James

[color=#707875]RainbowChick, there are millions of people in south east asia who eat all kinds of meat -- including from dogs, cats and rodents. But it's just as normal in that region as eating chicken or beef in the United States. Dog, cat, cow, rat...what's the difference? :-P[/color]

[color=#707875]I agree with Semjaza, in the sense that it depends entirely on the implementation for me. If you look at episodes on The Animatrix, you'll notice that 3D was utilized quite extensively throughout many of the episodes. However, in most cases, it came across as being very natural and fluid. If great care is taken to combine 2D and 3D elements, then yes...I think it's quite a desirable effect, especially if it allows the animators to do things that they couldn't normally do as well in a purely 2D format.[/color]

[color=#707875]I don't know. I still don't think that this is necessarily an entirely fair criticism. Final Fantasy X-2 is a bit like Crystal Chronicles, in the sense that it's more of a spinoff title. People who go in and play FFX-2 expecting a "traditional" Final Fantasy are going to be disappointed, no doubt. I also seriously doubt that FFX-2's battle system is worse than that in FFVIII. Obviously, it's a matter of opinion -- but the FFVIII system was almost universally slammed as being inadequate, while FFX-2 seems to be a more action-oriented spin on the traditional FFX style (which was great). So, I just think there has to be some perspective. The girly fan service label is still something that I view as unfair, particularly because I think it degrades the amount of effort that went into developing FFX-2.[/color]

[color=#707875]I don't have any particular moral objection to cannibalism in and of itself...but obviously, to be a cannibal, you're going out there and murdering another human being. Well, unless the victim wants to be eaten...but yeah, I don't really have an opinion on that. If the guy is stupid enough to volunteer for murder/cannibalism, I don't really care. In any case, the whole PETA thing annoys me. On a basic level, I think PETA is simply ignoring nature. Have you ever noticed the carnivore teeth in your mouth? What about the well-established idea that various forms of meat are part of a healthy human diet? The fact is, human beings [i]are[/i] omnivores. We are naturally able to eat a combination of meat and non-meat foods. That's what's healthy and natural to us. For someone to go out there and say "You shouldn't eat meat", is really foolish. It just flies in the face of a most basic element of human biology. lol Of course, I can understand the whole thing about not tolerating animal testing, or treating animals in a cruel way (obviously I don't think many sane people would support the mistreatment of animals in general). But I think that's probably a seperate issue.[/color]

[color=#707875]I think it's no different to drawing in a particular style. If you can draw well in that style of art, then yeah...you're doing something authentic to that style. The idea that a style of animation [i]must[/i] have particular national boundaries is pretty prejudiced, in my opinion.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Hells Fire [/i] [B]I just can't find these funny at all. The comedy is so dry and plain and in desperate need for some actuallt funny jokes. I've tried to get into them; honestly I have but they just suck to me. I half way like Chef and Bean and at times I even laugh at then, but sadly thats about it. [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]It's called "intelligent humor". ~_^ Anyway, I'm a fan of certain British comedy shows. My favourite would have to be Vicar of Dibley...simply because it's so heart warming, if that makes sense. Sometimes it has me laughing out loud, but usually it's just a kind of "nice" comedy. I guess it's mostly because I like the characters quite a lot. It's very easy to like them. Other than that, I'd say that I also enjoy Keeping Up Appearances. Again, it's not really even as laugh-out-loud funny as Vicar of Dibley, but it has great characters and some pretty humorous situations. I guess the most obvious comedies are Absolutely Fabulous or Mr. Bean...I like Mr. Bean, but I've seen it so many times. It's been showing in Australia for years and years. Same goes for Absolutely Fabulous -- although the main reason I don't watch it often is because Edina annoys the hell out of me. Seriously, someone needs to punch that woman with a truck. Ahem. ^_^;; Actually, I tend to like Rowan Atkinson's other comedy stuff. Black Adder (particularly the later series) are really quite clever. He has the most awesome one-liners...it reminds me of Frasier. The one-liners are always biting and witty. It's really fantastic. I also really love Rowan Atkinson's live performances. I've never seen a live comedy act that I've enjoyed as much as Atkinson's work. It's all very clever; he has a great deal of variety in his performances. Oh yes, and...'Allo 'Allo is awesome. WWII comedy all the way. ^_^; [/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Oblivious [/i] [B]Was FF8 a great RPG? DEFINITLEY! Was it up to crack with the rest of Squaresofts line at the time? Possibly not. I just hope people wont bash another semi-good game because it wasnt as good as they expected to be. I'm not saying though that FF X-2 was a good game. It was like a 5 year old's fan service kind of. [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]Well, Final Fantasy VIII was a good game...but it had problems. I think it is almost universally acknowledged that Square hurt the battle system in that game. Perhaps they were trying too hard to create something new, when in fact, they were simply taking what existed and making it more cumbersome. And what is it with the FFX-2 bashing lately? I don't get it. I haven't played FFX-2, but I get the distinct impression that it's quite a worthy title. Sure, it's a sequel to Final Fantasy X. And sure, it has a slightly less "in-depth" structure to it. But at least it tries to do a few things differently. I almost want to buy this game just because it's getting such an illogically bad wrap from some Final Fantasy fans. Perhaps that means it's actually a [i]good[/i] game. It's not that you can't criticize it or anything...but people keep calling it a girly fan service or something. I think that's really a very unfair criticism.[/color]

[color=#707875]I would have to say that with my experience at school currently...it's very much a fluid issue. For example, I really hate the fact that I have to allow two hours to get to and from school each day. That's basically four hours of travelling each day. It's a pain in the butt, because it's such a big waste of time. Usually I use my travel time to read over notes or to do some work in my journals...but still, it becomes old very quickly. And of course, there are things about school that I don't like. I dislike some projects. And I dislike the approach of some tutors. However, I don't dislike the tutors themselves or anything. Actually, it's just a question of me not necessarily enjoying the way they teach...or the way they teach isn't really helpful to me specifically, if that makes sense. I mean, I don't like it when a tutor sits there and monitors everything I'm doing and holds my hand the whole way. I find that annoying. It slows me down. I prefer tutors who take more of a hands off approach -- if I want help, I'll ask. But I don't want to be spoon fed. Of course, a lot of students are quite happy to be spoon fed. So I understand that everyone has a different feeling about that. Generally though, on balance, school is a positive thing. I'll have a degree at the end and I'll have gained a lot of knowledge and experience. And of course, I'll have made a lot of friends. So it's a pretty good experience overall. But as with all things, there are definitely times that I dislike. It's the same with anything though. But it doesn't mean that I stop appreciating the benefits gained from education. Education is really, really important.[/color]

[color=#707875]Ooo, scar discussion! ^_^; Ahem. Yeah, well...I had chicken pox when I was little. And one of them was on my knee...and I made the mistake of scratching it. So as you can imagine, it became all giant and gross. And it left a big scar. Now, generally, you hear the story that chicken pox scars last forever. Right? They never go away? Wrong! When I look at my knee today...it's as lovely and beautiful as it always was, pre-pox. No scar, no nothing. It's as pretty as a man's knee can get. So there you go. That's just about my only scar-related story, I guess. Enjoy.[/color]

[color=#707875]I always find it a little difficult to even remember all the movies I saw in the last year...or to remember what came out last year and what was the year before. But I'll do my best. ^_^; [b]1) Kill Bill: Volume 1[/b] When I look at what Kill Bill actually [b]is[/b], I don't see much. That is, Kill Bill had an incredibly simplistic story. It was primarily an action movie with some fantastic dialogue. But that's the beauty of it. Its action, visual style and dialogue made it an incredible experience. Although Kill Bill is in itself not particularly original (it is afterall an effective combination of very traditional movie genres and styles), it nonethless comes off as being [i]entirely[/i] original, due to the way it puts various "classic" elements together. I was so impressed by the dialogue, the gorgeous camera work and the stunning use of colour, that I never felt bored. I never really noticed that the story was as thin as paper, because it didn't [i]matter[/i]. The movie was more than that. And I think it deserves a lot of credit for being able to produce that kind of experience. It's definitely the movie that affected me most this year, in general. Kill Adam being the example. [b]2) The Matrix: Reloaded/The Matrix: Revolutions[/b] I feel like I've posted a billion things about this, so I'll keep it short and sweet. I was a huge fan of The Matrix. And I loved the way that Reloaded, Revolutions and The Animatrix expanded the "Matrix Universe". They all tie into each other very cleverly and having seen them all, I can't help but come away impressed. Yes, I felt that a few parts of Reloaded were a bit unnecessary. But what movie is perfect? Generally, the story was incredibly well told. If the dialogue had been Kill Bill quality, I'd definitely have put Matrix on top. But dialogue was spotty in the trilogy, though I think some of that was due to relatively poor acting (ie: Keanu Reeves). Still, The Matrix Trilogy is truly a revelation in the movie industry. Its effects are still being felt and will be felt for years to come. Great stuff. [b]3) X-Men 2[/b] At this juncture I must point out that there are still quite a few movies I haven't yet seen (The Last Samurai, Big Fish, LotR: RotK, etc). So I'm judging this based on a somewhat more limited scope. I would put X-Men 2 here simply because I think it got a lot of things right that the first didn't. Maybe it was just the higher production values, or the fact that the story was slightly more serious in this second instalment. Either way, it was a lot better than the first. I will say one thing though; Halle Berry is a poor actress. Did anyone notice that her Storm accent kept changing all the time? She doesn't know whether she's Egyptian, or British, or American, or New Zealander. Really, it's annoying. And it shows that either she didn't take the movie seriously, or she simply has very little acting skill. [b]4) Terminator 3[/b] Why vote for this? Because I can't think of anything else. All in all, T3 was less of a disappointment than I expected it to be. I think it was saved by two elements; T-X and Claire Danes. Arnold was utterly boring in this movie -- much moreso than in Terminator and Terminator 2, I thought. Boooring. But T-X was rather cool. And Claire Danes knows how to act; when she cries or looks frightened, it looks very realistic. She knows what she's doing. And I think she added a lot of emotion to the movie, where a lesser actress would have brought it down. [b]5) Finding Nemo[/b] Eh, yeah...again, I couldn't think of what to put here. Why Finding Nemo? Well, I only saw it on DVD...so I never watched it at the cinema. It was generally a good film, although I kind of felt that whole "Pixar formula" while watching it...and I don't know, maybe it's getting a bit thin for me. Don't get me wrong; Finding Nemo was a fun movie. It featured some absolutely gorgeous visuals and the characters were all pretty loveable. But I don't know...I didn't enjoy it as much as Toy Story or Shrek. Still, it was a nice film. It's cool that they managed to render Sydney realistically, rather than, you know...putting Uluru (Ayer's Rock) right behind the Opera House, as some American movies and video games tend to do. So getting the geography right, even on a basic level, was refreshing. Although "Wallaby Way" is still a bit suspicious...I guess they got it 95% right, in that case. ~_^[/color]

[color=#707875]We've had graphics battles in the Art forum before...so that's where they should go, yeah. I'm quite happy to let you guys do that if you want to set up a poll and stuff.[/color]

[color=#707875]I also want to point out that if anyone puts an idea that gets rejected, please don't see it as a "shoot down" of your idea. I love the fact that people keep submitting new ideas all the time. And even if 99% end up being rejected for whatever reason, it's still great that people are willing to think up solutions to various problems. So yeah. Don't think that I don't value your ideas; I definitely do. It's just that for different reasons, they aren't always feasable for OtakuBoards.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by cloricus [/i] [B] Other than that I feel the rest of your post should have been conducted in PM. [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]Even though you were doing the same thing as PT, within the thread?[/color] [quote][i]Originally posted by cloricus[/i] [b]If you would like I can quote your whole paragraph. Though I normally just quote snippets because I except people to read pervious posts so I can keep the size and layout of my post within reason. Also if you wish to believe I have a conspiracy against you that is your right, a weird one though. The same applies to similar accusations further down the page in relation to America and Bush; and to clarify I only dislike actions taken by the above people in some cases; some of which I am extremely against but apart from the odd joke I have no grudge against the people or places themselves.[/b][/quote] [color=#707875]If PT's post should have been in a PM...then so should most of your post. Remember, you can't just be dismissive like that when people start to question your logic or the thought process behind your arguments. Afterall, we're talking about a fluid debate here. It's unfair to do one thing and then tell everyone else to do something different. Anyway, by all means, let the discussion about recreational drugs continue. Let's get that back on track.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by cloricus [/i] [B]*Wonders who?s heads up their preverbal* As the technical minded person here I'd like to point out the wonderful invention of [i]Instant Messaging[/i] which has been around for only twenty or so years now and its use is for things like this. Just thought you'd like to know about it, k. [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]Both you and Harry have spammed in this thread. Good job. Debates are quite welcome in Otaku Lounge, whether they're between two people or more. You may remember that Drix and PT have held "official" debates on particular subjects before. These debates are actually designed to be viewed publicly. I certainly don't have anything against a reasonable attempt to improve the quality in the forum. It would be advisable to let Moderators do their job in future, Cloricus.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by rttocs77 [/i] [B]Newsflash: people use drugs prescribed by a doctor as recreational drugs. Also a lot of drugs that are illegal nowadays used to be prescribed by doctors, until people started abusing them way too much or they were replaced by safer ones. Did you not read my tidbit on cocaine or did you just selectively read my brilliant post? Another example is that in the 1960's LSD was used in therapy as well as in the 1980's MDMA (E) was used in marriage counseling. So shut the f**k up. [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]I agree with Semjaza in terms of talking about drugs and how their roles have changed over time. As he said, we simply learn more about these substances as time goes on. I would say that it's pretty difficult to defend illegal drugs. Not only do most of these drugs have very little in the way of physical health benefits, but most of them are incredibly dangerous to the body. That's just simple fact, really. Also, we [i]know[/i] that illegal drugs are a big problem all around the world. We know that the combination of drugs being physically dangerous and the addictive behavior of drug-users as a deadly combination. I don't really see how there can be any argument. Sure, you could say that many drugs in moderation are fine. To some extent I think that's probably true. I mean, you can drink a glass of wine a day and you'll notice health benefits, rather than health deterioration. But I think we know that in many cases, you're talking about irresponsible use of drugs...and you're also talking about substances that are incredibly dangerous in and of themselves, regardless of whether or not they're being taken in moderation. I'm sure that the addictive nature of many drugs is also a major factor there. You can say that "it's not the drug, it's the person", but I think that's really very dismissive. It [i]is[/i] the drug to a large extent. Anyway, I certainly don't mind a civil discussion about this topic...but rttocs77, you've broken a couple of rules in this thread alone. I don't tolerate that kind of rudeness. So, you can consider this your very last warning.[/color]

[color=#707875]I don't have any piercings or tattoos...although I've often thought of getting a small private tattoo. ^_^;; My previous partner had a belly button ring...which I thought was pretty cool. It was attractive, without being over the top. I don't really like the idea of "mass piercing"...and there are some objects on the body that should never be pierced in my view (ew lol). But it comes down to the individual's choice really. Same goes with tattoos. I think that small private tattoos are quite nice...but I wouldn't want to go out with someone who had 'em all over their arms and back and stuff. Yeah. I've also thought about getting either a belly button ring, or an eyebrow ring at various stages. But I don't know if I want to put holes in my body just yet...[/color]

[color=#707875]For me, the subject isn't really a yes or no question. I have some friends who smoke marijuana and stuff like that...yet they are all very responsible in school. They are going for the same degree as myself and they're as responsible, if not moreso, than I am when it comes to schoolwork. So in those cases, it's not something I even think about. If they want to do it in moderation now and then and if it doesn't affect their lives negatively...it's not something I get wound up about. I'm not [i]so[/i] concerned with my personal image that I'm going to let them reflect on me. But of course, if these people were actually getting high all the time and were acting like complete fools...I wouldn't be their friend in the first place. So, I guess that's what it comes down to. In terms of myself...I've never had any interest in drugs of any kind. I do occasionally drink alcohol socially, but I never drink it by myself and I never allow myself to get drunk. I've always kept a strong sense of control and I've always been responsible with that kind of thing (not to mention the fact that alcohol doesn't really make me drunk...I would feel sick rather than drunk, if anything). In general though, it's not something I have a massive problem with. If someone wants to go out there and destroy their life...go ahead. It's not my business. However, I would draw the line if that same person was going out there and trying to get kids involved, or putting others at risk by smoking around them. I think that's definitely the wrong approach. If you're going to do that kinda thing, do it by yourself or with like-minded people...but don't force everyone else to experience it.[/color]

[b]|[i]And be quick about it![/i]|[/b] [font=trebuchet ms]"You're here again..."[/font] "Does that surprise you?" [font=trebuchet ms]"I guess so."[/font] "Why?" [b]|[i]An awkward glance[/i]|[/b] [font=trebuchet ms]"...I thought you were disappointed in me."[/font] "Disappointed? No. A little frustrated, but not disappointed." [font=trebuchet ms]"Well, I haven't exactly done anything to make you proud."[/font] [b]|[i]A cigarette is produced[/i]|[/b] [font=trebuchet ms]"You smoke?"[/font] "Yes. I think it's pretty understandable at the moment. Besides, I deserve it." ... "And no, you've done nothing to make me proud. You've always been a victim in one way or another." [b]|[i]A sigh[/i]|[/b] [font=trebuchet ms]"Then why are you here?"[/font] "I don't know. Maybe I'm just doing what I feel is right. I have to admit, it's interesting to see how you've turned out." [font=trebuchet ms]"Interesting? Do you find my misfortune funny?"[/font] "No, I don't find it funny. But it's interesting that you turned a corner there. I'm actually proud of you...if pride is the right word for it." [b]|[i]Silence...[/i]|[/b] [font=trebuchet ms]"I guess it's better than nothing. By the way, how is dad? I haven't seen him in three weeks."[/font] "Your father is a busy man. With all the debts on his head, I'm surprised that he copes so well." [font=trebuchet ms]"I thought you were the one with all the debts on your head."[/font] [b]|[i]A grin...[/i]|[/b] "No. Not anymore." [b]|[i]Another silence[/i]|[/b] "So tell me. Have you been ****** yet?" [font=trebuchet ms]"What kind of question is that?"[/font] "Don't be so defensive. Are you still a victim? Are you a victim like your father was?" [font=trebuchet ms]"...I've learned some lessons. I do the ******* in here."[/font] [b]|[i]Soft clapping[/i]|[/b] "Good to hear. You see? You have to take control early on, or they'll be punishing you the whole time. Joshua learned that lesson the hard way." [font=trebuchet ms]"And when he was a free man, was he still a victim? Did he ever turn a corner like me?"[/font] "In a manner of speaking, he did. He learned not to be afraid of a man's touch. It was his enemy at one stage...but then he embraced it. Maybe it gave him a sense of triumph or something. I don't pretend to know the answers." [font=trebuchet ms]"Well, I'm in control. I like it."[/font] [b]|[i]Soft laughter[/i]|[/b] "You like it, do you? So I should stop bringing you those girlie magazines?" [font=trebuchet ms]"I may have had sex with more men than women, but you watch how fast that changes when I get out of here."[/font] "Hah, well, enjoy it. Enjoy it, but don't start a family...don't make the mistake that your father did. It's the one thing that is eating away at him even today." [font=trebuchet ms]"I wouldn't let any harm come to my family."[/font] [b]|[i]A pause...[/i]|[/b] "Yeah, that's what he said too."

[color=#707875]Poo patrol? Whereabouts do you live, UnsungHero? My holidays have been pretty uneventful really. It's good and bad I guess. Sometimes it gets a little boring, because I'm mostly focusing on work and online stuff. But it also means that I can get a lot more done, compared to when I have classes going. Still, I've been going out now and then and spending time with friends as much as possible. So it's certainly not as bad as it could be. We've had some very hot days down here, but it hasn't been nearly as bad as previous years. Actually, January has been a pretty cool month, compared to the last few years.[/color]

[color=#707875]But Cloricus, the quote you provided from MegaGames is no indication that Nintendo are leaking information. When Nintendo first announced the Nintendo DS, they actually specifically stated that it would be a seperate unit to GBA and GCN -- I've got the press release directly from Nintendo and that's what it says. So yeah. That's part of the press release, as opposed to being an information leak. EDIT: [url]http://www.gmrmagazine.com/article2/0,4364,1457657,00.asp[/url] Although this is only a rumor, I think it's also an indicator of how little we really know about the new machine. E3 is going to be interesting. EDIT: We now know that the Nintendo DS will include wireless LAN support...which could be very interesting. I think one of the most promising applications of the dual-screen idea relates to multiplayer gaming. Also, the memory storage device used on the machine will be a new semiconductor-based card media. There was some debate over that originally (even though I thought that Nintendo's press release was pretty clear about it), but I guess this clears that aspect of it up. It's also been said that Miyamoto is directly involved in software creation for the DS. If this means that he is actually taking the role of director on one or more games, it'd be the first time since the early N64 days that Miyamoto has taken such a role. So that'd be interesting. Apparently various third parties have already signed up to develop for the machine too. Again, that kinda stuff will come out at E3 in May.[/color]

[color=#707875]I agree with Tony's post, basically. It's the same with music, or video games, or anime or anything else. I see a lot of anime fans who are unduly "posessive" over a particular franchise or something. I don't think it specifically relates to music. It's just...I don't know...selfishness? *shrug* It's a personality trait in general, I think. In terms of improving the situation, I think Tony makes some good points here...in the sense that the more coverage these artists are getting, the better. So it's a good thing (others getting to know the artists), rather than a bad thing, especially if you really adore a particular band or artist.[/color]

[color=#707875]Precisely. Cloricus, weren't you the one who was saying that the Nintendo DS would be a successor to GBA? That's what you implied at the start. So yeah...your edit only includes what Tony confirmed to you at the beginning. That is, Nintendo has always said that the Dual Screen would be an entirely new product, unrelated to both GCN and GBA.[/color]

[color=#707875]Well, what you're talking about relates to the actual launch campaign in Australia. The marketing approach they took wasn't particularly unusual, in the sense that by the time they began airing those TV ads, they had already revealed the hardware and games. In fact, by the time they began producing those ads in Australia, Nintendo had already released N64 in Japan and North America. In this case, we're still at an early stage. The machine is due to launch toward the end of the year in Japan and so, E3 will be our first real taste of what it offers. While we might get some small details before then...Nintendo won't even begin advertising it to the public until long after E3 concludes. [/color]

[color=#707875]I'd only add that in terms of debating or discussion...text is a lot easier in some regards. I mean, you can always go back and check what someone said and you can respond to each point individually -- and take as long as you like to do so. However, text is certainly not ideal for this type of conversation. I know that on occasion, when I engage in a debate on the boards, a lot of what I say is ignored or skipped. I'm sure that's a result of laziness -- a desire to skim over the post and respond as quickly and sharply as possible. The problem? Key points and aspects of my argument are missed...and therefore, this creates a tendency to recycle the same comments over and over again. But if I'm talking to you on a one-to-one basis, you can't simply skim over my words. You know? If I'm sitting there in front of you, you're listening to my voice and what I'm telling you is probably sinking in quite a lot more. Physical speech has so much more impact than text, when it comes to things like that. As far as chat goes...I find that people can be entirely different in real life, compared to online. Quite often, people who type awfully on the 'net can actually be highly eloquent, intelligent people when they're talking to you in real life. And vice versa -- people who appear intelligent online may actually be an awkward, bumbling mess in real life, in terms of how they talk. For me personally, I'd never want to rely on text-only communication. There are millions of subtle aspects to real body language that you can't possibly replicate online. [/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by cloricus [/i] [B]I suspect that Nintendo will strategically "leak" information about it in the coming month?s right up until E3, and maybe if they use Microsoft some hackers might steal the plans too. (Hehehe...) [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]I doubt that Nintendo will be leaking anything, as such. It's not Nintendo's style. They're like the CIA; it's very, very rare that anything is leaked from within the company. However, I do think that Nintendo will reveal more details before E3 rolls around. We might actually see some photographs of the hardware before the show and if we're lucky, we'll hear something about software. But it's relatively unlikely at the moment, I'd say. Nintendo generally provide very little information until the show itself, because they would prefer that journalists actually play the machine, rather than simply look at pictures and write about it from that point of view.[/color]