Another game off the list

I finally finished my first Mass Effect playthrough tonight (after taking about a week or so off of the game). I loved it. The ending felt suitably epic and very personal at the same time. On this playthrough, I was very much the goody-goody, scoring more Paragon points than the meter would show, and only gaining Renegade points when I accidentally backed over a monkey on one planet. Sadly, I didn't get any of the "X Ally" achievements, nor did I score Scholar (thanks to missing one question in a conversation at the very beginning of the game). I did get the Assault Rifle Expert achievement, which should come in handy in future playthroughs.

On my second playthrough, I plan on playing an utterly ruthless asshole with a sniper rifle. tim_almasy would be so proud. I'll probably put that on hold, though. I have other games to play through, and I don't want to get utterly burned out on Mass Effect. It'll be a good game to kick around later, especially if they ever put any downloadable content in place. Instead, I think I'll be switching to either Front Mission 4 or .Hack//G.U. 3 on the PS2 for my next game; I have to finish up both of those.

Icons, yet again

So I've decided that rather than gut my selection of self-made Jiraiya icons, I'm wanting to rework them. Keep the pictures, but change up the text and maybe apply a visual effect to some of them to make them more interesting. Unfortunately, I'm drawing a blank on what to do with them.

Any ideas?

Mass Effect downloadable content announced

Just when I get out, they pull me back in.

To date, over 1.6 million gamers have explored the engaging sci-fi universe of Mass Effect. Beginning on March 10, fans everywhere will be able to expand the “Mass Effect” experience with the release of the first ever downloadable content for the award-winning saga.

The Bring Down the Sky downloadable content pack will be released to Xbox LIVE Marketplace on Monday, March 10 at 2 a.m. PST, and will be available for 400 MS points. This is the first in a series of planned downloadable content that further expands the Mass Effect universe and continues the adventures of Commander Shepard and the Normandy crew.

Bring Down the Sky includes a new uncharted world that introduces the notorious and feared alien race of the Batarians. A Batarian extremist group has hijacked a mobile asteroid station in the Asgard system, setting it on a collision course with the nearby colony world of Terra Nova. Only Commander Shepard can save the millions of innocent civilians before the asteroid completes its deadly descent.

Bring Down the Sky contains approximately 90 minutes of heart-pounding action and a new Achievement worth 50 Gamerscore points.

That's awesome. I am so there on March 10th.