This week: Ben and I discuss Mass Effect 2, which I have played for more than a day, because I'm unemployed.

Roland says:
so i think shephard can die in the final mission

Fal Killmer says:
mass effect 3 will suck for those guys
put in the disc
'do you want to import your char from mass effect 2? GAMEOVER'

Roland says:
what mass effect needs
is more character interaction between yr crew
it doesn't really feel very homely on yr ship
but
i would like to see more of the universe
from a different perspective
like
everything feels very pristine
somehow sort of rigid and weird

Fal Killmer says:
ship needs more carpet

Roland says:
the best parts of the game, when it is most believable
are when people are talking to you
and you realise they've really thought out the history of this place, and how everything affects everything
but yr crewmates never hang out
you never see people just doing dumb shit, like moving crates and things
or whatever

Fal Killmer says:
i definitely agree with that
they never talk to each other
they just sit in their alloted spots

Roland says:
Yeah
the world doesn't feel lived in, but has a lot of background

Fal Killmer says:
i think they put a lot more effort in to the characters this time
which is a good show since there's like twice as many
but they still would be the one thing that would make it a lot better

Roland says:
yeah
but like
samara
totally unnecessary character

Fal Killmer says:
yeah they could trim off a few
if it meant making them better
but i mean it wouldn't be that hard to write a few more lines
just have them chatting shit to each other is all i want

Roland says:
yeah same

Fal Killmer says:
and yeah more shit that could just change on your ship
'where'd this table go'
'who fucking knows'
'oh it's over here kaidan alenko is playing poker on it'

Roland says:
what they need
you have made me realise
they need a scene
like that one in the wire
when herc and carv are trying to move that table in different directions

Fal Killmer says:
man yes
just some shit like that
the characters need to exist independently of sheperd

Roland says:
yeah
also
sheperd
i nearly really like him
but when he's being good
he seems like such a tool
and when he's being bad
it seems so forced

Fal Killmer says:
renegardpard
but yeah

Roland says:
i think he needs a slightly more desperate personality

Fal Killmer says:
he's best doing the neutral responses
they need a neutral emotion

Roland says:
Yeah

Fal Killmer says:
and if you have loads
you can deliver really neutral un-engaging speeches
to solve problems

Roland says:
Yeah

Fal Killmer says:
'well i think both sides have some points but what's important is that we move on to the next station'

Roland says:
yeah
"I don't feel one way or the other about either of you, but not in a negative way, let me assure you, we can keep this dynamic exactly as it is"

Fal Killmer says:
neutral bar man
maybe some neutral button on screen
you had to press it to stop yourself doing things

Roland says:
yeah
then sheperd just pulls out a newspaper
browses it, with casual interest
i bought an alien porn mag in the game
but i only just remembered
i haven't read it

Fal Killmer says:
you can't fucking read it and it sucks

Roland says:
oh WHAT
that's BULLSHIT

Fal Killmer says:
i know

Roland says:
Man

Fal Killmer says:
i want to complain

Roland says:
the game would be so much better if
in cutscenes that were mostly between two other people
in the back ground sheperd was always just reading it
so like
samara and that girl are fighting
it pans round
sheperd is just reading this porn mag
turning the page for the centrefold
all comedy games are just point and clicks man

Fal Killmer says:
man fuck for real
they need to let us make games

Roland says:
yeah
what the hell

Fal Killmer says:
it's a fucking outrage