Mr March

That's encouraging news. I'm glad to hear things are better with the LCD. I use LCD's at work, so I really don't mind them for the vast majority of programs, but I have to admit I don't game at work Ideally, I won't have to worry too much about the contrast bleeding, since I want to do the majority of my photography and digital editing on an Apple (they are the only ones offering the lovely Final Cut Pro).

Great post! I can see some of the old LCD problems are still kicking around I must say, I'm surprised Dell has taken that sort of attitude. Typically, they are so good with hardware returns. For them to institue that sort of policy must mean dead pixels are a fact of life with LCD systems. More's the pity

I've always had a problem with ghosting, viewing angle, and contrast bleeding when gaming on a non-CRT monitor. Don't get me wrong, I'd love nothing more than to have a CRT quality monitor in a light-weight, flat panel configuration (my big, 19" CRT is just so damn ugly in comparison). But when it comes to gaming on my PC, I can't get over those problems that continually plague the LCD systems. I need that refresh to be FAST! I'm curious what members will have to say about the newer flat screens. It's been a few years since I seriously looked into moving to a flat screen, so perhaps some of those annoying problems have been corrected. Oh, and since you asked: Ghosting Widely recognized as the main drawback of LCD screens, "ghosting" occurs when the tiny pixels creating an image take time to switch on and off, often unable to keep pace during fast moving images. Viewing Angle Seen as both advantage and disadvantage, LCD screens have a limited field of view, often requiring that the viewer sit at a specific angle to the screen in order to view what is being projected. Those LCD users that enjoy privacy often see the limited viewing angle of an LCD as an advantage in public enviroments. Contrast Bleeding (or "Backlight Bleed" if you prefer) The LCD functions using a light source layered under the liquid crystal molecules, resulting in a "bleeding" effect that always lets at least some degree of light through. This results in a lower contrast and causes blacks to appear grey.

Can't put my finger on it, but there is just something about the original VF-1 GERWALK mode that looks really good. Perhaps it's the way the Kawamori lineart is drawn and the manner in which the GERWALK was animated that make the mode look so appealing on the VF-1. I like the GERWALK mode on the VF-11 and the VF-0, but I could do without most of the others. As a part of the mecha fiction in Macorss, I don't really care for the mode itself and I think the uses of the mode are negligable. The abilities of the Valkyries enable VTOL in battroid and you can't efficiently hangar Valkyries in GERWALK anyway. It would be an interesting idea if some future Valkyries were designed without a GERWALK mode, making them more distinctive from their predecessors.

I have to say, I certainly don't see universal hate for the VF-2SS. Seems the majority of fans (at least in this thread) enjoy the VF-2SS, even some that don't like the Macross II anime itself. Regardless, not every fan's dislike of the VF-2SS can be conveniently marginalized into a throwaway reason so easily dismissed. I do see in the VF-2SS a definite design departure that I don't like, one that varies from the established esthetics of the Kawamori fighters. It has nothing to do with "realism", didactic analyzing of Macross fiction, Macross II bashing, Kawamori's personal politics, space-specific designs (all of the Kawamori designs retain the key atmospheric requirements beyond "wings"), or any other excuse posted so far. Granted, this matter is ultimately a simple difference of opinion, but it's no reason to stereotype those fans who dislike the VF-2SS using some silly syllogism. Gotta admit though, this thread sure has examined just about everything people like or don't like about the Valkyries of Macross. Can't recall a more involving discussion of the variable fighter designs for some time

So, it was you that did these new icons then? Good job. I think they look great.

Very nice. Never seen a simple animation quite like that before. It really shows the detail and effort that went into the model.

For me, the console is game-dependant, simply a means to an end. If I could play console games without a console, I'd never buy one again. Unfortunately, classic gaming is the boundary of emulation Regardless, I've no love or loyalty to any console and the technical differences between same-generation consoles are marginally incremental at best. Speed, storage space, disc format....these things don't concern me. What concerns me is a killer game. If some game company produces Castlevania Symphony of the Night, I buy a Playstation. Halo comes round, I buy an X-Box. Half-Life 2 is released and I upgrade my computer So far, the Nintendo Revolution, the Playstation 3, and the X-Box 360 press releases have done nothing to inspire me. If Bungie ever gets off their backsides and produces Halo 3, they'll have made a buyer out of me.

See, now this is a great trailer. No cheesy voice over by that same guy who's hired to narrate everything, no pretentious editing leading the audience to believe they will die if they miss this film, and not every good scene in the film is shown to maximize the market. It's snakes on a plane...with Sam Jackson...and it looks like a B-movie adventure done A-list style. You know exactly what to expect...and it looks fantastic Gonna have to remember this one.

Just celebrated my 31st b-day this past Saturday

Oh yeah, me too! That Cheyenne is one kickass Destroid

Perhaps they are just talking about the time frame of the action in this new TV series, rather than the actual day-by-day childhood of Luke Skywalker himself. Either way, I'm not to fond of the idea of a Star Wars TV series. Last thing we need is Star Wars turning into a dull, lifeless saga that never ends, much like several other genre television shows.

The Macross Compendium states Gerwalk flying speed is 500 km/h maximum and that it can only hover for a few minutes at most. I assume flight speed and hover time in battroid mode must be something less than Gerwalk mode, however officially undefined.

I'll say this for the japanese, they take fandom to a whole new level

I haven't played my MAME in a couple years, but then I saw this thread and decided to revisit the latest version. I'm glad I did because there are a bunch of great new games available, though some are yet to be perfected. Alien Vs. Predator - I'm thrilled to play a perfected version of this game. This was such a fun game to play in the arcade because one could actually play the game on less than a buck after a short learning curve. Great stuff. Superman - One of only a VERY few arcade games I could finish on a single quarter. I'd play this game every visit to the arcade, it never let me down. The soundtrack still gets me going. Altered Beast - Another great arcade game I could finish on one quarter, I'm glad the new version of MAME has fixed some of the graphic and sound issues. King of Dragons - Now here's a game that screams 80's, when fantasy and RPGs were all the rage. This is a seriously fun fantasy game. The wizard is still my favorite character Rastan Saga - Leave it to the japanese to make a Conan game and the only good one at that. Though they call it Rastan Saga to avoid copyright, this brilliant game screams of Robert Howards hack and slash barbarian making it a favorite of mine during my days when I read the black and white comics. Side Arms - This is a great mecha side-scroller. All kinds of fun weapons and your mech can even combine with the other player into a kick ass uber-mecha. Time Soldiers - This was an unsual game due to the 360 degree rotating control. Turns out to be one hell of a game too. It was also one of the easier games because you could obtain a power-up that allowed you to survive hits as long as it was powered. X-Men - Though the sound is still not perfected (even after all these years) this is still one of the best of the last generation of arcade side scrollers. The music was so great, I really hope they perfect the sound soon. Wardner - This is a great title that I recall having very smooth animation and a great color palette. It's faithfully emulated and still a lot of fun. Though the final stage is still a pain in the butt, but at least it's beatable unlike so many other arcade games I used to suffer through Shinobi - Had a great obsession with ninjas during the 80's and this game satisfied. I remember Shadow Dancer on the genesis was another fun game, though I don't like the arcade version.

I am so far behind on this series is tragic. I still only own first 5 DVDs of first season. I gotta get around to seeing more soon, otherwise I'll miss the whole series

Amazing! It looks better than the stuff Yamato uses for the official box covers. Pass on the praise to the artist if you will.

Just got back from a pre-release show and I just had to write a review. Enjoy! V For Vendetta (2006) Genre: Live Action Film – Science Fiction Drama Rare indeed is a science fiction film with more to offer than the newest special effects display and rarer still a science fiction film with political/ideological subtexts that thrill and inspire audiences. V For Vendetta may be a film that offers science fiction, political commentary, and controversial ideology, but each of these parts mesh to create a vibrant film that resonates. V For Vendetta opens upon the audience like a firework, its story rages like a storm, and the finale lingers like an aftermath. Adapted from the graphic novel by Alan Moore, V For Vendetta is a science fiction story set in a totalitarian Britain spawned from a vaguely described disaster in years past. The suppression suffered by the masses is personified by young Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman) who - falling into trouble with state police called Fingermen - finds herself rescued by a masked revolutionary named “V†(Hugo Weaving). Dressed in the guise of folk hero Guy Fawkes, “V†engenders unto Evey the dream of a new and better world to replace the iron-fisted regime of Sutler (John Hurt) that cages Britain and her people in fascism. Without doubt, V For Vendetta is a pointedly disturbing film. The character of “V†both inspires and terrifies the viewer through his actions, at times heroic and equally monstrous, particularly his methods of persuading Evey to join his new revolution. As “Vâ€, Hugo Weaving plays the provocateur entirely behind a masked fascade, like some Phantom of the Oppressed. Proving he’s up to the challenge, Weaving adeptly utilizes his melodic voice combined with deft body language to create a vibrant performance as theatrical as V’s personality. Equally enjoyable is Portman’s Evey, portrayed with enough emotion to perfectly fathom the character’s fear and the right amount of anger to trust the honesty of her transformation into freedom fighter; all this and a convincing english accent too. As antagonists, the varied cast conveys brutal authoritarianism through dictator Adam Sutler (John Hurt), blind ambition from thug Creedy (Tom Pigott-Smith) and gradual enlightenment via Inspector Finch (Stephen Rea). While these powerful performances would engage any audience in an average film, V For Vendetta is never content to tell a conventional tale. Driving directly into issues such as free-will, homosexuality, and persecution, screenwriters Andy & Larry Wachowski masterfully adapt Moore’s classic graphic novel for the screen. First time director James McTeigue obviously benefits from the instruction of the Wachowski brothers, bringing the script to life and bravely dealing with the moral ambiguity of extreme ideology and the human dilemma between death and freedom. Those expecting to see an action piece will be disappointed, but those expecting a smart thriller with powerful action to match the well-paced tension will be ecstatic. V For Vendetta features compelling mystery, authentic drama, and some truly innovative fighting sequences sadly absent from many movies that claim to be action films. With a film this reactionary, it’s only natural that some of the flaws will be examined with scrutiny. The film can drag briefly at points of exposition and sometimes the audacity of “V†can stretch a scene into absurdity. Yet overall V For Vendetta works and works well, even if the movie lacks a certain polish. In its defense, the movie has solid acting, a bold story, provoking drama, and a strong cinematic style that should win over most. V For Vendetta features many surprises and introspective moments best left to experience unspoiled. Many skeptics have complained of hollow films and a diminishing interest in the stories being told on the big screen, so V For Vendetta will hopefully be accepted as a rich movie worth watching. While the current politically sensitive climate in many democratic nations may cause some to marginalize the film, V For Vendetta is that rare important film which deserves to be seen before judgement is rendered. Rating: 5 out of 5. A fantastic adaptation of a seminal graphic novel and a memorable film which will stimulate debate and discussion as all good art should.

LOL! The guy should just run a projector instead of all those screens, though I suppose he likes the high definition resolution you can get with monitors. 10240 by 3072...yikes! And here I though I was abnormal for running in 1280x1024

Damn Canucks, they're everywhere

My thanks JELEINEN! I didn't even notice that! The interiors are even better. I've never seen anything like this.

I'm stunned! I think this is more impressive than the lego Star Destroyer. He even has fighters and life boats included. Amazing!

I love FAST Packs, particularly as space flight equipment for the ordinarily aerodynamic-styled Valkyries. However, I must say the application and mission alters my opinion substantially. Fighter Mode In fighter mode, I almost always prefer the Valkyires without the FAST Packs attached, as this is the most esthetically pleasing mode. Most of the FAST Packs are chunky and even the conformal sections add bulk not native to the design, which I don't like in fighter mode. It bothers the ebb and flow of the smooth fighter mode, jarring my eye as it absorbs the appearance of the design. I like FAST Packs used in space for the fighter mode. The addition of the packs really alters the appearance of the VF-1 fighter mode into a more spaceworthy design, at least esthetically. The thrusters all over the packs for true weightless manuvering and the giant rocket boosters make the Valkyrie a more beleivable spacecraft. Travelling in space requires traversing over incredibly long distances and a Valkyrie would need plenty of fuel and additional armaments for interplanetary sorties. I much prefer the Valkyries be equipped with FAST Packs for any space flight (this includes cool stuff like space boosters and VF-11 rockets). About the only packs that don't bother me for the fighter mode in an atmosphere is the VF-0 FAST Packs. These aren't too intrusive on aerodynamics and they don't really harm the overall design in fighter mode. Battroid Mode I have no trouble with any of the FAST Packs in battroid mode for the VF-0, VF-1, SV-51, VF-11, YF-19, or YF-21. They all look great and some of them even make the Valkyries look much more menacing (like the VF-1). The one thing I don't like is the YF-19 FAST Packs on the shoulders. They look too flashy in battroid mode, like all those silly spikes and protrusions you see on samurai-like mecha in other animes. Gerwalk Mode No real preference either way for most of the Valkyries. But again, the VF-1 packs really make the Gerwalk mode look intimidating, so I think it's better with packs equipped. Special Note I have to make one exception out of all the Valkyries and that's the VF-11. I don't really know why, but for some reason I prefer the VF-11 equipped with FAST Packs in all modes, even fighter mode flying in an atmosphere (which I know is a big no-no). I can't describe it any other way but to say that the VF-11 somehow looks...incomplete without FAST Packs. It's almost as if the packs were part of the unmodified design. Strange, but there it is.

I beleive it was only $33 CAD for me.

I understand perfectly what you're trying to do, no doubt its the inability to deal with negative criticism. Believe me, NGE is bashed to such a degree that overblown and overrated are about the mildest things a dissappointed viewer like Isoquant could say. Regardless, Isoquant can describe NGE as he wishes without some silly stipulation "as long as you don't call it this" because sensitive fans take it personally. If you truly want to end the debate, I'll respect that and ignore your parting shot.