Charles

[quote name='Shy' timestamp='1299913811' post='705628'] I'm LOSTHISKEYSMAN on Live. We should play sometime, or go steady or whatever.... This is a solid entry for the series. The new controls threw me for a loop, but I finally warmed up to them. X-23 is my favorite of the new characters, although as a whole the characters included in this game leave me scratching my head a bit. Hopeflly more DLC characters will be announced, and soon. Having so many Darkstalkers characters is downright dumb. I don't think there has been a new Darkstalkers game for a decade, yet somehow Mega Man and Cyclops are MIA. WHY NO AMINGO?! WHYEEE?!! -Shy [/quote] I'm My Fun Box. I haven't been online much lately, but I'll be sure to add you. I'm not very good though. lol In a display of hopelessness, I contributed to the DLC problem and bought the extra characters. I actually enjoy playing as Jill quite a bit. She seems to be the perfect balance of speed and strength between Chris and Wesker. Now I just hope that they release Phoenix Wright as DLC. I'd buy 'em at a high price. I would be so hyped to hear him yell "objection!" when he tags in. Or "take that!" when he performs a signature attack.

I just received Crysis 2 in the mail from Gamefly and boy are you right about the graphics; from a visual standpoint Crysis 2 is easily the best-looking console first person shooter I've played (I'm not a fan of Killzone 2's muddy visuals). The lighting effects in particular impress. The way light bleeds through open windows and doorways is quite attractive. I am literally only about fifteen minutes into the single player campaign, but my primary criticism at this marginal point is that sometimes I feel that I am suffering from a bit of visual overload. Everything looks a little "busy." Sometimes I find it difficult to identify the enemies. I suppose the HUD is supposed to alleviate that problem, but I am going to have to adapt. Additionally, I find the enemies to be rather bland and generic. I know that narrative shifts later on and allows for some more creativity with enemy designs; I just hope the shift occurs sooner rather than later. Otherwise, my 3DS arrived from Amazon today, along with my copy of Pilotwings. I should also be receiving a copy of Ridge Racer later in the week. So far it's a nice little system that feels a bit heavier and sturdier than I expected. The glossy finish is quite alluring too. I found myself enjoying Face Raiders and the AR Games for a lengthy period before I even popped in Pilotwings. Although neither diversion really stands alone as a fully-featured game, they are both cool tech demos. In Face Raiders, you take a picture of a face and, which then morphs into an enemy. Afterward, you spin around the room with the DS shooting the faces as they attack you. The whole experience is very surreal, but enjoyable. I can imagine people taking pictures of other body parts though, which could be very disturbing.... I have only played one of the AR games, but it was neat doing battle with a dragon that had popped out of my kitchen counter. Pilotwings is a little bland, but I'm having fun with it in short bursts. The 3D is used subtly, but it is very effective. Screens do not do the game justice. The way the sun glints off the water and wind streams off the plane's wings is very eye-catching. There aren't a lot of effects that "pop" off the screen, but the sense of depth is commendable. As I play the game, I feel as if I am staring through a window. Now I'm just anxious for what's to come. :D

This game just works. Marvel vs. Capcom 2 was good, dumb fun. However, I found myself using only a very small segment of the roster. There were just too many throwaway characters (Boneclaw Wolverine, for example), or lame fluff fighters. While I am no fighting game aficionado, I appreciate how the developers have at least provided [i]some[/i] parity in their modernized attempt. I also appreciate the attempt made to include relevant/interesting backdrops to fight in front of. The levels in MvC2 were far too bland. On the downside, I won't be able to resist letting Capcom gouge me on DLC if they put up characters like Venom or Gambit....

I just figured that now would be an opportune time to pop in to this very thread to say that I, the ambassador of cats, joined here 2001ish. Hello to anyone who rememberz me. :D

[quote name='silpheedpilot'][SIZE="1"][COLOR="SlateGray"]Yep. I call and text and mess around on my phone when I drive. Who cares? If I get into a wreck, I get into a wreck. I'll deal with it when it happens but so far I've stayed on the road and paid enough attention.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/QUOTE] A sardonic reply--one I would hope is meant only to be satire. As Kenso pointed out, it's important not to view the situation too one-sidedly. A car wreck also involves another party. It's unfair to risk other peoples' lives for the sake of carelessness. Children could be involved. Furthermore, as a driver, I have learned to drive defensively. Never underestimate the stupidity of other people. I have had to avoid people running out into the street, crossing when they were not supposed to. People, without looking, slowly pull out of parking lots while traffic is coming at them full speed. If you're not watching carefully, you could easily take a life. Even if it is not your fault, I still can't imagine that being an easy experience to deal with. People tend to neglect the weight of responsibility that accompanies driving. I have seen people fixing their hair, eating meals, texting, driving drunk--and they probably have an "I'll deal with it when it happens" attitude. However, when "dealing with it" involves paralysis, or the death of one or more people, those individuals will probably find that "dealing with it" will be harder than they bargained for. If one must communicate via phone while driving, a hands-free device is probably the way to go. Either that or just pull over.

Thanks for the feedback. I've decided to update this thead with another draft, if anyone is interested. It retains some elements from the original, but there are significant changes. Nearly every day for the past six months, a guy named James Pullman had waged all kinds of war on me. He was known as Jimmy, ?The Rock Star.? Back then, almost everyone was in a band, but Jimmy?s band was the band. ?The Pullman Porters?--that?s what they were called. I have to admit, they were crazy good. They played at every school function and an entire assembly had even been dedicated to one of their concerts. Jimmy was even going out with the hottest girl in school, Rebecca Connelly. Everyone wanted to be like Jimmy, unless, of course, they had been targeted by him. Tall, thick and imposing, Jimmy was naturally suited for conflict and intimidation. In my case, there was no clear motive or reason for the harassment. I did not fulfill the criteria of a typical bully victim. I was not tall, but I was not short for my age either. I did not wear thick glasses, dress outlandishly, or speak with a lisp. My grades were neither exceptional nor poor. I even had friends--not a lot of friends, but enough. There was no doubt about it, I was endowed with normalcy almost to a fault. And then, it occurred to me one day that I must pummel James Pullman. I was in the school cafeteria . I had just finished stuffing my face with a slice of greasy pepperoni pizza when I decided to share with my best friend, the violent designs that had formed in my mind so suddenly. ?Caroline,? I said, ?I'm going to punch Jimmy today. Right in the mouth, I think.? She stared at me and said nothing. An uncomfortable silence followed. Her eyes were as black as her hair; when they caught light in the right way, they resembled the kind of clear, twinkling night that makes for the best kind of post card. Of course, I was madly in love with her. ?What did you just say,? she asked as if I had just openly farted on a first date. It was a question, but she wasn?t asking. Mom used the same tone with me when she was angry. I looked around anywhere in an attempt to avoid her eyes, now. Normally, I would have succumbed to my own insecurity, but for some reason, in the cafeteria, it was always easy for me to bear my thoughts. The sticky floors, the sloppy student-made posters adorning the walls--perhaps it was the substandard nature of these surroundings that made me feel so comfortable. The insubstantial décor didn?t compete with me for grandeur. It was as if I had never left home. I escaped my thoughts and grasped for something to say. ?Y-yes,? I managed to stammer. ?Yes? How does that answer my question? Hello? Earth to Brian,? she said, ?Is anyone home?? She playfully knocked on my head. ?R-right,? I said, ?Sorry 'bout that. I'm going to fight him. Jimmy. I have to do it.? Caroline could not restrain her laughter. ?Don?t be dumb,? she said, ?You?ll get suspended.? ?I don?t care,? I said all bad-like, ?I can?t just sit here and take his crap forever. You know that.? My continued string of defiance seemed to ennoble me. I raised my convictions like a shield and prepared for the worst. Now, I anticipated the argument. I wanted to see what kind of verbal spar she would throw my way next. Instead, I was disappointed. She rolled her eyes and whatever she was about to say was interrupted by the shrill ring of the bell. ?Listen, I have to get to math,? she said, ?Meyers? quiz is going to kill me on Friday. We?ll talk about this later you lunatic.? Caroline?s eyes scanned my face with affection, but her features was stone-smooth. She lifted herself from the edge of her chair and eased her backpack onto her shoulders. Her legs were long, as if they belonged to some insect. Glancing heavily upon the room, with the monotony that precedes a great task, she ran her finger on the brim of my baseball cap, which hung, head down, like an omen on the top of my chair. ?Remember,? she said, ?Anger dwells in the bosom of fools--Albert Einstein.? ?Yeah, yeah,? I said. She grinned and then she was gone. Caroline always had to disappear while wrapped in wise words. Suddenly, for some reason, I felt a profound sense of loneliness. For the rest of the day my nerves chipped away at my determination like a pickaxe. I had never been in a fight before. I couldn?t stop thinking about what Caroline said. It wasn?t the remarks themselves, but the offhand, distant tone in which she said them that dug deep, intensifying my misery. The brief conversation had brought with it a revolving door of doubts for sure but it was my appetite for revenge that beckoned to her the loudest in a voice that was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. It spoke directly into my mind, in a fevered pitch, demanding the attention it so rightfully deserved. In English class, my teacher talked about mood and tone. I thought about the time when Jimmy gave me a flat-tire in the hallway. I tripped and fell down face-first. Quickly, as if they could smell my humiliation, everyone was looking at me with one single, probing eye. They were laughing, their mouths opened so wide I couldn?t tell them apart. I just saw mouths everywhere shouting laughter at me. People still talked about that. Mood: Sick. Tone: Bitter. Spanish class was much of the same. While everyone else was conjugating verbs, I could still feel Jimmy?s spitballs pelting me in the back of the neck during last year?s ant-bullying assembly. Caroline saw me get up and leave. I whispered to her that I had to use the bathroom, but I think she could see the tears in my eyes because she looked like she felt sorry for me. I felt sick then too. Those memories pushed aside my lunchroom conversation with Caroline. A passionate, deep feeling had overtaken me. It was a matter of agency. I defined myself by what I did--or in this case--didn?t do. The laughing, the ridicule, feelings I never knew mingled together, swelled up inside me, grabbed me by the wrists and told me to be a man. The feeling seemed all the more sensual and real because it was filled with a sense of urgency. For the most part, I sleepwalked through the drudgery of gym class. The offensive outbursts of students playing dodgeball, however, rang in my head like a social commentary. I watched as passive kids--shy kids were pelted unmercifully. They shuffled off the court, not disappointed, but relieved to be free from scrutiny and humiliation. I awoke to the shouting of the last bell. The time was 2:35 pm and I could feel it in my bones like old people feel bad weather--today would be the day. I rolled off my gym shorts and pulled my casual clothes from the cold jaws of my locker. I held my shirt in my hand and stroked the fabric as if it were a cat. I stared at my sneakers as if they belonged to a stranger. I trudged into the halls and stalked in the general direction of Jimmy?s locker. Caroline met me halfway, as if she had been waiting in ambush. However, I would not hear her pleas for rationality. I brushed her aside and ignored her. Persistent, as always, she tugged at my sleeve and urged me to walk her home. And then I saw him. He was at his locker, collecting his books. I sucked my teeth and yelled, ?Hey Rock Star!? He jerked his head toward me. When he saw me, he screwed up his mouth and glared. ?Whad?you want,? he said. I took a deep breath and filled my lungs with the hot, fetid hallway air. Next thing I knew, my fist was screaming from the impact as it smashed against the face of my tormenter. I fell into him clumsily and our bodies lurched toward one another. It was happening and I could hardly believe it. The concoction of fear and excitement was so potent that it formed a lump in my throat that I could hardly swallow. Immediately, everyone stopped what they were doing. A crowd formed around us. People had been lured by the powerful pull of the disaster. They smacked their lips as the loud thud of flesh under attack snapped them from their daily routines. Books fell to the floor, like casualties of war. We were the pulse in the center of it all. Everything sounded like it was underwater. Jimmy?s face told a lot of stories at that moment. His mouth formed an ?O? of surprise. A red blotch of pain spread across his face like a bad spill. I felt a perverted sense of satisfaction, knowing that I was responsible for the blemish. I had become a marionette for the masses. They wanted more--they craved the realest kind of disaster--human disaster--and my fists wanted nothing more than to please them. I felt alive. Better than alive. I was living in technicolor. Oh yeah, Jimmy was a big bruiser all right, but catching him off guard worked to my advantage. He was big, but he was slow. Be it from fear or surprise, he was breathing heavily. Sucking in more air than he could use. It was all like a dream. I was almost a spectator watching myself as my fists became birds of pray that rode a wind of excitement and fed upon my enemy?s pain. Jimmy wasn?t looking like a winner anymore. He was hunched over, not even trying to fight back anymore. Just covered himself up as I wailed on him in a frenzy. My peers danced to the beat. Only problem was--that was as good as it was going to get for me. I had seen it all in my head a million times and somehow the reality of it all did not match what I expected. It was like a stranger I thought he knew. Someone I had aspired to be only until I got to know the real person--and suddenly, I was disappointed. Jimmy began to cry. Not so tough, after all, I thought. Come to think of it, he had never physically struck me. Maybe he was all smoke and mirrors. After all, he had publicly humiliated me on a daily basis. Like most people, I had always wanted to avoid confrontation, so his threats were all he ever needed to impose his will on me. Mind games. Jimmy?s bottom lip began to quiver, his tears began to betray his reputation. People were practically climbing over themselves to see a legend fall. Jimmy ?The Rockstar? reduced to a sniveling mess. I struck him again without hesitation and this time, it really hurt. The roar of the crowd rose. Jimmy leaned against me. My support was the only barrier stopping him from fully crumpling onto the dusty floor. I looked over at the crowd and smiled easily. At that moment, I saw Caroline?s face buried in her hands. She looked up at me unblinking, barely breathing. She gazed at me pitifully, her one eye invisible through her unkempt hair. Caroline looked smaller than she ever had. She brought me a moment of clairvoyance in the pain and madness. Time and space suddenly slowed to a near-halt, almost as if reality was catching up with itself. It should have been my crowning moment but my soul was having an epiphany that my mind could not quite comprehend. It was like trying to follow instructions in both Chinese and Latin, all at once. But, somehow, the tone was all I needed to get the message. A ball of sickness manifested itself inside my stomach. A ball tighter than any fist I made on that day. I stood above my defeated foe, my powerful arms still pulsing with adrenaline. My defeated combatant finally sank to the ground. With his submission solidified, I gazed upon the hot faces of my classmates. They screamed for yet more violence; they pumped their fists in the air, demanding more to talk about. I knew that as the months passed my name would fade again, I would become a transitory breath during some lunchroom conversation until people found something new to talk about. I watched as Jimmy blew bloody bubbles out of his nose. His face became lost in wrinkles as he the floodgate collapsed. He wailed with shame and fear. I looked for Caroline again, but she was gone. I cleared my throat, wiped my sinewy lips on the sleeve of my shirt, and tried to call after her but it was no good. My seventh period chemistry teacher placed a hand on my shoulder, looked at me gravely and said, ?Come on, let?s go kiddo.? It was a moment I should have enjoyed but I just couldn?t . It was milk too sour to be mixed with honey. Sad irony towered above me. I made an observation. I actually felt strangely flattered that without provocation, Jimmy ?The Rockstar? had noticed some distinguishing quality about me that was motivation enough for him to give me special attention. I realized then that I was a vain, selfish creature--and that, perhaps, is what made the reality of my circumstance so hard to bear.

First short story I've done in a while. There might be some errors in there because I keep redoing it to change narrative perspective. I drew in steady, rhythmic breaths. My chin began to descend to my chest; as the two drew closer together my entire body began to tremble as it succumbed to pain and exhaustion. At last I collapsed with a sigh, too tired to continue. I could now do fifty-two sit-ups--exactly five more than I could do at approximately the same time last week. That’s forty more than I could do when I first started training. I was a beast. “Almost there, I said to myself, “Almost there.” A burning sensation scorched up and down my torso, leaving me feeling heavy and sore. Lost in the excitement of the moment, I neglected to wipe the beads of sweat that had collected on my brow. Instead, I awkwardly rushed over to my official training log, hampered by fatigue. My hand shook as I scribbled in my results. Not to blow my own whistle, but the day has been a productive one. Yep, aside from my sit-up milestone, I had jogged five laps around my block (the largest in my neighborhood). I even enjoyed moderate success at jumping rope for fifteen minutes, an exercise I usually failed miserably at. The taste of progress was a sweet nectar that made me drunk with ambition. It is still a feeling that is hard for me to convey properly--it was just awesome. It was like, for the first time, I had become the artist of my own destiny and I was able to paint everything I saw with a varnish that made even the most depressing features of my life look slightly better than they had previously. The dull, dusty complexion of my room no longer depressed me. Even the posters adorning my walls of various rock bands (whose names that I can’t even remember) that I had adopted in an attempt to reach out for some faux attempt at normalcy, no longer screamed with hypocrisy. At a time when kids constantly question who they are--measure themselves up against their peers just to find some self worth-- I was becoming square with myself. It meant a lot. Outside my window the night had reduced the world to mere shapes. But, my reflection appeared clear in the middle of it all and for the first time, I liked what I saw. I was sweating, but was not a cold sweat. Satisfied with myself, I could finally sleep. Nearly every day for the past six months, a guy named James Pullman had waged all kinds of war on me. He was known as Jimmy, “The Rock Star.” Back then, almost everyone was in a band, but Jimmy’s band was the band. “The Pullman Porters“--that’s what they were called. I have to admit, they were crazy good. They played at every school function and an entire assembly had even been dedicated to one of their concerts. Jimmy was even going out with the hottest girl in school, Rebecca Connelly. Everyone wanted to be like Jimmy, unless, of course, they had been targeted by him. Tall, thick and imposing, Jimmy was naturally suited for conflict and intimidation. In my case, there was no clear motive or reason for the harassment. I did not fulfill the criteria of a typical bully victim. I was not tall, but I was not sure for my age either. I did not wear thick glasses, dress outlandishly, or speak with a lisp. My grades were neither exceptional nor poor. I even had friends--not a lot of friends, but enough. There was no doubt about it, I was endowed with normalcy almost to a fault. I awoke to the shouting of my alarm clock. Time was 7 am and I could feel it in my bones like old people feel bad weather--it was the day. I rolled out of bed and pulled out what I considered to be my best casual clothes. They were slightly worn from wash, but they were serviceable. I held my shirt in my hand and stroked the fabric as if it were a cat. I stared at my sneakers as if they belonged to a stranger. I trudged downstairs and ate alone. Mom had left for work at 5am. She worked two jobs at the time. I sat alone on the school bus. I leaned back and my nerves chipped away at my determination like a pickaxe. I had never been in a fight before. Everywhere was music, so I listened to that instead of my own conscience. The offbeat chatter of other students. The rough grind of the bus engine, struggling in its old age to pull its load. Finally, the school loomed over me like a monolith and I would not be deterred from my mission. In fact, the first thing I did when I got to school was make a line straight for Jimmy. I wanted to ride a wave of adrenaline. Didn’t want to give my mind a chance to rationalize things. Didn’t want to chicken out. Next thing I knew, my fist was screaming from the impact as it smashed against the face of my tormenter. I fell into him clumsily and our bodies lurched toward one another. It was happening and I could hardly believe it. The concoction of fear and excitement was so potent that it formed a lump in my throat that I could hardly swallow. It all happened so fast. Everyone stopped what they are doing. People pretend that they don’t like violence--peace on Earth and all that crap. But, the loud thud of flesh under attack will always take top priority and snap people from their programmed routines. Books fell to the floor, like casualties of war. Yep, nothing like a good ol’ fight to bring people together. Friends, strangers--they all swell around the combatants like one big ball of energy. We were like the pulse in the center of it all. Jimmy’s face told a lot of stories at that moment. His mouth formed an “O” of surprise. I noticed anger in his‘ eyes. Crimson pain spread across his face like a bad spill. It was the last part that made everyone, myself included, feel a perverted sense of satisfaction, of all things. Suddenly, I had become a marionette for the masses. They wanted more--they craved the realest kind of disaster--human disaster--and my fists wanted nothing more than to sate their collective appetite. I felt alive. Better than alive. I was living in technicolor. Oh yeah, Jimmy was a big bruiser, but he was done for. He was big, but he was slow. Be it from stress or surprise, he was breathing heavily. Sucking in more air than he could use. It was all like a dream. I was almost a spectator watching myself as my fists became birds of pray that rode a wind of excitement and fed upon my enemy’s pain. Jimmy wasn’t looking like a winner anymore. He was hunched over, not even trying to fight back anymore. Just covered himself up as I wailed on him in a frenzy. My peers danced to the beat. Only problem was--that was as good as it was going to get for me. I had seen it all in my head a million times and somehow the reality of it all did not match what I expected. It was like a stranger I thought he knew. Someone I had aspired to be only until I got to know the real person--and suddenly, I was disappointed. Jimmy is began to cry. Not so tough, after all. Come to think of it, he had never physically struck me. Maybe he was all smoke and mirrors. After all, he had publicly humiliated me on a daily basis. Like most people, I had always wanted to avoid confrontation, so his threats were all he ever needed to impose his will on me. Mind games. Jimmy’s bottom lip began to quiver, his tears began to betray his reputation. People were practically climbing over themselves to see a legend fall. Jimmy “The Rockstar” reduced to a sniveling mess. I strick him again without hesitation and this time, it really hurt. The roar of the crowd rose. Jimmy leaned against me. My support was the only barrier stopping him from fully crumpling onto the battlefield. I looked over at the crowd and smiled easily. At that moment, I saw Rebecca’s face buried in her hands. She looked up at me with disgust and I felt a moment of clairvoyance in the pain and madness. Time and space suddenly slowed to a near-halt, almost as if reality was catching up with itself. It should have been my crowning moment but my soul was having an epiphany that my mind could not quite grasp. It was like trying to follow instructions in both Chinese and Latin, all at once. But, somehow, the tone was all I needed. A ball of sickness manifested itself inside my stomach. A ball tighter than any fist I had on that day. I stood above my defeated foe, my powerful arms still pulsed with adrenaline. My defeated combatant finally sank to the ground. With that, I gazed upon the hot faces of my classmates. They screamed for yet more violence; they pumped their fists in the air, demanding more to talk about. I knew that as the months passed my name would fade again, I would become a transitory breath during some lunchroom conversation until people found something new to talk about. I watched as Jimmy blew bloody bubbles out of his nose, his face became lost in wrinkles as he the floodgate collapsed. He wailed with shame and fear. Rebecca ran to him. She was crying too. And still, I felt no remorse as my seventh period chemistry teacher placed a hand on my shoulder, looked at me gravely and said, “Come on, let’s go kiddo.” It was a moment I should have enjoyed but I just couldn‘t . It was milk too sour to be mixed with honey. The sad irony of the moment towered above me. I suddenly felt strangely flattered that someone had noticed me at all. Without provocation, someone noticed some distinguishing quality about me that was motivation enough to earn me special attention. Without an enemy to motivate me to revenge, how would I have faced the days as they folded into one another--every one the same as the last? I realized then, that I was a vain, selfish creature--and that, perhaps, is what made the reality of my circumstance so hard to bear.

One interesting thing I've noticed: It seems that you can no longer have your team split up and explore the dungeons/fight on their own (unless I've not unlocked that ability yet). However, so far, at about nine hours in, I can say that the game seems to be at least on par with Persona 3 in terms of plot. I constantly want to see what is going to happen next. The main improvement lies in how streamlined everything is. In order to improve various player attributes (understanding, diligence) you can simply get part-time jobs and perform them from your desk at home. Also, navigating the world is a breeze because you can simply press the square button to bring up every location in a menu and teleport there.

Persona 3 is probably my favorite RPG ever (thanks Tony). So, of course, I've picked up Persona 4. Some early observations: [B]+[/B] Your characters no longer become tired while exploring dungeons. [B]+[/B] The social link system is improved; your friends will develop new skills based on the bonds you form with them (i.e., they will take a mortal blow for you). [B]+[/B] Controlling your teammates in battle leads to a much more enjoyable experience [B]+[/B] Much better dungeon variety (there is more than one) [B]+[/B] The characters and story are engrossing [B]-[/B] Too much exposition at the start of the game (You won't really touch the controller much for the first hour or so). [B]-[/B] The game needs more exit/save points in the dungeons.

How far back does the cat meme go on 4chan? I have never visited that site and I started cAttitude on OB back in 2001... At any rate, a gift to you all--my source for cat pics. [url]http://www.acc.umu.se/~zqad/cats/index.html?flow=no&large=no[/url] I do miss my cat pic thread on Group Sounds too. :(

Just a quick response to the question of "why would they do that" in regards to a Wii version of Final Fantasy XIII. Money. The Wii has the largest worldwide install base of the three consoles, generally trounces them in monthly sales, and could potentially yield the most profit. Of course, the game would not be a direct port and it would have to be scaled back, but from a gameplay perspective, it would be entirely possible. If Capcom can port Dead Rising to the Wii, then I am sure that Square Enix could port Final Fantasy XIII.

[quote name='Korey'][FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"] I dunno about Microsoft getting the FFXIII stuff is necessarily a good thing.[/FONT][/QUOTE] See, I do not understand that perception. I have watched the "meltdown" over the Internet and I just cannot fathom why people would find this news in the negative unless they are Sony shareholders or already own an Xbox 360 and purchased a PS3 just for Final Fantasy XIII. Fans of Final Fantasy should be glad that more gamers have the opportunity to play the game. Judging by the quality of Devil May Cry and GTA IV on both systems, I highly doubt that FF XIII will have to be scaled back in any crippling way to work on both systems. Now, if Square is really smart, they will somehow make a Wii version of the game.

Glad this thread was re-opened, seeing as how it was announced before the press conferences--and it's just huge news with a lot of possiblity for discussion in general. This is something we will talk about long after E3 is over. I mean, Nintendo completely revamps how games are controlled again and it doesn't deserve its own thread? Jeez. Having watched the new Wii Sports video (I so called it), I am excited at what's in place, but I hope that we see some of the older games make an appereanced with the new, refined controls.

When I get the time, I would still really like to do the event I suggested in this thread, such a long time ago. However, I have something a bit easier to work with for the time being. When I think of events, I like to think of something meaninful, accessible, and different. With that in mind, I suggest an OtakuBoards "Time Capsule." Now, I have not been very active for a while, so forgive me if this has been suggested elsewhere--but if not, here's how it will work: We can create a thread where members will start by telling us about themselves (i.e., their interests, goals, feelings, where they want to be in a year from now, two years, links to current events, etc). Additionally, members can contribute anything--it's a really open idea. Poetry, pictures, shout-outs to friends--it's really up to the userbase to decide what they want to put into the capsule. When the event closes, the thread can be moved to a staff forum or somewhere where users cannot view it and in a year or two we will move it back to the event forum where everyone can see it. With how much people constantly look up old threads and talk about the old days, I think this theme would be appealing. Again, apologies if this has already been suggested! I am a little out of the loop.

[QUOTE]Nintendo's upcoming Wii MotionPlus accessory for the revolutionary Wii Remote controller again redefines game control, by more quickly and accurately reflecting motions in a 3-D space. The Wii MotionPlus accessory attaches to the end of the Wii Remote and, combined with the accelerometer and the sensor bar, allows for more comprehensive tracking of a player?s arm position and orientation, providing players with an unmatched level of precision and immersion. Every slight movement players make with their wrist or arm is rendered identically in real time on the screen, providing a true 1:1 response in their game play. The Wii MotionPlus accessory reconfirms Nintendo?s commitment to making games intuitive and accessible for everyone. Nintendo will reveal more details about the Wii MotionPlus accessory and other topics Tuesday morning at its E3 media briefing.[/QUOTE] I have not had the time to follow the rumors on Microsoft's "Newton" motion-based controller, but it appears as if Nintendo is already stealing the thunder away from the competition before they have a chance to strike. I am excited about the possibility of something closer to 1:1 control on the Wii; the potential for awesome sword fights or sports games is exciting. I hope that Nintendo announces Wii Sports 2 and bundles an attachment or two in with the game.

[quote name='MistressRoxie'][color=#9933ff] And I definitely, definitely miss Charles. Both on OB and outside of it. But we've got a long history together and life happens. [/color][/QUOTE] Heh, sorry Roxie. I miss OtakuBoards and my friends on here in general, but I have just been very busy lately. Back in January my student teaching was pushed back because of a missing class just days before I was set to begin. Since then I have been working two jobs so that I can afford it in about a month. Between fifteen hour work days and making time for my girlfriend, time has been kind of limited for me. I am doing well though and miss you too!

For those interested, there is a flash demo of the game available at the following link: [url]http://www.ace-attorney.com/aj/[/url] Having completed the game, I can say that it is equally as good as the others (I do not have a clear favorite). The storyline, like usual, was extremely engaging. Although the cast is largely populated by new characters, the central mystery of discovering why Phoenix Wright lost his attorney's badge kept me captivated. Due to the nature of the storyline, the new characters were not really as well-developed as the old characters, but I found that tying up the last protagonist's plot was vital. I look forward to seeing how the new cast is developed in future iterations. The ending of Apollo Justice builds up to fleshing out the new characters, nicely. It should also be noted that the first case in Apollo Justice is the best first case of the entire series. The last case, as usual, is quite epic. Like Phoenix Wright 3, the last case ties together the entire game quite nicely. I felt a bit disappointed by the implementation of the touch screen features. The touch screen segments were not bad, but they were used rather sparingly. I hope that in the next game, we see the touch screen mini games fleshed out. The Perceive system was a lame substitute for the Psych-Lock system. I thought that the Perceive system ruined the game's pacing and often required the player to scrutinze minor details and rely too much on guess work. It was more annoying than fun. Overall though, the translation was really good and the storyline was awesome. Like usual, I loved the music. By the way, to the original poster--do you post on NeoGaf? I notice that you have the same avatar as someone on there.

We both have work and/or school on Valentine's Day so it's going to be tricky. Personally, I'm not a fan of the "holiday" because I don't believe that we need a holiday to provoke us to show affection. I will still participate happily though, as I probably don't have much of a choice. lol :animeknow

[quote name='songsofsorrow']for a second there i thought you had an odd taste in older women, unless it's true them i'm sorry.[/QUOTE] I'm thinking the same thing. DeathKnight is a sly dog. He picks the old ones, inherits their properties and slowly builds his fortune when they expire. DeathKnight, you a freak! How can I subscribe to your newsletter?

[quote name='Kam']Over a year has past since that time, and I've only just now realized what a terrible thing I did. Reid has always loved me with her whole heart.[/QUOTE] Distancing was not a terrible move--it was the right move. Putting yourself in the middle of other peoples' relationship is messy business--especially when you have romantic feelings for one of them. In many cases, by trying to intervene, you may end up driving the person you care for even further away. I think that on a certain level she had to take responsibility for herself and decide to stop putting up with his guy's nonsense. She consciously decided to continuously return to him and you couldn't deal with it, so you backed off and let her live her own life, learn her own lessons. That's good. It's one thing to exalt her for her compassionate nature. However, on some level, she must love herself enough not to become involved with guys who are going to treat her like crap. That lesson of inner-strength is something that she has to develop through these formative experiences. If you stayed around and supported her emotionally, then she would probably have remained with the guy. Think about it: She would have fulfilled her emotional needs with you, only to go back to him for the physical portion. In the end, the dysfunctional nature of her actual relationship would not have been as apparent because all of her needs would have been met. That's a mistake that a lot of guys make.

[quote name='Premonition'][COLOR="77656"]Holly bull-fircken crap, but they'll probably end up being for the next-gen consoles. But ****, maybe this franchise should also stay in last-gen because the graphics aren't exactely piece de la resistance, and it could keep people like me, happy until I get Rock Band and a 360. Rumor has it they're will be one for the mobile phones too?[/COLOR][/QUOTE] Not sure. It's in the new EGM. Supposedly there's going to be the obvious Guitar Hero 4, along with Guitar Hero: Aerosmith. The other two have not yet been disclosed. Leave it to Activision to run a franchise into the ground.

[quote name='JimitheGreat11'][SIZE="2"][COLOR="Navy"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Oh wow, I don't know how I missed a Guitar Hero thread. I absolutely loooove the Guitar Hero franchise, I can't get enough of it. [/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/QUOTE] You'll be happy this year then. Rumor has it that there are going to be four new Guitar Hero games in 2008 alone. **** that franchise.

[quote name='Desbreko'][color=#4B0082]I can see where you're coming from about the cartoon image, Charles, but it seems to me like there's not much point in removing the full image of him if we leave his face displayed in the cartoon. Since the face is by far the most important feature in a picture of someone.[/color][/QUOTE] Well, here's where I'm coming from with this. The image of Rick Hunter that I removed was a fairly large, color image with a sarcastic subtitle. In the image, I think you could clearly make out Kevin's location if you are familiar with New York City based on the wide shot of the background shown. Of course, I know that no one is going to track down and stalk Kevin based on that picture in our article, but out of courtesy and the respect for his privacy, I removed the image. The picture at the bottom of the article, however, is far smaller, less prominant, in black and white, and the tone there is far less insulting. The use of the cartoon image is much more playful and falls more to the side of harmless satire. Also, I doubt that someone could effectively use the image to steal Kevin's identity in any way due to its poor quality. As I said, I'm still considering the removal of the image--going back and forth with it. If you think it's a good idea to remove it, I'll go ahead and do it. Edit: Okay, I've thought about it and I have just decided to go ahead and remove the image. In the end, I liked the image and didn't think it was worth the probable argument that would have kept going. I don't really have the time or energy for that thing right now, so I figured that instead of fighting over something so minor, I may as well just remove it.