James

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by King Penn [/i] [B]I hear this awesome dreamcast game is going to be released on xbox, its definately being released on game cube, but I'm not sure about xbox, anyone know anything? [/B][/QUOTE] [size=1]All I know is that the GameCube version will have various exclusive elements, as Sonic Team is primarily approaching the GameCube as its core development platform. I have only heard about the move to Xbox recently -- I suspect that the GameCube version will arrive several months before the Xbox version, but this is largely dependant on the state of the two companies online setups. The Xbox online system won't be hitting its stride 'till at least 2003 though, so I'd say that there is plenty of time for both to arrive either late this year, or early next year.[/size]

[size=1]I had a different Final Fantasy-style RPG here previously, but I decided to remove it because I wasn't able to post in it enough -- it was kinda falling behind. So I thought I'd try to start another FF style RPG. This RPG is similar in concept to Final Fantasy XI, in the sense that it contains a medieval style and utilizes various races, each with their own kingdom/home. Only those who sign up here may post in the actual RPG, to avoid getting people joining in mid-story etc etc.[/size][i] The world, Terraforma, was created in one year. It was born many millennia ago -- long before there were creatures in the sea, land or air. Four Goddesses came forth from the depths of the universe, when time was still young. The four Goddesses, Physar, Metreon, Ephra and Solhara created the world and all its creatures. And each one marked the world with her own special mark; a noble race of living beings. Each race was given their own unique qualities -- and each race were left to create their own nations within the world of Terraforma. For several thousand years, each group of beings lived peacefully alongside one another. But the world has begun to change -- deserts are expanding, rivers are dissappearing and the once blue sky is darkening slowly as each day passes. Nobody knows what's going on, or why the world is changing the way it is. It will take the efforts of young explorers from all over Terraforma to solve the mystery...[/i] There are four races/nations in Terraforma. Here is a brief description of each race and nation. [b]Races[/b] [b]Windhyte:[/b] The Windytes closely resemble humans, if not for the large wings on their backs. Windhytes live in the Kingdom of Physar, named after the winged goddess which created it. Their buildings are mostly medieval, but are more technically advanced than either the Falyore or Quart races. Windhytes use an equal combination of magic and traditional weaponry. Their swords are the finest in the world and are often laced with magical powers of some kind. Windhytes are noble creatures. Their entire society is based on the pursuit of truth and knowledge. Windhytes are inherently peaceful -- if you're ever in trouble, you can count on a Windhyte to help you out. [b]Falyore:[/b] The Falyore are a race of powerful warriors. They live in the Metreon Caves, some fifty miles north of the Kingdom of Physar. The Falyore are very tall -- taller than even the tallest human man. Their network of underground caves is both primitive, yet highly impressive. The Falyore do not use magic, but rather, use traditional medieval style weaponry. The Falyore are hunter-gatherers who hunt in packs for food. While not as intelligent or friendly as the Windhytes, the Falyore are nevertheless, kind at heart. [b]Quart:[/b] The Quart are small, elf-like creatures. They live in the Great Tree of Ephra, which is surrounded by lush, temperate forest. The Quart do not have much contact with the other races of Terraforma, due to their geographical isolation. The Great Tree of Ephra can be seen from many miles away, and is visible from space. Among its thousands of broad branches (which are used as highways by the Quart villagers), millions of tiny little huts and workshops can be seen. The Quart are heavily involved in magic -- it is their only form of defence and attack. They do not use physical weaponry at all. Quart villagers tend to be very timid of outsiders -- they are scared of their own shadows, but should not be underestimated -- you don't want to corner a Quart; it might turn you into a two-headed warthog if you're not careful. [b]Metropod:[/b] The Metropods are the most technologically advanced race in the world of Terraforma. Metropods can be found in Solhara City, a gigantic city filled with glass skyscrapers. Metropods look exactly like humans, but they are often equipped with bionic implants which allow them to run faster, jump higher or see objects from very far away. The Metropods do not use magic at all -- they are totally reliant on modern technology. Rather than using swords or magic charms, the Metropods defend themselves with powerful missles, laser cannons and electromagnetic shields. Metropods are the dominant race in Terraforma -- but their technological powers are matched by the various capabilities of the other races on the planet. Metropods tend to be fair-minded, but can sometimes be slightly arrogant and disrespectful of other races. [size=1]Okay, so there you have it. All you need to do is fill out the following fields to join: Character Name: Species: Weapon: Primary Ability: Secondary Ability: Personality Details: That's all there is to it. I hope we can make another cool RPG here -- but there's no pressure...feel free to be as creative as you like, providing that you do not give your character powers which are way too far beyond other characters. I'll add my character last I think, after everyone has signed up.[/size]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Crazy White Boy [/i] [B] Hey now James, you're [B][U]often[/U][/B] disagreeing with me and my arguments are usually valid. Well, except for that water issue, which I'd rather choose to forget. [/B][/QUOTE] [size=1]Well, you're often wrong. lol Nah, only kidding. :) I guess it depends on a case by case basis. Sometimes if I disagree with you, I'm only disagreeing with a certain point -- I often agree with what you say as well. It really depends on the issue I guess.[/size]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Crazy White Boy [/i] [B]I'm actually very happy to hear that there are no mine cart levels. Anyway, I've only played the beginning and my initial impression was that the game wasn't doing anything new. It seemed like a scavanger hunt. Breaking boxes and spinning have also been done. However, I would probably feel differently if I actually played the game though. To say that I haven't even scratched the surface is a huge understatement. [/B][/QUOTE] [size=1]Well, it's true that Jak & Daxter doesn't innovate on the same level as Super Mario 64 -- in many respects, the objectives in the game are to be expected. But it's not the objectives themselves, it's the way in which Naughty Dog has designed the environments...there's a certain atmosphere. Let me put it this way; the game is never boring or frustrating on your first time round. There's always something new and unexpected -- sometimes you'll come across something which totally takes you by surprise, whether it be an enemy ambush or one of the game's weird jump pads which send you what feels like several miles into the air. The entire game is just so well put together -- it's so seamless. And I like that, as the game doesn't seem to become boring or repetitive -- even when you're trying to capture all 7 bugs on one level. So yeah, I guess it's a game that you have to spend a couple of hours with to really get into it -- but at the same time, a lot of people dont like platformers...so this game won't change that.[/size]

[size=1]Ahh BabyGirl...I've never yet seen a woman who loves Subaru as much as myself! :) My best friend's dad has a brand-new WRX STi...it's so awesome. It's dark blue with gold wheels...and has a creamy leather interior with a wooden gearshift. :drunk: :smooch: Audi is also very cool...my dad is thinking of buying an A6 next year. I love the A6 -- it's one of the most beautiful sedans on earth. Having said that, I have to say that I have a soft spot for Australian cars. Just look at the car in this attachment. It's the HSV GTS Coupe. Nice, huh? A 5.7 Litre V8...or in other words, a Corvette engine. I love it. I'm so glad that HSV decided to start making these two doors...and I hope that HSV decides to export them to places other than the UK and New Zealand...'cuz it's a shame that Americans can't buy 'em! Maybe GM doesn't want competition..lol. Oh well. If you think that BMW is nice, BabyGirl...you should see the Z8. It's like a retro/modern roadster...and in my opinion, it's 10x more beautiful than the Z3 picture (even though the Z3 is awesome).[/size]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by stardust [/i] [B]can I please please PLEASE bring back daily otaku?I won't be stupid w/ it and I won't have reporters to argue to,please??u said maybe one day we could bring it back and it's been quite awhile....:toothy: [/B][/QUOTE] [size=1]I don't know...I don't think it's a good idea. Too many problems in the past. If you like writing so much, Stardust...why don't you try writing a fan story or something like that? Maybe you could use your writing/reporting talents in new ways. :)[/size]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by kuja [/i] [B][SIZE=3][FONT=century gothic][COLOR=crimson] btw.... u dont argue with james on the boards... he never loses ;) even if he is wrong[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE] [/B][/QUOTE] [size=1]lol, I know you're being sarcastic...but I'm always prepared to admit if I'm wrong. But you yourself agreed with me...so I was right, wasn't I? :) Maybe I just seem to be always right because when I'm disagreeing with something, I'm often disagreeing with something stupid. lol[/size]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by SephirothNIN [/i] [B]You think street fighter would be difficult to play on PS2? Heh what about on a gamecube? Sure the grooves are nice, but that doesn't matter when the buttons suck. Not only are the A, B, x/y, L/R, and Z buttons different sizes, they're arranged in a freaking circle. Sure that might be fine for sports, racing, platformers.....well pretty much every genre except fighting (except smash bros. or some other mutli-player type game that nintendo passes off as a fighter). Nintendo 64 had very few fighting games (that weren't utter crap), and I doubt gamecube will ever see a marvel vs. capcom2, or king of fighters, or tekken for that matter. Just because something is "innovative" doesn't mean it's one of those non-pieces-of-crap things you know. Jaguar's controller was innovative, wow look a number pad!. Anyway back to PS2, although the pressure sensitivity of pS2 is....well barely there, it's not like every game uses it but because of the controller u're screwed. As for street fighter's, I dunno I've gotten used to the d-pad and it works just fine. [/B][/QUOTE] [size=1]Where to start, where to start... Firstly, the buttons on the GameCube controller don't suck. They are shaped differently so that the player never has to look down -- it's easy to feel your way around. Try it and you'll see. Second, they are shaped in such a way that the A Button is the thumb's "home" position, with the surrounding buttons easily reachable via a simple up, left or right movement. This is significantly more user-friendly and comfortable than the PS2 controller (especially for people who don't play games often). Third, you're totally wrong about Marvel vs Capcom etc. I recall a news item last year whereby Capcom announced that it would be bringing [b]"all our franchises to the Nintendo GameCube console"[/b]. I kid you not -- these were Capcom's words. With Resident Evil already exclusive to GameCube, I think it's fair to say that we'll soon see some Capcom fighters. There's also Soul Calibur 2, which is arguably the more critically acclaimed fighter (moreso than Tekken). So your arguments basically fall flat on their face. You have no significant points here -- it's fine to have a preference of controller, but please don't bash something when your arguments are flawed or when you don't truly understand the situation. [/size]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Crazy White Boy [/i] [B]Well yeah, of course they could have added analog shoulder buttons and such, but the overall design works great. The GameCube controller is quite comfortable, but it's layout has proved unnatural in various games. For instance, some have found fault in using the C-stick for D-linemen's special moves in Madden 2002. Also, the big gas button in Extreme G3 makes it a bit harder to use the other face buttons. Even Tony Hawk 3 had it's minor problems, such as a tricky revert. In all fairness, these are minor gripes and some actually like the trickier revert in THPS3. However, the PS2 controller seems to work wonderfully with almost anything. 2D fighters are it's biggest problem, but we're finding less of those nowadays. Ah well..I miss the Saturn controller...... [/B][/QUOTE] [size=1]I agree with you. The reason the PS2 controller seems to work with anything is because of its highly generic design. In terms of GameCube games, I personally feel that some developers haven't yet taken advantage of the controller's design. Too many companies are trying to fit a square peg in a round hole -- in the sense that they're mapping functions to the GCN controller in a fairly arbitrary way. So I wouldn't fault the controller for that -- I'd fault the developers. When a game is designed around a controller (Star Wars, Luigi's Mansion, Pikmin etc), you can really see how the controller is supposed to be used. Some third parties have made good use of the GCN controller, but I'd like to see some more inventive ideas from certain developers.[/size]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Crazy White Boy [/i] [B]It's.....okay. My friend has it and the animation is top notch. The humor is really an asset to the game as well. However, I find it to be cliche'. I've even heard that there's a mine cart sequence in it! I just picture some guys sitting around a table brainstorming for ideas. Out of nowhere, one of them says, "Oh, I know! How about we add a mine cart level?" Right there, I'd just have to slap him. Really, how it got into the game I have no idea..... [/B][/QUOTE] [size=1]Well, having bought the game a few days ago (and just finished it), I can tell you that it is far from cliched. I haven't enjoyed a platformer this much since Super Mario 64, and that's saying a lot -- I found this game to be more fun than Banjo Kazooie/Tooie and all the other good platformers out there. It's truly inventive -- the way in which the worlds join together to form one single large world...and the many unique puzzles and quests make this game really interesting and derivative. There are mine carts -- but these carts are used to transport you to two different sides of a kind of "hub" area in the volcano level. So I wouldn't call it a mine cart level as such. To do so would be to oversimplify the game. I would go so far as to say that while the Crash Bandicoot games were high quality -- Jak and Daxter proves that Naughty Dog is capable of Rare-like games. This game is better than all the old Crash Bandicoot games combined...and then some. So for those who enjoyed Mario 64 and who just generally enjoy platformers -- I can't recommend J&D enough. It's worth the investment. If anything, it's good to see someone come along and make a truly fun platformer which doesn't take itself seriously and which doesn't totally conform to "platformer rules".[/size]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Heaven's Cloud [/i] [B][color=indigo] Those religious fanatics do the darndest things don't they. Well, Velevet Paws said earlier "Books Can Be Dangerous." The only way a book is dangerous is if it is heavy and falls on you from a tremendous height. It isn't the books that are dangerous, it is the people who form moronic ideas after reading a book that are dangerous. The problem is that some people can't think for themselves responsibly.[/color] [/B][/QUOTE] [size=1]I agree -- it's not so much the books which are dangerous, it's more the statements which they are making. And even then, an educated person is able to discern what is true and what is false. Or in this case, what is moral and immoral. Harry Potter is pure fiction...but moreover, the story teaches about friendship and caring for others...as well as tolerance (the whole wizard/muggle thing). I think that the HP books are actually just what kids need -- something light-hearted and fun...which also teaches some good morals and life stories.[/size]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Crazy White Boy [/i] [B]The controller was actually worse than the Xbox controller, which is today the most hated first party controller known to man. The Sega CD and 32X were pretty pathetic attempts to cash in as well. Especially the 32X, seeing as how it was only meant to tide over gamers until the debut of the Saturn. [/B][/QUOTE] [size=1]I agree with you there. I actually owned a Sega Mega CD (SEGA CD) and while I enjoyed some games (most noteably, Soinc CD...a Sonic-freak's most prized treasure), the system did fall very short of its goals. It was incredibly expensive when it launched and really, apart from Sonic CD, it played host to a library of very crappy titles. As for the controller issue -- yes, the Jaguar controller was awful, with the Xbox controller coming in second -- although even the Xbox controller isn't as bad as the Jaguar's. I wonder if, had Sega not decided to create such a poor console in the Saturn, they might have been able to make the Dreamcast last longer. The Dreamcast was such a great console...it initially had good third party support, [b]awesome[/b] first-party games...and overall, it was just a well-designed console. I think it's such a shame that the "Saturn-stigma" loomed over it...it never got a fair chance, which sucks (even though Sega's poor business decisions had a lot to do with it -- but you can't deny the Saturn-stigma's effect).[/size]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Heaven's Cloud [/i] [B] [color=indigo] Yes everybody does hate those darned racists, even racists hate racists. anyway, that fact doesn't surprise me. What would intrest me would be to learn how many genes people have incommon with monkeys, I bet it is like 90%...[/color] [/B][/QUOTE] [size=1]We share some 98.7% of our DNA structure with apes -- amazing, isn't it? This is all thanks to the Human Genome Project. They found that the difference between say, a black man and a white woman, is the same percentage difference as between two black men. Meaning that, of course...race and sex has nothing to do with anything. :)[/size]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Darkness [/i] [B]The other day I reading my university's paper, and I saw the story on the recent book burning. For those who don't know; a church (the name I don't remember) held a public book burning of Harry Potter and Star Wars books. This kinda thing sickens me, and all amendments aside, I can't condone this in any way. In my eyes, the preacher and his members were no better than tyrants in this act, regardless of their purpose. I usually don't knock how other people practice their religion or what not, and I don't collect HP or SW books, but this can't be right. Only goes to show: There is no good or evil, only ideals. What do you think? [/B][/QUOTE] [size=1]Yet another example of religion screwing with people's heads. :rolleyes: Burning books...could they get anymore middle ages? lol. What are they going to do next? Have witch trials? I don't think anymore needs to be said...if anyone can't find the sheer stupidity in this situation, then they're an idiot plain and simple. lol[/size]

[size=1]Ghengis Khan was an incredible leader -- he conquered almost all of Asia (including all of China) and then conquered most of the Middle East. Other than that, I think people here have mentioned a lot of great leaders. The other leader I would mention would be John Howard, the current Prime Minister of Australia. He's currently just started his third term in office -- which is a huge political achievement in this country, as usually, most voters get tired of having the same Government in power for too long, no matter how good their management is. I'm also glad that he had the balls to introduce the GST (Goods & Services Tax). So many people here hate it, but they don't really understand it. Our old tax system was so screwed up...and it was incredibly unfair. The new system is making our economy richer and allowing our country to grow in a way that it never could before. So yeah, those are the two which I'd mention.[/size]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by jcgoudy [/i] [B] [color=indigo]This came from my brother who actually works in industry and hears about these things. Not just some "contact".[/color] [/B][/QUOTE] [size=1]Ah yes...I'm really interested in these many "contacts" Akito has...you know, international spies, master worldwide hacking networks etc...it's all very intriguing. I haven't heard about the memory compression technique, but it doesn't surprise me -- I know that particularly with the advent of the Internet, more and more companies are looking for ways of compressing data, rather than just developing new storage media. Isn't it funny how, regardless of the topic, Akito has an industry contact? If only the rest of us were in that situation. :rolleyes: [/size]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Blanko_el-miez [/i] [B]died hardly anybody knows me but i would like to know what would happen if i died and..or leaft not that i am going to but i would love to know what you all would think [/B][/QUOTE] [size=1]Sorry, but this topic is the most useless topic I've ever seen. I am continually encouraging people to post worthwhile topics and I'm sure that we allow some topics which border on stupid...but please...try to post with some intelligence in future.[/size]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Crazy White Boy [/i] [B] Actually, "If it isn't broke, don't fix it." I applaud Sony for keeping the general controller design intact. By keeping the design familiar, the Playstation 2 is user friendly to consumers. Furthermore, out of all three next gen consoles, most agree that PS has the best controller. Better yet, since the PSX controllers are compatible with PS2, consumers aren't forced to by totally new ones. The only thing wrong with it, as previously mentioned in this thread, is the lack of levels of sensitivity. [/B][/QUOTE] [size=1]I disagree completely on that point. While I do agree that keeping a level of familiarity is a good thing -- there is no question that the GameCube's controller is the most ergonomic/innovative of the next generation group of consoles. Having said that, I own a PlayStation 2, and I do find it's controller acceptable. Only thing is, the shape of the controller is quite unnatural, in the sense that the curves are very sharp. It's uncomfortable for very long periods of play, but moreover, (apart from the sensitivity problem), the controller displays no forward thinking or innovation. At the very least, I would have liked it if Sony had made the following changes: - If adding analog (at least to shoulder buttons), at least make them nice and thick...with plenty of degrees of movement. - Adding grooves to the walls of the analog sticks -- The GameCube controller has this feature and it works amazingly well. It's particularly good for games where precise movements are necessary. Other than that, I wouldn't really fault the PS2 controller (although the D-Pad could be made more comfortable). I just think that it's a shame that Sony didn't take the chance to fix some of the PSOne controller's flaws early on -- no major change was needed, but a slight shape change and some mechanical tweaks would have been nice.[/size]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by liamc2 [/i] [B]Ok most of you people out there would have heard of the 'Croc Hunter' (No I am not talking about Crocodile Dundee, he is da kewlest) My opinion of him is that he is a doofus and is giving others a bad impression of us Australians (eg I LMAO at his 'debut' on DDR2 I kept on snickering at it long after we saw the movie) Any how, what is your opinion of him? Sincere apologies to any loyal fans, relatives etc [/B][/QUOTE] [size=1]We're in agreement that the Crocodile Hunter is the most ridiculous Australian export (yes, even moreso than Dundee), but please stop making stupid threads. I'm about to delete your other Pepsi, coke etc thread...we've had countless ones like that. Please try to put some intelligence behind the threads. :)[/size]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by boris [/i] [B]hey, i would by a ps2 controller. ps1 shocks dot have pressure senstive, and that could make the differance [/B][/QUOTE] [size=1]The pressure sensitive nature of the PS2 controller is utter crap. It makes no difference. The buttons have no sensitivity...they are too "thin" and offer no resistance to make the pressure sensitive system worthwhile. It kind of annoys me -- you can't have pressure sensitive buttons unless you add some sort of resistance. You try using the X button with different levels of pressure...granted, you might be able to eek out two levels of pressure (on/off lol), but that's about all. There is no discernable difference between the PS1/PS2 controllers.[/size]

[size=1]Umm, Smokey Joe...do your posts have anything at all to do with Meteo City v3? Granted, this is my first MC RPG...but even when I'm doing "meanwhile" type scenarios, I'm still trying to keep to the main plot. Your posts don't seem to have a single thing to do with what the rest of us are saying. It really just seems to be Rico, Raiha, myself and Forte who are now keeping the main body going. I mean I know yours are supposed to be in the past or somethin'...but eh...it's a bit hard to follow on. I guess you're planning to tie your situation in with the main plot soon...but do it soon, cuz for me at least...it's getting confusing. I hope that my "meanwhile" posts do not disjoint the story too much, I'm going to let Rico and Raiha carry forward the main story for a couple more posts...I'm doing these posts to build some background, incase someone wants to use that information in future posts. I'll rejoin the main story again when I understand exactly what's going on lol.[/size] [b]Meanwhile, still in the heart of Meteo City...[/b] [i]The Director walked down the darkened corridor of the HHSD building. He had just arrived here after meeting with the Mayor to reveal his plans -- but the Mayor hadn't reacted in the way he'd hoped. He half expected that. Afterall, the Mayor was just a bleeding heart liberal to him -- someone who spent their life with their head in the clouds. Someone who didn't understand the situation on the ground; the reality of life. But the Director, who's name was Dr. Mulray, didn't really consider the Mayor's opinions to be of consequence to him or his plans. Dr. Mulray approached the end of the long, white corridor. At the very end was a large metal door with a retinal scanner on the right-hand side. The Doctor stood close to it and leaned forward -- a small red beam moved over his eyes and the door clicked open. He went through the doorway and entered a gigantic room. The room was entirely bare; it was white all over and had nothing at all inside. There were no windows, no doors (aside from the entrance door), no chairs, no tables...no anything. Just a plain, bare room. Dr. Mulray walked to the other side of the room, which took quite some time on his fairly short legs. As he approached the wall, the only thing visible was a very small red button. The button was equipped with a thumbprint scanner -- meaning that nobody but Dr. Mulray could press it. Dr. Mulray reached out and pushed the button. A faint whirring sound could be heard behind the wall opposite -- a sound which became progressively louder. As the sound appeared to get very close, thin, black lines appeared on the wall. They were gaps -- getting wider and wider. It appeared as though the wall were being carved into large, rectangular pieces. The rectangular pieces began to rotate. On the backs of the wall were row after row of cryogenic chambers. Most of the chambers were empty, except for one on the end. The pieces of the wall finally came to a stop -- the wall had effectively turned itself inside out and now, at least 80 cryogenic chambers were sitting fixed to the back side of the wall, which were now facing into the room itself. Dr. Mulray walked over to the single occupied chamber. The front of the chamber was made entirely of glass -- and the specimen inside was clearly visible. It was, or at least resembled, the Mayor. Dr. Mulray smiled to himself.[/i] Mulray: You are going to help me. You're my solution...the whole city's solution. You and I are going to teach that mayor a lesson, aren't we? [i]He tapped a finger on the glass. The frozen, blue body inside the chamber stirred a little. The large, slightly deformed eyes opened and stared forward; completely non-blinking.[/i] Mulray: When you're finished in there...we're going to have one hell of a party. And the Mayor will be guest of honor.[i] Dr. Mulray's mouth twisted into a nasty little grin -- he was particularly pleased with the way things were developing. He walked over to the far wall and pressed the little red button. The wall turned itself inside-out again, and now the room was just as it had been before he entered; totally white and sterile, with no furnishings at all visible. Dr. Mulray walked back to the entrance door and exited the room. As he exited, the lights went out...and the room was plunged into darkness. This was a room of horrible things, a room of monsters and bloodthirsty, genetically engineered freaks. Nobody else in the Meteo City Government knew about this little side-project (apart from the easily-bribed scientists who worked there), but soon everyone would know. And everyone would be thankful that Dr. Mulray saved Meteo City from a fate worse than death: hybridism. Little did the doctor realize that his creations weren't as mindless as he thought. They had their own desires. The doctor would soon discover the truly gruesome nature of those desires for himself...[/i]

[i]The Mayor stood at his window in the darkness of his office. Almost everyone had left City Hall; only the cleaners and some underpaid, overworked staff remained in the building. The Mayor stood there in silence, watching the traffic swarm past on the streets below. In the distance, he could see the gigantic AH1 (Air Highway 1), the primary point of travel in and out of the city. It was an enormous stucture, which stretched its many long pathways and intersections for miles in all directions above the city. The highway itself was rarely crowded: it had eight lanes of traffic on each side, making for a total of sixteen lanes altogether. It was a marvellous sight to behold; a sight which the Mayor had fond memories of (he had cut the ribbon on its opening, some seventeen years ago). But the city seemed to have changed since that time. The Mayor had often been credited with bringing lasting peace to Meteo City, which, throughout its long history, had seen everything from segregation of hybrids and humans to all-out civil war. Things seemed calm now, but the Mayor didn't feel connected to his Government anymore. The weekly status reports which he recieved failed to show anything noteworthy -- despite the fact that he'd signed into law a bill which would have provided millions of dollars to city hospitals, none of the money seemed to be doing anything. The Mayor had a feeling that this money was being wasted on beaurocracy, but nothing more. Little did he know that his own Director of Health & Human Services was funneling those millions of dollars to a city-funded project of "species-cleansing"... The door of the Mayor's office opened slightly. The Mayor turned around to greet the visitor. A rather short man in a black suit stepped into his office: it was the Director of Health & Human Services. [/i] Director: Hello, Mr. Mayor. You're still here? Mayor (sits down at his desk): Yes, I've been busy today. What do you want to talk about? Director (sits down in the chair opposite): Well, I'm concerned about the current spate of hybrid-related crimes, to be honest. Mayor: Crimes? But crime isn't your area. Director: Yes I know, but, well...I think we may have found a solution to the problem. Mayor: Oh? [i]The Director opened his briefcase and produced a large document with the HHSD logo on the cover. He sat it on the Mayor's desk and closed his briefcase again.[/i] Director: This is for you. A full scientific report on the strange increases in crime. Mayor: I don't understand -- what does your department have to do with city crime? Director: We believe that the increasing crime rate is a direct result of the hybrid gene pool. That is to say, we feel that hybrids have an inherent gene which makes them more prone to crime and violence. [i]The Mayor picked up the report and began looking through the pages. He opened a page which displayed a bar graph, showing the slight increases of hybrid crime month on month.[/i] Mayor: Sure, this is hybrid crime. But what about human crime? Director (laughs): Well, Mayor...with all due respect, the human crime rate has dropped substantially over the last six months. There is no evidence to suggest a problem there. Mayor: Well if what you say is true, then what can we do about the problem? Are you suggesting more money be spent in the Public Safety Department? Director (waves his hand): No, no. Not at all. We have a different solution. We propose to take hybrid prisoners -- those who have already been convicted of crimes -- and use new gene therapy techniques to draw the animal side of their genes away from their DNA. Mayor: That is possible? Director: Yes, very possible. We can essentially "cure" hybridism. I'm sure it would make the entire hybrid community very grateful; I know that they would want to live a normal life. Mayor: That doesn't sound right to me. A "normal" life? Who are we to dictate how hybrid people should live? We've spent years and years forging a peaceful coexistance with the hybrid community in Meteo City; surely we can't destroy that in one single action. Director: Mayor, please...this is important. We would be doing the hybrids a favor if we did this. I assure you, no hybrid is truly happy with the way things are going. Do you really think they're happy about being half animal, half human? Of course not! This is a solution to many of the city's problems. Mayor: I don't agree with you, Director. [i]The Director stood up and took the report from the Mayor's hands.[/i] Director: Fine. You might be the city's Mayor, but you don't rule our city autocratically. We'll hold this to a vote within Council Chambers. Nobody will support your point of view. Mayor: I sincerely hope you're wrong. Now if you'll excuse me, I have more paperwork to attend to. [i]The Director gave a forced smile to the Mayor and exited the room. The Mayor had always known that his Director of Health & Human Services was a little right-wing, but he didn't realize the extent of his political beliefs. Moreover, the Mayor sensed that trouble was brewing. He had to keep his Government behind him at any cost, or he'd lose his role as Mayor of Meteo City. But what could he do? Something had to give; and he'd soon find out how nasty politics could get...[/i]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by RicoTranzrig [/i] [B]Plus the transmission coding is different, same thing with the boot codes...PAL in UK/AUS instead of NTSC in Japan/U.S./Canada and pretty much in the world...except Russia (SECAM) [/B][/QUOTE] [size=1]Actually, NTSC is probably the least-used format worldwide (aside from French SECAM). NTSC can be found in Japan, USA and Canada, while PAL is found all throughout Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and most of the rest of the world. If you're using an NTSC device, it won't work with a PAL GameCube, although it would work with a PAL TV (meaning, an NTSC console will work with a PAL TV).[/size]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by DuoGod of Death [/i] [B]Hey got a question whats up with all the changes lately? [/B][/QUOTE] [size=1]Since I doubt we'll be moving to Version 4.0 anytime soon, I'm introducing changes which I've wanted to see for a while. So I guess this is a kind of "Version 3.5". :)[/size]

[size=1]Based on some extensive thought on the subject (and talking with multiple members personally), I've decided to modify our Avatar system just a little. The maximum limit for custom avatars will grow from 50x50 pixels to 60x60 pixels. Also, your avatar can now be up to 30K in size, as opposed to less than 20K previously. I hope that this will add a little more flexibility and individuality to the boards. For those of you with slower connections, don't worry -- these changes should not cause any significant slowdown. If slowdown becomes a widespread problem, it may be necessary to bring the memory restriction down a little bit. I hope everyone enjoys the changes. :)[/size]