James

[color=royalblue]lol, Justin. :drunk: Hopefully the chances of an asteroid hitting the Earth in my lifetime is the same as the chances of me building my own space shuttle out of coat hangers and scotch tape. o_O.[/color]

[color=royalblue]I don't know what I'd do. I guess I'd try my best to do the things that I really want to do in life. Go to the places I want to visit...spend as much time with family and friends as possible...and just live life as best I can. *shrug* [/color]

[color=royalblue]Hm, some good responses so far. I think we [i]are[/i] at a point where we can discuss religion without getting too fiery. As long as everyone uses common courtesy...it shouldn't be a problem. Panny, I hope that you've found some useful suggestions here so far.[/color]

[color=royalblue]My next GameCube game will probably be Super Mario Sunshine. After that...probably Eternal Darkness, Star Fox Adventures and Metroid Prime. Other than those first/second party games, I can't think of anything that really jumps out at me.[/color]

[color=royalblue]Yep, I shall be closing this thread at the first sign of any "religion bashing". It would actually be interesting if people of all different beliefs could offer their opinion in terms of how Panny Chan could proceed. Perhaps others here have been through something similar?[/color]

[color=royalblue]I think the best thing you can do, is just go along with it for now. You're still only young. When you are 18 or whatever...then you can actually start practicing whatever belief you want. But 'till then, I think it's probably wise to just "tow the line"...especially if you're worried about being disowned.[/color]

[color=royalblue]I haven't read everything here, but I thought I'd add my two cents. One thing I don't like is when [i]some[/i] anime fans kind of dictate to other "general animation" fans that they somehow have superior taste because they prefer Japanese animation. I believe that all animation can have merit. Whilst I can enjoy the depth of colour, vibrancy and beauty that is often portrayed in anime...I can also appreciate and enjoy both the artistic and technical merits of something like, for example, Shrek. Now, a traditional anime and something like Shrek are really different in many ways. They are seperated to the largest extent by their medium, of course. But both have their own benefits and both have their own artistic expression. And in my opinion, both can be equally as impressive. I think that it's okay to prefer anime or western animated features...one over the other...but by the same token, if you're into [i]any[/i] kind of animation (anime, Disney or whatever) I think you should always be able to appreciate different kinds of expression. An example (though somewhat loose) would be Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. I was watching this movie recently and my younger sister walked in. She kind of scoffed at it as though it were trash and wondered why I'd [i]ever[/i] want to watch such a movie. Now...granted, she's only a little girl...but it made me think; if I dismissed the movie on face value, I'd [i]really[/i] be missing out on a wonderfully artistic piece of cinema. The same goes for animated features. If you dismiss American animation as "crap", then I think you are either failing to understand it or not making the effort to explore it. Sure, some American animation isn't very good...but some animation out of America is very expressive and emotive. There are pros and cons to both Japanese and American animation. The key is being able to explore both on your own...and form your own conclusions. And never be afraid to try new things. :)[/color]

[color=royalblue]Well, Ginny...as I said, maybe you should just tell him what you told us. :) Maybe if you just tell him that you feel uncomfortable and that you just want things to get back to normal...he'll be okay with that and things will work out. :) I think it's worth trying to patch things up, for the sake of your job [i]and[/i] your sanity. ;)[/color]

[size=1]Um, Harlequin...have you been reading this RPG at all? I mean, do you actually know what is going on? Your two most recent posts seem to have very little to do with the actual situation (in terms of how they refer to my characters and Flash's character). And Char...Ami is nowhere near Almaran...she is at the Sky Hockey Island, where Luca and Rasanak are. Whoa, we're getting majorly off track here lol Although I must say, Char...you have been very impressive in your RPing skills...I really like your style. :) [/size] [i]Rasanak looked a little surprised. Ami was a fairly headstrong person and she wasn't afraid of Hume whatsoever. Behind her, he could see her large elven airship. Rasanak reached out and shook her hand. He smiled politely.[/i] [IMG]http://www.itsmysite.com/j-otaku/images/Rasanak_Avatar.gif[/IMG] [b]Rasanak:[/b] Hey there...my name's Rasanak. And this here is Luca. What's your name? [i]Ami smiled.[/i] [IMG]http://www.itsmysite.com/n-sider/images/Amadrienia_Avatar.gif[/IMG] [b]Amadrienia:[/b] My name is Amadrienia...but you can call me Ami. :) [i]Rasanak and Luca both smiled. They instantly felt at ease with Ami, for some reason.[/i] [IMG]http://www.itsmysite.com/j-otaku/images/Luca_Avatar.gif[/IMG] [b]Luca:[/b] So, you're here to watch the game? [i]Ami shook her head.[/i] [IMG]http://www.itsmysite.com/n-sider/images/Amadrienia_Avatar.gif[/IMG] [b]Ami:[/b] No...I don't have a ticket. But I've never been here before; I thought this place looked interesting. I am fascinated by Hume technology... [i]Rasanak and Luca looked at each other. Most elves they had met previously had been fairly wary of Hume. But Ami was different. She didn't seem afraid or worried at all -- as if she were talking to her own race. Perhaps her airship had taken her to many places around Gaia and she'd become comfortable with many cultures. Still, both Luca and Rasanak realized that Ami's presence might cause trouble for their mission. And already, they weren't doing very well; they hadn't been able to get any tickets and they had no idea how they were going to infiltrate the Arena to find Chancellor Hikaru. Now with Ami here, they wondered how they were ever going to succeed.[/i] [IMG]http://www.itsmysite.com/j-otaku/images/Luca_Avatar.gif[/IMG] [b]Luca:[/b] Um...we're kind of on a mission here, Ami. I'm sorry, but I don't think we can stay and chat. [IMG]http://www.itsmysite.com/n-sider/images/Amadrienia_Avatar.gif[/IMG] [b]Ami:[/b] What kind of mission? [i]Luca paused. He didn't know if it was right to tell her.[/i] [IMG]http://www.itsmysite.com/j-otaku/images/Luca_Avatar.gif[/IMG] [b]Luca:[/b] Well...a Hume diplomat is the target of an assassin...and we have to protect him. He's in the Arena now and we need to get in there and take him somewhere safe. [i]Ami looked up at the Arena and then back down at Rasanak and Luca.[/i] [IMG]http://www.itsmysite.com/n-sider/images/Amadrienia_Avatar.gif[/IMG] [b]Ami:[/b] Well, you guys said you don't have tickets, right? [i]They both nodded.[/i] [IMG]http://www.itsmysite.com/n-sider/images/Amadrienia_Avatar.gif[/img] [b]Ami:[/b] All you need to do is dress up as players and infiltrate the Arena...then maybe you can find him without being detected. [i]Rasanak and Luca looked at each other. Ami just smiled.[/i] [IMG]http://www.itsmysite.com/j-otaku/images/Luca_Avatar.gif[/IMG] [b]Luca:[/b] Erm...would you consider joining us? [i]Luca didn't quite know why he asked that question. But he did know that Ami was special. Here she was...an elf...in Hume territory, with a difficult-to-hide airship. She didn't seem at all worried. And furthermore, she'd just provided a possible solution to their problem. Luca considered that she might be a valuable asset. And perhaps, just perhaps...she would consider letting them use her airship to get the Chancellor out of there...[/i]

[color=royalblue]I think that the best thing to do is just tell him what you told us -- that you were just being playful and not really serious. Obviously he took it too far...and it was just a misunderstanding. If you explain the situation to him and apologize, he'll probably be completely fine about it. And as has been said...if this place allows for you to have flexible working ours (within reason), then there's no reason to change. In the end, it's all about how you feel...I mean, whether you feel comfortable there or whether you feel like there is something else that better suits you.[/color]

[color=royalblue]The first game I beat? I don't know...probably one of the Game & Watch titles, prior to the NES.[/color]

[color=royalblue]America doesn't have more mean people than other countries...I don't know how on Earth anyone can measure the "meanness" of a nation. lol The problem is when people do something wrong, but with the [i]right intention[/i]. So being mean or evil really isn't an issue...I don't even know how that came up. lol[/color]

[color=royalblue]Hm...there are a few very memorable gaming moments for me (in no particular order): 1) First playing Super Mario Bros. 2) First playing Super Mario Bros. 3 3) First playing Super Mario World 4) First playing Super Mario 64 (see a trend here? lol) 5) Aeris' death in FFVII (probably the most emotional moment in a video game that I've ever witnessed) 6) First playing Zelda: Ocarina of Time (since it was the first 3D version of the game) That's all I can really think of for now... You can see that I'm a big Mario fan lol. The Mario games have always been so far ahead...and so innovative. They've never failed to impress me beyond anything else.[/color]

[color=royalblue]Please keep gaming related threads in the [i]gaming forums[/i]...if they aren't related to a specific area it doesn't matter, as long as they are in one of the gaming forums.[/color]

[color=royalblue]If only women existed, we'd still have war...but it would probably be very different. And much less frequent. Women [i]can[/i] reproduce without men, by way of embryonic cloning (even though it's pretty much illegal)...but yeah, it's not like that's impossible. lol It's actually men who can't live without women...so it's the other way around. Men can't give birth. lol Anyway, that aside...I think a lot of things would be different without men. And I think the world would probably be a better place. lol[/color]

[i]Finally, Luca and Rasanak arrived at the Sky Hockey Terminal. The Sky Hockey Terminal was essentially a very large building on the edge of the mainland. As the line of vehicles exited the highway, they would drive through the gates of the terminal and dissappear almost instantly. And then, a moment later, they would reappear on the other side (the other side being the Air Hockey Terminal on Air Hockey Island itself). After passing through the terminal, Rasanak parked their car in the Sky Hockey Arena's underground carpark, which stretched several miles under Gaia's surface (no doubt to accommodate the millions of Sky Hockey fans). Rasanak and Luca each made sure to carry their individual weapons as they stepped out of the car. Luca looked up at the Arena. This was the first time he'd ever attended a Sky Hockey game, even though he wasn't here to watch the game itself. The Arena was a massive structure. It was shaped somewhat like a giant horseshoe. The crowds sat around the inner layer of the building. However, in the middle of the horseshoe was a large platform that didn't seem to include any markings at all. Luca found the setup to be quite odd; there was essentially no playing field whatsoever.[/i] [IMG]http://www.itsmysite.com/j-otaku/images/Luca_Avatar.gif[/IMG] [b]Luca:[/b] Erm, Rasanak...where is the playing field? [i]Rasnak laughed to himself quietly.[/i] [IMG]http://www.itsmysite.com/j-otaku/images/Luca_Avatar.gif[/IMG] [b]Luca:[/b] What's so funny...? [i]Rasanak paused and took a pair of binoculars from his bag. He handed them to Luca and pointed straight up.[/i] [IMG]http://www.itsmysite.com/j-otaku/images/Rasanak_Avatar.gif[/IMG] [b]Rasanak:[/b] Look up. :) [i]Luca looked through the binoculars and pointed them upwards toward the sky. And there he saw it... [IMG]http://www.itsmysite.com/n-sider/images/skyhockey.jpg[/IMG] A large holographic playing field, which appeared to be centered right above the strange platform inside the Arena itself. This new discovery only sparked more questions within Luca and provided him with very little answers. Even though he was here for a specific mission, he found himself wanting to learn more about the game of Sky Hockey.[/i] [IMG]http://www.itsmysite.com/j-otaku/images/Rasanak_Avatar.gif[/IMG] [b]Rasanak:[/b] Heh, that's why they call it [i]Sky Hockey[/i], Luca. ;) [i]Luca grumbled.[/i] [IMG]http://www.itsmysite.com/j-otaku/images/Rasanak_Avatar.gif[/IMG] [b]Rasanak:[/b] Anyway, let's get to business. I have a feeling that all the seats might be full... [i]Luca looked around. The Ticket Booth had a sign above it saying "No More Seats Available". Luca felt a little worried; how were they going to get in to save Chancellor Hikaru?[/i]

[color=royalblue]Activity in the forum is something I am concerned with too. In my Online Another World RPG, I ended up choosing a large number of people...I even put in effort to make avatars/icons for them. And in the end, [i]most[/i] didn't have the courtesy to make some effort and "stick it through". And for me, it's kind of a waste...I mean, it discourages me from putting in any effort at all. But if people who put in effort are rewarded by strong commitment, I think we will only see the number of GOOD RPGs increase over time.[/color]

[color=royalblue]I've been reading more impressions and it does seem that some areas of the game are [i]really[/i] difficult. Interestingly, some impressions that are 9/10 hours into the game are only about a third of the way through...so nobody has yet beaten the Japanese version. This is really exciting for me, because it really demonstrates that Nintendo isn't afraid to put some challenge into this important title. I'm very glad about that. I'm still considering whether or not to import the Japanese version. Some importers have said that with the Japanese version, you have to work out a lot of stuff by yourself -- but this can make the game [i]more[/i] challenging and more fun as well. And that's interesting...it means that you can still see the story (as the story is in English) but you won't always know what certain indicators in the game mean. So a lot of it is about experimentation and stuff...which is pretty cool, I think. It makes me want to get the Japanese version more than I did before. But first, I need a freeloader and a new memory card...lol[/color]

[color=royalblue]Yep...I type [i]really[/i] fast. And I use all the correct keys. That's mainly because at school, it was always very important to use the correct hand positions on the keyboard and stuff...it was really drummed into everyone. And now, as a consequence, I'm able to type really well while also being very fast...and I think that helps my post quality and email writing a great deal. :)[/color]

[color=royalblue]The only thing I disliked about MGS2 is that it was sometimes [i]too[/i] much like a movie and not enough like a game. At the start, I was being contacted on the codec every five seconds. And I literally turned the game off in frustration...I was just so frustrated by the constant interruption that I actually had to turn the machine off because I didn't have any fun at all. lol But after a while, it improved... Still, it's a worrying thing. I think MGS should focus on less frequent, more important codec discussions...rather than having constant chatter all the time.[/color]

[color=royalblue]In the end, it's all subjective. Who says that we always [i]need[/i] to play as the "cooler" battle-hardened Snake? I like the fact that new characters can be introduced to push the story further along. In the end, you're playing as a polygon model with a skin...and in the end, the physical differences of playing as either Snake or Raiden are very marginal. So this is really all about story and character development. I personally feel that Snake is the better character, only because he is more interesting (though perhaps also more cliche and predictable). But I also believe that it is refreshing to see a new face with a different viewpoint on the game's proceedings.[/color]

[color=royalblue]This forum is only for Sign Ups. Please ensure that you completely read our forum rules (which you have agreed to by registering). Thank you. :)[/color]

[color=royalblue]I don't really know what the point of this thread is... I don't think detail is bad at all. But making an RPG every five seconds isn't good either, depending on how much effort you want to put in once the RPG has [i]started[/i]. In other words, if you make this incredible sign up for an RPG and then don't contribute much once it starts...well...there isn't much point...and it becomes more of a non-interactive story than an RPG. So, it's always important to follow through as best you can. Whilst our Otaku Adventures forum has been a bit crappy lately, in terms of the quality of new RPGs...I'm sure you'll find that some of the writers here are very formidable when it comes to making RPGs; not just for length, but moreso for quality. Afterall, you can have something very long but also very poor. Quality is always the key, irrespective of length. :)[/color]

[color=royalblue]I'll think about joining, if I get the time to read the first few posts... [/color]

[quote]stupid character limit. Oh, so because I want to write a grand epic RPG, I'm punished. What? You want me to just say 'here's the villain, here's the plot, go kill him?' [mumble mumble...] [/quote] [color=royalblue]No, not at all. The character limit is quite reasonable. Please bear in mind that your stuff so far has been somewhat [i]overly[/i] extensive. Now, being thorough isn't a bad thing at all...and I am very happy to see some genuine creativity and focus here. But I am a bit concerned that you now have TWO very long RPGs going...so I really hope that you are planning to fully support [i]both[/i]. That way, when people sign up, they know that they can count on the RPG being followed through. That is my only concern, however. Other than that, I welcome your in-depth approach (don't worry about text limits...it's fine to double post IF your post goes over the text limit, but otherwise, it is against the rules).[/color]