James

[font=franklin gothic medium]Desbreko's idea is a solid one, because we avoid double posts and the thread remains active. However if this ends up becoming a major problem then I'll certainly review the rules. I just want to make sure we do whatever is neatest and most logical for Anthology. If anyone else has an opinion on this I'd love to hear it; no rule is set in stone really and I want to know what people think.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I don't think that legalization necessarily means total chaos, which I think a lot of people miss when talking about this subject. The13thMan might be advocating legalization but being that I really haven't gone into this thread in detail, I don't know if he's also arguing [i]regulation[/i]. Control by Government does not have to be a black and white issue of total control or no control. I think a lot of people on both sides regularly make the mistake of thinking that something either has to be 100% legal/accessible or 100% illegal/unaccessible. My view is that if something is made legal - especially if it's potentially harmful if wrongly used - it should be regulated. Regulation will of course never stop everyone getting to something - especially those who shouldn't be getting to it. But then again, the illegal status won't either (and some would argue - quite reasonably - that keeping something illegal actually makes it much easier to access than if there were strict standards in place that were verifiable). So, while I'm not really intending to get into the nuts and bolts of the discussion, I'm kind of throwing a bone to The13thMan because I think that side of the issue can be argued with more reason. In terms of my view, I agree that government has a social responsibility. However, I also believe that individuals need to take responsibility for their actions. Government, in my view, should be in the business (generally) of regulating rather than outright banning. The last thing we want - at least in my country - is a Nanny State. I know I generally don't want my Government deciding what to ban based on whether or not I might be irresponsible.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Thanks for your applications everyone. I have chosen a winner and I will be announcing the appointment soon. :catgirl:[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Excellent, excellent. I'm looking forward to it. :catgirl:[/font]

[center][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/vincentavatar.jpg[/img][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/maceyellen-chronicle.jpg[/img][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/catherinesaraavatar.jpg[/img][/center] Most of the nearby guests were looking at Vincent with a kind of subtle distain; they were trying not to be conspicuous, but in a way this made Vincent feel even more exposed. Vincent heard a voice just behind him and when he turned, he saw Catherine standing there. No matter how many times he saw her, he was always impressed by her brilliance. She was, in many respects, one of the more senior members of the Almagest family. She carried herself with an air of quiet dignity and she never lost her composure. Vincent was eternally grateful for her small act of earlier kindness. She smiled at him. ‘I am sorry about what happened earlier,’ she said softly. ‘Please, do not be sorry,’ said Vincent, ‘if anything, the reception here has been overwhelmingly positive. I am lucky to have been invited to such a fine house.’ Catherine laughed. Her laugh was infectious; it carried the same air of confidence that permeated every other aspect of her. ‘You are very good at veiling your true feelings, Vincent. I know it must be difficult. Please just know that you are always welcome at this house, as is your father.’ Vincent nodded but did not say anything. Catherine did not leave his side. She seemed to have something weighing on her mind but was unable to articulate it at first. ‘Vincent,’ she said quietly, ‘I hope you do not think me rude to say this, but I think you should speak to Macey. You rarely have the opportunity to see her and I am sure she misses you.’ Vincent raised an eyebrow and grinned at Catherine. ‘It almost sounds as though you would like to see us together again.’ Catherine chuckled and covered her mouth with a gloved hand. ‘Well, your union was one that united two countries. It is not every day that two great families of the New World come together in such a way. But what must be must be; I believe it happened for a reason. Perhaps you are better for Macey as a friend.’ For a moment Vincent considered this. And then he appreciated Catherine’s wisdom more than ever. ‘What should I do?’ ‘Just talk to her,’ said Catherine, ‘she will come around. And you will feel better too. This awkwardness will not last forever; Leonhart considers the Achards to be lifelong friends and there is no way he will want you to feel uncomfortable in this house.’ ‘Do you know where she is?’ asked Vincent as he looked around the room, suddenly realizing that Macey could be anywhere. Catherine nodded. ‘I think you probably know where she is, Vincent. There is only one place in Rosengard for Macey when she needs to be alone.’ ‘Thank you,’ said Vincent, ‘you are most wise, dear Catherine. This house will always keep its good name as long a you are here.’ And with that, Vincent kissed Catherine’s gloved hand and bid her goodbye. The East Wing was deserted. In fact, the only noticeable disturbance in the supremely clean and orderly hall was the slight trace of glass sitting on the carpet. It glinted brilliantly from the chandelier overhead. This was the only place Macey could be; her own private balcony over looking the East Rose Garden. Vincent remembered that she went here whenever she was feeling down. Only this time, Vincent had been the cause and as such, every step toward the glass door was torturous. And finally, there she was, sitting on an exquisite stone bench, bathed in cool blue moonlight. If Vincent could have frozen time and taken the image away in a frame, he would have done so. Macey was enveloped in luxurious black lace. In the moonlight, her dress took on a strange quality that was reminiscent of some kind of silken skin; it looked as though it were part of her, as though it were alive. And it, too, mourned in the moonlight. Vincent suddenly did not want to disturb Macey. Something told him it wasn’t right, that he shouldn’t be there. But he was frozen. He could not see her face, but he knew that silver tears were streaming down her porcelain face at that moment. ‘Thank you for coming,’ said Macey quietly. Either she had heard him step onto the balcony or she could feel his presence. Although he romantically entertained the latter, he knew the former was more likely. He sat down next to her and looked out over the rose garden. It looked just as it had when they were married. 'I miss the way we used to sit and talk for hours on this balcony,' said Macey with a deep sigh. There was a sense of longing in her voice. It was not necessarily longing for Vincent, but possibly a deep sense of nostalgia for a time that had long since passed. Vincent represented a time in her life when there were so many possibilities, especially for a young bride. Macey had been quickly elevated to a superstar status; she was Czenovia's half of a marriage that was more than two people. It was a marriage of nations. And now, it had all gone. She had become one of the few black sheep in the Almagest family. And although she had immersed herself in her studies, it was hard to escape the constant feeling of loss; she not only mourned a lost marriage, but a lost life. 'I miss many things,' said Vincent, 'life has never been the same...' Macey didn't look at Vincent. He felt a certain pressure to say the right words. 'I'm sorry, Ella.' Vincent was surprised when Macey shook her head. 'You don't have to be sorry Vincent,' she said with surprising resoluteness. 'But...', as he started to try to explain, Macey interjected. 'No, don't feel guilty. The only thing worse than being a walking public scandal is having you feel sorry. You have nothing to feel sorry for. We both faced such pressure. No person could resist that.' Macey was right, but Vincent could not help but feel responsible. Their marriage had broken up for a variety of reasons - some political. But they both knew that somehow they were not meant to be. Macey loved Vincent, but she was often emotionally vacant. And Vincent adored Macey, but he never felt that he was giving her the love she deserved. 'This is still your home,' said Macey after a long silence. 'You know you are still welcome here.' For the first time, she turned to him and the faintest hint of a smile crept over her lips. This took great effort, but Vincent appreciated it nonetheless. 'We have a hard road ahead of us,' said Vincent, 'but I think we can make it.' He reached for her hand, but she instinctively pulled it away. She looked embarrassed by what was clearly an immediate natural reaction. Vincent and Macey Ellen still had a long way to go, but he realized that she had not allowed him on her balcony for some time. They sat together for almost an hour in silence, just enjoying the comfort that each other's company brought.

[quote name='Sandy'] [B]James:[/B] You'll have to wait until my character is introduced to the [I]game[/I], first. ;D It will happen the next day after the party. And to general public, lo and behold! The fifth issue of [B]the Chronicle[/B] is up, recounting the details about the mighty Dynasty. The [B]Dramatis Personae[/B] has also been updated with the most important NPCs.[/QUOTE] [font=franklin gothic medium]Ohh, I assumed he'd be at the party...but okay, I will wait for that. I have no idea what my character will do after the party is over, so I'm pretty much going to wait to see what you and/or Shy posts on that (I assume there will be another Landmark or something?)[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]And don't forget, Vincent is Assistant Commander of the RPG (ironic acronym, haha). If you ever need some muscle on your journies, he is certainly one of the people who can go along (whether on this journey or another). Speaking of which, I also have to introduce him to Sandy's character at some stage. Preferably before he goes on a far away adventure.[/font] :catgirl:

[quote]But seriously, it stands to reason that Sakura's character will utterly loathe you with all the protective hatred that only a sibling can summon up. [/quote] [font=franklin gothic medium]That's very true, I guess what I meant to do was point out that these feelings would probably be limited to certain immediate people around Macey. I just wasn't sure if other members would be aware of that or not. Anyway, I am loving everything I'm reading so far. Catherine is so gracious! :catgirl: I can see why she'd be a wonderful hostess. ~_^ I guess at this point in the story Vincent is changing his shirt. Macey could encounter him sooner, or he can encounter her later. I'll leave that up to you and I'll just follow your post. I'm very interested to see where this whole dodgy gift thread will go... I suspect we're in for quite a mystery, heh.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]It's all good guys. You're all doing a wonderful job, I am enjoying reading your posts. Please feel free to include my character wherever you like; after all, it's giving me some much needed direction, haha. :catgirl: Everything's going well so far. I'm really keen to see where the story goes post-party.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to come across as though I were reprimanding you, haha. I guess I just mean in general that most members of the family probably wouldn't have that much of a problem with Vincent - other than some awkwardness. It's more just a note about future posts, since I haven't really spoken to anyone other than Raiha, Shy and Sandy about it. Plus I figure any additional info we can put in this thread will help. :catgirl:[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Thanks for the advice to youngsters. ~_^ Just to be clear, nobody is saying you can't have an opinion. Your view that people shouldn't "knock it 'till they try it" has some validity, but having said that, people can still form opinions on a drug based on what they've read...trying it isn't necessarily going to change the objective facts. I do think your view is a valid one, I just think we need to recognise that we have to be a bit responsible when it comes to some of this stuff, especially with much younger members around. Having said that I have no interest in censoring people's views - if you have a positive view about marijuana you're more than welcome to post your side of the story. After all, we can't have a discussion with only one side, lol.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I just wanted to point something out about my character. While the details of Vincent and Macey's divorce are not widely known, the family would probably know that it was a mutual decision. And even the family probably doesn't know the most intimate details of it. I can imagine the Almagests being a little awkward around Vincent, but it's unlikely that any of them would be outright nasty to him. Not only does this largely go against the whole concept of their aristocracy, but it would be based on nothing - being that they don't have an in-depth knowledge of the marriage's complications. I wanted to mention that because if his character is treated as a hated or very disliked person, it will be harder for him to build relationships with Almagest family members later on. The only person who really bares a strong ill-will is Macey herself, but even her ill-will is, I imagine, not quite what it seems on the surface.[/font]

[center][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/vincentavatar.jpg[/img][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/fauntleroy-chronicle.jpg[/img][/center] Vincent and Audrey sat together in silence as the steam car weaved its way between High Czenoble's wide boulevards and narrow laneways. As evening crept over the horizon, the city quietly slipped under a blanket of golden light; elaborate lanterns hung out the front of the city's many boutiques, restaurants and hotels. Men and women emerged by the hundred from the latest stage performances and headed towards their favourite restaurants and bars. Audrey awkwardly balanced a large present on her lap. Vincent had happened upon an antique store and found a globe of the Old World. It wasn't as large as typical globes, but it was sizeable enough to make Audrey sufficiently uncomfortable as she tried to avoid dropping it. The globe was made from the finest gold and featured elaborate diamond markers across its surface. Vincent thought it to be a suitable gift for a man like Leonhart Almgaest. However, Vincent did wonder if Leonhart already owned something similar; after all, what does one buy a man who seemingly has everything? Nevertheless, Vincent knew that Leonhart would respect the gesture. After almost half an hour of uninterrupted silence, Audrey finally spoke. 'When shall we collect you, Mr. Achard?' Vincent waved his hand dismissively. 'Pick me up? Audrey, did you really think I was going to have you shop with me all day only to leave on your own? You are accompanying me to this little event tonight.' Audrey gasped and almost dropped the globe. 'Accompany you? But I'm not dressed! I look like a pauper!' Vincent laughed and looked Audrey up and down. 'Audrey, you are lovely. Would I invite you if I thought you weren't going to impress the hosts? You know me better than that!' Audrey's nerves seemed to calm as she heard this. 'I never thought I'd see the inside of Rosengard.' 'Few outside the Almagest family have,' Vincent replied. 'If I weren't the Assistant Commander of the Royal Police Guard, I wonder if I would have been invited at all. I believe Mr. Rosier is unable to attend tonight, which leaves me as the only senior representative.' Audrey raised an eyebrow. 'I thought they had invited you because of your father?' 'Well, Leonhart is still good friends with my father,' said Vincent, 'but he was unable to attend and I don't think anyone is too fussed about that. After the divorce, everything changed...' Vincent rolled down his window and the cool night air caressed his face. 'I'm not sure how Leonhart feels about me now.' Both Audrey and Vincent were silent for the remainder of the trip to Rosengard. Rosengard Estate was a sprawling residence that very much resembled a palace. The gardens surrounding the estate were almost grander than the buildings themselves. As Vincent's steam car approached the estate, the landscape began to change. They were leaving behind the busy city streets and heading toward High Czenoble's vast green countryside. Although many stately homes dotted the rolling hills, everything was dominated by Rosengard. From where Vincent was sitting, Rosengard looked as though it sat on the direct center of the horizon, overlooking everything else. And as the air cooled further and the sky darkened, Rosengard took on an imposing air; it looked impenetrable and powerful. Finally, after passing through the front gates and driving up the lengthy stone driveway, the steam car came to a stop and the rear door opened. Audrey, still clutching the globe, stepped out of the car as Vincent followed. Much to Vincent's surprise, none other than Fauntleroy Almagest was standing at the front door, with a rather tall glass of champaigne in his hand. He grinned widely and tipped his hat. He looked as though he'd been waiting for Vincent. Audrey ascended the stairs to the front door first and handed her gift to one of Leonhart's servants. Vincent couldn't hear what she was saying, but she seemed to be pointing out, in no uncertain terms, that the package should not be dropped. As Vincent reached the top stair, Fauntleroy extended a hand. Vincent shook it vigorously and smiled. 'Long time no see,' said Vincent. 'You have grown since I last saw you.' Fauntleroy winked. 'In stature as well as age,' he said confidently. 'Although father would not say so.' Vincent nodded knowingly. 'Your father is a man of the Old World. One day he will see how much The Chronicle influences our fair city. But for what it's worth, I am very proud of you. You are becoming quite the celebrity these days.' 'Thank you,' said Fauntleroy. His manner seemed somehow awkard, as though he were holding something back. Vincent knew that Fauntleroy was close to Macey Ellen, which possibly made it difficult for him to easily accept Vincent's kind words. After a brief silence, Vincent spoke with a slightly cautious tone. 'I assume Macey is here,' he said. 'I hope she is well.' Fauntleroy nodded and looked at his feet momentarily. 'Er, yes, she is well.' Then he looked up at Vincent and grinned again. 'I am here to keep the peace.' 'Oh,' Vincent nodded and smiled as warmly as he could, 'that's a good idea, young man. Speaking of which, I have not been to Rosengard in years. I read that Leonhart has acquired several new pieces of foreign art for his gallery. Perhaps you could give me a quick tour before we hand the presents out?' Fauntleroy seemed somewhat relieved, as though he'd been struggling to find a way to keep Vincent away from Macey. As the pair entered the Grand Foyer and headed for the Gallery, Vincent knew that he would not be able to avoid Macey all night. In the back of his mind he wondered if it would be better to simply go straight to her room and greet her in private before the celebrations began. He would need to slip away from Fauntleroy to do that, though. And, perhaps just as importantly, he wasn't entirely sure how the reunion would go. It would no doubt be surprising, but in what way Vincent could not predict.

[quote name='Charles']Plus, the way I look at it, the old school Mario games were never really about going off in every direction exploring. The levels were very straightforward with little nooks and crannies you could find secrets in. Most of my enjoyment of older Mario games was gleaned from the genius that was the level design. Mario Galaxy is sort of rooted in that oldschool concept, except now the player is free to explore every surface of most objects. I never felt as if there was nothing to see--especially with how varied the level designs were.[/quote] [font=franklin gothic medium]Yep. Super Mario Galaxy still gives you plenty of space to explore, but the game provides more specific direction as you go through. I'm now about 45 stars in and I'm finding that the game is just getting better and better. There are so many things to mention. For one thing, I love that every galaxy is just so completely different from the last - you just don't see any repetition at all in this game. While it might be easy to think of Super Mario Galaxy as just "Super Mario 64 with sperhical levels", that assessment just couldn't be further from the truth. The variety in this game is something that should embarass every other developer out there; the fact that Super Mario Galaxy never compromises by giving you the same challenge with a slightly different coat of paint is very refreshing. As I play the game I notice so many little things that are easy to take for granted. This game just innovates at every turn...there isn't a single thing about it that's old and stale. So much of it is boldly [i]new[/i]. I recently played a level where you are [spoiler]in a "ring of water" in the sky - you know, the level where you have to race that shark thingy[/spoiler]. Not only was the concept cool, but getting that star was just breathtaking. I mean, sure, you're pretty much just [spoiler]swimming through underwater rings - in this case, nothing terribly new[/spoiler]. But what makes this unique is the amazing level design and the wonderful controls. I honestly can't find fault with these controls at all, now that I think about it. Mario moves more nimbly in this game than I've ever seen before. Even compared to Super Mario Sunshine, I feel like I have quite a lot more freedom (despite not having FLUDD, which says a lot). I'm also now coming across levels with far more complex gravity obstacles. Some of these are just mind-bendingly cool. Another thing I wanted to mention was something really simple. In Super Mario 64, for example, you get dropped into a world and within that world you have to find stars. Yes, you may sometimes discover caves or areas that aren't visible in the "overworld", so to speak. But in general terms...you're going back into the same level but you're doing a different task in that space. What I love about Super Mario Galaxy is that each star in a level is a radically different experience. I remember going to the ghost house level (I forget the galaxy's specific name) and thinking "I hope it isn't just a ghost house with nothing else". And of course, I wasn't disappointed. Yes, you go into the house. But as each star comes along, you keep travelling in different directions. One moment you're floating way above the house and another moment, you skip your way through various objects and end up apparently miles from the house itself (but still in the same level). This really adds so much to the game I think. It means that even though you might be continually visiting a level with a particular theme (i.e. desert), the level itself will be completely new each time you enter it. [spoiler]I've also enjoyed looking for the green stars. Only found one so far, but you know what they remind me of? They make me think about those areas in the 2D games where you'd be rewarded for "breaking the level". I [i]love[/i] that you can actually discover unmarked places and "break the levels" in Super Mario Galaxy. [/spoiler] This is an old-school element that really wasn't prevalent in Super Mario 64 or Super Mario Sunshine. I am really happy that it's made its way back into Super Mario Galaxy. This is definitely a good reason to own a Wii - it's the first Wii game where I've really felt that my purchase was justified (because in all honesty, I don't think I've really felt that since WiiSports, although admittedly I haven't played Metroid yet). And oddly enough, all of this is coming from someone who owns about twenty times more Xbox 360 games than Wii games. In fact, I have an entire shelf on my wall full of Xbox 360 games. I only mention it because, other than Mario, I haven't seen many reasons to neglect my Xbox 360 for quite a few months. Even as a Nintendo fan I acknowledge that, haha.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Guys, I do think it's reasonable to talk about your own experience (since experience obviously plays a role in how people form a conclusion about this issue), but it's probably not necessary to encourage people to do something illegal. I don't think it will really influence anyone here, but you know, you're not the one who has to answer to a member's parent (whereas I do). We're still part of a network that has a lot of young members and although I'm pretty lenient on what we can discuss here - since I do believe that ideas generally don't harm anyone - I also think we need to be responsible for the sake of those who have their kids posting here and who have come to trust the community. I wouldn't want to betray that trust, which I'm sure you can understand. That has nothing to do with being squares, it's about being adults.[/font] [quote name='The13thMan']I don't appreciate the lecture. Keep it to yourself next time.[/quote] [font=franklin gothic medium]Don't disrespect the staff when they're trying to do their jobs, okay? Unlike you, SunfallE is responsible for all members in her area - including the younger ones. If you speak to a staff member like that again, you won't be welcome back to OtakuBoards. It's just not necessary, no matter what your views on the subject are.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Ahh, excellent...here we go! :catgirl: All I've got to do now is bring some HTML into my posts. I want an indent on my posts more like Shy's opening post...somehow the width doesn't look right. Also I hope it was okay to introduce the car. Since there was no mention of transport other than Airships, I thought it would be okay to bring in a limousine. You'd really have to read a full description of this vehicle though, to understand how it would fit into the world. I'm imagining something that might look like almost an airstream 1950's type design, but with exposed pipes and gears, which would be the visible components of a steam engine. In other words I'm kind of thinking about what a car would look like if it were powered with steam. Hopefully this is okay, as I didn't want to do any damage to your ideas about how the general universe would appear. I'm guessing most people in Czenovia would either walk, or just take public transport (perhaps something cheaper than airships, though).[/font]

[center][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/vincentavatar.jpg[/img][/center] Vincent?s legs ached as he passed through a seemingly endless field of tall grass. The blades were unnaturally high, sweeping past his knees as he walked. It was as though he had been walking for days in an endless circle; there was nothing on the horizon and he felt lost. For a moment, he paused to take a breath. He wiped his brow with the sleeve of his shirt, as sweat beaded down his neck and over his chest. The sun penetrated his clothes and burned his muscles. If only he had a map or a guide; if only Audrey was here! His ever-loyal, eerily-savvy secretary might know a way home. Now, more than ever, he appreciated her. He was sure she?d somehow have some solution to his problem. He raised his eyes and looked out over the undulating green that stretched well beyond the horizon. And now, he noticed what he thought was a figure approaching from the distance. The heat made things hazy and perhaps it was an illusion or maybe he had been so concerned with his own tiredness that he simply hadn?t noticed the stranger. As the figure came closer, Vincent noticed that it was a young man. His sleeves were rolled up, but other than that, the oppressive heat did not seem to bother him. As he came closer, his features became clearer. The man was certainly young, but he was not a boy. His light blonde hair fluttered around his eyes as the wind ran through it. There was something about him that was odd, but not in a frightening or negative way; more than anything, it brought about an intense curiosity in Vincent. ?What are you doing out here, young man? Are you lost too?? It was Vincent?s vague attempt at sounding authoritative, when he was clearly just as vulnerable as the stranger. As Vincent was older, he half thought that perhaps he may be able to comfort the man. The man stopped and held out his hand. ?I?m here to take you home,? he whispered. Vincent felt the overwhelming urge to take his hand, as though the earth underneath his feet were about to give way. He reached out and then, suddenly, the stranger?s hand was gone. And Vincent felt urgently sick, as the ground crumbled under his feet. Now he would never find his way home. The thick curtains in Vincent?s bedroom opened automatically, as a series of pulleys in the corners squeaked on their gears. Light streamed into the room, which sat at the apex of a luxurious penthouse apartment in High Czenoble?s western district. Vincent stared up at the ceiling as the morning unfolded before him. He lay above the covers of his King Size bed, dressed in a pair of thick cotton shorts. He was dressed for summer, even though the penthouse was notably chilly. The dream he?d had was not new. Vincent had been experiencing the same dream for several nights and he was beginning to tire of it. Despite this, he could offer no explanation for it; it made no sense to him, even in a vague symbolic way. But before he could collect his thoughts, the double doors to his bedroom swung open and the [i]click-clack[/i] of high-heels announced the entrance of his secretary, Audrey. As soon as she rounded the corner, she gasped and covered her eyes with a gloved hand. ?Oh! I?m sorry, Mr. Achard! I thought you would be dressed by now!? Vincent didn?t mind Audrey being in his penthouse. In fact, she was an Anovan and she had been selected by Vincent in a rare act of nepotism. The Royal Police Guard had cleared her and appointed her nonetheless and her presence reminded Vincent of home, which was possibly why he liked having her around. Audrey was organized and always dressed in a minimal fashion. She had a particular fondness for grey, which adorned just about every garment Vincent had seen her in. On this day she wore a neat grey skirt and coat, with a ruffled white shirt underneath. She wore a small, inconspicuous hat tilted to one side, which carried a small tuft of feathers on it. Her hair was wrapped in a tight bun and her make-up was simple and neat. Vincent smiled and waved his hand dismissively. ?You can uncover your eyes, Audrey. I [i]am[/i] wearing pants, you know.? Audrey reluctantly did as she was told. Now her face was slightly flushed. As if to shake off her initial embarrassment, Audrey reached into her briefcase and produced a small card. ?What?s that?? asked Vincent as he sat on the edge of the bed and pulled a robe from the back of a nearby chair. ?This is an invitation, Sir. You?ve been asked to attend Leonhart Almagest?s sixty-fifth birthday. I?m sorry to notify you so late; it only arrived in the office today.? Vincent tied the waist of his robe and took the invitation from Audrey. It could be none other than a message from the Almagest family, given the exquisite stationery (and of course, it carried the famous Almagest Family Seal). Despite the late notice, Vincent knew that it would be highly inappropriate to reject an invitation from none other than Leonhart himself. If nothing else, Leonhart and Vincent?s father, Olivier, were still great friends. Olivier couldn?t make it to Czenovia as he had urgent business to attend to at home. And so, it was left to Vincent to represent the Achard family. ?You don?t look pleased with the news,? said Audrey with a tone of genuine surprise in her voice. ?Macey Ellen will likely be there,? sighed Vincent. Audrey mentally reprimanded herself; how could she forget such a well-publicised divorce? ?I-I?m sorry?I forgot?? Vincent looked up at her and smiled warmly. ?No need to apologize, Audrey. I don?t expect you to be a mind reader. Macey Ellen and I can still get along; I just do not want to make things awkward for her family. I am in a difficult position, with my father being so close to Leonhart despite everything.? Audrey nodded. ?The party is in a matter of hours. Perhaps we should look for a present?? ?A grand idea,? said Vincent cheerfully, ?have my car ready and I will be there in a moment. I need to choose the right suit?? ?Oh, your car is already sitting on the street. I will go down now and wait for you.? And with that, Audrey disappeared around the corner. Vincent looked out the large window near his bed and sure enough, he saw the limousine sitting on the street. It was a brand new model, with a powerful steam-crank design. As it idled, sheets of steam billowed from the enormous engine at the front. Tonight, he thought, would be a most interesting night.

[font=franklin gothic medium]Well, I just got Super Mario Galaxy last night. I’m now up to the second Observatory (having cleared all the Galaxies in the first…and I’m about halfway through the Galaxies in the second I think). So I’ll just call these early impressions, since I’m sure others are reviewing this game when they’re much further in. At this point I’m really enjoying the game. I was hoping that all the reviews I’ve read wouldn’t affect me too much; I’ve kept an open mind and I’ve kept my expectations as low as possible, despite all of the positive comments. I think I can definitely say that Super Mario Galaxy far exceeds both Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario 64. It is easily the best 3D Mario game made thus far – whether or not it’s better than games like Super Mario Bros. 3 is going to be purely subjective in the end (given that comparisons between games that play so very differently are difficult anyway). I also think that Super Mario Galaxy sets a major new standard on Wii – it’s the first Wii game that has really “wowed” me in just about every sense. I’ve had some experience now, so I feel more comfortable talking about some of the issues that have been discussed in this thread. First, I guess there’s the whole issue of linearity and so on. As far as I’m concerned, Super Mario Galaxy strikes just the right balance; it’s not as open and “lost” as some elements of Super Mario Sunshine were. At the same time, it allows for far more variety in exploration than Super Mario 64 did. So it really manages to strike just the right balance between guided linearity and “open plan” design. I like that, depending on which star you select in a Galaxy, the Galaxy’s properties can change significantly. At the very least, you’re always led in new and interesting directions. This adds much-welcome variety when you’re constantly re-entering the same Galaxy. In terms of control…I really had no issues here. The only thing I miss is the ability to jump and dive at enemies – I found myself wanting to do this quite regularly. However, I had no issue with either the tightness or the fluidity of the controls; Mario runs just as fast as he ever did and he’s just as manoeuvrable. I think one reason why he sometimes seems slower is that the camera is regularly further away from him than it is in other 3D Mario titles. This obviously makes Mario look a little slower, when in fact, he’s really no different than he was before. I think it would be a good idea to boot up Super Mario 64 right next to Super Mario Galaxy and actually experience the difference in control for yourself. You will find that nostalgia can be a powerful thing! In terms of camera, I think it’s a mixed bag. It’s a misnomer to say that you can center the camera behind you, in a sense. I noticed that when you’re running around spherical/floating space objects, the camera centers according to the “core” of the object. So in other words, it basically shifts the camera right over your head. This is useful and logical given the context of these little environments. The camera only shifts behind you when you’re on one of the more traditional levels, where manual camera adjustment is actually required. Did I ever have camera problems? Sure. There were a couple of very slightly awkward moments where the camera would move the wrong way or take a moment to catch up. These moments were not only rare, but they lasted for a fraction of a second. So far, I’ve found the camera to be better than in other 3D Mario titles (although I did like SMS’s manual camera; I acknowledge that it was widely unpopular, however). And in terms of 3D games in general, I don’t think you can really heavily fault the camera – I don’t think you can say it’s game-breaking or responsible for frequent deaths. I mean, out of any third person games that use auto-cameras…Super Mario Galaxy’s is definitely one of the better ones. It’s not flawless, but no game is. So far I’m finding the game easy, although I’m an experienced Mario player – I imagine some parts of the game are going to be very difficult for people who are not accustomed to Mario titles. And I can also imagine some people having trouble with the spherical world concept in general…especially if you suffer from motion sickness or something like that. For me personally, it wasn’t a problem. I haven’t yet flown or been underwater, so I’m still reserving a final judgement on some of these elements. But I’ve definitely played enough to have an idea about certain aspects of the game. In any case, I can see that I’m really going to enjoy going through the rest of Super Mario Galaxy. It just has an undeniable sense of freshness and innovation that the Mario franchise desperately needs – I feel glad that this game really takes things a step further, rather than relying too heavily on old conventions. One thing I agree with is what Charles said earlier, about the feeling this game gives you. It’s hard to describe…but I don’t think I’ve had the feeling since I played Super Mario 64 for the first time. There’s a certain emotion you get when you come across something so completely new and different as this; I guess it’s just a constant sense of wonder. And I haven’t experienced that in a while.[/font]

[quote name='Sandy']Like I said, there [I]will[/I] be a family tree diagram posted in the game thread. As in, a picture of a tree with the character portraits hanging from it and lines connecting the characters together. ;D[/QUOTE] [font=franklin gothic medium]Oh, sorry, my mistake. For some reason I thought it would only be the Chronicle part - I must have missed that. In which case, it all sounds even better! :catgirl: I'm very much looking forward to this. I think it will be just as fun to read as to post.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Wow, this most recent Chronicle is great! I'm very impressed. The family tree really helps to clear up the relationships. It would be good to also have a tree diagram, but this is definitely not a necessity. All looking great. :catgirl:[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Yep, I thought it was important for post backgrounds to remain the same across all skins - otherwise people's carefully designed threads will look very different on different skins...and I don't think that's a good idea. One of the big issues for the future also relates to how we'll handle Version 7 themes when we upgrade to Evolution. Being that the layout is totally different...I'm not quite sure. I think it will largely depend on what's technically doable at the time. In any case, I hope that our constant improvement of themes (and development of new ones) is keeping the site looking fresh. The layout itself still works quite well and the recent upgrade to the latest vB has added some useful features that we never had before.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I don't think this is even possible with the software we're using. Even if it was, we'd have to work out how to actually handle it. For instance, would we have to host all of the images? And we'd probably have to put in forms and such to edit all of those elements. It's a good idea in theory but I'm not sure if it's physically possible with Virtual Bulletin. Still, I think your desire for customization will probably be fulfilled with the next version of theOtaku.com. I have heard some good things about it.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I think the mother involved certainly bears some responsibility; threatening anyone (especially verbally abusing a child) does bring with it certain potential penalties as far as I know. Did she cause this girl's death? I don't know. And I don't really think anyone can say that she did. If someone is going to commit suicide based on the verbal abuse coming from another person, then their problems obviously run deeper than just a reaction to bullying. I think that this incident probably underlines the need of parents to be more involved with what their kids do online. You can't always prevent these things, of course - sometimes there's really very little you can do. But yeah, I think the bully involved should be facing some sort of penalty, although I don't think they should be charged with manslaughter or anything like that. There doesn't really seem to be cause for that based on what I can see.[/font]

[quote name='AzureWolf'] I don't think people should be so offended that I'm different than them or choose to wait for marriage. Just like how they want to be left alone for their choice of having sex, others should be left alone for not having sex.[/QUOTE] [font=franklin gothic medium]I think your overall post now helps me to understand what I've read from you in the past, in terms of your thoughts and attitudes. Very interesting (and understandable in some sense too). But I was also going to say that I think the last part of your statement should be qutoed for truth - just as nobody has the right to judge someone's sexual orientation (which is well beyond their control anyway), it's also true that others shouldn't judge the choices that people make relating to their sex life in general. I mean I'm often in a position of defending people, but I would never say that someone's decision about abstinence or whatever is wrong - at the end of the day it's their decision and I respect that completely. As for me, I haven't been following this thread during the last few pages so I'm not quite sure where it's up to in general. I think most people know that I'm pretty not straight, but there's little taboo about that anymore, so it's not nearly as interesting as it once was.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Light text on dark backgrounds is definitely more difficult to read than the other way around - that's why I've been very careful to keep OB Standard. I just hope Indigo isn't [i]too[/i] difficult to read for most people. My thinking is that in the future when we introduce more themes, they will all have a trial as our default theme. So eventually you'll see a new default design and Indigo will become selectable like the others. This way we can easily feature new themes; otherwise I can imagine a lot of people just won't know they're there at all.[/font]