HTL Podcast Episode 3 Part 2: Mass Effect 3

Speculate, yes. But I do choose to be positive and fight to the death! <plays victorious battle music>

I like the idea box... should call it the Idea Terminal. (You have received new ideas in your private terminal!) I too have missed out some Diablo 3, but I do hope to learn more... and I'm sure that my boyfriend will be all too eager to update me once he gets the game.

There are a lot of issues with Diablo 3. Outside of it's initial launch issues you can experience server lag while playing solo... DRM is a hot topic and deserves discussion. Also the game's UI some how got worse IMO. And the story is so bad it would have been better if they just called the game Piñata Monsters and just scrapped the story altogether. And yet i keep playing so they did something right.
But that's just my opinion. Would love to discuss it.

I haven't made it past the first quest of Act II simply because I cannot stand the story/dialogue. As much as the ending of ME3 was disappointing, Diablo 3 is a hamhanded attempt at story and dialogue out of obligation the whole way through.*

*At least until the first quest of Act II, anyway.

DRM would be a great thing to get into. CD Projekt Red's approach to it with Witcher 2 is probably worth bringing up in that discussion. Their approach to it basically is no approach...the version you have to actually crack is the one that's getting pirated. Computer hackers will often see if they can crack DRM for the challenge rather than to actually screw a company over.

Tip my hat to you Awesomologist. Keep making these great podcasts

These are truly excellent and I am sure I am not alone in saying these edits are wholly unecessary. Is this your 'artistic integrity'? Really, give us more debate about our favourite game 'cause I for one love listening!

Although perhaps a bit odd, the Joker/EDi romance, I can see the progression, particularly if you follow it from ME2. Joker instantly dislikes the nosy AI at the beginning of ME2, being installed in 'his ship's computers' and I think EDi sees this as fairly amusing. (She is an AI, not VI and although they don't register certain emotions, what is a true AI if they don't have desires and wants?)

When the Collectors hit and EDi remains calm realising that Joker is the only one who can save her (Normandy) by allowing her access. Joker had to trust the Cerberus AI because he was put in a perilous situation. When such dire circumstances are faced together, a close bond can form even across species. He trusted her and she didn't betray him. After that instance, there was bound to be a affection developing, they fought together, saw different sides of each other and it was a natural development in my eyes.

I see ME3 as simply branching that arc out. If you speak to Joker, he is very dubious about it all and perhaps EDi would like to 'learn' about this 'relationship' thing, especially as Shep seems to get so much out of his/her LI's. To be honest, I found it as acceptable as Garrus/Tali if you don't have one of those as a LI.

(Would love to see if Gabby and Ken got together. I really liked those two.)

I'm glad you like listening to them. Be sure to spread the word as well!
Part of the reason i edit is because there are portions where we start to ramble and go off-topic or meander and repeat ourselves. I also want to eventually keep these to only an hour long, but 1.5hrs seems to be my average right now.

As @Noelemahc pointed out there's a bug where you have to have Ashley alive. You also have to go to engineering and visit them all time. Tali seems to also be involved in the bug as You don't get certain conversations unless she's there in engineering as well. I only got to listen to it on my NG+ run and it seemed to take forever to get. You have to be nice to ashley but no need to romance her. I dump her all the time

I actually did talk more about this than what made it into the final cut of the podcast. EDI and Joker's relationship was a lot more sibling rivalry in ME2, then gets to the point where they're more like trusting siblings. There's even a part where Shepard says something to the effect of, "Joker don't get attached to the ship" and Joker balks at the idea. EDI also seems pretty disturbed at the implication. I mean, Joker calls her "Mom." If that doesn't scream friend-zoned, I don't know what does.

There was definitely no progression from that to "OMG EDI HAS HOT ROBOT BODY" *Droooooool* that we see after EDI takes over Eva's body in ME3. In the marketplace scene on the Citadel, you can definitely tell he's thinking about it. IDK, it's all very out of character for Joker because he's very reserved when it comes to his personal life. He also comes off as very creepy by oogling what basically amounts to a sexbot.

I guess it was cute (with the exception of Joker's creeping comments), but it should have been an option. It shouldn't have been forced, especially when there were no new o/s LIs for femShep in ME3.

@Nikki Lowe -- Yup it was natural, I'm just one of those people who wanted more in general. The game and the interactions can always be deeper and longer.

Okay, that sounds bad. Seriously unintentional, but I'm dirty minded, so.....

All I can do is laugh... really hard LOL-ing. XD

Unfortunately, there was a programming bug where you can only see it if you're on amicable terms with Ashley. Patrick Weekes mentioned that at least a couple months ago apparently.

If anyone has yet to answer your question of what happens to Grunt if you don't release him from the tank, I'll answer that. I created a ME2 character to just answer this very question and just got done running though ME3. I could not find any mention of what happened to the Krogan Pod at all. When Shepard asked Javik about his sensing ability, the game skips over the part where Shepard ask Javik to use his ability on the room. When doing Attican Traverse: Krogan Team, he is replaced by Urdnot Dagg. He did not appear at the Cerberus Base among a Phantom Jack and a Legion Assassin nor on Earth among a Banshee Morinth; which is two possible fates I was hoping would happen to the Krogan Pod if Shepard did not open it. So essentially, the game acts like he never existed at all.

Thanks for that! Interesting that Grunt simply doesn't exist!

Great podcast. Really enjoying these and looking forward to more.

(Just saying) Me and the boys here on base still like hearing your podcasts and also hearing them on our pods while we are busy in the motor pool.

I heard about that and his stupid little brother Wev or Rev whatever, says that you killed him.