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Showing posts with label Mass Effect. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mass Effect. Show all posts

2010/06/09

Keen Dreams: The Doom Effect

Doom_2_shepard

              You wouldn’t see a pretty boy like Shepard taking on the Cyberdemon

I usually note down some of the dreams I have, and keep the ones that are more original or intriguing to myself for use in one of my fiction efforts. Then you get the ones that are more clichéd and have been done to death. The events in this dream probably fall into this category.

It all started with me being the commander on a tank, possibly the Mako, rolling down streets and through buildings, taking out enemy troops. As we reached the crossroads of a section in the neighbourhood however, we were overwhelmed by soldiers who were taking cover behind the bushes, and they flanked us, taking out the vehicle – probably with some heavy weaponry.

Then we were led alongside the road, past all the prisoners of war that had been captured by the enemy, as they sat looking miserable on the grassy banks between the trees. The crew of the tank and I walked along this rode which was lined with ropes hanging from the trees – probably to execute those were unlucky enough to have been caught; to set an example.

But as we crossed the field, through the woods, and left the POWs behind, we came upon a cliff that had a cove of sorts within. We all jumped in to the water below and went inside. Ahead there was a portal of sorts.

We foolishly entered in to it and were swept off to another dimension where we saw the most horrific events unfolding. People being tortured, victimized, and impish creatures playing devilish pranks on unsuspecting inhabitants.

We’d stumbled into a hell of sorts. Not just a hell; the Hell.

Some of the group were captured, while the rest of us ran as fast as we could, trying to find a way out of this place. An undead creature of some sort got a hold of me and pulled me back as I tried to wrestle free from his clutches. Then it went black.

I woke up and I was back in the water again. Somehow what was left of the group had managed to escape and I assumed I had been rescued and was now back in the cove, on the other side of the portal this time, where we first entered.

I was treading water and trying to make my way to a ladder of sorts that was hanging from the cliff. I started to climb my way up, struggling all the while, only to reach the top, and see the ladder start to slip, and come loose. I fell back in the water, and it was a frantic, terrified effort to get to another ladder that was on the cliffside further down. I climbed up and this time I reached the top. We were safe – for now.

There was some machinery and equipment lying around in the cove, and it looked as though a small base of operations had been established there. There was a map* on a screen which clearly had the word “Contra” written on it and a diagram showing the portal. But we knew that in whatever language this was, it might as well have been a synonym for Hell. We knew firsthand because we’d seen the other side.

We’d gone in the @sshole of Hell, and come back out again… somehow alive.

Footnotes

* The map was similar to that of the Mass Effect map used in the game to travel to different planets and so on.

The Keen Dreams series is a AAA original, and is all about video games in dreams, and dreams in video games… and dream which involve stuff about video games.


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2010/05/31

Mass Effect Possibly had a Prequel: Unreal II

      Unreal_IImass-effect

                              Even the box covers look similar…

Mass Effect and Unreal. What’s the connection here? Mass Effect 1& 2 used more than just the Unreal Engine, you see. Mass Effect is also somewhat similar to Unreal II: The Awakening.

I bought the Unreal Anthology the other day, which had Unreal II bundled along with three or four other games in the series. This got me thinking back to the days when I played Unreal II. Okay, so it didn't continue the story of Unreal, but it wasn’t a bad game.

What does all that have to do with Mass Effect? Look at Unreal II, and then look at Mass Effect.

Both featured one man out to save the world, along with his crew, on his ship. You argue that those two men aren’t the same rank, and that with Shepard you could at least customize what he [or she] looks like.

Fair enough, but then look at the how the game plays – you have those dialogue options and so on. Yeah, Unreal II had those, and could also be one of those talky games as well at times.

Okay, so you argue that the dialogue options weren’t as in depth, and didn’t feature Paragon and Renegade and so on. I know you’re probably getting cross now, but have a look at this next one.

Unreal II also saw you travelling to different planets and so on to stop threats: one which included a trip to the snow-covered planet known as Hell, where John Dalton [you] ended up battling these huge spidery looking things called Araknids, and the Heavy Araknid -essentially the Queen. Sound familiar? Mass Effect also had a snowy level, Noveria, where you drove up to this building, where you faced the Rachni - which were big spidery looking things, with a Queen Rachni…

Mass Effect 2 also had that suicide mission at the end of the main storyline, but if you played it carefully, most of the crew if not all came out alive. In Unreal II, there was also a bit a of a suicide mission, but this time the crew ended up sacrificing themselves by plunging their ship into the sun.

Not to mention that Mass Effect 2 had your Cerberus officer, Miranda – the eye candy of the game – and Unreal II had Aida.

I’m not saying that BioWare copied Unreal II, and it could all just be coincidence, but I just happened to notice a few similarities. Perhaps, spiritually, even though they are now working on Mass Effect 3, the Mass Effect series all ready has a trilogy… in a way.


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2010/05/29

Mass Effect Movie is Coming – Take Cover

MassEffect I finally got round to finishing Mass Effect 2 the other day. I got side-tracked and started playing other games over the past few months, but I eventually got around to completing the main quest for Mass Effect 2. Now there’s just the side quests that I haven't done yet.

Wait! What’s this? A Mass Effect movie is coming? Yes, the rights to the Mass Effect movie have been snapped up by Legendary Pictures, and scriptwriter Mark Protosevich is going to… well, write the script for it. He’s previously worked on films such as I Am Legend.

Some say that Mass Effect, considered one of the greatest science-fiction series ever created, could potentially become the new Star Trek or Star Wars. It feels more like Star Trek to me, actually.

But, then again, like the title suggests: it might not be that great, considering the quality of most game-to-movie adaptations.

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Source: Mass Effect video game on way to movie screen [heatvisionblog]


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2010/04/05

Buy Mass Effect 2 at Amazon, get Mass Effect FREE [Video Game Deals]

boxart_us_mass-effect+MassEffect2 = Save!                  

Recently at Amazon, you were able to get BioShock 1& 2 for $50.

Now a similar deal comes along just at Easter time, where you can grab another two great games for the same price: Mass Effect 1 and Mass Effect 2 for $50. This time Mass Effect is also basically free, saving you $20. And you’re also getting $10 off Mass Effect 2 in addition to this. So all in all, it’s a saving of about $30.

Unlike in my previous post, I can say that I have played both games this time round, and apart from some lengthy sessions of talking and so on, this series is as good as they claim, and it’s well worth trying out this deal while it lasts. It ends by Midnight, on the 11th of April, which is next Sunday.

Note that this offer is for the Xbox 360 version of ME 2 only.

Get Mass Effect free with Mass Effect 2 for Xbox 360

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Sources: Amazon - N4G


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2010/04/04

Video Games Coming out This Week [04-04 – 04-10, 2010] - Mass Effect 2: Kasumi's Stolen Memory, Borderlands: Double Game Add-On Pack

 ME2dlc bortit

AAA’s Targets of the Week: Mass Effect 2: Kasumi's Stolen Memory, Borderlands: Double Game Add-On Pack

It’s like everyone’s saying now: March was a hell of a month, where every game that had a vague Q1 release date ended up coming out. There was Assassin’s Creed II, Metro 2033, God of War III, C&C 4 – I could go on. But April is looking to be a bit dry in terms of new games releasing.

There are actually more PC releases this week than any other consoles. That’s one definite sign that it’s a slow weak. The big titles like Splinter Cell: Conviction and Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City are coming later on this month, starting next week.

This week it’s mostly the add-on packs and DLCs that will get the most interest, seeing as Mass Effect 2 gets its next DLC in Kasumi's Stolen Memory for both PC and 360. Borderlands gets a retail pack which includes two of its three DLC packs: The Zombie Island of Doctor Ned, and Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot. Sadly, The Secret Armory of General Knoxx is not in the deal.

Speaking of which, there are some deals going on with Borderlands right now that I thought I would mention. You can pick up Borderlands on Direct2Drive for $24.99, and not only that, but the Borderlands Triple Pack, which includes the above DLC packs as well as the original, is also on sale at $44.95.

Check out Borderlands deals on Direct2Drive.

PC

Borderlands: Double Game Add-On Pack
Commandos Complete

Hamlet [Digital Distribution]

Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West [Steam]

Mass Effect 2: Kasumi's Stolen Memory [Cerberus Network]

Plain Sight [Steam]

X360

Borderlands: Double Game Add-On Pack
Mass Effect 2: Kasumi's Stolen Memory [Cerberus Network]

WII

Satisfashion

DS

Again
Squishy Tank

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Sources: Shacknews – Gamespot


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2010/03/31

Video Game Deals at Amazon: Wolfenstein [VGDs]

Wolfenstein coverThis week sees a few good deals at Amazon, including Wolfenstein for the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions receive a price cut each, with over 60% off.

That’s the best known deals on at the moment. The biggest saving I could find besides that was Lair, which is about 60% off, for the PS3.

Just a quick mention here. Some analysts are saying that Amazon is set to broaden their digital distribution presence in addition to their retail one, after some spotted some wanted positions at the retailer. So, it sounds exciting: Amazon might be looking to compete with Steam, Direct2Drive, and the likes. GameStop tried, but I’ve read recently that they’re in trouble and facing a lawsuit. What’s new?…

Best deals:

Wolfenstein - $13.53 – Save $36.46 [Xbox 360]

Wolfenstein - $18.27 – Save $31.72 [PS3]

Lair - $18.87 - Save $32.00 [PS3]
Driver - $13.07 - Save $16.92 [Mac]

Armored Core 4 - $17.46 - Save $15.00 [Xbox 360]

SpongeBob's Truth or Square - $17.99 - Save $12.00 [Wii]

[PC]

Ouba - $8.12 - Save $11.87
Wobbly Bobbly - $7.93 - Save $10.06

Iron Aces: Heroes of WWII - $11.79 - Save $8.20
Crime Stories - $7.52 - Save $8.17

[Mac]

Driver - $13.07 - Save $16.92

[PS3]

Wolfenstein - $18.27 – Save $31.72

Lair - $18.87 - Save $32.00

[PSP]

ModNation Racers - $29.99 - Save $9.97

[Xbox 360]

Wolfenstein - $13.53 – Save $36.46 
Armored Core 4 - $17.46 - Save $15.00
Mini Ninjas - $29.99 - Save $9.97

[Nintendo DS]

Zhu Zhu Pets - $19.99 - Save $10.00
Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief - $19.99 - Save $9.97
Build-A-Bear Workshop Welcome to Hugsville - $19.99 - Save $8.54
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilized - $19.99 - Save $8.00

[Nintendo Wii]

Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince - $17.59 - Save $8.00
Build-a-Bear Workshop: Friendship Valley - $19.99 - Save $10.00
SpongeBob's Truth or Square - $17.99 - Save $12.00

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Sources: Amazon - Nowinstock


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2010/03/23

Video Game Deals on Direct2Drive: Mass Effect 2, Star Trek Online [VGDs]

Game Deals:

Universe at War: Earth Assault - 75% off, at $4.95.

Iron Man the game is 50% off, at $4.95.

Mass Effect 2 is $20 OFF for standard or deluxe versions.

Europa Universalis: Rome Gold is 75% off, at $4.95.

Star Trek Online is $20 OFF + new free bonus item, the Radiometric Converter.

Tropico 3 is now $29.95.

Pre-Order deals:

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction is available for pre-order now at D2D - get Splinter Cell FREE with pre-order!

Pre-order Mount & Blade: Warband from D2D and get Beta access NOW! 

New Releases:

BioShock 2 DLC: Sinclair Solutions Tester Pack

Dragon Age: Origins Awakening

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Source: Direct2Drive


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2010/03/21

Video Games Coming out This Week [03-21 – 03-27, 2010]: Just Cause 2

Human Rights Day

             JC2 S7PTK 

             MEfw

AAA’s Targets of the Week: Just Cause 2, Mass Effect: Firewalker, The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom 

This week sees the release of Just Cause 2 for PC, Xbox 360, and PS3. The original game was considered by some to be nothing more than a GTA clone, but it’s gone on to become perhaps even more mad and crazy, with unbelievable stunts similar to what you’d see in Hollywood being shown in the trailers for this game.

Bad news for PC gamers though, seeing as the game doesn’t support Windows XP; Vista and Windows 7 only. The reason for this was given as the fact that the game was designed to support DirectX 10 fully, and so XP with DX 9 is completely out.

Other games that are out this week include the free DLC pack for Mass Effect 2, called Firewalker, which adds some new missions, and a new vehicle to replace the somewhat disliked, and perhaps a bit unrealistic Mako from Mass Effect: the M57 Hammerhead. Just to make it clear: it’s free to Cerberus Network users. Everyone else has to pay a membership fee to get it.

There’s The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom too – but beware, because this is another Ubisoft published title and incorporates their highly controversial new DRM, just like Assassin’s Creed II for the PC did.

A big Wii title that everybody’s been going on about for some time is Red Steel 2. That comes out this week too. It’s basically like an East meets West sort of game, with guns and swords and stuff.

Links as usual go to Amazon for retail versions, but also Direct2Drive, Steam, etc, for digital distribution versions. You can also check my Amazon aStore to see what the latest and greatest games are.

PC

Alcatraz
History Egypt - Engineering an Empire
Just Cause 2 [Steam – Digital]
Love [Digital]
Majesty 2: Kingmaker Expansion [Digital]
Mass Effect: Firewalker DLC [Cerberus Network] 
Plain Sight
The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom 
Zhu Zhu Pets

Xbox 360

Game Room [Xbox Live Arcade]
How to Train Your Dragon
Just Cause 2
Mass Effect: Firewalker DLC [Cerberus Network] 
MotoGP 09/10

PS3

How to Train Your Dragon
Just Cause 2
Mass Effect: Firewalker DLC [Cerberus Network] 
MotoGP 09/10
Wakeboarding HD [PSN]

PSP

History Egypt - Engineering an Empire

Wii

Build-A-Bear Workshop: Friendship Valley
Cabela's Monster Buck Hunter [with Gun Peripheral]
Cave Story [WiiWare]
Hall of Fame: Ultimate Hoops Challenge
How to Train Your Dragon
Pizza Delivery Boy
Red Steel 2 [Wii MotionPlus Required]
Red Steel 2 + Wii MotionPlus Bundle
Rooms: The Main Building
The Cages: Pro Style Batting Practice

DS

Bakugan: Battle Trainer
Build-A-Bear Workshop: Welcome to Hugsville
Cheer We Go!
Dawn of Heroes
Disney's Stitch Jam
Dream Diary
Drift Street International [DSiWare]

History Egypt - Engineering an Empire
How to Train Your Dragon
Imagine Gymnast
My Pet Chimp
Rooms: The Main Building
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
Squishy Tank
Zhu Zhu Pets

Source: Gamespot - Shacknews


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2010/03/04

Video Game Deals on Amazon: Buy an Xbox 360, Save on Mass Effect 2 for the Xbox 360

ME2 There is an offer on Amazon at the moment which began yesterday, and ends tomorrow. If you buy an Xbox 360 Elite bundle or Xbox 360 Arcade, then you save on Mass Effect 2. Instead of paying the normal price of $48.00 (currently) on Amazon, you’ll save about $20, and pay only $29.99.

Buy an Xbox 360 on Amazon, and save money on Mass Effect 2

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Source: Amazon


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2010/02/05

Mass Effect Redemption #2 Comic Out Now

MEcomic There’s a Mass Effect comic series by Dark Horse called Redemption, and apart from the news that there was an offer recently for the first issue being free for iPhone owners, there’s now word that the 2nd issue is available now.

“Dark Horse Comics, famed publishers of Star Wars, Hellboy, and other amazing comics are teaming up with BioWare to produce Mass Effect Redemption. A new comic book series set in the events following the Reaper's desperate assault on the Citadel: Shepard has gone missing since destroying Sovereign and preventing the Reaper invasion, but Liara T'Soni is intent on finding the Commander.”

You can download a preview of it on the main website in PDF format, and you can even get the full version of it on Amazon.

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http://masseffect.bioware.com/market/books/


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2010/01/16

New Mass Effect 2 Novel Coming This Year

retribution It won’t arrive at the same time as the soundtrack and the game, Mass Effect 2, nicely one week after the other, on January 19th and January 26th, respectively, but there will be another Mass Effect novel coming this year… in July, on the 27th. Six months away.

This one is called Mass Effect: Retribution also by Drew Karpyshyn, and it’s set to be a prequel to Mass Effect 2, detailing events concerning the Illusive Man (voiced in ME 2 by Martin Sheen).

“Retribution is set in the universe fans know well from the video game and novel series—one in which humanity has explored the very farthest reaches of the universe, only to discover the ruthless Reapers, a race bent on extinguishing all organic life. One man is bent on discovering the Reapers' secrets, the mysterious Illusive Man, the leader of a pro-human, black ops group, Cerberus. And he's devised the perfect plan: implant a human subject with Reaper technology in order to study the enemy.

He also has the perfect test subject—Paul Grayson, an ex-Cerberus operative. Grayson betrayed Cerberus in order to save his daughter. So when Grayson is kidnapped and made the subject of Cerberus' evil experiments, the Illusive Man will finally have his revenge...” 

                                        – Blurb from BioWare website

This isn’t the only novel based on Mass Effect. There are two others, Mass Effect: Ascension, and Mass Effect: Revelation, as well as Mass Effect Redemption, a Dark Horse comic series.


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2010/01/15

Mass Effect 2 Soundtrack Arriving Just Before the Game

Mass Effect 2 is scheduled for a January 26th release this year, but a week before, on January 19th (Tuesday next week), the soundtrack for the game is arriving. You can all ready grab it at Amazon for pre-order.

The soundtrack is composed by Jack Wall, who also made the soundtrack for the first game.

 

Here’s the track list:

CD 1   

1. The Illusive Man   
2. Humans Are Disappearing   
3. The Attack   
4. The Lazarus Project   
5. A Rude Awakening   
6. The Normandy Reborn   
7. Miranda   
8. Jacob   
9. Freedom's Progress   
10. Thane   
11. Garrus   
12. An Unknown Enemy   
13. Samara   

CD 2   

1. Grunt   
2. Horizon   
3. Tali   
4. Mordin   
5. The Normandy Attacked   
6. Jack   
7. Legion   
8. Jump Drive   
9. Crash Landing   
10. The Collector Base   
11. The End Run   
12. Suicide Mission   
13. New Worlds   
14. Reflections

You can check out the page for the soundtrack below, along with all the individual mp3s where you can listen to samples and buy them when the date arrives.

Mass Effect 2 Soundtrack
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2010/01/13

Mass Effect 2: Vanguard Trailer

On The Verge recently, the same day that I saw the Metro 2033 trailer actually, they showed off the Mass Effect 2 Vanguard Trailer. I try to watch the trailers before posting about them, even though it was released several days ago.

Mass Effect 2 Vanguard Trailer

“Vanguard” means the leading force in an army. And my, this Vanguard class looks awesome. In the game, the Vanguard uses Biotic powers, basically like magic in other games or something.

To think, you can practically teleport by travelling lightning fast to a destination, sort of like The Flash, or Superman. It's kind of like cheating, but it’s not. I guess there will have to be some sort of rule here to prevent technical invulnerability, like some sort of rechargeable power. I’m sure I remember this sort of thing from Mass Effect. Sorry, it’s been about a year and a half since I last played it, you know.

Mass Effect 2 will be released later on this month, on the 26th of January, for the PC and Xbox 360.


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2010/01/08

New Mass Effect 2 Screenshots [Screens]

BioWare has released some new screenshots for their much anticipated game, Mass Effect 2, which will release later on this month, January 26th in the US, 29th in Europe, on the PC and Xbox 360 simultaneously.

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Shacknews


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2009/11/20

New Box Art for Mass Effect 2 Released

So, BioWare has released a couple of shots of the new cover art for Mass Effect 2.



New Box Art

This art will replace the old art that was shown earlier on in the year.



Old Box Art

And what does everyone think? Well, nobody seemed to like the old one, and nobody likes the new one either. Surprise, Surprise.

The game itself is still due for release next year in January, simultaneously launched on PC and Xbox 360 (no PS3 for now), so we'll see whether it changes again by then.

This here is the Collector's Edition box, which I think is pretty cool:




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2009/04/03

Commander Shephard Dies in Mass Effect 2

I’ve seen the trailer for Mass Effect 2, and it shows a few details of the protagonist from Mass Effect, Commander Shepard. Just when you’re about to be bored to tears with all his/her achievements flashing across the screen, it shows a part of his/her body with a Geth trooper standing over him/her.

Now, some have said not to rush to conclusions, and it might mean that Shepard dies in a metaphorical sense, as all the little gamers cry into their hankies and whimper, “Say it ain’t so!” Shepard is such a generic name anyway- good riddance, I say.

So, it’s been suggested that Shepard may die physically or in a more metaphorical sense. How many ways can Shepard be killed? Let’s see…

• Gets killed by one of those tin cans known as the Geth (the most obvious one).
• Dies during a prolonged elevator ride (they say that this has been fixed in Mass Effect 2; we’ll see).
• Gets massacred after his/her two stupid AI buddies get incapacitated.
• Accidentally gets wiped out by one of the team member’s biotic powers.
• Accidentally wipes him/herself out with biotic powers.
• Dies after a long drop in the APC while traveling across a planet’s surface.
• Gets blown up inside APC that enemies can’t possibly miss, even with spitwads.
• Dies after his/her oxygen supply runs out while trying to hack a container…again.
• Dies during impossibly long conversation with one of the boring inhabitants of a planet.
• Sentenced to death after assaulting said inhabitant because of his/her impatience.
• Killed during conversation for asking too many questions.
• Kills him/herself after gender confusion/ identity crisis.
• Killed by exploding container just randomly lying around.
• Starves to death due to absence of edible food or drink anywhere.
• Mentally assassinated by an Asari.
• Gets whacked after borrowing money from a loan shark to pay ridiculous prices for decent armor and weaponry, and not paying said loan shark back.
• Gets lost and dies of exhaustion while running endlessly, trying to find his/her way.
• Dies of exhaustion while running endlessly.
• Killed after being stalked by disgruntled fan.
• Normandy crashes and blows up after cocky pilot Joker tries to steer ship with his feet.
• Shepard only dreams that he/she dies.
• Death is just a marketing ploy, and Shepard doesn’t really die in the game.
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What does AAA stand for?

It's not an abbreviation of anything. It just means the best of the best... 

"Well, now you know the truth: Apocalypso's Atomic Arcade!"

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