Charles

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Semjaza Azazel [/i] [B]Well I don't think it's terribly hard... but I certainly don't want to do that damn helicopter all over again heh. [/B][/QUOTE] Ha, I wonder if you've completed level two yet then. :toothy: Well, everyone, I'm also playing on "Adult" mode. And I'm glad. It's a very nice challenge. One of my friends tried "Kids" difficulty or whatever it's called, and not only is Joe's health bar more than twice the size--his viewtiful meter depletes at a much slower pace. I can't awaken heroness like that. Overall, I can't find much to complain about other than Charles the Third being almost completely incoherent and fighting too many repeating mid-bosses. At first, I was frustrated in the second level and wished that the option to save presented itself more frequently, but at this point I've decided I like it just how it is. Once I finally did reach a save point, I was in a viewtiful zen-like state. I find that the game really picks up once you unlock the zoom-in ability. The possibilities for combos are endless.

I'm also getting it tomorrow. I haven't reserved it, but I don't think that will matter. I've glanced over the reviews, but they haven't been too important to me. I immediately knew I would get this game after I played the demo. I assumed it had little in common with how the actual game was laid out (because much of the progression was awkward) but it played wonderfully and had a lot of personality. I'm sure it won't be as good as the newest Evil Dead game, but I'm willing to give it a chance! You can bet I'll post my impressions after I play it. If it's especially good, I'll break out my old HenshinAG0G0Baby handle.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by BigCajones [/i] [B][COLOR=indigo]Some game developers create a decent game, but the main character for instance ruins it. I think two of the best scored games around have two of the worst characters. Master Chief off Halo just does/says nothing and is a pretty basic character I reckon the developers should of included him more in the plot. Talking and making him seem like he has a purpose.[/b][/color][/quote] Master Chief is meant to be a representation of the player. He's purposely shrouded in obscurity and not meant to have a concrete identity. While he's certainly not one of my favorite character choices--or even memorable for that matter, he's cool to a modest extent for aesthetic purposes. His outfit, which could have easily fallen to generic limbo, is modeled fairly well. The actual construction of it isn't elaborate, but the bump mapping and lighting make it passable. On the personality side of things he isn't very complex. He's the typical badass action hero. In a game like Halo, we don't care about Master Chief anyway. You know, he's not the focal point of the game. He's just the device used to act it out. I sincerely believe that he's the least of the game's problems as I've never understood the fascination behind Halo's storyline anyway. It's barely there--and what is there is very forgettable. Go figure. [quote][B][COLOR=indigo]Tommy Vercetti looks alright, but GTA the free roaming game doesn't suit him really. He needed to talk more at enemies or ignorant civilians/gang members. He doesn't look too much like a thug either, he should of been more like Mark Hammond from The Getaway.[/quote][/b][/color] Eh, Tommy Vercetti was fun. He had his fair share of one-liners for the situations you've mentioned and I think he's a strong improvement over GTA III's central character (who was as generic as you can get). I'm a big fan of Ray Liotta's acting, and I feel that it added a lot to the game. He was perfect for the part. His presence gave the mission narratives a cinematic flair that was previously crippled by a silent protagonist (if you can call him that). The fact that Vercetti doesn't look like a "typical thug" is a positive in my book. It's obvious he was designed with the setting in mind and it works wonderfully [quote][B][COLOR=indigo]I also think Ryo of Shenmue has no personality, but at least he speaks lol. Other things like SSB:M characters moves being copied but for the use of different characters is a bit cheap they should of changed the moves or the characters, but these are still quality games. Anyone else got opinions? I think a decent character is Snake; detailed, with effort and simply a true warrior of destruction. Not much else to say on that just comment on your ideas. ^^ [/COLOR] [/B][/QUOTE] I don't quite understand your point concerning SSBM (as it's a game built on established characters) but I agree wholeheartedly about your opinion of Ryo. It could have been the dubbing--I don't know, but his character genuinely turned me off to the series. Especially the way he treated Nozomi. There was no emotion whatsoever. Not even Fuku-san could make up for the atrocity that is Ryo. The most poorly designed character I can think of in recent memory would have to be Ty the Tasmanian Tiger. I shudder at the thought of that horrible concept for a mascot. Bleh.

[b]Name:[/b] Charles [b]Age:[/b] [size=1]After hours of counting on my fingers[/size]--24 [b]Hometown:[/b] Pennsauken, New Jersey [b]Any Pets:[/b] A pet rock appropriately named Andy. [b]Attached or Single?:[/b] Single [b]Brief Life History:[/b] Charles is nomadic; he's as fleeting as the shadows and lives his life with foolish abandon. For a short period of time he worked as a freelance writer and earned notable recognition (due to his unrestrained frankness) mostly among local, modestly circulated publications. His musings quickly earned him the handle "Brutally Honest Charles." But, his notoriety with the pen had a price. Charles made more enemies than friends during his tenure as a columnist--and was forced to relocate after upsetting the local democratic machine. From that moment on, he vowed to see the what the world had to offer instead of being confined to merely writing about it. Charles vowed to never write again, should he not need to. Instead, he decided to chill out and look at life as one big adventure. It was through his travels that he made the acquaintance of everyone in this RPG. [b]Personality Traits:[/b] Charles is a difficult one to read. He enjoys the simple things in life like stroking a friendly cat and becoming lost in thought while running (at dusk or dawn). Although he's not a masterful conversationalist due to his inability to commit to one place for very long and really get to [i]know[/i] people, Charles considers himself a good judge of character. This young justice dealer often finds himself in potentially dangerous situations due to his love of taking up for the underdog. He's a fighter all right, but it's made him very confrontational. Although he's a benevolent person at heart, he has a tendency to be brash and arrogant. [b]Appearance:[/b] See attachment.

Eh, to some extent "alive" is a subjective word just like "freedom" or "good" or "bad." That is, if you're not speaking in purely scientific terms. Technically, you can't show me "alive." We all have our own ideas as to what constitutes alive. Some people are doomed by their own philosophy to the extent where they would have you believe nothing is truly alive. Ever heard of the old adage that says if you give a philosopher a drink of water in the desert they will die of thirst trying to decide whether the water is real or not? So, I try not to complicate things by associating mass criteria with what it takes to be alive. If a being is capable of reproducing in some way to preserve its species, it's alive at [i]some[/i] level. Of course, I'd like to couple physical sensation and independent thought with a definition of "alive" but that's almost humanizing the definition to a certain extent. I agree with the idea that humans can't exactly grasp the concept of infinite space. It's very difficult for me to think of the universe as forever expanding or an afterlife where one lives for an eternity. If you [i]really[/i] think about it, can you imagine living forever? And Autokill, Mitch was just saying that there's little permanence in mortal life. Nothing is endless, forever or without its limitations. That's the general idea behind what you qouted, I'd say.

At long last, we've reached the final plateau of our competition. Two contestants have put up submissions (despite having relatively little experience with snow), but only one will walk away [i]The[/i] Otaku Idol. As usual, the public can participate in the selection process via poll. Excluding our judges' votes, they will be the only votes considered official. Votes posted within this thread will not be counted towards deciding a winner. This thread should be limited to relative comments and constructive criticism. The public vote will count as one judge vote. Which, of course, means that the public majority choice could become the swing vote. So, without further hesitation, let the voting commence!

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Razzamataz [/i] [B]lets face it, humanity has A LOT of problems. but finding the [u]awnsers[/u] is harder to find than the missing link, but what do y'all think some possible ways to fix whats wrong? [/B][/QUOTE] Spellchecker. That's one problem solved already. Anyway, craig8429 (I obviously copied and pasted the name) brings up a good point. This thread is very vague. Perhaps you should go into a little bit more detail as to what you think constitutes humanity's problems. We'll use that as a structure for this thread. Otherwise it'll be a mess. I advise the moderators of this area to keep an eye on this thread. I'm leaving it open for now against my better judgment.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by scrmngfangrl [/i] [B]anybody actually like? [/B][/QUOTE] I'm sure there is a legion of fourteen year old boys that are absolutely thrilled.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Razzamataz [/i] [B][spoiler]actually, from what I understand Yuna isn't a pop star in FFX-2, thats somebody else using a dress sphere to mimic her or something like that (I can't remember exactly). and as for the "stops being a summoner"...DUH! If I remember correctly (and I do) the aeons were sent and the fayth lost their power at the end of FFX, no more summoning period.[/spoiler] but I think it's about time that Square made a sequel to a FF game. sure It probally has a truck load of fan service here and there (spring scene anyone?) but If the gameplay is good what does it matter? [/B][/QUOTE] To be fair, I have seen images of Yuna singing into a microphone and EGM even said she belts out an impromptu pop concert on the deck of an airship. Even if she doesn't literally become a pop singer, the route Square has decided to take with the characters is seemingly evident. And that's fine depending on your outlook. Personally, I can understand the theme of change and promoting a lighthearted atmosphere. But, there's a fine line between advancing characterization and taking ridiculous liberties. Making the girls playful and free, I can understand due to the liberation of Spira. Dressing them like pop divas is something else entirely different. From my perspective, it totally ruins the Yuna character by disregarding what essentially made her, well, her. If others appreciate the changes, then more power to them. The mission-based gameplay probably will have a "love it" or "hate it" flavor. Toriyama has said that it's been implemented for gamers who like to play in shorter sessions. So, you can bet that exploration enthusiasts won't be pleased. It was easy to play in short sessions before, so I can only imagine what it's like now. At least things are more open-ended this time around. Many complained about the linear plot of FFX, so this could be good. Yet, having explored the entire world of FFX, I can't say I'm excited about visiting old locales unless they've been changed significantly. Which, I'm sure they have been. If not, it'll be inexcusable. Having said all that, I doubt I'll pick up FFX-2. I'm a big fan of the original, but as I said, the changes are a bit much for me. I stayed away from the Charlie's Angels films, so I can't see why I'd be interested in playing this game. And, if I wanted to dress up skimpy female leads, I could have found paradise with a stupid volley ball game long ago.

There's an existing thread dedicated to this game [URL=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=24333]HERE[/URL]. No one has participated in the discussion for a couple weeks, but it's recent enough to give you an indication of other members' opinions of the game. In the future, you may want to put more effort into your threads. For example, you could say [i]why[/i] you like the game. A new thread is always more interesting when the member who initiates the discussion introduces some degree of thought. ;)

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by anime_guy [/i] [B]umm. so where does that come in here? [/B][/QUOTE] Excuse me! OtakuBoards Administrator over here! Save this sort of thing for your signature. If you must have a buddy list, do it there. There's no sense in creating a topic for such a purpose when no one even knows you yet. Forty-two posts isn't exactly cementing your personality into the mind of everyone around you. Post sensibly and I'm sure you'll make friends the traditional way. But, I do encourage you to actually read the rules. Because, let's face, they are a necessary read if you want to stick around. Your post quality alone suggests that. We don't create rules pages for nothing. If you're going to use the site, you can at least take the time to read what we've established and ajust your posting habits accordingly. And besides, all the cool kids with plenty of friends are reading the rules.

It's been a solid minute since I've played Final Fantasy X. Like most games in the genre, it doesn't have oodles of replay value. But, while it lasted it was an engrossing experience and the best in the series you can play without a Super Nintendo. And I only say that because I can't stack it up to its 16-bit cousins, having never spent serious time with them. First and foremost, I adored the characters and storyline in Final Fantasy X. If there's one thing Square is capable of, it's delivering a plot I want to see through until the very end. Final Fantasy X is the clearest example of this trait since Final Fantasy VII (which possessed all the elements of a winning plot but was ultimately obscured by a terrible translation). With FFX though, everything came together wonderfully and there wasn't one character I didn't care about to some extent. Tidus was an excellent lead protagonist because he was so unlike what had been shoved down our throats in the later iterations of the series. He wasn't unnecessarily negative or cold like Squall or Cloud. At the same time, however, he wasn't as flat and uninteresting as Zidane. From my perspective, Tidus came across as a real person. On the surface he was cheerful and optimistic, but underneath that facade, he was resentful. The presentation of the story through his more mature perspective was fantastic because it really allowed the gamer to experience his character?s progression more thoroughly. When the time finally came for Tidus to [spoiler]confront his father[/spoiler], to deal with his personal afflictions, we see those guttural feelings for what they are. And it?s really a beautiful scene I?ll never forget. Most films don?t lead up to a moment like that. I won?t go into so much detail about the other characters. I will say that they all had their own likable little quirks. Yuna?s innocence and benevolence clash with the terrible consequences underlying her purpose. Wakka was fun. I liked how he punctuated his sentences with ?yeah??. [spoiler]Yet, at the same time, his complexity showed when he demonstrated his racist side.[/spoiler] Characters like Kimahri and Lulu appeared dark and brooding on the outside, but possessed a nurturing side as well that became clearly apparent in their exchanges with Yuna. Auron, who, at first, seemed ominous, turned out to be honorable and selfless. Lastly, Rikku symbolized the true good heartedness of the Al Bhed people and exposed the falsity of religious rhetoric. So, from where I stand, each character not only serves a general purpose, but has a complex personality that can?t really be done justice in this post. It would easily take multiple posts to talk about them at length. Anyway, I think the presentation of the story and superb characterization made up for the lack of the plot?s originality. You know, in the end it wasn?t all about ?Will they save the world from Sin?? [spoiler]We have in there better ingredients like a doomed love story, coming to terms with the past, confrontation, dealing with death, and making sacrifice.[/spoiler] The game probably had the best ending I can ever remember seeing and I earnestly think it?s because the direction was just there all along. Briefly speaking of the soundtrack--it was wonderful and easily surpassed any Final Fantasy soundtrack I?ve heard. It?s integrated into the action well, and the composition was very interesting. Listen to the song that plays during Sin?s attack on Zanarkand and then listen to the ending theme. That?s a contrast you usually won?t find in a Final Fantasy soundtrack. In terms of how the game played--it was a mixed bag. I certainly can?t excuse the lack of dungeons or the intolerable sphere trials. Yet, interesting side quests like capturing monsters, learning the Al Bhed language, collecting hidden weapons, playing Blitzball and finding hidden summon spells kept the game enjoyable. And the general layout of most areas was executed better than something like Suikoden III because there was at least a minor sense of exploration and cool gimmicks like dodging lighting on a rocky crag that kept things fresh. I was a little disappointed to see Square do away with active time battles (which still may not save FFX-2 for me). Although, on the positive side, the overdrives and summons were handled excellently. I liked how you were given control over these magical creatures to a certain extent. It added a bit of variety to the standard formula. As far as the sphere grid is concerned, I believe it?s probably the best progression system in a Final Fantasy since the materia systeem. It kind of added the ability to give your characters unique customization properties. It?s a little lame how you?re still able to make your characters very much alike if you put the effort in, but you really have to spend some major time battling before you can anyway. So, it?s not much of an issue. Overall, I enjoyed Final Fantasy X. It was worth the time. I thought it would be a little too cinematic at first, but when you factor in the abundance goodies you can accumulate, I think there?s plenty of game to be had here. It?s probably still the best traditional, turn-based RPG on the domestic market as far as the current generation of consoles is concerned. Whether or not it's because of the stuff I mentioned or because you enjoy waxing your carrot to video game breasts is your business. O_o;;

I usually go through this on a case-by-case basis. There have been instances where people have approached me with a name change request--only for me to discover that someone else registered under the name back in 2001 but never replied to the email confirmation notice. Of course, logic tells me that there's no point in reserving a name that'll probably never be used, so I delete the inactive account. So, generally speaking, I'm willing to accommodate people. I'm not going to deny someone a name because of an account that's been inactive for two years. But, I don't think James or myself are going to sift through inactive users under an official schedule or anything. It's a very time consuming and unnecessary process. Perhaps if I have time I'll think about deleting inactive accounts that are under popular names. Albeit, they'll have to be members who have posted [i]very[/i] little and not been active for at least eighteen months. As I said though, when someone wants a name that?s already in use, I?m always willing to investigate the situation and see what I can do. Because of that, this isn?t such a big problem.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by craig8429 [/i] [B]I just went and seen it, it had funny moments but I kinda called the ending :-/ [/B][/QUOTE] Well, it was very formulaic. And expectedly so. This was, after all, a film under the [i]Happy Madison[/i] label. ;) Anyone who knows anything about films of this type will know what to expect. Personally, I could see where the plot was going from a million miles away. You have your disillusioned protagonist who usually suffers from a traumatizing upbringing. Character flaws are a must. From the outset of the film, we're told how mediocre his life is. He's single or has relationship problems, collects modest wages, and generally has a selfish outlook on life. Over the course of [i]about[/i] ninety minutes he'll meet someone that changes his life, correct his behavorial flaws, overcome insurmountable odds, find true love, and live happily ever after. Usually in that order. Think about it. [i]Happy Gilmore, Big Daddy, Mr. Deeds, The Water boy, Anger Management, The Animal, The Hot Chick[/i] and [i]Meet Joe Dirt[/i] are fine examples. Of course, there are more, but you get the picture. I wasn't expecting [i]Dickie Roberts[/i] to be any different. It provided a few laughs and had a happy ending. Obviously, it shouldn't be at the top of anyone's "To see" list, but it's not quite unwatchable either.

And, I think the thing you need to take into consideration is that many of the clubs in peoples' signatures aren't real "clubs", so to speak. They're simply buddy lists under a different guise. Most member clubs simply don't [i]do[/i] anything. They don't gather or coordinate meetings and events. The criteria for joining these said "clubs" is simply a rudimentary knowledge of how to operate our private messaging system. This isn't true in all cases, but hopefully you can see where I'm coming from. It's good that you're interested in making suggestions, so I hope you're not too discouraged here. Let's face it--no suggestion is a bad suggestion because you're trying to contribute in a positive way to the site. Yet, many of us that can speak with experience on the issue know that there is no real need for any such forum.

We've had our fill of these threads, I think. As a matter of fact, there's a recent discussion concerning the California recall located [URL=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=31466]HERE[/URL].

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Shinmaru [/i] [B]And I hope that the WWE will use Chris Jericho better than they did on RAW this past Monday. Chris is really the front runner to be the top heel on RAW while Triple H is out. Having Goldberg totally destroy Y2J was not the smartest of booking in the WWEs part. I really hope that they can rectify the situation fairly quickly. [/B][/QUOTE] All right, and is anyone else getting tired of this angle where Jericho tries to get Austin fired? How many times have they tried this now? Three? lol Thus far it seems as if the rivalry between Austin and Jericho will actually lead somewhere this time. But, in the end, I think that such a feud is counterproductive for Jericho. Rob Van Dam said it best himself when he said (and I'm paraphrasing) "Austin was the WWE's number one wrestler. Now that he's injured and can't wrestle anymore, he's still their number one wrestler." So, you see where I'm going with this. Why bother to involve Jericho with a guy who can no longer produce? Even if this does escalate into some sort of physical altercation, Austin is sure to come out on top due to the rarity of such an event. Where does that leave Jericho? Not looking good--that's for sure.

Hm, I stopped participating for a time with all the arguing going on. Didn't know what the heck was up. But, I like this too much to stop altogether. So, even if this thing is dead, at least I'll get one more post in that does some interesting things. [I]There once was a time where he was a good soul. There once was a time he fought for what was right. There once was a time he was of the most celebrated Angels in Heaven. What happened? Where did he go wrong? Avarice. It?s just that simple. Discontent with subservience. Pride. Jealously. Covetous. A burning desire to be THE ONE. A burning desire to be THE ONLY. A burning desire to be God himself.[/I] [b]His towering office complex glitters even during the night. It stands poised and composed, taking for itself the world's remaining light. The panels take on the vermilion color of the heavens and the reflection of the stars freckle it like bulbs on a grand Christmas tree. Yet, despite its lavish outer workings, it's quite empty, save for dead shift security. Up, up into the sky it looms. So high, in fact, that its upper level view sits parallel to the sky?s plumes. Some would even say its reflection casts two moons. It has been said that nobody is righteous; no not one. But, no matter; when did righteousness ever get anything done? Atop a world that emphasizes survival of the fittest, awaits his brazen mistress. A concubine who wraps her tentacles around anyone in her way, there she waits, spread on a desk waiting for the devil to come out and play. It?s a table set for two. Not with crystal glasses, champagne or chicken cordon blue. Just with the illusion of companionship, a distraction that, for a blink, can make all the falsities in the world seem true. Midnight moonlight filters through the room and caresses her cheek. Clothes almost completely discarded, her figure is revealed, curvaceous and sleek. In comparison to her adventures, most liaisons seem reticent and meek. Ah, but something about this night--and she can?t quite put her finger on it--is quite somber, almost bleak. Off in the distance, he peels through the streets, traveling anything but slow. After all, there is nothing more desperate than a man who runs with no where to go. Miniature crosses tattoo the pupils of his eyes. He almost wonders if he would be insanity if it wore a man?s disguise. And, without warning, to his destination, he finally arrives. Genocide loosens his grip on the steering wheel, red imprints mark his white knuckle hands. Despite bitter weather, sweat pores from his glands. Instead of using the parking garage, he abandons his Marquis at the building?s feet. The structure?s desolate visage never looked so sweet.[/b] Overhead, the darkened sky is sliced through by a gliding crow. With wings outstretched, it soars through the air with an undeniable ease that is only offered to creatures of the winged variety. Genocide stares upward with a gasp. Beads of sweat run down his forehead. He swallows, and glides his hand through his short, damp hair. His glazy face is construed into a face of deep concentration and his empty, black, spherical eyes close slightly. Reality is an uncaring master. Brutalized and fragmented by the past, one?s psyche can never truly leave all the baggage behind. A lost love--never to be forgotten. A hidden secret--never to let your mind rest. An unmentionable sin--taints your view of the world around you. And an uncaring master--dominates your very existence. Apocalypse. Luyvi. Dria too. He finds a single nylon stocking lying in the middle of the lobby, unencumbered by the human form. In his office he keeps spare dress. For him, there waits an immaculate suit. It?s black, with gold vest and black tie. But, for all this, he still stares at the stocking. It comes to resemble a black pond. A very heavy, thick looking substance fills its space--a curiosity for anyone who should pass. To be sure, a certain gleam can be noticed in the pits of Genocide?s eyes. As his reflection continues, the glare slowly becomes more intent. Focused--as if bringing something forth. But the smile still remains. A smile with all the warmth of an icicle scoured in liquid nitrogen. A smile straight out of hell.

I would like to be Meteora so that I could rid the world of that seizure provoking banner/avatar combo. lol

This thread is a little pointless, DigiFan. I don't think there's enough substance to allow an intelligent conversation to develop because there's no real evidence to support any opinion.

Welcome to OtakuBoards, Aries. ^_^ As you can see, I've moved this to an area that's more representational of what you're doing here. The Adventure Arena isn't a suitable place for this because as you presented it, it seemed more like an ongoing story you're working on as opposed to an interactive RPG. Generally, when creating RPGs our members create a recruitment thread to plot the general rules of the game and collect a group of players. You see, there's a certain structure involved. I don't see that here. Perhaps you should browse the RPG forum and investigate the OtakuBoards Information Center. If you still have questions or concerns, our staff is more than capable of addressing them.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by RicoTranzrig [/i] [B][COLOR=darkblue]Those shots look impressive. That motion blur better only be in the cutscenes. .[/COLOR] [/B][/QUOTE] I believe it's not limited to cut scenes or anything. I'm sure it's an effect that's utilized in real time. I've noticed many games practicing the soft look--even in genres where it's quite out of place. Nevertheless, some titles make good use of it. Ico is a prime example. It made up for the decidedly simplistic look and gave everything a dreamy, pretty, look. If I had to guess, I'd say it's one of the programming tricks the developers are using to make up for the aging PS2 processor. The textures might otherwise look muddy. Whether a first person shooter can pull it off sans nausea remains to be seen, I suppose.

I enjoyed the first Resident Evil film. It overcame the video game to silver screen curse, I'd say. The soundtrack suited the unfolding chaos onscreen quite nicely. As a matter of fact, it complemented the action so well that it added to the overall atmosphere and appeal of a film that might have otherwise been bland. [spoiler] It should be added that I was pleasantly surprised with how well the plot was tied together. Don't get me wrong--it wasn't intellectually groundbreaking or breathtaking, but it was pulled off with more style than I've come to expect from video game adaptations. Because, let's face it, most plots in said movies are pulled off with the eloquence of a runaway train.[/spoiler] Some things bothered me, like Michelle Rodriguez playing what is plainly and simply the same part she always plays. She's fallen into a role trap. Other little nuances such as the main character discarding suitable clothing in a cold, strange, mansion in favor of an outfit that's barely there also baffle me. To say that these things ruined the movie for me would be an over exaggeration, so you can bet I'll be seeing the sequel. The trailer is already a step in the right direction and one of the only reasons I bothered with [i]The Underworld[/i] which turned out surprisingly good.

Like fellow Otakus PoisonTongue and RPCrazy, I attend Rutgers University. [i]The[/i] state University of New Jersey. C'mon mama! Feel some of that prestige. Well, it would be prestigious if the Garden State wasn't the butt of most jokes, I suppose. Our campus is located in the heart of the city of Camden, which is essentially a devastated area undergoing revitalization. Luckily, everything begins with Rutgers, so our campus is nice and the surrounding area isn't a certifiable nightmare. Occasionally I'll encounter suspicious looking characters (like Alex :p) but on the other hand I've yet to be on the receiving end of a mugging. For the most part, the class sizes are kept to thirty people or below and there are sanitary places to pick up lunch other than the school cafeteria. Although, most of them are fast food joints and not really desirable places to eat. Not a bad place though. The professors are generally very distinguished and easy to get along. Here's the official site address: [url]www.rutgers.edu[/url] Higher education does present a problem with physical activity though. It really tires me before I do my workout routine which sucks.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Shinmaru [/i] [B]Bleh, I've never liked the Crash Bandicoot series. First off, I've always felt that the character of Crash was a second rate ripoff of Sonic the Hedgehog. He has the kind of look that makes you think that some suits dreamed him up to capitalize and profit off his image and "attitude."[/B][/QUOTE] I know [i]exactly[/i] what you mean and I think that's why Crash has never been able to find the same niche as the more genuine mascots. You can tell that he's nothing but a product conjured up by the same kind of soulless marketing team that promotes kitty litter and toilet paper. Crash wasn't a labor of love, it was a product born on a white board where marketing execs used red marker to brainstorm what gamers look for in a platform video game character. It just feels like there's no soul there, if that makes sense. In addition to the lack of originality, the title switched developers which is a big "no-no." But, you know, who could tell? lol If you've played the Playstation 2 version of Crash Bandicoot, you've essentially played the PSX versions because it didn't seem to do anything new save for adding a few polys to the main character model. You were still jumping on penguins, smashing open boxes, collecting fruits and running from things. And it's that failure to grow up that really hurt whatever promise the series ever had. It's no longer a viable alternative to the more established platformers out there. Crash Team Racing was well done. But again, it was obviously just a cash-in title that didn't bring anything terribly new or exciting to the table. At least not enough to capture my interest.