Petie

[color=#0000ff]Hmm... definitely something on the server side then. I'll look into it. Thanks![/color]

[color=#0000ff]Thanks, Japan. I'll follow this topic as well and find out if I'm seeing the same thing. I'm not sure if the server is improperly sending HTML in the message or if whatever you're using to view the message doesn't support HTML but we'll get to the bottom of this one way or another.[/color]

[quote name='The Professor' timestamp='1332402362' post='710842'] [font=comic sans ms,cursive]I notice there's no readily apparent link back to [url="http://www.theotaku.com/"]the mothership[/url][/font] [font=comic sans ms,cursive](which is evidently still hiccuping from the server shift right now) on the front page yet. Just thought I'd bring that up, since I'm an unholy lazy creature of habit and like to use OB as the back door, so to speak.[/font] [/quote] [color=#0000ff]I was trying to figure out the best place to put it. The default location (where it is now, since I added it back in) is at the top and I think I like it there but I'm not positive. Your thoughts?[/color] [quote name='Cat' timestamp='1332403601' post='710843'] This probably something you know about but I just thought I mention it anyways. The email notifications is kind of mess with code. Its not really a big deal cause the links all work. Its just a bit distracting. [/quote] [color=#0000ff]I didn't actually know about that. Mind posting the contents of one of those notifications so I can take a look? Thanks![/color]

[color=#0000ff]Since we have now moved to the newest version of our forum software, I'd just like to remind everyone that this thread is here in case you notice any problems. Please report them right away so we can deal with them as quickly as possible! Thanks![/color] [color=#0000ff][b]Edit:[/b] Never mind - looks like we'll just use the announcement thread.[/color]

[color=#0000ff]Hello all. As I mentioned in the announcement at the top of the page, there was a bit of data lost during the transition. If you're reading this today, you've likely noticed that most (if not all, depending on when you see this) of the forums haven't been posted in since December 2011. This is a result of losing the database entries from January 1, 2012 through the time OB was taken offline. Let me explain.[/color] [color=#0000ff]As many of you probably know, theOtaku was attacked by a virus a few weeks ago. It turns out that there was a security hole in the older version of the forum software we were using here and the virus was able to infect the main server through the forum. In an effort to stop and remove the virus, we decided to completely delete the files for OtakuBoards from the server so that it could not continue to infect the site. I backed up the database and files and then proceeded to delete everything.[/color] [color=#0000ff]In my haste, I deleted the database for OB as well as the files. In hindsight, there was really no need to delete the physical data as it was an infected PHP file that was the cause of the issue. However, I was rushing to try to prevent further issues with theOtaku and wasn't thinking clearly. Unfortunately, my backup had timed out and only captured a tiny portion of the data from OB - nowhere near enough to complete the transition.[/color] [color=#0000ff]So, I asked Adam if he had a backup. Luckily, he did - one from January 1 of this year. We owe him and his network admin a great deal of thanks for finding, exporting, and sending me this backup (as well as purchasing us a new home ^_^) so I could get the forums back online. In the end, we only lost about two months of data during a fairly inactive time here so there's not a ton missing but I still very much regret that loss and I am sincerely sorry for letting it happen. I have since taken measures to ensure that our database is backed up regularly, just in case.[/color] [color=#0000ff]P.S. If you're curious why it took so long to get OB back online, it was because I had to set this server up from scratch (which meant learning quite a bit about Linux - a process I actually enjoyed), deal with issues in the software install and upgrades, and then wait for skins to be ready (or almost ready, as the case is now). The skin you're looking at for the time being is the default skin with our logo stuck back on top. As soon as our real skins are updated, I'll get them back up. This is also your chance to ask for color swaps on the simpler of the two skins since I'm going to be toying with the visual style editor![/color]

[quote name='OMNOMNOMALY' timestamp='1325161990' post='710797'] [font="Garamond"]Oh yeah I'll totally get back on my diet plan. ..when I go back to Canada in 6 months LOL I love food here. Korean food is awesome. I'll worry about that diet crap after the adventure of a lifetime ends.[/font] [/quote] [color="#0000ff"]This is definitely the way to do it (or at least the way I'd do it too). While it may not be the healthiest choice, it's not like this is something you could go and do every weekend. Enjoy it while you're there ^_^[/color]

[quote name='CaNz' timestamp='1324340658' post='710660'] Well, I am pretty sure everyone is gonna see it... [/quote] [color="#0000ff"]I second this. I wasn't even a huge Batman fan to begin with but I was excited about seeing Dark Knight and I loved it. I think it's too early to comment on this topping its predecessor but I think we can all agree that it's likely to be great either way.[/color]

[quote name='Sangome' timestamp='1325020172' post='710779'] [color="#9932CC"][font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]So I now officially have this game, and have clocked a few hours in...I'm not very far at all; I just got to the surface last night. It's so freakin' beautiful, auuuughhh I can't get over how pretty this game is. As for the controls, I'm pretty neutral on them, except for one thing -- flying. I absolutely hate flying. I don't know why I suck at it so bad, but flying around to get that statuette was a freakin' pain in the rear. Ugh. One nice little touch I did like though was how you pulled the Goddess Sword out of its pedestal by actually turning the Wiimote upside down and pulling it. I thought that was pretty neat.[/font][/color] [/quote] [color="#0000ff"]On your point about pulling the sword from the pedestal, I liked that too. They do have some fun little details that make nice use of the Wii Motion Plus.[/color] [color="#0000ff"]As for flying, I think the issue I've seen most often is overcompensating for turns. Most of the people I've seen that had trouble with the flying did so because they piratically turned the Wii Remote upside down where a slight tilt would have been more than sufficient. Next time you have to fly, be mindful of how you're handling the controller and you might have an easier time. That said, it's still far from perfect. You could be doing everything right and just don't like the lack of precision (which is the problem I have with it as well).[/color]

[color="#0000ff"]Merry Christmas everyone! ^_^[/color]

[color="#0000ff"]My mom desperately needed a new TV so my brother and I split a nice new Samsung model for her :)[/color] [color="#0000ff"]She also loves Shakespeare and usually gets a Shakespeare calendar every year so, while it unfortunately isn't here yet, I did get her the calendar too.[/color]

[quote name='Shiro' timestamp='1324479811' post='710690']PS2 (yes. I still have it. I don't know anyone else who still does, tbh). My second run in FINAL FANTASY X, The SIMS, and Rouge Galaxy. [/quote] [color="#0000ff"]I do! Sitting happily next to my (future, if read before Christmas) PS3![/color] [color="#0000ff"]As for what I'm playing, not much has changed since I last posted here except that I haven't had nearly as much time as I'd like to play lately. I progressed a fair bit in Skyward Sword ([spoiler]just finished the first silent realm trial[/spoiler]) but I still have quite a bit left to do there and I haven't had a chance to play since a couple of weeks ago.[/color] [color="#0000ff"]On the way home from work, I've been playing Ocarina of Time 3D and it has been a blast replaying that game. The fact that it keeps me occupied on the train ride home is just a bonus ^_^[/color] [color="#0000ff"]Finally, while I haven't played it yet, my friend did just give me a copy of Dead Island on Steam so I'll likely be trying that out in the near future.[/color] [color="#0000ff"]Upcoming, post Skyward Sword and Christmas titles include Halo Anniversary, Skyrim, and whatever I happen to have available for the PS3. I really should finish up some of the games I started on the 360 as well though (like Assassin's Creed Brotherhood and Bayonetta).[/color]

[quote name='James' timestamp='1324421920' post='710670'][font="palatino linotype"]Also, on the original point about the solar panels... I don't know what the general rule is, but in Australia, most panels are pretty unobtrusive - they don't cover an entire roof or anything. I'm not sure that they are designed to always power an entire house, but probably they take up [i]most[/i] of the house's power needs.[/font] [/quote] [color="#0000ff"]Solar panels have a very low efficiency and combined with only a couple on a roof, unless your houses require significantly less power than ours, you'd be lucky to get a small fraction of the power required to run the house. That was my original point - as the technology gets better and greater amounts of energy can be generated using the sun, the up-front cost of solar panels will be a lot more justifiable to most. However, while it still takes huge areas of linked solar panels to produce truly usable energy, it's just out of the question for all but either a) the rich or b) people who use very little power to begin with.[/color]

[quote name='chibi-master' timestamp='1324142267' post='710630'] It was my friend's birthday this week, so we ordered her favorite kind of pizza- White pizza(pizza without sauce). I have a new least favorite kind of pizza now. [/quote] [quote name='CaNz' timestamp='1324286927' post='710648'] That seems more like cheesey bread than pizza. I don't think I would like it... but I doubt it could be worse than sushi pizza. [/quote] [color="#0000ff"]White pizza traditionally isn't just pizza minus sauce. It usually has some sort of base in place of the sauce, often a ricotta cheese or light olive oil. The bread is also usually a little bit more buttery tasting too. When made correctly, it's actually very good so you may just not have had a good white pie. That said, it's definitely not for everyone so it's also entirely possible that you just don't like it :)[/color] [quote name='Katie!' timestamp='1324312860' post='710651'] I'm a really picky eater, so I like good ol' pepperoni and onion. The onion gives it just enough of an extra taste kick. [/quote] [color="#0000ff"]Pepperoni is good but I'm not a fan of onions on anything :P[/color]

[quote name='IIISTARSCREAMERIII' timestamp='1323872271' post='710584'] [font="Comic Sans MS"][size="4"][color="#9932CC"]Don't you think they kind of look a bit goofy also?[/color][/size][/font] [/quote] [color="#0000ff"]They may, to some, but they're not really something you buy for aesthetics. The same can be said about [i]most[/i] hybrid cars - they're eyesores but they get great mileage and they're less harmful to the environment. So, chances are, if you have the money or the desire to reduce your environmental impact, you don't care too much about how it looks.[/color]

[color="#0000ff"]There are definitely some government sponsored "green" energy programs around here but the fact remains that solar has an extremely high up front cost with very little short term gain. I think it will eventually take off but the technology needs to be refined significantly so solar panels can be used as a source of energy instead of a supplement.[/color]

[quote name='IIISTARSCREAMERIII' timestamp='1323811429' post='710562'] [font="Comic Sans MS"][size="5"][color="#9932CC"]Sorry I put my topic in the wrong place that is such a noob thing to do -_-;;; what kind of candy was in that String Thing? was it like gummy or something? [/color][/size][/font] [/quote] [color="#0000ff"]No problem. You're new and you'll catch on quickly I'm sure ^_^[/color] [color="#0000ff"]It was sort of a gummy candy - sort of the same as Fruit Rollups but less sticky. Here's an original commercial for it:[/color] [color="#0000ff"][youtube]YTWgH9m306c[/youtube][/color]

[color="#0000ff"]I moved this thread over to The Lounge because it makes a little more sense over here.[/color] [color="#0000ff"]As for the actual topic though, I have one, though it's really a snack and not so much a "food" - String Thing! And I mean before they started getting lazy and making half of it flat candy instead of filing the entire piece of cardboard with a big, continuous string of candy. These things were awesome and I really wish they'd bring them back.[/color]

[color="#0000ff"]Hello, Kisaki, and welcome to OB![/color]

[color="#0000ff"]Hello and welcome to OB! This kind of thread really belongs in Anime Central but since there's already a few threads of this nature over there, I'd like to just point you there instead and have you jump into an existing topic! Feel free to let me know if you have any questions![/color] [b][color="#0000ff"]Thread closed.[/color][/b]

[size="2"][color="#0000ff"]Hmm... I think you're actually right. While bits and pieces of music do come to me from the most recent games, nothing stands out the way it did in the older ones, Ocarina of Time and Wind Waker specifically. Gerudo Valley and Dragon Roost Island are still some of my favorite Zelda (and video game as a whole) music to this day.[/color] [color="#0000ff"]There is a little bias with some of the older stuff simply because it's been around for a lot longer though. And with Ocarina of Time in particular, I'll assume you've played through it at least a couple of times so it has that working for it too. I can't say much for Twilight Princess since we're not currently playing it but I think it's fair to hold off judgement on Skyward Sword until the end when the music has had a chance to sink in a bit more.[/color][/size] [size="2"][color="#0000ff"][/color][/size] [size="2"][color="#0000ff"][b]Edit:[/b][/color][/size] [color="#0000ff"][size="2"]On second thought, I forgot about one piece from Twilight Princess that seems to pop into my head somewhat frequently - the [/size][/color][color="#0000FF"][size="2"]Gerudo Desert theme. When I first saw the word [/size][/color][color="#0000FF"][size="2"]Gerudo, I was hoping for some version of [/size][/color][color="#0000FF"][size="2"]Gerudo Valley's theme and was, at first, disappointed when it wasn't. However, I soon came to actually really like the [/size][/color][color="#0000ff"][size="2"]Gerudo Dessert music and while I may not remember much other music from Twilight Princess, this one [/size]definitely[size="2"] sticks out for me.[/size][/color]

[quote name='James' timestamp='1323232610' post='710520'][font="palatino linotype"]It makes me want to see the live symphony performances.[/font][/quote] [color="#0000ff"]Well they are supposedly touring. I know the launch concert was in California but they had a Dallas date posted not long after so this could be a possibility. I know I'd be there in an instant if they came anywhere near here.[/color]

[color="#0000ff"]Just looked it up on YouTube to be sure I remembered it correctly. It really is an incredible piece. Here it is, for those interested: [youtube]cCpAFkdy9Ls[/youtube][/color]

[quote name='James' timestamp='1323144220' post='710509'][font="palatino linotype"]On a totally unrelated note, I downloaded some of the ripped soundtrack from Skyward Sword yesterday because there was a particular track I wanted to get. This is pretty much unheard of for me - I don't tend to listen to video game music outside the game. But I'm starting to think that Skyward Sword has one of the best soundtracks I've ever heard in a video game. The fact that it's a complete orchestral soundtrack no doubt helps a lot, too. The more I listen, the more impressed I am. It's amazing how these newer, fully-orchestral soundtracks are shining an even bigger light on Koji Kondo's talent as a composer.[/font] [/quote] [color="#0000ff"]Out of curiousity, which track was it you wanted specifically? I have always enjoyed the Zelda soundtracks but I agree that having a real orchestra behind it really makes for some incredible music.[/color]

[color="#0000ff"]I've been looking into the bot issue. I think part of the problem is that we're running outdated software right now. There is a discussion in place about upgrading but we're working out some issues with skins not being compatible with the new version. As far as stopping the bots goes though, the software is currently set up to do everything it can (there's a reCAPTCHA form as well as a question/answer pair). Unfortunately, short of disabling registrations, there's not much we can do besides delete and ban as they come up for now.[/color] [color="#0000ff"]Also, I had entirely forgotten about adding some new skins. Sorry about that! At this point, I think it would be best to wait until after the upgrade but I'll definitely keep it on the list and try to get a few simple color swaps out soon after.[/color]

[quote name='Desbreko' timestamp='1322554205' post='710400'][color="#4B0082"] By the way, another good use for skyward strikes is cutting large amounts of grass at once. A horizontal one really mows it down.[/color] [/quote] [color="#0000ff"]I have, of course, used it in combat as well but I think this has been my primary use of the skyward strike so far, haha.[/color]