Somewhere in Edmonton, 2011.

"We need to come up with some ideas on how we can appeal to a larger demographic."

"Beyond the fans of the first two games?"

"Beyond the fans."

"But who does that leave us with? Everyone knows about Mass Effect by now."

"We need to think bigger."

"Call of Duty? Gears of War?"

"Yes. But we've already got that in the game. We need to phone home the idea that Mass Effect isn't an RPG, but an Action game with a capital A."

"Yes."

"Modern Warfare 3 sold millions more copies than Dragon Age. We need to think big. Mass Effect needs mass appeal."

"We've got that. James Vega. Built like a brick shithouse."

"It's not enough. We need someone the gamers can relate to. A bikini babe who plays video games. Gamers love that."

"Olivia Munn?"

"No. Everyone knows she's not a gamer. We need someone with a little more credibility."

"Yes."

"We need someone who really exudes a 'gamer' vibe. Someone who just screams, 'Mass Effect isn't for geeks. It's for the gamers who play Call of Duty.'"

"Yes."

"We need someone who can say 'Epic for the win' like it's a natural part of their vocabulary. Have you heard my 13 year old speak?"

"Can't say that I have. But go on."

"Jessica Chobot."

"Who?"

"Works for IGN. G4TV. She's a gamer. The gamers love her. And she's hot."

"That's a plus."

"Alright. So can we put her in the game?"

"We can't really make her a companion character. Remember all the anger on the forums when we put Felicia Day in the game and people got mad because her characted looked nothing like an elf?"

"It's cool. We'll make her optional. The player can invite her onto the Normandy."

"What then? Why would the player want the her to join them?"

"Romance option. The player can have sex with her."

"Sounds good. I'll send a memo to the casting director."

"Excellent. Oh, and tell the community team that when the fans get mad, make sure to emphasize the fact that she's completely optional. Now, we need to talk to the gameplay director about adding more cover shooter elements. Gamers love that."

Read More… Gameranx

Monsters are very helpful in your battle to fix the time in Final Fantasy 13-2 and it really helps when your monster is equipped with good accessories. You can customize your monster with Adornments, which are scattered throughout Final Fantasy 13-2.

Here are few you can use to customize your monster to better serve your needs. To find rare and hidden monsters, read our Rare Monsters and Hidden Monsters location guide.

Final Fantasy 13-2 Monster Adornments Locations

Monster Adornment #1 – Leabreu’s Olive Tattoo
Location. When you wake up in your house after understanding how time-travel works (Explained by Noel), look for a box in your room. Open it to retrieve this Adornment.

Monster Adornment #2 – Silver Gear
Location. Successfully complete the real-time battle with Paradox Alpha (Buttons mashing during the cut-scene) and you will get it as a reward.

Monster Adornment #3 – Orange Newsboy Cap
Location. When you make your way to Atlas, take the path up the ramp and follow it down instead of facing him. You will come across a SHOP – Look for a chest on the other side of it. Open the chest to retrieve this adornment.

Monster Adornment #4 – Fragment Crystal
Location. Defeat Atlas and you will get it as a reward.

Purchasing Monster Adornments
Go to Chocolina (SHOP) in Oreba and browse the special items section. You will find several monster adornments in this section. Choose the one’s you like and make your monster look exactly how you want it to be.

If you find any other accessory you can equip your Monster to change its appearance, do let us know in the comments.

Read More… GA-EN-Sgmtnext

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Toulouse was part of the team that, among other things, was responsible for the banhammer.

Stephen Toulouse, commonly known as Stepto and the Microsoft’s Xbox Live director of policy and enforcement, is leaving Microsoft.

Toulouse made the announcement on his blog this morning.

“Over the past year I’ve been doing quite of bit of thinking,” he said. “Nothing specific, nothing groundbreaking. Just plain old thinking. I turn 40 this year. Despite the wonderful ability in Microsoft to change careers pretty dramatically inside the company, I’ve been there nearly 18 years and it’s the only world I’ve really ever known. I feel too strangely comfortable, and too strangely tied.”

One of Xbox 360’s most public faces will remain with the company until February 15, before spending a vacation on a cruise boat wondering about what to do next.

Toulouse intends to write another book (his first one recounted his nearly 20 years at Microsoft), but there are no permanent plans.

“I have no idea what the future holds, for the first time in my life,” said Toulouse.

As someone who’s spoken with Toulouse several times, I’ve always enjoyed our conversations about Microsoft policy. I didn’t always get the answers I wanted from Toulouse, but few people at any company were as willing to engage in the debate as often as Toulouse would. It’s unclear who will take his spot, but he’ll be difficult to replace.

My last chat with Toulouse was regarding the state of Xbox Live security. You can read it here.

Read More… Video Game News at Giant Bomb

Ridgewood, NJ, February 1, 2012 -Do you have what it takes to assemble an A-team, invade an island and oust an evil dictator? If you think you’ve got what it takes, it’s time for you to launch your career as the leader of a Private Military Corporation in the newly released single-player demo for Jagged Alliance: Back in Action, the upcoming tactical combat game for Windows PC from Kalypso Media and bitComposer Games.

The demo, available at the mirror links below, offers you the opportunity to take a squad behind enemy lines as they clear all the opposition in the area. Jagged Alliance is all about testing your combat planning skills, and the Orta Laboratory level featured in the demo will challenge you to use the “Plan & Go” system for optimizing your battle plans before you drop those pesky villains with a well-aimed shot from one of the many real-world weapons featured in the game. “Plan & Go” is a new addition to the Jagged Alliance series, introducing a battle planning mode that moves above and beyond turn-based play, and will prove both exciting and challenging to hardcore veterans and tactical newcomers alike.

The demo includes –

• One tutorial mission
• One sample level from the final game – “Orta Laboratory”, which takes place about 2/3 of the way through the game and will challenge players to demonstrate their advanced tactical planning skills through the “Plan & Go” system
• A pre-assembled team of veteran mercenaries, armed to the teeth and ready for action

Read More… ENG-GA-shogun