A letter to Drew

(Drew is the writer on Mass Effect, he can be found here http://www.drewkarpyshyn.com/)

Drew,

I realise you're a busy man, and I won't keep you long. Just wanted to express my appreciation for your storytelling work on Mass Effect: Revelation, Mass Effect the Game, and Mass Effect: Ascension. Your latest work, isn't quite as informative nor as fast paced as the first installment, but what it does do, it cement even more culture and credibility into the Mass Effect Universe, and for that I am very grateful. I believe, you have a very mature and unique environment in which to explore all sorts of Sci Fi related issues, and I can only praise your writing and your imagination for bringing such a believable and interactive place to life for me to play inside. I'm a mature gamer, and I appreciate works of compelling fiction, but never have I had such a story that hits a chord with my core as Mass Effect. As a child the Star Wars Universe titilated my senses, and I've grown up with an appreciate of fantasy and science fiction, gaming becoming one of my life long loves. Never before has a game, consolidated so much I love and offer me so much reward for investigating the meta-game information available. I soak it all up, and enjoy the bigger experience overall.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you, as a writer, for fleshing out the world around the game, for giving me characters I enjoy, and believe in, and then you set me down in a adult playground to enjoy an epic cinematic experience, flexing my will, and my whims until I emerge satiated and craving more. Then you fill in the gaps whilst I wait for more. Personally I would like to think Mass Effect could become its own franchise in terms of fiction, regardless of tie-ins with the game. I'm applaud all avenues of this Lore support, whether it be more books, graphic novels, TV series etc, but most of all I'd like to pledge my support in terms of a wage earning discerning adult, who would jump at the chance to enrich his pastime by purchasing more insights into the Mass Effect Universe you have created.

Lastly, I'd like to reassure you that although many are willing to criticise your current novel (Mass Effect: Ascension) for not tying into the game, its because they are not willing to let the storyteller join the dots as and when the next part of the Mass Effect tale is told. They want all the answers up front. And for me, part of the beauty of the Mass Effect Universe is the fact that you know theres more to it up ahead, and my faith in your skill to weave a credible and enjoyable yarn placates that yearning, almost teases it until the next game hits the shelves.

Keep writing, keep creating, I do hope more Mass Effect novels become very popular alongside the gaming franchise because ultimately Mass Effect is a tale about humanity in the future, and it is a modern day myth on an equal setting to those myths of Legends from the past.

Kudos to you, Sir.

Necronomicon

The Necronomicon is a free browser based Cthulhu card game, that has 20 levels of play. An interesting lunchtime pursuit for those of you who are spellbound and pushed over into insanity by the Cthulhu Mythos.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="The Necronomicon"][/caption]

Sryth

http://www.sryth.com/

Dunno whether this has been mentioned before, but its quite a decent storied single player web based RPG, free to play with some limitations, or £10 for a years sub to open it all up. The story stuff is quite well written and could be the descriptions of a DM, the stats and combat are not bad, plenty to tinker with and level up etc.


Very interesting game, that has me sucked in at the moment... for lunchtimes.. more to it than Dragon Tavern.

Dragon Tavern

A diverting little web browser game, where you can take your characters out and adventure, and fiddle with skills and buy new equipment. Nothing major in terms of combat mechanics etc, but addictive enough to keep you clicking till you've run out of your daily quota of action points.

50 action points when you start a new character, and 25 action points a day (real time) - so its the ideal lunchtime pursuit.

http://www.dragontavern.com

Avatar Banners

I found some of the avatar banners I have made over the years and thought I'd display them here:

Airport Mania

http://www.airportmania.com/

I'm ashamed, but I really like this click management game about airports and airplanes. I'm not so keen on the Brum style graphics but they don't take anything away from the core gameplay of juggling craft in and out of the airport, fuelling, repairing, respraying, passenger drop offs and picks ups, take offs and landings. This would make an excellent game on the DS if they could fit it all on the screen. The unique selling point is that every plane has a sims-like happy bar, and you have manage multiple entities (rather than the usual one waitress serving many pies). You can also stack up actions with each plane, so its possible to do some quite nifty planning ahead, especially if you upgrade your airport to grab a short range radar and find out the colours of the planes coming in and what order. You see
you get big bonuses for stacking same coloured planes in same coloured hangers. Oh dear..

/em I am Bowesy, and I'm an airport maniac, I need help!

Simple Lentil Bean Curry

INGREDIENTS

1 Bag of Lentils
1 Large Onion
1 Large Punnet of Mushrooms
1 Tin of Chopped Tomatoes
1 Tin of Mixed Beans
1 Pot of Sharwoods Medium Curry Powder
1 Teaspoon of Lazy Garlic
1 Teaspoon of Powdered Fenugreek
2 Splashes of Olive Oil (any oil - vegetable or ghee)

1. Chop up Onion and Mushrooms. Make a large mound.



2. Cook lentils in pan of slightly salted water for 20-25 minutes.



3. Pan fry the onions and garlic in the oil until soft and then add the mushrooms



- cook until mushrooms are soft-ish. Sprinkle on the Fenugreek and mix.

4. Add the tomatoes and mix well. You can also add some Tomato puree if you like.



5. Add Mixed beans and stir well (you can add an extra tin - to bulk it further).


You can also use chopped boiled potatoes instead of beans for a little variety intexture and flavour.

6. Drain any excess water and add Lentils to bulk it up. The more Lentils the better!



7. Give it all a good stir.



8. Sprinkle the curry powder over the top, and gently fold into the mix. Leave to simmer for 10-15 minutes, adding another splash of oil to taste.



The finished product - A simple but tasty Lentil & Bean curry. Serve with naan, pitta or garlic sticks - and a side splash of Mango Chutney.