alanschu

I like the looks of Buffalo's defense, as well as Carolina (from an Edmonton perspective). I think it's a wash either way, and naturally because I'm an Oilers fan, disagree with the media that feels the East is going to crush Edmonton. Buffalo has some injury situations, which may be beneficial. I think that we are just as fast, as well as tougher, as the Sabres. They're my pick.

Isn't that technically the way things are now?

Gah! Stupid Eidos Interactive website just says May 31st. You can rent PC games? I remember a few stores tried doing that where I live, but it never really took off. How exactly does it work? It just seems even more ripe for piracy than console renting.

Wait a minute. Where did numbers get the game? According to EIDOS its release date is tomorrow??

Yup.

"

Gotta promote it as much as possible.

I'll do some investigative reporting

...only ta those whom take this message board too seriously... ...what be the difference if'n I types like this, Or like this, typing all my sentences nicely and making sure that I use only proper English with no shortcuts and no sign whatsoever of any crudeness? Does this somehow make what I am saying any more relevant? Somehow I doubt it. Only your view changes about what I am saying, what I actually say stays the same. I cannot be held responsible for your bias; sorry. ...WHO LUVS YA, BABY!!... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Because talking in character may result in a phrase being structured more aggressively, even though that's not the intent. It's not a knock at all actually. I'd be more skeptical of someone that uses good English when referring to Bioware as Bioweenians, rather than Sargy who already talks in an off the wall manner.

I figured for sure it involved dogs getting hit by cars. The thing that is interesting is that the Infinity Engine games by Bioware were way more successful than the IE games by Black Isle. Heck, probably combined even. I won't deny that Bioware's relationship with former BIS employees now at Obsidian has not hurt Obsidian (in fact, it has helped). The big difference between the two though, is that Obsidian's games were sequels to Bioware games. Bioware's games were not sequels to Obsidian's games. I would say that Obsidian received more of a leg up than Bioware did, as the franchises they are making sequels for were already very successful. The only real "luck" Bioware got for BG was the D&D license. But we've since seen that the D&D license is hardly a precursor to a successful game. Having said that, had the Bioware opportunities not presented themselves for Obsidian, then they would have just done something else. This probably was the best business decision that Obsidian could get though. Any brand new developer would love to be the ones to get to make the next game in a successful franchise. It is a less risky venture, and provides opportunities to secure large amounts of capital in a short amount of time. If Feargus was the one that orchestrated the sequels, then full credit goes to Obsidian. If Bioware suggested sequels to Obsidian, then a bit of credit goes to Bioware, for presenting Obsidian with the opportunity.

Volo, was there ever anything even semi-official about Bioware making PM for NWN2?

It unfortunately taints your posts with a lack of objectivity. But then again, it could just be the case of you talking in character on a message board.

If someone insists on referring to a company as Bioweenia, it really makes any argument they have moot.

Half-Life and Half-Life 2 are stories told entirely through the eyes of the protagonist. It's not the most explicit story, and all of the "behind the scenes" narrative that Gordon isn't directly a part of is implied with the actions of those around him, or gleaned from radio comm channels. It was really cool listening to the Combine reporting and communicating about my actions as I moved from outpost to outpost when approaching Nova Prospekt. I love both the games. And the only time I can remember being taken out of Gordon's eyes and he "jumps" somewhere in the game is when he was knocked out in the first game. There's zero breaks from Gordon's perspective outside of that (and it's not really a break from Gordon's perspective anyways, as he's unconscious). *Spoilers for Half-Life 1 ahead* I'm going a bit from memory since Half-Life's story started out with Gordon being a physicist analyzing a bizarre mineral sample. He put it in through a mass spectrometer, and it resulted in a resonance cascade that spawned creatures in from a mysterious planet named Xen. Gordon is one of the few survivors not seriously injured, and is suggested by the science team outside to get to the surface and call for help. Unfortunately, upon reaching the surface, it seems that the marines called in for help aren't there to help at all, but rather make sure that everyone stays quiet...permanently. With this hiccup, Gordon must think fast and ends up diving back into Black Mesa (through the air ducts to the surface as a helicopter strafe fires hims and drops marines. Shortly after getting out of the air vents, Gordon stumbles upon another survivor. He suggests that you get in contact with the Lambda Science team. The next few levels is an adventure to get to that science team. The first up is the blast pit. IIRC, you are told that there's a way through in tunnels under the rocket (or not...this would probably be the weakest part of the trip to Lambda). In any case, there's a three tentacled beast that's blocking your path (and one of the few times I was tense because I was so scared I would make a noice and get instagibbed). After test firing the rocket (by getting the power, fuel, and oxygen lines restored) and clearing out the monster, you continue your quest to Lambda. After taking the tunnel shortcut under the blast rocket, you come up to a rail line (and a big baddie fighting some marines). Unfortunately, the power isn't running so there's no way the tram can get moving. Naturally, Gordon will need to restore the power. After getting the power online, Gordon can make way through the rail system on his way to the Lambda team. IIRC you are asked to launch a rocket. I think a scientist needs it up and will get you access to Lambda if you can help him out (though I'm not too sure about this part). Hop back onto the train, and continue heading to Lambda. But dammit, the track has been sabotaged, and Gordon finds himself falling down a hole. Gordon finds himself in a facilities with a high powered crossbow inside a cage suspended above water. I don't really remember Apprehension too much, except that once Gordon gets himself back on track, he's ambushed and knocked out. Still woozy, Gordon wakes up in a strange room with boxes. Suddenly, two walls start closing in. Holy crap! He's in a trash compactor (which makes sense, because Gordon did hear one of the marines dragging him comment about how when they were done with him, they wasn't going to be any body). Quickly hopping out of the boxes, he finds himself without any weapons, with no idea where he is. The best bet he has, is to try to get to the Lambda team since they may have an idea of what to do. Once he's out of the processing plant, he still needs to figure out how to get to Lambda from where he is. Gordon seems to be in a test facility of some sort, and many of the Xen creatures are locked up in cells (some all too willing to get out of those cells too!). On the plus side, members of the Lambda team (I think they are some of the Lambda team...or maybe other scientists that will point you to Lambda. I know you're not at the Lambda facility, as that's on the Lambda Core level) are here! They'll tell you what you need to do. Unfortunately, You'll need to continue to the Lambda facility. Just outside is a dam (and some fun new targets to try out your new Tau Cannon with, including a Helicopter). Since the door at the end of the dam is sealed off, the only other place that isn't going back is to go through the dam (watch out for the bull squid!). The next level is Surface Tension, which is essentially a live combat zone with plenty of Xen vs Marine vs Gordon action (one of my favourite levels as a result). The level has you avoiding snipers, sneaking through a building filled to the brim with laser trip bombs (don't trip one, or the whole building goes up in smoke). Plenty of action in this level. In terms of story it's additional obstacles Gordon has to overcome on his way to Lambda. After this level, and many marine casualties, Gordon overhears on the radio for the Marines to "forget about freeman." It's too hot of an area right now (and a Big Blue is running around terrorizing things), so the solution is to air strike the crap out of the place while tactically withdrawing. (but not before you get to have some fun airstriking places (and Big Blue) yourself. Gordon is now close to Lambda Facility, but the heavy airstriking has caused Gordon to take a small detour underground. AFter dispatching some foes (human and alien alike), Gordon finds himself in the Lambda research facility. Power's out though, and to activate the Lambda Core he'll need to power things up. He also gets the good ol' Gluon gun in this area, by some scientist that cannot bring himself to kill. In the Lambda Core level, Gordon is first introduced to the teleportation balls. There's some goofy parts where you jump through them and go through the core. Too much jumping and didn't care much for them. Thank goodness for quick save. Finally, you talk with a scientist who has discovered a way to create a portal to Xen, where you have shown you're capable enough to deal with the menace head on. Since it wouldn't be much of a game if you called it quits now, you go on through. Xen. Ah Xen. Xen sucked. It was still ok, but a huge step down from the rest of the game. The best part of Xen was the ending. Not only did it mean no more Xen, but it also introduced you to GMan head on (who I think only got his name because an MP model with his skin was called GMan). First off, he thanks you (WTF?). By clearing out Nihalth (or whatever the heck the name of the big boss is), you made it easier for the Armed forces to move into Xen and take it over. The whole time you were essentially a pawn, with the GMan checking up on your progress from time to time (as you can see him around the entire game). In a bizarre twist, he offers you a job, which you can either accept, or he can put us in a battle against overwhelming odds if we prefer (the first time I played this, I figured that the ending was intentionally anticlimactic, as I didn't take him up on his offer). I later realized that the intended ending was to take up his offer and get "employed" by whomever the GMan's employer was. It was a pretty cool ending that I definitely was not expecting. EDIT: And I loved both NOLF games. The code phrases for your contacts in the first one were fantastic. Such a tongue in cheek games. Easily among my favourite games, let alone FPS games.

I've seen posters for NWN that have credits going to Feargus, Black Isle, and Interplay. There was some friction between Bioware and Interplay.

No. My mail bax is downstairs beside all the other mail boxes.

Wow, a game that is linear. There's a shocker. Especially an FPS. Considering most RPGs (teh "kings" of non-linearity) are linear, this really shouldn't surprise you.

I'm 99.9% sure one was Jefferson.

LOL

Not sure where I could put it, given I live in an apartment building. With my luck someone would just see it and take it. No windows or anything to my front door, aside from the peephole.

Nope. Not that I know of anyways. That's what makes me concerned it wasn't just random. But the only people I associate with frequently that know where I live are my friends and family. And not just "casual" friends, but friends that I've been friends with for a decade and go on trips to the Dominican Republic with and whatnot. Mystary!

Welcome to the club In any case, I took a small break from Half-Life 2 (just got to Nova Prospekt) to play through the new Hitman: Blood Money demo. Neat game. I agree that it's a bit too tutorialish to get the full feeling of how the game will actually play. But it was fun. Looks crazy nice!

In other news, if the Ozone hole goes away, wouldn't that result in a decrease of UV radiation and as a result, a decrease in the amount of energy absorbed?

Hahaha. Go away, this is actually an interesting discussion

At the same time then, wouldn't it have an even lesser impact on the state of our planet as it doesn't emit radiation at a fast enough rate? (since taks seemed to be indicating that sources of energy outside of our sun may be significant contributors). I was referring to any benefit of having additional clouds in the sky, and resulting in an increase in light reflection away from the planet from the Sun. While increased clouds may reduce the energy from the sun, the increase in water vapour required for an increase in cloud coverage would also trap energy in, as water vapour contributes to the greenhouse effect. The energy loss would be more pronounced if it was above the CO2, since energy radiated from clouds towards space would not get reabsorbed by the CO2 (assuming it radiates in the low infrared). Absolutely. You had already mentioned it so I decided to only comment on conduction, which at first glance seems insignificant given the nature of convection. No argument here. I don't recall temperature being dependant on volume though, but rather on the average kinetic energy of the particles. I definitely agree that you measure the gas as whole (since it's an average), but as a whole of its matter (which excludes the void between molecules). naturally being the equation for kinetic energy. Wiki had an interesting discussion about it here.