Do_The_Manta_Ray

"No advance in wealth, no softening of manners, no reform or revolution has ever brought human equality a millimeter nearer."

What I want to know, is why sexism consists exlusively under the purview of women. When they grandly proclaim that to be a women is hard and to be a man is easy, where is the consideration that they demand for themselves? Men are to treat them as equals, I hear you say. Then I ask, what would be considered equality under these conditions? Are men to treat women how they treat other women, as they treat men, as men treat women, as men treat men, or as something brand new, something that goes beyond the sexes, biology, nature and frankly, sense? Ironically, it's the only possibility as we are all, so different and so alike. It's a series of self-aware paradoxes that the majority of people tweeting seems to become utterly oblivious of in their rampaging serial-contrarian complaints. Not only is a state of non-sexism impossible for it is in our genetic code to view the other gender differently, but if such a state is desired, a non-state, so to speak, where all is equal and all is considered and forgotten at once in the brashest form of double-think, then how can we ever achieve it if we go to such lenghts, as seen in these posts, to seperate the two genders as to make one the scape-goat for the state of the other?

We all look at sexism with a frown on our face, for whatever reason we individually feel that it somehow incriminates or incapacitates us, but show me a society, a world, where women and men were treated the very same and I'll show you a world without sentient thought. Sexism seems to be defined as differential behaviour of the two sexes when one takes umbrage and catergorically decides to interpret it as an inherent fault of the other gender. Sexist in itself, the paradoxes are endless.

The thing is that you'd have to be sexless in order not to be sexist for it's all so very subjective, and we are all different due to so many different factors, one of them being sex. So then it's sexist to reform your way of thinking in order to better encompass the other gender and how you treat them for that invites the implication that you think you have to treat them in a softer, more pandering manner for they cannot handle what you have to hand out, thus a sexist notion. It's sexist to ignore them and act in a brusque, stereotypical fashion without consideration of the difference in gender, for to ignore the need of the other, to see them as equally able to take and receive as you might implies that the sensibilities of others are beyond your capacity of understanding and that you so will not go to greater lengths in order to understand what might offend or please the other gender, thus a sexist notion. And it is uniformly sexist to claim that the other gender is beholden, and yes even responsible, for your useless complaints, a sexist notion.

We are different, but we've managed to survive together, for very obvious reasons, for quite some time now. What these women and men seem to fail to understand is that both sides need to give ground, and that said ground will only be given unwillingly, and that finally if achieved, it will accomplish nothing for it's in how we differentiate that the spark of interest, attraction and thus, life itself lies.

So the question is, how do YOU define true HD? 1080p, personally, nothing less; but sod it, that's just my opinion and there's really no right and wrong here as it originated as a marketing term, anyway. And really, when it comes down to someone's personal standards for visual fidelity in video-games, who are we to say that they're wrong? To each their own.

Wait, wait, I take it all back, let me try again: I'm right and you fuckers better recognize and treasure that single indisputable fact as if it was the single jug of water you'd taste after a week in the desert sun, as key to your continued existence as the oxygen which you waste each day with those rancid, pathetic routines that you like to bestow with such hyperbolic terms as "lives", or Imma' get angry, and you wouldn't like me when I'm angry.

Don't take any of the above seriously in any way, I'm just shocked at my own agreeability.

@mordukai: A very small piece of advice, friend; don't go to such lengths to personalize your stand in a debate. Because you are leaving no doubt as to your role in this tale, that of the indirectly aggrieved party, people will naturally come to see you as biased. Even further so, as in this situation, it was your child that was at the receiving end of said unpleasantries, and while you can become desensitized to such behaviour when directed at yourself, it is far more difficult to remain apathetic when the unpleasant affects something, that above all, you want to protect. Now you've unfortunately gotten yourself into the middle of this mess, where the incident itself has, to most onlookers, become obsolete in contrast to what it suggests, and the mob has split into two distinctive groups, the one finding fault in your arguement and therefore in you and your story, and the ones who are lamenting the state of things in modern, urban society, stating like so many millions have done before, that the end is surely enclosing.

Stop being so defensive when it comes to your daughter. You're proud of the little thing, that's obvious, but I fail to see where and why you have to validate your daughter's virtues. It has no bearing nor any major impact on this story. Be proud of your kid and let these shit-heads who call her into question remain the ignorant shitheads they are, and focus on the original issue instead. That being the state of modern kids.

And in regards of that, everything is subjective. Where I grew up, kids, no older than 10, would beat another child with metal bars and strip them of their clothes in winter. And that's just plain cruelty. What you described was just a child aping languge he might very well have heard on TV or in a rap song. In fact, he might as well have called her a "poopyhead", the intent behind it would have remained the same. The child in question might be among the nicest little people you'll ever meet, but as every single, existing child, lack the depth of understanding and judgement that an adult possesses and mis-used a phrase.

The point of the story was that the children were happy, playing and running around, and as such, I highly doubt that one of the little buggers just up and decided to liken your daughter to a despicable female dog in heat out of sheer spite, and more likely, was just playing rough, as boys that age do.

That said, continue the good job in raising the little lady, but try to keep an open mind as to children being the products of their environment and their own impulses and try to be grateful for that what you just described is the extent of her issues with other children.

@Video_Game_King: Would you kindly stop kicking the poor guy while he's down? I'm sure even you can find something more constructive to do than huffing and puffing and blowing down the little piggie's domicile. I don't know, video games, maybe. Or perhaps you have a deep-rooted need to inform a parent of the wolf in sheep's clothing that he, oh so brazenly, refers to as his child? Don't bother, I'm not interested in your answers after what I've seen today.

@Nightriff: That one just went right over your head, didn't it? Nobody else mentioned "Charlie", and you were the only other person to say "Chie". I feel bad for having to explain this. Here I was, reaching out, duder-to-duder, and you just go and make a mess out of it. Feel ashamed. VERY ashamed.

HIS FUCKING NAME IS "CHARLIE!". God damn it, people. Two pages and not even a mention of this. Yu suck, guys.

Also, Chie.

@ttocs said:

So, the game is out, who wants to be a guinea pig and buy it so that they can report back to us on it's caliber.

Done and done.

I lucked out and managed to pick the game up for a measly 35 USD and found it to be surprisingly superb. All the building-blocks for an instant classic are there, and it's a god damn shame that the team working on the game were limited by their budget, for the game tells the richest story in gaming that we've seen since The Witcher 2. The combat is really enjoyable, and tends to feel very varied; as it's a mix of a dynamic RPG (one that reminds me of an improved version of Dragon Age's 2 combat system) and a stealth game. The gameplay itself is honestly just a far, FAR more balanced version of what was found in the latest Game of Thrones RPG; and is teeming with complexity that almost seems at odds with the high pace of the combat. You quickly learn that you need to master all the different elements, as the game is, to put it simply, punishing in terms of difficulty. Yet I never felt it was unfair.

I reckon that I'll write a full review in a few days, I've yet to make my way through the entirety of the game, but I'm approaching the end. If the game has shown me one thing, it's how much other modern RPGs focus on their characters as opposed to the story as a whole; and it's interestingly enough made me take a far, far harsher look on Bioware's last couple of games. (Dragon Age: Origins, I still love you, don't worry.) The main characters are complex; very much so, and fact is, that despite playing through the entire game with them, you might not truly understand all there is to know about them by the end of the game. As a real person might still surprise you. Yet the main focus of the story is that of their journey.

The game also handles a lot of the RPG/Fantasy tropes and clichés with almost shocking efficiency. Enemy hordes around every corner? No, fuck that; allow the player time to explore these very odd and interesting places. Dungeon-crawling, you say? How about tossing in some truly good cut-scenes and decisions before almost every single fight in the game; making each encounter seem dire and grand as opposed to a slug through endless hordes. Just to name a few.

Even on the lore-based level; it feels like they just tossed the entire "fantasy" part of the story out of the window, and grounded what is a fantastic tale in gritty realism. An approach that reminded me of the Witcher (clearly an inspiration). There is literally a moment inside the game where the Orc (Arkhail) is telling the Goblin (Styx) of an ancient ritual that is used for warriors who are about to make a desperate, final stand in an attempt to convince him to come along on a side mission to gather some fresh water; it goes something like this. "The ritual requires pure water, and can only be administered by a shaman that those who are about to fall in glorious battle may greet the earth-mot.. -Alright, alright! I'll fucking fetch the water, but only as long as you shut up with your fantasy nonsense!"

Game has issues; but honestly, they're rare. I encountered very few bugs, and the voice-acting on some of the supporting cast is questionable at best (the main characters being fantastic, themselves), and the game certainly could be prettier. It's also very linear; though given how cinematic the game is, you can't fault it for that, as it really is a story that could have come straight out of a great fantasy novel; and yet there's plenty of room for decisions and character interaction. It's a game that was made on a tight budget; but honestly? As of now, I'm anticipating their next game far more eagerly than anything Bioware has got planned. These people seem to understand the soul of what an RPG constitutes.

And one final warning; the game doesn't start out great. But after about an hour, two hours in; things REALLY begin to pick up. I found myself laughing out loud on numerous occasions, and being genuinely moved at others. Really can't wait to see how it all wraps up.

And just to make a final comparison.

You know what other game had pretty bad gameplay, outdated visuals, was lineral, but possessed a fan-fucking-tastic story that has propelled it to be known as possibly the best RPG of all time? Planescape: Torment. This game ain't THAT good, but still, the point stands. So far, I'd give it a 9 out of 10. Same for Dishonored, by the way. Now if there ONLY was a way to combine the story of the one game with the gameplay of the other..

- Short version : IT'S FUCKING GREAT! SERIOUSLY! Don't believe me? Read the above part.

@Abendlaender: If you like good stories in games then you'll love this one.

God damn it; I came in here just to link that video. #TeamBrad keeping it real; your move, @Laksa!

@UssjTrunks said:

@Do_The_Manta_Ray said:

Just a quick mention here; Arena-Net does not, in any form, okay the use of THIS mod, they okay mods as a whole that will not grant certain players an advantage; which I personally believe that this mod will; especially in conjecture with siege weaponry; but honestly just with ranged-weapons all around.

Don't get me wrong, I think that it's a really cool idea; but I don't support this being introduced to the game as that'll fuck up what is, in my opinion, the best launch-balance I've ever seen between classes. Ranged classes already have an advantage; and now add onto that the extra mobility that comes from joining attack and move key-inputs? No. Sorry; and I'm afraid that Arena-Net will be of the same opinion as I, so you fellas might want to hold off on downloading that. And you definitely want to avoid doing Tournament PvP with it.

And just a call-out for the creator of this mod. FPS-inspired? BOOO! Give me RTS/Isometric-controls!

It doesn't give any more of an advantage than hardware mods like MMO mice and keyboads (which are allowed). It also helps people with disabilities.

A lot of solid, valid arguements in that "NO WAY". Look, mate; the mod in question allows you to move and shoot with one input. Change targets and fire off shots whilst changing the direction in which you're running with a single sweep of the mouse + 1 singe click, where as that would otherwise require -mouse to target - click to focus - q/e for strafe with additional mousemovement if you don't wanna' move horizontally - hotkey, 1-2-3, etc for attack.- So, yes, that gives people an unfair advantage; one that removes a series of input-combinations, and this is just in a 1-target scenario; add additional ones and boom, you got yourself an TPS, not an MMO.

And yes, when you have a big-ass cursor in the middle of the screen that you can compare the trial-and-error guesswork of siege-weaponry, that helps determine where your shots land. And yes, the direct mouse-controlled directional movements remove the need to use auto-run in order to simulate the same experience. And yes, let's not even start speaking of what it can do to sniping around rocks, and pieces of the environment.

And sure, there's special keyboards and mouses that allow you certain advantages; but they do not come anywhere close to creating such short-cuts, as they are still bound to the game-mechanics as established at hand. There's no "run and attack and turn" button on the keyboard or on the mouse, and even then, that'd be another input required.

And just what disabilites are we speaking of here? I don't mean to be disrespectful for people with disabilities, but who will be helped by this other than those who cannot co-ordinate each hand to work in unison, as would be required of key-board + mouse, or a gamepad; as in that they'd only need to use the mouse. And if they aren't able to co-ordinate hand movements, motor functions in that function, they would, as per following logical definition not be able to co-ordinate the seperation between game and input mechanics. I don't mean to insult any one-handed people out there; clarifying that. I just don't see the explanation given by the creator of this mod as a viable arguement, and far more like a desperate plea to have his mod OKAY'd for usage inside the game, which it probably won't be as per and due the points I mentioned earlier.

Just to clarify, man; I'm glad you brought this to our attention, it's pretty damn cool. I do however feel the need to express that there is NO confirmation that it's safe as per Arena-net regulations, you COULD get BANNED for using this mod. That's the final line.

Edit: Added the final line, and wrote "who" will be helped instead of "how" will, etc..

Just a quick mention here; Arena-Net does NOT, in any form, okay the use of THIS mod, they okay mods as a whole that will not grant certain players an advantage; which I personally believe that this mod will; especially in conjecture with siege weaponry; but honestly just with ranged-weapons all around.

Don't get me wrong, I think that it's a really cool idea; but I don't support this being introduced to the game as that'll fuck up what is, in my opinion, the best launch-balance I've ever seen between classes. Ranged classes already have an advantage; and now add onto that the extra mobility that comes from joining attack and move key-inputs? No. Sorry; and I'm afraid that Arena-Net will be of the same opinion as I, so you fellas might want to hold off on downloading that. And you definitely want to avoid doing Tournament PvP with it.

And just a call-out for the creator of this mod. TPS-inspired? BOOO! Give me RTS/Isometric-controls!

@kishinfoulux: That does sound like a fantastic deal; have you actually purchased the game for yourself, mind? I'm somewhat worried as to whether I can trust this somewhat shady-looking site to deliver on their end of the bargain.

Heck, has anyone purchased the game from that site, and can report whether it works?

Quick Edit: @bibamatt: Are you saying you actually got the game running for that price? If so, hot damn; I'm coming, baby.