Profile for Icshi
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Displayed name | Icshi |
| Member number | 1528 |
| Title | Mongolian Barbeque |
| Postcount | 907 |
| Homepage | |
| Registered | Monday, July 15 2002 07:00 |
Recent posts
Pages
| Author | Recent posts |
|---|---|
| Avernum 4? in General | |
|
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
|
written Saturday, August 27 2005 17:32
Profile
EDIT: Never mind. [ Saturday, August 27, 2005 20:05: Message edited by: Icshi ] -------------------- The A.E. van Vogt Information Site My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00 |
| Some People...... in General | |
|
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
|
written Saturday, August 27 2005 16:57
Profile
Well, the head of the Roman emperor Claudius was in the Thames for a couple thousand years before it showed up again. So Mozart's will turn up some day. -------------------- The A.E. van Vogt Information Site My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00 |
| My how far we've fallen... in Richard White Games | |
|
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
|
written Saturday, August 27 2005 16:56
Profile
quote:That's one of the downsides of a cult. The bar has to be very low to let in the mindless-type people who are the body of the White Shock Troops. Canon fodder that has to be tolerated until can be properly be disposed of in the name of advancing the cult. Unpleasant but necessary. Just grit your teeth. Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00 |
| Avernum 4 Poll in General | |
|
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
|
written Saturday, August 27 2005 10:53
Profile
When I first saw the Avernum 4 screenshots, I was taken aback by the Geneforge graphics. However, this was before I knew that the graphics were so preliminary. I know positively zilch about game design, and was ignorant of the fact that the graphics take the longest to design, so already-made graphics are just plugged in in the interim. I'm ignorant, I tell you! Ignorant! I'm very excited that the series is returning to Avernum proper. I've always greatly preferred the underworld to the surface world. It's such a unique and exciting atmosphere and setting—in fact, I liked the Za-Khazi run the best out of the BoA scenarios because it actually took place in Avernum. I like the place so much that if I were exiled down there, I'd stay there even after an area of the surface world was opened for settlement by Avernites. And it sounds like we're going to explore more of the underworld in A4! Yes! I can't wait! I know most—if not all—of the character graphics are done by the marvellous Andrew Hunter. I'm not sure about the other graphics, but I suspect they're his work too. EDIT: Oops. I was composing my reply when Drakefyre answered. Yes, Hunter is a freelancer. He did the character artwork for Ambrosia's Ferazel's Wand game, as well as a few other games by lesser-known companies. He used to have a nice website at http://www.wormwoodstudios.com/ but it seems to be gone, and I can't find any newer site that he may have put up. I've emailed him a few times—complimenting his work and asking for high-quality pictures of his startup screens—and he's a really nice guy. [ Saturday, August 27, 2005 11:01: Message edited by: Icshi ] -------------------- The A.E. van Vogt Information Site My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00 |
| A Touching Tribute: A Satire in Song in Richard White Games | |
|
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
|
written Friday, August 26 2005 16:35
Profile
Bah. I hate acronyms! Or, if you prefer: BIHA! Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00 |
| A Touching Tribute: A Satire in Song in Richard White Games | |
|
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
|
written Friday, August 26 2005 13:31
Profile
Thanks for the help, Alo. I've bunged it off again. I hope he likes it, or at least doesn't mind too much that we've maligned/glorified the name of his "business associate." EDIT: Thanks for the kind words, Zeviz! Incidentally, I've retitled the document "An Exhaustive Semi-Chronological Short History of the White Cult." I'll probably make the title longer each time it's revised. [ Friday, August 26, 2005 13:33: Message edited by: Icshi ] Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00 |
| A Touching Tribute: A Satire in Song in Richard White Games | |
|
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
|
written Friday, August 26 2005 11:08
Profile
I think my email to Jeff went to the wrong address. For some reason I sent it to spidweb@spidweb.com—does anybody know if he still checks this one? What's the email address that IronyCentral stuff should be sent to? I've also been having trouble lately with outgoing emails, so I was thinking of re-sending it anyway. ...Oh, and thanks for the continued kind comments! If Jeff doesn't put my email up on IronyCentral, then I'll post the "Exhaustive Short History of the White Cult" here. Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00 |
| JV and Change in General | |
|
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
|
written Wednesday, August 24 2005 16:35
Profile
Maybe Jeff should grow an extra head. And an extra arm or two while he's at it, just for good measure. -------------------- The A.E. van Vogt Information Site My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00 |
| A Touching Tribute: A Satire in Song in Richard White Games | |
|
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
|
written Wednesday, August 24 2005 12:19
Profile
Well, I sent off a lengthy email to Jeff along with an HTML page containing the post with the song. I also wrote up an "Exhaustive Short History of the White Cult" for him, so he'd have some idea of what Richard's lines meant. I'll let you know if and when there's a reply... I have no idea how he'll react to all this. :confused: Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00 |
| A place you'd like to visit... in General | |
|
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
|
written Tuesday, August 23 2005 22:31
Profile
I would like to see the ruins of Karakorum in Mongolia—which consists soley of giant stone tortoises.  There's also a large Buddhist monastary there which would be interesting to visit—you can see its walls in the background. It's name is something like "Erden-tsu." I'd also like to see Antarctica before I die. Not afterward. And as for a fictional place—too many options! Even if I could go to one of those places, I'd never be able to make up my mind on which one I'd like to visit first. -------------------- The A.E. van Vogt Information Site My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00 |
| Your Favorite Source of Energy in General | |
|
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
|
written Tuesday, August 23 2005 22:19
Profile
quote:A lot of these underground storage facilities are not properly supervised, or built on the cheap, and keep growing. Therefore the huge place you built to contain all this stuff is eventually filled up, so they have to do some ad-hoc expansion of these caverns, usually not as well insulated as they should be. Leakages happen and soak into the ground. It can reach the water tables underground and spread that way farther than you'd think. You know, just like the South Workshop in Geneforge. Unfortunately, it happens in real life. Also, Grooms Air Force base in Nevada was made an exception to federal pollution laws and became a dumping ground for radioactive waste on the surface. The government didn't care where this stuff was put, or how many people it made sick, as long as it was out of the eyes of the general public. I think they've since rectified this, but it shows the willingness to be recklessly irresponsible. quote:Exactly. There are mines where the rocks are simply permeated with oil, but the extraction and filtering process is so time-consuming and expensive that it takes more money to get the oil into a usable state than the oil is worth once it's out. Simply isn't viable. -------------------- The A.E. van Vogt Information Site My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00 |
| Avernum 4? in General | |
|
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
|
written Tuesday, August 23 2005 21:02
Profile
I have mixed feelings about this. I like the two distinct engines, and don't really prefer one over the other, but I would have liked them to remain separate. Seeing a Guardian graphic used for a regular human is, I'm afraid, going to mess me up for life. I'm not going to know which game I'm playing! On the other hand, I'm glad he's decided to return to Avernum proper. As much as I liked Avernum 3, I prefer the underground mood in the first two games. It's a unique atmosphere, and a fantastic setting. Nice border decoration, though. Don't like the sound of more monster plagues, though. I've had quite enough of those after playing Geneforge 3. Still, I'll undoubtedly buy it after it comes out, and enjoy it immensely despite my present misgivings. Just like always! If nothing else, I look forward to exploring more of the underworld... And whatever lies beneath the underworld... -------------------- The A.E. van Vogt Information Site My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00 |
| Your Favorite Source of Energy in General | |
|
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
|
written Tuesday, August 23 2005 20:54
Profile
Solar and wind power is nice, but very much dependent on local climate and weather. I live in the Mojave Desert, where there are solar panels all over the place. The local community college just finished building their own field of them, and are now entirely running on it and even selling some excess to the town. There are also some nice wind generators in a couple of windy mountain passes nearby. Great stuff. Trouble is these kinds of power aren't really viable everywhere, certainly not in the quantities really needed. That means probably more nuclear power plants. I'm not too keen on them—having to bury the leftovers in leaden subterranean vaults out in the Mojave Desert isn't my idea of a good long-term solution. I don't know much about these biomass whatever things. I may have to find a copy of this National Geographic that everyone's talking about. -------------------- The A.E. van Vogt Information Site My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00 |
| Engrish in General | |
|
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
|
written Tuesday, August 23 2005 14:18
Profile
I don't know what you people are talking about. Jesus spoke Esperanto. Entirely in iambic pentameter, and laced with alliterative anagrams. [ Tuesday, August 23, 2005 14:20: Message edited by: Icshi ] -------------------- The A.E. van Vogt Information Site My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00 |
| THE ABOMINABLE PHOTO THREAD: THE THIRD COMING! in General | |
|
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
|
written Tuesday, August 23 2005 11:04
Profile
quote:Good points there. I think you're right. The wide range of sites Google has indexed, and the depth in which they're cached, I think would outweigh the narrower, shallower, though more chronologically comprehensive cache stored by the Internet Archive. -------------------- The A.E. van Vogt Information Site My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00 |
| A Touching Tribute: A Satire in Song in Richard White Games | |
|
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
|
written Monday, August 22 2005 14:35
Profile
Those are all excellent points, Alorael. I'll probably send this to him, then, along with a brief explanation and history of the White Cult. By the way, I edited the song somewhat—I did some minor changes to make it flow better. It took me over a month to write it all, and you wouldn't believe the number of aborted and rejected lines I have in various text files! I was always finding a better word here, a better combination of ideas there, on and on and on. Jeff's lines were the easiest and most enjoyable to write, and are my favorites. Richard's lines took a lot of slow, agonizing composition, which I'd then totally scrap and try from scratch using a different appraoch. Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00 |
| A Touching Tribute: A Satire in Song in Richard White Games | |
|
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
|
written Monday, August 22 2005 11:01
Profile
Thanks for the kind words, guys—I'm glad you enjoyed it! And Ben, I thought about emailing it to Jeff, but first I'd have to somehow explain to him that we've turned his friend into a temporally-unstable cult leader hellbent on brainwashing and conquering the world, and who also dabbles in diabolism. I don't see how I could possibly justify doing such a thing, much less explain it all... I might send him an edited version, containing just his lines, as he'd be sure to understand those. Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00 |
| Know any good RPGs? in General | |
|
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
|
written Monday, August 22 2005 10:49
Profile
Ah, yes. The ubiquitous fight-your-way-through-a-Zerg-infested-Terran-science-facility-to-rescue-the-scientists-and/or-the-data-modules. I always enjoyed those. And then there's the one where Kerrigan fights her way through a Terran-infested Terran science station to get the data modules on Ghost research to unlock her other abilities. Oh, and the Protoss rescued Zeratul and his Dark Templar once. Great fun. I see MacPlay has Icewind Dale on sale for $5. I think I'll get it! I immensely enjoyed Salvatore's trilogy by the same name, and liked that area of Faerun quite a bit. I downloaded the demo to Fallout last December, and was going to buy it from MacPlay's website if I liked it. Unfortunately, I found the interface mind-wrenchingly awkward and the snippet of plot almost sheer nonsense. I suspect they could've chosen a better area of the Fallout world for the demo, since I've heard so many good things about it. In fact, when reading this thread, I'd decided to buy the full versoin for OS X from MacPlay just to give it the full benefit of the doubt, but alas, as Aloreal has observed, they don't sell it anymore. Maybe I'll go scrounging on eBay as well... Speaking of MacPlay, does anybody recommend SimCity 4, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, or the Warcraft III Treasure Chest? Do you have to play the first two Warcraft games to know what's going on in Warcraft III, or can you just jump in? -------------------- The A.E. van Vogt Information Site My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00 |
| A Touching Tribute: A Satire in Song in Richard White Games | |
|
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
|
written Sunday, August 21 2005 16:10
Profile
The time has come to celebrate the life of the greatest computer game creator of all time, Jeff Vogel—oh, and his friend Richard White, the greatest mediocre game creator of all time— in song! So in Isaac Asimov style I've written the following duet to the tune of "When I go out of door" from the Gilbert & Sullivan operetta Patience. Those of you unfamiliar with this comic operetta can read the original words at this page, and a good segment of the song being performed can be heard here, courtesy of Amazon.com. A MIDI version of the full song can be downloaded here. But honestly, you can't get the full effect of this parody without already being familiar with the original, in its proper context. But even if you've never heard the original piece, the parody below should be of some amusement. The original song had two rival arch-poets, Bunthorne and Archibald, alternating in song, telling about their "new" personas: for Bunthorne, he would be the uncontested "ultra-poetical, super-æsthetical" intense and perceptive poet, while Archibald was at last setting aside his æsthetic nature to become an ordinary man. This new song has Jeff Vogel and Richard White alternating in song, describing their current situations and their pipe-dream ambitions for the future. Since a lot about Jeff is known through his IronyCentral website and particularly his baby memoirs so wonderfully related in that funniest of books The Poo Bomb, his lines are fairly accurate. However, since virtually nothing is known about Richard White I've had to draw upon our scant knowledge, popular opinion, and from the developing White Mythos as chronicled in this forum. My characterization—perhaps more accurately termed a caricature—of Jeff Vogel in this song is not to be taken as criticism. I have the highest admiration for Jeff—hence my loyal patronage of his great games and fine literature—and his current paternal plight has earned him my deepest sympathy. I also admire Richard White's games. Okay, well, Galactic Core. Sort of. Sometimes. And my characterization of him would probably be considered libel if it weren't so utterly ridiculous. Also, complaints about Cordelia are not to be taken as comments by myself. I obviously have never met her, but I'm more than willing to rely on Jeff's excellent first-hand accounts, from which her characterization is faithfully drawn. I'm not putting any words in his mouth about her that he hasn't already put there himself! I haven't been able to follow the cadence exactly; sometimes a line has a syllable too few or too many. Approximate rhyme has been used perhaps more often than it should. I've also added a few minor stage directions. Just be glad I'm not turning this parody into a full operetta. JEFF [practically falling over in exhaustion]: Though I (as said before) My little girl adore— She's bawly and crawly, And gooey and spewy— All things that I abhor! I try with patience great To complex games create Yet this toddling vermin Insists on affirmin' Her selfishness innate! BOTH [Jeff tiredly, Richard sympathetically]: An overworked young man! A sleep-deprived young man! An over-astringent, Caffeine-dependent, Grouchy and grim young man! RICHARD WHITE [draws his cape up over his face as he stalks menacingly around the stage]: My first game, Ocean Bound— It "failed to astound." Lost Souls was "okay" If your tastes aren't gourmet, And your world-view most unsound. And then Galactic Core— Condemned a "dreadful bore." But when GC2's done, You minds will be won, Then for more games you'll implore! BOTH [Jeff looking horrified, Richard leaping about the stage flapping his cape behind him]: You'll all be White's young men! All implant-run young men! Mindless and credulous, Crazy, impetuous "Join the White Cult!" young men! JEFF [in honest, pensive mood]: An RPG young man. An R[b]N[/b]G young man. A magic and mythical Combat-statistical Mac-and-PC young man! RICHARD: A smiling, warm young man. A yellow-eyed old man. A trendy and culty, Trans-metamorphy Cryptic-and-hid young man! JEFF: A Washington State young man. A live-in-the-basement young man. "My games have no equal!" "I'm making a sequel," "Download-the-demo!" young man! RICHARD: A possibly dead young man? A partially live young man? A retro-enacted Hyper-extracted Timelining-shift young man! ENSEMBLE (each singing their section twice at the same time) JEFF [brazenly indulging in delusions of grandeur]: Conceive me, if you can, A best-selling game young man! A gaudy and glittery, video-flashery Sold-in-a-box young man! RICHARD [finally gone mad, hopping and running around, making strange motions with his hands]: Imagine, if you can, An ageless-thing young man! A blood-sucking marathon, pro-Necronomicon, Swallow-the-world young man! [Exeunt omnes] [ Monday, August 22, 2005 14:24: Message edited by: Icshi ] Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00 |
| Hello in General | |
|
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
|
written Sunday, August 21 2005 14:53
Profile
Basically, bandwidth is site usage. Every time someone requests a picture (or any other file) to be loaded, the size of that file is added to your current transfer count. So if ten people request a 10 kb file in one hour, that's 100 kb taken off your limit. So each transfer gets you closer to your monthly data transfer limit. Ergo, the bigger the images and/or the greater the number of people who visit your site each month, the better it is for you to have a higher bandwidth limit. I wouldn't worry too much about it. I have an appreciably bigger website running, and though it's visited quite a lot from SF readers of all shapes and sizes, I'v never once come close to reaching my bandwidth limit. This is a bit of a clumsy explanation, but I'm in a hurry and probably talking through my hat anyway. [ Sunday, August 21, 2005 14:57: Message edited by: Icshi ] -------------------- The A.E. van Vogt Information Site My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00 |
| Conspiricys in General | |
|
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
|
written Sunday, August 21 2005 11:23
Profile
quote:I recommend the book World War II: The Rest of the Story by Richard Maybury. He draws attention to little-known facts about the war, and spends an entire chapter on FDR's poking Japan with sharp sticks and his orders regarding the fleet in the Pacific. It's not really a conspiracy theory, it's just viewed that way by some people who haven't been told all the facts. http://www.chaostan.com/eric.html I also recommend his World War I book. EDIT: And regarding Bush and 9-11: I think it's bullocks to think he knew about it in advance. (Unless someone can point me to some facts that I haven't been told.) It was really such a "small" operation, and so few people knew about it, and it was such a brillaint and subtle plan that it's unlikely that even if there were any leaks that anyone in the CIA or whatever would've been able to connect the dots and deduce what they were planning and when it was going to happen. [ Sunday, August 21, 2005 11:27: Message edited by: Icshi ] -------------------- The A.E. van Vogt Information Site My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00 |
| Hello in General | |
|
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
|
written Saturday, August 20 2005 19:37
Profile
I love your stick drawings, Alex! It's good to see they have a home of their own now. I look forward to regular visits. -------------------- The A.E. van Vogt Information Site My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00 |
| ...And Who's Your Favorite Hero? in General | |
|
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
|
written Saturday, August 20 2005 14:44
Profile
Inspired by Jeros' villain topic, I've decides to start one for the "good guys" too. My favorites: John Drake, from Danger Man (a.k.a., Secret Agent)—a spy with morals The Doctor, from Doctor Who—a foregone conclusion Conan the Barbarian, created by Robert E. Howard—debatable, but I'm inclined to view him in a favorable light Drizzt Do'Urden, created by R.A. Salvatore—often gets too twisted up over straightforward moral issues, but considering his upbringing that's not too surprising Commander Sinclair, from Babylon 5—Competent and tough, but not abrasively so. I prefer him over Sheridan, who often lacks subtlety. Riddick, from Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick—not exactly a "good guy," but a hero nonetheless Marshal Jim Raynor, from Starcraft—a good, selfless man in a callous, selfish society Gilbert Gosseyn, created by A.E. van Vogt, featuring in the Null-A trilogy of novels—he's got superpowers and knows how to use them... most of the time Dr. Daniel Jackson, from Stargate SG-1—the power of knowledge applied morally Adrian Monk, from Monk—ceaselessly tormented by everything around him, but more than capable to do what he has to do to bring criminals to justice EDIT: Just to be helpful, added information on where these guys "came from." Also retitled the thread to make it easier to see at a casual glance that it's not Jeros' villain topic. Most eyes look at the first few letters or words, and would just glide over the word "hero" at the end even if it made it that far. [ Saturday, August 20, 2005 20:31: Message edited by: Icshi ] -------------------- The A.E. van Vogt Information Site My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00 |
| Conspiricys in General | |
|
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
|
written Saturday, August 20 2005 14:33
Profile
1. That the British government knew who Jack the Ripper was and had a vested interest in making sure the case remained "unsolved." 2. That FDR went to great lengths to ensure that the Japanese launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor so that public sentiment would be stirred up to allow him to enter World War II on the side of Great Britain. I happen to believe these, by the way. -------------------- The A.E. van Vogt Information Site My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00 |
| Suggestions for G4 creations in Geneforge Series | |
|
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
|
written Saturday, August 20 2005 10:26
Profile
Those are both very good ideas. I was hoping Geneforge 3 would allow you to create a golem or at least have one along as a pick-up companion. But no. I concur with Alex that GF3 was very disappointing in the creation department. I can understand Jeff not wanting to fool around with a bunch of new sprites for each game—and I am thankful for the new variety of unanimated foliage and whatnot—but new creations were sorely missed. Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00 |