Yes I’m a geek. I always was a geek and I always will be a geek. I probably played computer games long before most people knew these things were possible; that’s the advantage of being a computer geek for a living. The first game I saw was called Plot Shot. It was on a Tectronics graphic terminal attached to a PDP-10 computer. This was in 1977. The game consisted of two stick figures of cannons separated by a stick figure of a mountain. The player entered an elevation and a muzzle velocity to see if they could shoot over the mountain and hit the other cannon. It was definitely exciting stuff in its day.

It is amazing the experience a player can have these days. There are games for every taste. Some games use a pc game controller, but I like games that don’t need special add-ons. Some people actually go out and buy a PC because it is called the ultimate gaming pc; I wouldn’t do that, I’m not that much of a geek. I am playing the Electronic Arts game Mass Effect. This is a future history role playing adventure game that is striking. The characters are completely animated. When they speak to the player character they will blink, they look around, and they even rub their necks. It makes the player feel like they are in the middle of an animated adventure. The quality in the game tends to the “almost real” animation like the movie “Beowolf”, but not quite to that level.

Mass Effect was moved from the game system world to the PC world in 2008. It was ported by Demiurge Studios. It has garnered many awards including Game of the Year from the New York Times.

Here’s something all parents should be aware of, Mass Effect has sexual content. Some critics have called this content offensive. I have yet to encounter the sexual aspect of the game but you can bet I’ll be looking for it. Being a dirty old man I have the right to look for it; parents should be aware of this content before children get interested in this game.

I may be a dirty old man but I’m a cheap dirty old man. I got this game as a download for twenty bucks. I never buy a game new and never pay full price. I think I have received a heck of a lot of entertainment for twenty bucks. Twenty bucks may get me three movie tickets if I’m lucky. That’s about six to seven hours of entertainment. I have already put at least twelve hours on this game and I am no where near half way through. Before you say, “Why is this geek wasting so much time playing his dumb game,” count the hours you spend watching TV. At least I have to think and use my reflexes playing the game.

OK, I went off subject, sorry about that. Mass Effect is probably the best game I’ve ever played. The movement is excellent and the action of the characters is awesome. I especially like the questions that are raised and the moral dilemmas that are presented. I have found two flaws in its greatness. I agree with a wiki complaint that controlling the hero’s inventory is a bit clumsy, but my biggest complaint is the timing of some of the scenes. I have encounter several times where there would be a lead into a battle. That scene would take one to two minutes and then there would be no time so save before the battle starts. Not being a super gamer I will inevitably get shot up the first few times I get in a challenging battle. When that happens I then have to sit a wait for the lead in to run before I get another try. This really gets old after five to ten tries, yeah I’m that bad. I suppose if I were a better player I wouldn’t notice it as much. The one thing I do think of when I am cycling through tries is that are men and women in uniform are in battles and they don’t get a second try. It makes me appreciate their sacrifice every time my character goes down.

Overall if you like PC gaming and you’re into futuristic RPG, I think you’ll love Mass Effect. I would give it a 9.2 on a scale of ten. I will report back when I get to the sexual content.