Daeval

I've never heard of speed being an issue with firefox, but gryph had a few tweaks before that should make it blazing fast. And there are scarce few sites that firefox can't handle these days (mostly those with Active X), but there's a handy extension that makes it as easy as it could possibly be when you do cross one. This is a handy article for new firefox users: http://www.scotsnewsletter.com/best_of/firefox.htm

What exactly is missing for you?

That would be Everquest: Champions of Norrath: Return to Arms. I've heard the first one was pretty good. Working for SOE left bad vibes around Everquest for me though. Champions is more like Diablo - a hack n' slash rpg - than an action beat 'em up.

No idea what that anonymous thing is. What was it called by your scanner program? And no browser, Firefox included, will stop EVERYTHING. That said, Firefox is a lot better than the popular alternative. If the internet is a water-balloon fight, mal/spy/adware are the water balloons, and Internet Explorer is a trashcan lid, then Firefox is the great wall of China. Sure, someone with a strong enough arm might get something over it, but I know which one I'd rather be behind.

Wait a minute....if you don't click on them, how would you close them?? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You use firefox, so they don't open in the first place.

I have no idea what this game is like, but my first thought was "Porn Tycoon."

Are you referring to those people who use some other browser than IE as "ones with brains"? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Well, that's one thing, but more specifically those who don't click on every email attachment, or open every.exe that a porn or warez site pops up on their browser, etc. I suppose I should have specified "real life situations for most of us."

I didn't read the rest yet, but the ravensoft article is excellent, and echoes much of what was said in this thread (except for the drunk nokia women). Thanks for the links!

That's interesting, but it doesn't say what he infected the computers with. If he tested with a bunch of obscure crap that no one with a brain actually gets, then his numbers don't really apply to practical real life situations.

Damn, so many new games coming... Eh, maybe I'll get DW4 used (since it's like damn cheap) and see how I like it. I think I'll like it regardless. Btw, the characters clothes are 104% awesome. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You should get Samurai Warriors then. You will love Hattori Hanzo. And the costumes for SW is more varied compare to DW which is more to colour swappping. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> They're varied in Samurai Warriors, but there aren't nearly as many characters (a brief skim at gamefaqs lists 42 in DW4, vs. 15 in SW). And there is very little "colour swapping" in Dynasty Warriors after DW2. Many characters have a similar decorative style to their outfits, especially the sort of chinese filligree patterns (I'm sure it has a real name), but very few, if any by DW4, are just recolored textures. The grunt troops are a different story, as each of the three main armies shares the same set of private, sergeant, major, etc models, but all 42+ of the "main" characters are individuals. The independent armies, like Meng Hou's barbarians and the yellow turbans, have their own troops too. This site has pics of the 42 main generals in Dynasty Warriors: http://kongming.net/dw4/por/ Edit: And the 15 generals in Samurai Warriors (click the Gamecity profile links): http://www.kongming.net/samurai_warriors/characters/

I played a ton of this on vacation in vegas before I was old enough to gamble. It's a quarter muncher like they don't make anymore, but somehow it was fun.

As Samurai Edge pointed out, Dynasty Warriors is coming to Nintendo DS this year, and also to the PSP. And I knew it would be soon, but I thought I had at least 6 months... In March (in the US), Dynasty Warriors 5 will be out for PS2, and it supposedly includes a lot of the updates from Dynasty Warriors 4: Empires, as well as some new combat and new characters (including the uber-hot Sei-Sai). Quite a few characters haven't been shown yet, and I can only hope they didn't axe anybody. A teaser site is available here (in Japanese): http://download1.gamecity.ne.jp/smusou4/index.htm

Well it kinda started as spam, but I guess it's practically an article now. Thanks for the move!

Hmm.. they're quite different. I recommend starting with Dynasty Warriors 4, especially if you like what you read above, but I'll cover the rest just for fun. "Dynasty Warriors" (1) This was actually a 3D fighting game featuring the Three Kingdoms characters. It was on PS1 and I believe in the arcades as well. Reports are that it wasn't very good. "Dynasty Warriors" (2, 3, & 4) This is the "main" line (aside from Romance of the Three Kingdoms, but we'll get to that) and is what I've described in my previous posts. These games have gotten progressively better and fuller featured, so I'd recommend Part 4. The core elements haven't changed much, but they've worked out the biggest problems and introduced a TON of new characters and some new mechanics. "Dynasty Warriors: Extreme Legends" These are basically add-on packs to whichever Dynasty Warriors they are related to. I haven't played them, but I hear they're only worth the money if you're diehard. There is so much to unlock in Dynasty Warriors that I can't really imagine needing an add on. What's more, I've heard these don't have a lot of content. "Dynasty Warriors 4: Empires" I think that's what it's called. This is supposed to tweak the gameplay in DW4 to add more of a strategy element. I haven't heard much about it. I think you need, or at least would be better off having, DW4 before you play this one though. "Samurai Warriors" This is basically Dynasty Warriors: Japan. Gameplay is more or less the same, but the japanese characters and setting haven't been nearly as well established, so there's not as much to do. I wouldn't recommend it as a starting place, but it might be a nice detour if you end up liking DW. "Dynasty Tactics" These are also set in the Three Kingdoms era, so they share the same characters and situations, but the gameplay is ENTIRELY different. These are tactical strategy games, like chess or something like that. I've heard they're good, but I tried to play the first one and was kind of overwhelmed. Koei is known for complicated strategy games. "Kessen" Another strategy title. Some iterations are set in Japan, some are set in Three Kingdoms china. I found this one to be a little boring and dumbed down, but others I know have liked it. "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" So far as I know, this was the title that started it all for Koei's Three Kingdoms franchise. I've never actually played one, but I believe they date to before the Nintendo, and are still being produced. They are complicated turn-based strategy games involving politics as much as combat, and have broken the will of some of my most hardcore strategy gamer friends. So there you have it. I guess I have to recommend a rental first, as I could see some people getting frustrated or bored with the endless wholesale slaughter, but there's just something old-school about it that I really like. Dynasty Warriors is the kind of game you can always come back to for a little mindless fun.

It's about the three kingdoms era in china. The period is also the source of a HUGE work of chinese historical fiction, which much of the game is based on. It's thick in story between battles, and there's a hefty encyclopedia in-game if you're into that kind of thing. To break it down, you have three kingdoms all vying for power in China, with all the alliances, betrayals, intrigues, emotions, and grand-scale ass kicking that accompanies such a situation. The game focuses on the ass-kicking part, but you see the rest in cut scenes or in things that happen during battle. You might have a battle where you're fighting alongside generals from multiple kingdoms against a common foe, or you might convince an enemy general to defect by beating him or his closest friend, etc. All of that reflects events from the books, so far as I know. You can play as any of I think 50+ generals from any of the three sides and a few that are independent or from other factions (such as the barbarian-like people from the south). The pic in my above post is just four of said generals. Each side has its own version of the story mode, which can be played co-op splitscreen, and the independents have a few of their own as well, I believe. There are a bunch of extra modes too. Basically, you pick a general and get thrown onto a non-linear battlefield with hundreds of warriors that vary from peons to generals as strong or stronger than yourself. You'll have a goal (usually kill the enemy leader), and will want to fight in a way that will build up your own army's morale so they will fight better. Helping friendly generals in trouble can mean they'll be more likely to help you, and your army as a whole is more lilkely to press the attack if they think they're winning. You earn items and power ups that level up your character, as well as your body guards. Over time, you gain more life, musou (super energy), strength, defense, a few new attacks, the ability to carry more items, and more and stronger bodyguards. Items do everything from give you more health to allow you to start on a horse (or elephant!). Items earned and bodyguards can be used by any character, but everyone levels up individually. There is a LOT of unlocking to be done.

Dynasty Warriors is teh crap. It's easily the best mindless 3D beat 'em up ever. And Koei did an awesome job taking what could have been a bunch of bland ancient chinese generals and giving them tons of character, not to mention making them each look unique and badass. Such as: (That's, clockwise from top left: Taishi Ci, Zhou Tai, Lu Meng and Dian Wei) So if you haven't played it, and you like beating on things until your thumbs bleed, go find part 4 on your local used games rack.

This is completely OT, but is your avatar supposed to be as dirty as it looks?

Yeah, I figure as much, I just though of asking to clear the fog. The idea is nice, unfortunaly this kind of work is by no means a walk in the park, if you get my drift. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> From what I understand, it depends laregly on the kid. I've had friends who've done it and had good experiences, but it sounds like you guys got the short straw. Are the parents all gangster too? If so, it might be difficult to approach them about it, but it sounds like you really should talk to them.

His point is rather obvious, but it's interesting to me that it is missed on such a grand scale that there needs to be essays about it. In my city, our community colleges are increasing fees and cancelling classes left and right for lack of funding, but we just got a new multi-million dollar ballpark because the guys we pay millions of dollars a year to play baseball didn't like sharing with the guys who get even more to play football. Look over there! The fundamentalists are doing something stupid again! Obviously, I agree with him. Now, if only his attitude was the one that made tv ratings, it might reach the people who need to hear it most.

There are more interfaces shown on the back than the number of cards would account for.

I would try it if the download wasn't going to take 10 and a half hours. I'll find another DL site when I'm less lazy.

I read that wrong.. I was thinking for a second there that you wouldn't be able to bounce a ball, much less move, without owing royalties. EA would have nothing on them then.

I didn't watch this thing, but since it's obviously a take on the Ring/Ringu... Did anyone else think the "evil scary tape" in The Ring could have been lost footage from an early Nine Inch Nails video?

Unless they outsource an expansion pack like the crap-tastic opposing force. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Opposing Force craptastic? I beg to differ. It's one of the only good expansion packs made. But Gabe Newell has said they are working on new episodic content and some special hardcore maps for ATI people. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Compared to Half-Life proper, I thought OF sucked. Part of the reason Half-Life was awesome was because the enemies were smart (at least for their time) or they at least acted more like living things than we were used to. In short, they took some thought. The new OF stuff was all of the then-popular quake 3 "we have perfect aim and we shoot as soon as you're visible" style, or the melee equivalent. Compared to HLs, they were unbelievable and poorly thought out. The new weapons looked neat, but were boring once you pulled the trigger. The level design was alright most of the time, and downright crappy at times (as in the pitch-black tunnels full of large enemies). All in all, it wasn't TERRIBLE I guess, but I wasn't exactly begging for another. I never played Blue Shift, so I don't have an opinion on that one.