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Fly... by °Phill  1 month 1 week  ago

Fly... by °Phill 1 month 1 week ago

^nat
This wallpaper captures the urban essence that proliferated the art of Ghost in the Shell in every incarnation of the series. Phill does an amazing job of capturing a moment of surrealism.

While there are a few, stray building angles and shadows, you find that your eye forgives the minor details and instead focuses on the overall scene that is larger than life, with lights trailing off into infinity.

ShoutBox

~haikoru-sama 13 minutes ago
Where?

~hakuza 28 minutes ago
Wow... anyone else see that Mononoke-hime wallpaper in progress? <_< Just wow. lol

~haikoru-sama 39 minutes ago
(XD) emoticon

~thebigfatwhale 52 minutes ago
>_> mewthree?

~haikoru-sama 52 minutes ago
<_< mewtwo

~thebigfatwhale 1 hour ago
>_>

~whisprn2dawind 1 hour 29 minutes ago
Bout time! bye~

~Gatoi 1 hour 30 minutes ago
*turning off computer* BAI!!

~whisprn2dawind 1 hour 31 minutes ago
Meh... neither...

~Gatoi 1 hour 31 minutes ago
Shove him then! (good night! =))

Spudsy2061's Comments

COD4 is SO fun

2 weeks 5 days ago

"The best classes depend on game-mode. For example for most TDM and any Hardcore games I use:

MP5 or M16 Silenced
.45 Silenced

Bomb Squad
UAV Jammer
Dead Silence

And for game modes which are mostly run and gun:

M60
.45 Silenced

Bomb Squad
Stopping Power
Martydom

And of course there's always the piss everyone off class

M16
Desert Eagle

Noob Tube
Juggernaut
Last Stand"

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Television Programming

2 weeks 5 days ago

"Besides the current Olympics, there's only one show you'll ever need in life: Sportscenter."
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Beijing 2008 Olympics

2 weeks 5 days ago

"Well I always love the Olympics, and I must say the Opening Ceremonies were amazing. A fantastic spectacle that really was worth the time and energy to stat up for. The swimming, in particular the ones involving Michael Phelps were insane, especially where Lezack ran down the Frenchman for the win, or the 1/100 of a second win over the Serbian. It was an astonishing feat to witness, and by far a story to be told for generations. The games in general have been very good, and a brilliant pleasure to watch. The Boxing has been top notch despite some sloppy opening round fights, but for the most part Olympic boxing is the highest quality fights you will ever see. The wrestling has been very entertaining, then Table Tennis intense, and the Track + Field has been superb. The football has been a great enjoyment to watch and the water polo and volleyball have been really tight tournaments all around. The cycling was very good and the rowing was great despite the typical US falter. Overall, I've been glued to the TV whenever I can be watching Olympic coverage. The gymnastics were of the highest level I've ever seen, despite the very faulty judging. I would say this has been an Olympic experience to remember, by far something I've enjoyed for 13 days so far."
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E3 2008

1 month 2 weeks ago

"E3 was massively disappointing. It only helped prove to me how bad economy wise the industry is right now. There is absolutely not a single title worth my money at that E3, and theme of "more series-based games" only helped to prove to me the all time low the game industry is at right now. Nothing original is coming out and nothing worth waiting for has been announced. The 2008-2009 Fiscal Year is going to be probably the worst the industry will have ever faced, and it is going to be painfully slow, annoying, and boring."
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GRID

1 month 2 weeks ago

"Played the game at a friends house and I must say I am convinced of the following:

GRID < Forza Motorsports 2"

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The Sports Thread

2 months 4 days ago

"Federer played good against a tough Safin. I know you're disappointed in Ivanovic, but Zheng's time to burst onto the singles scene after some great consistency in the doubles is finally here, and here to stay hopefully. She's probably going to be the one to mix up the Olympic Tennis scene in a month."
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COD4 is SO fun

2 months 5 days ago

"
BT-FK
Love that One shot one kill mission on veteran !


Oh my god it's so tough. I had problems getting past that on hard, now I gotta do it on Veteran? All Ghillied Up is probably one of my favorite missions though, next to Shock and Awe and No Fighting in the War Room."

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The Sports Thread

2 months 5 days ago

"Yeah I like how Safin's exploded onto the scene again. His sister Dinara Safina is really fun to watch and I wanted her to win the French Open so badly (I like Ivanovic, just wanted Safina more). It was also disappointing to watch Jankovic lose AGAIN. She drives her fans (like me) crazy with the way she'll advance deep and then completely fall apart to the worst of opponents."
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Electronica, Dance, and Trance

2 months 5 days ago

"I picked up Paul van Dyk's "The Politics of Dancing Volume 2" last Tuesday, and I must say it is awesome. Absolutely smashing, and enjoying every minute of music it's pouring out of my speakers. Now if my 5.1 surround sound will come in the mail, we could have something more going on here."
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COD4 is SO fun

2 months 5 days ago

"CoD 4 and Portal are probably the best games to have been released within the past year. In fact they're the only games I have/would buy at this point."
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The Sports Thread

2 months 5 days ago

"Oh my god that was an excellent match. It's ashame Nadal won cause I hate him so much. I hope Federer destroys him if they meet. I'm also not a fan of Serena Williams. Venus I can stand, but Serena can roll over and die, and I'm really upset she beat the Chinese player Zheng, whom is one of the best doubles players around. Her climb to the final weeks of a grand slam's singles petition has been long overdue."
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Super Smash Brothers!

2 months 6 days ago

"
Deer
Brawl is Melee 2.0. If someone can explain to me the fuss and hype then I'd appreciate it because when I played it, I played one game and was left with just "Oh, okay, right, yeah. That was fun." Nothing spectacular about it at all.


I agree 100%. It's good for a game or two but not anything spectacular. I'm kinda almost ready to put this series to rest."

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COD4 is SO fun

2 months 6 days ago

"
vick
I thought there was a mute function.?


There was on PC and 360 to start with."

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The 3 new kingdom hearts games

2 months 6 days ago

"The only thing it can pride itself on is not being Guitar Hero for the DS."
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The Sports Thread

2 months 1 week ago

"Meanwhile, all you British can rejoice, Andy Murray just played one of the best matches I've ever seen in a 5 set, come-from-behind win over Gasquet to advance into the quarter-finals. British hopes are still alive in their own championship."
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High School and Anime

2 months 1 week ago

"If you stick a bunch of characters in high school and center the anime around that or use that as a theme then you better have something incredibly excellent in store, because it just screams unoriginal to me."
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Metal gear solid 4

2 months 1 week ago

"
irove
1. That's supposed to be an argument? >_>
All you did is a list of games that you don't like.

2. Again, a list of games you don't like proves nothing (except that you don't like those games).

3. When has the price of a game become a matter of importance when judging the quality of a game, as a game? And yes, there are some things in this world that are worth paying whatever they cost. Specially if they can help you understand what being a human being and life is about.

4. If you take a look at history, all geniuses (most of them) are labelled by the masses at his time as "nuts" or crazy because they tend to think outside the box, go against the current. Dali could be classified as an insane guy, in fact he probably was. Does that make him less valuable as an Artist? Hell no, quite the opposite, an Artist is supposed to break the rules.

5. MGS2 was good. Just because you wanted to play with the same character than the previous game, doesn't mean that's a flaw. It's your own personal taste that makes you hate or dislike Raiden, because you haven't actually said anything about the character, his story, and his participation on the story itself that could be considered as a flaw in the game. Also, you should explain specifically what was disappointing about MGS3, because you haven't.

6. Another point is fanboyism, you seem to strictly relate popular with overrated. Some things may have a wide popularity because of the mentioned fanboyism, which is, as you said: "fans tend to swallow anything from the developers and ask for more". But that's not always the case, and sometimes a big popularity is more than deserved.

7. In the end it could be summed up as what you expect. If you want a mindless game with a good gameplay that will keep you entertained for some time you can play a sports game or something that's just fun. If you want a work of Art, you should play a game with a good story and a good gameplay. Some depth. A story; and behind that story, a plot; and behind that plot, some life lessons; and behind those life lessons, an Artist who wants to communicate something. You said yourself that you do not care for Art, hence your passion for sports game or your dislike for MGS series, for example. It's like comparing a modern 3-7 minutes song with a symphony that lasts about 30-50 minutes, or even more. Sure you can have a great theme in a short period of time, but to develop it correctly you need more time and "space". Again, it all depends in what you're looking for. And you definitely can't achieve all that MGS does in something shorter.

8. (Read all this carefully >_>, none of this is personal, and there's definitely not one insult in there)

And no double posting please, it's against the rules.


Let me break this down number by number so it's easier to rebut.

1. Re-read the second sentence.

2. In argumentative papers and writings, this is called leading or arguing by example, which is one many authors/writers/and teachers use. It does have meaning and proves something, you just need to look into it more.

3. The point over that whizzed over your head. The point I'm making is that a series needs to be pretty tip-top to be able to require that kind of commitment over time, both time vise and financially. Something that tends to disappoint loses or does not even gain the commitment.

4. I disagree, and I think Dali was a terrible artist. If you go insane, yes that makes you less valuable in my eyes, probably because being associated to someone or something that came from the insane is something I do not want indulge.

5. MGS 2 was not good. It's one thing to completely replace the main character, it's another to replace him with a whiny, stuck-up, complaining for his mommy type (insert swear word here). His story did nothing to advance the overall plot of MGS for me and it's a game I could have skipped in order to save my the annoyance of playing it and still have not missed anything at all really.

6. It is always the case that fanboys swallow anything the developers give them and ask for more. If it wasn't the word fanboy would not exist, or at least it would have a different meaning.

7. MGS is far from a work of Art, and if it truly is, than it would help explain why most wallpapers on AP recently have been pure junk. The depth in MGS 4 is there but it isn't necessarily a good thing because it's "depth" jumps around so much that it might as well fly you on a helicopter out to the pacific ocean, 100 miles from the shore and drop you in it with no water wings just to see if you can get back. That kind of cruelty is not appreciated. Also you have insulted me, claiming that my dis-like for what I labeled as "museum art" and which constantly get incorrectly quoted and taken out of context just for personal gain on your behalf, is the reason I like sports games. Where in the world did you come up with that? It wreaks of smelly towels that were wet and on a basement floor for 2 months before you decided to wash them. That whole paragraph also tried to label me as someone who does not like. If you want a work of art pick up Jade Empire or Call of Duty 4 or Deus Ex. Even the original Syphon Filter was a better "tactical espionage shooter" than MGS 4, and that's saying quite the mouthful. On my last point I would not want to achieve the kind of under-performance I see MGS to have, because I'd rather enjoy a game the developers want to take time on and make excellent instead of give it mopped up graphics and more cut scenes than my DirectTV has channels.

8. You did insult me somewhat, because your words still have a meaning behind them, and in particular ones you want interpreted a certain way. You can't hide behind a curtain you take a lighter too. Also I do apologize for the double post, you see I'm finally coming back after a two week break and am so used to Goal Line Blitz's forums where double posting is not allowed and you argue multiple people by double posting."

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The 3 new kingdom hearts games

2 months 1 week ago

"After KH2, the series has been demoted into the rent/try first before buy. KH2 was disappointing, and now to hear that we're going to have more spin-offs of the series on the hand-helds makes me question the integrity of the series since most of the other hand-helds have sucked so bad."
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Metal gear solid 4

2 months 1 week ago

"
Deer
Zero Punctation isn't the gospel though and he's said before he's a PC FPS lover so there's one reason why he didn't like it anyway. Another reason is he's not a fan of the series and a non-fan jumping in at the fourth game and saying it sucks because he has no understanding of the past 3 games is like someone jumping in at the end of Star Wars going "Wtf laser swords? Lol crap".

Moving on from that, Metal Gear Solid 2 didn't suck. If it did suck then it wouldn't have sold so well, be praised so well, be highly regarded in the world of gaming and be commonly put in multiple lists of best games ever. There are few people who think it sucked and if you're one of them then well, that would be your personal opinion, not a general fact. Same with Metal Gear Solid 3 but as you said it disappointed *you* so I'll let that slide because I've already addressed this issue in another topic so I'm not going to re-iterate it here again.

Seeing as you seem to think that ZP tells nothing but the god-honest truth then no, you probably wouldn't like MGS4 so I wouldn't even suggest you renting it because the world doesn't really need another Xbot hater. You may think what you like about the game or the series but the fact is it's shifted 3 million copies, boosted PS3 sales worldwide dramatically and is already being hailed as Game of the Year in some quarters and best game ever in the minds of most who's played it then you just may have to accept that MGS has moved on and gone over your head. It has its little problems and hindrances but what game doesn't? No game is perfect.

And to clarify, before you can use this to counter me, this isn't me being a MGS fanboy. I'm a fan of majority rules and if the majority say the game is good then the game is probably good, if I don't like it then that's a matter of my own taste. Like I hate Prince of Persia (the original) but the rest of the world holds it highly, fair enough then, it's my personal taste holding me back. You can't say a series is crap because YOU don't like it.


First Paragraph: I'll agree in that he is partially biased off the fact that he hasn't played the previous games, but I'm not here to argue against him, and a series for me normally needs a good three strikes before I stop paying it. ZP is one, MGS 2 sucking is 2, 3 being disappointed is like fouling off a pitch, and so the count remains 1-2 (the ball coming from the glory that was MGS 1). I however have played the previous 3 games, and to me if MGS 4 disappoints me, then the disappointments of 3 + 4 can be considered call strike 3 on the outside corner, batter retired.

Second Paragraph: Oh for me MGS 2 sucked. Not playing as Snake was the first and biggest killing blow, especially since his replacement was nothing but a whiney port over from any FF character from 7 on up. Also, money is powerful enough to buy good reviews. IGN, Gamespot, and GameInformer are infamous for this, and second to them are console-specific magazines like Nintendo Power and PSM. Lastly for this paragraph, of course *I* was disappointed. I'm not going to come into the forums are rebut somebody else's point for them, at least respect me in the department in that I didn't like it. Also, remember that boasting that the general consensus like a game is not really something I'd consider worthy of bragging about. Proof of this goes to simply mentioning the series of Naruto, Bleach, HALO, and Final Fantasy.

Third Paragraph: Woah now, no need to insult me ok? I'm just exercising my right to speak on something I'm cautious in playing. No ZP is not the gods'-honest truth, but I at least respect the man for never surrendering his individuality to others idealisms and fanboy states. Anyway again I'm not here to argue him. Ok so it sold 3 million copies. Big whoopty do, so did ever other game series that has a rabid fan base. Final Fantasy, HALO, and Devil May Cry have all been crap (FF since Tactics + 6/ HALO since 1/ DMC since 1) and they all sold over 3 million copies. Madden is another great example. Now, allow me to qualify my statements first before you try to counter-attack this. I'm not going to go out on a limb and label MGS as a fan-driven series yet, but I will state that if it does have the fanbase of the other mentioned series than it could easily produce those numbers like the others have. Also, "going over my head"? I'm sorry, I thought it was called differing tastes?

Fourth Paragraph: I can fully say a series is crap because I don't like it because in the end everything posted in a topic like this is opinion. That's how everything essentially gets labeled as good or crap anyways is on opinion. I'm not a fan of majority rules because the majority (or at least as I see them) tend to be completely unintelligent. Urbanization is great cause and effect of how this can be argued to be true. Also, I know you're not an MGS fanboy, we've known each other long enough to see and acknowledge that, but at least do me the favor of tipping your hat back to me on our disagreements.


irove
A series cannot be "dead" if it was planned all along since the first game, since "dead" means that it has ran out of ideas and lacks originality. And that's not the case of the Metal Gear Solid series, which is full of touching and developed stories for every character and very remarkable scenes that have shown the talent of its Director and Creator. It wasn't meant to be just one game and then as it became famous and successful they decided to make another one. No, it's one long and complex story told in different games by different characters through different times.


Well I haven't had a good crack at you in a while, so here we go. By dead I mean completely lost all respect and will to play and or buy the game. Final Fantasy is a great example, since nothing has been good for almost a decade now in that series. HALO is another great example of this. When I claim a series to be "dead" it means only still lives off the fanboys that feed it, see Devil May Cry and Madden NFL Football. A touching and developed story should not rip $200 out of your pocket like MGS though, and taking 4 games to try and tell that only helps me denounce it more. I wouldn't praise Hideo Kojima either, since he tends to say things interviews and press releases that make me question his mental stability and the almost schizophrenic directing and storytelling of the whole Metal Gear series in general is enough to make your eyes spin. One long and complex story is nice, but taking 4 (4+ if you count the Metal Gear minus Solid) is just something that takes too much time. Don't try to tell me then "oh well you don't have the attention span to fully stay with it though", because a) I shouldn't have to "stay with" a series, it should interest me enough to enjoy it and b) I don't have anything wrong with 2-part games or even trilogies as long as all of them are good, which MGS is not (see 2 and somewhat 3, somewhat because 2 flat out was not good and 3, while having a good part or two in it, generally was disappointing, disappointing being not totally bad but less than the mediocre)."

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Metal gear solid 4

2 months 1 week ago

"
val
MGS series never disappoint their fans.


We haven't met have we? Also, of course it won't diappoints it's fans, because fans tend to swallow anything from the developers and ask for more. Series like this include:

Metal Gear Solid
Kingdom Hearts
Final Fantasy
Halo
Devil May Cry
Resident Evil"

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anyone WoWed ?

2 months 1 week ago

"WoW is a game I will always hate. Now I like playing MMORPGs to kill time, and I'll admit they are great for that, but killing time with them and specifically using them to ruin your life are different."
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The Sports Thread

2 months 1 week ago

"Wimbledon has the day off, good tournament so far. I would love to watch Jelena Jankovic win her first grand slam."
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Devil May Cry 4

2 months 1 week ago

"
jinsa
Can't wait until early July!


Can't wait until Capcom puts a stake in this series and we bury it 2000 feet into the ground."

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Super Smash Brothers!

2 months 1 week ago

"The more I play Brawl, the more I'm disappointed at it, consider the series to have one strike on it."
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