A rant (and something of a confession)

[Sl'askia]

As you may know I tend to be a bit of a quiet dragon, save for in Fan Corner and RPG, always have always will, its just how I am. When I first joined the forums (back when we were still on the EZB) I would look through the General, FC, OT, and (after I joined it) the RPG sections thoroughly everyday. Though being true to my nature I tended not to contribute to any topics unless I had something to add to it.
First of all, just to let you know, I was never what you would call a fanatic Oddworld Fan, I was more casual. I liked Oddworld because it had no 'human' characters in it and it jabbed and hinted at the faults and atrocities of our own world. These reasons are why I still like (note: like not love) Oddworld and always will.
However things have changed. I am not as interested in Oddworld as I used to be. This could be for a number of reasons; ranging from me getting older (ugh), the move of MO to the X-Box, stress, and who knows what else. I suppose it was just a phase I was going through...a phase that I am getting over.
Now a days I hardly bother checking General and most topic's in OT don't interest me in the least anymore. The only places I check religiously is FC and RPG (not that the RPG is that active at the mo...). I'm guessing one of the reasons is the nearly constant console bashing that has gone on ever since MO moved to the X-Box. I guess I got fed up with trying to get everyone to understand that it doesn't matter what console a game is on, whether its the X-Box, GameCube, or PS2 (or PC for that matter). It is the quality of the game that truly matters and how much people enjoy it. I personally don't care what the specs of a console are, as long as I can play the games I want (provided there are more the one or two games I want on a system) I am happy. I don't care how powerful the processor is..or if it has a harddrive or DVD-ROM with it. You can't convince me to get a new console by telling me all its features (as Joe the Intern found out the hard way on MSN recently...I should have saved that chat...oh well), the games themselves are what matter to me (and I know I sound like a broken record when I say that MO is the only game that interests me at all on the X-Box, and its silly...if not stupid...to get a console for one game.). To be quite honest...I can't stand reading Steel Shark's mile long technical posts (and that includes game info and the like), they bore me...so I don't bother (thats just me...so you would be beating a dead horse if you started saying I was missing out on important info. Read: I don't care).
By now you are probably thinking: Why are you telling us this? The truth is I needed to let this out. All this doesn't mean I am not still a fan of Oddworld, I still am, just not as big of one as most of the rest of you are. This also is not an announcement saying that I am leaving this board, for I am not. I have made too many friends in my time here and I will not leave them. I will still be writing stories and drawing pics to post in FC (hehe sorry Melvin) and participating in the RPG (hey Rett! Are you going to do that post? Or am I gonna have to do it myself and have Malice do something completely random in addition? *evil grin*). And I will still do my duties as a FC moderator (spammers beware...he he he).

I will end with some opinions on recent topics…

Console wars/Console bashing: I hate it, for the reason’s I have stated earlier and because I know it is a no win situation for all those involved. All it results in is hurt feelings, name calling, hurt prides and bruised egos. Far too many of these topics have popped up lately…and I’m sick of it. (its one of the reasons I hardly look bother looking in OT or General anymore)

Religious debates: Another no win in my book. Each side standing fast with their beliefs and not budging; trying to convince each other wrong.

USA funding terrorism: I find it hard to believe, but I am not discounting it. There are many things wrong with the USA, but I know and understand that no country is perfect…or the best. (Just today in a briefing, I cringed when one of the speakers said that we were the ‘greatest country’. Ugh…)
However I do feel this: If the USA wasn’t so adamant about solving other countries problems and focused more time and money on our own first, we wouldn’t have so many problems and we wouldn’t have terrorists flying planes into our buildings….

I know some of you are probably going to critize/flame me for some of the things I said. I say, go ahead. You bite me...I will bite(if not fry) you back. I have stated my feelings and beliefs in this post and I am entitled to them. If you can't handle that...tough. You cannot change how I am as much as I can't change how you are so live with it.

[ November 08, 2001: Message edited by: Dragadon ]

[FuzzyFuzzle]

*to Spider* Geez...this is so...un-neutral of her...

Thanks Drag. I am getting fed up with the endless console wars also...I think that everyones way of thinking should be "I'm getting _______ system. I could care less what some other person thinks/says about it."
As much as baiting Drag on MSN with Gamecube-directed insults (heheheh) arguing over consoles endlessly is just BORING!!

[Oddworlder]

Originally posted by Dragadon:
... It is the quality of the game that truly matters and how much people enjoy it....I say that MO is the only game that interests me at all on the X-Box, and its silly...if not stupid...to get a console for one game

I couldn't agree more that the quality of the game is the only reason to buy Anything. As one of the Stupid people I will buy X-Box for just for MO. Otherwise I would get something else with a DVD player.

I hope you can find something of interest to keep you contributing. I've only been lurking for the most part, as you can see by my rating, and read your stuff with interest.

I hope that when the fourth game comes out we can play online. I'm not good at the RPG so I'll leave that to those better at it. Enjoy reading it though. Keep truck'in

[Steel Shark]

Well thankyou very much Dragadon, how very neutral and nice of you. At least you have finally shown your true colors, colors that by the way I have always known of.

First off, I have been very straightforward with all my talk of consoles. Always very honest in saying get all the systems. Never, not once stating that any of these new next-gen systems were lacking, or not worthy. I own them all, and like them all very much.It's just that when stating it's the games that are important not the systems,which is true to a point, it is just not entirely true. The power of a system such as XBOX does enable developers to make games all the more in-depth, with superior everything, just a fact.Better A.I. Graphics, sound, music, effects, animation, longevity, it all adds up to more detailed everything, which makes for better emmersion, which in turn makes games all the better.

It seems that a few regular ..... well let's call them not the biggest of XBOX lovers have not been around so much lately, the closer the XBOX gets to getting here, and that it's bringing a little extra .....shall we call it hostility as proven by your comments above ,out.

Dragadon, I have not once belittled you with your talk of spiders and dragons and Malice, whatever. It's your thing. All the power to you. I just do not get near your topics. But I have not ever gone out of my way to attack you for your personal like's, such as your talk of Spider and Malice. It's your thing, good luck to you. You do not have to read my topics as well. I have not put a gun to your head. You have been the one system bashing in a out of the way kind of way, saying the XBOX has only one game you have interest in, I have always said all the systems are the way to go, so please do not insinute that I am in the middle of system wars, here I am again defending myself, I never start them, as anyone can tell,this topic is more proof of that.My one crime has been loving the XBOX that little bit extra, is there something wrong with that? Maybe I should just stop talking of the XBOX on a Forum that has the XBOX and a game which is exclusive to it. It's like me asking you to stop talking of those characters you talk of all the time, that would be utter nonsense, we both have our rights, and you should honor mine, just as I have honored your's. You are the one that crossed the line here with your above attack. Well time will show you something different. If not, then not, it's your thing, fine. When Panzer DragoonX and 24 Automatons get here for my beloved XBOX, let us know what those Dragon oriented games do for you, eventually I believe you even will like the BOX for more than that 1 game. Oh your Dragon loving heart will change then. If not, then not. It's your thing.

Dragadon I do not care if you care about my thoughts on XBOX, you cannot please everyone, I already know your feelings. I do not come here to hear about someone talk of your fictional characters Malice and Spyder either, I do not care of that as well ( whle we are being honest I would take a shotgun to them), but I do not go out of my way as you have to let that be known to everyone. You have been very unfair in your post with your very rude and negative and very un-true thoughts on me.

Please do not read my posts, you do have free will you know, and I guarantee I will do as I have always done, stay away from your posts as far as one can get. That you can count on. And please don't hate me because I love XBOX.

All I want to do is have fun playing games, so just get a grip take a few deep breaths and leave me to do so, I mean it's XBOX time, and I got no more time for this. Good luck to you, and lose some of that hostility, it's not good for Malice, Spyder and even you.



[ November 09, 2001: Message edited by: Steel Shark ]

[Sl'askia]

First off, I have been very straight forward with all my talk of consoles. Always very honest in saying get all the systems. Never, not once stating that any of these new next-gen systems were lacking, or not worthy.

I never said you didn't. I do read some of your posts completely, just not all of them. And I do apprecate you saying to get all the systems, but just remember that that is not possible for everyone, even with a job.

It seems that a few regular ..... well let's call them not the biggest of XBOX lovers have not been around so much lately, the closer the XBOX gets to getting here, and that it's bringing a little extra .....shall we call it hostility as proven by your comments above ,out

Thats their choice to leave here, not ours. I continue to stay here because I love to draw, write stories, and to RP; with Oddworld as my main subject. As I said, I still like Oddword and MO's move to the X-Box doesn't change that, its just the likely hood that I won't be getting MO as a result. Which doesn't bother me as I can live without, it is only a game after all.

I have always said all the systems are the way to go, so please do not insinute that I am in the middle of system wars, here I am again defending myself, I never start them, as anyone can tell,this topic is more proof of that.My one crime has been loving the XBOX that little bit extra, is there something wrong with that? Maybe I should just stop talking of the XBOX on a Forum that has the XBOX and a game which is exclusive to it. It's like me asking you to stop talking of those characters you talk of all the time, that would be utter nonsense, we both have our rights, and you should honor mine, just as I have honored your's. You are the one that crossed the line here with your above attack.

Did I say you were in the middle of system wars? No I didn't, I didn't mention any names in that requard, please don't assume that just because I mentioned your name once that it means the whole post is an attack on you personally. And I never said that all talk of the X-Box should stop...that is everyones right to talk about it and I have no problem with it. I just won't be contributing to those types of topics very often and thats my choice....and right.

When Panzer DragoonX and 24 Automatons get here for my beloved XBOX, let us know what those Dragon oriented games do for you, eventually I believe you even will like the BOX for more than that 1 game. Oh your Dragon loving heart will change then. If not, then not. It's your thing

When more games come out that I am interested in for the X-Box, chances are that I will get one. I never said I was never going to get an X-Box. It will just take a little longer for me to get one and that is fine by me, I am in no hurry.

I do not come here to hear about someone talk of your fictional characters Malice and Spyder either, I do not care of that as well ( whle we are being honest I would take a shotgun to them), but I do not go out of my way as you have to let that be known to everyone.

Thats your right, I never disputed it. If you do not like my characters thats fine by me. I just love to RP in my posts, thats my thing.

You have been very unfair in your post with your very rude and negative and very un-true thoughts on me.

And just where did you get that feeling? Please point that out to me. I wasn't intending to insult anyone and if I did I apologize. I did not write that post to make enemies.

I guarantee I will do as I have always done, stay away from your posts as far as one can get. That you can count on. And please don't hate me because I love XBOX

Again that is your choice. And I don't hate you for loving the X-Box, that is your thing.

All I want to do is have fun playing games, so just get a grip take a few deep breaths and leave me to do so, I mean it's XBOX time

Do you see me trying to stop you? No. Go right on ahead...enjoy yourself, have fun.

and lose some of that hostility

What do you think my above post was for? To let out pent up feelings, if I came out as hostile then again I apologize.
And I do apologize for the last paragraph now that I look at it again. I did come off a bit on the mean side...I don't know what was wrong with me yesterday...I was in a rare 'mean' streak.

[Danny]

Well, it's a little difficult to know what to say to a topic like this... Firstly, I'd like to condemn Steelshark for once again taking a criticism of the Xbox as a personal attack on him. I do sympathise with your insecurities, I have similar problems sometimes, but trust me, they are totally unfounded.

Going back to Rach's original post, I tend to agree with her, except for one point: I find the Religious discussions very interesting, and I think that they are constructive in that they allow us to get to know one another better. Except, of course, for when they degenerate into bitching sessions...

As for the America Funding Terrorism thing, I can assure you that the School of the Americas is very real... Most of Osama Bin Laden's agents were trained in the US...

[General Drippik]

Usually I don't read big long topics that seem to crap on... I did this time. That must have taken you a long time to write drag.

[Sydney]

Please don't fight people, there's been too much fighting lately. Can't we all just get along?

The console wars bore me and I don't bother reading them.

The religious debates are interesting, as Rettick said. There's a lot to be learned in those topics, as long as people keep calm and level headed.

[Joe the Intern]

yes, i have learned the error of my ways over the great and mighty MSN. its no use budging drag, and theres no use trying. lets keep our consoles to ourselves, our religions vying for victory, and our wits as sharp as my toenails!

[Cloverfield]

Originally posted by Dragadon:
However things have changed. I am not as interested in Oddworld as I used to be. This could be for a number of reasons; ranging from me getting older (ugh), the move of MO to the X-Box, stress, and who knows what else.

Never say you are too old for a game! As a 26 year old gamer I know too many people that once they get to be an adult they think they can't play games again. I even lost some friends because of it. It's your life and I can't tell you what to do, but I always cringe when people either coming out of teenage years or already an adult move away from games. It helps relieve the drag of everyday adult life... being a teenager is a lot more fun!!!

I do agree w/ your point on consoles... I like a game for gameplay, not whether it has the top graphics or anything. OK, graphics make the game look a lot better (and I do love looking at the beautiful graphics of games like Munch), but it's not everything. A good example of this is that sometimes I still play one of my old favorite games... a game that I had on the Commodore 64 as a kid and I now play on an emulator. A game that is 2 colors only on the screen and has crappy music and sounds.

Abe Babe...

[Teal]

I've tried to keep out of these wars, but I think I'll add a two pennorth here.

SteelShark, I hate to say it but you're starting to sound like the somewhat infamous Tarzan, now, effectively flaming people who disagree with you. I think Rach was perfectly reasonable in what she said, I only remember seeing your name mentioned once, and then I only took it as mentioned as you are the most major proponent of the Xbox around here... I'll add here that I have nothing against the system, and I like the fact that people like it, but it's not very fair the way you're going round very nearly telling people who don't want to buy one that they're stupid because of it. I'm not going to be getting one - mainly because I can barely afford to feed myself, the student's life is not an easy one. That's the main reason I don't read the long technical posts you write.

Okay, this is sounding like a personal attack on SS. *fetches the frying pan*

I suppose it was from living with two people who were very polar in their view last year - one used to go foxhunting, the other was effectively a hunt sab. Sitting on the fence when your own views are somwhat biased wasn't easy when they starteg getting vocal. I don't like seeing people argue, and yet always seem to end up getting involved...

*shrugs* Sorry. *goes off to beat some sense into IM which STILL won't let her sign in*

[Sl'askia]

Yes...please lets not fight. I dislike them as well, even though the emotional impact is not as great on here as it would be if we were face-to-face. (Heck...If we were doing this in person I wouldn't be saying much...as I always have trouble expressing myself vocally. I always found it easier to express myself by pen and paper...or in this case, keyboard and forum).
You do have a point (Rettick, Syd, etc), about the Religious debates. They can get interesting and funny to me. In fact I think I was one of the few people that Pink didn't use her 'catch phase' on (You know what that is. Sorry Pink...I mean no offense. You just used that phase so much during a religious debate that I coined it as your catch phase.)
Abe Babe you are right, you are never too old for games. Just that since I join the forums and got MSN, they have taken over most of my free time (pathitic I know). I remember when I used to beat a new game within 2 - 4 weeks (sometimes less then that. I think my record is 3 days.). But know I have a number of games I haven't finished or touched in a while (heck...the last time I used my PS2 was to watch a DVD. My N64 is under a pile of dust(ok I'm exaggerating)). I have yet to complete Breath of Fire 4(PS2), Summoner(PS2), Banjo Tooie(N64), Dino Crisis 2 (PS2...heck...I haven't even started that one)and who knows what others...those are just the ones I can recall off the top of my head. I really should get back into them...before I lose my touch.

Spider: I think yer lost it already...

Oh get off *tosses Spider off*. Hmmm that reminds me...just what do you have against my characters SS? I'm just curious. If you are against me RPing them out of the RPG and FC the reason I do is to add humor to some of my posts. If its not that, please enlighten me as to what it is.

*hands Teal a sledge hammer to help her with her MSN problems*

[ November 10, 2001: Message edited by: Dragadon ]

[ November 10, 2001: Message edited by: Dragadon ]

[Doug]

Regarding the point about being too old to play:

I'm somewhat reluctant to reveal my exact age for fear of being ostracized, but I played Pong in the bus station in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1974 (I didn't need to stand on a milk crate to reach the buttons, either), and I have loved video games ever since. I've never had really good equipment, but it helped that my dad loved video games and always had some console or other, like the original Atari and Coleco.

The first game I played on a computer was King's Quest IV on a monochrome laptop at work during lunch-hour, and when my office bought a color monitor to hook it up to it was like the scene in the Wizard of Oz when it changes from black & white to color. Wow! When I got a chance to play Myst on my Dad's computer, I was blown away by the visuals and soundtrack. I couldn't wait to get a multimedia computer (yes, believe it or not, there was a time when PCs didn't come with speakers and CD-ROM drives). I've been hooked on adventure games since.

I've got an old computer and I can't play the most modern games, but I've got a closet full of older bargain bin titles that I enjoy working through bit by bit. AO was the latest (and by far one of the greatest, even though outside my favorite genre). Ok, so I don't tell a lot of my peers that I'm a video game junkie, but most nights it's a lot more interesting and a lot more entertaining than what's on TV. Whether I'm too old to play or not, I'm playing anyway, and I'll never stop.