things. Well, all the Mass Effect things, anyway.

~ Currently drawing a child scared by an unseen horror. I seem to be developing a penchant for this kind of thing.

...I'm pretty sure I know what that says about me and my feels towards children...

~ I am 31 years and 3 months old and yesterday I fainted for the first time in my life! It hurt! Our hallway floor is very hard (I always knew that, though (it's concrete under there!), but encountering it back (and head) first confirmed it).

I don't think it was anything to worry about, either low blood sugar, or I hyperventilated (or a combo of the both). It was a surprise, anyway, although I am proud I have got to this age and haven't fainted before now (I had a near-miss once, in a recording studio. This was kind of like that, except not).

~ My bag that I spent better part of a week wrangling with is now in the store (here. It's £30 (GBP, obvs.) and slightly higher in dollars because $49 looked like a weird amount. So if you want it cheaper, you know what to do ;)

I bought some more of the same yarn in a different colourway yesterday for making another one (and I've seen it worked up and it looks AMAZING), so I can start on that at some point (current projects are some shell stitch wrist warmers, and a tea cosy, and some other bits and pieces).

~ In conclusion: spaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaacccccccccccceeeeeeeeeee boyfriendddddddddddddddd!

So last night, I yet again completed the epic endgame that was the end of Mass Effect. It was shorter than I recall, but easier, because I was level 48 (I was 39 last time). Also I knew what was coming this time.

And then I did what I did last time, and I stuck Mass Effect 2 in straight away. I...like it better this time around. And I'm finding easier to deal with because - wait for it - having played DA:O, and having had to use the trigger wheel thing, and then having had to use it to access Zoe's infiltrator powers in the first game. So apart from the interface screw, getting along easier. I didn't run out of ammo this time.

Miranda still bugs me (mum said she was glad that she didn't have to listen to her talk much because she found her voice harsh to listen to, and I agree somewhat). Think I still like Jacob. Wary of Kelly. Unused to the new Normandy design (oh! But I do like that you can change the ship's music in the Commander's Quarters. I think I've got one of the Feros pieces playing right now?)

I went to the Citadel first before engaging in any recruitment missions (going for Archangel before Mordin, as I believe that's what you're "supposed" to do, and I accidentally threw myself in at the deep end last time). So there was that. Don't like the new Citadel design, but, you know, there IS a reason for that.

Also Zoe is so damn pretty! She looks a lot nicer in ME2 than she did in 1, and she looked pretty danged hot in 1.

And I'm pretty excite - ME3 is around £25 on Amazon. That's almost affordable!

So I started a new Mass Effect game today (featuring Zoe - colonist, war hero, and...I can't remember her class. It also occurred to me that all my ME characters have 3 letter names. Nev's my primary (well, my first), Ras is my only male, who I haven't really bothered with, and now Zoe. She was going to be Leila, but she didn't look like one).

I am only an hour in so far, but loving it all over again. Just done Eden Prime, and I still ( love this spoiler )

That aside, my game is saved at a point where I am about to chat up Kaidan for the first time \o/

So I'm probably going to go and do that some time soon-ish.

I feel so unproductive today. Just because I spent a lot of it asleep and the rest of it playing Mass Effect (look, it's like crack, OK, and it's having a good effect on my artistry). It's been so hot today though, that I've not really wanted to do anything but lie about (also having a bad-ish bout of PMT, but eh...)

I guess it does not help that I have been reading ME3 spoilers and looking at pics and so on (and Kaidan looks awesome-sauce! Liara looks angry, and Ashley (if that WAS her) looks unrecognisable). And that is all I am going to say about that, because a) you probably don't care and b) if you do care, I'm will try my best not to spoil you (talking of which, my reaction to the only trailer out so far? "Eh, yeah, sure").

~*~

I was going to post an art spam tonight, but my intense laziness overcame me and I decided not to.

Also my sketch blog is a year old! *sings happy birthday* and I just made my one hundredth post! *celebrates*

(Well, actually it was first posted in on the 4th of April 2010, so it's one year and five days old. D'awwww).