THE SPHINX 23

WikileaksWho’s leading the counterculture crusade?

GamesThe definitive guide to procrastination

SphinxOnlineScan the QR to

visit Sphinx Technology online

Group Therapy 2012 – UK Tour

For tickets & info:

aboveandbeyond.nu/grouptherapyuk | ticketweb.co.uk | 08444 771 000

O2 Academy Liverpool

Saturday 14th April

with support from

Jaytech

AB12_liverpool_student.indd 1 3/16/2012 4:55:49 PM

With the third and final entry in the Mass Effect trilogy being released recently it’s time to look back on the effect this franchise has had on not only the gaming world, but also the world of popular Science Fiction. Mass Effect is a series loved by players and cr i t ics a l ike , i t s engrossing story leading players through a galaxy that manages to be both familiar yet original at the same timeThis doesn’t mean it is better than Science-Fiction masterpieces by authors such as Isaac Asimov, but as a series it represents the peak of Science-Fiction as a genre. Even the Science Fiction giants such as Star Trek and Star Wars, long past their prime, are no longer examples of popular science-fiction at its best. They’ve made mistakes, angered their fans, and slowly ruined their credibility as franchises. It’s time for a new king to take the crown, and Mass Effect may well be the series that deserves it.Mass Effect has often been criticised as being an amalgamation of Science Fiction tropes and ideas, treading over old ground rather than creating original material. However, this is the series greatest strength. What makes Mass Effect such an incredibly engrossing role playing experience, besides the well written story and believable characters, is the excellent unity of the best Science Fiction ideas of the past century.It had the heroic story and epic adventure through space that was

made so popular by the original Star Wars film, making the game exciting, energetic and visceral. That was combined with the intergalactic politics, interesting species and deep inter-character relationships that characterised Star Trek and helped make Mass Effect a universe rather than just a game. One only needs to read the extensive Codex entries in the game to understand the deep thought that went into constructing the Mass Effect Universe.However, no amount of intelligent universe building could ever have made Mass Effect so popular if it hadn’t been the summation of Bioware’s long experience in the Role Playing genre. Early Bioware games were some of my most important and formative experiences when it comes to gaming, but objectively they simply aren’t as good as Mass Effect. The story is immersive and deep, but manages to never feel too long, a common problem in the role playing g e n r e . T h e v o i c e a c t i n g i s professional and engaging, yet despite Shepherd having a predetermined attitude and voice; he somehow still manages to be a blank enough slate to graft your own persona onto him, making the story feel very personal to each player.Mass Effect is still a relatively new series, and as the first trilogy comes to a close it will be interesting to see what direction Bioware takes the franchise in. A new pop-culture phenomenon has been born, and Mass Effect’s influence on both RPGs and Science Fiction will be seen for years to come, and Shepherd’s adventures will be remembered fondly by gamers worldwide.

Why Mass Effect is the greatest Sci-Fi franchise in gaming history

Patrick D’Arcy

Controversial media outlet Wikileaks has begun publishing a cache of over five million emails belonging to American security think-tank Stratfor.In a statement released via its Twitter account, Wikileaks claimed the emails reveal how Stratfor utilises a global web of informants to collect and sell information to multinational corporations such as Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, as well as

Government agencies including the US Marines and Homeland Security.The leaked information also allegedly exposes the ex ten t to which ‘intelligence companies’ like Stratfor will go to extract information from individuals. One email, which was reportedly sent by Stratfor CEO George Friedman, explains that employees must take ‘financial, sexual or psychological control’ of an informant in order to gain sufficient intelligence. The statement goes on to offer a brief summary of the emails

which have been processed thus-far and notes that possible corruption and schemes of ‘questionable legality’ within Stratfor are starkly evident.A list of Wikileaks’ ‘Public partners’ who are aiding them in publication concludes the announcement. The list includes Newspapers from Tunisia, Spain, Germany, Russia and Italy amongst others. Somewhat oddly, this list also includes American monthly music magazine Rolling Stone, though it is unclear precisely what their role in the leak will be.

Wikileaks publish stolen Stratfor EmailsAlexander Williams