Let's Talk About - Beneath a Steel Sky

Since this has been a very busy weekend chez moi,  I haven't had a chance to update Meriel's Journal yet.  I have, however, been taking a bit of time here and there, as time has allowed, to play around with the old DOS game Beneath a Steel Sky.  BaSS was developed and published in 1994 by the British adventure game company Revolution Software with help from Watchmen's co-creator Dave Gibbons.  Revolution Software is perhaps most well known for their popular Broken Sword series. Infused with sarcastic humor, pop culture references, and an irreverent robotic side-kick; BaSS is a real treat.  Even if you, like me, do not typically enjoy point-and-click adventures you might want to give it a try.  I haven't finished yet, but except for a couple of puzzles that left me scratching my head, the game's flow is rather intuitive.  The graphics are quite good for their time, the dialogue is witty (often on the side of cheesy), the settings are industrial, and the overall story is rather dark in tone.  Also in its favor, the game is quite easy to put down and pick up when time is limited since you can save at any time and the game runs well even on slow netbooks.

Beneath a Steel Sky can be found for free at GOG.com.  The game comes already integrated with DOS-Box (no extra set-up needed on your part), and has been tooled so that it will work with XP, Vista, and Win 7 (32 & 64 bit).  All GOG games are 100% DRM-free and do not require the instillation of a dedicated client in order to play.  The game does, however, require that you create a GOG account, if you do not already have one, in order to download the .exe file  When you pick up the game, don't forget to download its free manual, wallpapers, avatars, and comic book.

Image: Source

ME1 - One's Own Command

Note: As you may have noticed, this post was published at midnight on Thursday but Blogger's downtime screwed things up and the post decided un-post itself.  Here it is again.  I apologize for the inconvenience.

With another hearing called, will the Council see reason and believe Shepard's evidence?

There are spoilers after the break.  Continue reading at your own risk.

Now Available - The Witcher Enhanced Edition: Director's Cut

I wouldn't normally do this, but I have had a ton of people hitting my blog lately in search of Witcher news.  As a result, I'd like to remind everyone that The Witcher Enhanced Edition: Director's Cut is now available for purchase at GOG for $4.99.  It will revert to its standard price of $9.99 after May 14th.  I already have a hard copy of it that I purchased a couple of years ago, but I went ahead and purchased it again for the art book.  With so many paintings and pieces of conceptual art it is pretty spectacular and makes you wish that you had an actual book in your hand.

For those of you interested in the Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings why don't you check this new video with GOG's now infamous, and rather beloved, French Monk ... in the Witcher 2.

From Their Website -  No one expects the French Monk !

Huh. We just saw this in a playtest of The Witcher 2 from our sister company.
What do you think a repentant French monk is doing in the game?
I wonder if he has something for Geralt?

Check out the video of Geralt meeting the French Monk and tell us what you think is going on

Image: Wallpaper available with Witcher 1 purchase from GOG.

ME1 - Gathering Evidence

Commander Meriel Shepard's story continues as she wakes up in the SSV Normandy's medical facility after a less than successful mission on Eden Prime.

There are spoilers after the break.  Continue reading at your own risk.

ME1 - Doomed From The Start

Tonight begins the story of the Normandy's Commander Meriel Shepard via Mass Effect on PC.  If you missed it, be sure to read her introduction which lays out the character's personal background and motivations.  Since writing that, a couple of other character guidelines have emerged regarding interactions with others.  They are as follows.

Conversations with Normandy Crew - Meriel treats them with respect, but is reserved in what she will say to them.  Any information she divulges to them is on a need-to-know basis only.  At all other times she requests that they simply follow orders.

Conversations with Team Members - For the moment Meriel is keeping herself at an emotional distance from her team members.  Since she is relatively new to everyone on the team, she doesn't yet know who she can trust.  Since they work closely in the field though, honesty is key.  She will tell them the most pertinent information about their missions and likewise will tell them if they have done well or if they have screwed up.

Conversations with Captain Anderson -  The Captain and Meriel appear to have a very close working relationship with a great deal of trust already existing between them.  Her conversation choices are respectful and defer to his rank when the two of them are in the company of others.  When speaking in private, however, Meriel is brutally honest and doesn't hold back if there is something on her mind.  Anderson appears to feel the same way since he is also very open with her.

Conversations with The Ambassador and The Council - Meriel adopts a polite tone when speaking with both of these parties.  She has no love for politics, but understands that things generally must remain civil if anything is to be decided.  You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.  She may lose her cool if the other party is being particularly thick, but then she quickly regains her composure and doesn't let her emotions rule day.  That said, she sees political red tape as an impediment to actually getting things done, and recommends that the consultation of appropriate political parties be forgone if possible.  In some cases it is easier to ask for forgiveness then it is to ask for permission ... especially when the Council is biased against you from the start.

On the Subject of Spectres - She dislikes the autonomy they have since it makes them unpredictable.  She is not against the general concept, but Meriel mistrusts other individuals to make the right decisions when acting under their own volition.  In combat situations she sees their unpredictability as a liability.

There are spoilers after the break.  Continue reading at your own risk.

Let's Watch - The Literal Skyrim Trailer

I know I've posted a lot of videos lately you guys.  I sorry!  I have one more paper to finish tonight and then things will go back to normal I swear.

That said, Ferry shared this over at Video Games Blogger and I had to pass it along.  It's pretty brilliant.

Just Kidding About That ...

Eeep!  I still have way too much to do before Monday night!  I'll see y'all sometime Wednesday instead.

In the meantime, let the sound of Jørn Lande's voice hold you over.