The division between American-style role-playing game fans and Japanese-style RPGers is almost as deep as the split between Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter fans. While American RPG games such as Diablo and the Elder Scrolls series have focused on more real-time action oriented combat and deep character customization, Japanese RPGs such as Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest have focused on character development, turn-based combat, and semi-linear storylines. For years, it has been a back and forth battle, with both American and Japanese RPGs gaining popularity amongst fans at certain periods. When Final Fantasy VII changed the face of the genre, many American gamers flocked over to the works of Square-Enix, and its contemporaries. Fast forward to a decade later. Japanese RPG developers have been going as strong as ever, and even new ones such as Mistwalker have emerged. However, the problem with the current JRPG scene is that these developers have mostly relied on the same old formulas that they have implemented since the late 90s. The failures of games such as The Last Remnant and Infinite Undiscovery (as well as the cult status of games such as Persona, The World Ends With You, and Valkyrie Profile) have demonstrated that the public wants to see something different. Moreover, throughout the last decade, the American RPG market has been bolstered by excellent games such as Diablo, Oblivion, Neverwinter Nights, and Jade Empire. This brings me to this week’s feature, Mass Effect. Mass Effect was created by BioWare, the camp behind hits such as Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire, Baldur’s Gate, and the forthcoming Dragon Age. As in the past, BioWare has taken the RPG genre to new heights by not sticking by the genre’s norms. Square-Enix, Tri-Ace, Mistwalker, and other RPG developers, both American and Japanese, would do well to study this game (especially if they plan on doing any more work with the Unreal 3 engine).
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Majel Barret-Roddenberry, the widow of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry has passed at the age of 76.
While she had a recurring role as nurse Christine Chapel in the original series, as well as Ambassador Lwaxana Troi on The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, perhaps her most vital contribution to the series was off camera. For nearly 700 episodes and 10 movies, she provided the voice of the computer on Federation ships.
Her final professional work was recording voice work for the next chapter in Star Trek, the highly anticipated new movie (Star Trek Trailer here). Her work was completed just a few weeks ago, thus bringing closure to an era and bridging the gap toward a new one.
I certainly hope there is a dedication in this new film, though it can scarcely match the dedication Majel had shown Star Trek for most of her life.

Majel Barrett on Wikipedia
Majel Barrett on IMDB