Charles

Changing Red XIII's name to "Nanaki" results in awkward moments, from what I can remember. Cloud or someone, says something like "Nanaki's real name is Nanaki," when you first enter Cosmo Canyon. Because of confusing instances like that, I tend to keep the default names.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by James [/i] [B][color=#507AAC]You're now eating your words, Charles? Why? Because the game [i]looks[/i] impressive? Didn't you say that your reasons for disliking it were gameplay-based? Hmm... ~_^ [/color][/B][/QUOTE] Yeppers. The game doesn't [I]look[/I] as bad as I thought it would. I'm a vain sonofagun, so I'm excited that it doesn't look as poor as I initially thought it would. The new characters make feel all warm and fuzzy too, even though they're probably going to use preexisting move sets. I'm [i]still[/I] a little skeptical when it comes to the gameplay though. If I was wrong about the visuals, maybe I'll be wrong about the mechanics and such. [i]Maybe[/I]. I agree about that tunic though. Damn Jabroni won't leave me alone about Link's private parts! >_<

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Zidane [/i] [B][SIZE=1][COLOR=darkblue]Once again, another Cel Shaded sequel. I saw a video of this a while back and it looks like a change. [/COLOR][/SIZE] [/B][/QUOTE] Zidane, I'm certain that Devil May Cry 2 is not cel-shaded. The shots I've seen reflect the original's overall style, but with higher resolution textures, slightly better modeling, and improved shading (which adds to the dark ambiance). I couldn't imagine a gothic game like DMC adopting the soft, cartoony look of cel-shaded visuals, heh.

Unfortunately, I've heard the same thing. Apparently, Johnny Knoxville doesn't want to make any more shows. I don't really blame him; there's only so much they can do with the show before it becomes old and stale. The program is kind of disgusting, but it's hilarious at the same time. The amount of groin shots they endure is amazing. [I]Painful![/I] I don't really have a favorite on the show because I haven't watched it enough to place names with faces. The coolest stunt would have to be when they tight rope walked over the alligator pit in the movie. The funniest moment from the show is when one of them dressed in a gorilla costume and jumped out of trees and drank liquor out of a brown, paper bag. :drunk:

Ah, I kind of did a double take after posting in a thread and coming back to the new graphics, lol. I like the buttons, and the darker colors definitely reflect the color scheme of the banner, obviously. I thought it looked a little odd before, so this is nice.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Alexus Bing [/i] [B][size=1][color=darkblue] These are all good examples of game producers using their licenses to create more and ore money. It's like THQ, with the WWE licsense, they might as well milk it for all it's worth.[/color][/size] [/B][/QUOTE] That's quite different from what we're discussing. The WWE titles are classified as sports games. Like the Madden or NFL 2K games, their developers are able to update them yearly due to the fact that they only have to make adjustments to an existing engine. Because the sports genre is so competitive, the yearly updates are usually a pretty good step forward in one way or another. About BMX...it doesn't matter how poor the game is. The fact of the matter is that sex and BMX are not interrelated. The inclusion of nudity and vulgar language was just a marketing ploy to make up for the game's obvious shortcomings, unfortunately.

I don't watch [i]Joe Millionaire[/i] and I probably never will, but the concept sounds pretty cool. I hate the concept of [i]The Bachelor.[/i] I wonder who raises the women that participate in those shows. Someone forgot to teach them their values somewhere along the line. It's obvious that they do not care about love or true relationships; they are only out for money. That's why I like what [i]Joe Millionare[/i] stands for. It takes the same kind of shallow, gold digging females that participate in shows like [i]The Bachelor[/i] and pulls the rug out from underneath them. Hopefully someone will come out of the show having learned a few valuable life lessons; like how it's more important to be the right person instead of finding the right person for the wrong reasons.

I am indeed eating my words this time. Semjaza has shown me some new screens from Soul Calibur 2...and it looks amazing. So, I've decided to host them and show them to you. The shading and texture quality look amazing. Plus, it looks as if the environments are more expansive. Anyway, I'm most excited about the exclusives for each system. The rumors were indeed true; Link will appear in the GameCrap version, Spawn will appear in the Xlax incarnation, and Heihachi will be present in all his splendor on the Playsuck 2. [center][img]http://cwb.250free.com/Others/soul%20calibur%20pic%201.jpg[/img][/center] [center][img]http://cwb.250free.com/Others/soul%20calibur%20pic%202.jpg[/img][/center] [center][img]http://cwb.250free.com/Others/soul%20calibur%20pic%203.jpg[/img][/center] [center][img]http://cwb.250free.com/Others/soul%20calibur%20pic%204.jpg[/img][/center] [center][img]http://cwb.250free.com/Others/soul%20calibur%20pic%205.jpg[/img][/center] [center][img]http://cwb.250free.com/Others/soul%20calibur%20pic%206.jpg[/img][/center] [center][img]http://cwb.250free.com/Others/soul%20calibur%20pic%207.jpg[/img][/center] [center][img]http://cwb.250free.com/Others/soul%20calibur%20pic%208.jpg[/img][/center] Be sure to send plenty of private messages to Semjaza Azazel thanking him! He told me that he would really appreciate it. Also, it would be nice if you included the attached banner in your sigs. That is all.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Rick Hunter [/i] [B]I have to stick out like a sore thumb on this one, and say screw the earth. I genuinely don't think their are enough decent, morale human beings left on this planet worth saving nor giving up my life for. [/B][/QUOTE] Hey Kev, don't worry about it man. Those opinions about Earth are cool and all, but I don't think your short self would be able to reach the button anyway, lol. :toothy: As for me, I guess that I would be inclined to press the button. If I didn't, I wouldn't have a place to go back to anyway; I would just rot in space. So, I couldn't think of a greater way to give my life meaning than to sacrifice it for a greater cause. Most people will live full lives and never accomplish something so meaningful and important. Sure, it's easy enough to rant about the bad things on earth, but there's plenty of good to go around.

It's always tough to talk about personal problems like this. It's the kind of mental and emotional damage that can't really be healed, only helped. One of my best friends was sexually abused and so was my mom when she was young. So, I can understand where you're coming from somewhat. I agree with Transtic Nerve. You should see a psychiatrist regarding these issues. It will benefit you greatly to discuss these problems with a professional and come to terms with them the best you can. You could also join a group with other people who have endured similar abuse. Getting this secret off your shoulders is definitely a great step in coming to terms with what happened and learning to deal with it. Eventually your family should know. I think it would be better for your mother to know the truth, than to idolize a man like your uncle. Now might not be the time, but you can take the steps I mentioned and learn from the strength of others, and lend them your own strength. It might make you feel really good to help other people who have gone through what you have. Someday I'm sure that you'll be able to sit down with your mother and discuss it. I would hope that she can understand and trust you, even if it hurts her.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Heaven's Cloud [/i] [B][color=indigo]I am way behind you guys, mainly because I keep getting wasted trying to bail out lance from the junkyard...any pointers?[/color] [/B][/QUOTE] That's going a while back, but I took a pretty simple approach. I kept my distance from the gate and sniped the two men beside the car. From there, I stole the car blocking the entrance and ran down anyone in my path until I made it to the garage. Once I freed Lance, I equipped an automatic weapon and was cautious, using the targeting ability to pick off enemies. For some reason, actually breaking into the place without turning the car into a flaming wreck was the most difficult part of the mission.

Well, games based on popular television shows, films, and comic books have been common for as long as I can recall. Do you remember [b]E.T[/b] for Atari? Or [/b]Gremlins, Rambo,[/b] and [b]Who Framed Roger Rabbit for the Nintendo?[/b] It's all elementary. Mainstream entertainment mediums [I]already[/I] have an established fan base. [I]So,[/I] designers who acquire popular licenses don't have to establish fans; they're already going to purchase a product for name value alone. That's where the movie-to-video game "curse" comes in. Developers tend to be a little lax, because they know that they don't need an interesting twist in play mechanics, or a quality product to push them through on sales charts. There are exceptions to be sure, like [b]Goldeneye[/b], but I'm always wary about buying a game based on a popular license. [i]As for the [b]Playboy[/b] game[/I], that is going a bit too far. We've seen blood and gore exploited in gaming. Sex has always been teased at, but I think that the video game industry is really discovering it and marketing it to its fullest now. When sexual themes are used in mature ways, I don't mind. But when they're mindlessly exploited in games like [b]BMX XXX[/b], I take offense as a gamer. I honestly don't see a [b]Playboy[/b] game having a lot of substance. Who the heck would want to play as an old relic like Hugh Hefner?

When I want the latest and greatest in gaming information, I visit Otakuboards! Yes, that's right, Otakuboards.com! Their lines are always open to provide current, spot-on information twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Ask for Semjaza Azazel, and tell him Crazy White Boy sent 'ya! Seriously enough, I visit GameSpot on occasion and browse IGN a bit. Because I don't have Insider, I'm not able to look at a lot of their media though. :o

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by stratigyless [/i] [B]If this has ever happened to some one what did you do about it:eek: :( [/B][/QUOTE] Heh, there's not much someone can do in that situation. Selling drugs and harassing people are some fairly serious charges; I wonder if it was sexual harassment. [I]If it was[/i], look out. He might be removed and placed into a disciplinary school since he's too young to prosecute. I've seen people arrested in school, but it's mostly been because of fighting. There's only one person who I can remember that was arrested for selling drugs. I'm happy to see those kind of people go. I never wanted them in my schools, that's for sure.

The last Devil May Cry was okay. I don't necessarily think it loved up to its hype. The visuals were gorgeous, the play mechanics were spot on (with the exception of a few awkward camera angles) and the main character was terrific. But, the game grew old quickly. Too many of the same bosses were repeated, and magically animated puppets that flail around with reckless abandon aren't my idea of cool enemy designs. Devil May Cry 2 looks promising and seems to address many of its predecessors flaws. Adding another playable character was a nice step in adding replay value; I'm glad that it's not Trish. lol. Dante's new maneuvers serve the game's "cool" theme well. The ability to run up walls is particularly interesting, along with the new gun capabilities (shooting enemies in front of you with one gun, and enemies behind you with the other). Yeah, so, I'm mildly excited about the sequel. It looks killer. If it has more substance and variety than the original, I'll be a happy man. Note to Capcom: Fix the voice acting.

Vampire Ed- :toothy: Anyway, I'm late coming in, but here it goes. Read away! Desbreko145: *posts* Desbreko145: Finally, it's over! ElCrazyWhiteBoy: :tosses confetti: Desbreko145: *collapses on the floor* ElCrazyWhiteBoy: hehehe ElCrazyWhiteBoy: Someone! Get a doctor! This one is exhausted! Desbreko145: Doh! *edits mistake* ElCrazyWhiteBoy: *Desbreko returns to find that OB is now in its tenth version and Zelda is no more* Desbreko145: NNNNNOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! ElCrazyWhiteBoy: :Sad music plays: ElCrazyWhiteBoy: You've made it in time for the funeral though Desbreko145: Whose funeral? ElCrazyWhiteBoy: The Zelda forum's ElCrazyWhiteBoy: Alas, it was a good forum ElCrazyWhiteBoy: But it died so young Desbreko145: I can keep it alive! Just give me a chance! I'm back now! ElCrazyWhiteBoy: lol ElCrazyWhiteBoy: This sounds like a nigthmare, hehehe Desbreko145: *does CPR on Zelda forum* ElCrazyWhiteBoy: Hehe, the legendary Link has returned! All is not lost! Desbreko145: Indeed! [u][b][I]The sequel[/u][/b][/i] Desbreko145: I will not touch your hammer! ElCrazyWhiteBoy: [I]Oh, but you have[/I]. Look at the location. Desbreko145: No! ElCrazyWhiteBoy: :Forces hammer in your face: Desbreko145: I refuse! ElCrazyWhiteBoy: It's stiff and freshly waxed. Desbreko145: AAAGH!!! *runs* ElCrazyWhiteBoy: :chases you around with hammer raised: Desbreko145: NNNOOOOO!!!!! ElCrazyWhiteBoy: Haha, you are powerless to stop me. Mod rod who? My tool is the longest and most powerful of all! Desbreko145: OH YEAH?!?! *chops your hammer in half with the Master Sword* ElCrazyWhiteBoy: [I]Okay, that's going to leave an everlasting impression[/i]. :Wobbles away: Desbreko145: Booyah! ElCrazyWhiteBoy: But wait! ElCrazyWhiteBoy: This is the magical land known as the internet. Soooooooo.... ElCrazyWhiteBoy: *pulls out a bigger hammer, a Swedish Hammer* Desbreko145: Ohhhhh... Not good... Desbreko145: *runs for it* ElCrazyWhiteBoy: Well, remember, you're Robin. The caped crusader is sure to rescue you. Desbreko145: No, no I'm not! Just let the Robin thing go! ElCrazyWhiteBoy: oh man ElCrazyWhiteBoy: :stomps feet: ElCrazyWhiteBoy: C'mon! Let it be our special thing! Desbreko145: No. Absolutely not. I don't do that sort of thing. ElCrazyWhiteBoy: :snaps finger and releases the Robin thing; watches it flutter away. Waves teary-eyed: [i]Goodbye[/i]. Desbreko145: Thank you. ElCrazyWhiteBoy: :Sniffles: No problem. [i]And I am not crying[/i]!

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Semjaza Azazel [/i] [B]Then there are the people who refuse to even budge an inch when you're walking towards them on a crowded sidewalk. [/B][/QUOTE] Yuck. >_

Hehe, neat thread. I will keep cards of everyone tucked in sheets of plastic in a binder. The CWB rookie card will be invaluable. [b]Name:[/b] Crazy White Boy [b]Magic Type:[/b] Light [b]Type[/b]: Great White Frying Pan Man [b]Picture:[/b] [img]http://otakuboards.com/avatar.php?userid=101&dateline=1041369889[/img] [b]Effect One:[/b] The Hammer/Fying pan Blast combo deluxe [b]Effect Two:[/b] Too much Chinese food! [b]Description:[/b] The original OtakuBoards legend. Crazy White Boy is a rare breed of man, combining both dashing good looks with modesty. He manages to make countless ambiguous sexual references about his hammer, while serving as the official OB party host and everyone's hero.

Note: I was not in the sign up, but I was personally asked to make a few guest appearances. I just want to clear up any confusion. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- He had rested in the powerful arms of slumber for an eternity, cradled like an infant. Lezaza stirred restlessly in his own dreams, haunted by faces of the past, souls he had torn away from mortal prison, children he had murdered. Even the innocent reared their heads to heap upon him a sample of their misery. The blue sorcerer was a guest in his own personal hell. For nearly a millennia, he thought he was in hell paying penance for his crimes against the living. The dead swarmed around him like starving locusts. That's when an angel called his name. At first, it was barely discernible underneath his own pitiful cries of agony. But, it grew louder, matured from a whisper to a plea. That voice became his world, a beacon of light that would guide him through the bleakness of a reality his own mind had created to destroy him. Soon, despair left him. Reality beckoned him forth, craved to hear his gospel once more. A finger touched his lips. He kissed it and it withdrew quickly. Lezaza's eyes fluttered upon like window blinds, the light pierced his eyes. Everything was blurry. He wasn't certain if he lie in Heaven or Hell....or somewhere in-between. The musky smell of his chamber filled his nostrils. His body had been preserved through the magic running through his veins. Not even death or time could take him. All at ones, the world's infants began to wail and scream. Their pure souls, untainted by maturity or shame. They could feel his presence the best next to nature. Animals ceased to graze, began to rampage about mindlessly. They could smell and taste his evil in the elements. Lezaza half sat up, resting on his elbow. Much of his strength had yet to return. Slumber had made his limbs weak and his powers dull. But, his spirits welled when he saw her, the one that had summoned him forth....Nepenthe. She was cool and calm, a statue in and of herself. But, she rushed to his side. It was the moment she had awaited for three boring posts.

Thin rays of sunlight poured over the landscape and flooded the earth, instilling vigor and warmth into every object, animal and man. Yesterday had been erased, along with its troubles and responsibilities. The world had been born again, had begun anew with a clean slate. Morning breathed new life into farmer David as well, soothed the pain residing in his old bones. His stone blue eyes were pearls of wisdom; he was the oldest man in town; [i]but not in the morning[/i]. With dawn's early light, everything and everyone had been brushed with the heavenliest coat of paint, a mosaic of colors a man could only hope to describe. Chill rose from the ground, and a yawning sun gazed down on the whole expanse of Briggstown. The old farmer trundled a wagon, old reliable. Its rickety joints were a lot like his. They were tired, slow to start, and made noises, but once they got going, there was no quit in them. The wagon's finish was old and worn, but it was bolted tightly with a big wicker cradle strapped across its frame. As he lifted off its hook for the mules, he noticed for the first time that the stable door had been left ajar. A soft breeze rustled up from the hay and whistled between the boards. David scratched the stubble on his chin thoughtfully--he was certain that he had secured and fastened the door. He cupped his hand to his brow and titled his head upwards, peering into his bedroom. Everything was still; the missus hadn't been disturbed. Once again, his eyes met the door, loose and insecure, tapping against the stable rhythmically. David crouched slowly, bending his knees carefully and seized the closest object his hands could grasp, a shovel. His fingers gripped the rough wood, working their way into a groove. His heart fluttered, he could hear it's hollow thump beating against his chest and jumping into his throat. David crept up on the stable as if it were an unwitting sow. With much trepidation, he inhaled deeply and passed through the doors, slid in like a cunning serpent. The farmer's mouth could form no words, he could not react to what he saw. His limbs became burdened with gaunt and grief. He stood, like a statue before his horses as the old doors closed behind him. No one ever saw farmer David again; he disappeared like yesterday. Sigmund scribbled in his notebook diligently, only pausing briefly to dip a tattered feather into a nearby bottle of ink. The ground was speckled with small, orange embers and cinders of ash; they radiated faintly until they ceased to glow. The fire had long starved, faded like the villagers when the sun retreated behind the surrounding hills. But, Sigmund hadn't noticed, he was entranced with his duties. He wasn't sure if his hands were trembling because of the cold, or because of the excitement surging through his body. His fingers were pink and numb, but his hands worked feverishly, as if possessed or guided by the magic strings of Heaven. Sitting against the edge of town square, adjacent from the window sill he once finagled baked treats from as a boy, Sigmund daintily dabbed the dulled feather tip into the depleting jar of ink once more. [center][I]"Sigmond, lad, you are most clever. No, wait, exceptional is what you are. I can tell just by looking at you. [b]You've[/b] got gumption; you remind me of myself when I was your age. Mark that, my boy."[/I][/center] The mayor wrapped one of his massive, grizzly bear arms around the young man's shoulders and invited him into his quarters. Sigmund?s father once told him that only the most important people receive such an invitation. "One day my son," he once assured Sigmund, pointing a long, bony finger towards the mayor's eloquently carved door, "the mayor will look your way, and you'll know--you'll know that you've made it." It turned out that his father was correct. Unfortunately, he was never able to witness his revelation come into fruition. Mysterious circumstances had swept him away like a passing storm. That's why Sigmund was so quick to accept the mayor's proposal to join the efforts of the official town investigation and reporting team. If only his father had been able to bear witness to the estate?s royalty laden interiors. He would have been very proud. It should have been a quiet night; everyone had been accounted for--all the villagers were safe. But, the emergence of exotic strangers, hired mercenaries and bleak souls masked by suspicion, sparked apprehension. Feelings of distrust and incrimination spread like a brush fire, leaving behind a trail of ruin...[I]and the mayor was keeping his lips sealed.[/i] [i]She had disgraced the royal family on numerous occasions with her outlandish behavior and mischievous adventures, adventures unworthy of her heritage. Calonice frowned upon the increased protection forced upon her. At first, she rebelled, but her protests fell upon deaf ears. Princess Lysistrata was restricted to serving mead and ale to thanes and warriors. She was not to leave the castle or visit the grounds; not even for recreational purposes such as horseback riding or archery. The sudden circumstances surrounding Briggstown were like a cursed blessing. The town's mayor had been falling out of King Charles' favor, suspected of hoarding treasure and not paying his proper respects to the royal family. The unexplained disappearances of the town's people and stock animals not only furthered the king's dissatisfaction, but forced his hand. Supervision was required. It wasn't easy getting in her father's good graces. It certainly wasn't often that he trusted Calonice's judgement enough to allow her to undertake an unsupervised expedition. Because Briggstown was in the breadth of his power and influence, the king granted his daughter an opportunity to prove herself; he didn't see any harm in sending her to his Kingdom's closest territory with a team of trusted knights. Word was sent to Mayor Hullman, that Princess Lysistrata would be arriving shortly. Fate was kind to Calonice; she was able to sneak out and harbor her secret battle gear.[/I] Anticipation and anxiety only simmered in times of peace. The dry retch of death ran rampant, shrouding people up to their necks. Even the tavern's fair walls seemed to drip with crimson blood. Yet, underneath the hollow clanking of wooden cups, men at drink, and uneasy chatter, the establishment's ambiance was subtly soothing...almost pleasing. Idle chitchat reverberated off the walls in time to the smarmy instrumental band hired for the evening. Occasionally, judging eyes would peer over the brim of their cups, prying about for alien faces. The impending arrival of new warriors and thanes conceived a flare of prosperity.....and paranoia. Evening chatter gave way to muffled whispers and forced silence every so often. Everyone tried to avoid discussing the state of their beloved town, although it rested heavily on their minds and on the tips of their tongues. It was difficult to make small talk for fear of accidentally stumbling into troubling affairs. Simple questions became daring inquiries. Polite interrogation, such as "How's the missus," could yield quivering lips and trembling hands. "Missing," was the answer they feared to receive, "gone without a trace." The tavern's heavy door screeched open, its creek fell upon the town's folk like a howling banshee. The inhabitants stirred like rams moving for pasture, when a woman spread her slender, mocha finger tips, around the doorway and sauntered in like a mountain lion, rain-drenched, wind-buffeted, but in her might at ease. Her brown tunic was brushed with raw foliage. Vines and branches clung to both cloth and flesh, refusing to let go. She faced them with burning eyes, waiting. Streaked with brine, she terrified them. Had she risen up from the earth itself, a product of the elements? Beneath the smoky haze, a rickety-looking spiral of stairs, painted with layers of dust, twisted about and disappeared underneath a veil of darkness. "Up there," a soft voice spoke from behind, "the man you seek rests up there, waiting for you with the others." She spun around, her golden eyes meeting the owner of the voice. His legs were wrapped in well-made greaves, fastened behind his heels with silver ankle-clasps. A bronze breastplate was strapped around his chest. His red hair blazing, he spoke, "Make haste, you're the last to arrive. The mayor is awaiting you with handsome robes and cloaks, unlined and shimmering, as payment for your journey." As she disappeared up the staircase, many were left wondering if she was mortal or divine...if she dwelled in Heaven or earth. Her guide's armor sang, lit up the dingy halls and musky corridors. She was the last to arrive, and was now immersed in her thoughts; they were thicker than the commingling odors of mead and ale that flooded her mouth. [i]There were others?[/i] "Mistress, do me a kindness and stay with me," the red-haired man scolded hoarsely. For thirty days and thirty nights she braved sea and land, endured the everlasting swell of salty waves and gale winds. After much weary toil, she found the town of Olivia. At last, he directed her past two heavy doors and into the presence of the mayor, a large, portly man draped in fine cloth. Surrounding him were five others. There was no quirk or evil in them that she could see. Removing a golden flask from his lips, and resting it beside him, the mayor remarked, "You must be Xii! Splendid work Sigmund." With that, he waved away the son of Haemon. The young, red-haired man, Sigmond, bowed obediently and backed out of the room, pulling the doors shut behind him. Xii would later learn that his father was either dead or far away, which left Sigmund?s services in the mayor's hands. For, Sigmund believed that powers of light would requite the loss of Haemon, if he served his town well. The room was large and lavish. Its occupants were draped in mysterious garbs, cloths the likes of which she had never seen. Fabulous works of art hung from the walls, and thick carpet felt soothing underneath her feet. "Mistress," the mayor said eagerly, "you look as if you have suffered many grievances on your long journey. Allow me to give you some new rags to throw around yourself, some cloth or wrapping." "Who are these people," Xii asked impatiently, dismissing his offer. She was usually quiet and friendly, but the trials of travel had left her temporarily withdrawn and restless. Xii's eyes fixed themselves on what appeared to be another female. The mysterious figure's head lie on a crimson pillow, her face guarded behind locks of red and golden hair that seemed to spill forth from every direction. Mayor Hullman introduced himself and paid homage to his guests. "The woman lying before you," he said, rousing the woman with a gentle touch, "is Madam Tylenia. Her milky skin and innocent complexion merely disguise what lies underneath. Much the same can be said of our current crisis, I assure you." The band of travelers leaned forward as the young woman peeled open her garments, revealing a scarred midriff. Small wounds, ghostly white, fleshed over, dotted her body, even more so pale than her normal flesh. The woman blessed with a small frame, seemed to disappear in the soft material in which she was seated. It seemed to swallow her, made her appear even more fragile than her youthful overtones. "You're all here today," the mayor explained, because of a series of occurrences that have swept through our humble town." He detailed the horrific slaughter of the town's cattle, the supernatural disappearances of town's folk of all classes and gender. Occasionally, he would rise from his seat, eclipsing the room in his shadow, a marvelous sight. His eyes seemed to reflect every syllable accordingly, growing in terror or searching about the room wildly with panic-stricken awe, as the story progressed. Cooper marked the mayor's verbal prowess.....the passion welling in his voice. It seemed to him, as if the mayor knew too well, the nature of the crimes. Hullman believed that hardship had sent tragedy in fleshly guise. Harmonious converse had given way to suspecting eyes and idle threats. No one was free from the shackles of suspicion. So, it was necessary to go outside the town for help. Such was the only assistance that could be trusted. Even Hector, bless his father's soul, could be the culprit. Lacroix s'Xalerian of the far east (tutored by nearly a score of arch mages), Cellestine Kittana (born of royal blood) hailing from curse Platina, Alex McNeill of the Faraday Kingdom, Miles "Percy" Cooper of Britain (dressed in the most peculiar garb of all), Tylenia, and Xii, were summoned to ward off the venomous curse, to liberate the town of disaster. "May the gods accomplish your desires," Hullman bellowed, dabbing at the beads of sweat forming on his brow, "woe to your enemies and joy to your friends. Yes, hardship has sent this wicked force to my beloved people, but it has also sent you--and you must bear it. " They stood up now and called to one another. Following the night's rest, they would be led under the river bank, as they were bidden. The mayor raised the splendidly carved lids of his chest and lifted out handsome, rich brocades, cloaks, as many white blankets as his arms could carry, and weighed fifteen full bars of gold. If they lifted his heavy burden, he would bestow upon them the town's fattest remaining sheep, cheese, burnished tripods, shirts, and fine cauldrons. The student of the mages, Lacroix s'Xalerian, shot a sharp glance at his newfound companions. He wondered how a town so ill-stricken, could bear to part with such treasures, even if they were being laid upon the strongest mortals ever bred on earth. In fact, he wondered how the town of Aden had acquired such splendors. [I]The next morning....[/I] When they found him, his scepter was dashed to the ground. He lie on the river bank deprived of all life, the mayor's closest associate. Mr. Jacobs had been hunted down gorges, down narrow glens and back around again, hunted down until he fall where he now lie. The Gods were not with this one, on that fateful, starry night. The heavens did not glisten in his favor. With flashing hoofs, a magnificent beast crashed through brush and vine, found no corner too sharp. Mr. Jacob's finger nails were crusted with soil, black where he clutched and scrambled on the moist earth. The mayor paced back and forth, flustered and panicked. Again and again, he dabbed at his forehead. The small band of hired mercenaries eyed one another sharply. It was not the corpse's expressionless gaze that frightened them so. Nor, was it the tragedy that followed their arrival so closely. But, of one thing they were sure; the crimson rosary the victim clutched tightly, had infinitely complicated matters. Worse yet, princess Calonice Lysistrata, would be arriving shortly on behalf of the royal family to oversee the town's troubling situation. [I]They hadn't noticed her brief departure from camp, hadn't heard her steed's hooves trampling off into the frosty night. Calonice wiped her blade clean, renewing its lost splendor until there was no trace of blood remaining on its fine edge. She didn't care for her father's knights. Princess Lysistrata brought with her, her own brand of justice, The Rosary Knight. Her informant had been correct; Mayor Hullman had indeed been embezzling treasures and goods that rightfully belonged to her father. Mister Jacobs had served as a martyr and her official arrival and town inspection would reinforce the hand of justice. Calonice was confident that the mayor would buckled under his own conscience. She was wary of the mercenaries said to be wandering the town, however. The princess speculated that Mayor Hullman was trying to piece together his own rag tag army to defy the kingdom. Calonice's informant deducted that great, unexplainable forces were at work. One of the mercenaries, Cooper, was said to have been pulled from space and time. Of course, such rumors were rubbish, but the disappearance of so many coupled with strange acts of mutilation, were yet to be explained through purpose or means. Clanking armor and horses being stirred from their rest sounded nearby, along with the low murmur of knights being roused from their own slumber. Calonice tucked a handful of rosaries away with her belongings. Although the sun was rising, once again providing morning light, it was beginning to set for a certain mayor.[/i]

The worst business that's ever come out of my dentist visits was a root canal. I wasn't really nervous about the pain or anything. My tooth was giving me enough of that. It was throbbing so badly that I couldn't sleep at night and my ears began to hurt. [I]Ow[/I]. I was a little nervous that the dentist would peek into my mouth and look horrified, but it turns out that there was nothing to worry about. The needle didn't hurt. Neither did the actual work. So, I doubt there's much to worry about. I just hate the smell of those places.

It's hard to put down a concrete schedule. My time table changes every semester. Because I'm on winter break, I usually go to bed around 2:30 a.m., if not a little later. For some reason I'm rarely ever tired at night. Most days I wake up around noon time. From there, I lounge about for a while, eat lunch, and get showered up. Getting dressed is optional because I live in a nudist colony. Okay, maybe not. If it's a work day, I get up earlier and spend a lot of time there. If not, I go out. Fin.

Well, if it's any consolation, most of the Dreamcast's biggest games have been ported over to one console or another at this point. Typically, there are little to no changes in the ports. [I]So[/I], it is still possible for you guys to discuss a lot of the games. We even have a Marvel vs. Capcom 2 thread going in Sony right now.

Storylines aren't important in games like Marvel vs. Capcom 2. It's an arcade port. Typically, arcade games are all flash and have less substance than games designed specifically for consoles. So, there aren't endings or anything. The only reason you should bother with arcade mode is to gain credits for purchasing more characters, costumes and stages. The game is a nice compilation of the versus series. It features every Marvel and Capcom character that ever knocked heads with one another and then some. If you like frantic, flashy 2-D fighters, then pick this one up. Things really become insane with triple team maneuvers and sprites flying all over the place. The 3-D backgrounds look okay for the most part, but they're sterile and have little to do with the characters. I've always preferred games like Street Fighter Alpha 3 and Street Fighter 3 though. The next Guilty Gear will also be out soon, and I [I]know[/I], who's going to be getting that, lol.

Actually guys, the Panzer Dragoon series never came to Dreamcast. It originated on the Saturn. Anyway, I'm most looking forward to Panzer Dragoon Orta, as well. Although the controls are supposedly shoddy when dodging obstacles and incoming fire, the rest of the game looks fantastic. But, morphing with the dragon is said to be easy. The language that was developed for the game is supposedly beautiful, as well. I've never had the opportunity to play the other games in the series, so I wonder if they spoke similar dialogue in the predecessors. I don't mind that the levels aren't free roaming either. Branching paths would be nice, but I'll take what I can get considering that great shooters aren't easy to come by nowadays. Oh, and Gunslinger, that is some sorely outdated information, lol. The game isn't even called Project Ego anymore; it's Fable. :whoops: