Diogo Ribeiro

I haven't seen Hellboy yet, but I've been told its good. I'll believe it when I see it.

*ahem*.

<3 Blade 2, oh yes. No. I like action movies, but some just feel way too... artificial and uninspired in their end result. Blade 2 just didn't cut it for me (despite all the 'cutting' going on in the movie hur hur hur). I consider it serviceable at best, very forgetable at worst. I just felt like I needed to vent for having lost time in yet another movie that's boring and souless, if such a term can apply to a non-living thing.

So, yesterday I saw this movie called Stylish Vampire Posse Smacks Down Pasty White Vampire Posse To The Sound Of Rap And Other Music That Already Outlived Its Musical And Cultural Usefulness. I hear some people also call the movie Blade 2. I can't really pinpoint the highlight of the film. No wait, that's not right. I can pinpoint several. Dialogues were cleverly very short and to the point so as not to bore the audience. We wouldn't want them to fall asleep between action sequences. I also enjoyed that said dialogues were filled with profanity. I mean, its not enough nowadays that we get derivative crap or sequels just for the sake of money. They also must have profanity by the metric load, because you know, it really adds to the immershun! thingie. It appeals to all generations and lifestyles, I guess, much like DVD and All in the Family reruns. But what I also find interesting in the movie (aside Leonor Varela's curves) is the excellent script presented to us. I was really excited when I saw things like a guy fighting deadly vampires with nothing more than a shoulder pad, a heavy mace and some tattoos. It not only bodes well for originality, but it makes perfect sense. Kinda like waltzing into a warehouse with an underground rave scene flashing big weapons and having folks keep on dancing despite the fact that a handful of heavilly armed goons happened to carry enough weaponry to destroy the area. I have to find me some raves, they seem to be very relaxing. Equally impressive is how vampires evolved. No longer a secret society of sorts, they're now nestled into their own corporate-looking buildings filled with multiple identity-checking machinery. Not that it matters much, though, given most of the vampires are so stiff in their acting that I'd be surpised that, gender-aside, there was an actual difference. They look like a cross between Keanu Reeves' wooden face and Nicholas Cage's dull voice: wheter they're fighting, dying, bleeding, or cracking jokes ("Can you blush ke ke ke") they will always look the same and keep the same face and monotone, emotionless voices. At least they'll have perfect models for action figurines based on most of the cast's acting, so not all is lost. Speaking of cast you have some very well-crafted characters. I have got to hand it to the writers. You have a very original "yo yo yo wassup dude I speak like an foul-mouthed moron and move like a rapper but I can make bombz0rz!!!"-themed personage. His acting - not all too different from the cinematic tour de force that was Dude, Where's My Car? - is a shining example of how Hollywood can actually bring out the bestest, freshest actors. Kris Kristofferson, as the aged partner of Blade, really shines as well. Well, what little is possible to shine trough that film of filth and grime on his clothes and hair, anyway. The Bloodpack - a curious vampiric mercenary force that was trained to catch Blade but can't stand up to lesser vampires, in a striking resemblance to the prestiged members of Neverwinter's Academy that succumbed at the hands of 1 HP Goblins - is perfect. If you handn't guessed it, the towering behemoth that I mentioned before (the half-naked, mace-wielding prince of harm) is one of them. They are a very diverse and atypical bunch, and some of the best lines in the movie ("Yaaarrgh!!!") are theirs. This was *the* posse that should be in all rap videoclips. They own like no other posse has owned before. Another great thing about this movie is the storyline. It friggin' rocks. You just cannot shake the feeling that, if Blade and the chick actually got it on, you'd cry because of its perfection. There's blood. There's coreographed stunts. CGI ass-kicking powered by WWF moves. Vampires investing in DNA-tampering. Vampiric roadkill. It's got everything. It really is a shame that the main vampire chick (as cool and hot /as Drow chicks) didn't get it on with Blade. I mean come on. Black vampires need loving too. But I think its understandable. In my conspirational expertise, I think the movie was slated to have the main romance happen between Wesley Snipes and Ron Pearlman. Seriously. They flirt with each other like no one else in the movie (except the hot vampire chick and her three-way jaw brother in the end... yes, there's some vampiric inbred innuendo too, for those that like it). The best and most romantic lines belong to them ("Can you blush?" and "**** you" are riveting). Many times they're face to face, and you can't shake the feeling that they're about to lock lips. When Pearlman's raspy, seductive voice tells Snipes that the switch in the bomb is stuck, you can be sure that any gay person in the theatre will just cream themselves with pure extasy. Alas, Blade has to resign himself to just rubbing his leather outfit on himself. Seriously, its great. I can't wait for Blade 3. Yes, this is not meant to be taken seriously.

OMG You= teh Jedi!

Seems more like a case of 'You rub our back, we'll give you one". Well, if you ever knock on Obsidian's door for a job, I think I know what it'll be...

Likely, those who think of themselves as beautiful would disagree, and those that think of themselves as ugly would agree.

I suggest a Dark Lord of Spam title for Ender >_>

I wouldn't be very concerned with D&D Online. NWN2 will supposedly be an improvement over NWN1, and that includes the ability to create modules and play in very specialized servers running user-made gameworld, which I honestly doubt will be the case with DDO.

I think allowing it would be a good idea. As long as the core functionality remained without the use of things like images, it would be nice. I don't have a slow connection, yet I think I might use it.

So I hear Matthews Band has stopped throwing crap at consumers and is now throwing crap at passing tourists?

Ok, so today I found myself with some little extra time and decided to waste it. With the announcement of Obsidian handling Neverwinter Nights 2, and with Dungeons and Dragons celebrating 30 years of existence, D&D is once again in the spotlight. But instead of focusing on the present, I thought it might be a nice idea instead to make a post focusing on the lore of all the Dungeons and Dragons titles released solely for the PC in the past. As such, following are a list of D&D-licensed games for the PC, accompanied by links to off-site pages with information for each game. The list isn't an ultimate resource; most information for the older games is hard to find at this point, and it's quite possible I haven't remembered and compiled every game. That's where people can contribute. If you feel there's a good page out there that broadens the scope of the information presented here, or have additional info that's more accurate than what was posted here, post the link and I'll update the master list. Yes, you'll be credited (but not payed, sorry). For the record, I do not take credit nor responsibility for the contents of the following list, or of content in the links presented. The only thing I can be credited with is compiling the list and posting it. **************************************************** P A R T 1 - The Master List **************************************************** Pool of Radiance - 1988 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Mobygames info Gamespot info The Computer Show info Gamespy info Wikipedia entry Heroes of the Lance - 1988 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: U.S. Gold Mobygames info Gamespot info HotU entry Forgotten Lance info Gamespy info Curse of the Azure Bonds - 1989 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Mobygames info Gamespot's info Wikipedia entry Gamespy info Dragons of Flame - 1989 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: U.S. Gold Mobygames info Gamespot info Forgotten Lance info HotU entry Gamespy info Hillsfar - 1989 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: Westwood Studios Mobygames info Gamespot info Home of the Underdogs info Gamespy info War of the Lance - 1989 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Mobygames info Gamespot info HotU entry Forgotten Lance info Gamespy info Secret of the Silver Blades - 1990 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Mobygames info Gamespot info Gamespy info The Computer Show info DragonStrike - 1990 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: Westwood Studios Mobygames info Gamespot info Wikipedia entry HotU entry Forgotten Lance info Gamespy info Champions of Krynn - 1990 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. Developed By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. Mobygames info Gamespot info Forgotten Lance info Gamespy info Eye of the Beholder - 1990 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: Westwood Studios Mobygames info Gamespot info HotU entry Wikipedia entry Gamespy info Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon - 1991 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: Westwood Studios Mobygames info Gamespot info HotU entry Gamespy info Shadow Sorcerer - 1991 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: US Gold Mobygames info Gamespot info Forgotten Lance info HotU entry Gamespy info Neverwinter Nights - 1991 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: Stormfront Studios Mobygames info HotU entry The Classic Neverwinter Nights Archive Gamespy info Pools of Darkness - 1991 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Mobygames info Gamespot info Wikipedia entry Gamespy info Gateway to the Savage Frontier - 1991 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: Beyond Software Mobygames info Gamespot info HotU entry Gamespy info Death Knights of Krynn - 1991 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Mobygames info Gamespot info Forgotten Lance info Gamespy info The Dark Queen of Krynn - 1992 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: US Gold Mobygames info Gamespot info Gamespy info Treasures of the Savage Frontier - 1992 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: Beyond Software Mobygames info Gamespot info HotU entry Gamespy info Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace - 1992 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: Cybertech Mobygames info Gamespot info HotU entry Gamespy info Eye of the Beholder III: Assault on Myth Drannor - 1992 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Mobygames info Gamespot info HotU entry Gamespy info Unlimited Adventures - 1993 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: MicroMagic, Inc. Mobygames info Gamespot info Wikipedia entry HotU entry Gamespy info Fantasy Empires - 1993 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: Silicon Knights Mobygames info Gamespot info HotU entry Gamespy info Dark Sun: Shattered Lands - 1993 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Mobygames info Gamespot info HotU entry Gamespy info Stronghold - 1993 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: Stormfront Studios Mobygames info Gamespot info HotU entry Gamespy info Dungeon Hack - 1993 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: DreamForge Intertainment, Inc. Mobygames info Gamespot info HotU info Gamespy info Dark Sun 2: Wake of the Ravager - 1994 Published By: Mindscape Inc., Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Mobygames info Gamespot info HotU entry Gamespy info Ravenloft: Strahd's Possession - 1994 Published By: Mindscape Inc. Developed By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Mobygames info Gamespot info HotU entry Gamespy info Al-Qadim: The Genie's Curse - 1994 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. Developed By: Cyberlore Studios, Inc. Mobygames info Gamespot info HotU entry Gamespy info Menzoberranzan - 1994 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: DreamForge Intertainment, Inc. Mobygames info Gamespot info HotU entry Gamespy info Ravenloft: Stone Prophet - 1995 (also known as Ravenloft 2: Stone Prophet) Published By: Mindscape Inc. Developed By: DreamForge Intertainment, Inc., Strategic Simulations, Inc (SSI) Mobygames info Gamespot info HotU entry Gamespy info Deathkeep - 1995 Published By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: Lion Entertainment Inc. Mobygames info Gamespot info Gamespot review Gamespy info Blood & Magic - 1996 Published By: Interplay Developed By: Tachyon Studios Mobygames info Gamespot info Gamespot review Gamespy info The Computer Show info Birthright: Gorgon's Alliance - 1996 Published By: Sierra On-Line, Inc. Developed By: Synergistic Software, Inc. Mobygames info Gamespot info Gamespot review Gamespy info The Computer Show info Dark Sun Online: Crimson Sands - 1996 Publisher: Pogo.com Developer: SSI Gamespy info Bring Back DSO page Descent to Undermountain - 1998 Published By: Interplay Productions Developed By: Interplay Productions Mobygames info Gamespot info Gamespot review Gamespy info The Computer Show info Baldur's Gate - 1998 Published By: Black Isle Studios, Interplay Developed By: BioWare Corporation Mobygames info Gamespy info Baldur's Gate in Gamespy's Hall of Fame Gamespot info Gamespot review IGN review Baldur's Gate Centre at Gamebanshee Baldur's Gate Official Site (courtesy of Wayback Machine - Internet Archive) Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast - 1999 Published By: Black Isle Studios, Interplay Entertainment Corporation Developed By: BioWare Corp Mobygames info Gamespot review Gamespy info Tales of the Sword Coast Official Site (courtesy of Wayback Machine - Internet Archive) Planescape: Torment - 1999 Published By: Interplay Developed By: Black Isle Studios Mobygames info HotU info Gamespy info Gamespy review Planescape: Torment on Gamespy's Hall of Fame Gamespot review IGN review Wikipedia entry Planescape: Torment Centre at Gamebanshee Planescape: Torment Official Site (courtesy of Wayback Machine - Internet Archive) Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn - 2000 Published By: Interplay Developed By: BioWare Corporation Mobygames info Gamespy info Gamespy review Gamespot review IGN review Baldur's Gate 2 Centre at Gamebanshee Wikipedia info on the Baldur's Gate series (contains spoilers) Planet Baldur's Gate Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn Official Site (courtesy of Wayback Machine - Internet Archive) Icewind Dale - 2000 Published By: Interplay Developed By: Black Isle Studios Mobygames info Gamespy info Gamespy review Gamespot review IGN review Icewind Dale Centre at Gamebanshee Icewind Dale Official Site (courtesy of Wayback Machine - Internet Archive) Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor - 2001 Published By: UbiSoft Entertainment Developed By: Stormfront Studios Mobygames info Gamespy info Gamespy review Gamespot review IGN review Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor Centre at Gamebanshee Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor Official Site Baldur's Gate 2 - Throne of Bhaal - 2001 Published By: Interplay Developed By: BioWare Corp Mobygames info Gamespy info Gamespy review Gamespot review IGN review Baldur's Gate 2 - Throne of Bhaal Official Site (courtesy of Wayback Machine - Internet Archive) Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter - 2001 Published By: Interplay Developed By: Black Isle Studios Mobygame info Gamespy info Gamespy review Gamespot review IGN review Trials of the Luremaster - 2001 Published By: Interplay Developed By: Black Isle Studios Mobygames info Icewind Dale 2 - 2002 Published By: Interplay Developed By: Black Isle Studios Mobygames info Gamespy info Gamespot review IGN review RPG Codex review Icewind Dale 2 Centre at Gamebanshee Icewind Dale 2 Official Site (courtesy of Wayback Machine - Internet Archive) Wikipedia entry for the Icewind Dale series Neverwinter Nights - 2002 Published By: Infogrames Developed By: BioWare Corporation Mobygames info Gamespy info Gamespy review IGN review Gamespot review RPG Codex review Neverwinter Nights Centre at Gamebanshee Neverwinter Nights Official Site Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide - 2003 Published By: Atari Developed By: BioWare Corp, Floodgate, Rustmonkey Productions Mobygames info Gamespy info Gamespy review Gamespot review IGN review Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark - 2003 Published By: Atari, Inc. Developed By: BioWare Corp, Floodgate Mobygames info Gamespy info Gamespy review Gamespot review IGN review The Temple of Elemental Evil: A Classic Greyhawk Adventure - 2003 Published By: Atari Developed By: Troika Games Mobygames info Gamespy info Gamespot review IGN review RPG Codex review Temple of Elemental Evil Centre at Gamebanshee The Temple of Elemental Evil Official Page **************************************************** P A R T 2 - How to acquire the older D&D games? **************************************************** Older D&D games are, obviously, no longer in production. Rare bids on places like Ebay or special editions that compile several of these games are the best options. Regarding compilations, there are only three D&D compilations that I know of that compile D&D-only PC games: 1) Fantasy Fest! - 1994 (?) Published By: Mindscape Inc., Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Developed By: Several (DreamForge Intertainment, Inc., MicroMagic, Inc., Silicon Knights, Stormfront Studios) Includes: Dungeon Hack Unlimited Adventures Fantasy Empires Stronghold 2) Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Masterpiece Collection - 1996 Published By: Mindscape Inc. Developed By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Includes: The Dark Sun Series:Dark Sun: Shattered Lands Dark SUn: Wake of the Ravager [*]The Ravenloft Series: Ravenloft: Strahd's Possession Ravenloft: Stone Prophet [*]Menzoberranzan [*]Al-Qadim: The Genie's Curse 3) The Forgotten Realms Archive - Silver Edition - 1997 Published By: Interplay Developed By: Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) Includes: The Pool of Radiance Series:Pool of Radiance Pools of Darkness [*]The Eye of the Beholder Series: Eye of the Beholder Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon Eye of the Beholder III: Assault on Myth Drannor [*]The Savage Frontier Series: Gateway to the Savage Frontier Treasures of the Savage Frontier [*]Menzoberanzan [*]And a demo of Baldur's Gate (*) (*)Reportedly, some versions have a demo of Blood & Magic. Fantasy Fest! is currently available in this Ebay page, and Advanced Dungeons and Dragons Masterpiece Collection can currently be found in this Amazon page, and in this CD Access page (for those interested, CD Access now has 100 copies stocked). I have no idea where the Forgotten Realms Archive - Silver Edition can be bought at this time. Possibly, it's not available anymore. However, there is a compilation called Gamefest: Forgotten Realms Classics, released in 2001, which has all the Silver Edition games, and the Baldur's Gate demo. More information on the Gamefest: Forgotten Realms Classics can be found at this page in Mobygames. The game is currently sold at Amazon.com, but there are very few copies. It can be located at this Amazon.com page. **************************************************** P A R T 3 - Additional Information **************************************************** 1) Some of the links above take you to mirrors of the original sites. Interplay's site, for instance, doesn't exist anymore, along with sites for games like Icewind Dale or Planescape: Torment. The Wayback Machine is a site that basically keeps mirrors of existing sites, in an attempt to preserve their information. It should be noted that via the Wayback Machine you'll be able to access Interplay's old site, but things like ordering games online from it are still impossible, as the site itself is down. 2) The purpose of the list is to basically give information regarding the games in it. Things such as links to patches or updates, in theory, are beyond the scope of the list. 3) I am aware that some of the sites I have linked to may contain abandonware versions of the games in the list, or versions that may not be legal. My intention was to provide several sources of information, not to provide links which would direct people to sites which could be perceived as illegal, or that could carry illegal content. Simply put, I am not in favor of piracy (though I'm not adverse to saying aarr, matey!), and do not support downloading any illegal file from those, or any other, sites. You are at your own risk by doing so. Don't download those files, and don't use Dosbox to run them. 4) Remembering and discussing these games (specially the older ones) and these articles is good; starting to bicker because of them, or because of how they are exposed on these articles is not isn't. Try to keep it civil without resorting to trolling and flaming simply because of different tastes. **************************************************** P A R T 4 - Main Sources and Additional Links **************************************************** Mobygames - A large videogame database. Gamespot - Videogame coverage. IGN - Videogame coverage. Gamespot's History of Dungeons and Dragons Videogames - History of Dungeons and Dragons videogames. Currently incomplete (only up to Baldur's Gate). Gamespy's History of Dungeons and Dragons videogames ~Role-Player, 23/08/2004 UPDATES: *23/08/2004: -Pope rectified the Trials of the Luremaster release date. -Added Gamespy reviews for: Icewind Dale, Shadows of Amn, Throne of Bhaal, Ruins of Myth Drannor, Planescape: Torment, Neverwinter Nights, NWN: Shadows of Undrentide, NWN: Hordes of the Underdark, and IWD: Heart of Winter. -Added entry of Dark Sun Online. -Added another location to buy the AD&D Masterpiece Collection. *27/08/2004: -Added RPG Codex reviews for: Icewind Dale 2, Neverwinter Nights, and Temple of Elemental Evil. -Llamagod gave the information regarding the existence of the Gamefest: Forgotten Realms Classics compilation.

Yeah, I've been flamboyant before >_>

The Olsen Twins versus a platypus Tentacle hentai monsters versus Doctor Octopus

My LOLZ is bigger and more flamboyant than yours.

Kill ze litel smilies!

You're talking about Lionhead Studios.

Not at all. Spam isn't really necessary, more like an optional perk.

You forgot "Stop spreading lies, myths and innuendo." and his new trademark, "R00fles!". Yet he still manages to be much more intelligent, logical and perceptible than many people who type in correct English. But he says that with style. Just because he's paranoid, doesn't mean there's no one after him.

I hardly think that thread is a good representation of the type of forums we have here; I think they're quite the minority. I assume that, like in pretty much any other forum, we get our fair share of spammers, trolls and wankers, but those are usually dealt with, and in a lesser quality than more civilized people.

I don't know. I fear directors would thoroughly misinterpret Kain and would either made him a gothic whiner, or a goody two shoes. And we can't have that. Better to pick on Soul Reaver. The main character is already a gothic, whining goody two shoes, so no harm done.

I don't think there's much in Fallout that would translate into a good movie, but all the others seem like potential movie hits, though.

In the old days, artists would get the recognition of their peers for the use of excellent drawing techniques. Nowadays, all we need is stick figures on some message board. If only they had known...

English isn't very hard to learn, i think. I have been told that Japanese and Portuguese are actually very hard to learn, though.