Messages

This is far too addicting...

Winner, winner, chicken dinner,
This fools rhymes couldn't be thinner,
With grammar to boot, that is atrocious,
I'd like shoot him with knowledge in big ol' doses.

I don't usually like to stoke the coal,
But I'm fighting fire with fire, for this stupid a$$ troll,
Check it, Check it, I know what's best.
Now everyone clap your hands, and play Ace Quest.

-MillsJROSS

Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to attend this year. I got a couple of upcoming expenses and simply can't afford to go this year. But I'll look forward to the pictures/stories, and, hopefully, will make it the next year.

-MillsJROSS

The scenery and immersion in this movie was extremely well done. The plot was ok, it was just a backdrop to the scenery. The characters were cookie cutter, but there were very good moments where Cameron was able to get an emotional response out of me. Regardless, the three hours went by quickly.

I went with the iMAX 3d experience, and didn't have any probems with my vision or eye aches. I'll still have to wait to and see how well it translates on my 32 inch television.

The action scenes were intense and wonderful to watch. The plot, as mentioned, was ok, but it was told well, and it wasn't told in a Hollywood one-liner saturated way that most of these big budget films are prone to overuse. I'd highly recommend going to see this in 3d.

Spoiler

My one real complaint, is that it started out as a science fiction movie and turned into a fantasy movie. The forest backdrop didn't make it fantasy, however, floating mountains? His ability to be absorbed and actually become one of the aliens?

That's not to say fantasy is bad, but I started with the belief that this could be a real world somewhere in the future and ended with the belief that it was pure fiction/fantasy.

[close]

Did I hear someone mention Ace Quest?

You b3773R pl4ys 1T!

-MillsJROSS

I completely agree with Babar's idea. Simply allow users to search by the user given percentage ratings, in addition to the blue cup rating, and this whole mess is sorted out. It should be a fairly straightforward task to code, so as to not take too much of CJs time. Neither the blue cup rating, nor the percentage rating, takes away from each other.

In addition, CJ, I'd also like you to do the following...
1. Make a system that shows me what other people downloaded after this game (like Amazon's feature)
2. Make AGS in 4d
3. My laundery

Not necessarily in that order.

-MillsJROSS

My point isn't to critique why we're talking about this now. I understand why it's a topic of conversation. My point is merely to say, maybe we shouldn't be foaming at our mouths in anger at this news.

It just seems that given the importance some people have put to this award ceremony, it's strange that we've never heard their elation of a good pick in previous years.

We can argue back and forth as to whether or not awarding this him now will push him in the right direction. I think it's pointless to do so, since only time will tell. However, I don't think the award was a dangling carrot Obama was constantly running towards, and would have steered him in the right direction either.

It has at the very least peaked my interest and allowed me to look at some history. In the will of Alfred Nobel he talks about parceling the award money out in five chunks, the peace prize goes as follows...

and one part to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.

Barack Obama has strongly been working to try to be more diplomatic and work together with other nations and has been pushing for peace talks in Israel and "Palestine". He stopped the US from torture. He set a timetable to remove troops from Iraq. Was in the forefront when North Korea launched a missile, condemning them and ordering sanctions, and condemned Iran when their secret nuclear facility was revealed. Allowed Cuban Americans to travel more and send money to their loved ones. He has also been fighting for nuclear proliferation.

I think we can at least stop pretending that he's done absolutely nothing to deserve this award. That this does not diminish the Nobel Peace Prize, unless he does a 180 and starts warmongering all over the place (not likely). That in the end who wins American Idol has been far more newsworthy the past five years.

-MillsJROSS

I'm in complete agreement with MrColossal. This is the first time on these forums that I can recall that we've had a discussion of the Nobel Peace Prize.

I'm not a huge fan of these types of awards anyway. They're purely subjective, mostly always political, and they commonly leave several "just as deserving" people out.

However, I also disagree with the sentiment that Obama has not accomplished much of anything. That he's a man that just makes a pretty speech and that's about it. For one, I think a lot of what he has to do will take years to accomplish or years to see results. Two, it's not an easy feat to do with the USAs volatile political environment, where you have to concede some political battles now to win more important ones in the future. Three, the power of words and speeches is often times underestimated. I've seen situations where a few well placed words have completely changed the mood of everyone in a tension filled room. Four, while we are still fighting in Afghanistan, under Obama there's fundamental difference in our strategic goals. There's a lot more diplomacy going on behind the scenes, and there's a clearer goal as to what we are accomplishing. It may not be perfect, but it's a lot better than the nebulous goals of yesterpresident.

I think loominous hit the nail on the head...

The commitee is smart enough to have anticipated the reaction, which suggests that it was designed more as an attempt to pin Obama to his rhetoric, rather than a pat on his back.

Perhaps Obama has not done enough to warrant the award. But if this award helps to keep Obama at his word, it's far more important to give it to him now, where it can potentially have the most impact on the future (since it's early in his presidency) than later. I don't think there's any need to feel ashamed of this award. If anything, I think this award is being used exactly as it's founder intended, to bring about peace.

I go back to my first point, though. I can't name the last five winners off the top of my head, can you?

-MillsJROSS

What's wrong with the new days?

Looking back everything looks all glitzy, sure, but most of that stems from the fact that I had way more free time on my hands than I do today. I could make five posts and feel like I accomplished my life's goal for the day. Now, I'm prouder when I draft a post, and then decide not to send anything at all.

There's always a feeling of exhilaration when we find something new and shiny, and then as time passes its luster begins to lessen. I can't think of any organization I've been in for a number of years where I didn't, for some reason, miss the past. At some point you have to come to the conclusion that the forums (or any organization) haven't really changed much, you're the one who's changed.

Unless, of course, you came from ezboards. In that case, everything has changed, and you should completely miss what we had.

-MillsJROSS

Great stuff! I remembered really enjoying the first game you made, and it isn't often that a sequel meets expectations, but you managed to do it. There was very little I didn't like in this game. So little, that I can't even remember what I didn't like.

You guys do an excellent job of polish. It's always the little things that make a game great. There were so many times I was caught off guard and thought to myself "I can't believe they coded for this. Excellent!" It truly is refreshing to see object x and object y mix together and not get a generic message about how those objects don't mix.

Give yourselves a pat on the back, and then get back to working on another game. I'll certainly buy the third installment!

-MillsJROSS

The reason I'm kind of against Italy is that there's a lot of pull to do touristy things. I like touristy things, and I think part of Mittens is absorbing a little bit of another culture. However, I like doing touristy things when my goal is to be a tourist. I don't want to be a tourist often at Mittens, I'm coming to hang out with people and have a few laughs, not to educate myself or take in the sites. Not that Italy prevents me from hanging out with people, but I get the feeling people are looking at going to Mittens from a tourist perspective, when in reality we'll probably only do touristy things 25-30% of the time.

However, I don't honestly care one way or the other between the two locations, because they're just background to the actual event. I'm going to Mittens either way. The only thing that should really matter is "how much will it cost us" and "how many people can we house". If it's cheaper in Italy and we can house more people, by all means, let's do it. And visa versa. So why not search for housing and let the numbers make our decision for us?

-MillsJROSS

I also missed the discussion where we chose Holland, however, considering the Mittens house didn't have a huge room that we all generally congregated in, I took no offense.

I prefer Holland for a couple of reasons.

1) We have plenty of members to host it who have already offered to host it, and who consequently know their way around.

2) I want to find out if Amsterdam is all it's cracked up to be.

3) We still maintain the tradition of choosing the next Mittens location at Mittens.

4) Ace already told us it would be in Holland, he's rarely wrong.

The price of the lodgings generally isn't that big of a deal, considering we pay in numbers. This years mittens seemed very cheap considering I don't think I could find a crappy hotel that wouldn't charge more than that for a weeks stay.

I also think that only those who attended mittens this year should really have a say one way or the other on our location. The reason we do this at Mittens is because opening it up to the forums usually makes an inconclusive thread. When do we stop tallying votes? Why does so-and-so's vote matter, considering they might not even try to attend the event, and why should they then have power to choose a location?

The good news to this debate is that we can always have a Mittens Italy/Holland another year.

-MillsJROSS

Nothing mentionable occured on my trip back "home" (I'll officially be back home next week). It was great to meet new people, and catch up with those I've met before.

The house was awesome! The penis jokes were plentiful! All around, a great trip!

Now I'm going to go into the long drawn out process of saying something to each of you, cause hey, I spent a week with yous guys.

AGA - While I don't think I mentioned it to you, I'll fondly remember the times you were swimming atop the water on our friendly dolphin. You looked rather silly, and it tickled my innards to watch you swim about.

CJ - Always a pleasure...thanks for AGS and all that...um...love you?

Creed Malay - What a guy! There's always a positive fun aura about you, even though I can only understand half of what you say.

Dark Stalkey/Becky - This time let's not wait 5 years to see each other again! Becky, it was a pleasure meeting you, as Eric said whilst in mittens, you fit in easily.

Darth Mandarb - Always fun, next time try to get off of work! And we need to do a Gloves sometime this year. We don't live that far apart.

Dutch Marco - Thanks for making us all diner that one night, Marco! I was glad to see you again.

Disco - Condoms on penis guns, revealing yourself to all those in the pool whilst playing Melee. So many memories, most of them involving penises.

Eric/Jess - You must of course give a detailed story of your mustache incident. Jess, Penis... 

Esseb - The Dunder Salts weren't that bad...until they went into your mouth, then they were horrible.

Grundislav - Thanks for hosting this! Gloves sometime this year...we need to make it happen.

Miez - Your blue cup was superior to all other pixeled blue cups. It was good to hear that you were having fun making computer games for the near living.

Nacho/Lorena - Nacho you're just as manly as Lorena, according to what you drank the last night. I expect next year you'll be able to eat many more crackers, with success.

Pesty - It was fun to meet you, you were constantly providing both food and mustache for everyone.

Quintaros - You haven't responded yet, so I assume you're vomiting in some hotel room, wondering if the steak tar-tar was a bad decision, it was. However, I had an awesome time, maybe we'll communicate more outside of mittens as well, huh?

Scummbuddy - I enjoyed mentoring you over Space Quest I-III, and pixel blocks are amazingly good fun.

Snarky - Another new member! I hope we won you over for next year.

Sylpher - Another another new member. It was nice to meet you, and I enjoyed the bite of Hawaiian food.

I didn't get to know some of you as well as I'd have liked to, but that's why there's next year. Thanks for all the laughs!

-MillsJROSS

I saw it a while ago, but have yet to comment on it.

I loved it. I had high hopes for it, and it actually exceeded my expectations. I came with the understanding that this movie wasn't made for Trekkie fans, but it was made to be palatable to a mainstream audience. Let's face it, the original series was preachy and awkward, it didn't even find a decent audience until it was picked up for syndication. That's not to say it was bad, by all means I love the original series, but I can recognize why it only appeals to a certain audience.

If the movie's goal was to appeal to the people who only loved the original series, it failed. There's no reason it should have tried to go down this path anyway. Hardcore fans will either love the series because it's got the name "Star Trek" attached to it, or hate it because of some minute detail. So if you appeal only to them, you'll lose some of your audience with each new movie.

It's goal was to bring in new fans (and make lots-o-money), and I think the numbers clearly show that it did. I don't think it pushed that many fans away, either. This was a fun movie. I didn't learn anything from it. But the casting was superb, the music was wonderful, and the action was great. Did the plot suffer a bit from opening up the series to more people? Possibly...but I don't particularly think the original movies had great plots either.

This movie hit the right note for me.

-MillsJROSS

Greetings, one and all!

We've decided to open up a new job position! Who knows what mediocrity awaits those who dare join the Ace Quest team.

The job is titled as Script Reviewer. That's right, you can review/edit scripts (of course, with the knowledge that I'll review/edit what you send back). However, you have to vow not to reveal treasured Ace Quest secrets. The whole game will be opened up to you in written form, revealing plot/fart jokes/puzzles/wonders that mere non-Script Reviewers will know nothing about.

Click here I dare you!

-MillsJROSS

The Adventunare Times Volume 1, Issue 4

Need I say more? Well, too bad!

-MillsJROSS

I watched these a couple days ago, and I enjoyed them. It would have been nice to have a studio audience (not canned laughter, though). There were bad bits with the good bits, but generally I was left with a positive feeling.

I'd be all for another season of the show. It would be nice if Rob Grant would get over himself and start working on these with Doug Naylor. Add Holly back, and I'd pee in my pants from all the excitement.

-MillsJROSS

What an eye opener...

-MillsJROSS

Hitler just wanted to know who was Jewish...

-MillsJROSS

Blah blah blah...third magazine is out...blah.

The Adventunare Times Volume 1, Issue 3

-MillsJROSS