bowesy.net

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.

The Necronomicon

(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.

After just completing the PC Version of ME, I had to have a gush over it…

“I’ve just finished the PC Version, after having play the 360 version through a couple of times a while back. And I must say, I am still gripped by the storyline, I am still emotionally attached to the characters, even the ones I didn’t use the first couple of times through. I enjoy the subtle mix of action, threaded with story, smothered in Sci Fi credibility. Everytime I play it through, I find out and discover things I missed the other times through. I have read both novels, and they flesh out the interest in the Universe very well… with the prequel giving us huge swathes of background to the main game arc, and the second novel giving us key insights into cultures only touched upon in the game. There is no better example of a total experience than Mass Effect, it delivers in terms of cinematic thrust, it supplies you with a credible fascinating Universe to explore, and it also lets you walk your own destiny through the main storyline. The visuals, the music, the tactical action, the look and the feel all coax you into this world, a world where you can make a difference, a world where you can BE THE HERO, and watch the compelling story play out. Explore it many times, only slightly differently, with a new lead.. I mean what other Sci Fi experience gives you that? For me, its bigger than Star Wars. For me, its richer than Star Trek, more involved, more credible, less tacky. I am totally sold on the concept, and essentially you’ve provided a game I’ve always hankered after since I was a star gazing child. The dulcit haunting tones of the Sovereign finding a resonating set of harmonics with my own vibration. Please continue with good work, and deliver us unto Mass Effect 2 with more expansion on the Universe and its inhabitants and the ability to participate in something so tangible and epic at the same time. All kudos to you.”

Its probably the only single player game that has captivated my imagination and held me for many playthroughs in a long, long time.

P.S. Forgive the fan boy-ish love, but I had to get it off my chest. I want Mass Effect 2 so much, it hurts.

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.

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

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!

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

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.

Sackcloth. Stinking, rancid, sacking, damp and mouldy. The taste is repulsive. Stuffed into my mouth, I can hardly swallow without wretching. Can barely breathe. Every intake seems to choke in minute hairs from the sackcloth, just enough to make you cough violently, stomach clenched.

Head seems free enough, can turn it, but something is strapped hard around my chest. Also restricting breathing. Some stray pin pricks of light shine through like divine torches from the heavens above, but not enough to make any recognisable forms. Just shadows. Angular vapid trails that pace up and down, occassionaly kicking me for fun.

Hands are numb. Tied to something behind my back. Something very strong. Something embedded and unmoveable. I move my fingers but it doesn’t register. I feel amputated.

They wanted to know where the goods where.. they beat me hard.. soaked and choked me in blood, whose blood was that? Why soak me in blood? I thought it was my own at first, I held myself waiting for the pain to come. But it didn’t, there was no wound on me, not that I could tell. Yet blood freely swam through the sacking and into my eyes, my mouth, congealing everywhere, I could feel lumps of it clinging soggily to my skin. My lashes fused for a while..

*another blow to the head*

The darkness opens up once more. Like a purse being unzipped. These fronds of light, heaven sent, twinkle in, and dance on my brain. Looks like I took it in the face that time. One of my eyes won’t open any further.. so for now, the rays only come in from one side. What was I saying? I never talked. The goods location is still safe. They’re not getting that stuff. I worked too hard for it. Its my ticket out of this sodden place. It’s mine, for the Hosts sake! Sshhh! some chatting.. strain to hear, through the clothing…

Something about time wasting, something about no gold, no nothing, something barely audible about moving out.. or moving on…

Panic rising in me, I want to scream at them, perhaps I’ll share the goods? perhaps we can make a deal? I was told there were some gems in the stash, they can take the gems, and any gold, I only wanted the pottery artifacts, they’d reach a fair price in Sharn. I wriggle as much as I can to get their attention.

*another blow to the head*

The familiar dull pulse of my own laboured breath rings around the inside of my darkened prison. The light is so pale. So distant. My eye is completely closed now, and I can feel blood trickling, warm and throbbing, it must be my own. One too many hits to the head. Funny though, I can’t feel much pain. I guess my posture has numbed most of my limbs, and my sensory isolation has turned my bodies defenses inwards. Breathing is about the only thing I have left to concentrate on. That and my family… imagine their faces when they learn of my demise. How could I have done this to them? I thought myself so clever, agile and skillful, that I could escape all consequences, and look where its gotten me..

Somethings happening, movement, a strange curdling sound. My breath quickens, as I hear feet scatter away, they’re running fast. Theres some sort of commotion. I twitch in place. Its silent. Perhaps they’ve left? If only I could feel my fingers, I could perhaps get one hooked into the cloth and loosen the binds? Perhaps if I edge down a little, this will free up enough room to squirm a hand free?

There seems to be some suction, cold yet burning surround my feet. Ahh! whats that? Its creeping over me. Burning. It feels as though my clothing is being removed, but not dragged off, more dissolved. The heat, followed by the cold. Oh my Host!, Lord of the Sovereign Host!, WHAT IS HAPPENING!!! Cold and cloying, yet intense heat travels up my body.. I can feel my binds shifting, sort of loosening, if only I could feel my toes, or my legs I could wiggle them free, my knees have come apart. I shift in the place I have been seated for this ordeal. And I can feel my arms coming free! The rolling motion of this suction seems to be encroaching like a scarf unfurling around my neck. I suddenly feel the intense heat of a scald settle on my cheek. White hot, then tacky cold. My arms are finally free! As the saturating mass envelopes my face first the sacking bag, then seeps through, my eyes fill up with bright flourescent gloop! The pain is precise, and acute. I reach forward to pull this off me, to wipe the burning quiensence from my face but it suspends me, rather than liberating me. I’m being lifted off the ground. Burned inside some suffocating coccoon. I can feel it seeping down my throat.. slowly, exploratory, carving a way into my lungs and stomach.

I feel the doors closing, darkness creeping in, I feel the radiant heat, but the light is fading fast. Perhaps its time to go, after all. The choking has stopped, I managed to drink the stuff down it seemed to lessen the trauma. My arms now feel heavy, my legs light, I was being turned in and around, possibly upside down, my eyes could see, the sacking had gone, but only the pitiful light seemed to dance blurry on my scorched lenses.

My greed, is my shame. My downfall. My last breath, shall rise and be expunged from this mass, shouting the name of my family, carrying the last tone of my love to them. My mother. My lost father. My sister, how sweet she is. And my close brother, Taerl…..

The ooze settled itself to feed. The little halflings body was but a small meal. But having had two fully grown human brigands already, it only needed a small meal to satiate itself. Budding season was upon the ooze, so nurishment was needed to nip off a dozen tiny fledgling oozes and keep them growing.