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Word Of The Day

Bioware's Mass Effect: Andromeda was released earlier this week, and like Mass Effect 3, I'm not getting it. For a few reasons.

Firstly, I'm suspicious of the quality of any product from Bioware following its takeover by Electronic Arts. Following the takeover, the games quality went downhill for me. The writing, which was witty, smart and self referential turned glum and Zach Snyder serious. Games which promised epic endings in upcoming sequels were disappointing at best, and rabidly infuriating at worst, as symbolized in the campaign by players over Mass Effect 3 and its three colour endings, all the same. So much for personal choice in the games.

Secondly, I've discovered that my once state of the art gaming rig no longer is cutting edge. Wife recently picked me up Dishonored 2, and I haven't been able to play it due to system requirements. Okay, I can play it, but it looks like a slide show. Looking up the system requirements for Mass Effect Andromeda, it's the same story.

Sure, I could upgrade the system, but now there's a tertiary issue: Windows 10. In the time since I've upgraded, Windows 10 has come out, and Microsoft has a hate on for its previous operating systems. Mainly Windows 7. I wouldn't object to upgrading the OS if it weren't for one pesky little thing: data mining. Windows 10 by default seizes every keystroke you make, every file you stake, every cake you bake, and sticks it on its cloud. And Microsoft has mandated that only Windows 10 will recognize the latest processors from AMD and Intel: Ryzen and the i3/5/7 series. I'd upgrade like that if both AMD's and Intel's offerings were supported by Windows 7. They're not, so I won't.

In time, I probably will. But it's going to take a lot of customization when installing Windows 10. Customizing the limit on how much data gets into Microsoft's hands. That's a lot of menu settings to go through and a lot of registry tweaks. Customizing a new visual style that looks like Windows 7. And a menu program that looks like the one in Windows 7, and free of stuck on ads. Because while many may like the Windows Modern UI, I don't. And I don't like ads posted on my Start Menu. I want an operating system, not an online flyer plastered to my desktop.