What about the Sith and their (boring) counter part the Jedi? shouldn't they also be counted for like a cult or something? I mean they have all the key elements of a cult, secrecy, exclusiveness (You have to be born with special power to join, and even after you join, you have no idea what other Sith are doing most of the time), plus insanely harsh deciplin (aiming at killing you during the process), completely cut off from the rest of the world...(except they try to take over the galaxy).

About Mass Effect...For some reason, the choice between the two never really hit me that hard. Partly because I never really like them, Kaiden is just normal Bioware whiny baby kind of guy (alone the line of Carth in Kotor, and Anomen in Baldur's Gate II) and Ashley...I can see the game try to give her a personality, but I don't buy it.

So in the end, it really doesn't make much of a difference, especially I end up romance with Liara the first time through. The second time I romanced with Kaiden and...what a disappointment! Bastila romance line is much better than this.

The best ending (that come from a choice) so far is still Bioshock. Mostly because the game is all about "choice", and in the end, if you choose to be good, the reward is extremely saticifying. I was in tears all the way through the final cut scene. it's so good.

to OldSkoolNinja: wow, that's actually a pretty cool ending! I mean...if you can struggle through the game play to get there. I played Kane & Lynch, and couldn't even get through the first mission. The control is off, and animation is weird. But still, cool ending!

I'm with you about the entire "Yoda in Soul Calibur Universe" thing...And the fact that you don't get to play Vader on Xbox 360 (unless you pay extra), and the fact that even if you get to play Vader, he's really not that fun to play with...(too slow)...and the fact that when I use Yoda facing starkiller (the hot guy from the Force Unleashed), Yoda got kicked a$$ hard; when I unlock Starkiller and used him against Yoda, Starkiller got kicked a$$ hard...(why is that?!) ...

One thing, though, Starkiller looks a lot hotter in SC IV than in his own game Force Unleashed...

I thought I'm the only one who feel "obligated" to play light and dark side on every star war games I played...(not other games though...just the start war games). And some choices are really hard, cheap I know...but still hard and painful. Kotor I, it's a shock, and the first RPG that makes me cry.

GTA choices are great, very few games throw you these "real life/no good or bad" choices at you. However, I'd love to see more impact on the game though.

Fable is supposed to be all about choices, but...somehow it stands rather shallow and pale compare to games like Bioshock or Fallout. But I still enjoyed it...In the end, I saved the people...only because it is my princeple that during the first time through, I always play female good character. If it's a real life decision, I'll save my dog and my family.

The first game I pre-ordered was Assassin's Creed. Not only I bought the game, I bought xbox 360 for this game. I have the original xbox before that, and Assassin's Creed is THE motivation I need to upgrade to Next Gen. The game preview looks absolutely incredible, the eagle flying, Altair moves through the crowd, jumping in the mid-air and killed the guy...And the fact stealth games are my favorite (Sam Fisher Rocks!) So I was there, pre-ordering, and on the release day, I brought home the game and the 360.

And.......5 missions into the game, I finally figure out this game is basically one mission repeat 9 times in different difficulty. It's the same thing over and over and over again. After furiously beating up 2 annoying beggers, lost a Sync bar, I was totally disappointed, drop the game and turn to Mass Effect. And 2 and half years later, when Assassin's Creed II is about to release, I pick it up again, finally worked pass my grudge against beggers and drunks, and finish the game. It's actually pretty good, I mean...If you can over look the repetitive missions and annoying drunks on the dock and Altair can't swim...The game is very well designed, the city is full of life, the story is great (if you have the pacient to look into the details), Altair is the coolest assassin, and it is still one of the best looking game out there.

So I guess it's not that bad, and I've already pre-order Assassin's Creed II, like...6 months before its release date.

1, Portal IS a great game with a female "protagonist" that doesn't posed as any sex object. And for that, I admit, I was wrong.

2, I did read the article, and yes, the designer said Rubi is not supposed to be a sex object. But the thing is, if sex appeal doesn't play a role here, why call it "wet" in the first place? Why show her in a tub? I guess using the bikini analysis is a bit misleading, and that's my fault. I used it simply to make a point, that we don't really bring out a true female "protagonist" that we female gamers can relate to.

The closest female characters I can think of is April in Longest Journey and Zeo in the sequel dream fall. Those are "normal" girls, that really don't play with the concept of sex appeal. And for that matter, I also really like Anya in Gears of War, although she's playing the usual female stereotype. I want to see someone like her be the main character. A woman designed for women, not a woman designed for men.

But...You guys are correct in one thing, it is way to early to make the judgement, and it is my fault to jump to conclusion, simply because the title is annoying (for me). Maybe she's like Joanna Dark, maybe she really has a personality, even some depth...who knows.

to RooringRA: LOL, I know I know...E cup in bikini give a bit of healthy shake, there you have it, that alone can sell any game (dead or alive beach volleyball, anyone?)

For once...I mean...just for once...Can we have a female game character who's NOT a sex object? Can we have a normal pretty girl wearing normal active clothing? Why Marcus Fenix can wear those heavey gears, we girls have to wear bikini (or something alone that line)?

I know sex sells, but sex is not the only thing that sells. Good action, clever level design, great storyline, solid character buidling also sells, and they sells better in the long run.

The very first game character crush I can clearly identify is Jon Irenicus in Baldur's Gate II. I think I might have others before that but either I'm too young to have a crush or the experience is too short to remember.

I spend more than 200 hours on Baldur's Gate II and expension pack...mostly because Irenicus. I was totally in love with him, he's just absolutely so evil, tragic and elegant.

The most recent one is Altair. The game is repetitive, it's like one mission, repeat 9 times in different difficulty. But for Altair...I can deal with it. I just hope the new guy in Assassin's Creed II (Ezio? that's the name) is just as cool.