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Anarchy's got plentiful missions but (so far) all optional.  There are trade skills but I haven't fully figured out how everything works.  There's the equivalent of magic using sci-fi terms instead and the character classes are pretty close to their fantasy-based counterparts.  Most missions seem to prefer teams, so it's either recruit, join up, or build up stuff until you can go solo.  The only skill I've mucked with is weapon modification.  Weapons are varied: Martial Artist, Melee, Blunt weapon, magic-only, ranged weapons. 

The world seems pretty open and there's quite a bit to do on the small, beginner's section.  However, it looks to be a lot less limited if you've got some of the expansions.  It's got its tedium and character-building but I've advanced quite a bit in 7 hours or so of gameplay.  I haven't seen much of Everquest but I'd say it's rather similar except for the setting and the main plotline. 

Moderately old news.  For Hitchhiker film news, I'd check out Douglas Adams' website rather than apples.  At least his wife claims that she's striving to make the Hollywood bastards stay true to the feeling of the series (somehow, I'm still pessimistic but not uneager). 

Hmph..  used to be one..  since become bad link, I guess.
My work pic will do- 

Bah, I should be working on a game right now..   

Harsh but more or less adequate.  If I were a gfx/video tech and not a PC tweaker, I'd go Mac all the way.  More stable but less options.  It's sort of like a person buying a new Mustang.  Sure, it's nice and fast but I can customize my '65 Mustang and soup it up until it blows the newer one to sh__. 

The only reason that Mac's don't get viruses as often is that they're less common ergo less interest by coders. It also means there are less users available to post security hole information.  This incongruity is partially as a result of Mac's near-extinction awhile back.  They've only recently begun to climb in popularity again, particularly in a home-appliance setting. 

Sorry to hear about your PC devastation, Alynn, hopefully the second go-round is even better. 

(Side note: virii was a pluralized term made popular mainly by 1337-slang types, it circled about in hacking/coding circles for awhile but was never actually a real word)

I gave it a shot last night and found it to be very similar to Everquest (with nano in place of mana, of course).  However, I think it's a tad more unfriendly to newbies and would be a much more enjoyable experience with friends playing (what isn't?).  I don't think I'd pay for it after this next year is over but after a year of playing it now and again, who knows?

The 64's haven't really seen their full potential.  Currently, WinXP doesn't support them any better than it does the 32-bit processors.  However, there's a 64-bit version of the OS that's been in beta for about a year (The update may've been released by now, I'm still 32-bit ).  There are also more and more 64-bit specific drivers and patches for XP and XP-based programs. 

From reviews I've read (by now, many) the 64's are a speedier chip-base and are doing quite well, particularly in raw computational power (The AMD's have been better at floating point than the equivalent p4's for awhile but the 64's are more competitive with integer calculations), meaning better handling of linear calculations such as video conversions and photoshop calcs.  If getting a new motherboard and AMD 64 is close to the same price as a Barton, there's no reason to take a step backwards.

One caveat, you have to be a touch more careful with RAM decisions.  After getting a new motherboard (and be certain to go socket 939 instead of 940) you'll need to check the recommended memory listings to be certain you're using RAM that's been tested with the board (the mobo manufacturer won't cover memory tech support otherwise) or at least check the RAM vendor's site to see if it's been tested with the motherboard (in which case you can pursue tech support with them).  The socket 939 spec is newer and doesn't require the more expensive and more difficult to find Registered RAM.   

Personally, when I can afford it, I'll probably be going for an Asus AV8 mobo and AMD 64 3800+, though I'd love to go the 64-bit FX route.

[Edit: I didn't mention 754's as they seemed more of an interim introduction, the 939 has more headroom and more overclockability. The 939 also is the chipset of the speediest motherboard's I've seen reviewed.  The 754 is probably more than adequate for current needs. By the time the full potential of 939 is reached, it'll probably be time for a slightly upgraded chipset spec anyway.]

You can block specific sites within Internet explorer by checking out the security settings, although if memory serves it can be difficult due to Microsoft's infatuation in unintuitive and generally poor design).   Additionally, I would recommend downloading Powertoys for XP (search MS page) or using FreshUI by FreshDevices.  FreshUI is a little bit more user-friendly (IMO) and has more in-depth explanations as to what options do.  I haven't messed with Powertoys as much but FreshUI will let you tweak a specific User profile and you can specify whether or not they can do basic tasks (access the Run menu, access certain drives or programs or even install anything that modifies the registry).  I've used both to make basic user logins that allow the person to do the basic novice stuff but nothing too destructive.

Well, knowing how often people 'round here jump at free stuff, I thought I'd mention (for those who haven't heard) that Anarchy Online is doing a play free promotion.  Specifically, the download of the full game and online play for the next year is free.  This doesn't include any of the add-ons but they're available for download and 7-day free trial.  I haven't played the game but have heard mostly good things about it.  I don't want to get in a habit of paying for online gaming but I think I'll check this one out. 

Anyone interested can surf to here.  Except for Boyd, he can go here.

Actually, it's not terribly surprising.  There were a few individuals awhile back plugging the Wintermute engine like mad.  We've had posts varying from the 'friendly information' kind to 'AGS sucks'.  It was the subject of a couple of arguments a year or so ago.  For my part, I tried the engine and felt just a little too boxed in when it came to personalization and I didn't feel the 2D effects were useful enough to justify the increase in recommended horsepower.

Opinions are like bottoms, everyone has one.

Except that you're from Spain so nobody cares about yours anyway. 
Monkey Island 3 was brilliant. I really don't know about MI 1 & 2 fans couldn't love it.  They updated the graphics and interface without hurting the core.  I can see why people didn't like MI4 even though I enjoyed it (less than the rest, though). 

George Lucas isn't hiding out in a shelter.  He made an appearance at the company Christmas party.  He's not due to go back into hiding for another day or two, so strike quickly.  Seriously, though, Scummbuddy's right.  The Lucas employees working on S & M II and FT II were let go.  It was a flat-out money decision to discontinue these.  They brought in a new head of Lucasarts in order to streamline it and focus on the genre at which they've had best financial success (with one or two game exceptions, like Mercenaries (which is hardly revolutionary)).  Regardless, I don't think the blame can be pinned solely on the Lucas companies.  Why spend so much money on a failing genre.  Face it, today's youth has a shorter attention span and lacks the patience for adventure games (excepting those here, of course).   

I simply can't see why people don't adopt an "I don't F___ with you, don't f___ with me" attitude.  I've got no problem with people wearing religious attire.  After all, being part of a particular religion means believing it all the time, not just as an after-school activity.  If the school (for some reason) has said that hats aren't allowed, then they'd have to comply as well. 

It's easy to argue that the US embraces multi-culturalism more but I think that's giving us a little too much credit.  I think that much of the religious tolerance is due to laws we have in place to protect the practicing of one's religion (laws made with Christianity in mind, no doubt).  I do think there's a good deal of fear, hatred and prejudice as pertains to many of our immigrants but the population - as a whole - keeps the nastiest bits under their hat and pretends tolerance. 

My view on this is best summed up by my first sentence.  Somebody wearing a turban, or a cross around their neck, or a sari, or a friggin' poncho doesn't hurt me.  Somebody demonstrating that they're of a particular faith doesn't chew on my ass, so long as they leave me the hell alone (on a preaching level, not an interpersonal one).

Sincerest congratulations.  Swing by the SF Bay area, CA and I'll buy ya a drink. 

I highly recommend Idraw.  It's a simple paint program created specifically for characters and sprites.  It lets you customize your palette as well as producing all shades within given ranges.  Aside from a fairly powerful palette editor, it has a basic animation tool and its drawing tools are a bit more sprite-worthy than MS-Paint.

Looking sweet and not as MS-Paint bland.  I'll parrot Alpha and Flippy but remind you about the fence.  It goes with a quirky style but in this image it just detracts.

Regardless, I wouldn't think that grabbing the music track to it would be too terribly criminal - particularly since he just wants it to either 1) complete his gaming experience or 2) use in a game (in which case I'm sure he'd credit the original).  Not taking money from game developers and not getting the forums shut down, those seem the important anti-warez reasons.  Relinquish your sphincter's mighty grip.

edit: Thought I'd mention that I haven't got the track so my post isn't totally worthless.  Is it a CDA version of a MIDI or just a MIDI that won't read?

Most of the rest have given some very astute suggestions.  My thoughts were just:

That the color needed to be saturated or desaturated - currently, the colors are (more or less) the default windows 16-color palette.  If you're going for a dramatic feel, I'd suggest making it darker with deeper hues and higher contrast (if you're using MS-Paint then just double-click the colors and adjust them from there). 

Pay attention to perspective, remember the flat horizon and keep the fenceline consistent (either by keeping the corners straight or by using the diagonals to show depth).  Unless the lighthouse's leaning is part of the plot then I'd suggest straightening it.  The overall style isn't quite warped enough to accomodate it so it serves as a distraction.

Remember where the light source is coming from.  The darker shade on the grass gives it more depth than a flat tone but it should be used as a shadow unless you're doing more -- 

texture.  Texture would add a lot of depth and interest to the picture as well as making it less 'amateur'.  You don't have to get super-detailed, just some spikiness or something to the grass, some brick or line look for the lighthouse, and some 'noise' on the path. 

I like the image quite a lot, it's simple without being boring and keeps everything nicely prioritized..  a little consistency and it would serve nicely.

It's a good tribute to Mad Max, particularly for a first try.  It leaves me with a bit of Ben (from FT) impression to it. 
A few critiques:
1) bilateral symmetry -  his left shoulder is rather straight compared to his right. It's probably an artifact resulting from the way his 'costume' looks in a picture but it gives the impression of a hunchback.  Just a couple pixels on the right (your left) shoulder to straighten it, or a couple off the other would do it. 

2) Feet are tough.. I don't have the hang of them, that's for sure.  His right one, especially, looks a touch stubby.  I highly recommend taking a look at a pixel-character or two and checking out how they handle the foot.  Most adventure characters would do, or take a gander at MrC's site and check his sprites, he's got a good variety of details and simple sprites.

3) The shading makes him look flat (sort of like a windows button, a 1 pixel shadow makes it look like a flat object that's raised or embossed). I would either forego the shading altogether or be a bit more generous with it.   

Good luck. It's a nice style somewhere in between SVGA and VGA details and should work well. It would take someone more talented than I to demonstrate via paintovers.

[A previously unseen use for Scotch/Invisible/Transparent Tape]

Act now and I'll throw in a free roll of scotch tape!


Next: A previously unseen use for Scotch/Invisible/Transparent Tape
(I believe it's called varying things in different countries).

Dammit, you snuck in.



It's about time they found a use for that chubby old bastard.

Still: mätzyboy's "why the mammoths died out".

Darth Mandarb?