James

[color=#707875]Yep, sex does sell...and it's primarily directed at straight males. I'd have thought this would be a truly obvious point, whether you're talking about movies, commercial advertising, event promotions or anything else. But in some ways I think that there will always be that element in the media. Sex is something that is pretty biologically hardwired when it comes to men in particular, so of course, it's always going to be the easiest way for a marketer to push a particular product or piece of content.[/color]

[color=#707875]Yeah, Dante won't appear in VJ2 to my knowledge; he's an added extra in the PS2 port of the original game. I can only say that I'm really looking forward to this game, as I enjoyed the original very much. Viewtiful Joe was a breath of fresh air as far as video games go in general...and apparently the sequel will have many more levels and such. So if it's a longer (and better) game, I'm sure it will be just as popular as the first.[/color]

[color=#707875]I found Sixth Sense and Unbreakable to be pretty cool movies. But Signs...eh. For me, the movie was great up until the end. Here is a guy, on his front lawn or whatever...rediscovering his religion, whilst there are aliens invading the country. I mean, I can understand that a man may rediscover something like this during a very extreme/trying period in his life, but it just felt kind of silly to me. At the end it was like "Oh...that's all." That's how I felt, anyway. In general though, I think that the film itself was a pretty strong piece of cinematic work. The various "alien encounters" were handled very well; there were some truly great moments there. It's just a shame that the movie ended in such a way...I found it to be a let down, given what the rest of the film represented. And considering the beautiful twist at the end of The Sixth Sense in particular, perhaps I expected more from Signs. Maybe I was judging it based on something else, I'm not quite sure.[/color]

[color=#707875]Yeah, unfortunately this thread isn't really off to a great start. A very sketchy and random Q&A thing is probably not going to cut it. If the questions were at least more specific, we might be able to get somewhere. But they're not. So...I'll close this thread. Maybe if you were to create something more comprehensive, it'd work out a little better.[/color]

[center][img]http://www.otakuboards.com/killadam/KIlogo.gif[/img] [size=4]Chapter 7: Adam Talks Revenge[/size][/center] [b]Summary:[/b] In this chapter, Jamie has a rare discussion with Adam. The chapter takes place just after Soju goes missing, but before Jamie and Joshua decide to undertake their revenge. [b]Characters:[/b] Jamie Kidd, "Adam" [b]Setting:[/b] Osaka, Japan Note: This is quite a short chapter; it is primarily dialogue driven. We already have quite a few chapters (far more than the "Kill Bill" movie), so I'm preparing to wrap up Volume 1. There [i]will[/i] be approximately two more chapters (depending on what I decide to hold over for the next story, or for something else). Some of you will have had relatively short appearances in this first story, but like the movie itself, the story must have a focus and it is impossible for me to accommodate everyone to an equal degree. Since I want to avoid double posting, I shall add another chapter [i]after[/i] my post for this chapter. Any chapters that are "missing" by the end of Volume 1 are missing/omitted because I intend to cover them elsewhere. This RPG has already been quite a long one...so let's go out with a bang and make it memorable, shall we? The doors were definitely oak and they felt heavier than they looked, when Jamie finally pushed them open. The entire building was dark, as it usually was. It also seemed to be entirely empty; corridor after corridor of doors, with very few lights. Jamie knew that it was deliberate. The building had already been through a couple of raids by the Osaka police and the entire area was well-prepared for more to come. For his part, Jamie was still confused. He had entered the building as always; getting in simply because everyone knew who he was. And usually, on any normal day (or those that Jamie would consider normal), there would be an Angels meeting waiting for him in the conference room. Today was different; Jamie could feel it. It was tangible. Everything looked darker and every door was tougher to push open. It was as though the hinges had all rusted long ago, but Jamie knew that there was only one reason why he felt this way. And that reason's name was Adam. As Jamie entered the darkened conference room, he saw the familiar elliptical table, stretching off into its pitch black bowels. Was the room a lot smaller than usual, today? No, not likely. It was just darker and colder...emptier. But it wasn't empty; Jamie could see a faint glint of silver somewhere at the back of the room. A blade. Adam's blade. Jamie stood at the head of the table and didn't move. He was ready for anything. His muscles were tense and his eyes examined every shape and silhouette, for a trace of movement. If there was one thing that Adam had taught all of his Angels over the years, it was that he was unpredictable and dangerously so. "Take a seat," said a cool-but-husky voice from somewhere nearby. "I might be your enemy now, but I haven't lost my manners." Jamie approached the nearest chair, at the table's end, and sat down on it. He didn't remove his blade, for fear that the two of them may not be alone. The room was dark and Adam [i]never[/i] went anywhere without protection. The silver speck in the distance twinkled brightly in the darkness. A single, thin ray of sunlight was now creeping through the blinds, lifting the black veil somewhat; Jamie could see Adam's hand, gripping the katana's hilt tightly. He massaged it lovingly, as though it were one of his Angels. "I know what you did," said Jamie quietly. His voice broke the silence and was soon followed by a shallow, husky laugh. "You do, now?" replied Adam, a sense of mild fun in his voice. "I suppose it was obvious. Only two types of crime happen in this town; the stuff I do myself, or the stuff I know about." Jamie's voice stuttered a little as he spoke. "Should I bother asking why you did it? What did you get out of it? He was our son." "Mmm," Adam hummed for a moment, as though he were considering his response. "You're asking the wrong question, Kidd. What you really should be asking, is why you got attached to that boy in the first place? You know that I demand loyalty from my Angels." "Joshua and I weren't your Angels, but we were loyal." Jamie knew that Adam was smiling now; he could somehow sense it. "No, you're right. You weren't my Angels. But the two of you owed me, make no mistake about that. Joshua was released from prison thanks to me. And you were given a high-paying job, thanks to me." "And we did our job. What difference does Soju make?" "You got attached, Kidd. You and your ***** got attached. And it made both of you soft and weak. My Angels are loyal to me, but do you think any of them would avoid slitting my throat if they thought there was a profit in it? You bet your *** they wouldn't." Jamie paused. It seemed to him that Adam had something in mind, that this discussion was going somewhere. But where? "Okay, so you have Soju," said Jamie, "is that enough?" Adam sighed. "It's never enough." Jamie stood up from his chair slowly. He could see the silver glint flickering back and forth, but he knew that Adam wasn't standing. "Leaving so soon?" asked Adam, in what almost sounded like a mocking tone. Jamie grabbed his katana tightly and thrust it into the boardroom table, which let out a thunderous snapping sound, as an enormous crack snaked its way across the surface. Adam didn't move. The sliver speck remained in position. "Are you intending to kill me, Kidd?" A grin ran across Jamie's lips, as he gripped the sword tightly. "Killing you here and now wouldn't even begin to do justice." Adam laughed once more, but this time it sounded far more genuine. He apparently found the whole situation quite humorous. "You can try your luck," said Adam. "I'll do even better than that," said Jamie flatly, "I'll get revenge. Pure, old-fashioned revenge. I won't kill you yet; I'll kill your Angels first. And then, when you're all alone...I'll come for you." Adam didn't laugh. He gripped the hilt of his blade a little more tightly; Jamie could hear the leather creak in his fist. "Killing me isn't enough?" "It's never enough." [center][img]http://www.otakuboards.com/killadam/KIlogo.gif[/img] [size=4]Chapter 5: Two Sides of the Coin[/size][/center] [b]Summary:[/b] In this chapter, we learn about Shinmaru Hazuki's history, in two seperate flashbacks. The first deals with the development (and emergence) of his "personality disorder". The second deals with his entrance into the Southern Vipers gang. [b]Characters:[/b] Two-Face (AKA Shinmaru Hazuki) [b]Setting:[/b] Unknown Note: Shin, I'm throwing you a curve ball here; your sign-up never explained how Two-Face developed his two identities, nor did it explain how he joined the gang. This is not a deficiency though. In fact, it's a good thing; now you have the opportunity to jump into his past somewhat, with your post. By fleshing out this character's past (and others), we can build up a history to the story which will allow us to develop future RPGs and such, using these same (and related) characters.

[color=#707875]Please use [url="http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=38651"]this thread[/url] for quotes. Thanks.[/color]

[color=#707875]This is a really interesting article. I'm not sure how much of it is "spot on" in terms of relating to the creator's intent. But I think it's a good interpretation regardless. In regard to The Matrix, all of the symbolism apparent in the films was deliberate -- the Wachowski brothers carefully planned every scene. This becomes particularly evident when one both examines the film [i]and [/i]reads the discussions that the two directors themselves had with fans and media. In regard to Alien...I think there's probably a middle ground. In other words, the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. Much of what this article says about the depictions of two genders is pretty accurate, especially if you have a clear memory of the film. There's definitely a whole "play on genders" thing going on and Ripley's maternal instincts are brought out as a prominent feature of her character; a feature that disassociates herself with other members of her crew in general. Remember the scene where Ripley is holding Newt and they are in the Queen's chamber, while the Queen is laying eggs? The way that there's a kind of stand-off between Ripley and the Queen was pretty interesting, especially if you look at the gender roles aspect. For example, Ripley was always seen as the maternal figure up until that point. And here she is, confronted with the Queen; the Queen doesn't attack her because she's standing there with a flamethrower, in amongst a field of eggs. In that scene in particular, it seems to me that the Queen is portrayed as the more motherly figure, with Ripley being the more masculine one. She goes in there and she burns all of the eggs and so on. At that point, one may almost feel [i]sorry [/i]for the Queen. So, in that sense, I'm not sure how much of it is like a "traditional" horror film. And maybe it's that dynamic which made the series so popular, especially in Aliens. This article does raise some great points, regardless of whether or not they are intended or unintentional. It's definitely worth examining movies in this way, because some of them definitely deserve that kind of examination. I'm sure that the creators throw a lot of things in there that most people aren't noticing, as is the case with a whole variety of films. EDIT: I just considered something, which I noticed upon reading that article again. You know how both the men and women in the ship basically seem to shower/dress/sleep together without any obvious seperation of genders? I think the article brings up a good point in relation to that. And then you have some women members being very butch and aggressive, with some male members being very timid and frightened. The more I think about it, the more it seems apparent that there's something deliberate with the "asexuality" aspect.[/color]

[color=#707875]We did have another N-Gage thread here on OtakuBoards, but I decided to create a thread specifically for this new unit. Basically, Nokia is creating a new N-Gage called the "N-Gage QD". It's not [i]new [/i]in the sense that it's not an "N-Gage 2" or something, but rather it's a redesigned version of the original machine. Before I say anything else, I'll say one thing; [i]it's about time![/i] This is the machine that Nokia should have used at the very beginning, if they were truly serious about the handheld market. As it stands, the current N-Gage is poorly designed and ill-equipped to deal with the likes of Sony's PSP. On the sheer hardware front, N-Gage is somewhere in between Game Boy Advance and PSP in terms of graphical capabilities (though probably closer to GBA than PSP). In my opinion, this was a pretty poor judgement call on the part of Nokia, especially considering the price point of the unit. Moreover, the vertical screen design has been a bit problematic for certain games and the implementation of buttons and other features was lousy. While the N-Gage QD doesn't actually address all of those concerns (because it's still the same machine), it [i]does [/i]seem to improve on various design faults in the original unit. So this should make it a more attractive product in terms of being a gaming device. [center][img]http://ngagemedia.ign.com/ngage/image/ngageQD_460frontalimage_04-13-04_1081921881.jpg[/img][/center] The N-Gage QD is apparently smaller than the original N-Gage, in terms of width across its face (by about an inch). I must say, I thought that the original unit was already quite small...so I'd be interested to see how small the QD actually is when held in the hands. The QD is also a more robust design -- stronger casing and a rubber bumper running around the edge. Though when I read about this, I really wondered how many people regularly drop/throw their N-Gage, to justify the development of such protection. lol [center][img]http://ngagemedia.ign.com/ngage/image/QD_460KeyPad_1081921882.jpg[/img][/center] I haven't played an N-Gage, so I really don't know about this in terms of experience. But I did hear that one of the biggest complaints about the original unit was the fact that the buttons were very flat and flimsy. The new machine raises the buttons higher, making them "fatter". Apparently they also have a more satisfying click to them, which gives them an overall more robust feeling. The 5 and 7 buttons also have the raised part, just like before. And now, it is apparently much easier to roll your thumb around all the buttons. IGN mentioned that more developers are taking advantage of all of the numerical buttons...and if you look at some of the latest games, this is really apparent. So the new button layout could be quite beneficial in that regard. [center][img]http://ngagemedia.ign.com/ngage/image/QD_460DPad_1081921881.jpg[/img][/center] The D-Pad has also undergone some plastic surgery and for the better, it appears. No more "center click" (there's a seperate enter button for that) and an overall more "clicky" and robust pad. Good news, without doubt. [center][img]http://ngagemedia.ign.com/ngage/image/N_GAGE_QD_460Bottom_1_1081921881.jpg[/img][/center] There are two other properties on the N-Gage QD that are really no-brainer fixes. And why the original N-Gage was designed with faults in these areas, I will never know. Firstly, games can now be easily swapped via a port on the bottom of the unit -- you know, just like a [i]normal [/i]game system. lol The original N-Gage requires you to actually open up the entire machine and "install" the game card. Could that be anymore annoying? That is one feature that must have soured a [i]lot [/i]of gamers. Secondly, you no longer have to hold the machine sideways when talking (and thus, you don't have to look like a complete idiot when taking a call). The speaker is located near the numerical pad (just above it) and the microphone is just to the side of the unit, near the D-Pad. So you can hold the machine flat to your face while talking. Lovely. There are some drawbacks to this machine though. As a result of the new design, certain multimedia components are now missing. Most noteably, the MP3 and FM radio features are gone on the QD. However, you can apparently download third party MP3 playback programs for use on the QD...and considering all the other design fixes, I assume that this is a minor inconvenience. [center][img]http://ngagemedia.ign.com/ngage/image/N-GAGE_QD_460Prof_2b_1081921880.jpg[/img][/center] The new unit also doesn't have Tri-Band compatibility and such although from what I've read, this shouldn't be a huge issue for most mobile phone users. IGN has more details about that, should you care to read the article (which is located here: [url="http://ngage.ign.com/articles/506/506283p1.html"]http://ngage.ign.com/articles/506/506283p1.html[/url]). Also, price has changed. If you sign up for a service, you can grab the unit for only $99USD, or $199 without a contract. So what's my verdict? Well, I don't have one yet. Having not actually played either unit, I can't make a judgement on the improvements from that angle. However, I really do believe that this is the way Nokia should have gone at the start. For several years, Nokia has been the world's number one mobile phone maker -- now their design is falling behind in that area (companies like Samsung in particular are pushing past Nokia in some sectors). And the original N-Gage was, in my view, an awful design. It was the most counter intuitive gaming system I've seen -- just as counter intuitive as the Virtual Boy, which is saying a [b]lot[/b] about how poor it was (though at least Virtual Boy didn't need to be operated on to insert game carts lol). I had long thought that Nokia would either end the N-Gage's miserable life, or that they'd actually replace the unit with a new design. The QD will not outright replace the original model, but it will be an option for more "game-centric" consumers -- the kind of people that Nokia clearly wants to go after. I think Nokia is learning what Nintendo has known all along, in regard to handhelds. Keep an intuitive and simple design theme, and don't bog the machine down in complex and unnecessary features. N-Gage QD is a big step forward in my opinion, although it's still not ideal. ...and I don't think that it stands much of a chance against PSP. But, I'm sure it will help. And I hope it does. More handheld competitors is a good thing and if Nokia puts in the effort to develop a great machine, they deserve success from that. If anyone buys this unit, or does a comparison, that'd be great. I'd love to read a post about it.[/color]

[color=#707875]Nice banner, Sen. I think that you chose a great image to work with and the composition works out very nicely. The only thing is, the background reminds me of a microscopic view of cells or worms or something...at least, that's the impression I get when I view it. So, that kinda mixes the meaning up for me. But aesthetically, I think it's quite nice.[/color]

[color=#707875]Well, there's one clear reason why. Money. lol Nintendo can make more money releasing the games seperately. It's as simple as that really. Super Mario All-Stars was made during a time when SNES was coming toward the end of its life cycle. It was in the period just before the Saturn/PSX launch in Japan. So Nintendo needed something compelling. And among other titles, they released Mario All-Stars (which went on to do quite well worldwide).[/color]

[color=#707875]Hm, I don't even know if I can remember the exact order that I bought things. I'll go in semi-chronological order I guess. [b]Game & Watch:[/b] I don't know if this would be considered a game system or what. But I list it here because it was really my first experience with video games, other than the old Atari units (my cousins had an Atari, but I have no idea what it was). I specifically remember playing a Game & Watch two player unit on the school bus, with a friend of mine. I even remember that it was raining outside that day...and we were going on a school excursion. Although, I can't remember the specific game. I had about three units, as far as I remember. But now I only have one of them in its original condition. [b]NES:[/b] I specifically remember my first experience with a NES. I played it at a friend's birthday party. Before this moment, I had never encountered one before. The game I played was Super Mario Bros. And for almost the entire party...I played that game. lol I didn't spend any time with the other kids. I was just [i]completely[/i] amazed by Mario. After that, I got home and told my parents all about it (with the accompanying excited arm movements) and sure enough, my dad bought me one as a surprise soon after. That was very cool. [b]SNES:[/b] I also remember my first encounter with the SNES. My aunt was looking after me and she took me to Myer, where she worked. I saw a SNES kiosk there. Again, at this time, I didn't follow the magazines or anything...so I had no idea that SNES existed. Seeing it at the kiosk was amazing. My aunt rushed me off the machine though (I waited in line to play Mario World -- MARIO!! O_O -- and I got about ten seconds with it lol). Again, I ranted to my dad about it. And he and my grandfather bought a SNES for me. I think my dad mostly did this because he enjoyed playing too; he and I used to play Super Mario Bros. for hours on end, on two player mode. Much fun. [b]Mega Drive:[/b] While I was never particularly a SEGA-hater, I always seemed to buy Nintendo machines. Sega intrigued me though. I remember playing the old Master System several times at friends' houses...and really coming away very impressed. I just never bought one because I preferred Nintendo and I knew that my parents' budget was finite. However, one day they did buy me a Mega Drive for Christmas. It was a Mega Drive II, specifically, with Sonic the Hedgehog 2. What a cool game. It was the second time I'd played a Sonic game (the first time I'd played a 16-bit Sonic game) and I became hooked. I think that my love for Sonic almost equalled Mario; and Sonic was the game that really made me fall in love with Sega in general. [b]Game Boy:[/b] Funnily enough, it took me a while to get a Game Boy. I bought an original one, back when they were doing different coloured shells for it. I got a yellow one. The game I bought with it was Wario Blast, which was rather cool. [b]Mega CD:[/b] This was a weird situation. I saw Sonic CD in a magazine and I really wanted it. But Mega CD was expensive and I really had no intention of actually getting one. But yet again, my parents surprised me. lol I only ever had two games for it though. Sonic CD and Road Avenger. Road Avenger is still one of the coolest things I've ever seen, if only for the artistry and weirdness factor. It wasn't really a game though; it was an interactive anime/movie. [b]Game Boy Pocket:[/b] Erm, yeah, pretty self explanatory I guess. It was the gold version, and I got DK 2 (DKC2? I do'nt know what it was, it wasn't a port though) bundled with it. [b]Game Boy Color:[/b] Again, self explanatory...and not much to say here. I got that re-release of Super Mario Bros., in colour. But again I forget the specific name of the game. I also bought Legend of Zelda DX, which was a pretty good investment. [b]Nintendo 64:[/b] I preordered N64 a full eight months before release. I was [i]that[/i] excited about it. Screenshots of Super Mario 64 were what drove that decision; Mario in 3D? My dreams came true! And did they ever. I picked up the unit on the night of the launch and I played Mario 64 all evening...and all day the next day. lol It's still my most-played game I think, at least in terms of 3D games. For a while, it was definitely my sole reason for existing. [b]Sega Saturn:[/b] I ended up buying this system well after its release. I have a few games for it, including NiGHTS, Christmas NiGHTS (very awesome), Panzer Dragoon Zwei, Daytona USA, Sonic 3D and a few others. Nothing particularly extraordinary though. I've always wanted Panzer Dragoon Saga, which I never seemed to find. I also wanted Athelete Kings (which I never found) and Daytona USA CCE. CCE is gorgeous; it's the version I actually wanted originally. Alas, I was stuck with the awful original port. [b]Sony PlayStation:[/b] I can't even remember what my first game was for the PlayStation. Actually, I think it may have been Final Fantasy VII. So, that was a milestone purchase for me I suppose. It was one of the main reasons that I became interested in PlayStation. During that time, I also found Resident Evil and Tobal No. 1 to be incredible games. Those three games really convinced me to purchase it. [b]Dreamcast:[/b] I really wanted a Dreamcast from the very beginning. The thing that interested me most about it was probably Sonic Adventure; the idea that Sega had finally produced a [i]real[/i] 3D Sonic game was appealing to me. Of course, SA was a mixed blessing in the end. But it was worthwhile. I only have a handful of Dreamcast games (again, I missed out on Daytona), but it's still one of the best gaming-related investments I've ever made, without a doubt. Two games in particular were worthwhile; Jet Set Radio and Shenmue. I am very thankful for these games and for me, they really made the overall purchase very worth it. [b]PlayStation 2:[/b] PlayStation 2 was my second "next gen" purchase. And my first game for it was SSX, which I adored. In fact, I've become a pretty huge SSX fan, although I don't own SSX 3 yet. [b]Game Boy Advance:[/b] I bought this before the GameCube. I loved it as soon as I played it; it really did feel like a big step up in terms of handhelds. Although originally I only had Super Mario Advance, which is definitely not my favourite Mario game. [b]GameCube:[/b] I think that GameCube has probably been my most "complete" purchase in terms of launch. I bought three extra controllers and three games with the unit itself. It was part of a package deal, but it's still the most money I've spent on a console I think. Although I enjoyed the initial games that I purchased, it really wasn't until later that the games I was really interested in started coming along. Games like Mario Sunshine, Wind Waker, Metroid Prime, etc, were the ones that really made the GameCube an important purchase. [b]GBA SP:[/b] I got a Flame SP at the end of last year as a gift. I much prefer it to my original GBA; it really sparked my interest in GBA games again. This is partly because it's nice to lay down on my bed, with the lights off and play it. Beforehand, I'd have to awkwardly sit under a light or something...it just wasn't any good. Mario & Luigi is my favourite GBA game, thusfar. ~_^ In terms of the audiovisual setup, everything is running on a 64cm Sony Trinitron TV. Nothing too fancy, though we're [i]hoping[/i] to upgrade to plasma soon. That should be nice. The entire thing is running on a funky 7.1 sound system, with Boston speakers. Thankfully my dad decided to get it professionally installed, rather than do it himself; the results are definitely noticeable.[/color]

[color=#707875]These "suicide threads" are like a plague. They just never seem to go away. We really have no way of knowing who is serious and who isn't, which is one problem here. Another problem is that there isn't a huge discussion value here; do we [i]really [/i]need to hear about people's suicidal thoughts? Probably not. OtakuBoards is a place for entertainment and although we do allow the occasional debate and so on...I'm not sure if I'm willing to permit a discussion that revolves entirely around suicide, especially since we've had so many of these threads in the past. The main difference between now and then is that now we are far less willing to tolerate pointless or angsty discussion. If anyone is [i]truly [/i]suicidal, I think they know that they should seek professional help, rather than use an anime message board.[/color]

[QUOTE=Semjaza Azazel] Typography is also a good one. If you can, take this with a rather finicky teacher because you'll get more out of it. This basically just involves lying out type well and most likely creating your own typeface by the end of the class. Absolutely necessary for anyone into graphic design on any level. You cannot understimate the importance of type at all. [/QUOTE] [color=#707875]I agree with that completely; I think it's one of the most important elements with any web design. A lot of people do these really awful things on sites; they'll have size 1 text, with a white on dark background and so on. But if you learn about typography and the way the human eye interprets images, you actually realize that this is one of the most counter-intuitive ways to design things. So, I think what Tony has mentioned here is really critical. A good web design isn't about art; the art is definitely secondary. A good design is about functionality above all else -- and that includes typography. Typography is one of the most underrated elements with web design, I would say.[/color]

[color=#707875]I've never understood hazing. Thank god it doesn't really exist in schools over here. I'm sure that it [i]does [/i]exist in some parts of the country...but it's definitely not some kind of pasttime or anything. I never experienced it, or saw someone else experiencing it, while I was in school. I simply don't understand it. Get stuff poured all over you, just to "prove" that you're worthy of getting into some ridiculous team? Ugh, the stupidity. lol[/color]

[color=#707875]Yep, spoiler tags are definitely good. For those who want to know, The Bride's name is [spoiler]Beatrix Kiddo[/spoiler], as far as I know. Apparently you can [spoiler]read her airline ticket in the first movie, which has her name printed on it[/spoiler]. So there you go. If you're a [spoiler]Kill Adam[/spoiler] reader, you'll know why I called my character [spoiler]Jamie [b]Kidd[/b][/spoiler]. ~_^[/color]

[color=#707875]I see what you're saying. I guess that lately (especially with the SK and Nintendo split announced today), I'm seeing a [i]lot [/i]of conclusion-jumping. Especially in the media. I was having a discussion with several N-Sider editors today about IGN's reporting of that incident. It was very biased. When Nintendo split from Rare, everyone blamed Nintendo. But as more info came out, we realized that Rare was (and is) in an utter mess. I know that what we're talking about is different, but I think this is something that has made me extra-careful when it comes to discussing certain subjects. In regard to PSP's effect, I think it really depends on a few points. First and foremost, the most critical question is whether PSP is going to be another Game Gear, Lynx, or something along those lines. In other words, what's the battery life like? So far I've heard various people (including Sony's own projections) saying that the battery life would be four to eight hours -- but probably closer to four. That is not a good sign. Believe me when I say that I want PSP to do well (afterall, I wouldn't mind owning one myself). But, Sony should be careful here. Remember that various "technologically superior" machines came along, in an attempt to unseat Game Boy. And what happened to them? They're all dead now. I think that demonstrates that most consumers don't care about power and so on...it's about the games and the practicality more than anything else. So, I wouldn't worry, from Nintendo's point of view. Sony has a lot more to worry about, because this is new territory for them. This is like going up against Microsoft in the OS market...you're talking about a company with a virtual monopoly. The great thing is that GBA SP is already out there. And profitable. If the Nintendo DS ends up failing horribly, it's not a case of Nintendo having put all of her eggs in one basket. And that puts them in a secure position (well, relatively speaking). In any case, I can imagine a lot of really cool games would be possible for DS. A Marble Madness-esque game where you use your thumb on the touch-pad to roll around (I think that was suggested by IGN), or a golf game where you use a wave of the thumb to determine the strength of the golf shot (suggested by me, "borrowed" by IGN lol). So yeah, there's plenty to look forward to I imagine. I could even see a really cool spin on the Mario Paint idea (where you actually write/paint using your fingers/stylus). The possibilities are really endless with this machine I think. I've heard a lot of really interesting ideas from various people, and I know that the Japanese development community is very excited. The latter is probably the most uplifting news in terms of this machine.[/color]

[color=#707875]Also worthy of note; Tarantino is going to make a prequel to Kill Bill, which will be an anime feature length film. This may have been mentioned elsewhere, but I haven't noticed it, so I thought I'd bring it up. I'm not quite sure who is working on it, but if it's the same as the anime sequence from the movie...then it should be something special.[/color]

[color=#707875]Apparently Super Mario 64 was a software demonstration on the DS. At the moment I'm not sure if they are actually intending to release that game on the system. It's similar to the Yoshi's Story demo on GBA; that demo was shown to third party developers as an indication of what they could achieve. There has been some suggestion that Nintendo (and her third parties) could show anywhere up to 30 titles for the DS at E3. Bear in mind that the DS is probably not a very likely candidate for direct ports -- at least, not [i]direct [/i]ports. Any ported games would have to be substantially changed, I'd imagine, considering that Nintendo and various other developers are focusing on the unique control system for the unit. As far as PSP goes, I'm not sure exactly what the release date is; I don't think one has been mentioned. But it is my understanding that the DS and PSP are quite different machines. Right now, the question of what impact the PSP will have on the DS (if any), is a very open one. DS is a different type of machine (remember, Nintendo said it was [i]portable [/i]and not [i]handheld; [/i]that's one indication) and we may find that the market reflects that in some way. In any case, I think E3 will be a big point for Nintendo followers this year. A very big point.[/color]

[color=#707875]It's really pleasing to see the way in which myOtaku has taken off. I think it's been one of the most successful things we've ever done with this network. Anyway, I use myOtaku simply as a place where I can ramble about whatever thoughts enter my head at the time. Usually, I use it to talk about issues relating to the sites and the community. It's nice to be able to congratulate people for a job well done and it's nice to talk about upcoming features and advances ahead of time. It's also nice to reflect on the way things are going, and to provide a little insight into my own thinking on certain points. I wouldn't say that I generally use myOtaku as a personal blog, though sometimes this is the case. I'm quite happy to talk about personal things occasionally, because sometimes it's worthwhile to do so. But generally I'm not here as a result of my personal life or anything, so my personal life is pretty irrelevant to what I do here. This is mostly why I talk about network-related bits and pieces...because that's what's relevant. I've been using it since the month it launched, but I was definitely not one of the first people to jump on board. In fact, I originally jumped on board because I wanted to encourage people to test it out and play around with it. As it turns out, the site has been remarkably successful -- moreso than anyone involved had predicted, I believe. I'm excited about v2 as well. The introduction will be a little gradual rather than being put up all at once, but it will definitely be a good change. I'm really happy with the way things are going. And it's great that myOtaku has helped our community to grow.[/color]

[quote name='ScirosDarkblade'] I don't even remember specifically why I hate the Animatrix, only that some of it seemed so unbelievably pointless and nonsensical that I was pissed.[/quote] [color=#707875]Watch it again, with a little love in your heart. Then maybe you'll understand it. ~_^ Anyway, with my limited experience in anime, I can't say that I've come across a huge crop of awful shows/movies. At the same time, there are very few series/movies that really stand out as being incredible, in my mind. I must say though, I never understood the fascination with Dragon Ball. I watched two episodes of Dragon Ball Z and I simply couldn't bring myself to watch more. Although I admit that watching only two episodes doesn't even begin to provide me with a background on the characters and plot, I just found the whole thing to be really juvenile. It was like "talk for five minutes, fight a little, talk for five minutes, fight a little". The fights themselves looked really silly, especially for an anime. And I found that kind of odd. And the whole thing seemed to revolve around characters trying to improve their fighting skills and such. Again, I don't claim to be an expert on the series -- or anything even close to it. But even from my limited watching, there was just nothing about it that really grabbed my attention and gave me an incentive to watch more. I guess this also raises the question as to how much of a series you need to watch before you are really hooked on it. Perhaps it's not reasonable to suggest that a series should hook you in within a couple of episodes. I know in the case of .hack//SIGN, I was stumbling my way through the first half of the series before it really picked up and did anything worthwhile. While some may say that it's simply a slow anime, I found that this kind of approach was a result of poor pacing and an uninteresting plot. That is a shame, because I think that .hack actually [i]does [/i]have quite an interesting plot -- it just needed to demonstrate more of that earlier on. So, while I wouldn't say that .hack//SIGN is a bad anime, I would also say that it demands a lot of input from the viewer, in order to really get sucked in. Although, there are various movies/anime like that already (Matrix being one example; brilliant story, but it asks a lot from the audience). Animatrix is gorgeous to watch as a visual piece, but if you see the live-action movies first, you obviously then build a greater understanding of the magic behind the individual Animatrix episodes. So this is an interesting question. Different series seem to demand different levels of audience participation and involvement, in order to get the most out of them. For example, I rarely see people who are fence-sitters, when it comes to Dragon Ball. Either they are completely obsessed, or they tend to dislike the series. To me, this suggests that one can't necessarily watch Dragon Ball as a casual viewer; perhaps you have to put in the time and energy to acquire the taste. Or alternatively, Dragon Ball [i]is [/i]as shallow as I suspect, which is why the vast majority of fans are very young. Who knows. It's still something worthy of discussion though, in my opinion.[/color]

[color=#707875]Regarding avatars that haven't yet been uploaded, I will be continuously uploading them over a period of time. Right now there are [i]so [/i]many avatars here, that I can't do them all in one sitting. So, if you want to keep adding them, by all means do so. But right now there's a backlog to be added, so it takes time. There are also three major Otaku-related projects on the way, which I've been spending a lot of time on. So unfortunately I've had to put these more critical projects ahead of avatars. But yeah, don't think that they are forgotten; they're not. I'll be uploading another batch very shortly.[/color]

[color=#707875]Well, you used yellow and orange. So right off the bat, you know that I think it's a cool picture. ~_^ I'm curious to know whether you did this all digitally, or partly by hand and then digitally. I say that because the linework all [i]looks [/i]digital, but it has a very deliberate "sharp" look to it, which I quite like. It's almost as though it was painted with a thick brush dipped in black ink. And considering the subject matter, this is very suitable. In general I like the style. The way that you've kept it very "flat" and two dimensional, as well as somewhat blending the character with the background...it's just a style that I find very fresh and bold. And it works well here. In particular, I love the way you've done the hair. The individual strands not only look as though they've been painted with a brush, but they [i]almost [/i]look like they've been sharply cut into the page with a katana (how appropriate, eh?) And I also think that you've done the face quite well. Everything is in proportion and you haven't gone overboard with the rendering; you've kept simple lines and simple colour changes in place, as is appropriate. So...I won't give you a numercial rating, as you requested (and because I dislike them myself). I'll only say that this is probably one of the best pieces I've seen from you and I quite like your art in general anyway. So there you go. Be proud. ^_^[/color]

[color=#707875]I think that the whole celebrity crush thing is kinda interesting, for a couple of reasons. One is that I have the distinct feeling that celebrities are often not the same in their personal life as they are in their public life. I'm sure that there are exceptions and that the vast majority of famous people are still quite reasonable and normal in their personal lives. But I know from experience that celebrities can be the polar opposite of how they appear on TV. Case in point would be Tony Barber (at least, I think that's how you spell his last name). He's been a TV show host in Australia for many years now. When I was in grade 5 in primary school, I went to see a taping of our local version of Jeopardy at the Channel 10 studios here. And you know that part at the end, where you have to write your answer with a pen? One contestant didn't have a pen and she sort of quietly raised her hand and whispered "I don't have a pen." So, the lights went up and Tony Barber said something like "What the hell doesn't she have a ******* pen? Someone get her a ******* pen! I don't have time for this ****." Needless to say, the whole audience was like this: o_O;; Now, here's a guy who constantly wears a stupid toothy grin and who you'd think spends his spare time kissing babies and cuddling puppies. On that day, I swear to you...I was under the impression that Tony Barber [i]was [/i]Satan himself! So, this incident really reminded me that people can be the total opposite to what they seem. I've never really been a person to be starstruck or anything. Although I haven't had huge experience with celebrities, I've certainly met a few famous people over the years (quite often just through chance). And I've never been one of those crazy gushing fans or anything. I mean, these people are just like you or me, except that they are famous. So what? It's no different to any other person with any other job. I can't really remember having any crushes on celebrities, although there are obviously famous people who I think are good looking. But being good looking isn't necessarily going to make me have a crush on you...it takes a bit more than that. lol And yes, I'm wholly aware that much of this post may seem silly considering one of my recent myOtaku posts (those who saw it are probably giggling right now -.-), but honestly, I'm telling the truth here. ...I think. ^_^;[/color]

[color=#707875]I think online gaming is definitely in the future of the industry in part. Certain companies are really determined to push the technology forward and it's starting to have an effect. At the moment though, online gaming makes for an industry sector that has a relatively low profit margin. And it hasn't taken off in the way that many had predicted (Square-Enix's PlayOnline network has fallen woefully short of their own in-house targets, for example). I hear a lot about the idea that Nintendo isn't focusing on online gaming. And while that's true to an extent, it's easy to forget that Nintendo were involved with online-based gaming and entertainment years before Microsoft. So, Nintendo aren't "ignoring" online gaming, they're simply making sure that if they deliver online games, they do it without the current costs that are associated with online services. I think that's reasonable and they're certainly free to make that choice for themselves. But I'm also glad that Microsoft [i]has [/i]pushed online gaming with Xbox Live. Even though it's not exactly a big money spinner right now, it does put Microsoft in the front seat in terms of the technology. And the Xbox Live service is easily the most painless available right now -- it's far easier to jump in with Xbox Live than it is to go out and buy all of the peripherals that are required for Sony's online ventures. But online gaming is still only a small piece of the pie, I think. I don't think that the "future of gaming" as a whole rests on this technology. Right now, very few companies are really taking advantage of the Internet to do creative things. MMORPGs (I hate that silly acronym) are probably the only genre that really benefits from online technology in any substantial way. Generally speaking, online games just take the offline experience and add an online multiplayer component. So there's nothing fundamentally new there -- nothing that really [i]demands [/i]consumers' attention. But online-based genres like MMORPG really do start to demand attention because they are entirely designed around online connectivity. For online gaming to take off in a major way, I think we need to see more genres like that -- new types of games that [i]require [/i]an online environment to deliver an experience to the end user. I think it's interesting that right now there is very little discussion about graphics and hardware technology. And that's a good thing. It's true that we are now entering a period where there simply isn't much else to do in this arena. The next generation game consoles will be approaching pre-rendered FMV in terms of real-time game graphics. And the generation after that will no doubt get very close to photorealism and such. Once we start hitting that visual ceiling, what else is there to do? It's no longer a question of competing over who has the best graphics. It becomes a question of who can deliver the most unique and fresh gameplay experiences. And also, in terms of graphics, I think it becomes a question of artistry and aesthetics, rather than raw technical prowess. It's nice to see that we're hitting the ceiling, so to speak. Even now, there seems to be a bigger focus on things like complex A.I. and powerful in-game physics, as a way of drawing people to more "realistic games". Although these things alone do not make good quality games, it's nice that we're at least asking developers to focus on less superficial elements. In terms of controllers and things like that...I really don't know. I don't think they really [i]need [/i]to change very much. I mean, we all have our different preferences with the current controllers out there, but I don't think anyone would suggest that any of the current controllers are really inadequate when it comes to game interaction. They all pretty much do the job. The only way I can imagine this changing is maybe in the more distant future, if you were to start talking about holographics or something. There are actually some companies around the world who are already experimenting with holographics. One company had developed a glass sphere, which is filled with a type of gas. The gas acts as a three dimensional canvas, where lines and colours can be projected in a 3D space. Although I don't think that this prototype is necessarily conducive to a fun gaming experience, it's certainly possible that these early rough prototypes will evolve into something far more elaborate and useful in the future. Who knows. I personally think that VR could make some sort of comeback. I know that sounds silly, considering that just about all of the early VR stuff was total junk. But [i]why [/i]was it junk? It was junk because the display technology wasn't good enough and because the systems that were in place were far too bulky and counter-intuitive. As visual display technology improves dramatically over time (smaller plasma screens and things of that nature), I think you can start talking about a type of VR that is much easier to use (and which provides a much richer visual experience). But I still think that's a way off. There was a conclusion in the 1990's that VR was the wave of the future. But the technology just wasn't there to support it. I think the same could be true with online gaming for consoles. At least, it could be true over the next decade. But beyond that, who knows. It's all a question of whether or not the technology exists and whether or not applications can be made that can take advantage of it. And of course, it's also a matter of cost.[/color]

[color=#707875]Then you'll have to talk to Tony, who owns SNA. :-P[/color]