deganawida

Removing the program has to be done a certain way, due to the hooks the rootkit uses. Failure to remove it properly deletes the optical drives from the PC. Microsoft is actually now treating it as spyware, and does have some updates for it, but I'm not sure if those updates are under the automatic function. It took Microsoft a long time to go from "legitimate business practice" (which, FYI, is what Symantec and MacAfee classify the rootkit as) to "spyware". They may have it hidden so as not to tick Sony off.

I'm not sure if it is organic or not. I do remember that the Metal Gear Rays in MGS2 "bled" as well, and there was no mention of them containing any organic material. Personally, I think it's just artistic license, meant to make the Metal Gears seem more like monsters (this, by the way, is consistent with Metal Gear Rex, Ray, and the Shagohad "roaring"). <{POST_SNAPBACK}> it's hydraulic fluid... mechanics have it colored red so that they can see it when it's broken. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Good point. I still think the sprays are done as artistic license. As Gromnir has said in the past, the Japanese tend to love giant monsters (this is not racist, but a cultural observation based on stories).

I hate Sony BMG. This morning I got a priority one request (I work tech support for a local university; for those who remember/care, I'm no longer with the local Board of Education, and now make twice what I did before) about a PC experiencing memory dumps. I log on, see the error report, and what do I find? "This error is caused by the Sony BMG-First 4 Internet software." For those who don't know what that relates to, it's the bloody rootkit and copy-protection software that Sony BMG installed on audio CDs which installs on PCs even if the "reject" option is selected. The bloody software is compromising our systems. So, anyway, now I have to pour through tons of info and the program itself to try to find the *.exes so that ZenWorks can block it. I'm ticked. EDIT: It's not the work I mind, but the fact that we might have hundreds of compromised systems.

...paragon of professional reporting. I hope that there are at least some members of the gaming press who take reporting the facts seriously.

Yup. As a beta tester, I tried pointing out many of those things (particularly how the game was ostensibly set in Eberron, but nearly every aspect of Eberron was removed; for the record, Keith Baker wasn't consulted for this game like he was for Dragonshard), but it didn't make a bit of a difference. Ken Troop wanted to use the D&D license to create an MMO based on his MUD experiences and with FPS combat. Had he wanted to develop a true Dungeons and Dragons Online, things might have gone differently.

I'm not sure if it is organic or not. I do remember that the Metal Gear Rays in MGS2 "bled" as well, and there was no mention of them containing any organic material. Personally, I think it's just artistic license, meant to make the Metal Gears seem more like monsters (this, by the way, is consistent with Metal Gear Rex, Ray, and the Shagohad "roaring").

Grey Fox killed Naomi's family while serving in Africa. He felt guilty about it, and adopted her. After Solid Snake killed Grey Fox in the Zanzibar Land incident, Naomi (which may or may not be her real name) infiltrated FoxHound and set herself up under false credentials to be their CMO. Oh, and, yes, Snake's FoxDie is variable. It's said that stress (such as stress in combat) can trigger FoxDie. Remember Sniper Wolf? It's rumored that FoxDie didn't kill her because she kept popping Pentazamin.

The world which includes Middle-Earth. Well, you may not know this, but the majority of the Warcraft lore is ripped straight out of Games Workshop's Warhammer game, with names changed. WC1 was originally going to be a WH game, but the deal fell through, and Blizz just changed some of the names. They eventually got in trouble for it.

Oh, I don't dispute your argument, Gromnir. In fact, I believe that, for the most part, it is absolutely true (look at Jordan for a prime example of "selling out" in the fiction market). Mostly, I'm taking a perverse sort of glee in seeing the despondent cries from WoW fanbois on other sites at the "mutilation" of the Warcraft lore, which, according to many comments that I have seen, is deeper and more complex than that of Arda (the most laughable statement I have ever seen).

Draenei and Eredar are the same.

*groan* Bad, Hades! Bad!

Many thanks!

Absolutely. I love going through that fight, only using CQC, and not taking any damage. Fun stuff, and very appropriate.

Personally, I love the gameplay in the MGS series. In fact, it's the only thing that made MGS2 bearable for me (I hated MGS2's story, but loved the gameplay). 3 had the best gameplay thus far IMO; I lost track of how many times and how many different ways I beat the Boss (my wife still teases me about my saved game that I keep right before that battle).

Yup. Not sure if he goes through with it, but it looks like this one may be as good as MGS1. FYI: Even if he is now the Cyber Ninja, I have to say that I hate your sig.

Extended trailer impressions. So, FoxDie is finally active. Should be very, very interesting.

Thank you all for the help. The DVD-R/RW is suffering from a hardware problem. However, the system has a full one-year warranty, and I am currently speaking with the vendor to get the drive repaired or replaced. Again, thank you for the help.

That depends. Are you looking at it from an individual level, or at the species level? As a species, humanity has done itself remarkably well, increasing lifespan, healthcare, and availability of the basic necessities (food, water, shelter). Remember, a species has no inherent concern for its environment, only that successive generations survive and thrive.

Eredar, the demon-race of which Archimonde was a member. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Cool, thanks for the link. Any info out there on racial traits for them? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Nope, and it isn't officially confirmed yet (that's my disclaimer). However, in the image, under the screen, you can see the Sierra logo. Sierra and Blizzard are both owned by Vivendi, which lends credence to this being the new Alliance race. It also fulfillls the "WTF?" component that Metzen mentioned.

Eredar, the demon-race of which Archimonde was a member.

Seen the new race yet? The movie will suck, regardless.

They seem to be on the right track. The DS gives them a good foothold as well. The cube was a bit of a ****up from the start. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> So was the N64.

Wait a minute, $199 for the Wii itself? Did I read that right? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Not offically, but it is (at most) likely what the price will be <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Holy crap! Did Nintendo just make a total comeback or something?

Prepare for liberal plaigarising of Warhammer and Earthdawn on the silver screen.

Wait a minute, $199 for the Wii itself? Did I read that right?