James

[color=royalblue]Heh, nah it's okay. Maybe I have an advantage with SWII, in the sense that I don't know what it's about as such...so maybe I can enjoy it a little more because of that. lol[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Son Goten [/i] [B][color=red][b]Well, I could tell you about the Clones but BabyGirl might consider them spoilers and eat me. -_- and about the books, they have nothing to do with George Lucas. What happens in the books might or might not be what George Lucas thinks happens after RotJ. They just use the movies as a base line.[/b][/color] [/B][/QUOTE] [color=royalblue]Ahh, so when I go on Star Wars.com for example...and I see all of these different races/planets that I never knew of... are [i]they[/i] approved of by LucasFilm? The reason I ask is because I wonder, if these books aren't approved officially...then perhaps they don't have all that much to do with the "real" story.[/color]

[color=royalblue]But I'm just wondering, are the clones the group who are fighting against the Republic? Or are they in support of the Republic? And who actually picks the fight with the Republic? I mean I guess that will all be self-evident when I see the movie, but based on what I know now...I'm still unclear about that. Also, I wanted to ask...you guys talk about Star Wars novels and stuff all the time, but do these novels actually have anything to do with George Lucas? I mean, do they get his approval? I always thought they were mostly spin-offs which may or may not need to bare relevance to the movies...[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Heaven's Cloud [/i] [B][color=indigo] As for Americans not knowing the falicies of there country, you must be mistaken. We are one of the few countries in the world that is slandered daily by their own media...as bad as the UK and Aussie papers destroy the US, our own Washington Post and New York Times do an equally "good job" on us. That is why so many Americans are disenchanted by there own country, we tend not to air that positives about ourselves, like the press does in Australia and the UK (they do, I know I'll glance at there papers on the net from time to time). [/color] [/B][/QUOTE] [color=royalblue]There are always a wide variety of views involved. And you make some great points. But in truth, the local media here is far more critical of the Government. It doesn't matter who is in power (or what political party they belong to), but it is very rare that the mass-media in Australia will praise the Government. The USA, by contrast, has more visible divisions when it comes to politics. Furthermore, I would disagree with your statement "as bad as the UK and Aussie papers destroy the US" -- that's simply not the case. You will get the odd columnist who will write something scathing -- but that happens all over the world. Many in the United States were in an uproar over Australia's handling of illegal immigrants, even though the USA's policies aren't particularly different in terms of border protection. The simple fact is, the USA is in a position of power. The people of the USA have no [i]need[/i] to go out and know about other people around the world -- the other people come to them. That is why Americans are, in general, so very ignorant of the rest of the world. And that is why you have so many Americans believing that America is the victim of a jealous world -- when that is, for the most part, not the case. This isn't something that is necessarily directly the fault of the American people; it has just happened this way. That's how life is. Australia, for example, is not only physically smaller than the USA, but it is also a country which has significant powers within the asian region...and also plays a major role in International situations. The main reason we aren't targetted as much is because we are [i]less[/i] ignorant about other societies -- we can't afford to have that luxury. If the USA were smaller, it would by definition, need to be more "in touch" with its neighbours and the rest of the world. But the USA has that luxury, where people come to you...and you don't need to care about the rest of the planet. But as I said, that's just the way it has unfolded through history. The only way it'll change is if the American education system begins to put more emphasis on International studies.[/color]

[color=royalblue]Heheh. Did you hear (you probably did) that George Lucas is "redeveloping" the first three movies, after Episode III is launched? Apparently they've been spending the last few months shooting all-new replacement scenes and working on majorly-upgraded effects... That sounds really awesome. I also saw an interview with Lucas where he said that Star Wars should actually have [i]9 movies[/i] to tell its full story, rather than six. But then he said something about being too old to make them all or something...lol...or that he wanted to make other movies apart from Star Wars, and doesn't have the time to make 'em all.[/color]

[color=royalblue]I guess I just don't see the point in taking what was originally a small issue, and making it far larger. It's something that threatens to encompass totally non-related issues, which is something nobody wants. It's a shame that something so small became something so large. As I've said, I'm happy to discuss any concerns openly and without reservation, but all of this underhandedness doesn't really help anyone put their case forward in a meaningful way.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Son Goten [/i] [B][color=red][b]did u notice that the clone troopers are pre-stormtroopers they are even modeled after Jango Fett. Look at the helmets. i found that info on the site a while ago.[/b][/color] [/B][/QUOTE] [color=royalblue]I haven't really looked that closely, to be honest. :) I am aware of [i]why[/i] the Empire came about...or at least, the original concepts behind it (making the Republic more efficient/less corrupt etc etc), but I'm still not sure what the significance of the clone war is in the grand scheme of things... BabyGirl: One thing I noticed was the huge amount of species...90% of which I'd never heard of before. lol[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Son Goten [/i] [B][color=red][b]Well, I wouldn't be surprised if it became the best selling movie of all time. Titanic beat out the original Star Wars, now lets hope that Episode II can boot it out.[/b][/color] [/B][/QUOTE] [color=royalblue]Yeah, that'd be cool. :) I was just looking for pictures at Star Wars.com and I started reading some background information about certain characters and whatnot. I'm amazed at how much deeper the story actually is (the whole background of Queen Amidala, for example, is actually pretty detailed). I am guessing that all of this stuff is chronicled in novels anyway...but I found it interesting, because it provided a general summary of some of the characters and in particular, the way the Galactic Republic works...and even went into some detail as to the political system of the Empire. I found it very interesting to note those little details...[/color]

[color=royalblue]The toughest thing? Staying awake when I come down from a coffee-high...[/color]

[color=royalblue]Episode II should also really help to boost the Australian film industry (probably even moreso than The Matrix did). So that's also another exciting aspect for those of us who live here. :)[/color]

[color=royalblue]I'm probably incredibly late in posting this - but I downloaded the SW: Episode II trailer and I've been watching it over and over. lol It looks so brilliant. I love the ship/building designs and in general, it seems like this movie is going to be so much better than Episode I (even though Ep. I was pretty cool). Apparently there are already reviews of the script on the 'net. I remember reading one guy's comment on it -- he said that it's "better than even Return of the Jedi" and that it's (and I quote) "possibly the best incarnation of Star Wars so far). Exciting, huh? [/color]

[color=royalblue]lol...kuja...it's [i]only an online forum[/i]. I don't know why you take everything so seriously. I'm simply here to do a job and to ensure that the rules are followed; if you don't like me personally, that's something you'll just have to deal with. The fact is, it's very easy to take what someone says out of context. It's very easy to shift blame from yourself to others. I'm quite happy to accept my mistakes and admit where I'm wrong -- and I'm certainly not perfect. As I mentioned to you, I hope that you can put this silliness behind you and start acting your age. I don't mean to sound condescending, but I really do feel that this has come way too far. It's pointless to overanalyze things which really bare no relevance to your own issues with me. This is certainly not the best way to go about it. I also want to add something. kuja tells me quite happily that at one point "over half the SMs wanted to quit". Those of you in that position can determine whether or not that is a truthful statement -- but if it is, I want to say that I don't welcome people making a mountain out of a molehill. At the end of the day, if people want to leave or if they have something to say, they are free to discuss that with me. There are mature ways of going about things -- kuja has demonstrated qualities which are not in accordance with what staff should be doing. kuja was initially a great staff member, but I soon realized that if I didn't go along with what [i]he[/i] wanted, then I'd get nothing but rudeness and whatever else. I will say to kuja what I have said to many others time and time again: if you don't like the way this site is operated, if you have a personal problem with me or anyone else here, [i]take it off the boards[/i]. I'm not here to make friends, I'm here to do a job. Those who know me personally (some members from here), understand my position on these matters and that I have only tried to go about this in a professional manner. Whatever happens, I'm always very happy to talk it over. But how can I talk things over when I am being labeled a liar and when what I do/say is taken out of context so wildly? I don't get involved in personal attacks -- I haven't said anything about kuja to discredit him on OtakuBoards. And I've done nothing to personally attack anyone here -- I challenge anyone to prove me wrong on that point. Sure, sometimes there are misunderstandings, but I'm always happy to work them out. I don't hold any grudge against kuja and I wish him the best in his other ventures. The simple fact is, things didn't work out for him here on a professional level. I hope he can take his experience from here and use the lessons he has learned here to more appropriately deal with his colleagues in future.[/color]

[color=royalblue]Man, this is the second Spider Man topic you've made...and on the same page, too! [b]Stop repeating the same topics over and over again!!!![/b] Ahem, 'scuse me. You'd think that people would learn, after reading any closed topics. Oh well...please "stick" to the original Spider Man thread...(LOL).[/color]

[color=royalblue]I prefer message boards, but chatrooms are okay. I am in favor of major changes to our current chatrooms at theOtaku.com, so hopefully we'll be seeing some improvements there in the future.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Heaven's Cloud [/i] [B][color=indigo] No I am sorry, I will not get over 9/11!!! I am glad you feel that a bunch of people heading to work got what they deserved on September 11, just because the Americans started a conflict. FYI...America didn't start the conflict, they were pressured into building millitary bases on Muslim Holy ground by the United Nations, and especially the UK. However, since the US is the major financial backing of the UN, the US always seems to be a scape goat. Another point to make is that although the US doesn't always make the best choices (ie: Veitnam, and backing Isreal to the extreme extent that we do) we always tend to go in and fight for the little guy that is getting oppressed by a corrupt millitary or dictator. [/quote][/b][/color] [color=royalblue]Sorry, but that's absolute tripe. The United States Government loves to make out that it is always fighting for a higher good and that it's always "defending the little guy". The USA has military bases in the Middle East in order to protect its oil interests and to keep hostile nations in check. The US presence in that part of the world has absolutely nothing to do with the UK or the United Nations. Being an American, I can fully understand why you'd see it that way. But for those of us in other countries, we get to see both sides of the story. On the one hand, we can see how the United States builds its own powers and then exercizes them for good purposes -- but those good purposes (ie: defending Kuwait against Iraq), are often based upon something else (ie: making sure that US oil interests in the Middle East were protected). It's very easy, in the case of Afghanistan, to say "just look what the US did! They saved all those people from their oppressors!". That's rubbish. If the USA truly cared about such things, it would have removed the Taliban years ago. So of course, it gets done now simply because it's in America's interest to do so. Do you see what I'm saying? When you have such massive global powers, you can either choose to ingore the world or to keep to your responsibility. The USA done a fine balancing act of doing both -- but sometimes the selective involvement is unacceptable and even sometimes "un-American". A great example is with East Timor. When the violence was erupting there, the Indonesian military not only stood by and let it happen, but they [i]encouraged[/i] the violence by distributing weapons and whatnot to the militia in the region. Many innocent people died. Now at this point, Australia could see what was happening (as we are a neighbour of East Timor). We did the right thing -- we immediately informed the United Nations of the situation and then we sent in our own armed forces to protect the population there. At the same time, Indonesia pulled its own forces out in disgrace. We realized that a full-time peacekeeping effort would be required. And this was where the USA had an obligation to assist (because of various treaties we have signed with them). But needless to say, because it wasn't "in US interest", the USA was reluctant to do anything about it. So the Australian Government had to drag the USA kicking and screaming to East Timor so that it would be brought to their attention and that they would exercize responsibilities which they themselves had signed into legislation. My long-winded point, is that as an American, it's very easy to see things with rose coloured glasses. What you don't understand, is that the USA often does not exercize its powers responsibly. September 11 is unacceptable and should [i]never[/i] have happened. But don't fool yourself into thinking that America is all-righteous and never does anything which could influence other nations/groups to have legitimate concerns about its actions.[QUOTE][B][color=indigo] Now, back to 9/11, before I talk about Bush, I could understand an attack on a government building or a millitary base, that ould seem justifiable. But crashing a bunch of planes into the world trade center and killing thousands of innocent hard working people is just plain cowardice. In my mind, the terrorists just gave us an excuse to occupy all hostile countries and exterminate every single terrorist. [/color][/quote][/b] [color=royalblue]I agree. This was not the way to solve the issue and it will only cause terrorist groups/hosting nations to face International justice. This is why Australia also has forces in Afghanistan. It's not a matter of occupation or threatening, it's a matter of physically removing violent groups from the face of the Earth.[/color][QUOTE][B] Now, on to Bush. No he is not a great President. But he has handled the country extremely well since 9/11. Unfortunately, in my mind, all of the presidents that we have had since 1980 have been pathetic. Reagan probably sold arms to Iraq. Bush was great at foriegn relations, but was so unpopular in America due to a bad economy, that he was laughed out of office. Clinton was a good president, and might have done some real good for our nation if he could have stayed out of scandal for a couple years. Thank god that Al Gore isn't president, with all of his millitary strategim, the US would probably be getting bombed daily.[/QUOTE][/b][/color] [color=royalblue]Bush has focused on the war on terror and done very little for the United States itself. I don't think anyone would argue that. Al Gore is no worse than Bush. He would have done nothing differently -- when you have been attacked, it's very easy for the President to say the right things and get full support. It's natural and it is expected to happen. If Al Gore had been President, he'd have said the same comforting words and everyone would have flocked behind him like sheep too -- that's just how it works. It's a case of "the moment making the man".[QUOTE][B][color=indigo] And one last comment on behalf of the US, say what you will, but people on average live a lot better then people elsewhere in the world[/color] [/B][/QUOTE] [color=royalblue]Australia has the highest quality living conditions on Earth. One of the main reasons for this is probably that Australia isn't in the same position as the US, in the sense of always [i]needing[/i] to clean up the messes it makes, or in the sense of being so prominent on the world stage. But I think there are a few basic things about the culture/society here which make anything less unacceptable.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by slasher [/i] [B]Yesterday i bought mario paint on half.com for $5.25!is that a good or bad deal? [/B][/QUOTE] [color=royalblue]You got a great deal. :) Super Mario Paint isn't particularly useful...in the sense that you can't print anything or save more than one file. But it's generally considered to be one of those classic quirky Nintendo things... In some ways, it was ahead of its time. :)[/color]

[i]The black and red hovercraft from Galbadia Garden lumbered its way up the beach, just behind Balamb Garden's main carport. The large vehicle made its way across the street and directly into the carport. Z. Chang pressed a button to retract the video screen infront of him and he did a last check of his briefcase, to ensure that everything was in order. By the time he had done this, the vessel had stopped. It was now sitting in the VIP parking lot, adjacent to a hovercraft which looked like it had come from Trabia Garden. The large side-door slid open silently and Z. Chang stepped out, straightening his black and red oriental suit. He reached into his pocket and removed a pair of sunglasses (which were incidentally fitted with various sensors/viewing modes). Then he put them on carefully and looked around. Instructors from several different faculties were standing in groups around the VIP carport, all discussing the year's cirriculum with each other. Several were displaying new magic tricks and weapons to others, while some were busily writing down notes, not taking the time to greet their fellow colleagues. Z. Chang sighed and began walking toward the main entrance to the Garden's hub. He wanted to meet Headmaster Cid and get it all over and done with...[/i]

[color=royalblue]Yep. I agree. I'm also happy that our community is pretty tolerant...moreso than many others I've seen. That's a great sign. :)[/color]

[color=royalblue]Even though we get a lot of people "spilling their guts" here...and others always say how bad it is, in some ways, it's a good sign. I mean, people feel that they can open up here without being judged. And when they can't talk to their own family or friends about something, it might help to talk to people in a situation where they're not going to judge you... So in some ways, the whole "subculture" thing isn't so bad. We're all different...we've all had different experiences and because the Internet is pretty anonymous, we can talk more openly here than we could in "real life". So for some it's a benefit.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Ryanmc225 [/i] [B]i already have Metal Gear Solid 2 and i like Max Payne i was wonderin if there is anygames like it out there that are better [/B][/QUOTE] [color=royalblue]Hm, nothing out now that I can think of. Though you could try Winback on PS2 -- it's a similar style of game (and quite good, too). Ubi Soft is making a new game for GameCube, PS2 and Xbox called Splinter Cell -- it's looking absolutely incredible so far. I can't wait to read more about it.[/color]

[color=royalblue]I have to say though, I'm starting to think that doing a coloured variant may have to wait...I'm liking the idea of a themed skin more and more ;)[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Squashed Snail [/i] [B]Maybe they sold it for more, than slashed the price, so customers thought that it was a great deal? That could've happened.... [/B][/QUOTE] [color=royalblue]Heh, nah. This is what's known as a good, old-fashioned "price war". Microsoft (in Australia, at least) realized that the Xbox was unsuccessful. So it cut the price by a cool $300. Nintendo realized that the GameCube would no longer have the price advantage, so it reacted by cutting its price and subsequently undercutting the Xbox retail price. I don't think Microsoft had expected Nintendo to be so aggressive...but Nintendo has a history of aggressively defending its market position.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by BabyGirl [/i] [B] [color=deeppink]I think half of the Otaku population may have been rather offended by that comment upon first glance. Not that your theory is wrong, of course...though I also think a huge part of it is just plain self consciousness. While that may indeed stem from self-centeredness, I think you may have had to experience shyness to understand what it's like. [/color] [/B][/QUOTE] [color=royalblue]Regardless of how I may seem (and even that is difficult for me to personally judge), I'm quite a shy person. And let's face it, shyness comes from the basic thought/feeling that people are looking at you...or that you are the center of someone's attention. Therefore, the best way to overcome shyness (in my own experience), is to actually realize that to other people, you're just another person. I mean, if you see other people in the street, no matter what you think of them...you probably don't think about them for too long. They're "just another person" walking past. If you consider that perspective yourself...it helps you to be more outgoing and to overcome your shyness to some extent. It definitely helps me in some situations. :)[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by ff X_Tidus [/i] [B]I have never been there for one good reason, i live in england, but the way you all talk about makes it sound cool, but still, it doesnt beat sitting on your butt all day playing computer games and watching TV [/B][/QUOTE] [color=royalblue]How incredibly rude and insensitive...:rolleyes: [/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Char-Char,Mander-Char! [/i] [B] ............... Wait a second. When you think about it, this thread [i]is[/i] kind of like a favorites topic... [/B][/QUOTE] [color=royalblue]Favourites topics aren't "outlawed" here. The only reason we came down on favourites topics was because people were posting the [i]same[/i] type over and over again. It was getting [i]very[/i] annoying. -_- And also, with topics like "what is your favourite soda?", people weren't discussing anything...they were just giving one word answers. Plus, this is a thread used to gauge what kind of skin people want to see next. :) Note: [b]Please[/b] give me permission to change your name...it's so long that it stretches all the tables. -_-[/color]