James

[QUOTE=silpheedpilot][COLOR=DarkSlateGray][SIZE=1] You gotta realize that games are for kids whether you think so or not. Whether it has blood, guts, gore, and violence; kids are going to play it and you're gonna run into whiney little girls but it shouldn't be something that annoys the crap out of you. Pull your head set off, kick them from the game, or leave the match. I don't see why people whine about it instead of taking action.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/QUOTE] [font=arial]I don't agree with that. First of all, games are not for kids - at least, not all games. Some are. Arguably [i]most[/i] aren't terribly child-friendly these days. The idea that videogames are only for children is a very old misconception. Secondly, I think when you pay for a service like Xbox Live you do have the right to play your games without being harassed. Yes, you can kick annoying players out or you can leave the game - but doing this consistently isn't fun; it does ruin the experience. I think it should be the responsibility of all players to act reasonably when dealing with others. I know this is hard (perhaps impossible) to fully regulate...but I don't think it's fair for someone's play experience to be ruined by inconsiderate players. When you pay money for a subscription I think you are entitled to expect a certain environment. So although I understand that you can't always avoid coming aross annoying players...it's reasonable to be upset or annoyed when you do come across them. [/font]

[QUOTE=DeadSeraphim][size=1][color=indigo][font=arial]I'm pretty sure [i]all of you[/i] should be my slaves, since I'm kind of [i]the dude[/i] working on v8. That means you too, James. So without further ado, this is my list of demands: * Three cartons (not decks, cartons) of Winfield Gold Cigarettes. * Twenty cartons of Overproof Bundaberg Rum and Cola * Your souls I expect them by midnight, or there will be hell to pay (and by 'hell', I mean a long list of sexual favours, which could be hell depending on your perspective)[/font][/color][/size][/QUOTE] [font=arial]Hey, if everything goes well, your demands won't be a problem to fill. It will be worth it, when people see the shiny new site.[/font]

[quote]Just tell me specifically what I can do and nothing more, kay? [/quote] [font=arial]If you ever have a problem with something happening in a thread, you are welcome to PM the Moderator (or Category Moderator) for that area rather than reprimanding someone within the thread. It's pretty easy stuff! Also it didn't become an issue until you made it one. It's worth pointing that out, lol. Let's try not to take things so seriously in future! :catgirl: And where are my man-slaves? I see no volunteers. >_>;; [b]Edit:[/b] And please, don't anyone talk about "uprisings"...they are so lame, lol. Every so-called uprising on OtakuBoards has become a laughable historical oddity. :p [/font]

I hope I'm not stepping on any toes here - I have had some difficulty following a few things (like the relationship between Demos/Levia/X/Zero) so I won't touch on that much. A really short summary to just explain sides might be good though - I think I've got the gist of where we're at now. [font=franklin gothic medium][b]Hunted by a Red Warrior[/b] The [i]Impact[/i] rocketed from the Aquaduct's north-eastern exit with such force that it left an enormous plume of dust and sand in its wake. Maverick Hunter Headquarters' western barrier was almost 100 kilometers away but was visible over the distant horizon. Warlock and Havoc were sitting in the [i]Impact's[/i] command center, while Proteus was sitting by Iota in the medical bay. HAPCs such as the [i]Impact[/i] regularly contained a crew of six but the team had to make do with only two active crew members. Havoc was piloting and Warlock was responsible for weapons and navigation; he was also performing regular diagnostics on the vehicle. "Whatever's behind us," began Havoc as his eyes continued to focus on the horizon, "is [i]right behind us[/i]; it's on our tail!" The HAPC's external sensors were picking up a faint reploid signature. "We aren't getting a complete scan", said Warlock, tapping his fingers over an expansive keyboard, "the sensor arrays are severely damaged from your little entry into the Aquaduct." Havoc grinned ever so slightly. "When you have a few hundred drones firing at your HAPC, I'd like to see how well [i]you[/i] last." Suddenly, the [i]Impact's[/i] hull shook violently, activating an internal silent alarm. Red lights flooded the command center. "That was defnitely a Hunter's buster," cried Havoc as the fusion engines began to struggle - the enormous HAPC was beginning to produce odd electrical sounds. It was as though the [i]Impact[/i] were dragging its lower hull along the harsh red sand. Proteus appeared in the corridor directly behind the command center, steadying himself with his hands against the walls. "It's Zero!" he called above the noise. Havoc and Warlock glanced at each other with wide eyes. For a moment a horrific thought flashed across their minds - what if Duke already knew the Hunters were returning? Was this the first stage of an unfriendly welcoming party? Had all their efforts been in vein? When both Havoc and Warlock turned to look at Proteus again, they felt somehow relieved; he did not look concerned. "I don't think he's trying to harm us," called Proteus from halfway down the vehicle. "I think he's trying to get our attention!" The situation seemed absurd to Havoc who, at first, laughed out loud to himself. He had expended so much energy concentrating on simply keeping the wounded [i]Impact[/i] stable that he hadn't taken pause to consider the sheer absurdity of their situation. He probably would have kept laughing if the Hunters hadn't come so close to death on multiple occasions. Before he could ponder the matter further, the [i]Impact's[/i] cabin filled with rushing cool wind; the HAPC had almost reached top speed and the wind's roar was almost deafening. Both Havoc and Warlock looked over their shoulders and saw an odd sight - the rear doors were wide open and Proteus was holding Zero's hand, dragging him into the rear cargo bay. For a brief moment the situation seemed very surreal, particularly to Warlock - he had effectively been banished from MHHQ and if [i]anyone[/i] were to face retribution from the Hunters it would have to be him. And yet, after months of isolation in Xen, he was now on board a Maverick Hunter HAPC with none other than Zero. For a moment, Zero and Proteus appeared to be talking amongst themselves. Zero took pause to glance down the hall at Warlock once or twice - his eyes did not look malicious, though. He somehow looked relieved to see Warlock's face. Warlock smiled to himself. It was an internal smile. Seeing Zero actually gave Warlock a slight tinge of homesickness - there was still something inside him that was pure reploid, purely duty-bound. It was a small part, but it was still there. Zero's glossy red finish - like some kind of expensive race car - was utterly impressive. It was as though his presence filled the entire cabin with a strange aura. [b]The Question[/b] Twenty minutes had passed. Warlock, Havoc, Zero and Proteus were sitting in the [i]Impact's[/i] command center, each encased in pure Maverick Hunter HQ leather seats. After fifteen minutes of intense discussion, silence fell over the HAPC as it sped towards the Western Barrier. Zero was the first to speak. "So, as you now know, I am aware of what has been happening. I am sorry you had to find out this way." "We already escaped from the HQ, we knew Duke wasn't on the level," murmured Havoc. He laughed to himself. "It's so ironic that you're here telling us this now. You are a true Maverick Hunter poster boy. Do you have any idea what Duke would do if he knew you were having this little sit-down with us?" Zero nodded. "Of course. But Duke and the Maverick Hunters are not one in the same. I am still loyal to the Hunters - more loyal than ever. I would put aside anything to see the integrity and honor of the Hunters preserved; that includes putting aside a false Commander." Proteus had had little to do with Zero over the years. Proteus, like his comrades, was a real live Maverick Hunter. Yet the likes of X and Zero seemed, somehow, far above all others - they were almost beyond reproach. Seeing Zero sitting right in front of him, wearing his brilliant glossy red armor and talking of honor and dignity...it somehow exemplified why Proteus was a Hunter in the first place. "Okay," began Warlock, "so we now know that Duke is an imposter. We know that his so-called Emerald Squad is like a private police force and that Maverick Hunters is pretty much a lame duck right now..." Zero nodded. "So you're wondering what we do next?" All of the Hunters nodded at the same time. "Well," said Zero, his hands clasped together thoughtfully, "I'd say our first port of call is to repair Iota. I saw her in the medical bay on my way down the corridor and there's no question that she needs urgent attention. I think we can sneak her into the Medcoms Unit at the HQ without much trouble." "I hear Demos is causing quite a stir, which might buy us some time," said Havoc with a slightly guilty grin. Zero nodded but did not smile. "Yes, it might be just what we needed. Hopefully he can hold out long enough. You can bet he's all Duke is thinking about right now - Duke will need everything he's got to stop Demos." "So we repair Iota and then what?" asked Proteus, shifting forward in his seat. "Good question," said Zero. "I think our goal should be to stop Duke." Warlock grinned. "Easier said than done, my friend." "I know," said Zero, "but there's one important question in all this that nobody has asked." The Hunters all glanced at each other and then at Zero. "The question is, what has Duke done with Commander Signas?" [b]The Plan[/b] It seemed like such an obvious question - what [i]did[/i] happen to Signas? And yet, nobody had asked. Even Duke had expected the entire Hunter HQ to simply accept the concept that Signas had been replaced and that discussion on the matter had ended long ago. Had Signas retired? Did the MHHQ Commanders vote on his removal? Either way, it appeared that Duke had relied on the unflinching obedience of the Hunters not to ask questions. And predicably, they hadn't. Nevertheless, it was a shortsighted prediction. At some point, eventually, someone was bound to ask. At the very least, Duke's new Emerald Squad was sure to be questioned by one Elite Hunters. Proteus' thoughts were interrupted by Zero, who was pacing back-and-forth in the command center. "Even with Demos' distraction, it will be impossible to enter the HQ in this vehicle. The HQ's sensors will detect the vehicle's signature as soon as it comes within range - I'm sure they will be on the look-out for the missing HAPC." "What do you suggest?" asked Warlock, who was viewing a topographic map of the desert that lay in front of them. "Well," began Zero, "I think we need to ditch the [i]Impact[/i]. Instead of heading directly for the HQ, we should start heading due east." "Why the east?" asked Havoc. "The eastern suburbs of Novus Concordia are going to be easy to blend into - especially Clockwork South and Neon Falls. Lots of reploids there. It's a touristy place with a few big nightclubs. Many of the older-model reploids work there now that their military careers are over. It will be harder to detect our specific reploid signatures there when there are thousands of reploids in the one area." Zero glanced at everyone and then sat down in one of the leather chairs. "Also," he continued, "I know a nightclub owner in the area. We can take the HAPC there and he'll hide it for us. He might even lend us a civilian car." "Hold on a sec," said Havoc, standing up, "a civilian car? You don't think the barrier guards at MHHQ would be suspicious about a few reploids showing up in a Honda?" For the first time, Zero laughed. "No, not if we use the right entrance. Entrance 101, to be exact; it's where most of the human staff enter the complex. Scientists, administrators, lawyers, accountants...MHHQ is also a massive beauracracy, too. It's probably the least-guarded entrance and if we really need to convince one of the guards to let us in quietly, I'm sure we can..." At this, Zero held his buster up to the dull interior lights. Its deep crimson surface reflected the faces of the other hunters. [/font] Phew. I hope that gives you guys something to work with in terms of entering the facility and what happens beyond that. ^_^;

[font=arial]Yeah I agree with Charles, I think we need a backseat moderator scanner or something. Knock 'em off, I say. We'll see what we can do. I also think it's time we finally make the Secret Staff Yaoi Forum public.[/font]

[QUOTE=Nerdsy][color=deeppink]I do. The Otaku.com: Forums is V1, after all, and AGB is the same thing with a different name and slightly different focus. And I was merely pointing out that while Anime has never been the top draw, it's still had times when it was pretty prominent.[/color][/QUOTE] [font=arial]Yep, I tend to consider AGB Forums as being the genesis of OtakuBoards. I just don't think we've ever really been entirely based around anime, so when people say something like "for once we should go in a different direction and pay less attention to anime"...I tend to think, well, that's what we're doing anyway. lol Everything is always in a state of flux not just here but elsewhere in the network. theOtaku.com's new version will, for the first time in several years, expand the content it covers (i.e. anime won't be the [i]only[/i] subject to be covered). So there's always room to grow. The next version of this site will probably end up being different to what most people would expect anyway. Not to say that it'll suddenly stop including anime or gaming, but it will really be fundamentally different in a lot of ways. At the moment I think we're treading water because we are reliant largely on word-of-mouth/viral growth as well as referrals from myOtaku.com (both of which are fine, but don't make for a major expansion of our audience). For those who would advocate major new directions...I guess I'd just ask which directions they are referring to. If there's some major subject out there that we aren't covering that people think we should, it'd be a good idea to suggest it - I'm always happy to read about new ideas (especially from existing members).[/font]

[font=arial]It depends what you're referencing though. As I said earlier, OB was originally born out of Absolute GameBoy. I suppose it depends whether you count AGB and theOtaku.com: Forums as actually being early versions of OB itself. RPGs really started to become significant during Version 3. So we've had more history with RPGs being a major feature than not, I suppose. [/font]

[font=arial]I haven't been listening to much new stuff lately - in fact I have spent much of my time re-discovering older tracks in my library. But this week my most-listened to song would have to be [b]If I Was Your Vampire[/b] by Marilyn Manson. It's been previewed on the band's mySpace and thusfar it's the first single from the new album that I actually like (so far I haven't been a fan of Heart-Shaped Glasses at all).[/font]

[quote]Taking Dead seriously (I know, dangerous) I do think that OB should be headed in a different direction. Most of the active members don't even seem to care about anime... I mean theres quite a few anime fans here, but the label of 'anime forum' only seems to atract narutards n00bs who post spamminess. We should go for something more a reflection of OB's style... but hey, these are the musings of the unimportant. [/quote] [font=arial]I tend to think that anime is just one part of what OB offers. Anime isn't - and hasn't been for a long time - the be-all and end-all of OtakuBoards. If you really trace back OB's origins you'll find that we [i]actually[/i] began life as a GameBoy forum. Anime came to the site a little later in its life. So I think that "OtakuBoards", taken literally, means "forums for hardcore fans" - that includes fans of many things (gaming and anime in particular). That's always been the case. I think people have usually associated OtakuBoards primarily with anime because theOtaku.com became more anime-centric within the last few years. Even that is changing soon though.[/font] [quote]I think Dead brings up a valid point, but OB is closely linked with if not a subsidiary of theO, right? I'm personally in favor of pushing OB into a much more general community, but the question is what will make us different from other boards if we do? I kind of feel like we're clinging to anime as a crutch to keep us different from general discussion boards. If we let go of that crutch, we'll probably end up as a normal discussion board; granted with our own flavor, but a discussion board nonetheless.[/quote] [font=arial]I think you are mistaken if you believe that anime is the only thing making OtakuBoards different from other message boards. In fact, there are many anime-centric boards out there - I'd argue that if we focus [i]too much[/i] on anime we will make this site less interesting. Far from "clinging to anime as a crutch", I think anime is just one part of the site as I said above. It hasn't been OB's focus for a long time - it has just been a significant part of the site along with other elements. I would say that the mix of people in our community as well as things like RPGs are what make OtakuBoards wholly unique. Community Events are another big factor there. The implication here is that we're going down an anime-centric path and that we need to change direction. I don't think we've been going down an anime-centric path...well, [i]ever[/i]. It's always been there, but it's never defined OtakuBoards.[/font]

[quote name='Charles']I've heard that Call of Duty 2 is awfully short and the multiplayer is terrible (which even the developers seem to admit). Are these issues for you? Judging by the impressions I've read, it may be better to just go ahead witht he PC version if you have a rig capable of running it.[/quote] [font=arial]I actually thought CoD 2 was a relatively long game...I suppose it just depends how much you play and on what difficulty level. In any case I don't think it's awfully short - it has a decent amount of levels and challenges to keep you going for a while. It's definitely a must-own game for the 360 though. I actually just bought Call of Duty 3 recently and I'm loving that one too.[/font]

[QUOTE=DeadSeraphim][color=indigo][size=1][font=arial] [B] Marilyn Manson - Portrait of an American Famil[/B]y: It's a fun album, albeit nowhere near as complex as later albums, and every chance I've had to get it has been foiled. I will persevere. [/font][/size][/color][/QUOTE] [font=arial]Has it just been hard to find? It's interesting because you can get that album everywhere down here. I have a copy and my sister got a copy not long after (even Smells Like Children and Remix & Repent were plentiful down here, haha). The only album I'm looking forward to right now is Eat Me, Drink Me. I listened to a preview of Heart Shaped Glasses though and I totally disliked it. Some articles have suggested that much of the album is reminiscent of Mechanical Animals, which I love. So hopefully I won't be disappointed with the other tracks.[/font]

[font=arial]Wow, I am so pleased to see all of this info coming out...Otakupedia lives on! Heheh. Guess who I received a message from not long ago? None other than the ridiculously cool Clay Jones! Who remembers him? He was a great friend and he was always wonderful to work with - I will have to see if I can put together an Otakupedia piece about him. He was one of our most important early staff and his work is still on display today (if you ever see Adam's posts on theOtaku and on his myOtaku you will see the little cartoon version of himself...that was produced by Clay; he also did a cartoon version of me and a couple of other staff I believe). Clay says he still has some of his old AGB comics. I would [i]love[/i] to see those posted on Otakupedia - they would almost deserve a section for themselves, many of them were very cool. I'll speak to Clay soon hopefully and see what work is still lying around.[/font]

[font=arial]I'm a pretty big NiGHTS fan - I still have the game on my Saturn. I just need some AV cables because the RF switch has died. Ouch. NiGHTS is probably one of my favourite Saturn games in general and I would love to see a bigger, more in-depth sequel on Wii. In terms of control, Wii is absolutely perfect for this game...I just hope they do it justice![/font]

[font=arial]It's only a small thing, but theOtaku.com Chat really had nothing to do with OtakuBoards. We had no links to it from here as far as I recall and even on theOtaku.com it wasn't a major feature. [i]Years[/i] ago I think it was more popular, but it largely became a wasteland in its final years. When it was closed, several people turned to OB as the only discussion area within the network.[/font]

[quote name='Boo][size=1']I remember that they wouldn't even let me in the RP, but I had no clue about it so I didn't get why my posts disappeared the whole time. :whoops:[/size][/quote] [font=arial]I don't know, it might have been a quality issue (not that quality was particulary important those days, as anyone can see). But it's all relative, some people posted [i]really[/i] badly at the time lol. Other than that I don't know. Still, it's odd to think about how long the series has been around - I really felt it deserved an Otakupedia entry (although even the minor things do too I suppose). I wanted to start a new MH at some point but I wasn't sure if anyone would be interested. Ah well, Personification is still going...barely. lol[/font]

[font=arial]Okay, I'm going to attempt my first submission - anyone please feel free to update/correct any of this as needed. It's hard to write in the third person about yourself but I will try, as there are parts of this post that will require it.[/font] [b]Maverick Hunters Series[/b] [i]Maverick Hunters: Replimasters[/i] OtakuBoards' Maverick Hunters series of RPGs is possibly one of the most prolific series in the site's history - at the very least, it has spawned several incarnations over a period of years. The very first RPG in the series, [url="http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=9810"]Maverick Hunters: Replimasters[/url], was created on 04/01/2002 by Flash (known as Final Flash at the time). It began somewhat awkwardly - several members joined after the RPG commenced and several members were also kicked out within the first few pages. However, the RPG ended up finding its feet and started to become cohesive by the second page. Maverick Hunters: Replimasters was based on the notable Mega Man universe but this link was tenuous at best - it provided a foundation for what became a very unique and original tale spread across hundreds of years and dozens of characters. Maverick Hunters: Replimasters introduced several key characters who would become legendary within the RPG's history (including Flash, Warlock and Proteus). One of the RPG's other unique traits was that it introduced several futuristic technologies that were described with significant detail (the original RPG established several forms of technology that were used throughout the series). At the end, Maverick Hunters: Replimasters reached only ten pages and died somewhat quickly - it became disjointed and the story never progressed beyond introducing key characters. [i]Maverick Hunters: Replimasters[/i] [i]Creators:[/i] Flash and Warlock. [i]Notable Characters:[/i] Flash, Warlock, Proteus, Drake, Nova, Omega, Signas, Max and Dr. Light. [i]Notable Members:[/i] Flash, Warlock, Chaos, Yoda, James, Dragonballzman, Break and 9mm Avenger. [i]Maverick Hunters: Personification[/i] The second RPG in the series, [url="http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=16550"]Maverick Hunters: Personification[/url], was arguably the series' high point. The RPG was created by Flash on 10/23/2002 and featured several notable improvements: [list] [*]The story was far more complex and well-paced than the original RPG. [*]Characters were more fleshed-out than ever before, with complex histories and intertwining relationships becoming apparent. [*]Many new technologies were introduced with detailed descriptions of how they worked and interacted. [/list] Maverick Hunters: Personification was very much a labor of love for the creators - despite several members becoming inactive during its lifespan, the original participants ploughed on and continued to add to the story - Personification arguably became [i]better[/i] as the amount of active members decreased. At the end it was only Flash, Warlock, Chaos and James who continued to post. And up until recently, only Chaos and James were active (with James producing a post for the RPG a matter of weeks ago). This RPG is notable also for its sheer lifespan - it was created toward the end of 2002 and continues to live today in 2007. It is perhaps one of the longest-lasting RPGs in OtakuBoards history. In addition, Maverick Hunters: Personification was one of the first RPGs on OtakuBoards to move from script-style posts to more traditional novel or narrative-style posts. [i]Maverick Hunters: Personification[/i] [i]Creators:[/i] Flash, Warlock, Chaos and James. [i]Notable Characters:[/i] Reverb, Demos, Havoc, Warlock, Proteus, Signas, Dr. Karman, Zero, Massacre, Gunner, Duke, Iota, Echo, "Protogen Unit", Dr. Inoue and Prime. [i]Notable Members:[/i] Flash, Warlock, Chaos, James, Talon, Outlaw, Nagare Boshi, 9mm Avenger, The Harlequin, Yoda, Domon and Juuthena. [i]Maverick Hunters: The Third Succession[/i] Maverick Hunters: The Third Succession, created on 09/06/2003 by James, was intended as a distant sequel to Personification. It was radically different, however - this RPG moved further away from the series' Mega Man roots than ever before. Reploids had a completely different style and the story was set in "New Hokkaido" as opposed to Novus Concordia. In addition, the plot took place several hundred years after Personification's plot ended. Despite featuring a radically different story, The Third Succession had several key links to previous RPGs. For one thing, it was set in the same overall universe - the main character was, in fact, a direct descendent of Proteus (a figure who ended up evolving and having a child with his human wife). This simple fact was the course of a major change in the Maverick Hunter concept; reploids were still artificial but were far closer to organic beings than their predecessors (with the ability to reproduce in particular). Several members from prior RPGs joined The Third Succession and by all accounts, the RPG featured an "all-star" cast (including both veterans of the series as well as members who were entirely new to the series). Unfortunately the RPG died largely due to its own weight - it was an incredibly wordy RPG with several complicated plot threads occurring simultaneously. This, ultimately, made the RPG difficult to push forward for those involved. [i]Maverick Hunters: The Third Succession[/i] [i]Creator:[/i] James [i]Notable Characters:[/i] Cyan, Dr. Inoue, Themos, Arano, Ryan, Kattarin, Fiona, Sariyah, Deep, Loki, Angelus, Raynos and Yin/Yang. [i]Notable Members:[/i] James, Warlock, Chaos, FartMaster745, Domon, The Harlequin, terra, Dragon Warrior, Baron Samedi and Revelation. [i]Maverick Hunters Oddities[/i] Although the series included three "main" stories, there were several off-shoots (all of which were essentially failed efforts). [i]Maverick Hunters 3: B-Spec:[/i] This was James' failed attempt to resurrect the third Maverick Hunters RPG. B-Spec was not really a re-posting of The Third Succession though - it was, rather, a completely new take on a third story. Dr. Inoue (who was present in three of the MH RPGs) was a prominent figure in the RPG but there were really no familiar faces. B-Spec, like The Third Succession, featured a stellar cast including both MH veterans as well as newcomers: Talon, Baron Samedi, Wondershot, DeadSeraphim, Jeremiah, Sakura and Gavin were all participants. Much like the RPG it was intended to "replace", B-Spec was incredibly wordy - so wordy and so detailed, in fact, that it largely made itself redundant; it did not move beyond a single page of posts. Nevertheless, what [i]is[/i] there is an example of classic, good-quality OB role-playing. Despite being a series failure, B-Spec is still a notable Maverick Hunters RPG. [i]Flash vs Warlock:[/i] This was another oddity, largely because it showed how obsessive both Flash and Warlock were about the Maverick Hunters universe. This RPG was a spar - but [i]what[/i] a spar! The opening posts especially were ridiculously complex with detailed histories and descriptions of technology. The spar was also slightly unusual in that it included posts from spectators (notable figures like Chaos and Sephiroth were involved). The spar ran for four pages but was never completed. [font=arial]Phew, if anyone has anything else to add to this entry please feel free to do so! Charles, please don't include any of the stuff I've posted in arial font...this is just stuff for the thread. :catgirl: [/font]

[font=arial]Ahh some great stuff here, thanks Nerdsy/Treble. I don't remember us ever covering wrestling, but I do remember the transition from AGB to theOtaku.com. It's really great to see some info about Hbomb - I'd like an entry on him, even if it's brief! He was a very active member when the network began. It would also be cool to have entries on our old theOtaku.com channels. The Xbox channel was brilliant - at its peak it was actually one of the bigger Xbox fansites on the web. We actually had quite a lot of developer interviews and stuff. Also, the GameBoy channel was absolutely massive...it was probably one of the bigger GB sites out there as well. We used to have a very good relationship with developers there too - we received quite a lot of review copies of software back then. The GameCube channel was quite innovative but it arrived somewhat late - by the time it hit its stride, theOtaku.com killed off all gaming channels and focused on anime (which, as Hbomb indicated, was a sad day for many). The Dreamcast channel was also great although it wasn't quite as big as the others - nonetheless it had plenty of content and was reasonably popular. It'd definitely be cool to see some articles based on early theOtaku stuff.[/font]

[QUOTE=Nerdsy][color=deeppink] Couple more notes: I forgot to include Admins in that list. Adam, Frank, hbomb, blanks777/Justin/jblessing (that's a different Justin, by the way), Shinji, James, Sephiroth, and from there I can't remember. Further, OB used to have some silly redundancey policy or something where all the Admins were listed as Mods on most of the forums. If they were an Admin at the time, I did not include them on the list as Mods, although I did as Supermods. The only one this might affect is Shinji, who may have been a mod before he was an Admin. [/color][/QUOTE] [font=arial]Nerdsy, do you remember much about Frank and Hbomb? I would love to see articles about both. I had little to do with either, although I probably had more to do with Hbomb than Frank at the time. Frank's history is interesting because his Game Boy site was taken over by theOtaku.com (or at least, I think he had his GB site at theOtaku and a separate site of his own - I don't remember). Frank is also one of our biggest mysteries, because he disappeared from the Internet, leaving everything behind - Adam and I discussed this on numerous occasions. As far as I know he didn't respond to email or anything...he just disappeared. Hbomb is another story I think, but I'm not sure what happened with him in any case. Can anyone else shed light on these two mysterious early-Otaku characters?[/font]

[QUOTE=2007DigitalBoy][COLOR=DarkOrange]See: the rest of my post[/COLOR] [COLOR=DarkOrange] And the only reason I'm posting in these discussions? I'm bored! That's all there is to it! I mean, the OB is so insanely slow these days, how could I not be? this isn't even my main forum anymore, I hang out at Megatokyo most of the time these days. It's like -- why SHOULD my posts make sense at this point?! It's not like you care, it's not like I care, it's not like anyone's being effected -- who cares?! [/COLOR][/QUOTE] [font=arial]Uh...well, I think if people are trying to have a regular discussion they care. Especially if you portray these thoughts as being things you actually believe. In any case, there is nothing wrong with posting due to boredom...afterall, OB is here for relaxation/entertainment more than anything, haha. Just don't be surprised if people misinterpret you if you aren't being serious. ~_^[/font]

[QUOTE=2007DigitalBoy][COLOR=DarkOrange] So then why, why do we continue to engage in these discussions? The only one getting anything out of it is that guy who jumps in, says stupid things and gets yelled at by others. He's just looking for attention and validation and gets it through making people hate him. And at the end of the day, he's laughing while a war without meaning is being typed out in front of him. [/COLOR][/QUOTE] [font=arial]I don't think that every discussion of this kind has to be a blind back-and-forth. It is possible - and probably preferable - to exchange different ideas if only for the purpose of hearing and entertaining alternative points of view. I regularly have discussions with people who may be on the opposite side of an issue to me. The point of talking with them is not so much to convince them that I'm right, it is to share ideas and to consider how/why they came to their conclusions (and vice versa). No, they probably won't change my mind. But by discussing an issue I will gain a greater understanding (and hopefully, respect) for their position. At the very least it will provide perspectives that I may not have considered before. So I would say there is great value to these discussions, it's just unfortunate when they get hijacked by unreasonable people. Also, whether you are aware of it or not, your participation in such discussions does perpetuate the "cycle" that you apparently don't like. If you don't like such discussions you don't have to participate in them - this is the beauty of a message board, lol. And I mean this in general terms, for anyone who might be thinking the same thing (about religious discussion or whatever else).[/font]

[font=arial]Er, yeah, I pretty much agree with DeadSeraphim on this. lol Other than what he said...I can only advise you to keep pushing in all directions. Also, most art schools (at least the ones I have dealt with) usually require an interview and they also usually require you to show a portfolio of work. So in addition to your other efforts, I would be working hard to put together an impressive portfolio to show prospective schools. This demonstrates your commitment to your work and it also gives them an idea of your natural talent - this will be a major factor to convince them to let you in, especially if you have applied late.[/font]

[QUOTE=Flash]Wow, I'm touched. Seriously. I saw the thread and couldn't just leave it be--I had to skim it. But I mean, I didn't expect anyone to remember me, let alone all my RPGs, my history as a mod, haha. Nearly brought a tear to my eye (Oh and I never modded Sony, my IRL friend "NeoCactuar" held that dubious honour. I modded Digimon and something else, maybe Gundam? before becoming Super-Mod for the RP section). Good to see you oldies are still kicking it--Sara, James, Charles (CWB ;p), AJeh, Desbreko... Jeremiah i'm not familiar with. A new name for an old friend, perhaps? I'd love to catch up. You guys still all chat on AIM or what? Let me know! - Connor AKA Final "I couldn't remember my username or password" Flash[/QUOTE] [font=arial]I am [i]speechless[/i]. You did mod Final Fantasy, did you not? And I remember NeoCactuar...he and I used to chat quite a bit. He was a New Zealand patriot, lol. You've got to come back, Connor - if only for MHP! Can you believe I posted in it just the other day? It's still hanging on by the skin of its proverbial teeth! Ahem, anyway... Deb, I'm pretty amazed by the staff listing you've got there. I'm happy to see that Otakupedia's still going strong. I used to chat with TN quite a bit but that was a long time ago...I'm not sure if I'd remember enough details at this point. Perhaps a few people will need to collaborate on this - maybe Connor can help out there. ~_^[/font]

[quote]As far as my take on it, I wish we were more of a socialist society. The more I study capitalism, the more frustrated I get with it. If what I've read is correct, then Scandinavian countries are more socialist leaning and they're doing much better with these things.[/quote] [font=arial]I don't think socialism is the answer really. It's just about having the right healthcare system. Australia's Medicare system is pretty much the only one of its kind in the world, as far as I know. Various countries have tried (and failed) to mimmick our system (including Canada). Our system pretty much delivers the best of both worlds - access to low-cost healthcare services/drugs while also being economically sustainable (ie: it isn't a massive drain on our economy, like it is in Canada). It also ties into our private healthcare system in several meaningful (and sustainable) ways. Basically though I agree with Drix. You can't expect drug companies to just drop new products out of the air through pure goodwill - it costs millions of dollars and can take many years to develop a new drug. Drug companies deserve to make money from these products; afterall, without this kind of competition and economy you wouldn't have such advances in medication in general. Of course there are exceptions and there are health systems around the world that aren't so great; this is a given. But there are definitely some inaccurate perceptions about the way drugs are developed and why they are occasionally so expensive.[/font]

[QUOTE=ForgotteÑ-HerÖ][COLOR=Blue]The pressures of relationship and responsability.[/COLOR] [COLOR=DimGray]My pearents let me do stuff don't get me wrong, but they over protect me. I want to go to town, she complains about something, it bugs the **** out of my soul!!! Such things have gotten me in trouble with the band I'm in. Death Vaprs (or DVP) Is one of my top priorities. Plus, I don't get to see my girlfriend much. Her mother's boyfriend lives in the town next to mine, yet it's not the same without her here, plus it's made me make some bad choices in my life. (Don't want to tell them.)[/COLOR] [COLOR=Blue]Plus, my future. Not m,y job, but myself. Still judging on teh smoking and drinking thing. But hey, tis' my bdoy, not someone else's.[/COLOR][/QUOTE] [font=arial]Without sounding too much like a parent...there are a few things here that really stand out to me. Your band is one of your top priorities? Is it right up there with your education? Also, I think one mistake a lot of people make is to blame others for their actions (or to put responsibility in the hands of others). Are you saying that the absence of your girlfriend "made" you do some bad things? As for the latter stuff...I wouldn't presume to tell you what to do in terms of drugs and stuff but if you're only a young teenager I think it'd at least be worth weighing up how these things impact your life. That your parents let you go out at all is a good thing - I'm sure they care about you very much and want you to focus on the important/beneficial things in your life. For those of us who are adults, I can say that there will be worse things you will go through in your life than being without your girlfriend for a little while. If you use those circumstances as an excuse to do destructive things...you won't get very far at all. I know that teenagers go through these things in general - there's always a lot of turbulence in those years. I guess I just noticed a few things in your comments that seemed like they needed some kind of response. I hope it doesn't come off as harsh - it's just that when you're an adult and you get past that stage, you tend to look back with a new degree of clarity (some don't, but I think most do).[/font]

[QUOTE=White][COLOR=DimGray] [FONT=Tahoma] Seriously, though. What grinds my gears is when you really look forward to a game and when you finally get your hands on it you find out it's horrible. Sucks to be disappointed[/FONT].[/COLOR][/QUOTE] [font=arial]Yep, this is especially true if the game is either a) very hyped up or b) has had a couple of stellar reviews. Sometimes I'll read one or two good reviews before I buy a game (these may not be the deciding factor, they might just add further weight to wanting to buy the game)...and then I'll play the game and find it's nowhere near as good as many people say. At least most places have a decent returns policy (this is one reason why I often don't buy games online, unless I [i]know[/i] they're going to be good. Online returns can be a total pain).[/font]