Hurlshort

We call it the Dark Ages simply because of the lack of information about that time period. There is just very little writing going on during the early middle ages, the records are few and far between, and historians have to make a lot of assumptions in order to fill in the gaps. Compare that to the rather meticulous record keeping of the Romans or Greeks, and you have a fairly mysterious period of history.

Oh, that's what I wasn't sure on. It seems odd that they wouldn't give any companion bonuses from the daily's and flashpoints, but if that's what you've heard, I guess you do rely more heavily on gifts at 50.

In Saints Row 3, I'm more surprised at what I manage to survive than how I die. I let my daughter drive around in the game last night, she is 4, and she hit some curb, sending herself hurtling through the windshield and hitting a wall headfirst. She yelled "Why wasn't I wearing my seat belt!?! Where is the seat belt button daddy?"

I'm not entirely sure how the end game will work, but in most other MMO's you still continue to quest and take part in dialogue after you hit the level cap. The main story arc might be completed, but all those bonus quest series, repeatable heroics, and flashpoints are still there. You no longer get xp, but you get other rewards, and gaining companion points would seem to be one. As I said, it isn't a big hook, but it's another reason to keep playing. Again I have no idea if that is Bioware's intention, but it seems like a logical thing, particularly given how quickly the level cap seems to be coming up. This is one of the faster leveling curves I have seen in a new MMO. I'm also not saying you don't need or want companion gifts to help raise their affection, I've been running investigation missions and giving those gifts to my companions when they are applicable. I just don't think you need to spam the gifts, as you put it. I can't imagine spending money at the AH to buy gifts either, but maybe I'll change my mind when I try and level my third companion (I don't count the cleaning droid.) It's definitely true that you can play it the way you want though. If you want to make a big push to get their affection up with gifts, then that is available. I imagine if you are playing in a group all the time that would be pretty important.

I'm pretty sure I have all my companions at this point, but what I'm saying is you aren't thinking about this as an MMO. You aren't really halfway through the game, because the game doesn't end at level 50. There is no real rush to max out the companions, it can be a long term project. I guess if you are playing it like a single player game and you want to be done in a month, then that could be a rub, but if that's the case I would just focus on one companion. edit in response to your edit: It's really just one aspect of the post-50 play, I'd imagine. Not really a big hook, but something to do nonetheless. To be honest I don't plan on hitting 50 too soon, I'd rather slow it down and work on some other characters.

I actually think the companion points are going a bit fast. I've got one companion over 6k and one at 4k, and I'm at level 31. The companion gifts have done very little of the raising there, mostly its because of questing. You probably don't really want all your companions maxed out when you hit 50, because it gives you something to do when you hit the max level. At least that's what I assume Bioware is thinking.

A society without some degree of faith over reason would be super lame.

I dig it.

Don't forget folks, MMO's are about the ride, not the destination. Take your time enjoying each level. Even the best MMO developers struggle to get new content out quickly (Turbine used to manage something new every 3 months) so the slower you take it, the easier it is to stay interested in it.

Spider, you might not be getting much of the companion points, but you are getting all those social points. I have no idea what they do, but it makes me feel good when they pop up. Did I mention how much I love choosing the douchebag lines when I'm playing with my wife? She's always trying to be nice and helpful, and I come across as a total jerk, it's awesome.

I get all my companion gifts by sending them on missions. I've trained them in investigation. I never even noticed that you get xp for giving gifts, I'm just trying to woo my cold fish female partner.

I haven't grinded, or done flashpoints, or most of the heroics, and I still find myself at the right level range. I did notice that I was about a level short for Tatooine (I heard you want to be 25 for a speeder on that planet, which was very true), so I went back to Taris and finished the Bonus series, and that pushed me well into the range. Do a couple space missions if you find yourself a level short, they give a surprising xp boost, they are short, and they can be a nice detour. I've only done about 3 of them, but I found they helped me jump a level.

They usually are. The first 6 weeks are really just poops, boobs, and naps.

One night is 12 hours long (dusk til dawn). The stuff I did in the main story seemed to take about 2 or 3 hours, tops. Thank goodness, way too many of these games drag the main storyline out beyond good reason. A ten hour main story is perfect, going over that is unnecessary, just like a movie over two hours. It's great that they supply all the side stuff so those who want more out of the game can do so without the game dragging. Assassin's Creed is also a great example of a game that dragged.

I read the Hunger Games trilogy. It was better than expected, kind of like The Giver, but with a bit more teenage angst.

Give it up Boo, you know you want to join us

I've got the decorations away, but I haven't figured out what to do with my outside lights. I guess I'll take them down next weekend.

Well it was all mocapped physically (the kid being Seth Green... they actually re-recorded all of his dialogue) First off, they never should have ditched Seth Green's voice, even if it doesn't sound exactly like a kid, it's a memorable voice that stands out. Secondly, the mocap stuff seems like a bad idea altogether. Why do an animated film at all then? Animated films should be stylized and artistic, this just looked creepy. It doesn't seem like Disney will make that mistake again. They took a gigantic bath on it.

Yeah, Flashpoints have fallen by the wayside for me, I did the first one but I'm just too busy enjoying al the quests at this point. Plus it can be tough to get a large chunk of time without distractions in my household.

My kids are watching Mars Needs Moms" right now, which is a Disney animated film. Apart form the terrible title, it has the most awkward looking faces I've seen in a movie in awhile. It looks like Oblivion. I guess it costs a ton to make and bombed, yikes.

Good game, I was expecting a GTA clone but this game it's completely crazy and brilliant. I can't tell if the folk at Volition are geniuses or morons (guess that makes them hipsters) but this game it's awesome. It's good to ear you are enjoying it! I went into Saints Row 2 with a similar expectation, thinking it was just going to be a GTA clone. But it is a masterful satire piece, and I've found I stuck with SR2 way longer than GTA4. So far SR3 has not disappointed, I imagine I'll be playing it for a long time to come.

Yep, here is the link: http://www.sidmeierspirates.com/ Technically it's not that new anymore, 2005, but I played it a few months ago and it still looks pretty solid. Looks like it's out on the iPad, that's interesting. I loved it, I thought it was a great update on the original.

Played a bit of Saints Row 3 last night, its awesome and an insane, just like the previous iteration. I modified a car, bought some real estate, put on some new clothes, got a new tattoo, and used an electrified sledgehammer to blow up a car. It was a fun hour of gameplay. I need to find a plastic surgeon though, my character looks like a gorilla.

Huge news! This may be the one developer that can really pull off a modern Xcom. If they can do a modern update, like they did with Pirates a few years back, I'll be happy as a clam.

Good one Cutlock! Fallout Online, what a kidder.