Monkey Business: videogame forum of the damned

RPGs, a NA demo of Lunar for the US.
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The new issue of Mojo has a New Order cover story and includes a full length CD that is Power Corruption and Lies re-recorded by other bands. I'm listening right now and its pretty good. £4.50, $9.99 or $13.50 for Canadians. (n/t) (SignOfZeta) (03:49:27 02/09/12 EST)

§§§

Also, Hive and Ticket to Ride are out for free on iOS, so get those, everyone who likes stuff and has an iPhone or iPod or iPad. They're fun.

(PopaSmear)

(14:25:21 02/09/12 EST)

so, have the hostility levels here gone up the past year or what? let me join in then. "mrs mental will spend her time in the kitchen", really, twelvest? aeris, you only seem to reply to me when im saying something wrong. youd think that after 12 years on this board, most of you know my native language isnt english. when i said i dont like women in competitive situations, i meant i cant stand women fighting. the screaming, hair pulling, name calling, etc. in the past, i feel we would have laughed this off, nowadays most find it necessary to be an ass about it. i think brandon called it first, a couple months back when all the hate started to really stand out. i guess the core here is that were not all americans here. next time i offend one of you, take your chill pill first, then fucking ask me what i meant by it. for fucks sake. (n/t) (mental) (17:21:17 02/07/12 EST)

that was supposed to go in the roller derby thread, but now that its here, i like the way it looks. now, try to to incorporate the following words in every reply: "pony", "rainbow" and "squirrel fur".

(mental)

(17:24:11 02/07/12 EST)

Man I don't think I can manage that! This is absolutely an ideal thread for this guy, though, so that's nice:

(Paleface)

(17:26:20 02/07/12 EST)

haha, thanks, that will do just fine. i actually think i see some squirrel fur there! maybe its because im from a smaller, and dare i say "humbler" country, but i wouldnt ever dare laugh at a foreigner trying his hardest to communicate with me in my language. when i look at the replies to my post in the roller derby thread, its just pathetic. this is still my favourite place on the internet though. just like how zelda 2 is still my favourite game. both are nostalgia driven.

(mental)

(17:30:29 02/07/12 EST)

I think people just forget, because your English is better than most Americans('??omg) anyway.

(Paleface)

(17:33:00 02/07/12 EST)

thanks again. maybe im just having my period, havent checked yet. (OMG, mental's a f o r e i g n GIRL?)

(mental)

(17:37:55 02/07/12 EST)

Ooh!

(Paleface)

(19:14:14 02/07/12 EST)

Also, what the heck, man? We're totally the humblest country. We just never say anything about it (unless someone else broaches the topic, if I may say so in all humility)--that's how freakin' humble we are! The HUMBLEST!!11!

(Paleface)

(19:36:36 02/07/12 EST)

Yes, mental, really. You said something I took issue with. I made a response. It's called a disagreement. We've also had a lot of pleasant conversation. One topic in particular that comes to mind is Zelda II. You speak English well. I do not think of your location everytime I see a post of yours. What I interpreted you saying was really sexist. Anyways, I should have known better than to check this on vacation. You can continue to be unreasonably hurt by the fact that people don't always get along or we can move on.

(twelvest)

(20:17:01 02/07/12 EST)

I really appreciate all the comments, but dont give me that, twelvest. Disagreeing is one thing, and wouldve lead to a nice and friendly clarification on my end. Dragging my girlfriend into this, finishing with fucking hell is not just disagreement, its acting like i personally offended you. Of course i know youre not really telling me im mistreating my girlfriend, but you did react way to harshly. Itd be nice if you could just admit that, and not act as if you didnt say anything wrong. Youre right by the way, we have had nice conversations in the past, as i feel ive had with pretty much everyone here. And i dont even like fighting games! Thanks again everyone for taking the time to reply :)

(mental)

(06:26:29 02/08/12 EST)

Fucking Hell is just another way of saying Jesus Christ. It's just a term used to express exasperation. It's not a 'fuck you' or anything like that. It's something one says out loud to no one in particular when they drop a cake and then turn around and knock over the other waiter carrying all the champagne. I will apologize for saying anything at all because I really don't intend anyone to ever get this worked up over anything I post to this message board, not in years at least.

(twelvest)

(11:48:12 02/08/12 EST)

apology accepted! at least now i know fucking hell is a very normal thing to say next time i visit the states! :)

(mental)

(15:17:19 02/08/12 EST)

Get in me.

(Kitchen)

(00:41:01 02/09/12 EST)

I just found it an odd comment and was hoping you'd explain it since I thought it seemed out of character for anyone here.

I don't think the overall hostility has gone up here, it's just always shifting around to exist between different people. Like, remember when the trendy thing was for everyone to talk about how much of a dick Chad was on the 404um? Now those same people hate each other, and SJ and Chad seem to get along pretty well. Who knows what exciting developments the monkey board has in store for 2012?

(Maniac)

(20:21:04 02/07/12 EST)

MONKEY BOARD SURVIVOR SERIES 2012!!! BRING IT ON!!!

Honestly, my first reaction was exactly what he was trying to convey. I feel the same way for the most part. It's like women are lowering themselves. Also, I don't see Homemaker as a diminished role. To me, that is the ultimate job and women do it better than men for the most part. Homemaker is one of the last tax-free jobs that a family can use to improve their situation. The networking potential is enormous!

BTW, I grew up watching my mother bust her ass 8-6 and pull down the homemaker position with an ungrateful husband. I know for a fact she would have rather just been at home the whole time and those times that she could were some of the best times we had together. Randomly busting out into dancing while doing chores, crying on her shoulder, getting a finger wagging. Family!

That reminds me of my painful dentist story. Wah-wah-wah.......

(a-star)

(21:38:26 02/07/12 EST)

This is the only board I go to that doesn't have avatars and I will admit I still have trouble telling some folks apart. It's harder to remember who likes what and where and banana if I don't have an image to associate it with.

(Esco)

(21:45:55 02/07/12 EST)

I always wondered what our avatars would look like. Prolly a lot of naked fat puking women and kittens and robots and shit like that. I doubt this place would be work safe. There was a little bit of that going on once upon a time with different colors and names and whatnot. I like the austerity here, but that being said it can get pretty colorful at times. Perfect balance.

(a-star)

(22:33:17 02/07/12 EST)

My avatar on other forums is a picture of Stetson Kennedy lighting his pipe.

(SignOfZeta)

(01:44:49 02/08/12 EST)

Mine's Tam Tam.

(Esco)

(04:00:07 02/08/12 EST)

i dont actively participate on other forums/sites. strictly lurking! if i did, however, my avatar would be a woman trapped in an oven. MY oven.

(mental)

(10:26:14 02/08/12 EST)

I knew what you meant from the beginning. I thought these other guys acting all offended was just a joke actually. So...it wasn't? You guys are fucking idiots.

BTW, the roller derby I was at had no hair pulling. Since it has transf0rmed into an actual competition instead of the precursor to mud wrestling that it used to be, there is no need for such overt spectacles. IMO, it was more graceful than, for example, women's tennis, which is just a load of screaming and grunting and butt scratching.

Basically, there are two teams and each team as a "jammer" who can score points by lapping the opposite team. Everyone who is not a jammer is a blocker, so you have a scrum and a forward, kind of. Its extremely easy to grasp, but there is some actual strategy, from what I could see. Mostly its just fun. Kind of half way between a concert and a "proper" sports event (most of which I hate).

(SignOfZeta)

(01:50:31 02/08/12 EST)

yeah, the hostility has gone way up as most folks have reached 30 years old or so, and I can only presume that's why so many brains are turning into reactionary goo, but I do understand why folks got weirded out by your post. still, I was pretty sure I understood where you were coming from, and that it wasn't meant to be offensive. at the same time, I understood why they thought it was offensive! what can you do but explain yourself. anyway yeah, this place has a bunch of folks that haven't quite realized their dreams yet, myself included, so I suppose there are a few bruised egos here and there.

(exodus)

(06:28:43 02/08/12 EST)

i guess youre right. luckily i never had any dreams when i was growing up! i have a nice steady job as a store manager, love my dinners in the evenings and watch series/play games with my girlfriend. so no dreams realized for me, but im generally pretty happy. oh, i guess seeing the world used to be my dream! have seen pretty much all i wanted to see of it, so there! it must be awful to have really wanted something since childhood, and for some reason realizing its not going to happen. itd probably make me bitter.

(mental)

(10:30:26 02/08/12 EST)

oh and one last thing, i also see how my comment couldve been seen as offensive. however, the nice thing about the internet, as opposed to real life, is that you can let it sink in before replying. this way you can generally avoid giving your raw unedited and later maybe even regretted initial reaction. oh well, i still love all of you, even aeris. maybe aeris most.

(mental)

(10:33:14 02/08/12 EST)

Hey dudes. I am about a week into recovery from having my last two wisdom teeth pulled. I had my upper right removed two years ago due to an infection. I was born without a lower right. My upper left was deep and about the size of a 9mm bullet. My lower left grew in completely sideways and despite being partially erupted still needed to be drilled into pieces and carved out of my jaw. Only local anesthetic so I got to experience all this while trying not to choke on my blood and saliva. It was the worst time ever! I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR HORRIFIC DENTAL PROCEDURES. (n/t) (Esco) (20:46:40 02/06/12 EST)

I had my four wisdom teeth, all impacted, out the week the Dreamcast launched which was my senior year. I was put under. I remember coming to after the procedure and I was hugging the nurse as she was rubbed my head. I have no idea why. I spent three days beating Sonic Adventure with all characters high on pain killers. That part was fun. The oozy, bleedy, gargling with salt water part... not so much. I also had my tongue tie clipped my freshman year. That was local anesthetic only and I must say, the dull sensation of having a thin piece of flesh squeezed apart was, while not exactly painful, one of the more unsettling feelings I've ever experienced.

(twelvest)

(21:18:51 02/06/12 EST)

On that last part I definitely have to agree. I hope I never again have to feel my mouth being cut into or penetrated (especially eight times with a long ass needle). Just the sound it makes and still being able to feel it despite the anesthetic. *shudder*

(Esco)

(21:31:18 02/06/12 EST)

You shouldn't get a kidney biopsy! It's super unpleasant! They numb up your side, then stick a long, fairly thick needle in there, and place it right on your kidney. How? By guiding it with a sonogram, and like rooting around and going in and out and it's super awful. Ben when it's on your kidney, they go *CHA-CHUNK* and take a sliver of your kidney out. The. Your back hurts really bad for two days.

(PopaSmear)

(01:43:35 02/07/12 EST)

(Paleface)

(03:53:46 02/07/12 EST)

That's horrifying!

(Esco)

(05:03:48 02/07/12 EST)

I had four impacted wisdom teeth removed, and I was lying on the table, about to be put out, and the dentist fell over on his stool and I caught him and steadied him before he hit the floor.

It did not give me great confidence. But afterward I took no painkillers, cause I didn't want any, and was fine in a few days. The end!

(exodus)

(01:19:55 02/07/12 EST)

I'm not sure if my dentist had a stool. He was really prying for dear life on my teeth. Like the only thing that scared me the first time I had a tooth out was just how HARD he was pushing with the hook. I was praying the whole time that he wouldn't slip but his eyes were extremely calm and that helped. What was unnerving the second time was watching blood from my mouth spray onto his face shield when he was drilling

(Esco)

(04:59:10 02/07/12 EST)

Ack!

(Paleface)

(17:23:58 02/07/12 EST)

that's horrifying! I was totally out for mine.

(exodus)

(23:42:37 02/07/12 EST)

I had two wisdom teeth. One is still there. The other one came in kind of crooked so I had this 90 year old OG dentist pull it out. He did it with mad skill, local only, no lasting pain. End of story.

(SignOfZeta)

(03:13:44 02/07/12 EST)

My mom was a hygienist! No major screw-ups while she practiced on me, though. Hrm... I remember kind of tripping balls on whatever they'd had me out with as my parents took me home from the dentist once, I suppose that was probably for wisdom teeth. Bloody gauze for a few days is the only other thing I remember, so I guess it went pretty well overall. Yours sounds rough! Howcome you didn't get 'em taken out as a teenager or at whatever earlier stage of life they usually do that to people?

(Paleface)

(03:57:06 02/07/12 EST)

I'm not sure. They were very slow to grow in. Maybe my parents just didn't want to pay for it. It did take 30 years before I had any kind of problem and I could afford to deal with it myself (probably their plan all along).

(Esco)

(05:02:38 02/07/12 EST)

Now that I think about it I believe it was because despite one tooth growing in sideways none of them were messing up my jaw or my alignment.

(Esco)

(05:33:30 02/07/12 EST)

Ah, I see. I think mine might have been slightly impacted...well heck I don't really remember. My lingering impression is that it was just kind of something the dentist expected to do to my teeth at the appointed time.

(Paleface)

(17:23:37 02/07/12 EST)

I went to a roller derby event. It was great! A sport I can actually follow.

What's even cooler is that it was in this building:

The Masonic Temple of Detroit. A lot of people talk shit about Detroit, and what a run down hell hole it supposedly is, but I quite like it.

The Official Webpage for the League (n/t) (SignOfZeta) (03:13:32 02/05/12 EST)

Hey it is rather Gothamy-looking there.

(Paleface)

(03:23:32 02/05/12 EST)

The building is fucking massive. I don't even know WTF is in most of it. This event was held in the "drill hall" which is a a minor room, and still it held a roller derby and a few hundred fans. I once went to a "battle of the bands" kind of thing there in a much larger hall with a balcony and such. There were two stages, one at each end of the hall, one for each band. It was a battle between swing/jazz bands and mainly a place for people who like swing dancing to go. The swing scene is evidently huge as hell around here, btw, with all these cosplaying people dancing like fucking supermen. The things that go on around us what we don't even know about...

(SignOfZeta)

(04:32:15 02/05/12 EST)

what is roller derby? i guess i could google, but weve got to keep each other active round these parts too.

(mental)

(05:20:28 02/05/12 EST)

Modern roller derby is basically something for young rockabilly lesbians to do at night after they're done volunteering at the local animal shelter. In the 60's there was equal emphasis on men's leagues if you can believe that. Teams would skate around a track, ideally a heavily banked one, gaining positions and eliminating other players Road Rash style. The big highspot was always sending an opponent over the banked rail. It was all a work, like pro wrestling. Kezar Pavillion was the center of Northern California roller derby, drawing all kinds of blue collar types from the marshy areas of the bay back when working class people actually existed north of San Mateo. I live right near Dave Meltzer, the world's foremost roller derby historian, so I know way too much about Ann Calvello than one should organically through the local culture. The people who remember Ann Calvello, like the people who remember Superstar Billy Graham and Pepper Gomez wrestling at the Cow Palace, are pretty much a dying breed. Likewise roller derby already died a natural death but the slice of waning industrial-era Americana it supposedly represents makes it an attractive hobby for girls like Betty Boop and getting owls and unicorns tattooed on themselves.

(substance J)

(06:01:07 02/05/12 EST)

*girls [who] like Betty Boop, that is.

(substance J)

(06:03:14 02/05/12 EST)

What fascinates me most about modern vs. classic roller derby is that the classic was worked like wrestling and the modern sort tends to be a shoot. It is like some sort of dystopian future in which humanity has found a cache of old wrestling tapes and recreated it without understanding it is supposed to be fake. Just a bunch of hot girls piledriving each other on concrete.

(supergiantninja)

(10:45:15 02/05/12 EST)

thats a nice write up, thanks. i absolutely hate women in competitive situations. funny you should mention the tattooing, i think i remember a girl in one of them fancy tattoo tv shows who did something with wheels on her feet. people called her tough so i guess she must be one of the derby'ers (spelling's fun!).

(mental)

(13:26:47 02/05/12 EST)

"i absolutely hate women in competitive situations." lol

(aerisdead)

(22:20:40 02/05/12 EST)

Yeah... what?

(Maniac)

(14:04:02 02/06/12 EST)

So Mrs. Mental will be living in the kitchen, I presume? Fucking hell.

(twelvest)

(16:32:39 02/06/12 EST)

Quick, he expressed an opinion that could be construed as contrary to popular norms, everybody hogpile on!!! I bet he didn't even make a Facebook post to express his outrage over Susan G. Komen For The Cure. What a cretin!!!

(substance J)

(19:31:03 02/06/12 EST)

Quick, everyone is expressing agreement with a popular norm!!! Get substance j in here to remind everyone what a scathing cynic he is!!!!

(EXCLAMATION POINTS!)

(22:51:12 02/06/12 EST)

I just don't want to be accused of having written this. I am not participating.

(PopaSmear)

(01:37:19 02/07/12 EST)

Hah! That makes two of us.

(substance J)

(02:12:13 02/07/12 EST)

I have a friend with a tattoo of of Betty Boop as Rosie the Riveter as well as oak and maple leaves all up and down her arms. Imagine my surprise when I found out she was married. She'd probably still like roller derby, though. She definitely likes bull riding.

(and Opa Opa)

(12:59:41 02/06/12 EST)

One of my closest friends moved from Buffalo to Lansing and then to Ann Arbor. He likes Michigan quite a bit as a whole but really digs Detroit and keeps trying to get me out there for DEMF (or whatever it's called now that people refuse to acknowledge). It won't happen this year but maybe next.

(twelvest)

(17:56:52 02/05/12 EST)

I think you mean Movement. I have never been to this, for some reason.

(SignOfZeta)

(19:42:24 02/05/12 EST)

Yeah, that's it. It's supposedly a great event and I guess it's picked up steam the past few years. Richie Hawtin was there doing the Plastikman live PA thing last year I believe. That's a hell of a show.

(twelvest)

(16:23:52 02/06/12 EST)

Plastikman is about as much of an event in Detroit as steam pouring from manhole lids or massive layoffs. You just get used to it. Last year's Movement had several exiting acts, but I still didn't go. If you show up, I promise I will. BTW, I'm totally buying Torq. PSSL sells it for $200 on Amazon, yes the version with the IO unit and control discs.

(SignOfZeta)

(20:04:43 02/06/12 EST)

I'm likely to be there at some point. Thanks for the heads up on cheap Torq. I really want to bite on it now but I'm room mate hunting and if nothing turns up then I have a huge California sized rent bill to pay by myself in a couple weeks. Bad enough I'm going on a trip tomorrow. It's still a "very near future" purchase, though.

(twelvest)

(20:49:33 02/06/12 EST)

Yeah, Detroit seems like the perfect place for roller derby.

I went roller skating for the first time in my life a couple weeks ago. I fell hard on my ass bone and the shit still fucking hurts.

(and Opa Opa)

(12:58:00 02/06/12 EST)

Yep that's how it works! You're supposed to do it as a kid so it isn't as painful.

(Paleface)

(14:21:13 02/06/12 EST)

A long time ago I was a DJ at a skate rink. Every employee is required to wear skates at all times so while I was never very good at it I was a total mofo at climbing stairs, navigating through people, taking a wiz, on skates.

(SignOfZeta)

(20:09:06 02/06/12 EST)

I've gone a couple times recently. It's fun! It's way harder than roller blades. Turning and especially stopping are hard. I can still skate backwards though!

(PopaSmear)

(01:39:33 02/07/12 EST)

Mitt? Newt? Man, if this place was like it was back during Gore vs. Bush we'd be having a fucking heyday! (n/t) (a-star doesn't think they are real people) (12:29:18 01/31/12 EST)

My only explanation for this is that the "real" R candidates are sitting this one out. They know they are going to lose anyway, and they don't want to be old news when 2016 comes around.

(SignOfZeta)

(13:23:04 01/31/12 EST)

There are "real" R candidates? Last time it was Palin and McCain. This time it's Mitt, Newt, Cain, Huntsman, Perry, etc. etc. It's like every 4 years the clown show becomes even better.

(Comic-Kaze thinks Ron Paul may be okay but I'm a Canadian, what do I know?)

(00:01:04 02/01/12 EST)

The real ones are in hiding. No sense wasting ammo in 2012. That's what I'm saying.

(SignOfZeta)

(04:05:17 02/01/12 EST)

But he has a point that it was nearly this bad already last time there was an actual contest. McCain is definitely better at not making himself look like a total asshole every time he speaks in public than this lot of goons, but Palin pretty much canceled it out.

(Maniac)

(22:41:42 02/01/12 EST)

I think they were sitting it out last time as well. Anyone running in 2008 was basically forced to present the argument that the Bush years were worth repeating. I'm not sure how anyone could possibly argue that. Obama is way weaker now than he was then.

(SignOfZeta)

(22:50:49 02/01/12 EST)

Yeah, I agree with this. It's pretty silly, but that's politics in general. Last time around, the public was pretty set on "change." Now, I'm not convinced everyone is happy with the "change" or lack thereof, but I don't think there are enough people demanding their change back for it to matter. I hope next time will be the first actual contest in a while, and I hope both sides have something special saved up for it.

(Flavor)

(09:53:55 02/02/12 EST)

I think people misunderstood Obama. What he meant was that he was going to take people's dollars and give them change. Tricky bastards these guys.

(a-star)

(10:24:38 02/02/12 EST)

We gonna sweep them rascals out of Washington...We gonne sweep the whole country clean!

Homer Stokes in 2016!!!

(and Opa Opa)

(13:44:02 02/02/12 EST)

(Comic-Kaze forgot about this guy, they look like wax.)

(02:38:51 02/03/12 EST)

It doesn't help that the picture is compressed to hell.

(SignOfZeta)

(05:47:18 02/03/12 EST)

(Comic-Kaze says oh wow priceless mistake!)

(04:09:39 02/07/12 EST)

(Paleface)

(17:27:34 02/07/12 EST)

I'm still pretty sure Newt Gingrich is a Hogwartz professor.

(Maniac)

(20:26:19 01/31/12 EST)

(Comic-Kaze)

(00:02:05 02/01/12 EST)

hah!

(exodus)

(01:09:26 02/01/12 EST)

Ohhh.

(Paleface)

(02:53:05 02/01/12 EST)

Newt pays to lose.

(Zero)

(22:21:37 01/31/12 EST)

Whoa, this anime horror webcomic is the first one to give me quite a scare. It's pretty well done. (Comic-Kaze) (07:37:37 01/31/12 EST)

I remember this thing! it's neat. did they update it for 2011 or something? looks the same to me...

(exodus)

(14:18:13 01/31/12 EST)

I don't know, it's the first time I've seen it. Sorry if it was a repost.

(Comic-Kaze)

(23:59:27 01/31/12 EST)

not a repost from here - but the thing says 2011 on it, and I thought it was 2010 at least. but I didn't scroll to the scary part to find out what might've changed :P

(exodus)

(19:03:31 02/01/12 EST)

I jumped. Pretty high. I was NOT expecting sound.

(Esco)

(16:05:13 02/02/12 EST)

shhh... dont spoil it ^_^... I really enjoyed this too. Very clever.

(Bean)

(21:28:59 02/02/12 EST)

Dudes who are both into board games and have an iOS device: Hive is coming back to the App Store, and for the first week it will be free. You should get it! (PopaSmear) (00:08:17 01/30/12 EST)

I'm there!

(twelvest)

(16:02:39 02/01/12 EST)

Somewhere at a 'Final Fantasy' trailer development meeting: "You know what this needs? More feathers." (n/t) (Bean) (13:13:01 01/28/12 EST)

this about XIII-2? im trying my hardest to start playing XIII-1. anyone care to motivate me? i found it for 10 euros. ive been demotivated enough, it would be nice to hear from someone whos had an at least reasonable experience with it!

(mental)

(15:37:17 01/28/12 EST)

i just read a ff13-2 review and... man, whats up with square? whats up with the over emotional anime characters? what was wrong with the nice medieval style of 1 to 6 and 9? i just dont understand.

(mental)

(17:08:59 01/28/12 EST)

'Cause 7 had them and was super ridiculously popular, I guess?

(Paleface)

(03:36:25 01/29/12 EST)

I've been asking this question for, like, 15 years.

(Jason)

(12:38:35 01/30/12 EST)

I loved the battle system after it opened up a bit (3-5 hours in) but disliked almost everything else. The story, characters, etc. Worst of all is that the world they created seemed really cool but you can't explore it at all and it ends up feeling very lifeless. When people say the game is all about running down a bunch of pretty hallways they aren't lying. It's more on rails than any RPG I've ever played. The battles are unique but that couldn't save the game for me.

(twelvest)

(20:51:16 01/28/12 EST)

my staunchest FF-supporting friends didn't like XIII. so no, I cannot motivate you.

(exodus)

(03:00:11 01/29/12 EST)

i bought an expensive coaster! or a cheap frisbee, if it works well.

(mental)

(08:11:54 01/29/12 EST)

frisbees are cheaper than that in the U.S. I think! even official ones are around $5.

(exodus)

(03:42:35 01/30/12 EST)

More giant chickens, everyone likes those right??!?!?

(Paleface)

(03:37:06 01/29/12 EST)

(Zero)

(20:29:22 01/29/12 EST)

A better question would be, has there ever been a FF without them? (Answer inside maybe!)

(Paleface)

(20:48:35 01/29/12 EST)

Yeah, im... Not really sure what i was thinking!

(Mental)

(10:40:27 01/30/12 EST)

Sigh, that was supposed to go under exodus' frisbee post!

(Mental)

(10:42:57 01/30/12 EST)

it's ok <3

(exodus)

(14:30:17 01/30/12 EST)

This is really a real thing!
(n/t) (Maniac) (11:10:57 01/27/12 EST)

I thought it was a brilliant idea. I'm still not gonna play it though.

(Esco)

(12:35:47 01/27/12 EST)

Yeah, me neither. I'm just glad they did it.

(Maniac)

(13:46:25 01/27/12 EST)

I'm starting to really hate this sort of thing...but that aside, why is he fat?

(SignOfZeta)

(14:06:28 01/27/12 EST)

since his character didnt make it to the sequels, he didnt get the exercise that the blue megaman did eventually get. hes hoping to lose it again now that capcom have decided to employ him after all.

(mental)

(14:23:33 01/27/12 EST)

(substance J)

(19:29:27 01/27/12 EST)

He's in great shape.

('Merica)

(10:35:25 01/28/12 EST)

I think it's stupid. It feels very much like since Inafune left, and Capcom got pissed, they've been shitting on megaman to tarnish his legacy. but as long as the kids are happy...

(exodus)

(16:09:29 01/27/12 EST)

This is my feeling, too, and it strikes me as incredibly childish from such a big name game company. Not only are they mocking him but the fans of his work. It sure doesn't seem like good business!

(twelvest)

(16:11:43 01/27/12 EST)

I just hate it because it reeks of hipster douchebag ironic "I loved the 80s" bullshit from people who weren't even born when this game came out. I'm pretty much done with "retro" in the opinion of the clueless, "8 bit" music videos, etc. Bands are now doing cassette-only releases. W. T. F.? This is total fucking Blues Hammer/Whalers on the Moon bullshit.

(SignOfZeta)

(17:53:47 01/27/12 EST)

Blues Hammer!

Anyways, I think it's a mix of what you're talking about and what exodus and I are talking about. Some might love this for the reasons you're mentioning but to me this is a "Fuck You" from Capcom to both Inafune (not just the shitty box art version but overweight and old, too!) and to the tons of fans who have been asking for Mega Man back in MvC/other Capcom fighters. "Thank you for supporting us and buying elevnty versions of each game, here's your 'Mega Man', chumps!"

(twelvest)

(18:24:46 01/27/12 EST)

What other Capcom fighters? Was anyone actually demanding Mega Man in "Street Fighter x Tekken"? He doesn't really even belong. This shitty box art version fits better.

I think it's kind of ridiculous that people honestly feel Capcom is going out of its way to spite fans of Mega Man because of one game that they didn't put him in. It sucks that MML3 didn't get made, but that's barely even a Mega Man game. Prime case of silly internet hysteria.

(Maniac)

(11:51:28 01/28/12 EST)

He's fat because he's fat on the box art. Have you 0bjectively taken a good look at that box art? It's easy to see how they came up with this.

I can see where you're coming from that a lot of those same douchebags who think tape cassettes are cool for some reason will call this cool purely because it's retro, but I have a hard time believing anyone at Capcom is one of those people or that they are intentionally trying to cater to them. This is a funny reference to something that normally would just be swept under the rug and forgotten. That's all I view it as.

(Maniac)

(11:48:14 01/28/12 EST)

in case this reply ends up in the wrong place: Maniac you hit the nail on the head. capcom is not saying fuck you to anyone, except maybe the designer of the original box art (what WAS that guy thinking?). just enjoy it its good, ignore it if it turns out bad. capcom is a com pa ny. if they want to say fuck you to inafune, theyll place a dead horse in his bed on a sunday morning. they wont intentionally develop garbage. companies need profit, dudes!

(mental)

(14:28:20 01/28/12 EST)

I've looked at that box art many many times. I rented the game from a place called "Video Sensations" despite the shitty shitty box. It's always been a terrible little landmark for Capcom USA. He really doesn't look fat though. At all. I'm looking at it right now, right at his belt area...there isn't a gut there. Not even a small one. His legs sure are thick, but that's just because 6 year olds can't draw. He's not meant to be a fat guy.

(SignOfZeta)

(18:00:38 01/28/12 EST)

But... This is capcoms property! If they want to turn him into a sword wielding banana with a straw hat, thats their decision. Im always amazed when fans decide whats the next right/logical step for their favourite franchise instead of letting the, you know, actual creator decide. If i ever make up something awesome, I'll give him the straw hat. Then I'll let the fans vote with their wallets. All in all: this appearance is real, but its also a joke. Laugh it off!!

(mental)

(18:53:47 01/28/12 EST)

The actual creators of all this stuff are long gone. Capcom is just squatting on he rights. I have ZERO interest in this terrible idea for a fighting game so this kind of thing isn't going to make or break anything.

But really, I was just asking why he was fat. Maniac's explaination didnt work for me, so I responded.

(SignOfZeta)

(23:17:58 01/28/12 EST)

He is horribly proportioned and bloated, the artist just chose to make it a gut instead of making him overweight in his thighs and shoulders. I agree with you that the SF4 aesthetic being used for this game is hideous, which is part of why I find this amusing. That godawful box art fits right in.

(Maniac)

(01:47:39 01/30/12 EST)

Wrong again. Inafune and Ono were talking about doing shit together before the Mass Mega cancellation. Inafune's shit went under, Ono didn't. If Legends 3 happened the joke thing would probably be that this is Volnutt in the future, considering his real and actual bio at this very moment.

(Zero)

(20:25:39 01/29/12 EST)

(substance J)

(19:14:33 01/27/12 EST)

less cameltoe this time

(aerisdead)

(00:55:18 01/28/12 EST)

Someone's job was to create that.

(Jeurja)

(21:53:17 01/29/12 EST)

So this game is sort of just a straight up SF-style versus game then, eh? All the Tekken dudes are being rejigged into SF-style characters? Well... anyway, this character is dumb and I hate it.

(aerisdead)

(00:56:44 01/28/12 EST)

The success of SFIV has filled Capcom's hubris meter to level 3! Prepare for the final attack!

(SignOfZeta)

(03:24:27 01/28/12 EST)

Here is the video.

(Jason)

(01:02:18 01/28/12 EST)

"Here it comes" and a dude looking like he's doused in a geyser of white fluid? Boy sign up my pre-order. Well at least now I know what this thread was about.

(Paleface)

(03:35:54 01/28/12 EST)

I like this character but not as megaman of course. He is only based on that old box art? Because megaman doesn't even look like that in the first game. I doubt this is capcom getting revenge on Inafune. But just the japanese desginers who thought this was really funny.

(Atarianallstar)

(08:14:23 01/28/12 EST)

I think that video gave me autism.

(substance J)

(18:14:04 01/28/12 EST)

No shit.

(SignOfZeta)

(07:54:35 01/29/12 EST)

I don't dislike this. I think it's kind of funny and weird. Also, why didn't Capcom just make Capcom vs. Namco and go bananas with characters instead of limiting it to SF and Tekken, which is what they seem to want to do, anyway? Brand recognition?

(Jeurja)

(10:34:52 01/28/12 EST)

I think the only non SF or Tekken characters are the PS3 exclusive ones.

(Maniac)

(11:43:10 01/28/12 EST)

They don't have people talented enough to make models and come up with moves for Hori Taizo or Bravo Man or Unknown Soldier 1P&2P so they continue to reap the investment from SFIV.

(substance J)

(17:18:29 01/28/12 EST)

I guess I'm not surprised at the hipster thing, but I am honestly surprised anyone here buys the "Capcom is intentionally trying to ruin its own popular intellectual property" argument.

(Maniac)

(11:44:19 01/28/12 EST)

Seems to me like they are making fun of North Americans. Maybe they're poking fun at the whole hipster retro thing altogether! It's almost as if this ugly, fat, heckling Mega Man represents everything that has gone wrong with video game culture in general. It's kind of a middle-finger salute to the industry, sony exclusive to boot! Capcom is saying "repent, fucks, embrace and revel in thine absurdity!"

(a-star)

(18:38:54 01/28/12 EST)

Or maybe they know this game is as stupid as the US Megaman 1 box art.

(SignOfZeta)

(04:59:03 01/30/12 EST)

There's so many things wrong with SFxT at a conceptual level. The game's title indicates it'll be about StreetFighter and Tekken, yet highly experimental stuff like the gems and Pandora mode somehow take center stage. Then Capcom introduces Cole, a character not only from another game, but a different developer altogether. The Sony cats add further commercial insult. All things considered, Pac Man riding a mokujin seems highly appropriate. Boxart Megaman would've been just fine for a game like MvC3. If Capcom were clever they'd have put Dan in Megaman's suit for this game.

(Tekcop Namkcor)

(15:52:19 01/29/12 EST)

Its more than that, or rather less than that. On a gameplay level SF and Tekken are NOTHING alike. Not even SFIV, which is just as ugly as Tekken (more, really) but plays like any SF game. The controls are different, the concept of "a move" is completely different. The aesthetic is different, the idea of what is "bad ass" in each game is different. The game have no business being mixed in an actual fighting game (card and strategy games, fine). Fans of both games should be beating each other bloody in the streets, not spending money on this stupid shit.

That being said, if I were to produce such a game...I'd go heavy on the shit like gems and whatever the fuck Pandora mode probably is. I'd also make it a three button game, with one of the buttons being Jump. The only way to not short change either side is to take each completely out of their element.

(SignOfZeta)

(19:11:19 01/29/12 EST)

I don't know. Simply incorporating the signature moves of the Tekken characters in new Capcom versions of those characters seems straightforward enough. I realize they won't play remotely close to their Tekken versions, but that's what TXSF will be for. I guess I just don't understand why Capcom is going out of their way to make SFxT much more complicated (both conceptualy and in terms of gameplay) than it needs to be. It's as if they have no faith at all in the game (which I would totally understand).

(Tekcop Namkcor)

(17:41:28 01/30/12 EST)

But everyone in Tekken just...punches and kicks. The don't have real uppercuts or tatsumaki kicks or fireballs or beam shields or...jack shit. They're going to be boring as fuck.

What the hell is the control scheme for this game anyway? Does it just change depending on what company's character you pick? I think that would actually make the most sense.

(SignOfZeta)

(04:30:03 01/31/12 EST)

It's six-button, but Tekken characters can do target combos using the 4 buttons that they'd do it with in Tekken. At least that's the impression I'm under. Supposedly Namco is making their own version that is going to play like Tekken, so I guess that's the reason for not trying to mix the two styles more.

(Maniac)

(07:56:40 01/31/12 EST)

Wow, an even worse idea!

(SignOfZeta)

(13:23:44 01/31/12 EST)

I'm sure lots of people will have fun playing it. It's not really my kind of game but I don't honestly think it is going to be bad. I'm mostly just worried that when Capcom decides to make Street Fighter 5 they are going to throw in a lot of crazy shit like is in this game, and that the only serious fighting games left will be anime games where you can't hear the music because the characters squeal every time you press a button.

(Maniac)

(20:29:46 01/31/12 EST)

"So, just how good are you at fighting games? If you think you're the best of the best, and you want to prove it, and win $25,000 in the process, you can audition for Street Fighter x Tekken's Cross Assault reality show. Yes, that's right, Capcom is producing a new reality show that will be aired online in late February as they follow two teams, each led by a "legend from the fighting game scene" in a competition for the cash prize and glory of being an internet star. "

(substance J)

(04:14:00 02/01/12 EST)

OK, never mind. I love SFxTekken now.

(SignOfZeta)

(13:00:20 02/01/12 EST)

PS3 exclusivity really ticks me off though. Not that I don't own a PS3 but my sticks are for X360.

(Darius)

(21:52:47 02/02/12 EST)

Does anyone here live near any shops that might carry old Gundam kits? I'm looking for the original Zaku III. I want the original from 1987 or whenever, not the High Grade/HGUC. This kit is from about 1987 and has been out of production since the mid-90s. Its probably worth about $5. I bought a conversion kit for it you see and...now I need the actual model.

The box is pictured on the right:

(n/t) (SignOfZeta) (17:31:23 01/26/12 EST)

(Broken image: "[#10171] You do not have permission to view this attachment.")

(Paleface)

(18:15:29 01/26/12 EST)

Ah, I was afraid of that. I guess you have to be logged into the forum I stole it from. I'll repost when I'm not on a phone.

(SignOfZeta)

(18:48:07 01/26/12 EST)

How's this?

(SignOfZeta)

(04:19:04 01/27/12 EST)

Neat. What's the conversion kit for?

(Esco)

(04:29:09 01/27/12 EST)

It makes it into Mashimar's custom:

(SignOfZeta)

(04:32:20 01/27/12 EST)

Uh, wow. I bet there's one in whatever self storage locker Kimono My House moved to. But next time I'm down in Morgan Hill I'm gonna check out the "Anime Shop" store that popped up there. I'll let you know what Bakugans they have.

(substance J)

(20:44:37 01/26/12 EST)

According to their website they don't have it, but then their website hasn't been updated at all since 2009, and it honestly looks even older. The basic design is from 1996. Supposedly they still have a shitload of LDs at original prices...that seems unlikely.

(SignOfZeta)

(04:20:48 01/27/12 EST)

I've got a Gelgoog kit from the early 80s you can have :)

(Comic-Kaze)

(22:09:38 01/26/12 EST)

Heh, I'm not up to it. I would be if I didn't have such a pile of unbuilt stuff right now. There was an article in Model Graphix recently about how to build up 80s kits (Dougram and Vifam, specifically). Its kind of got me in the mood, but I already have a Scopedog I've been sitting on for 15 years that deserves it more.

(SignOfZeta)

(04:34:45 01/27/12 EST)

I was going to make this its own thread but I'll post it here since there's no longer a need to push Zero's god awful image down the page. I've recently accumulated a big batch of hopefully un-irradiated 1990's Japanese gaming mooks, some of which I needed actual inf0rmation from. Others I simply felt compelled to rescue from the perpetual onslaught of time. The point of all this: the Japan Smell. What the hell is it exactly?

(substance J)

(19:40:44 01/27/12 EST)

New books from Japan all smell the same, they smell like books printed in Canada. The older stuff though, maybe pre-1996...it's pure fucking nostalgia for me. Something that really adds to it, somehow, is the alternating use of glossy color and newsprint in the same book.

Theory: fish oil based inks? I honestly have no idea.

Btw, a few years ago there was an NPR story about how archeologists were getting valuable info from the origin of old books just by the smell. Like, hand written scribe shit. Supposedly this is totally scientific. I immediately thought of This is Animation and Animage when I heard this.

(SignOfZeta)

(20:00:30 01/27/12 EST)

So guys where is our thread on the Neo Geo Pocket 2 (which looks like a Taiwanese bootleg to me) (Esco) (16:02:13 01/26/12 EST)

Two seconds after I posted this I remembered the S:NGP forum still exists DON'T MIND ME GO ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS

(Esco)

(16:03:18 01/26/12 EST)

(Paleface)

(18:16:11 01/26/12 EST)

I don't really play video games much anymore

(Esco)

(19:02:10 01/26/12 EST)

None of us do. :O)~

(Zero)

(19:16:26 01/26/12 EST)

speak for yourself!

(exodus)

(21:07:34 01/26/12 EST)

Yeah for me it's mostly just an hour or two of playing new PSN demos with a buddy who comes over on Sundays. They're mostly pretty bad!

(Paleface)

(22:33:48 01/26/12 EST)

Did any of you guys get Blokus when it was on sale for 2 dollars? Pretty outstanding game, especially for two freakin' dollars. I'd always been curious about the board game but that costs like $20-30.

(Esco)

(22:52:25 01/26/12 EST)

I own the real thing. I got it for $15 on sale. I quite like it.

(SignOfZeta)

(04:35:43 01/27/12 EST)

Hm doesn't ring a bell at all, I guess I missed that one (maybe it didn't have a demo?). And even if it had a trailer on PSN I might not've got past the Move part at the beginning. Is there a single-player component to it?

I guess the multiplayer must be good 'cause man these actors are having so much fun!

(Paleface)

(07:07:25 01/27/12 EST)

They were having this big holiday sale like a month ago. Blokus on PSN is Blokus AND Blokus Duo. It has a really tough single-player tournament where you play different game modes against the cpu with increasing difficulty (like 30 challenge matches). I'm currently only halfway through it.

(Esco)

(12:40:07 01/27/12 EST)

Ah okay, good.

(Paleface)

(03:36:54 01/28/12 EST)

Also I am STUCK halfway through the tournament because this game is FRIGGIN' CHALLENGING AS HECK. It's like you think you might have a solid strategy to outbox the other players but even if you think three moves ahead you still have three other players going in different directions. There's just no way to have all your bases covered.

(Esco)

(13:45:45 01/28/12 EST)

Stealth Music Merch Thread?
(Zero) (17:23:03 01/23/12 EST)

On one hand I think people generally get too protective over older, influential bands, especially ones with a sad story. The image itself isn't even really Joy Division's, it's a pulsar transmission from an astronomy text or something like that.

On the other hand, nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooonononononono.

(twelvest)

(17:30:13 01/23/12 EST)

Yeah, I agree on the first part. I'm always confused by people and their outspoken love of legendary Nirvana.

But this doesn't even make sense to me, this combo, as done by Disney.

(Zero)

(18:02:25 01/23/12 EST)

Don't get me wrong, I love Joy Division but I've seen some really awesome spoofs of the Unknown Pleasures cover. This just isn't one of em.

(twelvest)

(19:10:59 01/23/12 EST)

I didn't even notice the Mickey. Hidden Mickey!

(Jeurja)

(02:33:02 01/25/12 EST)

My GOD this guy is an asshole.

(SignOfZeta)

(18:31:18 01/23/12 EST)

(Flavor)

(15:51:52 01/25/12 EST)

well huh

(Zero)

(23:47:48 01/26/12 EST)

And actually I forgot about this article he (the guy that made the Pokemon shirt) wrote about it. Actually, it's a pretty interesting read about the origin of the art and the copyright and all that. Link inside.

(Flavor)

(11:03:18 01/27/12 EST)

Disney pulled the item. But apparently it sold out online before they did.

(Zero)

(20:27:59 01/29/12 EST)

So this thing seems pretty cool:

Its kind of expensive ($850) and I haven't yet heard any HQ audio samples to tell if it actually sounds decent, but its pretty neat. (n/t) (SignOfZeta) (22:58:07 01/21/12 EST)

Jesus Christ. The possibilities for this thing are really fucking cool. This is one of the few things I can look at and actually say "I get everything this can do and it's fucking awesome." I really love hard synths. All that said, $850 is a LOT of money these days. Certainly for me and I suppose most, if not all, of us. 10 years ago this would have been tax return but now I'll keep an eye out for a good deal on a used one.

(twelvest)

(02:38:11 01/22/12 EST)

I actually think the price isn't that bad. A full version of Reason 6 is $500 and its just software. The reason why this caught my eye (other that seeing a Kid Koala setup with one installed) was that I thought it might be usable as a MIDI compatible step sequencer. I prefer to program beats and basslines "80s Roland style" and this is something lacking in most soft synths and controllers. I'm not to sold on the actual tone of the synths though, which is a big problem and would make or break this product for me when combined with the price. The truth is though this fucker has some seriously innovative features that kind of make the more famous companies look like repetitious idiots for not thinking of first.

(SignOfZeta)

(05:12:14 01/22/12 EST)

BTW, I'm trying my best to figure out if Torque is a piece of shit or not. It seems pretty nice and I'm thinking about getting it since it would breath new life into the decks, which haven't seen much use lately. Have you used it? What are you using right now? I forgot.

(SignOfZeta)

(05:29:51 01/22/12 EST)

I currently use a basic setup of Tech 1200 M3Ds and a Numark DXM 06 for vinyl sets (read: happy hardcore) and a Hercules RMX and a Toshiba laptop for everything else. I've come to despise the latter. I think Torq is a good setup but I'd hesitate to suggest it hands down. More inside in case this gets long and boring.

(twelvest)

(15:54:45 01/22/12 EST)

Two clarifications...

(twelvest)

(16:06:55 01/22/12 EST)

I haven't been to a show in 5 years where the DJ wasn't using some kind of DVS. I have yet to see a single technical snafu I can blame on the DVS itself. I'm sure this is what I want, its just a matter of which one. Torq is a bit cheaper, so obviously this is what I'm looking at but...I do have a history of frustrating issues with M-Audio because the stuff is...a little too affordable sometimes, if you know what I mean.

And yeah, cost of vinyl isn't even an issue. Vinyl just isn't working anymore. The situation has basically flipped in recent years. In the 90s %90 of vinyl was club music, hiphop, etc, and you couldn't even buy stuff like...Aerosmith, for example, in LP. Now you can buy all sorts of "listening" music on vinyl but 12" singles are...just not the f0rmat for DJs anymore. Even if you use them, you clearly can't use them exclusively anymore.

Also, I should say, I'm starting to really see the advantages of a thud/rumble-less scratch. There is so much more audio clarity at low speeds when using DVS that you can actually do things that would just be muffled mud on real vinyl. Also, it sucks buying new breaks records just because "Ahh Fresh" sounds like its being said underwater because its been back cued 2000 times. The DMC scene and the touring pro DJs are going to be blowing our fucking minds in the coming years with the stuff these systems can do. Its taking some time (Vajra's wining DMC set with DVS was, IMO, less impressive that his all analog 3rd place effort in 2003) but it will be awesome.

(SignOfZeta)

(16:35:03 01/22/12 EST)

DJing is an expensive hobby. I expect this. I guess when I talk about the price of vinyl I'm not so much bitching about the actual cost of a 12 inch single with a B-side but I'm now comparing it to the cost of legal MP3 downloads. It's hard to go back to vinyl singles when I can hand pick every track, eliminate filler I don't want, and get three times as much music for the same price.

And yeah, you are absolutely right. I can get any band's album on 12" now. That's what a large chunk of my music money goes to these days. It's ridiculous what's been put out, even. That Onion article you linked made me aware that someone felt the need to re-issue fucking Pocket Full of Kryptonite and I absolutely guarantee that there are 180 gram copies of that nonsense floating around yet if I wanted to get Marco Bailey's Oriental Concept EP off of Bedrock Records in physical f0rm I'm shit out of luck. The only scene that has been really resistant to the digital revolution or whatever you want to call it is the happy hardcore scene. That scene as a whole is realllllllly slow to change. This is what I both love and hate about it. Up until at least a year ago and still possibly even today much of the output is VINYL ONLY (caps necessary) with digital versions being bootleg rips thrown on soulseek and bittorrent. Some artists are starting to give finally but it's been a years long struggle. Lots of old house and trance and dnb tunes are being professionally re-released in digital f0rm but 75% of my hardcore crate will stay on wax forever. This is really why I want Torq (or Scratch)... So I can mix the newest digital release hardcore track from Gammer into my white label hardcore re-edit of N-Trance's Set You Free, seamlessly on two turntables.

(twelvest)

(18:18:59 01/22/12 EST)

This was supposed to be a reply to you, Zeta.

(twelvest)

(18:22:07 01/22/12 EST)

So which one of us is going to buy Torq first, and therefore earn the right to bitch about how much it sucks? Honestly, it looks pretty fucking great. I used some digital DJ controllers that came out 6 or 7 years ago and frankly, even then the stuff was good. The interface, latency, and ability to integrate collections and f0rmats are where the improvements have really been made (Torq just plays right out of the iTunes library) so everything should be pretty great now.

(SignOfZeta)

(04:20:37 01/23/12 EST)

Some quick price checks have shown me that Torq has gone down about $150 since I last looked. I should be getting my tax return back on Friday which, unfortunately, is going mostly to grown up shit but at a $300 price point I might be able to swing it anyways.

(twelvest)

(15:29:49 01/23/12 EST)

I see there is a version of Traktor now that is as cheap as Torq. Its quite crippled though, only allowing for two sources so...fuck that. I'm %90 sure I'm getting Torq now that I've looked at some videos and stuff. It really seems nice and would shave about a year off the time it takes to put together an Avalanches style mix, which is what I want to get into.

(SignOfZeta)

(04:37:49 01/27/12 EST)

And I think most importantly is the software for a fraction of the cost that does this stuff. Still, well designed hardware will always have a market. I hope.

(twelvest)

(02:40:40 01/22/12 EST)

my friend tanguy has one. he says it's pretty limited in certain ways, but he seems to like it a fair amount? if you click his username you can see more tracks he did.

(exodus)

(04:07:23 01/22/12 EST)

this is the video that made me a) want one and b) realize I could never play it as well as this dude, so I should just give up and not get one.

(exodus)

(04:13:24 01/22/12 EST)

C) Douchey accent also not included

(substance J)

(04:55:01 01/22/12 EST)

I'm not sure he chose to have that accent, but one never does know.

(exodus)

(05:11:09 01/22/12 EST)

I don't think that with a keyboard like that they ever expected a lot of live action. Its mostly for programming the sequencer.

(SignOfZeta)

(05:06:21 01/22/12 EST)

very nice

(Zero)

(11:09:30 01/22/12 EST)

Castlevania!

(Jason)

(14:17:23 01/22/12 EST)

My friend Raigan has one and he looooves it. He puts up tracks on Soundcloud, but they always annoy me because they're jams that he can't be bothered to edit into actual tracks, because the OP-1 runs out of space at 6 minutes. He could even just do a fade-out...

(aerisdead)

(13:23:09 01/22/12 EST)

Brave Seattlites Re-Take City as 4" Snow Begins to Receed. (n/t) (PopaSmear) (13:23:03 01/20/12 EST)

Is it just me or is Lulu starting to make meaningful replies more often?

(Maniac)

(13:51:39 01/20/12 EST)

In theory they may be slightly more related to the topic as time goes on; her vocabulary banks have almost filled back up since the last wipe.

(Paleface)

(03:43:30 01/21/12 EST)

It will take years for the city to return to normal...if it ever can. :(

(SignOfZeta)

(15:13:39 01/20/12 EST)

I was on the phone with a dude from CardHaus about two days ago and man, he made it seem like you guys were up there fighting for your lives! In my head I was picturing a rapid accumulation of feet, not inches. I think I talked to you about this when I visited last year, though... Didn't you say that heavy snow fall isn't super common in Seattle and that sometimes you can go whole winters without any at all? If so then it sounds like San Diego rain syndrome where a simple rainstorm causes people to drive like it's armageddon and think Noah's Ark is going to float by at any minute as they drain the nearest supermarket of milk, eggs, and bread.

(twelvest)

(15:39:52 01/20/12 EST)

We're in a state of emergency per our governor. This morning there were about 300k people without power. Oh, and inside is an article explaining just how hard it is to be in Seattle during this kind of weather. It's great for people like Chad who seem to be glib about all of this.

(NeoGutsman)

(17:54:52 01/20/12 EST)

Oh geez, I wasn't trying to be glib. I don't know how to analyze the situation. I figured Popa Ian's post was sarcastic like when I give San Diegans shit for flipping out about a rainstorm. I do realize that there is a big difference between a place like Buffalo getting 3 feet of snow in a day where they are used to it and a place like, well, Seattle where 6 inches is shit tons and the city isn't equipped to handle its removal. I remember my uncle once telling me a city he lived in somewhere in Virginia got anch or so of snow and everything shut down. Perhaps I wrongly assumed mountains were being made out of molehills?

(twelvest)

(18:04:41 01/20/12 EST)

*an inch

(twelvest)

(18:05:38 01/20/12 EST)

I think the biggest problem would be the fact that nobody there would have the proper snow tires. The snow packs and creates an incredibly slick surface around intersections and when people don't know how to drive accordingly it's a recipe for disaster. Even only a couple inches can create black ice around intersections in a matter of hours. There are probably a shitload of drivers who have terrible tires because traction isn't a huge issue most of the time and they can get away with riding them long after they are due for change. I'll always help people who are stuck in snow around here, but if they have bald summer tires then I refuse to help them because it is their fault for not being prepared, not to mention they are putting every other driver in danger because of their unsafe tires.

(a-star)

(18:54:33 01/20/12 EST)

I didn't say you were being glib; I thought Chad was.

(NeoGutsman)

(22:23:41 01/20/12 EST)

Gah, my post above was poorly worded, so sorry if there was any offense, mate. Seriously, my bad.

(NeoGutsman)

(22:26:50 01/20/12 EST)

Haha, it's cool. Certainly no offense. I was being a bit jokey as well so I felt bad suddenly in case there were things I wasn't taking into consideration about the situation, is all.

(twelvest)

(22:44:02 01/20/12 EST)

Like I said, I've never been there, but I'm not buying this stuff. The city isn't prepared? Well, how many times do you have to have this happens before you *get* prepared? How long will you let a random minor weather event suck $50 million out of the economy?

Also, the idea of Seattle having snow that is physically unique to the area is scientifically dubious, to say the least. The bit about thaw/freeze cycles not being as common in the Midwest is nuts too. It happened today, yesterday, and the day before. Also, I live in Ann Arbor. We have hella trees. And don't think I'm claiming to be tough. People where A Star lives litterally leave their engines run 24/7 during cold snaps because the car won't start if they don't. They dont salt the roads because it doesn't even work when it's -15F ambient. What I'm getting at is that this isn't Katrina. If it means staying home from school, fine, but don't make it out like its Chernobyl or something and nobody is safe from the carnage.

Put plows on the garbage trucks, tax breaks for private plow truck owners, learn to drive. Adapt. Progress is possible. There was a cholera epidemic in Chicago, they built real sewers and stopped dumping raw shit into the lake, no more cholera.

(SignOfZeta)

(19:13:15 01/20/12 EST)

Btw, when I say "you" in this post I'm really not specifically aiming it at you, NeoGutsman, but rather (mostly) the dude who wrote this article. The dude that says he knows it's tough to drive in Seattle snow because he's been in weather related accidents all over the country. Maybe he just can't fucking drive, maybe?

Btw, I got to work at 2:30 today and it's already snowed an inch. At this rate I'll probably never see my little cats and dogs again...:(

(SignOfZeta)

(19:38:47 01/20/12 EST)

Some oilfield goons leave their trucks running all winter. And these aren't F150s, these are 6.5 liter diesel engines on high idle. It was -40F on tuesday with the wind chill so I stayed home. There is no reason to battle extreme weather. Just stay home, make pancakes and fuck! Everybody wins!

(a-star)

(19:46:40 01/20/12 EST)

I like this post.

(SignOfZeta)

(21:53:39 01/20/12 EST)

I agree that this overall defense is horseshit (people need to learn how to drive and better yet--as a-star said--how to not drive), but actually the idea that the quality of the snow in Seattle is different from the East coast or the Midwest is the only part that I might buy. Depending on what the humidity or dewpoint is during a storm and how temperature and humidity change through the lower atmosphere, snow does have very different properties as you have probably noticed. The Pacific Ocean combined with mountains right onshore affects atmospheric temperature gradients and the humidity a lot and makes the whole West coast pretty unique in terms of weather. Combine that with the latitude of Washington and I can definitely believe that the snow their is pretty different from what people in Michigan or Alberta are used to. Not enough to make 4" a natural disaster, though.

(and Opa Opa)

(20:45:17 01/23/12 EST)

Certainly there are different kinds of snow, but in the end it's all just ice crystals. It all behaves almost exactly the same under your tires.

(SignOfZeta)

(06:05:37 01/24/12 EST)

I was even brave enough to take photos! (Last night, before it unfroze and started raining.)
That's my car on the right! -->

v This is just around the corner and I thought it looked neat. I haven't been liking the new bright white econo street bulbs they put in south of my place but they do look good on snow.

(Paleface)

(03:49:24 01/21/12 EST)

My street looks pretty much like that right now. It there aren't any lights so pictures don't turn out. I wish I could take a picture because it's really cool. It's also much hillier, ironically.

(SignOfZeta)

(04:02:46 01/21/12 EST)

Yeah I'm not on a hill, just a sorta gentle grade going down to a canal. Tonight I went to visit a friend who lives on the hill you can see in the far far distance (across the canal!), and I could almost make it up to his obscure back street after winding around to some of the clearer ones--still had to stop about a block short, lots of slippery slush around now.

(Paleface)

(04:35:26 01/21/12 EST)

looks pretty neat! I've still never been in snow.

(exodus)

(15:47:17 01/21/12 EST)

The last time I was in snow was in Edmonton Alberta in February and I've since sworn off the stuff forever

(Esco)

(17:48:31 01/21/12 EST)

I miss it. Probably because I grew up with it. I don't need five heavy months of it like in Buffalo but I do enjoy a chill in the air, sledding with a Thermos of spiked hot chocolate, throwing snowballs at unsuspecting friends, and the absolutely amazing feeling of walking into a really warm house after outdoor winter nonsense.

(twelvest)

(18:19:34 01/21/12 EST)

You were in Edmonton? Why?

(a-star)

(18:37:01 01/21/12 EST)

This was several years ago but it was the cheapest time to go visit a good friend of mine (who has since relocated to Vancouver). I was not ready for minus 32! I was not ready for my mouth to go numb mid-sentence! But at least I can say -32F and 118F are the temperature peaks of my lifetime thus far. Living in SoCal I tend to bitch when it drops below 60F but I think about Edmonton and promptly shut my face.

(Esco)

(20:47:27 01/21/12 EST)

Man! There are good points and bad points. I certainly don't seek it out like my crazy neighbor and brother who rush out at the crack of dawn every winter weekend to go find it up in the mountains.

(Paleface)

(23:11:38 01/21/12 EST)

This is pretty hard for me to imagine. I guess you do all that world traveling during the summers?

(SignOfZeta)

(01:54:35 01/22/12 EST)

well, even when I travel in winter it's usually to more tropical climates. but I went to holland and france in the winter once, and there was no snow whatsoever. amusingly, when I went to Finland I was there the one week there was no snow, in the whole month. just lucky, I guess!

(exodus)

(15:20:54 01/22/12 EST)

Obviously you are a sun god.

(SignOfZeta)

(15:46:05 01/22/12 EST)

theres a fuckton of sarcasm going on, and its not motivating me to check the american newschannels. as a result i havent the slightest clue what is happening. my best guess is that this whole thread is one of those "my dick is bigger than yours' things. if thats true, isnt that pretty pathetic? boohoo i have to deal with SNOW more often than you! salt this, inch that. blabla. if people are seriously without power and supplies, that sucks. why all the hate?

(mental)

(19:10:21 01/21/12 EST)

This is part of American culture. There is a strong from of regional classism in our country. This is often expressed in terms of weather since that's one of the obvious things that varies from region to region. It's really got nothing to do with the weather though. Like all f0rms of classism, it's about defining ingroups and outgroups for our own psychological security.

(and Opa Opa)

(20:51:01 01/23/12 EST)

Shut the fuck up man. I'm hard. HARD!!!

(SignOfZeta)

(21:30:20 01/23/12 EST)

thanks for the explanation! any word yet on which state is truly hardest to live in?

(mental)

(08:01:31 01/24/12 EST)

IMO it would be Arizona/Nevada. That shit can outright kill you just for being arrogant enough to step outside for an hour, no car needed.

(SignOfZeta)

(13:34:52 01/24/12 EST)

Hey guys!
"One of world's largest file-sharing sites, Megaupload.com, shut down; company workers indicted"

full article inside (Zero) (11:09:32 01/20/12 EST)

Yeah, people are flipping out about this, but I am sure there is some kind of legal loophole they'll be able to use to justify it if they ever have to. Megaupload was so incredibly blatant about being designed for piracy, and was an American company so it really isn't remotely surprising that they'd be the first such site to go down.

(Maniac)

(13:53:47 01/20/12 EST)

The only surprise is how long it lasted. "BitTorrent for for people too stupid to use BitTorrent". I'll have to download all my Lil Wayne tracks and Star Wars prequels somewhere else now, I guess.

(SignOfZeta)

(15:18:10 01/20/12 EST)

I don't think it is an American company. The company is based in Hong Kong, and the executives are Dutch, German, New Zealander, Slovakian, Estonia, and Hong Konger (which is actually the term according to Wikipedia :o). Although the site itself "was hosted on leased servers in Virginia" (haha I had copied and pasted that from a Mashable article that typoed it "Virgina"), which in retrospect seems like a bit of an oversight. Although I guess that was probably cheaper/faster than alternatives.

(Paleface)

(03:42:12 01/21/12 EST)

Swizz Beats is the CEO

(Zero)

(14:06:19 01/21/12 EST)

I don't know anything about him or Megaupload really, but according to Wikipedia that's looking like it was just a rumor / smokescreen; according to the Department of Justice's indictment, he doesn't have a stake in the company--which I guess would be highly unusual for a CEO or something?

(Paleface)

(23:39:08 01/23/12 EST)

Next up on the hobby-go round: guitar. I caught the guitar bug again around Christmas time, when a combination of my wife getting me Rocksmith and my gout finally getting under control inspired me to start playing again. I have drastically changed my pedalboard, taking advantage of some pretty nice trades. I picked up a Boss PS-5 Super Shifter for $70 at Best Buy this afternoon and got a TC Electronics Stereo Chorus in a trade. Anyone else playing these days? (n/t) (supergiantninja) (17:26:57 01/19/12 EST)

I never quite understood what gout was, even after reading about it.

(Jeurja)

(21:51:22 01/19/12 EST)

Basically, everyone has uric acid in their blood stream. A normal person's kidneys process it and you piss it out, the the 'uri' in 'urine'. Gout sufferers build up excess uric acid for a variety of reasons. Quick weight gain or loss, a diet rich in high uric acid content foods, or simple bad genetics can play a roll. I have bad kidneys, as it is, and I picked up some bad eating habits. Soda, processed meats, and spinach, all things I love, made my uric acid levels rise. The primary symptom of gout is joint pain, usually small joints. My gout is in my hands, particularly the first knuckle on my ring and middle fingers. Some people get it in their big toe. I am on a regulated diet and two medications to control my uric acid levels. Super fun! Anyway, I had symptoms for years, but figured it was simple wear and tear due to motorcycling, video gaming, guitar playing, and card dealing. Nope, it was a disease old Jewish people get.

(supergiantninja)

(23:00:10 01/19/12 EST)

Spinach?! Aaaah! Sucky!

(Jeurja)

(23:27:52 01/19/12 EST)

See, mom? Seeeeeee?!

Actually I like spinach as long as it's the shredded frozen kind that is like super salty and probably not much good for you.

(Paleface)

(02:44:04 01/20/12 EST)

For the longest time, I had a fresh spinach salad with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and Balsamic vinegar for lunch. I loved it. Sadly, spinach is almost as bad as organ meats on the gout flareup chart. Sadface.

(supergiantninja)

(12:16:38 01/20/12 EST)

For me it's orange juice. If I drink too much of it over a period of time the sugars wreck me and I get an attack the likes of which are legendary. I don't eat organ meats, and I avoid asparagus and sugared drinks. I didn't worry so much on it when I was finally on medication, but I'm currently not on them so I'm extra careful.

(NeoGutsman)

(17:58:49 01/20/12 EST)

I hope I never have to go off meds again. It was intolerable last time.

(supergiantninja)

(18:56:28 01/20/12 EST)

My doctor is an idiot because for years she kept saying I had "fallen arches". WTF. I had even shown her my foot many times, too. It wasn't until I pressed her that she realized that it was indeed gout. Come to think of it, I think it was a nurse friend who mentioned it to me when I talked about my symptoms. I then told my doctor (who I'm not seeing anymore) about it and she agreed :P

(NeoGutsman)

(22:26:12 01/20/12 EST)

I had to look twice because I thought maybe I had written that. Two doctors and a podiatrist told me the pain and swelling in my feet was caused by some nebulous foot disorder. They gave me naproxin to reduce the swelling. A year ago or so, I was on a business trip and had my hands stop working on me. I made an appointment with a different doctor when I got home and she instantly said gout. I was tested and it was, in fact, gout. It isn't perfect now, but I don't get the awful flairs any more.

(supergiantninja)

(08:09:34 01/21/12 EST)

I've been thinking a lot about playing bass lately. I was never any good, really, and the last time I picked one up I realized that it is not like riding a bike and all of the minimal skill I had gained in my teens was gone. When I moved to San Diego I gave my dad my Ibanez because he liked the sound as something different compared to the Rickenbacker he usually plays and the Fender he keeps on the side. I miss it but in all honesty my focus when it comes to creating music has mostly been electronic and inorganic since I was about 15. It would be fun to have around but there is no real desire to be a bassist in a traditional band any more, not even as a hobby. I'd like a bass just to mess with again, though, eventually.

(twelvest)

(22:19:54 01/19/12 EST)

Honestly, I only play for my own enjoyment. As my 30's go by, the thought of starting a band or something seems vaguely ridiculous. Instead, I am content to play Stones riffs or create My Bloody Valentine style walls of shimmering noise.

I have always kept my rig small so I wouldn't be tempted to get rid of it. Two guitars (a Gretsch BST-2000 my mom bought me at a garage sale and a Reverend Slingshot Jr. my wife bought me right before our wedding), a small Fender amp (I sold off my 60's Ampeg before we bought our house. I am considering getting a new tube combo.), and a box of pedals. Truth is, the Reverend gets over 90% of my playing time, but the Gretsch is worth more in sentimental value than any sane person would pay me for it. My pedal collection is quite nice and constantly growing.

(supergiantninja)

(23:05:04 01/19/12 EST)

I listened to Loveless for the first time in about a year last night because of this post. High Five.

(twelvest)

(15:09:12 01/20/12 EST)

At least some good will come of the abominations I create in my basement. My 1979 ProCo Rat into a PS-5 Super Shifter into a TC Electronics Stereo Chorus+Pitch Modulation+Flanger resulted in a sound that was at once beautiful and terrifying. It was like a death metal bagpipe.

(supergiantninja)

(15:40:40 01/20/12 EST)

Like.

(SignOfZeta)

(19:15:48 01/20/12 EST)

I want to sell my Eric Johnson Stratocaster. Maybe get around $1500 for it if I am lucky. It's about $1900 new here. I'm going to move onto keyboards.

(Comic-Kaze)

(21:30:05 01/26/12 EST)

BEAN: I totally forgot about the Detroit Grand Prix coming back to Belle Isle this year. Jun 1-3. Yeah, I know Indy sucks, but they are also running Grand Am and World Challenge that same weekend. The "super" tickets are only $155 which gets you pit access, grand stand, and all that jazz for three days. Half an hour from my house. Tickets are cheap here in the third world! INFO HERE (n/t) (SignOfZeta) (00:08:03 01/18/12 EST)

Are we talking about racing, Lulu?

(NeoGutsman)

(00:27:36 01/18/12 EST)

This looks promising. Summer is a good time for me to take vacation. I'll know in maybe a month once I do my taxes.

(Bean)

(00:28:43 01/20/12 EST)

Kick ass.

(SignOfZeta)

(03:50:10 01/20/12 EST)

This is basically for Darius but I have no other way of getting a hold of him. Quarriors related: (twelvest) (20:20:35 01/17/12 EST)

I don't usually play with any variants. The only thing one I've ever done was add an additional creature and spell into the wilds purely for symmetry.

(Darius)

(21:21:16 01/18/12 EST)

I'm glad to hear this! More inside.

(twelvest)

(22:35:57 01/18/12 EST)

Board game reviews I find are even more cynical than video game ones. Most of the reviews on BGG.com are from board game snobs and should only be taken with a grain of salt. They're really good for explaining how the game works though.

(Darius)

(18:33:58 01/19/12 EST)

FINALLY played this last night for the first time with the lady friend and it was a really good time! I like the dynamic of the game... the first few "hands" are largely army/spell/portal building and progress on the glory track moves slow. The last few roll are all out blitzes though and it gets really exciting. A few crushing rolls or an unexpected side up on a die can really change things. I like that the game plays out in about 20-30 minutes. Glad I took the recommendation, thanks! This is going to be great for a lot of situations.

(twelvest)

(15:31:28 01/20/12 EST)

Glad you like it. Be sure to let me know about any cool new games you discover. I collect my board games like I do my video games: on a shelf with more than half of them gathering dust. But that's cool since most of them are still in the shrink wrap. ;)

(Darius)

(20:30:10 01/23/12 EST)

I came across this blog yesterday. It's pretty freakin' funny. (a-star) (13:42:38 01/13/12 EST)

Hahaha! I saw some of the earlier texts on another site last month. I couldn't stop laughing.

(NeoGutsman)

(14:12:11 01/13/12 EST)

The guy who does that blog, Mac Lethal, is kind of a local celebrity in Kansas City. He has a record label, Black Clover, and a radio show that plays alterna-rap. I met him a few times when I worked at the casino. Cool dude, funny as hell. People question the existence of Bennett, but I have lived here long enough to know he is real.

(supergiantninja)

(15:15:44 01/13/12 EST)

I was kinda on the fence about the validity of the posts, mostly due to the inconsitancy of the poor grammer (sic, really!). With this info though, it is a lot easier to believe in Bennett because it does seem like he's trying to impress his cousin in a lot of the posts.

BTW what do you think of the new PWEI stuff? You are a fan IIRC. I'm not crazy about it but the chaos & mayhem single is rad. Also the new axe of men is pretty nice. The stuff with Mansell is the best, too bad they all weren't collaborating.

(a-star)

(17:47:54 01/13/12 EST)

Yeah, I'm a huge fan of the Poppies. I am on the fence about the new stuff. If it was released under a different name, I think I would like it more. To me, PWEI means a group with Clint Mansell, so it is hard for me to embrace this incarnation. I will have to give it another chance some time.

(supergiantninja)

(21:22:56 01/13/12 EST)

the new album should have been Vile Evils. Their favorite stuff of mine is the sample heavy rainbow colored stuff. This is the Hour, Cure for Sanity and Looks or the Lifestyle. The lack of sampling on the new album is a big bummer for me, but it's entirely understandable considering the litigative tendencies of the modern music industry.

(a-star doesn't think litigative is a real word)

(21:30:24 01/14/12 EST)

Yeah, using the Vile Evils name would have been a good idea. I love almost all of their discography, so I am fine with a shifting style. It just doesn't feel right. I love the obvious samples of This is the Day, This is the Hour, This is This, but I also love the sly samples of Ich Bin Ein Auslander.

(supergiantninja)

(17:23:54 01/15/12 EST)

do you have the two Dos Dedos Mis Amigos remix albums?

(a-star)

(15:56:40 01/16/12 EST)

I have Two Fingers My Friends. Is there another one?

(supergiantninja)

(08:57:48 01/17/12 EST)

There is another TFMF with a black cover that has a bunch of great stuff on it. I will upload it, however I am a little hazy on the details.

(a-star)

(17:43:54 01/17/12 EST)

Sounds about right.

(supergiantninja)

(20:43:17 01/19/12 EST)

I can't connect.

(a-star)

(11:07:43 01/20/12 EST)

Did you check out the 3DS Friend Code thread on the main forum? Make sure to add ours to your list :D Also, nice to know about Mac and the validity of all this. It's the funniest stuff I've read in ages.

(NeoGutsman)

(19:30:56 01/13/12 EST)

I sadly do not own a 3DS. Hell, I don't even have a handheld newer than my GameBoy SP at the moment. I am currently saving for a new guitar amp, so no 3DS for a while.

(supergiantninja)

(21:18:09 01/13/12 EST)

D'oh, somehow I confused you with WebOfHair. Nevermind :)

(NeoGutsman)

(00:56:10 01/14/12 EST)

I think it's fake.

(Jeurja)

(01:22:10 01/14/12 EST)

hella fake. but I guess people think it's funny, so hooray for twitter or whatever.

(exodus)

(05:07:50 01/14/12 EST)

Yeah, you're probably right. I really can't see Bennett being unaware of his texts being posted on the Internet for more than a month or so, especially in fame crazy America. Your post fucking sucks though. Bitch.

(a-star frolickz wid da poniez in da medows)

(06:00:54 01/14/12 EST)

Maybe he likes all da luv.

(Zero)

(13:19:30 01/14/12 EST)

also, it's too cleverly stupid. nobody speaks that way about such a wide variety of topics.

(exodus)

(15:16:48 01/14/12 EST)

I do!

(Zero)

(16:04:56 01/14/12 EST)

I thought the weakest part was the straight man replies--they're just way too obviously neutral and leading.

(Paleface)

(23:49:45 01/14/12 EST)

That's what made me think it was fake, too. He's doing too much of an obvious Straight Man routine. I mean, MAAAAAYYYBBEEEE he's baiting him, but... fake.

(Jeurja)

(17:06:41 01/15/12 EST)

I just don't think it's that funny.

(SignOfZeta)

(06:18:55 01/15/12 EST)

no fun!

(a-star)

(13:39:56 01/15/12 EST)

Sorry.

(SignOfZeta)

(22:40:05 01/15/12 EST)

I'm inclined to agree.

(exodus)

(14:37:06 01/16/12 EST)

Hey Esco. Did you have a short scene in an episode of New Girl where you walked onto an elevator in a suit? (n/t) (Jeurja) (17:40:17 01/12/12 EST)

Damn, I still have to watch that show. I like her and her albums. Cute stuff.

(NeoGutsman)

(23:23:09 01/12/12 EST)

Agreed except the Christmas album has waaaaaaay too much reverb. Sounds like it was recorded in a disused airplane hangar.

(PopaSmear)

(12:55:05 01/15/12 EST)

Two, actually. But it seems that nobody noticed me the second episode I appeared in so maybe they just didn't use it. Anyway the one that everyone has been seeing me in was the second episode. Would you believe it took two days to shoot that scene, me included? Horrible, horrible director.

(Esco)

(00:39:49 01/13/12 EST)

I just happened to be watching it with my wife today and was like "HEY, THAT'S ESCO!" So, word, I'm glad I recognized you. It was kind of weird because I thought something more was going to happen with you, but you just got on the elevator then got off. Nice suit! Are you a "recurring" character? I don't think I saw the second episode. What did you do in that one?

(Jeurja)

(00:56:11 01/13/12 EST)

The other ep I worked on was episode 7 or 8. I forget. Justin Long and Zooey are making out in the elevator and I walk in on them. The appearance is only as long as what you saw. Although I'm sure the episode aired by now and nobody told me about it so maybe I was cut out. I don't bother to watch for myself on TV shows because I work so many doing background. On that particular show they shoot a million takes of the same joke repeatedly and don't even change it up that much. Drove me bananas. That's why it took two days and I don't even think they used the shot of me coming out into the lobby.

(Esco)

(01:07:06 01/13/12 EST)

I'm not counting on being back again. It was a pretty lucky chance I was thrown in the second time. I haven't been back since they did a short mid-season break to do a bunch of rewrites or something. I think when the ratings were already starting to dip. Zooey's very friendly and as cute in person as she is on TV but it's hard to see her shtick holding up beyond one season. Then again there are far worse shows I worked repeatedly that have been on too long (Chuck, Bones, 90210)

(Esco)

(01:13:59 01/13/12 EST)

HOW MANY SHOWS HAVE YOU BEEN IN AND WHERE IS YOUR HIGHLIGHT REEL?

(Paleface)

(06:13:21 01/13/12 EST)

It's just background, I'm not trying to be an actor. BG is a very tedious but extremely easy job if you know what to expect and pays quite well since I belong to both unions. Actually I should make a list of the shows I've worked on since I started, haven't done that in a while.

(Esco)

(11:36:22 01/13/12 EST)

=o Man that's quite a resume!

(Paleface)

(18:40:25 01/13/12 EST)

That would be amazing if you were a character who always happened to enter the elevator. I wonder how long until someone noticed "That guy always seems to walk onto the elevator when something this happening between Jess and another character." Anyway, hey! Kind of cool I recognized you! :-)

(Jeurja)

(09:49:14 01/13/12 EST)

Also, out of curiosity, how does one get a gig doing background characters in various shows?

(Jeurja)

(09:50:37 01/13/12 EST)

It's pretty simple. You sign up with a casting agency (i.e. Central Casting) and then call their work line (or check casting notices on their website like LA Casting or Actors Access) regularly to submit yourself for work. I have a call-in service that basically does that for me which saves a lot of time. Non-union people tend to work more often than union, but non-union only makes minimum wage. After you've done this job long enough and do it well, casting directors tend to recognize you and book you for things regularly. I was all over the place in terms of category for the first year until somebody put me in a cop unif0rm and suddenly I was playing cops and FBI and forensic techs all the time. Like I'd say 2009-10 was mostly police work, 2011 was mostly in a lab coat.

(Esco)

(11:42:44 01/13/12 EST)

This is all very fascinating for me. A college friend of mine left Seattle for LA in the 90's and he's carved out a nice living acting and perf0rming over the years. I wouldn't have the stamina for all of that rejection, so kudos to you :D

(NeoGutsman)

(19:33:13 01/13/12 EST)

looking at that list, i cant come up with a single show that mustve rejected him. wait, i do! you werent on spongebob! whats up with that?

(mental)

(05:43:54 01/14/12 EST)

also, i think its pretty obvious why youre casted for cop shows regularly, with your physique and all. you and Joel should make a new demolition man. Joel would be Simon, obviously.

(mental)

(05:45:36 01/14/12 EST)

Huh. So do you make enough to live off of doing this? Pretty amazing you've been in so many shows! And you had an actual role in one of the Pirates movies! Nifty.

(Jeurja)

(19:17:53 01/15/12 EST)

I do indeed. This only works for me because I'm making union wage and got my 'look' established in the casting circles pretty quickly (no shortage on cop/forensics shows). Although it is fairly tough to get work five days a week, the amount of overtime (12-14 hour days sometimes) helps make up for it. Also work is basically great for six months (August-January) and then slows down to 20% during Spring hiatus (February-July) but I've learned to prepare for that. The best part of the job though is basically being able to take days off whenever I want without fear of getting fired since I schedule myself from day to day. This kind of work really ruins you on a 9-to-5/five days a week/two 15 minute breaks kind of job. The freedom I have makes for a much more stress-free life compared to working a conventional schedule. Regardless, I recently decided to start studying for my personal trainer certification since that's the direction in which I'm headed. Always having background work open to me is a great option. I have a lot of friends who just do background on their days off from their other jobs.

(Esco)

(02:54:25 01/16/12 EST)

What's the best currently available fighting game joystick for the Xbox 360? (n/t) (NeoGutsman) (02:42:34 01/12/12 EST)

best that you don't have to modify is still the madcatz series. it's very good out of the box, but costs $150. if you want cheap, some people don't hate the hori ex2, but it's too light for my taste.

(exodus)

(02:49:17 01/12/12 EST)

Thanks! Looks like the Hori EX2's are no longer available. Do you know if the VX series is any good?

(NeoGutsman)

(02:55:49 01/12/12 EST)

The ex2 is fine if you can find it for like $40 second hand or something. it's what I've got. It's basically impossible to mod/replace the parts on, so having said that if the buttons are battered to fuck it's not a good purchase. I generally like Hori stuff for some reason though... I have an attachment to the brand.

(aerisdead)

(11:47:11 01/12/12 EST)

I never play my N64 anymore but DAYUM, I have always, ALWAYS wanted one of these SICK Hori N64 controllers.

(NeoGutsman)

(23:29:54 01/12/12 EST)

Huh it's a GameCube controller. =o

(Paleface)

(23:40:06 01/12/12 EST)

Um...no?

(SignOfZeta)

(01:21:14 01/13/12 EST)

Oh come on, the resemblance is strong!

(Paleface)

(06:14:12 01/13/12 EST)

Not really. The most distintave feature on the GC pad is the Win Button (A), which this lacks. It has a center mounted d-pad (WTF?) and only one analog stick. For someone who has no interest in Nintendo I can see how you'd blur it all together, kind of like how I think all pick-up trucks look the same, but really it isn't very similar.

(SignOfZeta)

(18:03:41 01/15/12 EST)

Well the stupid little analog nub is pretty much exactly the same, and the overall shape, with the two long handles coming straight down, is pretty much the same, except the Wavebird is fatter in the middle. And the start button is in the same spot, the dinky d-pad is the same molding and in the same position relative to the analog stick, and the c buttons are the same color and in nearly the same position as the Wavebird's C-stick thing. So pretty similar! Don't make me dig up a good Wavebird picture to set side by side with it, that's too much work.

(Paleface)

(19:17:08 01/15/12 EST)

Do it.

(SignOfZeta)

(22:41:41 01/15/12 EST)

HRAP VX SA and Madcatz Pro. I prefer the HRAP, but my God they are both awesome.

(SignOfZeta)

(03:26:18 01/12/12 EST)

Thanks! I can't seem to find a "Madcatz Pro" anywhere online, though. Is there another name? Also, what are your guys' thoughts on this sub-$70 Xbox 360 Fighting Stick VX (link inside)?

(NeoGutsman)

(03:40:34 01/12/12 EST)

I'm afraid I don't know anything about it... re: madcatz pro, he just means these guys:

(exodus)

(04:09:33 01/12/12 EST)

Yeah, that one. I meant "Tournament", not "Pro".

(SignOfZeta)

(05:10:18 01/12/12 EST)

That looks like a basic Hori, possibly the same as the Dead or Alive one. So, it should be good, just minus the weight and with slightly inferior parts. I like the fact that it only has six buttons. This would save a neurotic like me the effort of removing two and installing plugs.

(SignOfZeta)

(05:12:35 01/12/12 EST)

the VX SA looks so good. It has all the same parts as a SE EX (which I have) and from what I've heard people say, the SE EX is better for Shmups and the Madcatz is better for fighters. All I know is I almost never use my stick since it never feels stable enough and never feels the way I like it in the arcade. I just stick to the EX Pad 2.

(Zero)

(11:30:31 01/12/12 EST)

A lot of people I know carry a folding table with them everywhere they take their stick.

(SignOfZeta)

(12:52:32 01/12/12 EST)

Thanks for the recommendations, guys. This is actually a question from my friend who is in the market for one. He wanted a sturdy one which he wants to place on a bar/table in front of his TV. Sounds like the HRAP VX SA and the MadCatz Tourney are the ones to get in this case, right?

(NeoGutsman)

(12:32:08 01/12/12 EST)

Any HRAP, but the VX SA is (I think?) the ultimate evolution. Its quite sturdy and heavy.

(SignOfZeta)

(12:51:05 01/12/12 EST)

Cool, thanks, man. My friend is a good bloke and I didn't want to steer him wrong.

(NeoGutsman)

(12:52:10 01/12/12 EST)

yeah. and the madcatz ones are real sturdy. very heavy and solid-feeling.

(exodus)

(15:44:31 01/12/12 EST)

kind of sad I didn't see this was for sale:

(exodus)

(15:45:43 01/12/12 EST)

Nick Rox made a stick that used some Sanwa and some Seimitsu parts and he made this crazy-ass "versus" graphic for it. It's so cool. I'm sure you can find pictures of it.

(SignOfZeta)

(16:52:26 01/12/12 EST)

Yeah, I saw that online, too. If I were more into fighting games again I'd definitely buy that one in a heartbeat. I like those character designs (their layout is beh but oh well) and damn, I love the shape of the stick and that awesome lavender/pink color. Seriously, that color screams at me to buy it.

(NeoGutsman)

(23:22:16 01/12/12 EST)

yeahhhhh the colors!!!

(exodus)

(23:28:34 01/12/12 EST)

Since these sticks use arcade parts you can just get some different ball top and button colors and swap 'em in.

(Paleface)

(23:42:33 01/12/12 EST)

Sanwa parts, right? Man, I almost want to get one of these right now. Well, when I actually get a new job I probably will. The Xbox 360 sticks work with PCs so booyah! Jamestown would be rad with a stick.

(NeoGutsman)

(00:37:30 01/13/12 EST)

Well the Real Arcade Pro 3 I have can take Sanwa or Seimitsu buttons, supposedly--I've only used Sanwas. And the stick is a Sanwa. I'm not sure about other sticks specifically.

(Paleface)

(06:17:30 01/13/12 EST)

Whatever. Half the fun about these sticks is customizing them to whatever style suits you. Get whichever version is cheapest/available then work from there.

(Darius)

(13:24:00 01/14/12 EST)

Yeah, I get that but why so dismissive?

(NeoGutsman)

(06:13:38 01/15/12 EST)

These LE versions usually cost more. Why wait for the LE version to go on sale when you could spend the same amount on a mechanically identical stick and make it look however you want? I guess my post did come off kind of harsh though. Forgiviness!?

(Darius)

(21:32:22 01/18/12 EST)

I would always buy the cheaper version, even if it had WWE vs. 3D Petz Horsiez Bakery on it. LE accessores don't appeal much to me in general, though I do like my gold Wii remote.

(NeoGutsman)

(19:12:34 01/19/12 EST)

I'm basically just mirroring the other opinions but I definitely love the Madcatz TE line. I have two Hori EX2's as well that I use on fighting game night to keep things even. They've taken a lot of abuse but still hold up extremely well. I agree with exodus, they are a bit too light but otherwise great for the price. I don't know anything about the new Hori sticks but I do feel comfortable enough with the brand to say that anything they sell is probably going to be a good purchase.

(twelvest)

(16:03:41 01/12/12 EST)

Thanks, twelvest! You guys always have good recommendations. I too love Hori stuff. The only Hori thing I bought that I actually hated was this PS1-era joypad that had a six-button layout for fighters and the worst, stiffest, flattest d-pad evarrzzz. I was actually and surprisingly a little mad after I first used it. It's still in my garage somewhere, a shadow of a far-off promise, and a spectre of a dream.

(NeoGutsman)

(23:20:29 01/12/12 EST)

I dig the MadCatz TE line since there are so many variants available some at great prices. They're a good combination of sturdy and weighty plus the customization options are great.

(Darius)

(13:28:47 01/14/12 EST)

My Swapnote friends got first notice, but yesterday I played in a relatively big Street Fighter IV AE tournament. It was held at a comic book/gaming shop in Carousel Mall here in Syracuse. They called it the "Dust Bowl II". (Bean) (09:38:53 01/08/12 EST)

Congrats! Man if a Blanka finished me with electricity after a match like that I would totally...I dunno like /ragequit or something. ;)

(Paleface)

(10:56:51 01/08/12 EST)

I love the idea of Swapnote buddy exclusive notifications first :D Anyway, awesome, awesome write-up, Bean. Very understandable and clear for non-SFIVAE players like me. In fact, I'd say the best part really is your climb from the loser's bracket to #2! So very cool.

(NeoGutsman)

(12:54:07 01/08/12 EST)

It seems to be SO common that people think there is no scene in their town when there actually is. Not just SF but all sorts of shit. I'm constantly talking to people who are convinced there is no indie video game store in town, there is no indie record store, etc. My town actually has THREE very good record stores, and a few (so-so) indie game shops. When Model Cave opened near me a few months ago the place was instantly crawling with model nerds and their display case is completely full. That stuff is everywhere, you just have to look for it. I'm glad you found SF in Syracuse.

(SignOfZeta)

(14:33:20 01/08/12 EST)

Oh, and great story, btw.

(SignOfZeta)

(14:33:40 01/08/12 EST)

BTW, btw, Bean, you should visit some day. We could hustle the local SF scene, do an autocross, and build a Master Grade Gundam from the local Gundam warehouse without painting it, like when we were children.

(SignOfZeta)

(14:41:37 01/08/12 EST)

I'm working hard to find a way to take some time off this summer for either a trip out there or a trip to Austin. I'm still very gun-shy about Austin. It sucks how close they cut the completion of these circuits to the actual race dates nowadays. Korea almost didn't happen, India almost didn't happen... I think if we do Austin, we should do it the 2nd year just to be safe.

(Bean)

(08:20:53 01/09/12 EST)

I already have the time off for Austin this year, so how about you visit here whenever and then we'll go to the New Jersey race in 2013?

(SignOfZeta)

(18:53:49 01/09/12 EST)

awesome!! reading about it was almost as exciting as watching it, but I do hope I can see it on youtube some day!

(exodus)

(14:46:14 01/08/12 EST)

Congrats! Awesome read over coffee.

(twelvest)

(15:44:00 01/08/12 EST)

Finally another Blanka player. Which of his ultras do you use, the ball? It sounds like the ball. I can never get that thing to connect cleanly. But it's okay because I won $600 surfing yesterday ^_^

(substance J)

(16:55:58 01/08/12 EST)

judging by his swapnote drawing, it was indeed the ball :)Congrats bean!

(mental)

(19:01:02 01/08/12 EST)

Yeah I use Ultra I. It's only effective on wakeup against noobs. otherwise, you've gotta find a way to either do it as the hop-into-ultra trick, or also, you can use it as an anti-cross-up defense! (video example inside). And at first I thought you were about to spam some web surfing pyramid scheme on us... but I'm gonna go ahead and assume you won money on a surf board instead?

(Bean)

(08:19:25 01/09/12 EST)

This is a really cool story. You should post again if you do find that footage, I'd like to see the match. Also, regarding this:

"I doubt I'll ever really have a chance to show my Street Fighter gaming powers at their full potential like that again... live, against incredible competetion."

Why not? There are big tournaments on the east coast all the time that get streamed live on the internet now. Sounds like you're good enough to compete in them.

(Maniac)

(10:31:38 01/09/12 EST)

Ah, to clarify...

(Bean)

(13:17:04 01/09/12 EST)

Yeah, I know what you mean about the 'scene.' It seems like some people are trying to give it a better image but they've got a long way to go. Anyway I get what you're saying completely.

(Maniac)

(10:23:43 01/11/12 EST)

I also enjoyed this story. Well done man.

(aerisdead)

(15:37:47 01/09/12 EST)

dick dale sure does put on a heck of a show. and his son's not a bad drummer. (n/t) (exodus) (04:58:30 01/08/12 EST)

Woah, I thought he was dead because I do absolutely no research about this kind of thing. Awesome! I'd love to watch him play one day. Or The Ventures.

(NeoGutsman)

(12:55:04 01/08/12 EST)

I'm pretty sure you just missed him in washington.

(exodus)

(14:40:46 01/08/12 EST)

@!#$

(NeoGutsman)

(12:20:11 01/09/12 EST)

Some time ago I mentioned Mazinkaiser SKL. I guess its out in the US now and HERE IS A PRETTY AWESOME REVIEW OF IT. (SignOfZeta) (01:34:05 01/08/12 EST)

I still need to watch this.

(substance J)

(03:34:20 01/08/12 EST)

It seems they also did a thing about Golion recently as well, covering much the same ground I had been hinting at. I like this website a lot right now.

GOLION THING

(SignOfZeta)

(18:52:43 01/08/12 EST)

Dudes: I've been getting into card games a lot recently. Magic being one of them, at a casual "I play this with a couple other people over beer" level, but I've been really getting into the so called Deck Building games which are self contained, non collectible games where players usually start with a small (10 or so) unif0rm deck of cards that are used to purchase more cards from a central pool. Once one's personal deck runs out out all purchased cards are shuffled in and the deck starts again. The basic 0bject is to stack your deck with combos and cards of value and a win is generally determined by points. These seem to be getting pretty popular; I've been playing a fun one called Ascension with Variant Ian via an iOS version. The other one I've been playing, and the real reason I'm bringing all of this up, is the Resident Evil Deck Building Game by Bandai. It's awesome and from what I can tell, out of print. If you have any interest in a fun video game meets card game where the licence is used reasonably well I'd suggest finding it before the price skyrockets. There are three expansions, all but one of which are technically playable stand-alone. The core idea is to generate hands with heavy firepower and then, if you feel comfortable, draw the top card on a Mansion Deck. If it's a monster and you beat it, you acquire points, if you lose, you lose health. Sometimes you can find a rocket launcher or an herb or other bonuses. Different character cards (you randomly draw one at the start) have different HP and give you different unique skills (discard your crap into another person's deck, knives +5, etc.). Just the base box alone gives you various "story" modes which are central pool set-ups that alter game difficulty and strategy and there is even a mercenaries mode with time bonus counters and shit that I haven't even messed with. It's fun, can be played with 1(!)-4 players and is currently about 25-35 bucks for the base set. Perhaps even more interesting to the sci-fi minded is that Bandai took these base rules and ideas, refined them, and turned them into a new Star Trek Deck Builder that, while I haven't played it, is supposedly the bee's goddamned knees. Anyone play some of the other deck builders out there? Dominion and Thunderstone are two popular ones I'm curious about even though Dominion seems divisive based on it's lack of any real player interaction. Tanto Cuore is an anime styled one based around maids, gardening, and housekeeping. The totally different setting makes it sound neat but the card art borders on cheesecake. (twelvest) (17:26:32 01/06/12 EST)

Sounds cool! I'd be more into card games but... well, I'll be honest and just say that I just don't want to play them with most people I know. Sounds antisocial and I suppose I am. If it were some of you lot I'd be happy to play though. This brings up the yearly reminder to me that I really should play CFC 2 again someday. I really wish there were an online 3DS version. DAMN. I would pay for that.

(NeoGutsman)

(00:28:48 01/07/12 EST)

I play Dominion frequently. There's much room for hilarity once you pick up on your opponents' strategy and then do what you can to fuck with them. My favorite method is in the f0rm of curses (if available). I've played with two different expansions mixed in, Alchemy and Prosperity, and just the sheer number of possibilities keeps the game fresh. My board game group usually mixes in a few rounds of Dominion with Forbidden Island, Pandemic, and Seven Wonders. Right now we're trying to figure out how to play Super Dungeon Explore which has the most confusing and unintuitive rulebook I have ever read

(Esco)

(04:46:00 01/07/12 EST)

Forbidden Island and Pandemic both are games I'm contemplating. As far as co-op games go, which do you like better? I've heard Forbidden Island is easier to teach and most of my friends are gamers only of the video variety. I'm trying to stick to builders (because we got learning the core mechanic out of the way with Resident Evil) or a fairly easy to teach co-op experience. One game I have to get even if it may take others a while to grasp is Small World: Underground. I always loved the look of the original and after PopaSmear alerted me to this version I fell even more in love with the new theme. Lastly, is Dominion fun without any expansions? I'm on a budget and I've heard the core game is a bit dry. If that's the case I'm gonna grab Tanto Cuore for the unique (among board games) theme or maybe Thunderstone.

(twelvest)

(20:36:25 01/07/12 EST)

Forbidden Island is the best kind of introduction to co-op board games. It's inexpensive, doesn't take long to teach and the game only lasts about 20-30 minutes. Pandemic is fun and very similar in gameplay but it's on a much larger scope and takes twice as long. The core game of Dominion is fun but it takes some patience to learn- when you're new the amount of fun you have can depend entirely on what cards are dealt. Some of the usual strategic elements are easier to get a hang of with particular cards in play. Like I went through about three games before I started to even remotely get a grip on what I was doing. I love it now though, expansions or not.

(Esco)

(21:44:21 01/07/12 EST)

I played Pandemic a bit. It was fun, but nothing real memorable.

Just before Christmas, I picked up "Space Hulk: Death Angel." If you're looking for a good co-op game, I'd recommend that. It's not so expensive, either.

(Flavor)

(11:28:56 01/10/12 EST)

I bought that and played a few games but ultimately gave it away. It was harder for people to get into so it almost never got used on game nights.

(Esco)

(18:43:13 01/10/12 EST)

Yes, that's definitely true. It's got a steep learning curve. I mean, it's not difficult to play at all (on almost every turn you have to choose between 2 things to do), but there is a lot to understand to play properly. I think it's one of those games that you have to play with others that already know what they're doing. The first game will be a lot to handle, because you just won't quite grasp the greater picture. After that, I think it will click. Out of the people that I have played with, most want to play it again right away once they get it. There have been 2 that seemed to be put off by the complexity (even though I'd say it's actually just perceived complexity).

(Flavor)

(21:27:33 01/10/12 EST)

It also doesn't help when the last Marine gets torn to pieces by nine Genestealers on the first game

(Esco)

(03:28:59 01/11/12 EST)

Well, that depends on the players. I would have thought that people I played with would be put off by the low win ratio, but that's what seemed to hook some of them. They wanted another shot.

(Flavor)

(09:31:25 01/11/12 EST)

I just looked up Super Dungeon Explore. It looks like a cutesy Hero Quest. I Really NEED to know what you think of this you and your group ever figure it out.

(twelvest)

(23:09:18 01/12/12 EST)

Two of my favorite 'building' games are Tanto Cuore and Quarriors. Both are essentially derivatives of Dominion but TC has an anime maid theme to it and Qs uses dice instead of cards.

(Darius)

(10:49:29 01/07/12 EST)

Thanks for the info. I've been lurking on BoardGameGeek for years dreaming of my ideal game closet but never buying a damn thing because my friends, as awesome as they are, have never really shown any interest in board/card games until recently. I'm trying to mix physical games in with my fighting game nights and while that's only been Resident Evil DB so far it's worked out well. We'll see where it goes from here. Quarriors looks really cool. I'll check that out down the line.

(twelvest)

(20:39:48 01/07/12 EST)

I'd go Dominion over TC. It's not that TC is bad, it's just that Dominion is amazing. Start with the base set, which doesn't have much interaction, and add Intrigue once you start wanting more. The variety of style and cards in the expansions is just insane. I can't imagine getting tired of the series.

(PopaSmear)

(12:48:58 01/09/12 EST)

Ah! I was so torn between TC and a preorder for the upcoming expansion or the Dominion Big Box (or whatever they call it) which had Prosperity and Alchemy thrown in. I ultimately went with TC for a couple of reasons... While I have no particular thing for maids I did find the anime theme to be a neat change of pace from the usual euro art style. Because of that I think it will be easier to get my rough start of a game group into it as we are all game clerks, comic clerks, anime clerks... basically six guys and girls who are more likely to approach the something the more game-y it looks. I think anime is game-y looking. Anyways, I hope I don't regret it. Reading up on it TC sounds fun and the deal maker was the garden party themed expansion. I'm wondering if Dominion and TC are different enough to warrant both? I do like builders. Ayways, I ordered from cardhaus. didn't break 150 but they seemed like a good site. Also ordered Forbidden Island. It looks great. I may call you and pick your brain on some other games in the very near future.

(twelvest)

(13:28:48 01/09/12 EST)

I've played Dominion a handful of times. I really liked the idea of the deck building concept, but I thought Dominion (no expansions) became too mundane. It seemed like it would pretty much boil down to who could implement the optimum strategy first where optimum was essentially a top-down list of "if you can afford ___ buy it, otherwise if you can afford ___ buy it, otherwise..."

I didn't know anything about other similar games, though. I like the idea, so maybe something else would be great. I need games that take no longer than an hour to play, though.

(Flavor)

(11:26:27 01/10/12 EST)

I mentioned a deck builder above somewhere called Ascension: Chronicle of the God Slayer. I've been playing it a lot and like it quite a bit. Best of all the games take no more than 15 minutes once everyone has the rules sorted but before recommending it I would point out a few things. It can feel overly luck reliant based on the random flop of 6 cards that make up the store/dungeon where the better cards and monsters can be purchased/killed. This is also a strength of the game as it really forces you to adapt to things on the fly and there are a lot of cards for discarding stuff out of your deck you are no longer using as you morph your deck into something better suited for what's facing you. There is *usually* a viable strategy present. Still, there are a few games where no amount of best moves and best cards can save you from a huge defeat simply because the better stuff is offered up on your opponents turn, not yours. It's not a deal breaker to me but there are some people who can't stand a loss to anything resembling random chance. At this point I still chalk a lot of my losses up to bad choices in the first four or five hands. I would also say the game gets better with the first expansion, Return of the Fallen. This is a game that definitely benefits from a larger card pool. There used to be a Lite version on iOS but it doesn't seem to be there anymore. The core game is 5 bucks and worth a look if you want a quick playing deck builder but don't want to blow forty on the real thing without checking it out first.

(twelvest)

(15:00:49 01/10/12 EST)

The whole bit about the iOS version of course is me making the asinine assumption that you have an iOS device. Sorry, I feel stupid about that.

(twelvest)

(15:56:37 01/10/12 EST)

I have a Windows 7 device (AKA laptop). I have a voice-only device (AKA cell phone). I have several handheld game systems (most older). I don't have any Andriods or iPhones/iPads/iTouches.

I did recently luck into a free iPod Nano 6th gen.

(Flavor)

(16:11:42 01/10/12 EST)

I'll have to look up "Ascension: Chronicle of the God Slayer" on BGG. I'm probably not interested in playing except in real life, unless maybe on a PC. We have a group of guys that like games here at work, and lunch is often accompanied by some sort of game. Bohnanza is the favorite, but there are many others. Board games often get played a couple times and then we go back to the card-style games. They're usually more suitable for lunch play.

(Flavor)

(16:08:44 01/10/12 EST)

For what it's worth I'd pick up a physical copy of Ascension in a heartbeat if I could find it. The local stores all have the first expansion (which can technically be played stand-alone, second expansion out now or soon) but the story I've been hearing is that all the current shipments of the core game are held up somewhere on an embargoed boat. I've seriously heard that story twice. Anyways, check out the game, read up on it. It was made by three M:TG tournament champions or players or something for whatever that's worth. I could see it being a great lunch break game. The ladyfriend actually has a bunch of old Pokemon cards as she used to play a lot. She works ComicCon every year and that's how she got into it. I'll play it eventually and am pretty excited to try it out but like I said, it really just comes down to money.

I liked your article. Some of the things you touched on with low level play are the things I'm liking right now playing Magic casually. I can make all sorts of weird, unique decks with convoluted combos and have fun with them. Higher level play, while I'm sure it is a bit more thrilling and intense, seems to me like it's going to revolve around the same basic strategies per tournament legal sets/years. Lots of the same high powered rares and mythic rares, etc. Still fun, less imaginative, perhaps?

(twelvest)

(16:53:40 01/10/12 EST)

What you mentioned as fun is what I used to enjoy about the Arena League. They would have 6-week (IIRC) seasons, and during that time was a specific deck-building f0rmat. Often, when a new set was released, the f0rmat would be pre-constructed decks. The twist was that you could modify the deck with up to 15 cards. Then whatever you removed would become your sideboard. I liked this, because it gave you enough time (6 sessions) to play a deck, and then you had to build something new under some new rule. One time it was that everything in the deck had to have the same casting cost. I think I played one deck all costing 1 mana, and another black deck that was all 3 (but much suicide stuff that had other drawbacks).

Anyway, these f0rmats were usually sanctioned by Wizards. I think the deal was like you'd get 2 Arena points for a win and 1 for a loss. It favored winning, but it was much more about playing as many different games as possible. That was pretty fun, and most people weren't there to be too serious.

Again, I get the impression that the Commander (or Elder Dragon Highlander) f0rmat is like that, too. If you don't know what that is, I suggest looking it up.

(Flavor)

(21:36:28 01/10/12 EST)

Oddly enough I heard the terms Commander and EDH for the very first time at the game store yesterday because I saw this weird Magic set behind the counter. I guess they actually have two player pre-cons for this style of play now. Anyways, I just read up on it and it seems pretty damn cool... no doubles, triples, or quads, very few banned cards, house rules allowed, deck construction colors to be determined by a Legendary Creature picked as commander, and large, 100 card decks. Thanks for bringing it up again, I'd definitely like to try this out! =)

The f0rmats you mention playing above all sound very fun. I feel like I should maybe look a bit deeper into the Magic nights in SD. As mentioned earlier my main reason for keeping Magic "anti-social" is to keep the cost of it down but some of these restricted f0rmats sound like something I'd dig, especially the modified pre-cons and 1 cost decks.

(twelvest)

(22:05:23 01/10/12 EST)

I should really start spelling out San Diego.

(twelvest)

(22:14:44 01/10/12 EST)

If you do look into it, let me know what you find. I've been very out of the loop, and, even though I don't plan to play anytime soon, I'm still interested in what goes on. The little that I know is mainly due to being in card shops and around other gamers during Pokemon tournaments. I say to let me know, but I'm really hit and miss on checking message boards (especially this one). If you'd want to talk further about it, my Google address is "freeplay".

(Flavor)

(00:12:57 01/11/12 EST)

Yeah, I'll keep in touch. I probably won't do any real digging for a couple weeks since I'm working a bunch of extra shifts currently. My Google address is ian.nesmarathon

(twelvest)

(20:52:39 01/11/12 EST)

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