metadigital

Actually, it's worse than that. Hans Blix is on record (I've seen the interview, nice that these Germans speak English so well ) confirming that he and his team were using the coalition intelligence to look for the WMD, too. So you can understand why the US administration was getting antsy when he wasn't finding anything ...

The problem is the "peculiar" method of determining whom is to be the beneficiaries of this US munificence. What about North Korea, Zimbabwe, most of Africa, bits of Asia, some former USSR countries that have also fallen to dictatorship, etc. Of course, Rome wasn't built in a day. The gung-ho charge by Bush Jr into the second Gulf War makes the proferred rationale seem purely expedient, and not indicative of a meaningful methodology for helping the peoples of the world to betterment, through empowerment. Especially after the Administration's initial attempts to link al-Qa'ida with Saddam Hussein. That, and the fact that the US has a reputation (deserved or not) of always taking the shortest route to an objective, even if that route is the most costly (in terms of lives or whatever). It's a shame, really, because the US is really every thinking person's great hope. I will leave you with one thought, however, Liberia has the US constituion, and it hasn't done that country any good, so far.

Really? Yes, I know that. And I know plenty about the French Revolution, thank you very much. Thank you, France. Oh, and the last time I checked, the American Revolution ended way before the French Revolution. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> It was only about a three months, technically (July versus April, 1789). But let's talk about the spirit of your point, not the letter, shall we? It would more accurate to say that England begat modern democracy. (Leaving aside the Icelandic Go

1. Happy birthday USA. 2. Slavery is actually an ancient mechanism; read The Richest Man in Babylon (a good book for helping those who find saving pass

Okay, that is cute. :cool: This one isn't a pet, more a visitor: The Literary Toad. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> That looks like a cane toad! (And, yes, Stubby is cute. You don't see many grrrllz wot like lizards ...)

You should get a big game cat. That'll learn 'em.

Yeah, there really wasn't a way forward from the third "Tracer Tong" option in the original ... not much left of JC that couldn't be scooped up with an eyedropper ...

I don't know where this image is coming from, but I have recollection of some infantry making a killing on a tank ... hmm, was it the last BF2 review in PC Gamer? Apparently it is not that difficult, as long as it's one tank and a shedload of men ... :D

Talk about creating a blood feud; you have modelled the problems inherrent in Middle East peace process in your civ!

A very clever shot into the barrel, whilst another jumps on the gun and spears the tankmen inside ...

Sure they did. They couldn't have a god controlling the Earth if the world was so screwed up, now could they?

The oldest cat in Britain is of unknown age. It's owner found her in the garbage twenty-seven years ago, last January (I think), and she's still going strong.

Because you think you have the right to tell me what to do, is how. I call it like I see it.

Your avatar has gone from laughing to retching ...

1. It's on par with most games released now, because of the writing and general production values. :D 2. "Addressing the gameplay"? What, exactly does that mean? Bigger fights? More enemies? More feats? More Force Powers? Weather conditions affecting combat? What? 3. S'funny, they speak highly of you ...

That's called dejarik. And don't ask me how the hell I know. I just do. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Because you've been on these fora too long ... :D

You're forgetting two very important facts: 1. Jodo has no more say over what can be psted here than I do

This is perfect proof of why psychology is a dangerous soft-science for non-scientists to wield as some sort of tool. Are you actually suggesting that the only difference between two individuals at opposite ends of an IQ test (for example) is their attitude? Horsefeathers.

You need to be a half-thingie, with some magic resistence, otherwise the boots of speed blind you and you can't use them. (I fluked this the first time.) I wouldn't play Morrowind without boots of speed, it's too boring. BTW, have you seen this: beat Morrowind in 15 minutes Dammit, I'm almost going to play Deus Ex again ... must ... finish ... sequel ... first ...

If you don't think GTA was well written, then you haven;t played it. I stopped in the newsagent the other day, and the GTA:SA strategy guide wsa there, and it is about 100 pages long, including half-a-dozen different characters interconnected missions (and therefore narratives), and five maps. Who died and made Jodo the king of the world? Stick your opinion in your hat, oh mighty intellect. How is posting the equivalent to "shut up" any less spam than a legitimate conversation? Buffoon.

1. Probably, yes, as I missed it when it came out. My economic rationality is that the game is delivering a similar quality of gameplay, such that I am continuing to play it (apart from when I am attending to matters on the forum), so I see it as an equivalent value as other games that have achieved this. 2. Okay, answer that question, in relation to my original point, which was I would prefer to explore different narrative streams rather than different coloured hats. 3. You seem unduly shocked. Much the same way an AI Expert System learns, the process is self-correcting over time. Hence, the more I use the system, the better information I get out of it. The risk is therefore deminishing over time, with the greatest risk being at the start of the process, which is easily masked by the purchase of a game I would buy on (publisher or developer) reputation, and comparing. 4. I don't understand how you can argue that good writing just isn't worth it, and yet list it as a requirement. It isn't consistent.

And I would, in a civilzed manner, point out that you don't appear to have grasped the importance of writing, nor the fundamental aspect it plays in a narrative-based entertainment medium, like a game. Let's try a quick test. Take away the story. All of it. So what do you have left? A big open are where you can interact with only unscripted objects. Online co-op and PvP games create their own (rudderless) narratives by the kinetic interaction of the various contributors. And what is the major complaint about MMORPGs? Lack of narrative. See? Writing is the bit that holds everything else in place; having better writing may not be a first requirement to the gamer-in0the-street, but it certainly would be missed if it wasn't up to standard. And, back to my original point: better writing is the best investment, dollar-for-dollar, (to the point of deminishing returns); not least because the cost of writing is a substantially less, as a component, than most other elements (apart from voice actors :D).

I don't know what that means. Let me point out the inconsistency for you. Writing has "no grab value", yet you are "a story person". If writing has no "grab value" (sic), then you would hardly be looking for it, now would you?

1. Sure the price affected my purchase. Why woudn't it? And I found out about it by reading reviews and taking recommendations. Are you going to include arguments about trust relationships in your voodoo economic model? 2. I see. So you would play K1 as many times as there were different lightsabre hilts, as opposed to the

I wonder why this topic hasn't been stickied, yet.