Tigranes

True enough Gromnir, but isn't that (the lack of good creativity from the masses) the reason we want the pros to come up with unique and interesting stuff?

Began Torment on 1280x800. ITS HEAVAN

To clarify: romance can be an excellent part of a film, book or game... but there are so many cases, also/especially in games, where it's just there for the target audience. Which cheapens it, and makes it boring. So I have to say I'm *happy* the epidemic of 1 ROMANCE IN EVERY PRODUCT syndrome hasn't yet spread (completely) to the medium.

Reading up on the financial crisis and not understanding a thing.

I think a better question is, why do main characters always have sex in films and books, because it is retarded? FINE I WELCOME THE INEVITABLE FACEPALM

Yes, that's the only 6 origins MC. I actually thought Dwarven Noble, City Elf and Mage can be quite interesting if the delivery is right. They promised lengthy introductory sequences, but I also want some level of plausible, believable buildup towards becoming a Grey Warden, and this in a way that doesn't make all Grey Wardens, in the end, same guys with same motivations. That has a lot more to do with how they designed the rest of the game rather than the origin bits though. As long as they did not use the much-publicised origins to funnell all the multiple choice on char dev. into the opening.... Anyway, yeah. we'll probably get some silly stuff like "dad talkin' to ya" (NWN2 OC), "start with someone you don't care dying" (BG1), etc, but that would be ok if we got to see some nice dwarven cities and whatnot and get a sensible buildup. Now if Bioware would stop making these stupid websites that take three years to load.

BG original music has a wonderful effect on NWN2 and fits really well (see Asphyxia). I think, what with the art assets, it will be the wilderness areas and places like Durlag's Keep that will look the most inspired, with the right area design. I'd prefer BG's game mechanics and interface over NWN2's though, so I suppose I'm thinking... I'm loving seeing a remake, but I'd probably go and play the Tutu original after I look at all the cool things they did! (I don't know. I don't mind AD&D, at least on the computer.)

Just finished the 4th and last Masters app. I don't know why I applied for such expensive ones as an international student (and couldn't even find any relevant external scholarships), but pfeh. Valentines was surprisingly low-key today from the businesses. Didn't notice a thing.

I've been stuck at 2am-10am for five years. Something to do with finishing a degree without ever having morning classes. Wait, I did, once, but I didn't go. It's 1.30am now and I'm having a meal. Doesn't help that I keep chatting to people in different timezones and now I'm working till 10pm. uh.. yeah. So there are people who function like that. I'm really tempted to, sometimes, but I think my mind subconsciously links in with a desire for security and just makes me lazy and static.

But they probably couldn't pick those yet. There was a fantastic one when the South Gate in Seoul caught fire earlier last year, with massive watersprays falling on the burning structure... The top photo is pretty odd, why would you be prowling with a gun out at an evicted home?

Yeah, but half of that is general enough to be irrelevant, and then you need to take into account the fact that the source of each sequel (Deus Ex & Thief) are quite different, right? But then, I wouldn't know. I've never played IW and didn't think Deus Ex was all that hot. Yahtzee I find is still as good as before. Realised that when I got bored at work and watched several of them, after not doing so for months and months.

Sounds like elves are the new Khajit. I'll be happy if they explore that past just "OH GOD IM AN ELF BUT EVERY1 H8 ME"

We need more Asterix names in gaming. CHIEF VITALSTATISTIX!

I finished Morrowind MQ. Never actually did so, the conversations with Dagoth Ur and Vivec and so forth were nice. I finished Morag Tong / Mages Guild / Telvanni as well, so it's good time to let that one go. I wanted to get back to the Witcher and try the EE but my CD isn't here; might get back to twiddling on the nwn2 toolset. Or thief 2.

There's a demo out already? Awesome.

Seriously? I don't understand the hate for DS either, cause I enjoyed it and thought it was a good Thief game that (mostly) stayed true to the franchise. But I think the Metal Age *is* the pinnacle. Just a pity none of the games stuck with the city roaming thieving theme the whole way through. I'd much rather they scrap all the machines and cults and such and just have some political intrigue.

"man is an animal suspended in webs of significance he himself has spun." Make some more.

More milk?

I was really excited about this game before they told us ITS ALL IN YOUR HEAD. I mean come on. Apart from how silly it is, why couldn't they make a good story in the actual setting?

I'm sure somebody would have uploaded such a save file. I'd also recommend the NMA Compendium mod just for nerfing VATS & Every-Level-Perks, but it's up to you.

I read an academic paper on the CCA / Comics in the 40s to 80s a few months ago, and - caveat, I know little else about that industry - I think it is simply symptomatic of the relationships and lines of force drawn between legal-juridical disciplines and media in contemporary society. It's the same superimposition of artificial boundaries that, history tells us, will eventually not work very well. That said, I dont' think ESRB and equivalent bodies do *too* bad a job at the moment. Sure theres the nudity and some other hyper-PC stuff, but as Josh says that's not something the ESRB can do much about, they have to obey the sensibilities of the nations they exist for.

Yep, it would be interesting to do a comparative study of CCA / Comics in the 50s - 70s, and the ESRB today. I doubt it's as easy as all that to just 'kill' ESRB off at this point in time, though.

Broken grammar, je ne comprends pas.

Has OOO fixed itself yet, Oblivionites? When I tried it a couple of years back you'd have 6 or 7 bandits appearing out of nowhere to attack you, except with Oblivion's horrible AI and pathfinding they'd all get stuck running into each other in a wide open field. Mus thanks for the KB info, looks like I will have to try and get it somehow. The original is just before my time, but it does look damn fun.

Obviously all amateur projects need to be treated with suspicion until they have anything to show, but LK you are going overboard. That said, I have to say that I'm not sure why you have announced this so early Barracuda. Skipping the part about similarities to FO, cause I've already said that on the Codex, if you aren't sure what engine to use, what story to have, what setting to have, etc., why is the trumpet blowing? Is it because you would like to gather a team and recruit some people? You're not going to get a lot of enthusiastic, valuable feedback from the lay folk if you don't have a clear pitch to throw at us - i.e. if you came at us with a clear setting and story and game features list, then asked us "does this sound good", it would be more positive/productive. Likewise, if you're looking to recruit, let's say I am a programmer. All I know about your project is that it might use FIFE, it might not. It might have a Falloutish setting, it might not. Just go with FIFE, you know. I always liked how it looked when you let us know on here, and it'd be a shame to work on it for so long then not use it.