As for the Space Shooter biz, i really do doubt freelancer will bring it back. For one, you have no cockpit view which makes it more of an rpg than a shooter.

I don't know. Since it was announced I'm changing my mind every few months between thinking that it'll be really good and thinking that it'll be some shallow "Sims in Space" type of mass market game.

But even if it is "Sims in Space" - if it sells lots of copies (like the Sims) it'll revive the genre. And that's a good thing - even if it isn't another Privateer, it might just pave the way for some new space shooters.

The guy's paper (which I have not read) probably outlined all the inherent dangers of doing the drug. And I'm sure it lists the necessary precautions so that after reading the paper, a user would be making an informed decision, knowing the risks and deciding if the benefits are worth the risk.

Yeah, but you see, most youth's are not in a position to make a responsible decision about such things. You just don't think much about consequences when you're young. Can you imagine someone actually evaluating the risk when they get offered a pill in some discotheque? Can't see it happen - they either just take it or refuse it out of reflex, but they won't say "Hey, wait a few minutes, I'll just sit down in the corner and try to work out wether I really want to do this."

That doesn't mean that I'm against education about the risks of drugs, but they should not be in the form of a How-To that makes it seem that you can safely take them if you take some precautions.

But since we both haven't read the paper, we're just guessing about the nature of the report. But if it is a HowTo, I don't like it...

Well Buck, I've been checking out Amplify myself, and I think to answer your first question, I would say the purpose is to see stuff in it's own resizeable window. You gotta be able to appreciate not having to load up the banner ads in a web page, I mean what do the banner ad companies do for you except provide entertaining 'punch the monkey' crap. I don't think the windows are meant to have any types of controls either I think they are meant to view just what there is to view. Not go back and forth to web pages, just to view what the person intended you to view.

They also didn't work with my popup stopper which I found annoying, but I just added their domain to my accept pop-ups list. I dunno, those are just my thoughts, I have the amplify client installed and its pretty cool and has a google search box and stuff like that built into it. Pretty impressive tool if you ask me.

PS- check out the link I posted to the Cartoon network Hong Kong Phooey, I enjoyed watching it full screen rather then in a suck-ass web page.

You liberal fruitcakes crack me up. How is GOING TO JAIL preferable to doing a couple of hours of community service? The stupid kid's lawyer probably asked for a community service sentence instead of jail time or custodial rehab. The judge was doing him a damn favor the first time just asking him to write a report, and he turned around and tried to be funny. The idiot was caught dealing drugs and he just gets community service? What a lucky bastard.

This comment was edited on Dec 7, 02:08.

Actually the main problem the Judge likely had with the kid was that he disobeyed her. Judges hate disobedience more than ANYTHING else in the world. Don't ask how I know this.

Society is truly going down the tubes when a court can order you to make public speeches that oppose your beliefs.

Ah yes, an excellent point. I agree.

Which brings me to a favorite rant of mine:

How is it that judges are so completely removed from reality? How is it that these morons get to make (through their decisions) laws that will affect us for generations, without any input or involvement from the general populous?

I don't fully understand the American system, but here in Canada judges are NOT elected, they are appointed. Yet they are granted these extreme powers, when most of them are total frickin' retards when it comes to matters that require the application of even a little common sense!

AARRRRGGGHHH!!!


This comment was edited on Dec 6, 23:28.

Yeah yeah yeah,

I knew I shouldn't have put forced in front of slave but just put it in there anyway.

As for the Space Shooter biz, i really do doubt freelancer will bring it back. For one, you have no cockpit view which makes it more of an rpg than a shooter. I'd just really really like to see a freespace 3 being made. The previous games I still fire up at least once every six months just to get my fix.

That makes me laugh every time I read it.

What's the purpose of these? They pop up fucking annoying second windows without controls, they don't work with my popup stopper and they're generally very annoying.

Buck Birdseed (aka Snapcase)
http://www.counterglow.net

Red - Exactly, its why big signs on doors, saying "Warning do not open" or "Do not touch this button, no matter what!!", will always be opened or switched

they should have "Warning do not open - or YOU WILL DIE and so will your kittens"

Red - Exactly, its why big signs on doors, saying "Warning do not open" or "Do not touch this button, no matter what!!", will always be opened or switched

- The Voices In My Fruit Loops Tell Me I'm Special -

Hazard, I think we have different definitions of "safe." The guy's paper (which I have not read) probably outlined all the inherent dangers of doing the drug. And I'm sure it lists the necessary precautions so that after reading the paper, a user would be making an informed decision, knowing the risks and deciding if the benefits are worth the risk.

The safety of the user is irrelevent because he knowingly brought it upon himself (trying to protect stupid people from themselves is one of the major downfalls of society and counter-productive to evolution). But if he acts responsibly, his actions won't effect anyone else, and that's what matters. Educating the person allows him to act responsibly. Thusly education is the most important step of all.

Telling someone not to do something only makes them want to do it more. It's innate to human nature. You must explain to a person why something is wrong, and hope that your aregument is convincing enough that they believe you without having to figure it out for themselves. But an intelligent person will ignore any opinions you present and base his own opinion solely on the facts that you presented. And that is why, ultimately, it's best just to present all the facts, good and bad.

I thought the sex article was funny. It seems to be saying that sex with your husband/wife is less likely to get you excited and therefore you are less likely to have a heart attack. Didn't we already know this?

Freelancer is gonna suck royally. It's just a really dumbed-down space shooter with some RPG aspects thrown in. I won't enjoy this one for the same reason that Diablo got old so quick. You really aren't doing anything except clicking on stuff to attack and then collecting the loot to make yourself richer/stronger. There's very little strategy or skill involved. Sit anyone down in front of diablo and they'll beat it eventually. It's just not much fun after the novelty wears off. And since Diablo I and II have already given everybody a clickfest outlet, what do they need a space-clickfest for? It will get old even faster.

First the game part

I do wish we saw some space shooter's released. I haven't seen a good one out since freespace 2 and that was a couple years ago. I guess that genre just doesn't make the type of cash it made in the TIE fighter days.

I bet you 20 bucks that that will change again. Just look at the state of the RPG genre before Baldur's Gate. Everyone said RPGs were dead and you couldn't get a real "hit" game in that genre. Pretty much the same as with space shooters right now.

As soon as the next space blockbuster comes along (FreeLancer, maybe?) there will be lots and lots of new space sims because publishers and developers will realise that you can actually make good money in that genre.

About the drug stuff:

Red, as far as I know there is no safe way to consume ecstacy. It is an inherently dangerous drug, as most are. Maybe you can reduce the risk by remembering to not take 20 pills at once, but it will never be safe (not even remotely).

On the other hand, I agree that forcing the kid to make speeches about something he doesn't believe in is probably the worst possible punishment. For one thing, it will just end up being an overly sarcastic affair that will convince no one. And of course, as others have pointed out, there is something called freedom of opinion and that includes the right to not say something you don't want to say.

Btw: that mandatory voluntary work thing reminds me of the german military (I assume that others are not much different): "I need three volunteers to act as the enemy: You, you and you!"

That's almost as good as the phrase "low speed police chase", which to this day brings a grin to my face.

I always get a kick out of oxymorons.

My old personal favorite: Military Intelligence (George Carlin does a great skit on this.)

New favorite: Microsoft Works


-TPFKAS2S

I can't remember a better year for PC games, especially if you are an RPG lover.

There's the rub. I used to really enjoy them. I just can't anymore. Yeah, I can read these boards and tool around on the internet for 20-30 minutes each day during the day...

However, my nights just aren't mine anymore. I'm lucky to get time to myself around 10:30 PM. Have to be up for work the next day at 5:30 AM... you get the picture.

Combine that with the massive amounts of time required to really get into these new RPG or MMORPGs - I just don't have the time.

So maybe they are great, I just wouldn't know.

The two games that I have enjoyed the most over the past year are the PC version of GTA and MOH:AA. Don't know when they came out but that's what I've played the most.




-TPFKAS2S

>>> As opposed to voluntary slave labor..?

That's almost as good as the phrase "low speed police chase", which to this day brings a grin to my face.

From #19,

Community service is just forced slave labor.

As opposed to voluntary slave labor..?

Bingo. I'm glad to see someone actually caught that. Ofcourse the "goverment" doesn't see it as that, but I'm more then willing to bet that's the way they would prefer it.