James

[QUOTE=Red]Aye, that's true. At the same time I doubt they wanted to be the ones who had to recall 10m potentially explosive batteries, or the company who took DRM too far via using rootkits, etc. Sony have made a right dog's dinner of their 2005/6 - which is why I said I wouldn't be surprised if it went beyond a few of the consoles.[/QUOTE] [font=arial]Considering all the development/production issues with PS3, I will be surprised if we don't start seeing reports of significant issues with the first couple of batches. This certainly may not happen, but I just get the feeling that Sony has had its hand forced - it's been very rushed to get the system out on time. And being in that rush seems to be evident in the hardware. That's partly why I'm waiting before I even think about buying one. I want to really see how things go for the next year or so, as they move into higher production numbers and we start seeing how the machine really performs in real-world circumstances.[/font]

[quote name='Crazy Kev][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=DarkGreen]Well actually the PS3 is just like an expantion packed version of the PS2, hardly anything new with it at all. While the 360 and the wii are like an almost completely different version of the consoles they originated from.[/COLOR'][/FONT][/quote] [font=arial]I don't know, I think the PS3 does a lot of things that the Xbox 360 does (in some cases better, in some cases worse - but probably mostly slightly worse). My main regret with PS3, apart from anything else, is that they didn't have the guts to replace that tired and uncomfortable controller with a brand new design. Then again, I suppose anything's better than the batarang or whatever people were calling it.[/font]

[font=arial]After playing Zelda for a few more hours tonight (and forgetting to save...grr) and I'm really getting used to the flow of the game. I think you need to invest serious time with this game to fully appreciate it. There are certainly areas where you think "we should be past this by now" in terms of how certain things work...but honestly, those moments are few and far between. Even early on, TP consistently presents new ideas and new gameplay challenges, the likes of which haven't been seen in Zelda before. In some ways I almost feel that TP brings more new gameplay elements to the table than TWW - regardless of its new control scheme on Wii. The only advantage I can really think of with the GameCube version is the ability to use a free-look camera. But the benefits of this are largely overstated I think - when you're playing the Wii version you rarely notice camera restrictions and I think that in large part, this is due to the way the game's environments are designed. If it weren't for Z-Targeting, things would be much tougher. Still, it's difficult to compare the Wii Remote to a regular controller...many Wii games strive to achieve different outcomes than those on competing systems. Would I be happy to replace existing controllers with a Wii Remote? Well...if all new Wii games are of the calibre of Wii Sports and TP, then the answer would probably lean pretty closely toward a yes. This is especially true after playing Wii Play - many of the mini-games in that could be extrapolated into fully-fledged games. I think fishing in a real 3D space was one of the main things that sold it for me recently (fishing in Wii Play is actually much better than in TP though, I think).[/font]

[QUOTE=White][COLOR=DimGray][FONT=Tahoma]The last game my dad even tried with my brother and I before Wii Sports was some baseball game for the Super NES. Now he's bootin' up the Wii when nobody is even home and goes bowling for an hour or two by himself. I was shocked and overjoyed. Also, my friend has also decided that he's going to buy himself a Wiimote to keep at my house just so we can play simultaneously. He doesn't even own a Wii![/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE] [font=arial]I don't know if it will end up being the case, but Xbox 360 had the most successful launch of any console in Australia. Apparently Wii is about to break that record. I've been to several retailers who have already said "Wii has sold out everywhere - it's really good to see Nintendo back in the game." When you consider that it was sold out in Japan as well...I think this all bodes well for the system. Now I just need to wait patiently for Mario![/font]

[quote name='John]Natural, sure, but does it actually feel [i]better[/i'] than an analog stick? That's what the Wii is about, so I'd expect it to be able to hold up.[/quote] [font=arial]I don't think that's what Wii is about though, really - I don't think it's about being a better way to play...I think it's about being an [i]easier[/i] way to play. Wii Sports is probably the best example of that. Whether or not the Wii Remote makes Zelda any easier is definitely up for debate - so far I think the main difference is that aiming at the screen with the slingshot and the bow and arrow is quite a fresh experience. I personally prefer aiming like that compared to using the sticks - there's a sense of speed and accuracy that I don't quite get with the sticks themselves. But is it better than an analog stick? That depends on the game. In Zelda's case, I think shaking the remote is about as good as pressing a button - but it does feel somewhat more immersive, which probably makes it a little nicer. Once I got used to it, I started to really enjoy it. But I can understand that some people would prefer thet old way of playing.[/font]

[font=arial]I played Zelda for a couple of hours last night and I'm now up to the first temple. While I'm obviously not very far into the game at all, I can finally comment on a few of the elements that have been discussed so far. The major thing is the controls, I guess. Initially they did seem a bit floaty and odd - it took a little while to get used to fighting by shaking the remote. But in all honesty...it isn't a big issue. Once you get used to how it all works, it becomes second nature. And of course, it frees up the other buttons for various other actions. It's really no different from getting used to an analog stick for the very first time - yeah, there's some adjustment required, but it feels very natural once you're used to it. And using the slingshot with the pointer is very engaging. The first section of the game (in Ordon Village) is definitely very slow and it didn't impress me much. But as soon as you become the wolf...the game just seems to move from strength to strength (and I'm only a tiny part of the way through). I can see how some might say the game is stale or tired...but I think that's only a surface-level thing. Yeah, TP doesn't have the visual impact of a next generation game - but once you get into it, this really becomes irrelevant. The game control and the variety of gameplay really keeps it interesting. I particularly like a lot of the interactions with Midna - I think they add a freshness to the game early on. If the latter part of the game provides even more new elements, then I don't think I'll have any complaints about TP feeling "last generation". So far, I'm very impressed. TP could easily become my favourite Zelda. I'm so pleased that they've injected some true darkness into it, especially after Wind Waker's relatively lighthearted atmosphere. This game already has moments that remind me of Majora's Mask, which can only be a good thing. I think MM is my favourite of the 3D Zeldas, so I'm really hoping TP can top that.[/font]

[quote name='Charles']When you got yours did you cradle it for about five minutes and then rub it up against your face repeatedly? Not that I did that or anything.[/quote] [font=arial]My siblings were all in the room when I took it out of the packaging. When I held it up, [i]everyone[/i] said "wow" and commented on how tiny the system looked (especially sitting near the Xbox 360). Also, as a side note to all of this, my dad was in a motor bike accident several years ago and he has only ever been able to use one hand. He used to be able to play NES with one hand (he'd sit the controller flat on his thigh and play that way - I don't know how it was comfortable, but he could do it). Ever since the newer controllers came out, he could never use them. So you can imagine the frustration - he was a big Zelda and Mario fan and after SNES, he could no longer play these games. So he missed Super Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, etc. But two nights ago, he played several rounds of Wii Tennis with me and he [i]loved[/i] it. He was so excited that he can actually play a new game system now. Sure, he still can't play Zelda because it requires two hands...but still, he'll be able to actually play various Wii games with us, where he couldn't before. So I thought that was nice.[/font]

[font=arial]Well, Wii launched in Australia yesterday and I was there to pick one up. I played it for a few hours last night and I thought I'd provide my general impressions here (especially for those in Australia or Europe who haven't bought one yet). [b]Hardware:[/b] I was very impressed by the overall hardware quality - the system is tiny, quiet and it looks great. The controllers are just the right size and weight and I found it easy to access all buttons and so on. The actual interface is nicer to use than I thought it would be, too. In the screenshots everything looks very large and basic - and it is - but when you use it this all makes sense. Navigation is really easy and the way the controller interacts with the menu is fantastic (vibrations when you hover over keys on the keyboard and the "click" sound coming out of the remote when you enter information). It does really feel engaging. [b]Wii Sports:[/b] This package is even better than I thought it would be. And that really comes down to the accuracy and comfort of the Wii Remote. Even boxing, which seems to be considered the worst of the bunch, is still pretty good (although it definitely gives you a workout!) I think my favourite so far is definitely tennis though...the sheer accuracy of the Remote is brilliant and the variety in swings works really well. Not being able to actually move your character is a non-issue; I think the game works [i]better[/i] when you only have to focus on your swings. I still haven't played all the games on Wii Sports, but so far it's looking very good. It's a great demonstration of the Wii technology. [b]Wii Play:[/b] This software came with the extra Wii Remote that I bought and it's proven to be almost as good (in some cases better) than Wii Sports. What's good about Wii Play is that it's engaging, but you don't need to spend hours on it - it's easy to play in short bursts, which is especially good when you have limited free time. People who work long hours are going to be better suited to this type of software, I think. I haven't yet unlocked all of the games, but Ping Pong, Table Hockey and Pool really stand out for me. The only thing I don't like is that you can't really choose which ball to hit in Pool; the cue basically sits where it wants and you are only responsible for the power of the shot. At least this aspect works flawlessly. And Table Hockey is wonderful...it's very Galaxy Wars in terms of visuals and it reponds to movement and twisting of the Remote. The "new Duck Hunt" is also great - especially so with two players. [b]Zelda:[/b] I was going to save the best for last, but unfortunately I haven't had much of a chance to play Zelda. I played for a very short time and I'm still in Ordon Village. I will say two things though. One, I'm thusfar having no controller issues (though I acknowledge that I haven't yet begun swordfighting) and two, the beginning of the game is obviously fairly slow - I don't think I can make a judgement on this title until I've played significantly more of it.[/font]

[quote name='DeadSeraphim][size=1][color=indigo][font=arial]Funfact: The PAL market doesn't count. The major battles for superiority are done in the US and Japan, and if things go pear shaped for something there, it's performance will shape the world market. PAL is almost ([i]almost[/i]) expendable, as far as predicting and forming trends are concerned.[/font][/color'][/size][/quote] [font=arial]Actually, the PAL market is the world's fastest-growing market for videogames. And within the next five to ten years, Europe is on track to become the world's largest gaming market - outstripping both Japan and the United States. Europe is a good indicator of growth, especially when it comes to market expansion (ie: attracting new gamers). This is partly why Australia and Europe aren't having to wait long for Wii, it's also why Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo are putting a new emphasis on PAL special editions and games specifically for the PAL market. Some companies have even set up whole new subsidiaries in Europe just to focus on the market expansion. So it's a very vibrant area at the moment. Unfortunately Sony in particular is going to be slow to the European market...and that isn't helpful for them. On the other hand, they've invested in Europe in the past where others haven't. So, I suppose it's just down to the fact that they can't help being that late to stores.[/font]

[QUOTE=Nerdsy][color=deeppink] James: According to archive.org, your actual account was created in April of 2001. This would be when you went by James_B, if I recall correctly. Did you have an account before that, or were you just a lurker? [/color][/QUOTE] [font=arial]Yep, that's right. Prior to my involvement at theOtaku.com: Forums, I was writing and editing articles at theOtaku under its various gaming channels. I don't remember the actual date where we moved to V2, but V2 would have to have been one of our most short-lived versions. I'm also pretty sure I had an account at the AGB forums, but I don't remember what the name was. I was not a staff member on those actual forums though - I only became one when theOtaku.com took over.[/font] [quote=Shy]I must be counting unnumbered version updates or something. Go figure. And what do you mean you're paying for it yourself? Is Adam being cheap again? I'm going to be seeing him in January, so I'll beat him a few times if that'll help matters. If not, I'll probably beat him anyway. We have a lot of history together. [/quote] [font=arial]Nope, you're not counting unnumbered version updates. We're now on our seventh version. If you were to just count in numerical order, the next version would be Version 8. As for paying, well, previously all versions have been designed by myself and Justin for free - Justin has never charged for his services. These days he's a very busy man, so I am looking at hiring programmers to work with me on the new site. The new site will be very demanding from a programming point of view, so I feel I will need to pay for the programmers' time. Considering how much I care about the site's future though, it doesn't bother me to have to spend money on it.[/font]

[font=arial]The clear answer is yes. It always has been the way and it always will be the way. Human beings are inherently sexual - sex plays a major role in our society, not just in terms of media but also in terms of interaction with one another and how we organise our society in general. In some ways sex is probably more apparent now because we're still struggling out of the Victorian era ([i]still[/i]), but if you go even further back in time you'll find that sex has always been one of the biggest (if not [i]the[/i] biggest) influences in human history. And it's not just the act of sex or the idea of sex...it's also gender and sexuality - these things are large parts of who we are and they largely dictate our lives (just think about how even fashion heavily revolves around gender/sex). Whether or not sex influences humanity isn't debatable, especially if you are someone with any knowledge of history. I guess the question is whether it influences the world in the right or wrong ways and how that changes over time. It's all about perception, I s'pose.[/font]

[QUOTE=Clurr][FONT=Arial]Silly! You'd be able to find it if it were a part of Otakuboards itself! :P! I'll edit my post to be clearer.[/FONT][/QUOTE] [font=arial]Yup, that's why I got a little confused by the wording... :blush: But as long as we know what category to put it under, that's fine. The reason I said "keep that stuff out of Otakupedia" is because the whole idea of a secret mod forum has been a kind of running joke for years. A lot of members actually believe that one exists. So given that Otakupedia is supposed to be a factual account of history, I did not think it would be a good idea to perpetuate that rumor in something this "official". I hope that makes sense, haha. But now I understand what Clurr was saying. I don't think I ever saw that forum, funnily enough. I haven't seen any posts about Frank yet, are there no volunteers? I could write something but I think it would be limited.[/font]

[quote name='Nerdsy][color=deeppink']Well, we do have a section for OB spinoffs. Wouldn't that count?[/color][/quote] [font=arial]Hm, maybe my interpretation is wrong here...but Clurr's post suggests to me that the Secret Mod Forum was actually on OtakuBoards itself. We've never actually had a forum like this (other than the Secret Yaoi Lounge, which currently exists). If it were made a bit more clear that Clurr is referencing a spin-off, that'd be cool. :bow: [/font]

[font=arial]Clurr: Shouldn't we keep stuff like that out of Otakupedia? I mean, just so that we don't confuse people. lol[/font]

[quote name='Sandy']However, I don't agree with the concept of RPGs not making good events that some people seem to have.[/quote] [font=arial]Nobody is making that argument though. What we are saying is that we don't want Community Events to become a duplicate of Adventure Square. This would be to the detriment of all the other brilliant event ideas that are out there. Yes, we can occasionally have RPG-like events, but we don't want another Adventure Square. It's as simple as that. Also...I don't think Community Events are necessarily being held up on a pedestal. Believe me, we've had events that I haven't liked before and we've had events that haven't always lived up to expectations. It's not about that. It's about saying that community events are uniquely different from anything else we have on the boards and they have a growing role on the site. Rather than water them down and make various RPG-like clones, I'd rather grow their uniqueness and bring new ideas to the table - it helps to keep OB fresh and interesting, even if there are no discussion threads that interest people at the time.[/font]

[QUOTE=Shy][size=1]Oh thank god. I thought I was never going to see OB10 (or is it 9? Who can keep track of these things anymore?) Remember James, I get a free sandwich with my tenth version. [/size][/QUOTE] [font=arial]I don't know about OB10, but OB8 will definitely arrive. I'm actually going to be spending my own money on it this time, so it had [i]better[/i] arrive! Haha. :o [/font]

[font=arial]I just wanted to add a couple of quick edits. 1) I first joined the forums in late 1999. I think at this time they had only just changed to "theOtaku.com: Forums" from Absolute Gameboy forums (but only Adam would really know the date of the change, I think). When I first joined, I was a Moderator on the forums but I was also the editor of Absolute GameCube (our GameCube-centric channel on theOtaku) and I was a contributor to Absolute Gameboy and Absolute Xbox (lots of absolutes there, eh?) If you would like more detail on those old gaming channels, I'm happy to provide it. They probably warrant their own sections, actually. 2) The editor of Absolute Gameboy was Frank (which was then our largest gaming site - the only site to compare in size was our Dragon Ball Z site). Frank was not only the editor of that site (and probably the very first editor on theOtaku.com), but he was [i]also[/i] theOtaku.com: Forums' first Administrator. Frank was essentially the chief admin at the time (in other words, he basically had the same job then as I have now). Adam was the network owner, but Frank ran/owned the forums. We actually need an entire article about Frank because he was one of the most significant figures in early network history. Can anyone else remember any other details about him? [b]Edit:[/b] Oh, I nearly forgot. In the section about me, it talks about the new version of myOtaku. It's worth pointing out that there [i]will not be[/i] a new version of myOtaku. Or at least, there won't be a new blog based on any of the designs I've put forward. I think you'll find that the site is being taken in a different direction and so there's been no further development in that area. Also, OB's next version is code-named "OB Evolution". But it's not set to arrive until 2007.[/font]

[quote name='Sandy']That's exactly why I didn't bring up my idea before - because people seem to have a very narrow concept of what Community Events should be like. Something grandiose and groundbreaking, I assume. I, for one, would like to see the Community Events Forum as much more community-involving and living, and not just in the terms of participation, but creation as well. [/quote] [font=arial]John and Kei pretty much explained it, I think. Let's remember that Adventure Square is specifically designed for RPGs (or "games") and Otaku Lounge is essentially our miscellaneous discussion forum, where various simple word games and stuff work just fine. These threads work well in such areas because, as has been said...they are "spur of the moment" - if they fail it's no issue and they don't really need to be heavily-moderated in general. The Community Events forum has a specific purpose; it's not an RPG forum or a caption game forum. These subjects are well-supported by existing forums. I created it because I wanted to have large-scale site-wide events on a regular basis. Such events don't need to be highly complex, but they [i]are[/i] designed to be inclusive of as many members as possible. Some people don't visit Otaku Lounge and some don't visit Adventure Square - but the Community Events forum is there for everyone. It's designed to pull the entire community together as much as possible, no matter which forum is your favourite. It doesn't always achieve that, but this is dependent on each event. I'm fine with the occasional RPG-like event, but I [i]don't[/i] want Community Events to become an Adventure Square 2. I want to see Community Events taking full advantage of the multimedia capabilities of OtakuBoards as well.[/font]

[font=arial]I just bought Gears of War a few days ago and I've had a couple of play sessions so far. I'm at the part of the game where dusk/night is approaching (whatever that area is called). I've only had two play sessions thusfar, but I've been very impressed. [b]Story:[/b] Meh. As has been said here, it's an action game and it therefore doesn't need much of a story. However, I think the reason this aspect might be especially disappointing for some is because a) the game puts such an emphasis on cinematic moments and b) because when playing, allies [i]do[/i] have a sense of personality. Seeing that backed up by a solid story would be great...but again, it's not exactly necessary. [b]Graphics:[/b] Not much to be said...the game looks gorgeous. I personally don't mind the art style, but the raw visual quality is astounding. It's a shame I don't have it hooked up to an HDTV. [b]Gameplay:[/b] This is definitely the most important element and I think it's where the game shines. I can see how some wouldn't be terribly interested in the gameplay because despite being quite frantic, Gears of War is still relatively slow-paced in a sense. It's not as free and easy as a regular FPS, so the added restriction might annoy some. But having said that, the added [i]complexity[/i] involved with the whole cover system is a welcome addition for me. Being able to seamlessly move between cover points and being able to perform a variety of actions within those cover points really adds to the game. Combine that with multiple routes and you have a game that'll probably be quite different on each play-through. As far as controls go...I don't really have an issue. At first I thought aiming was slow, but when you use LT it seems fine. I did put the sensitivity up from the default, but I quickly got used to it. Overall I'm really happy with this game. It's the first Xbox 360 title (other than Call of Duty 2 and Dead Rising) to really make me feel that buying the system was truly worthwhile.[/font]

[font=arial]I just wanted to let Charles know that I've updated the character limits - I was surprised that they were as low as 60,000 per post. If we're going to have limits like that, we might as well put them up. I've moved them to 100,000 per post, which should allow for more room. In terms of putting Otakupedia into its own folder/mini-site, Charles, can you contact me via PM and let me know how you're wanting to set that up? I would like to put a design/layout together that gels with the boards. [/font]

[font=arial]I am amazed that this is even a problem. Are people putting butter in their palms before playing or something? lol[/font]

[font=arial]It might help if I explain my philosophy with Community Events. Basically the idea is to have one large event occurring at a time. We can create links to the event (or different parts of it) from the OtakuBoards home page. While it's fine for RPGs to also be events, I want this to remain the exception to the rule. RPGs are a very specific type of thread and their entry requirements are usually higher than other types of events. I would prefer most of our events to be unrelated to RPGs - events like OB Yearbook, Nifty Fifty and Otaku Awards are examples of fun events that are extremely inclusive. Even something like the Avatar Submission Thread could be turned into an event...events do not (and should not) always need to involve lengthy creative writing submissions. This is why we have an Adventure Square, to accommodate those types of threads. And for the most part, that's where I'd prefer they stay. Of course, we can have certain events that are RPG-based (like The Legionnaires, which worked well)...but as I said, I'd rather it be the exception than the rule. I really want to see some new ideas in the Community Events forum.[/font]

[font=arial]You know, I think this is a fantastic idea. But I'd like to suggest a slight ammendment to it. In order to run an event, we need to essentially turn the member into a Moderator. Event Masters have the ability to delete posts/threads, to close threads and to create sticky threads. If we make these changes to each member to runs an event, it might get a bit messy. Perhaps a good compromise would be to have the member work with the Event Master - the Event Master could implement the member's idea and the member could write up the thread and be involved in any judging or key decision making. This would occur on an event-by-event basis I guess. But yeah, I do like your idea a lot. I don't want all events to be poetry and RPGs - there is a laundry list of other stuff that can be done and barely any of it has been touched on yet.[/font]

[font=arial]If you want to know the reasons behind Papa Smurf's ban, just read the Twilight Princess thread in Play It. I understand that knowing the reason behind the ban may not equate to [i]agreeing[/i] with it, but it would be reasonable to say that the reasons listed were my reasons for doing so (there doesn't need to be a reflection as to whether or not this was right or wrong). But that inclusion is entirely up to you or Charles.[/font]

[font=arial]It's probably better for someone else to write about your or one of your creations, but if you write about your own it isn't so bad...afterall, Charles would be essentially proof-reading and editing stuff anyway. So if something were too shameless, I'm sure Charles would probably objectify it a little, so to speak.[/font]