Err... this is why I never released the rather large mod I was working on.
1. I knew that the expansions would modify in the game that my mod couldn't react to.
2. I wanted to incorporate whatever I could from the expansions.
Now in all honesty I'm very happy to see Shadows and Hordes because it really ads a crapload of good stuff to NWN. Even so I hope a third expansion doesn't appear. I'd rather see NWN 2 appear that uses 3.5 rules and makes deep changes to correct some of the larger flaws existing in NWN.
I've heard some people claim that when the Roman soldiers "cast lots" as mentioned here, they actually played a dice game to see who would get Jesus' clothing. It doesn't seem to mention dice though. *Shrugs*
Hopefully this will go well. It'll be even better if the media picks up what Penny Arcade is doing rather than running another badly written story about how little Tommy is inevitably going to kill lots of people if he even touches the box that Vice City is packed in.
No, I'm a Shinsengumi fan. So I watch Peacemaker Kurogane to see what their take on the Shinsengumi is. Not the other way around. It is just nice to see another anime representation outside of Kenshin-land.
I'd prefer to see someone do a highly realistic and more historically accurate Shinsengumi anime. To my knowledge there isn't anything like that out there.
I don't see FMP? Fumoffu being entertaining unless the original FMP! is watched, unfortunately. Fumoffu is downright funny, but only if you understand where the extreme character personalities are coming from. I think the original FMP! is a good show too, though.
Witch Hunter Robin is a good series, IMO, but not superb or anything. Probably about the same level of Wolf's Rain and Noir. Good but not great due to certain flaws that can get annoying.
Last Exile is a great show though. I really like the way that show was put together. I wish more shows could be like that.
Read or Die and R.O.D. the TV would probably do well (they'd have to edit a small bit of it on CN), since they are both pretty fun. (Waiting for Episode 13 of TV series impatiently).
Fruits Basket is a great show, but I don't know how it is recieved here. I'm not sure how popular non-magic girl shoujo is recieved by the standard American fan. Most people immediately think of Sailor Moon or CCS when they think "shoujo," and there is much more out there. My personal underrated favorite (even though it technically isn't shoujo) is Nanaka 6/17. Nobody is out to defeat evil, it's just about a 17 year old girl who suddenly thinks she's 6.
Among what I'm currently watching:
1. Shingetsutan Tsukihime Very slow and angsty. Probably a skip if you haven't played any of the related games. I don't forsee it ever coming out here for that reason.
2. Fullmetal Alchemist This would do well here, I think. Good combo of action, story, etc. I consider it a "Trigun" calibur show, and I won't be surprised if it gets lisenced her by the end of 2004 and ends up on Cartoon Network to boot. Square-Enix is also releasing a FMA game, or so I here.
3. Peacemaker Kurogane I'm a Shinsengumi fan, and this is all about the Shinsengumi. I can forsee this getting shoved at the Kenshin fans simply because it shares some historical characters. It'll probably eventually get lisenced, but I'm not sure if it'd be considered TV-worthy stateside.
4. R.O.D The TV As I mentioned above, it is a fun show. It will probably be lisenced soon (if it isn't already, I'm not sure). As far as putting it on CN, I can see that happening with some minor edits.
5. Bottle Fairy Crack enduced cuteness. Basically just something mindless to watch. It'll probably never come out here.
6. Mermaid's Forest Takahashi can do some disturbing stuff, and this is one of them. I can forsee this being lisenced eventually and then stuck with a label "from the creator of Inuyasha," even though the Mermaid stories originated before Inuyasha did.
7. Inuyasha I'm on episode 132 and I feel as if I'll watch this until I'm 80 at this rate. I'm really surprised that Viz hasn't done even the first movie yet, though, since movie #3 will be out soon in Japan.
8. Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Don't ask my why I'm watching this show. I guess it is just amusing how many mahou shoujo cliches are being thrown about in this one. This will likely never, ever be lisenced or even talked about here.
9. Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Not technically anime. More like sentai for girls. Even so it is actually better than the animated version (IMO). Unfortuantely, sentai and other "effects" shows aren't really lisenced the same way (they get butchered and turned into Power Rangers instead). BUT, because it IS Sailor Moon, I suppose that there is a very small chance that someone will lisence it and release it subtitled on DVD.
I just finished:
1. Ultra Maniac It IS mahou shoujo, but it isn't the same type of show as Sailor Moon (it isn't "combat" based). I'm not sure if something like this would be lisenced.
2. Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu See above. Since FMP! was lisenced, this will probably be snagged by ADV in the near future. I think it and FMP! are showable on TV.
The only editing Blue Gender needs is editing it out of existance. Bleah.
Now, Furikuri is something I'm surprised to see on Cartoon Network. I find it hard to believe that edits were light, at least. What time are they showing that?
I don't know what the editing in Inuyasha is like. I don't see too much that needs editing, though, since the action is so unrealistic. Maybe Jakotsu will be edited to be "not as gay" when they reach the Shichinintai story arc (after episode 100).
The end. It was very very boring. They make a point of Robin not being sexy in any way; thus, whenever she shows any skin whatsoever, we would drink. I think we might have actually taken three shots to this rule in about five episodes.
OBVIOUSLY Robin isn't attractive whatsoever because she doesn't run around like a bimbo in a skimpy outfit or have extensive shower/hotspring/near-nude sequences.
Not every anime is made to fuel the sexual fantasies of teenage boys. Go watch Love Hina if you want that.
Ehh, while the main characters are essentially "pretty boys," I find it pretty hard to find sexual innuendo between THEM present in the show.
There are some prominent female characters who serve as love interests (or at least psuedo love interests). Heck, the whole thing pretty much has the four main characters fighting to protect Cheza (the flower girl). That and Hige "hooks up" with Blue towards the end.
My major problem with Wolf's Rain is that the ending of Episode 26 doesn't explain a damn thing about what's really going on. Apparently they are making some sort of OAVs, so hopefully they pick up where the TV show left off, because I was extremely confused by the whole ending.
I agree. BIOS should be left as simple and solid as can be. Adding a crapload of features increases the risk of something going amuck, and it wouldn't surprise me if exactly what you predict happens in the future.
Mainly, a huge barrier for true "pro" gamers to occur is that gamers who go to tournaments don't get paid simply for playing the game. They make no salary. Winners get cash prizes, but the vast majority of people in these tourneys get nothing for their time... and most don't expect to.
In addition, anyone can start a "clan" and compete. Not just anyone can start an NFL team and compete.
Until "clans" are organized like major pro sports teams, gamers that can be considered "professional" in the same sense that NFL players are won't exit. And the only way for that to happen is for Joe Sixpac to actually be a spectator who is willing to watch it. Pretty unlikely, since most people who are interested in watching Q3A and CS matches are people who also play the game regularly themselves.
The same goes for "pro" Magic players and "pros" of many other "non-spectator" activities.
Multiplayer NWN is definately the best in many ways if you can located a good group. Like many online games, other players who are idiots can ruin your experience. Overall it is a great multiplayer game though, especially for those who like D&D.
Plus thanks to Bioware's support, there is a HUGE amount of fan made content. I hope that the Dragon Lance Adventures group and City of the Doors initiative are eventually able to get their work out to us in the near future, because their content looks good.
I'll agree that the Baldur's Gate series is a superior single player experience. NWN is better played multiplayer than alone, though, and becomes a ton more fun.
Yes, there is a reason why the NWN expansion packs are released as such. If the original game had all the content of these expansion packs, we'd not have seen NWN in stores until now.
In addition, Bioware has actually added stuff requested by people. In other words...
Fanboy: "I wanted X and Y in NWN, and was disappointed it wasn't in."
Bioware: "We didn't have time to put X and Y in without delaying the game, but they'll be in the expansion since everyone seems to want them. Plus we're adding a shitload of new scripting functions for the toolset."
Seriously. I don't see how their "secrets" of what items are going to be on sale at what time should be priveledged information. They should do a better job of keeping their secrets if they don't like it.
On the other hand, maybe if I find out (hypothetically) that the printer I was going to buy tomorrow at Fry's will be 20% less at Best Buy, I'll wait to shop at a Best Buy.
I'm sure you want your programmer to have a four year degree and tons of experience in every single piece of software your company has. You'll probably also want them to work overtime/weekends without pay and be on call. And you want to pay them $20,000 a year.
Please go tell that to recent High School grads that would wish to major in Computer Science so that they can immediately can their plans for college and locate a job as a receptionist.
By the time four years has passed, they will probably be making nearly $30,000 a year. Without the expense of college loans to pay off, and they'll be doing a hell of a lot less work than they would have been as a programmer. They'll also be in a position to move up as an admin assistant by then.
Or better yet, they can become curbside airport baggage handlers. Those guys get crazy tips.
I heard this news a couple months ago from someone who works in the industry (albiet not at a very high level), and I thought he must have been misinformed.
Looks like it really is true, sadly. 2D animation is still great, though, as long as it has a good script.
The last few 2D offerings from Disney have not had very good scripts, while their 3D works have had good scripts. Not surprising that hte 3D films have done better.
I previously thought that this whole SCO fiasco was just the work of some corrupt suits executing a grand pump and dump scheme.
I figured that Microsoft paying "lisencing" fees were just a PR move by MS that too advantage of SCO's claims. In other words, they did it just to say that they respect IP "unlike Linux developers."
I thought it too risky for Microsoft to use SCO as a puppet, since this would presumably get them into more legal trouble.
Yet as others have said, why the hell would SCO pay people to switch from Linux to a non-SCO product? Even if they hate Linux, it doesn't seem as if it is good business to subsidize a switch from Linux to Windows unless you are Microsoft.
Is Microsoft really pulling SCO's strings? Or have the nuts running SCO finally completely lost their marbles? Neither would surprise me.
Yes, I agree that the NRA gets the short end of the stick when it comes to their gun safety advocacy.
Many people give the NRA the image of a bunch of rifle-toting rednecks who like shooting random things for kicks, but I don't believe that to be true.
The NRA certainly fights for 2nd. ammendment freedoms, but many people don't realize that the NRA also provides resources for safety and usage training so that people can be responsible with their freedom to own firearms.
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Err... this is why I never released the rather large mod I was working on.
1. I knew that the expansions would modify in the game that my mod couldn't react to.
2. I wanted to incorporate whatever I could from the expansions.
Now in all honesty I'm very happy to see Shadows and Hordes because it really ads a crapload of good stuff to NWN. Even so I hope a third expansion doesn't appear. I'd rather see NWN 2 appear that uses 3.5 rules and makes deep changes to correct some of the larger flaws existing in NWN.
IIRC, there is finally full control over the camera AND fog distance in HOTU and the upcoming patch for non-HOTU installs.
Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
What more could one ask for?
Matthew 27:35
Mark 15:24
Luke 23:34
John 19:24
I've heard some people claim that when the Roman soldiers "cast lots" as mentioned here, they actually played a dice game to see who would get Jesus' clothing. It doesn't seem to mention dice though. *Shrugs*
Hopefully this will go well. It'll be even better if the media picks up what Penny Arcade is doing rather than running another badly written story about how little Tommy is inevitably going to kill lots of people if he even touches the box that Vice City is packed in.
IIRC, in Episode 5 one of the characters has a Swastika armband. They didn't edit that out!!?
No, I'm a Shinsengumi fan. So I watch Peacemaker Kurogane to see what their take on the Shinsengumi is. Not the other way around. It is just nice to see another anime representation outside of Kenshin-land.
I'd prefer to see someone do a highly realistic and more historically accurate Shinsengumi anime. To my knowledge there isn't anything like that out there.
Serious?
People are seeing these movies multiple times in the theaters, and then buying two versions of the DVD. How could it not make money?
Hollywood accountants must be using a different sort of math than I learned... oh wait, I guess they really are.
I don't see FMP? Fumoffu being entertaining unless the original FMP! is watched, unfortunately. Fumoffu is downright funny, but only if you understand where the extreme character personalities are coming from. I think the original FMP! is a good show too, though.
Witch Hunter Robin is a good series, IMO, but not superb or anything. Probably about the same level of Wolf's Rain and Noir. Good but not great due to certain flaws that can get annoying.
Last Exile is a great show though. I really like the way that show was put together. I wish more shows could be like that.
Read or Die and R.O.D. the TV would probably do well (they'd have to edit a small bit of it on CN), since they are both pretty fun. (Waiting for Episode 13 of TV series impatiently).
Fruits Basket is a great show, but I don't know how it is recieved here. I'm not sure how popular non-magic girl shoujo is recieved by the standard American fan. Most people immediately think of Sailor Moon or CCS when they think "shoujo," and there is much more out there. My personal underrated favorite (even though it technically isn't shoujo) is Nanaka 6/17. Nobody is out to defeat evil, it's just about a 17 year old girl who suddenly thinks she's 6.
Among what I'm currently watching:
1. Shingetsutan Tsukihime
Very slow and angsty. Probably a skip if you haven't played any of the related games. I don't forsee it ever coming out here for that reason.
2. Fullmetal Alchemist
This would do well here, I think. Good combo of action, story, etc. I consider it a "Trigun" calibur show, and I won't be surprised if it gets lisenced her by the end of 2004 and ends up on Cartoon Network to boot. Square-Enix is also releasing a FMA game, or so I here.
3. Peacemaker Kurogane
I'm a Shinsengumi fan, and this is all about the Shinsengumi. I can forsee this getting shoved at the Kenshin fans simply because it shares some historical characters. It'll probably eventually get lisenced, but I'm not sure if it'd be considered TV-worthy stateside.
4. R.O.D The TV
As I mentioned above, it is a fun show. It will probably be lisenced soon (if it isn't already, I'm not sure). As far as putting it on CN, I can see that happening with some minor edits.
5. Bottle Fairy
Crack enduced cuteness. Basically just something mindless to watch. It'll probably never come out here.
6. Mermaid's Forest
Takahashi can do some disturbing stuff, and this is one of them. I can forsee this being lisenced eventually and then stuck with a label "from the creator of Inuyasha," even though the Mermaid stories originated before Inuyasha did.
7. Inuyasha
I'm on episode 132 and I feel as if I'll watch this until I'm 80 at this rate. I'm really surprised that Viz hasn't done even the first movie yet, though, since movie #3 will be out soon in Japan.
8. Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch
Don't ask my why I'm watching this show. I guess it is just amusing how many mahou shoujo cliches are being thrown about in this one. This will likely never, ever be lisenced or even talked about here.
9. Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon
Not technically anime. More like sentai for girls. Even so it is actually better than the animated version (IMO). Unfortuantely, sentai and other "effects" shows aren't really lisenced the same way (they get butchered and turned into Power Rangers instead). BUT, because it IS Sailor Moon, I suppose that there is a very small chance that someone will lisence it and release it subtitled on DVD.
I just finished:
1. Ultra Maniac
It IS mahou shoujo, but it isn't the same type of show as Sailor Moon (it isn't "combat" based). I'm not sure if something like this would be lisenced.
2. Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu
See above. Since FMP! was lisenced, this will probably be snagged by ADV in the near future. I think it and FMP! are showable on TV.
The only editing Blue Gender needs is editing it out of existance. Bleah.
Now, Furikuri is something I'm surprised to see on Cartoon Network. I find it hard to believe that edits were light, at least. What time are they showing that?
I don't know what the editing in Inuyasha is like. I don't see too much that needs editing, though, since the action is so unrealistic. Maybe Jakotsu will be edited to be "not as gay" when they reach the Shichinintai story arc (after episode 100).
The end. It was very very boring. They make a point of Robin not being sexy in any way; thus, whenever she shows any skin whatsoever, we would drink. I think we might have actually taken three shots to this rule in about five episodes.
OBVIOUSLY Robin isn't attractive whatsoever because she doesn't run around like a bimbo in a skimpy outfit or have extensive shower/hotspring/near-nude sequences.
Not every anime is made to fuel the sexual fantasies of teenage boys. Go watch Love Hina if you want that.
Ehh, while the main characters are essentially "pretty boys," I find it pretty hard to find sexual innuendo between THEM present in the show.
There are some prominent female characters who serve as love interests (or at least psuedo love interests). Heck, the whole thing pretty much has the four main characters fighting to protect Cheza (the flower girl). That and Hige "hooks up" with Blue towards the end.
My major problem with Wolf's Rain is that the ending of Episode 26 doesn't explain a damn thing about what's really going on. Apparently they are making some sort of OAVs, so hopefully they pick up where the TV show left off, because I was extremely confused by the whole ending.
I agree. BIOS should be left as simple and solid as can be. Adding a crapload of features increases the risk of something going amuck, and it wouldn't surprise me if exactly what you predict happens in the future.
Mainly, a huge barrier for true "pro" gamers to occur is that gamers who go to tournaments don't get paid simply for playing the game. They make no salary. Winners get cash prizes, but the vast majority of people in these tourneys get nothing for their time... and most don't expect to.
In addition, anyone can start a "clan" and compete. Not just anyone can start an NFL team and compete.
Until "clans" are organized like major pro sports teams, gamers that can be considered "professional" in the same sense that NFL players are won't exit. And the only way for that to happen is for Joe Sixpac to actually be a spectator who is willing to watch it. Pretty unlikely, since most people who are interested in watching Q3A and CS matches are people who also play the game regularly themselves.
The same goes for "pro" Magic players and "pros" of many other "non-spectator" activities.
It is a well known fact that they slapped people with fish on a regular basis.
Multiplayer NWN is definately the best in many ways if you can located a good group. Like many online games, other players who are idiots can ruin your experience. Overall it is a great multiplayer game though, especially for those who like D&D.
Plus thanks to Bioware's support, there is a HUGE amount of fan made content. I hope that the Dragon Lance Adventures group and City of the Doors initiative are eventually able to get their work out to us in the near future, because their content looks good.
I'll agree that the Baldur's Gate series is a superior single player experience. NWN is better played multiplayer than alone, though, and becomes a ton more fun.
Yes, there is a reason why the NWN expansion packs are released as such. If the original game had all the content of these expansion packs, we'd not have seen NWN in stores until now.
In addition, Bioware has actually added stuff requested by people. In other words...
Fanboy: "I wanted X and Y in NWN, and was disappointed it wasn't in."
Bioware: "We didn't have time to put X and Y in without delaying the game, but they'll be in the expansion since everyone seems to want them. Plus we're adding a shitload of new scripting functions for the toolset."
Seriously. I don't see how their "secrets" of what items are going to be on sale at what time should be priveledged information. They should do a better job of keeping their secrets if they don't like it.
On the other hand, maybe if I find out (hypothetically) that the printer I was going to buy tomorrow at Fry's will be 20% less at Best Buy, I'll wait to shop at a Best Buy.
I'm sure you want your programmer to have a four year degree and tons of experience in every single piece of software your company has. You'll probably also want them to work overtime/weekends without pay and be on call. And you want to pay them $20,000 a year.
Please go tell that to recent High School grads that would wish to major in Computer Science so that they can immediately can their plans for college and locate a job as a receptionist.
By the time four years has passed, they will probably be making nearly $30,000 a year. Without the expense of college loans to pay off, and they'll be doing a hell of a lot less work than they would have been as a programmer. They'll also be in a position to move up as an admin assistant by then.
Or better yet, they can become curbside airport baggage handlers. Those guys get crazy tips.
I heard this news a couple months ago from someone who works in the industry (albiet not at a very high level), and I thought he must have been misinformed.
Looks like it really is true, sadly. 2D animation is still great, though, as long as it has a good script.
The last few 2D offerings from Disney have not had very good scripts, while their 3D works have had good scripts. Not surprising that hte 3D films have done better.
I previously thought that this whole SCO fiasco was just the work of some corrupt suits executing a grand pump and dump scheme.
I figured that Microsoft paying "lisencing" fees were just a PR move by MS that too advantage of SCO's claims. In other words, they did it just to say that they respect IP "unlike Linux developers."
I thought it too risky for Microsoft to use SCO as a puppet, since this would presumably get them into more legal trouble.
Yet as others have said, why the hell would SCO pay people to switch from Linux to a non-SCO product? Even if they hate Linux, it doesn't seem as if it is good business to subsidize a switch from Linux to Windows unless you are Microsoft.
Is Microsoft really pulling SCO's strings? Or have the nuts running SCO finally completely lost their marbles? Neither would surprise me.
Not really, I just downloaded Gentoo.
Yes, I agree that the NRA gets the short end of the stick when it comes to their gun safety advocacy.
Many people give the NRA the image of a bunch of rifle-toting rednecks who like shooting random things for kicks, but I don't believe that to be true.
The NRA certainly fights for 2nd. ammendment freedoms, but many people don't realize that the NRA also provides resources for safety and usage training so that people can be responsible with their freedom to own firearms.
I've met people with a substantial "Athlon Keychain" collections, many of them were attempting "water cooling" and just screwed up.