If you like Within Temptation look up Xandria, Epica and Nightwish. As for Within Temptation, they aren't my favorite symphonic metal band (that would have to be Epica), but they are quite good.
It is generally accepted that XBox Live is superior for online play than Playstation Network for a couple reasons, mainly the fact that voice chat is a standard feature and better maintained servers, ironically thanks to the fee that Sony always decries as unnecessary. Incidentally, XBox Live is close enough to free at its price point. According to my calculations, a single month of XBox live is US$3.84 if you pay with 12+1 month subscription cards. Far cheaper than the average pay to play MMO. However, that's not to say that Playstation Network is bad. In fact, for a free service, it is phenominal. Though I do wonder how long before Sony decides to rethink the whole free thing because servers cost money and free doesn't generate money. Children's console? While I can't speak for the ridiculous amounts of shovelware, games like No More Heroes and Mad World are by far NOT child appropriate. Likewise, games like Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Mario Galaxy and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess are too deep to keep most childrens' attention for longer than playing through the main part of the game, if that. Hell, I don't know a single person, young or old, who has ever had enough patience and skill to get 100% completion in Super Smash Bros. Granted the Wii could be utilized much better (as said by myself earlier in the thread, I feel it is best as a companion console) and said shovelware (while mostly ignored by people wanting depth in their games) is flooding the market horribly. Considering that the 360 has far more exclusive titles, a considerably lower price point and a better online service.... And the PS3 and 360 aren't just "suped-up" versions of their predecessors? Hell, the PS3 has a motion sensitive controller as well, its just that noone uses it. Well, this a great idea, but the rest of your post makes me fell like responding. Fair enough. Great job reinforcing the stereotype that those are the only games the 360 has to offer. I personally do not even own Halo 3 or Gears of War 2. In fact, for exclusives, I own Guitar Hero II (keep in mind, I'm talking current gen games, I am well aware of the PS2 version), Lost Odyssey, Gears of War (As said, I don't have the sequel), Mass Effect, Castle Crashers, and Star Ocean: The Last Hope. This is merely my collection. There are also games like Call of Duty 2, Left 4 Dead, Fable II, Tales of Vesperia and Crackdown. The reason most developers are putting out multiplatform games more often than they used to is simply because they realize that restricting their potential customers to just PS3 owners or 360 owners is not a good idea. The biggest selling games rarely sell over a million copies across all systems they are available on, despite approximately 50 million potential customers (nearly 100 million if a game is available on the Wii as well). Gone are the days when a big name game can come out for a single system and sell a million from that one system alone. Cartoony graphics have to do with artistic direction, not hardware capabilities. Though Wii developers tend to avoid realistic art styles due to the console's low power. That said, while the PS3 is technologically superior (though not as superior as Sony would have you think), this comes at two costs. For one, it is far more difficult to develop games for the PS3 as the 360 and few games use the PS3's power the way it could be used (in fact, Metal Gear Solid 4 and Killzone 2 are the only two games I can think of that probably take more power than the 360 is capable of, MGS because of Hideo Kijima's perfectionism and dedication, Killzone because of the literal billion dollar budget.) The second is the price tag. Currently, the cheap PS3 is US$400, double the price of the cheapest 360 pakage and the same price as the most expensive 360 pakage. Because of the relative difficulty in making PS3 games, multiplatform games are often made using the 360 as the base with the PS3 version coming after. In particular, games like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Fallout 3 actually look and run better on the 360 than they do on the PS3 for this reason. However, games like Mirror's Edge are just the opposite thanks to being developed on the PS3 and ported to the 360. In otherwords, it mostly depends on which console the development was based on. However, the difference is generally not much. Blu-ray, however, is great. Absolutely great. 360 games are already going on multiple discs where as they would easily fit on a single blu-ray disc. This is the reason why I hope to have a PS3 before Final Fantasy XIII is released as the 360 version being on multiple discs is almost guarenteed (as well as most likely running better on the PS3 due to development being on it). Entirely opinion, though I do have to agree. They nailed the Playstation controller when they switched to the PS1's Dual Shock in the late 90s and they understand the idea of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Though the hinged L2 R2 continue to be the bane of my existance. As I said earlier, XBox Live is actually considered superior partially because of the fee. Also as said earlier, the fee goes to pay for server maintainence and better maintained servers means more reliable servers. PSN is nice, but I doubt it will remain free forever. Likewise, I own a 360 and Wii with extensive hands-on time with the PS3. I find that I can't decide which one I like more, however.
Do you honestly think its possible to make it any more accurate to the comic? At all? Its already 3 hours long and the entire point of the story is presented nearly perfectly, if not perfectly. Hell, the movie being as long as it is is pushing things, but I doubt its possible to make such a well done and accurate adaptation any shorter. The second sex scene was almost completely unnecessary. It at least could have and probably should have been shorter.
Why do you think I said "Does not compute." Even being unfamiliar with their work, knowing that they are power pop is enough to tell me that they are completely incompatible with Linkin Park. A much better choice of comparison would be KoRn, Slipknot, System of a Down, Disturbed or any other band that is considered nu-metal, whether correctly or not. I've made the same kind of assumptions, I know what you mean. Singers are still musicians. Not necessarily in the same aspect as say, a guitarist, bassist or drummer, but still musicians. I personally would call it selling out as opposed to doing something impressive, but I do understand where you're coming from here. Though I wouldn't say that I hate them for it, more like irritated and baffled. Fair enough.
Now where did I explicitly say that The Fray was bad? In fact, I'm not familiar with their work, I wouldn't know. In fact, all I know about them is that they are a power pop band. I will happily acknowledge a great band/musician even if I don't like them. Case in point: I despise Nirvana (and most grunge, but that isn't the point here), however, I will never discredit them. They were an innovative groundbreaking band that created an entire genre. Likewise, I hate Slipknot, but I find Corey Taylor to be a very talented vocalist and Joey Jordison a skilled drummer. However, bands like Fall Out Boy and Panic at the Disco, I will NEVER say are good. If you're arguing popularity here then you're also telling me that non-musicians like Britney Spears are inspirational and brilliant simply because of sales. Overly generic emo bands like Fall Out Boy and Panic at the Disco don't do anything new and only make music to please the record company. On a side note, anyone mind explaining what makes Pete Wentz notable. At all? On a lyricist standpoint, he can't write a coherent verse without resorting to lame puns and as a bassist, he barely uses half of his instrument. Someone please explain this to me, I am honestly curious as to why he's the most popular member of his band when, as I said, he barely does anything. I don't see any lectures on what's good and what isn't (except MAYBE the previous part of this post.) All I see is a very blunt opinion. I've only commented on bands I'm familiar with for a reason. That reason is that I actually want to, you know, actually know what I'm talking about.
While I will give you that I am much more fond of metal than other genres, I don't give a damn how popular a band is, if they don't suck. In fact, last I checked, The Black Mages, Black Sabbath, Coheed & Cambria, Dethklok, Dio, Disturbed, Dream Theater, Iced Earth, Iron Maiden, Jethro Tull, Judas Priest, Kansas, Mastodon, Megadeth, Metallica, Motorhead, Nightwish, Nine Inch Nails, Ozzy Osbourne, Pantera, Rush, Serj Tankian, System of a Down, Tool, Weird Al, The Who, X Japan and ZZ Top were all popular artists. I am very blunt about my musical opinion, get over it. EDIT: Ironically, most of the bands I've been posting dislike about are either metalcore or pop-punk/emo, styles that are offshoots of hardcore punk.
Now, THAT's a great idea for defense. I'll have to try it if I find an excuse to licence the HMG.
I was raised Catholic and converted to the Evangelical denomination for a couple years in high school. Now, however, I consider myself agnostic. I don't know if there is a god, I don't care if there is a god, I don't think its important to know if there is a god and I don't think its possible to know if there is a god.
I'm a fan of the Jak series, and will have to track down copies now that I have a working PS2, but I find Uncharted to be underwhelming at best. Part of my problem with Uncharted is that I think Naughty Dog is capable of much more interesting settings than the one Uncharted presented as evidenced by Jak and Crash and the other part is that I just didn't like how it played.
Pft. 20-30 minutes? Legend of Dragoon had Melbu Frama in a fight that took 3 HOURS to fight 7 forms.
Now, that would have been something to point out simply because of currency differences as AU$38.95 is equivelent to US$25.03 and CA$32.11, which is actually cheaper than I had thought.
Assuming they still have copies, its $30 new at Wal-Mart.
Generic pop-punk vs. generic pop-punk? I'll take Generic pop-punk. Generic emo vs. generic emo? I'll take generic emo. Generic nu-metal/rock vs. power pop? Does not compute. "Better" is not the word.
I disagree, as far as I am, all the major characters have at least passable acting. Its just that some of the voices take some getting used to.
The only thing Wings will do for you is paint a big bullseye on you for semi-rifles, rail guns and cannonades.
I really hope that people realize that they are being exploited soon, I am sick and tired of hearing about new Guitar Hero games.
An OK band? If they were a modern band, I wouldn't argue that point, but metal wouldn't exist today if it weren't for Sabbath.
I'm Captain God Fon Ronsenburg of Heaven! Oh wait, wrong story.
While I will agree that it was great, I find FFIX to be far better.
I'd be lying if I said that they redefined anything, but I do enjoy them. They aren't groundbreaking, but they do things right.
