Krytos

Nice Tofu

Revenge of the gamers regarding Mass Effect

Yes .. umm ... Renault and Peugeot come to mind, and are generally marketed as mid to upper range cars and also generally smaller cars. They're not bad cars, but not really what I like in terms of styling or performance (although, not everything is performance - my current car isn't anything special in a straight line) That would have been spectacular! A car forum I sometimes browse had a thread where in Japan a large number of Ferrari F40 - and by large number, I mean 20-40 - had a get together recently and a cruise around some Japanese city. I think I would have passed out if that happened around here. Also, thanks about the avatar - I was wondering if anyone had noticed I'm afraid not Tofu It's not your car .. it's ... you j/k

That I do Both myself, and my brother, have gone down a similar path of car loving - starting with Aussie muscle cars ... which I rather dispise now, going over to fast Japanese cars and have ended on Euro cars. Whenever we make a car wish list I think 90%, if not all, are Euros - and of those I'd say that the majority is German (3 favourite luxury/performance badges - Porsche, BMW and Audi). After Germany leaves the list dominted, there's some British (Lotus, Aston Martin for looks), Italians (Ferrari (only their performance cars like the current 430, not a fan of the 599), Lamboghini (who doesn't love the look, sound and performance of a Galardo or Murcielago)) and ... hmm .. actually, that's usually the list of manufactorers .. at least that I can think of/remember

[cough]Site's back up[/cough]

Sorry to hear that Def I wish you and your family the best in this hard time for you

Happy birthday guys! @Eagle: Like Tofu said, you're the ONLY one who keeps up with this stuff ... I don't think anyone cares that you forget every now and again - it's the thought that counts, and it counts a lot.

@Eagle: Love it! And that was from Star Wars.com @Mad: Poly count? High 879,744 polys The low poly version is around 1400 tris .. I think? @Tofu: So far, that's a test render for the BMW badge, I'm still playing a bit with it - but I agree it's missing something. One problem is the reflecting surface seems to be dithered rather than constant ... not sure why either. Might be a sampling issue or resolution, or maybe I jsut need to move the reflective surface. The rings is an Audi badge I made it after having a fun drive in my car and wanted a new msn avatar. My brother liked it so much he wanted one for his car ...

Just some playing around stuff http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/8682/audiringvh9.th.jpghttp://img179.imageshack.us/img179/1189/bmwtestwu0.th.jpg Gonna be a game model reallll soon ... I hope http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/451/mp7test02sl7.th.jpghttp://img179.imageshack.us/img179/6537/mp7testuv5.th.jpg

Not much to really see on Tiberium yet, but it should be alright. C&C3 isn't too shabby, and is still fun to play - Tiberium has more of Tiberium Sun feel to it mixed with Renegade so hopefully will be lots of fun Though the video doesnt show it, some of the units (like the orca) are from the early concept art of C&C3 .. damn, why weren't they in the RTS?!

Thanks for the Sinister, sounds ... interesting In sad, sad news Heath Ledger was found dead today in his appartment

Just some random pics I found, enough said http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/949/post2331132537215fv8.th.jpg http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/2553/post200171135080333ia6.th.jpg http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/1636/post81141239740al7.th.jpg http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/6084/post104861143618908sd8.th.jpg

Rubberband gun times 2 ... the movie?

http://img471.imageshack.us/img471/403/621bj6.jpg http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/5029/poster52013597sz0.jpg NSFW - swearing NSFW - ditto

Here are a few little apps I use for everyday stuff. The first is called Y'z Dock, which is an emulation of the Mac OSX dock - but only to launch apps (ie. shortcut). It's a nice way to keep the desktop clear and quickly access favourite programs, I've got my CG programs, web browsers, email, media player and a CPU load app sitting in the dock, which hides at the top of the screen. Only problems that I've encountered is that when playing games you'll need to quit the program otherwise when you move the mouse up to where-ever the dock is you'll "open" it (depending on settings) Also, by default you need to run the program each time windows starts up, otherwise you can put a shortcut to it in the startup folder. Another app I started using as a bit of a screw around, and now keep using, is ViStart (select Build 2661 VTP to download). It's meant to mimic the Windows Vista start menu, with new layout etc. Now, those who've seen the Vista start menu will know it has some advantages and possible disadvantages. Ok, so similarities to XP's start menu. Click on start, you get the menu with quick access links on the right to My documents etc. (with pretty images ). On the left are the programs you've used most. The Good, the program list (called "All programs") doesn't pop out and cover the rest of the screen, but rather stays in the start menu and replaces the most used programs with the ability to scroll. My favourite part is the search ability which allows you to dynamically search through programs in the start menu rather than manually search. Start typing in "photo" and it displays the programs I have with that in its name - viola, there's photoshop, adobe stock photo album, photorecord, photostitch and a host of other programs I'd forgotten about. Personally, I love it for that function alone and I'm getting closer to getting rid of Y'z dock. Bad, currently right mouse clicking does nothing (annoying sometimes, but you can quit and drop to XP's menu for that). There are several limitations in the options. And the program list is ONLY sorted alphabetically, which is annoying. Other things of interest. Well, graphically it's made of a serious of PNG's stored in a resource folder that you can edit to change the look of it you'd like or download other skins. It supports transparencies ... good and bad. Looks neat, but gets annoying because unlike the real Vista this doesn't blur. I also rather prefer the new layout of access buttons. These are sort of everyday apps that can make things easier, for me. But, just remember that the more crap you put on your computer the more RAM gets used and the longer it'll take to fully load.

That'd be the 8800 GT, which is pretty damn cheap and thought to get cheaper. It's also pretty damn good as a graphics card, and for the price you cant go wrong (from what I've read). I've got a review somewhere ... Ah, here. Also of note, is that there's a new 8800 ... GTS coming out ... at least I think its the GTS. It's one of nVidia's top of the line cards being re-released with the new GPU core of the GT.

Twin fate The good robber Thinking of his real family

Double post of revival! Or something like that. Anywho, figured we can use this thread as the OOC thread to discuss where things are headed.

I really need to pull my thumb out and read something soon. I'm thinking of trying to borrow Do Androids dream of Electrical Sheep sometime ... soon ... ish ... maybe

Please do, and don't forget spoilers in black for those of use who want to know what happens

When you go to an amusement park, you don't bring your own rides. You go to a car track day and don't own a track car, you rent. If you're just using it to "blow off steam", why own it and keep it at home where it can't be used? But, at the end there's a huge barrier between us Rob. I mean, in Australia there isn't the massive gun culture compared to the USA, so it might be similar to someone telling me "You don't need a car to get to work, take public transport"..ok, that was a bad example because I do take public transport a lot ... but I'd be annoyed at not being allowed a car. I'm really trying to see your side of this argument, but I'm yet to get a feeling for the need to keep a firearm at home let alone own one Mad doesn't live in Australia, he lives in Switzerland. Tourist get robbed all the time, not just in Aus... but what's your point? Tourist should have guns now? I don't see suggestion going well in America, let alone in Australia. It's also interesting to note that these robberies dont happen with guns - but with knives and I don't recollect hearing of a death in relation to these robberies. So again, a gun helping the situation? Afraid not. Oh, and the home invasion thing increasing. That's true, but government studies have linked that to the increase of gang mentality and drugs (as pointed out in my previous post) as well as various ethnic groups not wanting to conform with the existing society. But you've forgotten the most important fact, gun killings are down. Heck, annually we're hearing of crime being down each year - but that's unrelated to this argument. Remember the population, or lack thereof, of Australia after reading that. Whoa, unless I miss read ... you're countering my argument by saying that the media I listen to is biased (and I'll counter with: the majority, especially non-commercial TV stations (quick side note, we don't have an onslaught of TV stations here for free-to-air TV. 3 mainstream stations, two non and a third ... umm ... public station? I'm not to sure what it is except they've got a show that's just music and a camera looking at a fish tank) news broadcasts are quite non-biased and when debatable situations like gun control come up both sides are shown in the argument) and thus a bad source of information and then you continue way later on with saying you listen to biased pro-gun media and their information is right? I mean, saying that the general and public information can be biased and thus not 100% correct is a quality argument. But then backing it with saying you listen to an openly biased new sources kinda throws your argument away on the same merit. Maybe its just the debater in me sparking up? Guns aren't illegal here, just stricter laws (I think) and there isn't a huge influx of people wanting a gun. Pro-gun supporters have a smaller voice (due to numbers) in Australia than anti-gun. The "general" mentality is there's no need for them. I'm not trying to say that banning guns is a good thing in America, like I said last time, I have no real "authority" to argue that. But I can say, as an Australian, that I believe that the gun buy back, harsher gun laws and change in view about guns has made things better here. Before this thread gets to the inevitable flaming, lets face facts. No-one here is about to change their view, no matter what is said, no matter what is shown.

I vote for mine!!! ...wait...no I don't.* LFF gets my vote for the snowed in ninja. *Yes, the REALLY was as lame as the first time you read it

Dude, its not for self-defense or anything like that. Some people enjoy going to a shooting range and just firing off a ridiculously powerful and awesome firearm. Its just fun to target practice. The counter argument there is quiet simple - why not have said weapons under lock and key at the gun range? They'd be theoretically safer there than in homes and easier to track. Living in a country where gun laws are very strict - I honestly see no reason to own a gun unless you're a farmer or equivalent, and that's too kill animals attacking crops, cattle or to put down an animal. Now, I can't speak for what it's like in America, but here the argument that owning a gun for protection is a no brainer. That being, it isn't going to protect you. Now ignoring the "statistics" that most people who own guns have their own gun used against them in a home invasion, here there isn't a "big"* thing with gangs, robbers etc. with guns. Sure there's crime, and sometime guns are used, yet there's no sense or real danger of being shot (stabbed, well that's different). And there is the general consensus among people here that weapons still aren't needed to protect oneself. Now, that isn't true completely for youths that seem to be getting swayed by this gang like love coming from (god I sound like my parents saying this) a lot of TV and music videos as well as other cultures (a lot has spawned from Asian cultures as well as middle east. And the media loves to fuel this with their usual "fine" upstanding fear mongering). But, that doesn't spread very far - and most of those people grow up eventually. Now, to give a kind of retrospective, in Australia we have a population COUNTRY wide that'd fit into New York city (21 million, yup only 21 million). So, we don't have the population density of Ameri....any country, so take this as you will. In my city of Melbourne, hearing of someone using a gun for a robbery is enough to turn your head - it doesn't just pass you bye as another news story. A shooting is big news. Again to compare, here Police carry 9mm revolvers, capsicum spray and retractable batons. Several "community members" and even some police officers have asked for pistols ... but there simply is nothing to back the want by a few. If, god forbid, there is some large scale shooting (where unless there is an armed robbery with multiple armoured offenders, a revolver will do) there's various arms of the police issued with heavy body armour, automatic weapons (mp5's and m4's seem to be the usual - apparently some of the counter terrorist boys have some G36c's), shotguns etc to deal with that problem. I also get the whole firing range thing. It's a power trip. But again, why keep the gun at home? Is there really a need if you're going to a shooting range? I guess, somewhere in there, I'm trying to get at: you just don't really need them (in my opinion, and in my country). Now, before finishing I haven't - and won't - vote in this thread as this is obviously targeted to Americans, and apart from not living there and having little to justify being against guns except that all other countries (to my knowledge) with strict gun control, like mine, appear to have a lot less gun related violence. And, to close, if guns laws aren't the real cause behind this violence, then maybe someone should really look into fixing the true cause in America? -Yours truly, just an outsider. *What qualifies big?

Unfortunately, Rebellion doesn't work with the usual screenshot method in windows - you'll need an external program. I was originally pointed to this program when I asked the question a few years back: irfanview.

OOC: Doesn't sound like a bad idea Tofu - keeps me from slowing the story to a crawl and from screwing up current continuity. I'm open for ideas, and I guess we can use the other thread for OOC discussion again.