Flea Market and New Merchandise Update

New to the Mass Effect series starting with Mass Effect 3 is multiplayer. The multiplayer for Mass Effect 3 consists of Horde Mode Ala Gears of War. If you never heard or read about Horde Mode its a simple Wave Mode where where you and your team cooperatively must destroy waves of attacking enemies. Mass Effect 3’s multiplayer is a mash-up of wave mode, snatch and grab, hacking terminals and hold the extraction point all within a ten wave match. Its not that bad really. But its also not going to be the reason why you purchase Mass Effect 3. You bought Mass Effect 3 for its single campaign (I shouldn’t have to remind you all of that). The multiplayer is simply a sideshow to the main attraction. Its fun, challenging and diverse enough to definitely warrant some of your time when you decide to take a break from the story campaign.

Classes: When you first log into Mass Effect 3’s multiplayer you are immediately enlisted as a N7 Special Ops Team member. Regarding classes much like the single-player campaign you have 6 classes to choose from including: Adept, Soldier, Engineer, Sentinal, Infiltrator and Vanguard. For my class I chose the Vanguard since i already beaten Mass Effect 2 on its most challenging difficulty as a Vanguard. I like the up close and personal approach even if I get killed a few times. Not only that but I anticipated everybody else would either be Adept, Soldier and or a Engineer which ended up being the case. Every match I played nobody choose Vanguard which made my decision more important since classes on teams should have variety since this is strictly a cooperative multiplayer.

Characters in Mass Effect 3’s multiplayer are spread out between classes. Each class has a Human (Male) and (Female) who have the exact same default biotics and weapons for each class. There are also two Aliens per class assigned who come equip with different biotics and weapons for default. Unlocking Aliens take XP or can be bought with in-game credits via special Packs in the Store (if you’re lucky). Alien characters like i said differ per class and include: Krogan, Quarian, Drell, Tourian, Salarian and Asari. For my character I stuck with my custom Human Male (Vanguard). I had unlocked some of the Alien characters already. It shouldn’t take the average gamer that long to do so.

Customizing your character for matches comes next after you choose your class and character. You can change your Primary Color, Highlight Color, Secondary Color, Pattern, Pattern Color and Lights. Some of those options above are locked when you first start playing and become unlocked as you level up. The customization is deep enough so that you can make sure your character doesn’t look exactly like everybody else’s. My Vanguard turned into some gold colored greenish guy. It looked pretty good actually. I was basically mixing and matching my suit’s colors.

Character: This menu breaks down into Powers, Weapons, Appearance, Equipment and Store. You already know what the Appearance section is all about. The Weapon section lets you add mods and set your preferred guns to slots. The guns you have depends on the class and whether or not you unlocked them. The Equipment section of the Character section keeps tracks of all of your perks and equipment. They are called Supplies and my Vanguard had after two matches: Cobra Missile Launcher, Thermal Clip Pack, Ops Survival Pack and Medi-Gel. There are also Bonus slots for the following: Ammo Bonus, Weapon Bonus and Armor Bonus. Consider the latter perks you can activate once in a match.

Maps: Ontaram: Firebase Dagger, Benning: Firebase Chost Tuchanko, Firebase Grant, Cyone: Firebase Reactor, Sanctum: Firebase Glacier, Novevia: Firebase White. And just like with any multiplayer some maps are good and some are not. I’m sure DLC was made before Mass Effect 3 released so we will get new DLC maps over the next few months most likely. The maps are of a base configuration and don’t differ that much in design but more in settings.

Make sure you visit the store first so you can get your Starter Pack (free). They also sell Recruit Pack (5000 credits), Veteran Pack (20,000 credits) and Spectre Pack (60,000 credits). You can make at least 10,000 credits each match (I did). The packs are completely random regarding items, perks and weapon mods you receive. The more expensive the pack the better swag you will get no matter what. The Free Pack gave me Thermal Clip Pack (pistol), Medi-Gel, Ops Survival Pack, Sniper Rifle Spare Thermal Clip and a (unlocked) Asari Vanguard. Keep in mind all of the packs are random and you never know what you’ll receive but 9 times out of 10 its something you and your team will benefit from while playing. The items and perks you receive can be mapped to your D-pad (Dual Shock 3).

To sum up my matches they have been fun, challenging and diverse. The diversity in Mass Effect 3’s multiplayer comes in the form of different objectives WHILE facing waves of enemies. At this point I will say the objectives are randomized to my knowledge for the most part. Objectives that the 4 man/woman team must complete range from hacking terminals (4) and they are scattered around the base. Holding extraction points (usually wave 10). Your team must fend off either Geth, Reaper or Cerburus attack till extraction comes. Regular waves are the bread and butter though and where you rank your XP up. Make sure you stay with your team the entire match and revive them as needed. Stay near ammo crates that are scattered around each base. Know where they are at the beginning of each match.

Mass Effect 3’s multiplayer suppose to effect the ending of the single player story campaign. I’m expecting it to be a small impact if anything but I have no real idea since I’m still playing the campaign. The presentation is good for this game’s multiplayer. However there are some connection and stuttering problems but no disconnects or freezes to report. Mass Effect 3’s multiplayer is a third person over the shoulder shooter. Using your biotics and guns while roll strafing is fun. I am still surprised bioware added multiplayer to a RPG like Mass Effect 3. With that said the multiplayer is decent. It’s not the reason you buy Mass Effect 3. It’s a sideshow to the main attraction and that’s all it is. The main attraction being the single-player story campaign. Thanks for reading.

Bruce arrived in Bangkok from Australia eager for adventure. He was young, naïve, and greedy but he knew there were opportunities here if you kept your options open. He got a job at an English school on Sukhumvit Road while looking for other ways to supplement his income. He ran into Vichai the pimp in Patpong one night. They made some small talk first and then Vichai soon got around to what he wanted to say.

“Khun Bruce, you like make much money fast?”

“What do I have to do, Vichai?”

“Ah! Good. I like you velly much. I trust you. You come go with me. I take you to meet man help us make plenty money.”

They piled into a taxi and drove down to Klong Toey. The streets were narrow. Dark shadows lurked everywhere. They pulled up outside a decrepit hut and knocked on the door. It cracked open and one eye checked them out before swinging the door open just enough for them to slide inside. A single feeble bulb hung from the tin roof.

Vichai led Bruce to a dark alcove where he could vaguely see two men sitting at a table. They motioned the newcomers to sit down. A babble of Thai between them and Vichai established that they were who the men expected. Then one of them spoke in English.

“My friend you, he say you want make money. You no speak anyone else?” one of the men asked.

“No, I can keep my mouth shut.” Bruce replied. These men intimidated him. They looked very nasty and he had no doubt that if he got involved with them he had better keep his mouth shut or else.

“OK. I think you can do. Vichai he tell you what to do. You no worry. We help you, make sure no problem. You go now and listen only to Vichai, no speak any man else, ok?”

Bruce nodded and they both got up, went outside to the waiting taxi and headed back to Patpong. When they got there Vichai took Bruce to a coffee shop and he told Bruce what he had to do.

“You get on plane to Hong Kong and stay three days at this hotel.” He handed Bruce the address of one of the best hotels in Hong Kong. All expenses paid, no problem. On last day you go this address.” Vichai said. “The man there, he give you two big suitcases. They very heavy with calculators and watches. No drugs. No problem.”

Bruce nodded, and Vichai went on. “When you get off plane at Don Muang, you go through green lane. My friend he work in customs, him name Khun Soropong Kittisomsak. He no problem. You walk past him and catch taxi to my apartment. You get free holiday in Hong Kong and I pay you 50,000 baht when you bring suitcases me.”

They spent the next hour talking and planning the trip. Bruce was scheduled to leave in two days, so he told his boss at the English school he needed a week off to do a visa run.

He flew off to Hong Kong, checked into the hotel and had a great time. On the last day he went to the address he had been given and sure enough he was handed two suitcases. He piled them into the taxi, went to Kai Tak airport and checked in.

Four hours later in Bangkok he picked up the suitcases from the luggage carousel and headed for the green lane. He started to waltz through but the customs officer stopped him and asked him if he had anything to declare. Bruce looked at the nametag, but it wasn’t the name he had been given. But he smiled at the man and said that he only had two suitcases filled with his clothes. The officer asked him to open the suitcases. By now, Bruce was getting worried. What had gone wrong? Where was Khun Soropong? He had no choice, so he opened the first suitcase and a glittering array of watches greeted their eyes. The officer immediately called for support and they led Bruce away to a room where he was questioned. He wouldn’t tell them who he was working for, so they arrested him and slung him into immigration jail.

A few hours later Vichai turned up looking very angry. “You say what to police?” he asked.

“Nothing. I guarantee you I didn’t tell them anything, just like you told me. They think I own the suitcases.” Bruce told him.

“OK,” said Vichai looking relieved, “you no say anything I help you. When you get out of here, you must run away back home and no come back here again. You have passport?”

Bruce shook his head. The police had taken it away as soon as they arrested him.

“No problem. We have plan.” Vichai said. “Don’t worry. I get you out of here and we help you leave Thailand. Velly solly about this. Khun Soropong, he have flu. No can come work today. Too late to try tell you.”

Bruce was crestfallen. Suddenly he was looking at an ignomious flight home, if he didn’t go to court and have to spend years in jail here.

It took Vichai another three hours to get Bruce out on bail. They took a taxi to Bruce’s place where Vichai told him his plan. Vichai had seen pictures of Bruce’s brother, Tony. They looked very similar, so Vichai told Bruce to call him and ask him to come to Thailand urgently. They only had two weeks before Bruce was scheduled to go to court.

When Tony arrived, Bruce took his passport, jumped on a plane and flew back to Australia. Meanwhile, Tony went to the embassy and reported that he had lost his passport on the beach at Pattaya. They accepted his story and a few days later he was issued with a new passport and he too flew back to Australia.

It wasn’t until after Bruce was supposed to appear in court that Scott, the owner of the English school, started to feel the repercussions. Even though he had not been involved at all, the police came knocking at his door one morning looking for Bruce. Scott told them that he hadn’t seen Bruce since he left to do a visa run a few weeks ago and he assumed that Bruce had not been able to renew his visa.

The police didn’t believe him. They kept coming back almost every day asking for Bruce. They also set two plainclothes policemen to sit at a noodle stall opposite the school. It’s not hard to pick Thai plainclothes cops. They just change into a t-shirt and still wear their regulation police trousers and boots.

Each time Scott drove up to the gate to drive into his house, one of the policemen would run over and ask him where Bruce was. This went on for two weeks and Scott was getting heartily tired of being harassed. One day he snapped. So as soon as he parked the car he went inside and called the emergency police number.

“There are two kamoeys (burglars) sitting outside my house. They have been there for a few days checking my house. I think they are planning to break into my house.”

Scott’s Thai wasn’t all that good, but when the police heard the word, ‘kamoeys’ they sent a squad of ten police to Scott’s front gate within minutes. One of them with three stars on his shoulder spoke good English. He asked Scott where the kamoeys were. Scott pointed at the two plainclothes police across the road at the noodle stall.

Whoosh! The police squad descended on the two cops and a big noisy discussion ensued. Meanwhile, people from up and down the soi swarmed around to watch the fun and games. Scott just stood there looking as innocent as possible.

Soon, the three star policeman came back and said, “Er, Mr. Scott, those two men are plainclothes policemen. They are looking for someone who works for you.”

Scott told him what he had told the two plainclothes cops before; he hadn’t seen Bruce since he left on a visa run. He knew nothing about Bruce getting arrested, and please leave him alone.

The policeman nodded and apologized. He told Scott that he wouldn’t be bothered again and all the police left.

But it didn’t quite end there. A few days later Scott came home one evening to find his wife in tears. She told him that one of the plainclothes policemen had come to see her armed with a shotgun and threatened her that if she didn’t tell him where Bruce was he would come back and kill her.

That was the last straw for Scott. He wasn’t going to have that happening in his house. He got on the phone to a friend of his who owned a private investigation and security company and asked what he could do. His friend told him there wasn’t anything he could do. He was dealing with the police, remember?

Scott thought about it and then decided the best way to fight fire was with fire, and the only way to do that was to take the battle to the cop with the shotgun. He asked his friend to watch the cop and compile a complete dossier on him, his family, and his daily life.

A week later he received the report. It was nearly one inch thick. After reading through it he called the shotgun-wielding cop and told him that he had a complete dossier on him. He told the cop his wife’s name, his kids’ names, and even described his dog. He also told the cop where he lived, and where he had been for the last week, including a couple of places he was sure he wouldn’t want his wife to know about. Then Scott told the cop that if he ever came near his house or if anything happened to his wife, Scott would kill him.

There was shocked silence on the other end, then the cop grunted that he would not be bothering Scott again and hung up the phone. That was the last Scott ever heard of Bruce or the cop. But just to be sure, Scott moved his business to new premises within a week.

NOTE: The names and places have been changed to protect the innocent. Scott still lives in Bangkok and he swears this story is true. It happened way back in 1986. No one has ever seen Bruce in Thailand again.

Tasers are now being used by many law enforcement agencies throughout the world. (Tasers are also called stun guns) They are certainly used by the police in Orlando where I live. Instead of shooting or wounding a victim with bullets the Taser delivers a 50,000 volt electric shock to a law breaker that overrides one’s central nervous system. This causes uncontrollable contractions of the muscle tissue and instant collapse. This is known as nonlethal force.

A while ago I was invited by the Orlando Chapter of Amnesty International to perform some research and deliver an address to the group concerning the pros and cons of Taser use. During the same time period I happened to be serving on Florida State Senator Gary Siplin’s Commission on the Use of Deadly Force by Law Enforcement in Florida and had the opportunity to witness live demonstrations of Taser use by members of the Orlando Police Department.

You might be interested in learning some of the Taser facts that I derived from my research for that speech.

First, from where does the name Taser derive? The inventor of the Taser took the name from a 1911 boy’s adventure story by author Victor Appleton. Appleton wrote a science fiction story about a young crime fighter who foiled criminals by incapacitating them with an electric rifle he had invented. The name of that young crime fighter in the story was Thomas A. Swift. The name of the story was entitled: Thomas A. Swift and his Electric Rifle. The modern day inventor of the first true electric stun gun named his invention after the initials of the story — T A S E R!

The company that makes and markets Tasers is an Arizona corporation called Taser International. The company sells several models of the Taser, in 1994 they came out with their first called the “Air Taser” in 1998 they introduced the model “M26” and in 2003 they brought out the “X26.” These high powered Tasers are the new fad in law enforcement. Police contend that the use of Tasers lower injury to the police and to the public. The police also maintain the Taser is a tool to be used in conjunction of other nonlethal types of force.

However, doctors, reporters and human rights groups contend that the Taser use raise grave safety issues. A number of citizens have died after having been Tasered. Taser International spokespersons disagree that the Taser is a dangerous weapon. When a human being is Tasered his or her body is subjected to a 50,000 volt shock that is designed to override the target’s central nervous system, causing contractions of the muscle tissue that leads to instant collapse. The company maintains that the jolt will physically debilitate a target regardless of their tolerance for pain or their mental focus. The Taser is said to “directly tell the muscles what to do: contract until the target is in the fetal position on the ground.” The company further contends there are no residual effects to the body after having been Tasered.

My research revealed that since 2001, at least 70 people are reported to have died in the United States and Canada after being shocked with the M26 or the X26 models. Twelve of the deaths have occurred in Florida. Four of those deaths have occurred in Orange County where I live. Coroners who have commented on the deaths generally attribute such deaths to other factors such as concurrent drug intoxication when Tasered. Other medical experts question whether Taser Shocks may exacerbate a risk of heart failure. Some scientists contend that that electricity near the heart can be dangerous because it may cause ventricular fibrillation. Still, other scientists suggest or speculate that an excess of potassium, produced when the muscles contract violently, may be a key ingredient in the deaths associated with the device. In essence, no one knows for sure whether the Taser by itself can cause death.

Despite the deaths that have occurred, more than 6,000 law enforcement and correctional agencies in 49 states are deploying or testing Taser equipment. My researched also revealed that several states which formerly banned all stun guns have recently changed their law to allow local and state police to use Tasers. Tasers are now used by campus police on many university campuses. Tasers were used by the U.S. army during the Iraq war and are still being used by the military at Guantanamo Bay. Tasers have been purchased or tested by police or the military in Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Mexico, Spain, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. Forty three states place few or no restrictions on possession of such stun weapons by members of the public for self-defense. However, price may be a deterrent to buying a Taser for personal use. The price of the Air Taser is $399.95; the M26 model costs $699.00, and the X26 is advertised at $999.00.

Local police agencies in Florida were among the first agencies to adopt the new generations of Tasers on a wide scale. The Orlando Sentinel newspaper reported in March 2005 that police had used Tasers against 24 students in the prior 18 months. An Amnesty International report states that Tasers are used against unarmed suspects in 80% of all cases of nonlethal weapons; Tasers were employed in 36% of cases for verbal noncompliance by suspects, but used only in 3% of cases involving deadly assault.

According to information released to the media in 2007 by the Orange County Sheriff’s office when I was pursuing my research, 700 deputies out of the 1,318 man force were armed with Tasers and the department had just ordered 125 more Tasers. The next year it was reported that Orange County deputies made 45,033 arrests and used Tasers 464 times, including against 14 suspects who were so aggressive that the law would have allowed the use of deadly force.

The Orlando Police Department has a stricter policy on the use of Tasers and prohibits Taser use unless a suspect actively resists a police officer. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office mandates that each deputy be given eight hours of annual Taser training – an increase from four hours initially used by the office. This will allow for 6,000 hours a year of training for the deputies of the Orange County Sheriff.

Critics of Taser use, such as Amnesty International, have called for all federal, state and local authorities to suspend use of Tasers and other electro-shock weapons pending an urgent rigorous, independent and impartial inquiry in to their use and effects.

There has been no such suspension and it looks like Tasers are here to stay.