Mass Effect 3 Indoctrination Theory explains possible GREAT ending!!!

This new video explains in great detail the process of indoctrination which commander Shepard goes through in the ending sequence of Mass Effect 3. Really opened my eyes… to bad I synthesized… btw… SPOILERS!!!

I truly think this is the way for Bioware to go with this issue, regardless of if they planned for it or not.

Or maybe Bioware was indoctrinated all along?

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Playstation 4 Orbis Rumors and Speculation

Ryan Clements IGN

Today, Kotaku posted a story containing alleged details on Sony’s next home console, the PlayStation 4. Kotaku claims that the details of the story “come from a reliable source who is not authorized to talk publically about next-gen hardware but has shared correct information with [the publication] before.” According to this source, the next PlayStation is codenamed Orbis and will launch in the 2013 holiday season.

Anybody remember that logo?

Kotaku notes that the predicted specs of the Orbis currently include an AMD x64 CPU and AMD Southern Islands GPU. The source told Kotaku that “select developers” have already received dev kits at the beginning of the year and revised kits arrived around the time of the Game Developers Conference earlier this month.

Possible Orbis concept model

Furthermore, according to Kotaku’s source, Orbis will not feature backwards compatibility with PlayStation 3 games and will incorporate some sort of used-games restriction. Apparently, once a consumer inserts a Blu-ray disc into Orbis it must be tied to a PSN account and can no longer be shared. The data can be installed onto the system and flagged as “downloaded” from the PSN so it can be re-downloaded for future use. Sources are “unclear” as to how the disc functions following this, though one possibility is that the disc can allow consumers to access trial content before purchasing the full game on their console.

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Armored Core 5 Preview

 

So Armored Core V came out in North America on March 20th, the general consensus say the game is good! While the difficulty and learning curve of the game have been criticized, the general gaming community say it is the best mech game in a long while. The customization is said to be very robust even for armored core standards, but the no online mode was a deal breaker for some.

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Halo 4 Preview

By Steven Hopper IGN

It’s weird to think that it’s been five whole years since we’ve been treated to a new Halo adventure starring Master Chief (Halo CE Anniversary notwithstanding). In that time we’ve taken control of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers in Halo: ODST and the doomed Noble Team in Halo: Reach, but it’s been a long time since we’ve gotten behind the helmet of John-117 himself.

A lot has definitely happened in that time as far as the Halo universe goes. Behind the scenes, a sea change of sorts happened, as Bungie wrapped up their developmental involvement in the series (which they’ve spearheaded since the beginning), and the reins were handed off to the team at 343 Industries, composed of more than a few vets of the Halo series. The franchise was definitely not on shaky ground at all, but there were some questions as to how Halo 4 would feel without Bungie at the helm.

Halo 4 will offer a more sophisticated and darker tone than the previous games in the series, and will feature a new as-of-yet-unrevealed new enemy threat. The team stated that Halo 4 would also take some strides to humanize Master Chief, although they kept the specific details on the story execution mum.

The two talked about multiplayer maps featured in Halo 4. Wraparound was a vertical map which appeared to take place in the clouds and the second map, Warhouse, was a military base with a giant mech set in the very center. Each map had more of an intimate and less open feel to it, which will undoubtedly result in some high kill counts and frantically paced shootouts. You’ll also be using a new brand of Spartan in multiplayer, the Spartan IV, a sleeker and faster model than the Master Chief. The customization features that the Halo franchise has been known for will be built upon, and 343 Industries also revealed that Halo 4’s multiplayer element would somehow tie into the game’s story, but wouldn’t elaborate further on either.

Graphically, the engine in Halo 4 has come a long way. Master Chief’s character model looks quite a bit more detailed than he did in Halo 3, and the lighting effects really seem to pop on his armor. Environments also boasted the same vastly improved lighting details, and even though we weren’t given an in-depth look of Halo 4 in action, we could tell that it will be a leaps and bounds improvement for the series.

Can’t they get somebody else to do all this alien stuff?

I almost put a Mass Effect joke here but I didn’t, this was probably just as bad anyways.

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Marijuana Must Be Legalized

Robert Corry  “The Huffington Post”

It is 5:00 a.m. on a cold dark Colorado morning. Twenty-five SWAT team officers, clad in black helmets, body armor, wielding assault weapons, large clear shields, and heavy iron battering rams, surround a quiet residential home, shatter the front door, and throw flash-bang grenades and tear gas inside.

The team of 25 militarized cops stream into the house, screaming obscenities, shattering the terrified childrens’ sleep and jarring the scared parents awake. The SWAT team then literally destroys the home and the furniture within, slashing couches, overturning bookcases, throwing possessions all over the floor, carting the crying children off to Social Services or foster care, and throwing the parents to the ground at gunpoint, handcuffing them painfully before carting them off to the police station.

The SWAT team then locates its target: a couple dozen three-foot high cannabis plants in a modest indoor basement garden, and a pound or so of dried plant matter, some lights, some fertilizer, and a few books on how to grow marijuana.

This is not an extreme example. This scene literally happens every day in America, a nation that loudly professes that it is a “free” country, but that leads the globe in per capita incarceration of its own people, a rate that exceeds those of human rights leaders such as North Korea, China, and Iran, due mostly to the war on drugs.

And this scene embodies America’s war on marijuana. A government this large, this powerful, this intrusive, this belligerent, is necessary to fight this modern-day prohibition against a simple herb that approximately half of the American adult population has consumed at some point in their lives. There are so many reasons this must change:

1. Money

The war on marijuana costs us money. The direct costs to local, state, and federal governments are staggering and exceed a trillion dollars. Police, prosecutors, probation officers, judges, courts, jailers, prison guards, and defense lawyers form a massive prison-industrial complex that distracts limited resources away from our failing economy and other more important priorities. The indirect costs to the economy, though more difficult to quantify, are probably higher in the form of people removed from their families and their jobs, the opportunity costs of distracted police and jammed courts too busy to adjudicate important criminal and civil cases. We also lose out on the benefits of industrial hemp, which has no recreational effect but which could be an extremely useful crop for American farmers and industry.

And all of this money has been wasted — accomplishing, like so many other heavy-handed government programs, the precise opposite result of that which was intended. Even the U.S. government’s drug czar (it is appropriate that this government position is named after an imperial Russian tyrant), Gil Kerlikowski, admits that the 40-year experiment with drug prohibition has been an abject failure.

Decades of drug prohibition has not accomplished a single of its goals. Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” As our governments at all levels pour more lawyers, guns, and money into this militarized marijuana prohibition, people still obtain it — easily — and supply and demand is totally uninterrupted on a macro scale; one dealer falls, another pops up. Under Einstein’s definition, our government is literally insane.

2. Freedom

The war on marijuana is alien to the principles of a free nation founded on the principles of limited government and personal responsibility. The negative impact of marijuana prohibition laws far outstrip the negative impact of the substance itself, which is one of the few things on Earth that has no practical lethal dose, it is basically harmless.

Humans in all cultures have used the cannabis plant since the dawn of history for medicinal, spiritual, industrial, and recreational purposes; only in the 20th century did it occur to any government to prohibit it. Thomas Jefferson and other founders grew cannabis on their plantations. The Declaration of Independence is written on hemp paper. Even Genesis 1:29 confirms that God gave man every seed-bearing plant on the Earth. God giveth, government taketh.

The history of American marijuana prohibition and “reefer madness” shows that its practical and legal basis is a house of cards. An outgrowth of alcohol prohibition which arose in roughly the same era, marijuana prohibition was born out of racially-charged fears of Mexicans and blacks.

For the American government to prohibit the cannabis plant, that government must declare war on its own principles. Such a prohibition then contributes to overall erosion in the general population’s respect for the rule of law, because the aggressive enforcement of this law touches so many people and makes the law itself — not just marijuana laws, but all laws and law enforcement officials — a joke.

The body armor-clad government stormtroopers are necessary to prosecute the war on marijuana. That level of expensive and intrusive force is necessary if cannabis, widely used and widely accepted, is to be prohibited from our private homes and lives. But perhaps the best brief against prohibition is the fact that marijuana is widely available to prisoners in America’s prisons and jails. Prisons and jails are the most tightly regulated, highly government-controlled locations in the world. If the government cannot keep marijuana outside of these places, can anyone seriously argue prohibition is enforceable in the general population?

3. Safety

The war on marijuana, like alcohol prohibition before it, creates and fuels the criminal underclass, organized crime, and domestic and foreign drug cartels. It is basic Economics 101: where there is a demand, a supply will be created to meet it, period. Human demand for marijuana, like alcohol, has lasted thousands of years, and will never go away. Leading economists like Milton Friedman have long seen the drug war as an economically-bankrupt policy.

If marijuana were legalized and taxed, violent drug cartels would lose the principal source of their income. Marijuana ought to be treated like a more dangerous substance: alcohol, available at the corner liquor store, and taxed and regulated. How many Mexican drug cartels smuggle beer over the border? Ban it, and you would see many. Create a regulated legal market for it, and the drug cartels are not involved.

4. Children

It is literally easier for American schoolchildren to obtain marijuana than beer.

That is because the government has created the black market in marijuana, making it more accessible to children. There is no black market in beer. It is relatively cheap and easy to obtain, for adults, but difficult for children. Prohibition increaseschildrens’ attraction to marijuana; the “forbidden fruit” is always sweeter.

For all of these reasons and many more, Americans have now passed the critical 50 percent threshold in support for legalization of marijuana. (These polls typically understate support, as many Americans are understandably reluctant to admit to using or supporting marijuana to an anonymous telephone surveyor.) Even conservative televangelist Pat Robertson recently acknowledged that marijuana ought to be legal.

It is long past time for politicians at all levels to end this bankrupt policy of Prohibition, and stop breaking down the doors of Americans who only want to possess a harmless plant in the comfort of their own homes.

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The Hunger Games Opening Week

“The Hunger Games” directed by Gary Ross was released in theaters earlier this week, and it seems that the general review consensus is… It’s good! It received generally positive reviews from critics. Based on 188 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an 87% “Certified Fresh” rating and an average score of 7.3/10. The film earned an 82% score from ‘Top Critics’. The site’s consensus reads: “Thrilling and superbly acted, The Hunger Games captures the dramatic violence, raw emotion, and ambitious scope of its source novel”.

Many critics have praised Jennifer Lawrence for her portrayal as Katniss Everdeen. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she embodies Katniss, “just as one might imagine her from the novel”.

Eric Goldman of IGN awarded the film four out of five stars, stating that director Gary Ross “gets the tone of The Hunger Games right. This is a grounded, thoughtful and sometimes quite emotional film, with its dark scenario given due weight. Ross doesn’t give the film a glossy, romanticized ‘Hollywood’ feel, but rather plays everything very realistically and stark, as Katniss must endure these outrageous and horrible scenarios.” The film received a slight amount of criticism for its shaky camera style, but it was said to “add to the film in certain ways.” Both Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson were praised for their portrayals as Katniss and Peeta, and Goldman also drew attention to the role reversal of sorts between the male and female leads, as well as the fact that Lawrence is taller than Hutcherson, which is rare in such films. Katniss is seen as more of a “classic hero figure” and Peeta is the one who needs to be protected. Ross was criticized due to his lack of experience with action films, but in general, Goldman felt that viewers would enjoy the film regardless of whether they had read the book.

Box Office: On February 22, 2012, The Hunger Games broke records for advanced ticket sales on Fandango. The sales were reported to be 83 percent of the site’s totals, toppling the previous record-holder, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, which set a record on May 14, 2010. In the week leading up to its release, the film sold-out over 4,300 showings via Fandango and MovieTickets.com The film earned $19.7 million in midnight showings, which was the highest midnight gross ever for a non-sequel film and the seventh highest midnight gross of all-time

I will be seeing the film sometime this weekend 🙂 and now I’m feeling more excited about it (>”)>!!!<(“<)

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Michael Bay TMNT NO!!!!!!!

So everybody has been in an uproar lately over the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie being directed by Michael Bay. Not only is Michael Bay a terrible director, but he went on record to say that the turtles are now, well… not turtles? In a recent interview Michael Bay went on to say the new back story will include the pizza eating hero’s being some sort of aliens

Needless to say the core of the TMNT fan base have been enraged by this news, going as far as to start various internet petitions lobbying to get Michael Bay away from the film all together. Michael Bay dismissed all feedback so far saying…

“Fans need to take a breath, and chill. They have not read the script. Our team is working closely with one of the original creators of ‘Ninja Turtles’ to help expand and give a more complex back story. Relax, we are including everything that made you become fans in the first place. We are just building a richer world.”

Get this man away from my CHILDHOOD!!!

So can the Teenage Mutant Ninja… Aliens, start a new chapter in the history of TMNT? Or will Michael Bay utterly disappoint us all, and make Krang a turtle?

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New Zelda Animated Sneak Peak Preview!

For those of you who don’t know already, there was a Zelda animated series that was canceled in 1989 produced by DiC entertainment.  Well now twenty three years later, it seems the stars are finally aligned to get our beloved characters back on a screen. Dylan Bailey creative director of the new “Legend of Zelda” animated series sent me a rough copy of the first couple of episode drafts, and gave me permission to give some spoilers 🙂 so here we go!

The main focus of the overall story is to visually communicate the timeline, by following different stories and incarnations of Zelda and Link, as they  adventure across the magical lands of their respective timeline. I was not given any animation samples, because the team behind the show is still in the concept phase as far as art is concerned.

The first several episodes are based in the Skyward Sword timeline and follow the general story arc of the video game. The character interaction and use of comedy, are all befitting of the Zelda franchise we have come to love. There is heavy emphasis on the anime style presentation, and the scene format seems to comprise of at least three acts per episode. Dylan did not give me details on the length of each show, but with three acts I can only presume it will probably be a short episode series.

After being able to read through the first five episode drafts and having completed every core Zelda title, I think that the series shows allot of promise. Each side character is used exceptionally well, so that they will not convolute the timeline any further (which is a large feet to accomplish!) but also add new interactions between characters like Fi, Gaepora, Ghirahim. Groose and many others.

Production is slated to start July 26th with a release date sometime in 2013. Dylan Bailey visits this site regularly so any comments you post will most likely be seen by the creative director himself!!!

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Blog Update Mass Effect 3 and Comic Con San Diego

So I want everybody to know that I have slacked off for a week and did not write a {{STAND BY FOR ASSIMILATION}} Blog. Because I am on my second run through on Mass Effect 3 on insanity mode FemShep Renegade, and it is taking longer than I expected to say the least Also I have been playing “Street Fighter X Tekken” and going to school, so basically… I’M SORRY!!!

Good news though, because once I finish my run through I will be giving a detailed review including spoilers and speculations about Mass Effect 3, and the massive critic hate for the ending of the game at. So make sure to check out…

{{STAND BY FOR ASSIMILATION}} frequently for an update.

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So if you don’t already know, I will be going to comic con San Diego this year, as a fan, and blogger 🙂 I will be giving out business cards and networking, while trying to get interviews with people and writing all the exclusive info I get HERE!!

Since comic con is a long way off I will be preparing some interview questions and getting ready for the event. If any of you guys wants me to ask the exhibitors specific questions, write them in the comment section of this article, because I love you! serious bro!… serious…  The link below will give you a detailed up to date map of the announced exhibitors at comic con so far.

Comic Con Exhibitors Map

I will be posting additional info about comic con up until the event so check back regularly! Also if you want to meet up or schedule a interview you can contact me directly here…      “About”

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Zelda Animated Series Update with Dylan Bailey

So I talked with Dylan Bailey the creative director of the new Zelda Animated show from PLATT College which now has a start date for production July 26!!! Some animators and writers have already gotten onboard and lucky me, I got to look through the first four episode summaries of the show. If you want to become part of this project, or have interest in it, leave a reply in the comment section. You can also contact me directly if you would like to get in contact with Dylan Bailey. Here is a link to the original article with additional info. Look for a release sometime in 2013!!!

New Zelda Anime In the Works At PLATT College

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Gavin Jedionston