James

[quote name='Shinmaru' timestamp='1307202252' post='707842'] I'm almost finished with the game, myself. I think I'm near the end of Chapter 8 (there's no way for me to tell lol), and the game has been friggin' incredible. I liked [b]Portal[/b] a lot, but [b]Portal 2[/b] has blown it away. The [spoiler]Old Aperture[/spoiler] section of the game in particular is just soooooo good, with a really great, immersive use of the setting. And [spoiler]Cave Johnson[/spoiler] is just hilarious. I wish there were more of him. [/quote] [font=palatino linotype]Haha, those were two elements that I really loved. [spoiler]Cave Johnson[/spoiler] is awesome. A couple of people were over when I was playing the part where he says [spoiler]Let me answer that question with a question: how'd you like sixty bucks?[/spoiler] The entire room laughed at that, haha. It was just one of those little moments where the game got everyone's attention. As you move on from [spoiler]Old Aperture[/spoiler], you'll find that things start to really get crazy. [spoiler]"Wheatley Laboratories"[/spoiler] is pretty funny, especially as [spoiler]Wheatley simply smashes two test chambers together and boasts about how clever he is and how he's shaking things up.[/spoiler] And the ending is just such a blast. When the very last "puzzle" dawns on you, I guarantee you'll be grinning from ear to ear. It's such a small thing, but it kind of exemplifies the overall genius of the game. Portal 2 really gives me the same kind of feeling I had when I first played Half-Life 2. That is, it really feels like something well ahead of its time. Now I want to go back and play Half-Life 2 again, actually. [/font]

[font=palatino linotype]Thanks for the info on Tales, guys. I may give it a try one day. I only say "one day" because a) I am playing a ton of other stuff right now, b) my tolerance for Japanese turn-based RPGs is diminishing over time and c) I [i]do not[/i] have a really great tolerance for annoying characters, particularly if they happen to be anime-inspired teenage girls. I thought the characters in FFXIII were mostly fine, with the conspicuous exception of Vanille. She is insufferable. So much so that I found it less and less easy to stomach her presence as the game went on. Magus, one game I just started playing tonight is Halo 3: ODST. I picked it up really cheap at EB Games the other day (along with NFS: Hot Pursuit and Portal 2). I only played for about an hour tonight, but so far I'm really enjoying it. ODST has a very different feel to the "main" Halo series. But it's a pretty interesting diversion, at least so far. Also, for all of your Portal 2 fans out there: I finished Portal 2 tonight! All I can say is [i]wow[/i]. This is easily the best game I've played this year (and probably including last year, too). The ending is superb and caps everything off brilliantly. Plus, you get a couple of nice little bonuses when you finish. :) Now I just need to play the co-op mode...[/font]

[quote name='�°°' timestamp='1307002069' post='707785'] If we could indeed toss feeds in there of things like Twitter or our podcast things, that'd be ultra grand! :^D [/quote] [font=palatino linotype]Can you give me an idea of what the feed would look like? Even a really basic mock-up would be good. I agree that we need a better way of presenting the podcast, other than just a network link at the top of the page.[/font]

[font="Palatino Linotype"]The aim of this topic is very simple: if you have any idea about a way to improve OB (no matter how small or large, how crazy or how simple) you can post it here. I know that we use this entire forum for these ideas, but sometimes you may not want to go to the effort of creating a whole new topic for your idea, especially if it's just a small suggestion. I'm definitely open to anything that could be suggested and although I can't promise we will follow up every single thing, I can tell you that I will be paying a lot of attention and I'll be keenly looking at what members have to say. So please feel free to post anything in here, including questions. And again, feel free to be as far out with your ideas as you like - if you think there's something we aren't covering or catering to well enough, please suggest it here. Or if we should be paying attention to something totally new or changing the way we do things, you can also suggest it here. :) (By the way, the poll on this topic might change once these current results are in).[/font]

[font="Palatino Linotype"]I don't really see this problem in my country. I mean, maybe some older people think that gaming is just for kids...but honestly, it's not a huge issue in society or something. I've talked about games with all different kinds of people and there's never been any problem. Gaming is getting pretty mainstream now, especially due to Wii and DS kind of becoming so ubiquitous. It does seem to me that there's some slight religious and/or cultural objection going on in some quarters, but honestly, that's not remotely an issue in Australia. That's not to say that there aren't nerds/geeks around, but it's not the same here as it is in America. One thing I've noticed is that a lot of people who call themselves "geeks" or whatever in Australia don't seem to be as hardcore as their American counterparts. What I mean is, they don't seem to take some of these subjects so seriously. So it's different here and there isn't really that barrier between nerds and everyone else. Most people have some sort of nerdy hobby; some more than others. Meh. I can't relate very well to the general topic I guess.[/font]

[quote name='fujyoshi' timestamp='1306876000' post='707720'] well I just beat no more heros 2 recently and I'm playing tales of the abyss now :D meh I know I'm late to the party I ALWAYS get to the good stuff late -.- [/quote] [font=palatino linotype]Is Tales of the Abyss any good? And don't worry about being late to the good stuff, haha. Although I do buy a lot of new stuff, I seem to discover some gems very late in life. For example, I'm [i]still[/i] playing through Fallout 3! For a lot of people that one is ancient history. :P[/font]

[quote name='Lilt' timestamp='1306815204' post='707692'] [b]So is Portal 2 a longer game than the first one so far? It sounds like it's longer. (I didn't really care about the length the first time around, but more Portal is always good.)[/b] [/quote] [font=palatino linotype]Yep, much longer. And co-op is essentially a whole separate game again - it isn't just a re-hash of the single player levels with two people.[/font]

[quote name='Shinmaru' timestamp='1306744884' post='707673'] Oh man, [b]Portal 2[/b] has left [b]Portal[/b] in its dust so far. The puzzles are as interesting (and tough!) as [b]Portal[/b], but the addition of a stronger storyline has ramped up the fun so much. I love Wheatley popping up everywhere -- the part where [spoiler]he and Chell escape from GLaDOS, leading up to the second half of the game[/spoiler] is [i]fantastic[/i]; like James posted, the visual design is breathtaking -- and the way the story is integrated into everything is so damn awesome. The writing and voice acting are absolutely spot on, as well. Wheatley and GLaDOS have me laughing every time they speak. And I'm just getting to the parts with [spoiler]Cave Johnson[/spoiler], which I am sure will be likewise awesome and hilarious. [/quote] [font=palatino linotype]Haha, I'm actually excited for you, Shin. Isn't that lame? I played again last night and I'm now closer to the end. And I have to tell you, even though you've seen some truly awesome stuff... there are still a ton of surprises around the corner. For example, playing with the gels is fun when you first encounter them. But wait until you're using all of the gels at the same time! It's crazy and so much fun. There's one room in particular that I [i]really[/i] had fun with, without even solving the puzzle itself haha. I was just thoroughly enjoying the experience. I think you'll be able to guess which one that was. ;)[/font]

[font="Palatino Linotype"]I agree with the replies here. Sony have likely been working on PS4 for some time now. But their business model is definitely longterm - PS3 is only just starting to become a viable platform. They will not release a new platform for several years yet, I'd say.[/font]

[quote name='Shinmaru' timestamp='1306714348' post='707662'] Not that far yet -- just finished the puzzle where [spoiler]GLaDOS vaporizes the companion cube a couple of times, and then vaporizes it again if you try to sneak it onto the elevator[/spoiler]. The addition of deadly lasers had me snickering, mostly because it's such a James Bond move and for me hammers home the loathing GLaDOS has for Chell, and I want more bouncing. Much more. [/quote] [font=palatino linotype]Haha, awesome. I'm actually excited for you, Shin. You ain't seen nothin' yet. Once you've played for a couple more hours, your mind will have been blown several times. ;)[/font]

[quote name='Sangome' timestamp='1306711161' post='707658'] [color="#9932CC"][font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]Man oh man I've been wanting to rave about Portal 2, so now's a good a time as ever. I spent last week playing and loved every freakin' minute of it. It's exponentially better than the already fantastic first game in pretty much every way imaginable, and AGH it's just...awesome. One of the best games I have played in a long time. Favorite part was very easily [spoiler]old!Aperture Science. It had a lot of personality and atmosphere even in such a state of abandon, and of course Cave Johnson is a crazy awesome fountain of memes. Learning about GLaDOS's origin story was awesome too and I completely and totally [i]called it[/i] ever since I first saw her in the original game. I felt proud of myself for that. >>[/spoiler] Also, Want You Gone >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Still Alive. Just sayin'. I've had it on a near-endless repeat for the past three or four days now. Very glad I didn't listen to it before I played the game, too, as the lyrics actually contain a decent spoiler. Granted, it wouldn't make sense unless you've played the game, but still... [/font][/color] [/quote] [font=palatino linotype]Agreed on all counts. Portal 2 is pure genius and it is also ridiculously beautiful - not just in the technical sense (although Source is still incredible), but more so in the artistic sense. I was pretty much in awe of the game's design at every single moment. I think my favourite part (so far) was when [spoiler]Wheatley rescues you from the test chamber, just as you're about to pass it. There was something really crazy about it... literally escaping from the room while in the middle of a test. Going from the sterile, glistening white of the test chamber to the decaying (and almost frightening) darkness of the bowels of the laboratory - it was just out of this world! I even loved the way you'd walk up to a gap and Wheatley would say "wait, hold on, let me shine my light over there for the jump". Little moments like that made the game feel real. Wheatley's behaviour seemed natural and even slightly awkward - the fact that he would sometimes get a little behind, or that you could walk up and frighten him... this is the stuff Valve is so good at![/spoiler] I could easily rave about this game for hours, so I totally get where you're coming from. :P[/font]

[quote name='Shinmaru' timestamp='1306682756' post='707647'] [b]FFXIII[/b]'s story is kind of boring so far, so I'm switching to [b]Portal 2[/b] for the time being. Definitely like it a lot so far: The setting is being used to great effect. I love all the touches that are going into it (probably as a result of a greatly expanded budget, I expect). There's some nice variety introduced so far, too -- deadly lasers, reflective cubes, bouncy plates, etc. I hear the best, most fun stuff is yet to come, too, so yay! [/quote] [font=palatino linotype][b]Portal 2[/b] is amazing. I think it almost kills Half-Life 2 as being Valve's best game; and that's a huge statement, considering how brilliant Half-Life 2 is. How far are you in Portal 2? When you get a couple of chapters in, the game starts getting really crazy. It's ridiculously awesome. I don't want to spoil anything, but there are moments where you feel like you're breaking out of the Truman Show...and the way it all happens is just too cool. The twists and turns are very devious (and funny), too. :)[/font]

[quote name='Ducky' timestamp='1306251711' post='707576'] I've always thought the "filler" was an intrinsic and necessary part of the good bits. It's always seemed to me that for Tolkien, the place in which an event happens is just as important as the event itself---particularly when you start getting into mythology, which is what he was trying to create. You're definitely right in that it slows down the reading process, but I have a difficult time imagining Lord of the Rings without the detailed description. It would be impoverished somehow. [/quote] [font=palatino linotype]Oh, believe me, I appreciate detailed description as much as the next person. And Tolkien does this incredibly well. But there were several moments where the description went on for so long that it felt redundant, particularly when the group was traveling. Whilst I think it is valuable to describe the landscape and the environment, there were times when Tolkien seemed to become bogged down in certain details that weren't necessary or even interesting. I think there is something to be said for pulling one's punches at times. There were moments that could have been very beautiful and magical, but they became almost utilitarian due to over-explanation. In other words, I felt that certain moments lost the magic they might have had, because Tolkien could not avoid getting caught in unnecessary technicality. This, for me, made the book a chore to read at times. And that's a shame, because I actually loved the writing. And when something was actually happening - even very subtle character interactions - I was really enjoying the book. Maybe I will re-visit it at some point and give it another try, but my memory of the first time is still too vivid for me to make the effort again at the moment.[/font]

[quote name='Elle Jay' timestamp='1305861844' post='707493'] [color="#556B2F"][font="Times New Roman"][size="3"]I'm getting annoyed by people who are saying "JUDGEMENT DAY IS MAY 21ST!!1!!!!1!111!!1exclamationpoint". May 21st is not Judgement Day. It is Graduation Day. =D[/size][/font][/color] [/quote] [font=palatino linotype]People have been saying that for years. Some Churches have published no less than six separate dates (all of which have passed). So long as they prepare for continued disappointment (which is more likely than not to continue forever), then I guess they'll be OK. chibi, I haven't read The Hobbit but if it is at all lighter than Fellowship of the Ring, I recommend starting there. I began to read Fellowship of the Ring and while it has flashes of brilliance, I just felt that there was far too much filler in between the good bits. There are only so many pages where you can read about how the grass looks, or which way the trees are growing or how tall the mountains are. I was always eager for the moments where the characters would stop in a town or where something would actually happen, because these moments tended to be well-written, funny and even sometimes pretty frightening.[/font]

[font="Palatino Linotype"]Once you get passed the single button battles, things really pick up. It's just a shame that the story is so utterly forgettable. :\[/font]

[quote name='CaNz' timestamp='1305895141' post='707496'] You British people and your extra 'u's everywhere! d: [/quote] [font=palatino linotype]Actually, what you mean is "You [i]entire English-speaking world with the exception of the USA[/i]". That couldn't go by without correction. ;) Anyway, nice castle (and nice pryamid too). How long did it take you to build the castle? It takes me forever to build anything in the regular Minecraft, mainly because I don't like using the basic raw materials (I'm building a castle/fortress at the moment out of, um... is it polished stone? I forget, it's been a while since I played the regular version).[/font]

[font="Palatino Linotype"]Ah that sounds awesome - very clever ideas. :) Is there a certain server you'd recommend? Any that I've seen so far have required forum registrations and stuff like that. I'm not very familiar with the multiplayer aspect. Also at the moment I do spend most of my time in Minecraft Classic. I wonder how hard it would be to set up an OB/theOtaku server for this. Hrm. And I am loving the cottage. :) Looks really awesome. It's amazing how, as time goes by, you can do more with less - the lack of block types (especially in classic) necessitates really creative solutions so that you can build a city with lots of variety.[/font]

[quote name='Lilt' timestamp='1305734995' post='707456'] [b]Okay, I guess it would have helped if I had watched the series. xD That way I would have known about Aleph and the special school. I'll retool my character then. And thanks for letting me know about Aleph. I'm glad you like the logo though. ^^ I'll finish the logo this week hopefully and post up the finished one along with Erde's plan and what they stand for. I can't wait to see the alternative idea. Thanks for your help by the way James. Again, this is going to be a fun RP. ^^[/b] [/quote] [font=palatino linotype]All you need to do is read the first page of this topic, Lilt - you honestly don't need a prior knowledge of the TV show. Aleph is my own invention and it was not part of the show. I have also changed a lot of the show's historical details in my OP. So if you read that, you'll be set. And you can add anything to it that you like. :) Thanks for putting up your ideas, Lilt - I really like them and I am very glad that other people are keen too. :)[/font]

[font="Palatino Linotype"]Last night I started playing [b]Mortal Kombat[/b]. And wow, this game really is a huge return to form for the series. So far I'm really loving it. My only real gripe is admittedly a minor one...but who is doing the character design now? All the characters have this ridiculously cartoony pumped-up look and it's horrible. One reason I liked the digitized characters in the first three games is because they looked like normal people - they had correct proportions. I would really love to see characters with real proportions and slightly toned-down costumes. For me, that'd be much more true to the spirit of the series. Having said that, the graphics are generally very good and the gameplay is really where it's at - fast, well-balanced and a nice combination of old and new. I'm loving it. :D[/font]

[font="Palatino Linotype"]I play Minecraft quite a bit, but so far I've only really played much of Minecraft Classic. I do have a save file for the full game - and I've played quite a bit of that too - but I've been building a city in Minecraft Classic and it's now quite large. I have yet to play online although I'd really love to. I tried entering one or two servers, but I couldn't get onto them for some reason. What I'd really like is to play Minecraft Classic on multiplayer and build a huge city with other players. When I next play Classic, I'll have to take some screenshots of the city I'm working on...[/font]

[font=palatino linotype]Lilt, I like the idea of a "new exodus" involving a trip to Mars. I can see how Erde may think that the Angels are a confirmation of this idea on some level. My only comment would be that we already have [b]Aleph[/b], which is a religious organisation. I have absolutely no objection to multiple kinds of organisations along those lines, but I just suggest that it would be good to differentiate them as much as possible (if only so that we can create some clearer contrasts in the story). I have to say though, I'm really impressed with the brainstorming you guys have been doing. You've been reading the OP and you're coming up with your own ideas, which I am really happy about. :D And I quite like your logo, Lilt. Great work. Also, regarding NERV and the selection of Evangelion pilots: in the TV series, there is essentially a "special high school" where candidates are groomed and chosen. With this RPG - and since I want to stray clear of the TV series in some respects - I want to actually steer clear of the idea of a school (in part due to the fact that I want the characters to be of any age). I do have an alternative idea that is a bit risky, but kind of cool. I think you may like it. :) I'll have some more time this weekend to keep working on this RPG, so with any luck we may actually see an auditions topic soon. I just didn't want to rush it out while I was traveling (and then sick!) Thanks for your patience guys.[/font]