Garner

While I think the original poster managed to shoot themselves in the foot, they still raise a valid point. Attempting to rebut this with sexism or outright insults is one of the big reasons I usually avoid gaming related forums. Well done chaps, well done indeed. It's so hard to find good, concrete evidence to support eugenics these days, but you never let me down. As for the actual issue at hand - I completely understand limiting player character customisation in order to better fit a particular story. This is especially true in context of a game with 120 hours of voice acting. Writing in a female protagonist is going to change too many interpersonal dynamics and require too much of the writers and actors. (It's the same reason why I expect Ashley, Kaiden, and Wrex are going to be largely written out of Mass Effect 2.) However, the original poster raised a valid point. Our weapon is choice - so long as we choose to have a wang. Michael, not Michelle. I remember when Fable 1 was finally announced for the PC; I told my wife how awesome it was going to be and how we just had to get it because this would be a great roleplaying game where you could really and completely customise your character and play it however you wanted. So long as you wanted to play a dude. So yeah, I can see why it's necesary from a design point of view (it's Michael Thorton's story; end of the line, no arguements or appeals applicable), but it's not really a choice, now is it?

Oh well - Sega aren't strangers to collectors editions and pre-order bonuses, so I'll keep my fingers crossed. I find the SEGA website a bit confusing (particularly trying to sort out what's US specific news and what's for the UK market...) so is there any chance that you'd be able to mention it on the boards and/or the blog once SEGA announce their plans? Also, thanks for all your work liaising with the community, man. I wish more development houses had folks like you working for them

XD But anyways, I thought Mr. Rorie said something about there might be a custom edition available for the european types, but that was just a maybe. You can beg with him. Yeah, I'll wait and see if he answers, but I suppose I better steel myself for phoning up mom for another favour. She should be grateful - I hardly ever beg for money anymore. The thing (or problem - if you share my viewpoint) is that this kind of stuff is up to the publisher, Sega. Their info machine isn't exactly churning out EU-specific stuff. But it could be bad, they could be stealth-releasing DLC like Bioware just did. Yeah, I heard about that. I can't decide if it's "Operation Anchorage in Space" or "Horse Armor with Guns."

XD But anyways, I thought Mr. Rorie said something about there might be a custom edition available for the european types, but that was just a maybe. You can beg with him. Yeah, I'll wait and see if he answers, but I suppose I better steel myself for phoning up mom for another favour. She should be grateful - I hardly ever beg for money anymore.

I want the toys in the game. From what I've read so far (please someone correct me if I'm wrong), I have to preorder from one of two US retailers if I want access to the bonus assault or stealth weapons. I'd like to know if these will be available to those of us stationed or living overseas? I haven't heard anything official about a collector's edition with physical toys to play with (always useful for long loading screens), but that would be nice too.

Me too. Well, a particular one at least. If I hadn't married a Brit, I'd be Stateside and wouldn't have had to ask.

As we're rushing forward to the release of Alpha Protocol, I'm itching to secure my pre-order with one of my preferred games retailers in the UK. However, I've yet to see anyone advertise any sort of pre-order bonus or collector's edition for the European market, and I'm a sucker for such things. Obsidian, take note! I will gladly pay you extra money for cheap toys, and guarantee a pre-order for in-game bonus items. I'm not even a worthless, unloved foreigner - I'm just an expatriate is all. Don't I still deserve your warm compassion?? Please can you let us know if there will be any bonus content options for those of us living abroad? I really don't want to have to contact relatives in the States and ask them to ship me another game. My mother still gives me shtick for asking her to send me a Ghostbusters care package.