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Check this past post from forum member matzyboy in a Photoshop comp years ago:
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=17100.msg210575#msg210575

Now have a look at the recent flickr submission from P.J. Rush that's making the rounds on blogs...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/prom77/4605755892/in/pool-1012163@N22

I'm not alleging plagiarism; I'm sure Mr Rush came up with the idea on his own. But it just proves my theory that no matter how original you think your ideas are, someone on the internet has probably thought of them already.

Instead of lying on your pimplely, grotesque back  drink warm soda and posting retarded topics about your half-ass political issue, why don't you get off your ass and start working on a game like every other member? Everytime I look at your posts I always laugh knowing that when I click on your screen name your ags awards have 404 errors. Even if they did work who the hell plays a game called stickmen? (your STD infested parents do not count). Anyway, you're a dumbass who doesn't know good info when he sees it. you're crying right now because I'm the first person to have insulted your parents but it's okay, there are plenty of psychiatrists for the likes of you.

Hey Skyfire, I wanted to reply but you blocked me even before I could send a response. I don't know why since I'm not the one hassling you through PMs.

Anyway, remember when I told you to piss off?

Good. Piss off!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UomfLKQr57U


Edit by Andail:
Changed title.

The video of Colbert at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner has been making the rounds. To sum up what happens, Stephen Colbert is just ten feet away from President Bush and rips him a new arsehole while the whole audience watches awkwardly.

I've been reading a lof of comments from people who've seen this video and most sum up in a few short words: Big. Brass. Balls.

And I agree.

Found a band or singer you never knew existed until recently? Doesn't matter if they're an up-and-coming newbie band or an old rocker from ages ago, post your discovery here -- tell us what you found and what you think of them.

For example... Just recently, I discovered Sigur Ros with their latest album Takk. Apparently it's a very popular album with a few tracks legally released online and being swapped around blogs. However, musically, I've been living under a rock for the last few months, so it's a new band for me. And it's very pretty album.

I also recently saw Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah perform on Letterman. Thought the singer was a little "screechy" but then spent a few seconds listening to the actual song and thought, "Hey that's pretty good." Haven't listened to the full album yet, cause at the moment I'm still listening to Takk.

Prior to these, last album I bought was Elbow's Leaders of the Free World back around November. They're one of my favourite bands, so not really a new discovery. But a bloody good album, their best release IMO.

share your stories

I found a post by Remo on a recent article from Roger Ebert's page. There's a big debate there as to whether computer games are in the same league as movies and books.

Here's what Remo said as per the Ebert article:

From a posting by Chris Remo at Shacknews.com. Subject: "Ebert on Video Games: They are Inferior":

Ebert's rather crass response seems to suggest a limiting definition of what art can be, as well as an unfamiliarity with the sort of control game designers can in fact have over their audiences. Just as in the other forms Ebert mentions, in games that control can be expressed through narrative means or simply through a crafted experience.

For an example off the top of my head of the former, take the strange yet brutally familiar imagining of America presented in Tim Schafer's "Full Throttle" (PC). Set in what appears to be a post-apocalyptic landscape, the seemingly mundane backdrop of a hostile corporate takeover reaches incredible depth of significance. It becomes a metaphor for the country's slow decline into corporate facelessness and the odd juxtaposition between the freedom allowed by a recreated American frontier with the essential powerlessness of the frontier's inhabitants. You think I'm kidding? Play it again.

For another spur of the moment example in a more non-narrative setting, take Shigeru Miyamoto's "Pikmin" (GCN). Miyamoto didn't set out to necessarily create a quirky character-based real-time strategy title, though that's the form the game took. While working in his garden, he decided to craft a game that would evoke the melancholic and solitary feelings he was experiencing.... The fact that "Pikmin" so effectively communicates the emotions Miyamoto intended to convey is not simply an issue of craftsmanship (though craftsmanship is present in spades with the balanced and engaging gameplay), it speaks to the artistry with which the game was conceived.

It is frustrating to see current mainstream criticism -- and no critics are as synonymous with modern mainstream criticism as Ebert -- maintain deliberately ill-informed opinions about gaming as a medium. Not because gaming needs to be recognized as art, which is an opinion that is hotly contested among many gamers, but because it does such a grave disservice to the people behind the games, who are clearly capable of far more expression through their work than many seem prepared to acknowledge.

I also sent a response to Ebert along the same lines, using Deus Ex and Grim Fandango as examples.

The "computer games as art" topic has been often debated here, but now it seems there is some mainstream discussion.

Ebert's a critic I enjoy reading. However, I think he's got a very narrow perspective on what video games can be, and pretty much for the same reasons Remo stated.

Your thoughts?

This is a thread devoted to one of the greatest comedies on TV. And I'm sad because it's going to get the axe.

They're finally showing season two here in Australia (even though they're showing season three in the US). And sadly, it's on at 11 o'clock on Monday night, but I always stay up late to watch it.

A year or two back when I first heard Jason Bateman was staring in this show, I thought, "Oh Jesus, Teenwolf Two? That's bad!" Then I actually watched the show and laughed my goddamn arsehole off my buttcheeks. Bateman is damn great, as is the entire cast. And they have Fonzie as their lawyer! And Chachi as their next lawyer!

My favourite characters are Tobias (I'm a huge David Cross fan) and Gob. Gob and his magic tricks are the funniest things I've seen. I now lose it everytime I hear THE FINAL COUNTDOOOWN on the radio. And Tobias with his "I'm looking for something that says, 'Dad likes leather!'" Cracks me up everytime.

I also agree with this article.

Anyone else a fan?

EDIT: I also watched a little of Pamela Anderson's new sitcom Stacked tonight. Ugh, pure rubbish! It sickens me that this show is on at a primetime slot and Arrested Development is on late at night.

With this:

http://ebaumsworldsucks.com/

Awful Link of the Day

ebaumsworldsucks.com (thanks Altf4) - For a long time ebaumsworld.com has been stealing content and rebranding it from Something Awful and many other sites on the Internet. Everyone is used to having their content moved around on the net, but Eric Bauman obscures any references to the creator in favor of slapping his branding everywhere. And he's gotten rich doing it. Bauman claims to take down any content reported as stolen but the claim is a lie. When Lowtax encouraged people to post on ebaum's forums asking them to take the stolen SA content down Eric Bauman (or his dad) decided to include a redirect on his site that would strain our forum servers.

In response to all this silly Internet drama our forum users Altf4 and Trapezoid created this fantastic song and Flash movie. It's a real call-to-arms! If for some reason the link goes down you can view it at New Grounds. I'm sure Tom Fulp and his userbase have plenty of experience with their content being stolen by Bauman.

If you dig the catchy tune used in the video you can find out more about the folks responsible by clicking on or around this link.

And the response: http://forum.ebaumsworld.com/showthread.php03807

The official Fate of Atlantis comic book.

So, how does it compare to the actual game?

Well, it follows the plot points, but the actually story leading to each plot point has been rewritten. For example, instead of Kerner just ransacking Sophia's apartment in New York while she and Indy are in the theatre, Indy first camps out on Sophia's couch for the night while Kerner sneaks in with some dirty Nazi agents. Indy awakes and starts a pretty cool fight where Indy gets shot in the shoulder but still manages to kick a Nazi out of a window.

I found three issues at a recent comic convention (Yah, I'm a geek) and am hunting for the rest.

The first issue also has an afterword by Hal Barwood talking about the game and its adaptation to comic.

Anyone else own it/read it/seen it/ate it?

[Photoshopping Muppets]

What is the Photoshop Contest?

Duh! Isn't it obvious.

Okay, see this link if you don't know:
http://www.somethingawful.com/photoshop/

And for other examples, see here:
http://www.worth1000.com/

The two above websites should give a fair idea of what is involved. Also you can check out the earlier Photoshop contests in this forum.

Note: Photoshopping isn't drawing a completely new image -- It's editing images to create a new image, such as editing one image or combining several images.

Also, you don't have to specifically use Photoshop -- Paint Shop Pro, Gimp or any other equally good programs can be used.

Today, kids, we'll be Photoshopping Muppets.

Ever want to see a taxidermic Snuffleupagus on display at the national museum's Ice Age exhibit? Or Bert and Ernie in a pride rally? Maybe Super-Grover flying around the world so fast that time goes backwards? No? Well, too bad, cause that's the competition idea and you're going to have to live with it.

So for the next fortnight, pick a Muppet and stick them somewhere strange, funny, different, pop cultural, whatever.

For example:


And in two weeks I'll pick a winner.

This competition was brought to you by the letters R and ڱ and by the number .

"Nobody dast blame this man. You don't understand: Willy was a salesman. And for a salesman, there is no rock bottom to the life. He don't put a bolt to a nut, he don't tell you the law or give you medicine. He's a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back--that's an earthquake. And then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you're finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory."

Arthur Miller died. We used to perform his plays when I did Drama in high school.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6953165/?GT1=6190

HA HA FOOLED YOU IT'S ONLY THE OSCAR NOMINATIONS...

http://www.imdb.com/features/rto/2005/oscars

So, what did you think of them? For me, I did an early Best Picture predix in December on another forum. I guessed:

The Aviator
Finding Neverland
Kinsey
Million Dollar Baby
Sideways

I got Kinsey wrong. It ended up being Ray. 4/5 isn't too bad!

As for the winners, I'll guess the following:

Best Pic: The Aviator

Best Director: Scorsese for The Aviator

Actor: Jamie Foxx

Actress: Hillary Swank

Supporting Actor: Thomas Haden Church

Supporting Actress: Virginia Madsen

Original Script: Eternal Sunshine

Adapted Script: Sideways

Lot of good surprises, like the nominations for Hotel Rwanda. A few disappointments, like Paul Giamatti missing out for Sideways.

The Digital Rights Management debate has flared up again after reports that hackers are exploiting Window Media Player's DRM capabilities with trojans.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/01/13/drm_trojan/
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1751248,00.asp
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/security/0,39020375,39184120,00.htm

What's your view on DRM? Is it important for software authors (or any creators) to utilise digital technology to protect their work? Or is it a cumbersome way of dealing with things?

This als includes encryption on DVD discs, protected music stores like iTunes, key activation systems such as the first time you run Windows XP, and content protection software like Valve's Steam program.

It's been a while since we've had a serious political debate with some blood on the dance floor, so allow me to present...

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7307840

Everyone can already guess my opinion on the matter, so we'll skip my "blah blah Bush lied not my president blah blah blah" rant. What's your opinion, looking back after 2 years? Are there still people here who can justify the war? And why?

Also, how do you think the upcoming elections will go?

What is a Photoshop Prhiday? - The original name for this competition, which I cunningly stole from SomethingAwful. And I do it again. *sip* Good day!

See this link:
http://www.somethingawful.com/photoshop/

And for other examples, see here:
http://www.worth1000.com/

The two above websites should give a fair idea of what is involved. Also you can check out the earlier Photoshop Phridays in this forum.

Note: Photoshopping isn't drawing a completely new image -- It's editing images to create a new image, such as editing one image or combining several images.

Also, you don't have to specifically use Photoshop -- Paint Shop Pro, MSPaint, or any other programs can be used.

This week: Costume Party!!!

I've got the beers on ice, the bowls are full of chips, and my angry neighbours are out of town. Now I just have to wait for the guests to arrive at my fabulicious party.

Your job: dress any AGSer in a costume. Can be anything: a pirate, a ninja, Urkel... Just as long as I can recognise who it is. (Don't want any unwanted riff-raff crashing my party! Hmph!)

The party goes for seven days. After that, you don't have to go home but you can't stay here, you crazy kids!

... they decide to release a new OS!

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200408/s1187204.htm

What is a Photoshop Phriday?

Photoshopping isn't drawing a completely new image -- It's editing images to create a new image, such as editing one image or combining several images.

Also, you don't have to specifically use Photoshop -- Paint Shop Pro, MSPaint, or any other programs can be used.

See this link:
http://www.somethingawful.com/photoshop/

And for other examples, see here:
http://www.worth1000.com/

The two above websites should give a fair idea of what is involved.

-------------------

Ever wanted to know what was under Bobbin's hood?

Well, too bad, cause that's what we're going to do for this week.

Take this image (or a similar image of Bobbin)...



And photoshop it to show what horrors lie under the hood. As always, you have one week.

Special thanks to Pesty, who did not at all come up with this idea. It was totally mine!

(Okay, maybe she came up with a little bit of this idea, but only a smidge!)

((Fine! It was all her's! Happy now!))

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Entertainment/ap20040806_1668.html

[What is a Photoshop Phriday?]

What is a Photoshop Phriday?

Photoshopping isn't drawing a completely new image -- It's editing images to create a new image, such as editing one image or combining several images.

Also, you don't have to specifically use Photoshop -- Paint Shop Pro, MSPaint, or any other programs can be used.

See this link:
http://www.somethingawful.com/photoshop/

And for other examples, see here:
http://www.worth1000.com/

The two above websites should give a fair idea of what is involved.

-----------------------------------------------

In November, the US will vote for a new president. If you've looked around the web, you'll probably see campaign banner ads here and there.

So, let make our own.

For example:



Your mission, Mr Phelps, is to photoshop together a banner for an AGS election campaign. You can use any AGSers in your campaign (even yourself if you're feeling vain). However, the purpose is to make a pursuasive argument for whatever candidate you choose.

Good luck!

- D.G. "I am not a crook" Macphee

Then make up the answers!!!Ã, 

http://www.snopes.com/college/exam/chemistry.asp



Here's where it comes from:

http://www.enzine.cyborgcow.net/exam/