James

[color=#707875]Yeah, but as I said...in GTA, you're using a third person camera and you can jump. The same in Mario. Are they both comparable/same genre? Nope. In terms of first person shooters, the best one I've played on GameCube is probably TimeSplitters 2. Although I haven't played many on GCN. I'd say that Metroid Prime is my favourite adventure game on the system though.[/color]

[color=#707875]As with some others here, I don't know why MP and Halo are comparable at all. Metroid Prime is an adventure game, Halo is a shooter. They are totally different genres. Yes, MP is played primarily with a first person view. But that's like saying that Mario and GTA are comparable, because both use the same third person view. See what I mean? Metroid Prime is designed to be an exploration-based game full of environment-based puzzles and crazy boss fights. Halo is more a straight-up first person shooter, especially if you include the multiplayer mode. So, I find it hard to actually answer this thread, because we're comparing apples and oranges. Having said that, I enjoyed Metroid Prime more than Halo. I only liked Halo for the multiplayer, but honestly, I didn't find Halo's multiplayer to be as great as many were saying. I really don't know why the game was hyped up so much. The level designs were pretty average, the addition of vehicles was kinda "eh" (I mean, vehicles don't add much to the dynamic in my view - especially compared to newer games like Unreal Tournament 2004). So that's my feeling on it, anyway. In terms of comparing Halo to similar games (ie: first person shooters), I think Halo's somewhere around the middle. It certainly doesn't suck, but relative to the genre, I wouldn't say that it's at the very top either.[/color]

[quote name='Strayed Soul']Im very chlostrophobic. So one of my worst possible fears would be being buried alive or being locked inside of a closent. You have no way to get out and its like the walls are caving in on you. Thats why I have a big room ^_^.[/quote] [color=#707875]I am also claustrophobic. I remember watching the scene in Kill Bill 2, where [spoiler]The Bride gets buried alive in the coffin[/spoiler]...and I could [i]really [/i]feel her pain there. The thought of that happening to me is awful. It'd be one of the most cruel things someone could do to me, I think. This also reminds me of an episode of the X-Men cartoon, where [spoiler]Storm gets locked in a solitary confinement cell for days - it's a tiny little cell, with hardly any light. And I remember that when she first got locked in there, she was crying and screaming for a long time. I felt really bad for her, because I'd [i]hate [/i]to be put in that situation.[/spoiler] So, I guess that's probably the only major fear I can think of. I'm not quite sure what the cause is though. But it must be pretty common, because there are a lot of movies and TV shows that feature it in some way. Remember The Sixth Sense, where [spoiler]the boys lock what's-his-name in the attic? (I think it was the attic o_O) That was so cruel.[/spoiler][/color]

[QUOTE=Dragon Warrior]Yays! Piro liked my animation :) Usually you suggest me to do better ^_^ I'm actually a bit surprised people liked this. It's so low-budget and I made it in seconds. But nevertheless, I guess I'll make a new episode. O.o[/QUOTE] [color=#707875]DW, you just broke the rules with this post -- I see an erroneous attachment there. In fact, the first post in this thread was also walking a fine line. If you want to create a thread for people to critique your banner, please do so. But don't litter your posts with unrelated attachments, in an attempt to use OB as a hosting service. I'm just reminding you to be careful about that.[/color]

[color=#707875]I don't think that someone should be telling someone [i]not [/i]to have sex outright. I mean, if someone's going to have sex...they're going to do it regardless of what others say, really. Not to say that young teenagers should be having sex. But I think the discussion is starting to move beyond that. We're now getting to the point where we are starting to tell adults how many people they may sleep with, which is ridiculous. In terms of adults, well...you are responsible for your own health. If you are stupid enough to have frequent, unprotected sex, then you probably deserve to contract an STD of some kind. lol But if you [i]do [/i]have sex in a responsible manner -- and if you're an adult -- nobody has the right to tell you that you're somehow doing something wrong. This discussion is evidence that everyone has totally different views on sex -- some think it's amazing and some aren't so turned on by it (which makes me wonder what they're doing wrong :-P Kidding, kidding!) In terms of teens having sex...I think it's obvious as to why there are laws about the "legal age" for sex. Yes, it's not that arbitrary in reality (some people are ready sooner than others), but it should be obvious that kids without the physical or emotional maturity shouldn't be having sex. But if they [i]do[/i], they should obviously be well informed about how to protect themselves (because obviously, short of monitoring every child 24 hours a day, they're going to do it if they really want to).[/color]

[color=#707875]I'm afraid that there's only so much we can do. If we put a warning screen up, people will ignore it. If we put questions up that people have to answer, they won't bother registering. Ultimately, we have to rely on our staff to point people in the right direction. Also, bear in mind that when you haven't yet registered, there is a message at the top of the screen that tells you to read the Rules page before registering. So...that's kind of the equivalent to what you're suggesting here.[/color]

[color=#707875]This is probably the most insane thing I've seen from you, DW. Nice in-jokes, though. ~_^[/color]

[color=#707875]Well that's the thing really; GTA is a great concept and it works very well in 3D. But in some cases, it's just too buggy. GTA fans are settling for second best, I think. Maybe games like Mario and Zelda have spoiled me. But these games really demonstrate some truly sublime and bug-free in-game controls. I don't mean to suggest that GTA should adopt those controls in terms of button mapping or anything. That's got nothing to do with what I'm saying. I'm talking specifically about controller response, A.I. bugs and other coding flaws. So in terms of quitting while you're ahead...that's the thing; GTA isn't ahead. I mean, Vice City had a few peripheral enhancements, but nothing truly fundamental. Many of the same problems still occurred. So far, I'm hearing about these nice enhancements like riding a bike...but that doesn't actually go back and repair some of the fundamentals that were problematic from the very start. So I'd say, if San Andreas is to Vice City what Vice City is to GTA III...I would be inclined to complain about that. But if we do see something that's a significant upgrade in every respect, I'll be pleased that the developers aren't simply resting on their laurels and throwing in more features, without repairing some of the early structural faults. If those flaws are repaired in San Andreas, we'll have a game that has both a great concept [i]and [/i]a polished execution.[/color]

[color=#707875]Character movement, the aiming system, and the drive-by system all need tweaking. Bear in mind, I am not talking about making them more realistic. I'm talking about making them more intuitive, and developing a better connection between controller inputs and what goes on in the game itself. So nobody's suggesting that the game be spoiled -- far from it. I'm suggesting that they simply tighten up the code in various places to produce a smoother and more playable experience for everyone, including hardcore GTA fans. The same could also be said for the other bugs found in the game (like the frequent problem in GTAIII, where the road sometimes disappears). These problems are either a result of them being rushed too much, or being careless/sloppy. And that doesn't make the game the best it can be. So, while I think that the inclusion of swimming/biking/bigger levels is all fine and good...at the end of the day, I'd rather see a more playable, more enjoyable core gaming experience. I think that's key, even if you enjoy the way the game plays at the moment (and I do -- I'm not knocking it, just saying it's sloppy in some areas).[/color]

[color=#707875]Flawless? Are you serious? ~_^ Most of the reviews of the "modern" GTA games cite poor/clunky controls as being a problem. Mind you, I don't think that the controls are [i]bad[/i]. But they do need to be tightened up and improved. In terms of the modern series, I have always thought that in the overall sense, it was a fun game. If you view it as one big sandbox, that's cool. But on a micro level...when you get down to the nitty gritty of controls and missions, there are several serious problems. This is why I think a lot of critics have kind of looked down on GTA, as being a game that represents the stagnation of the industry. So, from my personal point of view, I am quite comfortable with GTA's controls. But I have to recognize that they could be a lot tighter and more refined than they are now. I'm not talking about outright changing them -- I'm just talking about removing some of the bugs and sloppy coding from the game, and investing more time in finessing it, or something along those lines. [/color]

[color=#707875]I think the worst game I've ever played, that comes to mind, would be the Rampage games. On the arcades, they were fine, back in the day. I mean, they were only designed to be played for a minute or two at each time. The console versions just demonstrated how boring the game really was -- and so repetitive. The repetition wasn't even fun, in my opinion. lol I kind of wonder why those games continued to be ported all the way up to N64. I just found that odd. I'm sure there are other awful games out there, but none come to mind at the moment. I'll have to revisit that. ~_^[/color]

[quote name='ScirosDarkblade']You contradict yourself. You say they're aimed at "completely different audiences" and then you say "there will be some overlap." The latter is correct, of course, and that's the point. In that overlap, there is direct competition. And your likening of this situation to a Mercedes S-class vs. a Hyundai is improper, because there's NO overlap in that situation. The DS and PSP are both high-end handhelds compared to the GBA, and while one will probably cost 1.5 times as much as the other, that's not the same kind of price difference as with cars, and it doesn't have as much of a bearing on the purchase.[/quote] [color=#707875]Sciros...there is no contradiction in anything I've said. The two consoles [i]are [/i]aimed at different audiences. But there [i]will [/i]be some overlap. How much detail do you want me to use to describe this reality? I mean, PlayStation 2 and GameCube are a similar situation. Those two machines are aimed at different target markets in general. But obviously, despite that, the two machines still experience some market overlap. This is a factor that helps to contribute to shifts in market share as well. GameCube is generally targeted towards younger audiences -- at least, this has historically been its target market. PlayStation 2 has been targeted towards "high end" gamers, and non-gamers who have an interest in multimedia-based hardware (ie: buying a DVD player and a game console in one). But this doesn't suggest that the two won't experience some level of overlap. There are obviously some games that are going to appeal to both audiences, and there's obviously some level of competition there. Secondly, in regard to cars...you are missing the point. Obviously you can't compare a price difference between cars and game consoles. But that's not the point -- I'm talking in [i]relative [/i]terms. In addition, we aren't talking about GBA. We are talking about PSP and DS. Yes, in relation to GBA, [i]both [/i]machines could be considered "high end". But in the context of the discussion, we are comparing PSP and DS to one another. So, this is all I'm trying to point out -- that there are nuances in the market that are being ignored here. Nintendo and Sony will explain this on a frequent basis, it's just a reality of the industry.[/color] [quote=ScirosDarkblade] The point is there will be some direct competition. Mostly it won't be perhaps, but there will be some. That's what I said. Maybe you should re-read MY post.[/QUOTE] [color=#707875]Yes, there will be [i]some[/i]. I never disputed that. This is why I asked you to re-read my post -- because you were arguing against a point that I never made. lol The point was being made earlier that these two systems should be compared directly. And as I said, that's fine. But I was just making the point that the discussion should be prefaced by the fact that Nintendo and Sony [i]are not [/i]intending to compete for the same market segments with these platforms. Obviously there will be some overlap, but I [i]already [/i]stated that earlier on. So at this point I'm only repeating stuff that we've already established.[/color]

[color=#707875]The thing I'm noticing about all of these San Andreas revelations is that many of them are window dressing. Some have a fundamental purpose -- like the ability to swim. But what I really want to know, is if the controls have been tightened up...if they've reworked the aiming/movement system and if they've refined drive-by shootings and stuff. I think that stuff would be more welcome for me personally, because I'd rather see the core elements tightened up and improved (although the increased size of the maps and so on is also a great addition -- it's one thing that makes GTA feel like a "virtual sandbox").[/color]

[color=#707875]Wait a minute. You may want to re-read what I said. I said that the two machines are not [i]directly [/i]competing. They aren't. They are going to be targeted at completely different audiences. Does a Mercedes Benz S-Class compete with a mid-range Hyundai? No. They're both cars...and the two dealerships might be right next door to one another. But this doesn't mean that they directly compete. The exact same principle can be applied to DS/PSP. PSP is a much more high-end machine, which Sony hopes will carve out its own top-end niche in the market. DS is more of a mid-range product. It will be more expensive and more fully-featured than GBA, but it won't be a "multimedia" type machine, like PSP. And the pricing will reflect that. So, this is what I'm trying to say. Yes, [i]of course[/i] there will be some overlap. That's a given. And I've mentioned that before -- there's always some level of overlapping in terms of target market. But make no mistake that the two machines are aimed at very different ends of the market, which is something that dictates their design and pricing as well.[/color]

[quote name='ZakuSage][font=Arial']Tales of Eternia. Just thought I'd let you know. ;)[/quote][/font] [color=#707875]Ah yes, thank you. I feel like I have Tales games coming out my ears lately. ~_^[/color] [quote name='ZakuSage][font=Arial']In terms of things like size, or the light used in the screen, yes. However in terms of system power and graphical power, it's huge. Thing the differences between N64 and PS2 huge (as those are the rough areas where each systems power lay).[/quote][/font] [font=Verdana][size=2][color=#707875]Oh yes, of course. But let's not stray from the issue; I was talking about screen quality and that's all. There isn't really much to say about hardware specs; PSP is obviously far superior to DS in every sense. So yeah...that's a non-issue. I was only talking about the screens.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][quote name='ZakuSage']Ah, but even a nanosecond is an amount of time. No matter how short it is, it's still a load time. Thats all I'm trying to say.[/quote][/font] [font=Arial][color=#707875][font=Verdana][size=2]Of course you're right, but let's not get into semantics. We are talking about noticeable loading times.[/size][/font] [/color][/font] [font=Arial][quote name='ZakuSage']Yes, but they do exist, and it's because it used the higher capacity carteridges and had very large worlds. The exact name excapes me, but I've heard this from many sources who are credible enough.[/quote][/font] [font=Arial][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#707875]Yeah, they do exist, absolutely. But again...we're getting into nitpicking here. Some cartridges had very minimal loading times -- so minimal, that they are barely noticeable. And when I say "some", I'm referring to a handful at the very most.[/color][/size][/font] [/font][font=Verdana][size=2][color=gray]So, therefore, loading times simply become a non-issue when one is discusisng cartridges. It becomes an even larger non-issue when you're making a comparison between the cartridge medium and the optical disc medium.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][quote name='ZakuSage']Well even though Sony and Nintendo both state that they won't be competeing, they will still be stitting next to each other in the store where you're buying them. They're both portable 3D gaming systems aimed at people who buy games. Thats enough to put them in some competition.[/quote][/font] [font=Arial][color=#707875][font=Verdana][size=2]I guarantee you, the two machines aren't directly competing. Key word - "directly".[/size][/font] [/color] [font=Verdana][size=2][color=gray]It could be argued that [i]any [/i]piece of game hardware competes with any other piece of game hardware. If you wanted to, you could argue that PS2 competes with GBA, simply because the two machines can be found in the same department in a store.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Verdana][size=2][color=gray]But of course, that kind of logic ignores the nuances of both platforms, as well as the nuances of the market itself.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Verdana][size=2][color=gray]PSP's specifications (including cost), as well as the type of games you're going to see on the platform, are what largely dictate that it won't be competing directly with Nintendo DS. On the one hand, you could say that DS is aiming at the lower spectrum of the market (by virtue of what will be a cheaper price). On the other hand, you could say that DS (by the fact that it is presenting entirely new types of games) is also attempting to attract non-gamers into the market. I think that this is a particularly accurate view of what Nintendo are trying to do.[/color][/size][/font] [/font][font=Verdana][size=2][color=gray]Some have said that they are going to cannibalize their GBA market with DS. But those people do not understand the market at all -- because again, it's very easy to make a blanket claim and say "System A will compete with Sysetm B because they are both portable". But as I mentioned, that tends to ignore the complexities and nuances of both the platform itself, as well as the market. But as with all things, time will tell.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][quote name='ZakuSage']Sorry if I'm bringing up an old debate, but... who's to say that PSP, DS and the GBX won't be competing against each other. This is the way it seems to me...[/quote][/font] [font=Arial][font=Verdana][size=2][color=gray]Well, I'd reference my comments above. PSP isn't competing directly with DS. That's for sure. The question now becomes whether or not GBA2 is going to compete with PSP. And this largely depends on whether Nintendo decides to start matching PSP features (in terms of gaming-specific applications). It also dependings on pricing, type of games, and a whole number of other issues.[/color][/size][/font] [/font][font=Verdana][size=2][color=gray]So yeah, it's a complex question. It's not just about saying "all of these products are on the shelf, so they are automatically competing". I mean, yes...a GBA game and a PS2 game might simultaneously be competing for my attention as a consumer. But obviously it's not that simple. This is why the market tends to be divided into market segments, rather than just one big melting pot.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][quote name='ZakuSage']Well I've never said it would. In fact, these portables competing against each other will bring new advancements and the best games we've seen in years as they try to out to each other. The reason portable gaming has been quite dull and advancing very little over the past 15 years is because Nintendo's held a near monopoly.[/quote][/font] [font=Arial][color=#707875][font=Verdana][size=2][color=gray]Yeah...I never said that you said it would. ~_^[/color][/size][/font] [/color] [/font][font=Verdana][size=2][color=gray]Sorry about that, I wasn't referring to you really. I was referring to those who believe that PSP success automatically equals DS or GBA failure. It's a somewhat understandable reaction, considering the history of the market. But...given [i]today's [/i]market, it's not realistic.[/color][/size][/font]

[color=#707875]The biggest problem I see with these type of debates is that they are very two dimensional. There is an assumption that if Sony does well, Nintendo [i]must [/i]therefore be doing badly. That's not even remotely true and it doesn't reflect the complexities of the industry or the market. The brain wave that many might be missing is simply this; [i]there is plenty of room for PSP, DS, GBA and then some[/i]. One machine being successful doesn't necessarily kill off another. I would suggest that PSP is not being aimed at either the DS or the GBA. It has virtually nothing in common with the DS in terms of what it represents. If anything, it's closer to GBA...and even then, that's quite a stretch. I am willing to bet that PSP will appeal to a pretty different type of customer. So, PSP may do well...fantastic. I hope it does. The more cool gaming technology out there, the better. But let's not get into the whole "I hope PSP fails because I love Nintendo" stuff. PSP doesn't have to fail for Nintendo to do well. I guarantee you that Nintendo will continue to do well regardless of PSP -- if they fail, it won't be a result of PSP, it'll be a result of something Nintendo itself does wrong.[/color]

[font=Verdana][size=2][color=gray]Nobody can say whether or not the PSP will load faster than the DS. The primary reason for this (apart from any technical concerns) is the simple fact that [i]nobody has yet played a PSP or DS game[/i]. The only "playable" things we've seen are the technology demos for DS...and a couple of very simple "demos" for PSP (namely, Metal Gear Acid and that Tales game; the name eludes me right now).[/color][/size][/font] [font=Verdana][size=2][color=gray]As far as I know, the DS demos didn't have any loading times whatsoever. PSP I'm not sure, though I haven't read any complaints about load times at all. So...I imagine that discussing the differences with loading times would be an exercise in futility at this point[/color][/size][/font] [font=Verdana][size=2][color=gray]Regarding the exposed screen...I think PSP comes with an optional screen cover (though it's not a part of the actual console, it's an attachment).[/color][/size][/font] [quote=ZakuSage] [font=Arial]It is early, but if you look at the officially released spec sheet of the PSP and compare it to the "leaked" spec sheet from Nintendo (because that's all we have to go by, although so far it's been right on the money with the little tidbits Nintendo officially released) and you'll see just how powerful PSP is by comparison.[/font] [/quote][font=Verdana][size=2][color=gray][/color][/size][/font] [font=Verdana][size=2][color=gray]I think that the PSP screen is definitely superior to DS. There's no question about that. The specifications spell it out, as do the hands-on impressions from various media.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Verdana][size=2][color=gray]The only thing I'll say in defense of DS is that the difference comes down to hair-splitting, mostly. DS features a superior screen to GBA SP, as well as an infinitely brighter/better lighting system. So I don't think most consumers are going to get into the nitty gritty details of which screen is better/worse.[/color][/size][/font] [quote=ZakuSage] [font=Arial]Yes. All of them. Let me repeat that... ALL OF THEM. They were just really short. If they didn't load, theres no game. If you're trying to tell me theres no games playable on the GB, I'd like to hear that. I have a GB right next to me and I can prove THAT wrong right away.[/font] [/quote][font=Verdana][size=2][color=gray][/color][/size][/font] [font=Verdana][size=2][color=gray]That's kinda a cop-out. Yes, all games load. But not all games have noticeable loading times -- key distinction there. Although I don't see how this relates to DS/PSP, given what are apparently going to be fairly small load times on both machines, presuming that load times are noticeable at all.[/color][/size][/font] [quote=ZakuSage] [font=Arial]They have little. However, there are a few N64 games that have substantial load times.[/quote][/font] [font=Arial][font=Verdana][size=2][color=gray]Very, very few. Most cartridge-based games feature immediate loading. I can't think of a single N64 game that actually had a loading screen, for example. Mostly, any transitions you see in a cartridge-based game were put there by developers simply as some kind of effect or visual cue; as opposed to disc-based machines, where these screens/animations/images are used to hold the player's attention while information streams to on-board memory.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Verdana][size=2][color=gray]So, generally speaking, I don't think that load times are even an issue...on either platform.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Verdana][size=2][color=gray]I'd also take this opportunity to repeat something that I mentioned earlier; PSP and DS are [i]not [/i]direct competitors. Yes, they're both portable. But that's literally about the only thing that the two have in common. Even their target markets are radically different, which is why the specifications on both machines are also quite different.[/color][/size][/font] [/font][font=Verdana][size=2][color=gray]But as far as I know, that discussion has already been had here...I'm only pointing out that you guys are comparing apples to oranges here. If you want to do that, that's fine...but it should be something that prefaces the entire discussion, in my opinion. If you want a true competitor to PSP, you should wait for the next Game Boy console; apparently Nintendo [i]is [/i]making a next generation Game Boy, which has no relationship with DS (which is, as Nintendo has said a billion times, a "third pillar" in their hardware portfolio).[/color][/size][/font]

[color=#707875]I think it's worth noting that these things are getting longer and longer. If something is [i]too [/i]long, it risks becoming disjointed or unfocused. Granted, I haven't read these yet -- I'm still waiting to receive more. But it's something to watch out for. Aside from how good your English is, or how long your posts are...what will impress me most are your [i]ideas [/i]for the character you have chosen. If your ideas are sound, the other stuff isn't so important. So yeah, I just wanted to make those comments. Don't feel that you need to add to it over and over again during this coming week, to make it more impressive. The length will be whatever it needs to be - depending on how long it takes you to establish an identity for your character.[/color]

[color=#707875]There's nothing wrong with disagreeing. That's not what I'm talking about. You said you didn't appreciate his reference to Mein Kampf. I explained the context of that reference to you (something you may have missed, based upon your response). My comment was also a general one, to everyone in this thread. It's a good idea to read posts carefully rather than skim them, especially so that the context can be understood.[/color]

[QUOTE=black bird] Oh and one last thing I really couldn't appreceate your last remark about mein kamph . Please don't say that again . [/QUOTE][color=#707875][/color] [color=#707875]wrist cutter only said that people were interpreting him as though his comments were from Mein Kampf. I don't understand why that would be offensive to you -- unless the very mention of "Mein Kampf" is offensive in and of itself. I would normally say something like "you guys should lighten up", but I think it's more than that. Some of you are lacking the ability to look at the context here. I haven't read over wrist cutter's posts with a fine tooth comb, so I don't really know if I agree with him or not (although I can basically see what he's saying). But whether you agree or not, at least put in some effort and consider the context of his (and other) comments. Here is a direct quote: [/color] [quote=wrist cutter] [i]Damn you people act like every thing I say is straight out of Mein Kampf.[/i][/quote] [color=#707875]All he's saying is that people are overreacting to his comments. I tend to agree with that -- rather than getting offended and replying immediately, it might be a better idea to consider what is being said...and to come up with a response that targets the actual issues/opinions here. It's not going to do anyone any good to get overly offended, especially when they themselves are taking comments out of context.[/color]

[color=#707875]Um, it won't be relevant in Battle Arena soon, because of changes we'll be making there. I'm sorry to be so vague, but I can only say "stay tuned".[/color]

[color=#707875]Cool. I just want to post [i]another [/i]reminder here, before I forget; when you are adding Jukebox items to your post, please remember to include [b]target="_blank"[/b] in the href tag. This ensure that your Jukebox opens up in a new window ('cause I clicked Bio's without thinking and it took me away from his post, to the Jukebox). There's plenty of time to get that working and stuff, so it's no problem, but it's worth mentioning at this point I think.[/color]

[color=#707875]Wow, very impressive guys. I had no expectation that anyone would use in-thread HTML yet, but the fact that you did shows that it all worked out okay. Cool. I just want to add something that I forgot to mention in the initial sign-up post -- I strongly recommend that if anyone uses the WYSIWYG post editor, that they turn it off when they copy and paste HTML into the thread. This is because the editor is a visual editor and it will wrongly interpret various things...as a result it can kill the HTML. So yeah, the basic or standard editors are probably fine for HTML-insertion. Again, good job to everyone here so far. This thread will be up for about a week, so everyone has plenty of time to add new sign-ups and/or edit their existing ones. [/color]

[center][/center] [center]Kill Adam: Volume 2[/center] Welcome to Kill Adam: Volume 2. Before you begin, please be aware that this RPG is [b]rated [R][/b] and is therefore [i]only[/i] suitable for adults and those with some level of maturity. So what is Kill Adam: Volume 2? It is the second half of a saga - a tale of revenge that is only halfway through, but getting closer and closer to its bloody conclusion. Click here to visit the Kill Adam Official Site. [i]Vengeance is not an easy path, as I have discovered first hand. But then again, my life has never been easy. In the beginning I started with a kidnapped son, a lover and a chip on my shoulder. Now I've only got myself. And the chip has grown a hell of a lot bigger. You'd think that killing more half the people on my death list would satisfy me; it has to an extent. But now the number's down to three. Ann Dominion, the Death Adder...and Adam. I might be one of the world's most accomplished assassins, but I know I can't beat these three on my own. I'm going to need some help. So right now, I'm on my way to visit an old friend who just happens to owe me a favor...[/i] [center]How to Sign Up[/center] In this RPG, I am approaching sign-ups in a slightly different manner. This is because, a) the RPG is already in motion -- this is only the second half of a currently existing story and b) the new characters must fit into the existing story. With that in mind, let me explain exactly how I want you to structure your sign-up. Although you will [b]not[/b] be able to create your own new character, you [b]will[/b] be given significant flexibility with the new pre-made characters. There are two characters to choose from; a male and a female. They are [b]Hattori Hanzo[/b] and [b]"The Daughter"[/b]. You can view currently-known information on both of these characters at the [url="http://www.otakuboards.com/killadam/v2"]Kill Adam Official Site[/url], in the "Playable Characters" section. The information that exists there is set in stone; you cannot change it. However, you can go beyond it and mould your own character. The idea is to have multiple people creating their own versions of these characters (based on the non-changeable information), so that one person may be selected for each. To make things easier, I've created specific sign-up fields for each character, which you can find below. If you have any questions, please ask me within the thread (as opposed to PM -- so that others can view your questions). But please [i]do not[/i] post off topic stuff in here. [center]Hattori Hanzo[/center] [b]Weapon of Choice:[/b] You can choose whatever you like; be creative. Remember that this is your own interpretation of the character, based on the information I've provided on the [url="http://www.otakuboards.com/killadam/v2"]official site[/url]. [b]Age:[/b] Hanzo-san can be an old man or a highly gifted teenager, it's up to you -- but be sure that your choice gels with all the other elements (the rest of the sign up and pre-existing info). [b]Appearance:[/b] You can provide your own image, or you can provide a description. You may also want to include any unique mannerisms that Hanzo-san has, if you like (in other words, be creative). [b]A Sample of Hanzo:[/b] Okay, this is a part of the sign-up form that will differ from what you're used to. Let me try to explain. Considering that I have constructed a few basic outlines for what Hanzo should be, your job is to fill in the rest. But filing in stuff like weapon, age and appearance just isn't enough -- I need to know that you can roleplay as Hanzo too. So what do you need to do? Basically, I want you to write a paragraph or two of your own invention. It could be Hanzo-san training an assassin. It could be Hanzo-san having a fight with someone. Or it could be nothing but dialogue between Hattori Hanzo and someone else. In a sense, it's totally random; it doesn't have to relate to Kill Adam at all if you don't want. The purpose is just to see you "in action" with the character - to see you actually "play out" a scene with [i]your[/i] version of Hattori Hanzo. Remember, it doesn't have to be long. It just has to be darn cool. ~_^ [center]"The Daughter"[/center] [b]Weapon of Choice:[/b] Same deal as above; think about who Yasuo's daughter is. Think about her history, think about her dialogue from Volume 1. All of that stuff may help. ^_^ [b]Appearance:[/b] Again, we know her age and we know a bit about her demanour...now you have to consider how she actually looks. You can use a picture or a written description, same as with Hanzo. [b]Sample of "The Daughter":[/b] You have a bit of an advantage here, in the sense that we've already seen this character have a very limited discussion with Joshua in Volume 1. And again, we know a bit about her past (there are hints at what her father made her do, and so on). So, of course, it's wise to make sure that your RP sample gels with all of that -- and that you take it into account. [center]Kill Adam Official Site[/center] Visit the link above to check out the official site. It will provide you with background info on new characters (which you'll require) and it'll provide full details on how to use HTML in your posts and how to use the Jukebox. This stuff isn't so relevant now, but it will be when the RPG begins. [center]A Final Word[/center] I can only end this sign-up thread by saying that I [i]hope[/i] I've explained everything clearly enough. I understand that some of the elements here might be different to what you're used to, but I strongly encourage you to give this RPG a go if you're interested. Please be aware also that it strongly helps if you've seen Kill Bill (which this RPG is somewhat based on). And, above all, you will [b]need[/b] to have read Kill Adam: Volume 1 (or at least most of it) to understand what's going on here. This isn't the type of sequel where you can just start from scratch as such; you will need to be aware of the other characters and you'll need to understand the context that the new characters are in (so you'll need to be aware of the chapter that involves Yasuo's daughter -- specifically, it's in a blue-coloured post on the second page of Volume 1, written by Shy). Most importantly though, this is all about fun. Don't feel afraid to sign-up, just because of the pre-existing stuff. If anything, this makes your task easier (so you don't have to fill in [i]everything[/i] about the character). And just remember, there are only two characters to sign-up for. So everyone is "bidding" for the character they want. It's [i]not[/i] a first-come, first-serve situation here. The person who I think best represents each of these characters will be accepted into the RPG. Again, as always, please ask questions within this thread (but please do so responsibly; in other words, don't spam it up), so that I can clarify anything that you have problems with right now. Have fun, and good luck! [center][url="http://www.myotaku.com/james"][img]http://www.otakuboards.com/jamesimages/j_logo.jpg[/img][/url] [url="http://www.otakuboards.com/killadam/v2"][img]http://www.otakuboards.com/killadam/ka_icon.jpg[/img][/url][/center]

[color=#707875]I thought I'd bump up this thread by mentioning that I recently bought both Jackie Brown and Reservoir Dogs on DVD. I haven't watched all of Reservoir Dogs yet; I'm just over halfway. But I did manage to see all of Jackie Brown (which feels like a surprisingly long movie). So, I'll wait before I comment on Reservoir Dogs. First, Jackie Brown. I think I'll just put everything in spoilers, just in case. [spoiler]Okay, if you haven't seen this movie...you are doing yourself a disservice. Although I haven't seen all of Reservoir Dogs, I think I definitely preferred Jackie Brown nonetheless. I would also say that for me, Jackie Brown comes pretty darn close to Pulp Fiction (perhaps even exceeds it in some cases), as being my "second favourite Tarantino film" (behind Kill Bill). The story itself is relatively basic, at least until the various plots of different characters begin to weave together. One of the cool things about Jackie Brown is that it uses some key "Tarantino techniques" (like split screening and multiple points of view), but it doesn't labor the point. More importantly still, these techniques are used at critical moments, so that very little needs to be explained in words. I mentioned to Alex that in the case of Jackie Brown, the cinematic techniques are so good that everything feels very polished. I found myself being pleasantly surprised when certain techniques were used, not because of the technique itself, but because it truly did what it intended to do. For example, the split screen that appears when Jackie returns home from prison -- it's very deliberate and it "lets you in on the joke", so to speak, but in a subtle way. Although there are a billion famous actors in Jackie Brown, I [i]really [/i]enjoyed watching Pam Grier. She played her role perfectly. When "Buck" (I forget his name...but you'll see what I mean when you watch it) is interrogating her, he basically tells her that her career is nothing and that if she gets put away (even for a short time), it'll ruin her life even further...you can't help but feel for her. In fact, throughout the movie, she is in many ways classed as the underdog. As a result, I found myself [i]wanting [/i]her to steal the money and get away from the various interests that surrounded her.[/spoiler] So, that's my relatively sloppy summary of the movie at the moment...but again, I strongly urge everyone to see this movie. I think it's vastly underrated. To me, it feels more professionally made than either RD or PF -- not to say that it's [i]better -- [/i]just that it's very underrated in general and that it definitely deserves to sit on the shelf with those other films.[/color]