Charles

My favorite thread actually isn't located in Otaku Lounge. Although I'm a bit biased because I'm partially responsible for the creation of the thread I have in mind, I honestly had an absolute blast with it. So, it deserves mention. The thread I speak of is my rap battle with Heaven's Cloud, located [URL=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=24062]HERE[/URL]. I'm fond of it because it's innovative in the sense that no one had done something to its effect before. And, contrary to the typical rap battle, we focused more on creativity and humor instead of vulgarities. So, it was nice. Definitely a good time. As far as Otaku Lounge is concerned, my favorite thread is probably the "Caption Contest." It's a fun idea and it's longevity demonstrates just how enjoyable it really is. What it all comes down to is people having fun by expressing themselves through humor. I love carefree stuff.

I'm picking mine up tomorrow. ^^ Bioware is behind the helm on this one, so that's generally a clear indication of a quality role-playing game. They have a fairly impressive pedigree. They usually concentrate their effort on PC games from what I understand. Although, I've never played many of their series, such as Baldur's Gate and whatnot, I've heard that they're very good. So, it's exciting to see them develop a comprehensive console RPG. My interest in Knights of the Republic lies in the fact that it's not a recreation of the more popular sequences in the films. It's exciting to find that it takes place 4000 years before the Galactic Empire came into power. So, there's originality involved as far as characterization goes. You're not reliving anything, you're seeing it unfold for the first time. When I first learned of the game, I expected it to be a massively multiplayer online role-playing game. Although it would have complimented the Xbox Live library nicely under those circumstances, I'm happy that it's not. I'm pretty sure that it'll be a while before I shell out the cash for a broadband connection. :D Getting off my tangent--the decision making aspect sounds nice as it relates to branching paths and determining allegiance to the light or dark side of the force. Plus, the production values are said to be impressive. Especially as it relates to the sound. I can't want to hear the voice acting and music. I'm not too familiar with the combat system they're using. I've read about it and it sounds somewhat different from what I'm accustomed to. The interface certainly sounds slick. I won't bother to ramble on any longer. Once I play the game I'll post my impressions. I'll just say that I hope this will be an RPG that I actually complete. I've not done too well with completing games lately. >>

I'm sorry, but I have a difficult time keeping my answers that succinct. You're not the first one to present an idea to this effect. So, it's obvious that there is some interest in it on a small scale level. Obviously, it's an interesting idea and I'm always happy to see members take initiative and present unique concepts for the Event forum. Personally, however, I'm opposed to the general idea of holding a "dating" event. I really must question the relevance of one on an anime message board and if it really serves a worthwhile purpose. Perhaps if you develop the idea a bit more and present a more complete form of it--there might be possibilities. For example: How exactly would it work? I'm open to opinions on the idea. If you flesh it out, make it worthwhile, and enough people show support for it in here, then I'll think about gritting my teeth and going over it with James. I doubt that anything will come of this though. It could be enjoyable for members if it's a "Dating Game" type situation and it doesn't take itself too seriously. But, I highly doubt the potential of a dating event and the [i]overall[/i] interest in one. Prove me wrong. lol ^_^

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by .hack//IZUAL [/i] [B]jewel colors [/B][/QUOTE] Please read our rules regarding SPAM. Try to at least post in complete sentences. :) Anyway, if you want to discuss this game and seek advice, I suggest visiting [URL=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=26026]THIS[/URL] thread. I've noticed a lot of .Hack threads cluttering the Sony forum lately. So, let's scan the board before creating an overabundance of similar threads. It's much more efficient to keep the discussion together--by limiting it to as few threads as possible instead of breaking it up into bits and pieces. That way, you don't have to search a plethora of topics to benefit from the entire discussion. If you merely want someone to Instant Message you, it's always more prudent to include a request like that in your signature instead of making a vague topic about the issue.

It's a veritable death match in this godforsaken arena. The parking lot is occupied to its maximum capacity on such a disastrous night as this. The marquee reads only "THE MAIN EVENT: CHARLES" because the darn promotional crew had "forgotten" to include Alex's name. Charles, per Alex's instructions had delivered a scrap of notebook paper with both names printed clearly on it. Perhaps Charles' thumb had smeared the print slightly. Or was it when he intensely scribbled over it with red pen? Who knows. Nevertheless, Charles' name was enough to attract quite a crowd. Several hobos have even prepared for the special occasion by stationing themselves at the threshold of various crucial entrances and exits. They're fully equipped with newspapers, Styrofoam cups filled to the brim with rain water, and dish soap. So, this blood bath is a good night for the economy on all fronts, really. Wonderful indeed! Despite the fact that the camera is from Cinnaminson High School and is loosely constructed with duct tape and cardboard, it works rather well. The view pans around the arena scanning the painted faces of every obese testosterone-driven fanatic in attendance. _ They're straight out of BraveHeart, almost. They eat their overpriced food with one eye open and unselfishly share their best flatulence with their neighbors. Together they chant and cry hearty battle cries. All is good. Prior to the battle, over a game of paper, rocks, scissors, Alex and Charles decided that the post round entertainment would consist of a rather large bear balancing on a tiny red-striped ball. They considered hiring traditional large-breasted women to display their finest--introductory pre-round signs. But both combatants, being the video game dweebs that they are, agreed that forcing animals into performing acrobatic stunts would be better entertainment. They did, however, hire Duffman for the occasion complete with a sexy cheerleader outfit. And it was good. Anyone looks pleasing through the eyes of a drunken sports fan. Duff is smooth and satisfying! It makes everything beautiful! Oh yeah! Whilst the jumbo-TRON displayed highlights of the first round and airline flight films such as [i]Hardball[/i], Charles rubs the tender flesh on his swollen cheek. It hurts! He's already making various conjectures about the outcome of the next round. Alex had always been a troublemaker--rebellious, consumed with pride. He normally wouldn't take a dive--but perhaps, and this is a big perhaps---[i]perhaps[/i] if he threatened to delete the literature forum--then--well, the possibilities could certainly be in his favor. The wind continues to blow, ever so violently, as if to compliment the devious thinking of the OtakuBoards administrator. He stands alone, in the face of the vertically challenged Alex and overwhelms the laws by which humanity abides. For, having been educated in the ways of OtakuBoards sparring--he has mastered techniques his opponent could only dream of--he'd even acquired the skill of Super Saiya-jin 5, a skill usually unique to newbies in the DragonBallZ forum. The enthusiastic onlookers pause, taking a break from their masculine rituals. Their hot-dogs and flatulence can wait. He is above them, above them all, and is beyond them in so many ways. As the wind continues to ravage his hair and jacket, his evil grin slowly dissipates, and he begins to dethrone himself from the top of the world, as he begins to descend from the top of the mountain (his stool). Light has now completely lost its futile battle with the coming of night, and the monstrosity known as Charles smiles. For even rolling black clouds are not as intimidating as his presence. A hellish figure indeed. The dark brown hair, hiding a face that would scare the very wits out of any mortal man. The blood-red lips, the icy-white teeth, the crimson gums--all forming the most diabolically evil smirk you have ever witnessed, either in reality or the movies. The massive, raw presence of the figure in itself, a hulking beast in his own, standing well over six feet tall, looming large as a beast among the dwarfed onlookers around him. He is imposing. He is vengeful. He is a cackling embodiment of all that humanity strives not to be. He IS, in every possible application of the word, the human embodiment of evil? "Let's rock, baby," he says. He says, "I want to make this quick. Smallville comes on soon--and I [i]just[/i] can't miss my reruns of Buffy! I would, like, die!" "Help, Doc!" Alex says to his manager, a portly African American man. "Join the Nintendo Fan Club, today Alex!" he says. The massive figure known as Charles regains his feet, showing his true imposing stature. It's almost like a Sonic Boom when the two combatants finally collide. They rush at one another like two bulls in a rose garden. Their respective benches crumble into splinters behind them. The crowd roars to life like an engine. The fighters come together and are thrown apart from the sheer velocity of their attacks, tossed against the moving ground, they tumble, bouncing about wildly until they finally come to a rest. Alex awakens, still laying in the same place he'd be forced to endure Charles' presence, and although he's seemingly alone, he'd feel better off getting the hell out of there just as soon as he could. But, suddenly, Alex's body cinches up, his eyes widen beyond their usual limits. Looking upon his oblivious body, Charles smirks to himself again, before slowly, methodically reaching down and clenching his massive right paw on Alex's throat. He lifts the boy into the air and tilts his head to the right, as if to admire the deep gashes and crimson tears decorating the film student's face. "I wipe my *ss with Epicity," Charles says. The small hairs plotting the back of Alex's neck seem to stand up with a life of their own. Suddenly fists are flying like it's 1975. Their regal posture has been abandoned. Thunder crackles with each connecting blow. Sweat and blood explode, filling the night air with mortal condensation. Amidst the razor-sharp flurry of limbs, Alex finds an opening and sends his foot into Charles' rubbery nose, causing him to reel backwards. Before the crowd can recover from the action at hand, Alex is barreling down on Charles with retro karate chops and sickly sounding slaps. Grasping for relief, Charles rolls away from his opponent, as Alex screeches in anger and slams his fists into the ground. It's a battle, and a tough battle at that, indeed! Alex charges Charles, screaming in primal fury. But, as he is about to connect, Charles turns the tables on him, using his own momentum to carry him into the air and slam him down with seismic force. The Earth seems to ripple underneath Alex causing a massive sinkhole. A mushroom cloud of dust rises--enveloping the entire arena. The beast finishes, and looks down, reinstating his evil grin, as the wind blows about, pieces of the arena crumble and break away, falling to a crushing death below. But he stands tall and unmoving in the face of all adversity. Strength has returned, and this time, it's cloaked in [i]evil[/i].

If you think about it, there are really a lot of stereotypes involved with message boards and their denizens in general. You know, we're all just a bunch of red-eyed Internet weirdoes with thick bottle cap glasses looking for cyber sex or some other taboo material. Instead of facing the real world, we're lurking around these parts saying things like "OMG!11" and my personal favorite "STFU n00b!11." So, it's only natural that we, being the red-eyed, cyber sex addicted, Internet weirdoes that we are, have instinctual hostilities towards anyone who knows less than we do about a forum (or anything at all, in general) because it makes us feel good. lol Seriously though, on quality forums, this sort of petty behavior just shouldn't (and doesn't) occur. I don't form preconceptions about a new member unless their user name is questionable. If it looks something like "CuTIeGurL20474" or "urubern00b" then I kind of whistle and hide my personal sheet of gold respect stickers behind my back. I try to concentrate more on what people say then when they registered. That's what I care about. If anything, I pay closer attention to what newbies have to say because they're very unfamiliar to me and I want to see where they stand on certain issues. You can only hear the same opinions from the same people so many times. *_*

I prefer when it's not crowded in public places. Quite an oxymoron there. ^^ Typically, when a shopping center or movie theater is crowded, groups of people act out for attention in the most annoying of ways. They'll yell inane remarks or throw articles of clothing around (usually males). The hooting, the hollering, the thoroughly unfunny but unbearably loud inside jokes--you can keep it. I don't particularly mind a little obnoxious behavior, but it's rarely delivered it small, infrequent doses. Consequently, I become annoyed and say something (the degree of offensiveness depends on that kind of day I'm having) to others that embarrasses the people I'm with. It's not a friendly cycle at all. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a prude or anything. But, there's a time and a place for silly behavior. And when I'm enjoying my overpriced movie, I should be able to hear it. When I go to the library, I want to be able to read. If I'm in class, I want to be able to hear the lecture. If you're in a club or at a party, go for it. Be loud. Overall, I'm not bothered by being around people. I've been around them my entire life. I've gone to school with them, I don't live alone, and I have to work around them on a daily basis. Most of the time, I prefer limiting the numbers, though.

I'm not quite sure that's accurate per the film's theme, Manic. It's an interesting point, but from what I gather, fate would always readjust itself so that Judgment Day may occur. [spoiler]I think that the overlying message of the movie was that we can't escape our fate. This is personified in John Connor. He did everything he could to run away from his ultimate purpose--but despite his precautions and constant denial, he found his fate. Or, rather, it found him. He tried living in secrecy, but he couldn't hide from who he was or what he was meant to do. Fate adjusted itself accordingly so that he and his intended mate would still meet. It thrusted them together, so to speak, by eliminating possible threats, such as her fiance, along the way. Despite the fact that the past was altered due to the consequences of the events in T2, fate made the pieces fit. The final destination was still the same. John Connor and Kate Brooster ended up coming together and accepting their predestined roles in the movement against the machines. The theme is almost religious really. We all must face Judgment Day at one time or another for the consequences of our actions. Sure, it can be prolonged--but never completely avoided because men are not Gods--they are merely the likeness of God. By the same token, machines are only a likeness of man and have even less control, less free will. So, I don't see how man could rely on a machine to alter fate when man doesn't even have that power. We all have a purpose to serve--and we can try to run from it, but eventually it must be fulfilled. It explains why Connor couldn't kill himself, why the Terminator couldn't kill Connor, why it was able to defeat a vastly superior model and why the movie ended the way it did. The trip might not have been made how it was originally inteded due to tampering with time travel, but the characters still had to get from point A-Z nonetheless.[/spoiler]

I don't believe that it would be too feasible to allow thread bumping due to an edit. If anything, it would be more of a "cause" than a "cure." Meaning, obviously, it would lead to more problems than it's worth. I could easily imagine members needlessly bumping threads just for the sake of doing so, so that their threads could remain sitting atop the topic list. Furthermore, it could also lead to confusion and annoyance; you may, thinking that a thread's discussion has matured, visit it only to find that a simple spelling mistake has been corrected. If interest truly remains in a topic, you should be able to edit your post to add material with the confidence that someone else will visit and notice. If no one is even reading the topic any longer, then its life cycle shouldn't be increased, anyway.

This thread is really all over the place and I don't see a reason to keep it open. It's not serving any purpose that I'm aware of. It's obvious that the site's services are provided for recreational purposes. No one (including our staff) are obligated to visit the forums 24/7. People have lives off the Internet that entail responsibility and commitment. And of course, it's only healthy to get out sometimes and interact with others on a daily basis. It's called "Living in reality." Once you grow older you'll see that you [i]have[/i] to leave the computer sometimes. lol It's unreasonable to believe that everyone should reside on OtakuBoards at every moment of every day. Especially considering that we have members from various parts of the world whose time zones vary substantially. So, if anything, I think you can visit the various "How much time do you spend on OtakuBoards" threads if you want to know who visits frequently and for how long. *Dodges rotten fruits as he closes the thread.*

First access your profile. Next, visit the options section. Scroll to the bottom where you see the "Avatar" option. You should see a button that says "Change Avatar." Click it. You'll be taken to a menu of the avatars in our database. Once again, scroll down and you'll see the option to upload an avatar from your computer or by linking from an address. Remember that our maximum size for avatars is 80 X 80 pixels. In the future if you have questions like this, it'd be more prudent if you private messaged a staff member or posted the thread in the Suggestions forum. I hope that helps. ^^

It's great to see you back, Matt. :) Of course, it's terrific to hear how well you're doing. You were always a fun member to have on OtakuBoards, I'd say. So, I'm very happy to see you posting again and to learn of your personal growth as a person. Unfortunately, we don't allow introduction threads any longer. The Newbie Lounge was removed for a number of reasons--one being that we believe that it's possible for members to introduce themselves (or reintroduce themselves as so it happens) through their posts when they express their unique views, beliefs, etc. Having said that, I want you to know that I'm not trying to be hostile at all and we do appreciate you returning. It's just that we can't make exceptions because it would be unfair to others. The thread will remain visible so that, hopefully, others may see it and private message you with their welcomes, though. ^^ I look forward to seeing you around on the forums again, as I'm sure others do as well.

At this rate, I'm inclined to say that this discussion has run its course. Many of you are straying completely off topic and this discussion isn't what it once was, I'm afraid. However, I will allow it to remain open for the time being because I don't think that the problem can be attributed to everyone. The hiccup in here is mainly due to a handful of people. To them, I say that personal issues should be kept personal and we're not here to debate crushes or the sexual orientation that they imply. I'll be keeping a close eye on this topic and I encourage the moderators of this area to do the same.

At long last, we bring you the voting phase for the second round of the first OtakuBoards writing competition. It's been a week in the making, but we're confident that the correct nominations have been made. In accordance to the information in the submissions thread, voting will work slightly differently this round. Only three of the Otaku Idols are in danger of being ejected from the competition: Juuthena, Deedlit, and Zidargh. Of course, our official judges will still submit their thoughts on the entries and eliminate a contestant based on them, but because of this round's narrower voting scope and a guest judge entering the mix, your votes could potentially be of increased importance. As a matter of fact, they could decide who stays and who is eliminated pending the judges' votes. Remember, the public is essentially a judge. So, be sure to vote for your favorite entry relating to the three aforementioned members and provide any insight or comments in this thread.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by DuoMax [/i] [B]Well, personally, I found it quite entertaining and a very fullfilling movie. One question though: [spoiler]Why does John think it's the [i]same[/i] Terminator/ He saw it get destroyed in the 2nd movie![/spoiler] [/B][/QUOTE] [spoiler]You know, that's a good question. I can only assume that he was disoriented--and with time travel obviously being a focal point in the [i]Terminator[/i] movies, you never can tell. As you're probably well aware, they've always mentioned that the Terminator is the closest thing John's had to a father. So, I'm assuming that when he asked him it was one of those questions that he knew the answer to, but just had to ask anyway for hope's sake.[/spoiler]

I'm probably biased towards this game for nostalgic purposes. I was a big fan of TMNT: The Arcade Game, Hyperstone Heist and Turtles in Time. I was very young and it didn't take much to please me. Combine my two big obsessions at the time (Ninja Turtles and video game) and it was instant addiction. Pure bliss. Well, except for certain 8-bit versions that frustrated me to no end. >> So, it's pretty easy to look at the updated version fondly. It captures the look of the new show quite well. And because the new show's art direction is influenced by the comic book, I'm doubly happy. I doubt that I'll actually pick it up though. I'm not into the franchise anymore nor am I too entertained by mindless beat 'em ups. I've heard that each turtle has a fairly decent repertoire, but "eh." The last title in this genre that captured my interest was Fighting Force--and it was terrible.

Oh, I agree. Considering that this series has such an incredible following and this sequal has been a decade in the making, I think that it lived up to its predecessors effectively. It could be argued whether or not it's [i]as good[/i] as the others or whether it introduces anything as revolutionary as they did. But, in the end, it kept its sci-fi colors and did what it was meant to do. The action sequences were a [b]blast[/b]. It's definitely a perfect summer movie. That's for sure. These scenes (which constitute most of the film) are probably the best I've seen since [i]Matrix Reloaded[/i]. The actual plot is interesting, at least. It doesn't offer much of anything new. A lot of the concepts are borrowed from the earlier [i]Terminator[/i] films. It's a cat-and-mouse chase sprinkled with themes like predetermination, the apocalypse, the threat of relying too heavily on technology, etc. None of this is so deep that it knocks your socks off--but I don't think it's supposed to be. It's all sort of handed to you in transitional scenes between the action sequences. I enjoyed it though. It certainly could have been worse. Fans should be happy.

Hm--I'm a bit disappointed that you didn't really make it a point to encourage a discussion or go into detail much at all here. If you're going to create a thread like this, hopefully you'll have something more thoughtful to say than "it's better on the inside." lol Essentially the unit's main bells & whistles are a DVD burner, 120 GB hard drive, Ethernet support and a TV/broadcast satellite tuner that'll allow you to record television shows. I'll leave this topic open so that members can discuss whether the enhancements warrant a purchase or not when it releases and whether or not Sony will utilize the hard drive properly at this stage. Maybe gamers don't see it as more of a high-end entertainment device instead of a gaming console. Who knows? lol As long as members are talking about [i]something[/i] worthwhile here, I'll be happy.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by James [/i] [B][color=#707875]People who see ghosts are usually weird, wide-eyed freaks. *glances at Charles*[/color] [/B][/QUOTE] John Edward heard that, and he's ready to channel the power of the undead he speaks with on a daily basis and come through the screen [i]just like[/i] Sadako to give you a paranormal knuckle sandwich. [center][img]http://otakuboards.com/attachment.php?postid=427962[/img][/center] This man represents the fact that ghosts visit perfectly normal people all the time and are able to sit down for a lovely little chat, as well.

My biggest pet peeve is [i]probably[/i] when adults ask for something by saying "Gimme." The reason I find it so annoying is because I associate the word with small children that don't know any better. Thus, when an older person uses the word, they're automatically telling me that they don't have any manners. I don't necessarily expect them to begin a request with "May I" but a little "please" definitely goes a [i]long[/i] way sometimes. I'm sure it's not entirely their fault--but it annoys me nonetheless. Poor breeding for sure. I could dive into other issues that annoy me, such as intolerance, but I think that my stance in that area is drawn out pretty clearly. Because, you know, if people just treated one another right and learned to accept difference (of all kind) humanity would instantly jump forward by leaps and bounds.

I'll take this opportunity to update everyone on the competition and apologize for the wait. Currently, the judges are deciding which three contestants will be affected by the impeding vote-off. The selection, of course, has to considered carefully. So, once again, I apologize for the delay. We hope to continue on with the voting as soon as possible.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Senor Ding Dong [/i] [B]All the people who have "cattitude". [/B][/QUOTE] ^_^ [center][img]http://www.otakuboards.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=426060[/img][/center] Forced to tolerate the stink of your human flesh since birth, Philip prepares to disembowel you with unparalleled rage and distribute the leftovers amongst his equally evil friends.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Semjaza Azazel [/i] [B]Can't people just compromise and play along and come up with an answer? lol Instead we have to get into psychoanalytical discussions about who and what a crush should or should not consist of. GAH! ...:D [/B][/QUOTE] But, :elbow, nudge: I notice that you didn't play along. You just mentioned "those of us who are getting into psychoanalytical discussions about who and what a crush should not consist of." :butthead: Aaaanyway, I'm sorry if I embarrassed you Logan, buddy. That wasn't my intention at all. ^^ I didn't mean to suggest that there's anything [i]wrong[/i] with having a crush on someone, per say. Crushes are mostly innocent feelings. People develop crushes on film stars and fictional characters--and there's certainly no chance of [i]them[/i] ever meeting. So, yeah, I certainly don't want to push my opinion on anyone and imply that it's the [i]only[/i] way to think. I won't deny being overly rational. ~_^ It's a fun topic. But, it's always more fun when every side of a discussion is explored, I think. Even if I am overanalyzing here--and I most definitely am--it's more enjoyable to do that and really believe in what I'm saying than to simply "play along." XD If I'm boring here, I apologize. lol. It's just that most members here are so much younger than me that it would be creepy if I had a crush on them. O_o That goes to you too, mister. :cool: [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Arkadyz [/i] [B][color=red][font=times new roman]Aw jeez guys comeon...Quite taking this so seriously...Its just a fun little thread to goof off in :p[/font][/color][/b][/quote] Though, I will admit that OtakuBot had sexy legs while s/he was around...

I agree with the general consensus here thus far. I don't develop crushes on those I meet online. I've said it before and I'll say it again--there's no difference between males and females in the world of the Internet. You're all just text and pixels to me. I have a sneaking suspicion that any crush would be moot because, should I ever meet the real person behind the computer, the overall make-up of the person would be so drastically different from what I imagined that the crush would be kind of ruined. So, it's impossible for me to be attracted to web people in any way whatsoever. ^^;; Yet, I do have major respect for many people for different reasons regardless of gender. More often than not, the people I meet and get to know online have terrific qualities and talents that I can't help but to admire.

There's already a thread about fireworks. It's a bit more broad, as it discusses the legality of them. But, it also leaves room for you to discuss setting them off on your own. ^^;; So yeah, I think that two threads on the first page dealing with today's festivities are plenty. Here's the link to the thread I mentioned that's similar to your own. [url]http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=26497[/url]