Monte Carlo

No. I am not particularly impressed with Blackwater, although I am cautiously favourable to PSCs who sign up to and abide by the Montreaux principles.

Yup, that's about it. A discrete but to some probably important difference.

Ah, something we probably agree on. Yes, you're better off out. I doubt we'd agree on what next, though, because my solution involves Predator drones 24/7.

The funny thing is that fan fixpacks have put almost all of these issues to bed over the past twelve years - a full BG TuTu install properly done and modded is probably the most stable IE experience you'll ever have. How does it work if a developer wants to use a modder's content - does the original EULA mean that the modder in effect doesn't own it so, say, Trent and Co could use it?

You assigned your own stat points and there were more skill trees, IIRC. So technically there were more 'builds' available. I liked the Paladin, Barbarian and Assassin classes and played them as fairly vanilla builds myself so I'm not too concerned about the changes but some of the more stat-inclined might be. Edit: For me Diablo 2 was all about exploring huge dungeons, loot and over-the-top, frenetic fighting. D3 has these things in abundance by the sound of it.

Gfted, what are your views about character builds and customisation? Some folks have expressed concerns about the new system.

Krezack is a central-casting leftist. If you don't want to give half your money away to the nearest unemployed person and live in a yurt then you are a running dog of the Capitalist overlords. Or something.

I have the money sitting on a loyalty card I found in my wallet, so I can only spend it on games anyway... And I think it looks great, and I love the idea of some old-fashioned mouse-mashing goodness.

I am jealous. That is all.

Hey, Jayce, my George Forman grill is full of burgers. How can I keep my old ones while I'm grilling new ones. Do you know George Foreman? Can I get his telephone number from you?

Feeling a bit better today but still slept badly, bathed in cold sweat. Will try to go to work tomorrow.

God this is dull. Put Vol on ignore. I've had him there for two years. I've fond memories of the little scamp but the same thing in stereo *forever* was driving me nuts. I know he's in the thread somewhere because you're all replying... but why?

On reflection, I meant gibber.

Perhaps but the second term is all about Legacy. Take one look at Obama and tell me that you don't see a soaring vessel of self-regard and utter confidence, a being carved from a raw ego? I know I do. His healthcare reforms will become mired in Somme-like political warfare in Sentate and Congress. The economy will continue to falter. Emerging economies will nibble at the edges of the already tatty American hegemony. His much-vaunted Pacific focus will be dragged back to the Old World by forces that cannot be ignored. He will surprise us all, especially with regards to Iran. When he shaves in the morning I'm pretty sure he sees the Dove who can play Hawk in the mirror.

He makes a pretty good point - expecting a great ending from a game akin to one you'd get from a book is a big ask. Endings are tough to write, especially awesome multiple endings.

I think Obama will win, narrowly. I also (looks into crystal ball) predict some Clinton-esque military adventurism in the second term for all the usual reasons (albeit strictly of a non-boots on the ground type, more like Predator Nintendo). So who's going to be the next GOP pick?

Cheers Gfted. What are your system specs, if I may? And are the dungeons linear or more open? I'm looking forward to this more and more, this will be the summer of D3 and (gasps) enhanced BG1. Who'da Thunk It???

I can watch the Duellists with the sound turned off, like moving wallpaper. I'm not sure if that's a good thing, but I love the visuals.

It's all sounding good so far, thanks for posting the updates Drowsy. I've played BG2 to death but haven't played BG1 for a long time so am looking forward to this immensely.

He's gone. Forever. Into Diablo 3.

I've got it, been in bed for 2.5 days. Haven't been this sick since I had glandular fever aged 19.

Hmmm it is clearly a rip-off but then again the original GW tank is a rip-off of old WW1 MKIV tanks and the Israeli Merkava.

Feedback pls!

I know I'm coming a bit late to this, but was that Santorum creature real? Or was he a Manchurian-candidate style Democratic party sleeper agent?

Yes, in this case Apple is more evil than Amazon.