Mailbag: Week of 6-25-05

What is the coolest thing on Tales of Symphonia?

Love the Summer Gameplay, fear the Summer Gameplayers.

The coolest part is when I get to break everyone's ToS discs, ruining the quasi-christmas event known as ToS summer gameplay.

-GSGold

I know several people who would like to punch you in the face. Please wait here a moment while I go get them.

-SV

Prequicksa!

The battle system is just plain fun, so fast paced, and the skill tree is sweet as hecccck.

I rock the house with Presea and her might axe of judgement. BEAST!!!! FIERY DESTRUCTION!!!!

-Anti

The battle system is the coolest I've come across in a long time. Leveling up is kind of fun...>.>

After you master the tech tree on one side (say the T side), you should make the character the opposite type (S-type) and learn their skills on that side too. Makes for nice complete characters. It makes Genis the most awesome character in the game!

-SV

Junior :D

the charactors of course with such a awesome cast of charactors and the battle system making them even more awesome I just cant help myself from laughing at lloyd even though he sadly reminds me to much of myself... and shockingly my dad reminds me of Lloyds real father which I will not say here because of spoilers

-Rick

As if the battles weren't cool enough, the game creators made the characters with "real" personalities...I'm sure we all can find someone in ToS that we can relate to.

-SV

Real people

My favorite part of Tales of Symphonia are the characters and their interactions. I love how the party isn't just a loose collaboration of fighters, healers, and mages, it's a tight-knit group of friends who would do anything for each other, like we have here. Each character has a well-explored backstory, and individual personalities that don't need to continuously fall back on stereotypes to work. And they're easy to identify with. I can see some of my traits in the characters, which makes the story feel even more "real" to me. Lloyd's undying loyalty, Colette's willingness to sacrifice herself, Raine's passion for knowledge, Zelos' easygoing exterior, Sheena's hidden insecurities, Genis' struggles to find people he can relate to, Presea's cold analytical detachment, and Regal's constant self-reproach are all traits that I display or emotions I feel from time to time. The characters in this game are crafted with a realism that's almost unparalleled in the slowly degrading world of gaming today. They in my opinion, are truly the heart of a game that can only be called a masterpiece.

-Wally

Another masterpiece, Wally. Sadly, it's true that most games these days are shallow knock-offs or generic wannabes. It's good to find a game that, like both you and Rick said, people can relate to and goes in-depth with all aspects of the story. Even the sidequests are in-depth and are worth doing not only for the items/experience, but also what it reveals in terms of storyline.

This is the first game in years tht I bought new. After I played it a little at Soap's house I just had to have it.

-SV

Thanks?

Never played it... but I will and then I will submit a personal mailbag to you! Through... aim... >>

-UnbrokenTorment

Uh...you do that then.

-SV

Now, damnit!

I wouldn't know because instead of buying it today like I hoped to I finaly got me some MARIO AND LUIGI SUPSTER SAGA GOODNESS <3333!!!1!!!twelve!!

-stareyE

I'd like to take this mailbag to inform you of your great loss. I saw ToS for $20 at the local EB. I KNOW YOU HAVE $20! I know that's like $25 Canadian, but you have that too. You need this game to complete your life. Go get it. Now.

-SV

I am Gord!

The part where it made SV make unfair mailbag topics for people who could give less a crap about the game.

-StarKirby

You like that part? I hate that part, but not as much as the part where people reply without caring the game. No one's forcing you to reply every week.

At least I don't do it every week. I try to make topics that most of you guys can answer. I think this is the first time I've made a topic tailored for a specific subset of people here at POS. I won't do it too often...just when I feel like it.

-SV

I only played about 10 minutes of ToS.

So, with that said, the graphics, so far.

I plan to borrow it from my friend and play more someday.

(I really should'nt have replied but oh well.)

-Allthesmallthings

Acutally, your opinion has more weight than the people who replied without ever playing the game. And there's something to be said for the graphics. The Wind waker-esqe (at least in my opinion) graphics fit the game. Sometimes I feel like I'm in an interactive anime. It's really fun. You should definitely borrow it.

-SV

This time I really am Gord.

I don't play anything but Game. HAHAHAHAHAHA what a lame joke.

But seriously, I've never played it. If I ever become real, I will defenatly pick it up though, it sounds awesome.

-Name

Excerpt from The Acts of Gord ~ The Book of Chronicles:

Father and son enter the store. They look at many of the titles, with the father using his executive veto on every game the son wants. The son being about 14.

Finally, they come up to the counter.

"Yes, we're looking for a game that doesn't have any violence."

"Easy enough. I've got lots of games without violence. Anything in particular you want?"

"The game can't have any violence at all."

"Ok."

"I mean nothing."

"Well, Crash Team racing doesn't have any violence in it."

"Yes it does. You can hit each other's cars."

"Uhm.. ok...so, no conflict at all you mean?"

"Yes."

"Hmm... Here, try Bust A Move. It's a very good game with no conflict."

"We've tried it before. It's too violent."

"...Too violent? There isn't any violence in the game at all."

"You shoot things and monsters fall out."

"Ok...here, try Intelligent Cube. Great game, no monsters and no shooting."

"You can fall off the edge and the moving blocks can kill the character. Too violent."

"Uh...ok...uhm...well, there are a lot of racing games without violence."

"Racing games have competition. The game can't have any competition."

"..."

"..."

"... No competition? Perhaps we're a little shaky on just what a video game is. As a rule, games are exercises in competition. Violence isn't required, though popular, but competition is a founding requirement. It's like saying you want a video game that you can play with a pencil and paper. It just can't happen."

"Are you saying that with all your games you can't give me what I want?"

"I'm saying the only game that can possibly maybe qualify on your list is Tetris, and even then you would be restricted to a one player game. Though that might not fit under your restrictions."

The son speaks up. "I'm sick and tired of playing nothing but Tetris! Dad! Everyone else plays these games, and you won't even get cable TV! All you ever rent is Tetris! Can't we get anything else besides Tetris?"

Father rents Tetris anyway.

-SV

This week in review.

Well, we've established that we're all ToS fanboys/girls except for the fools who have yet to play the game. But don't take our biased opinion for it, go play the game yourself!

Don't forget to reply to next week's mailbag!

-SV

Mailbag: Week of 6-18-05

What is the best thing on the internet?

Sluggy face

Note: I believe the little things at the end of your shoelaces are called aglets, in answering the previous mailbag thing for Rick's response.

Anyways, best thing on the internet would be funny stuff. You know, like Something Awful or some of the flashes at Newgrounds because they really can be a nice time killer when you need one.

-Static2007

Funny stuff? If you're going with that you can't count out AlbinoBlackSheep or any of the many awesome webcomics out there. I know I've told you before, but GO READ SLUGGY FREELANCE! I swear it's one of the best comics EVER.

-SV

Happy

Forums... duh! If it wasn't for forums like POS, I would never have met any of you guys ^^ And my life would officially suck. Forums give people a chance to express themselves and tell people what's on there mind! Forums are the best things on teh internet >:O POS #1 :DDD

-UnbrokenTorment

I used to be on a lot of forums, but I realized I only checked POS every day, so I just stopped going to others. I have POS to thank for my glorious return to the internet after a few years off. I had AOL in middle school...

-SV

Something Awful. Second only to IRC which I enjoy ever so much.

-GSGold

IRC. I'd say we spend too much time there, but we don't. W00t to IRC!

-SV

Urmomadon

THE DAILY POS DOT ORG LOLOLOL

Although this is pretty good too: http://fun.from.hell.pl/2003-11-24/bubblewrap.swf

-stareyE

TDPOS = :D.

Somehow I've managed to become addicted to your link. THANKS YOU FAGGOT.

-SV

ISP fuzz

The best thing on the internet is the almost unlimited amout of information. Some of it is false and stuff, but it makes homework easier, and when I wonder what something is theres a few options about how I can go about finding out, but I can pretty much always find it online.

That made me sound like such a nerd, but it's true.

-Allthesmallthings

People complain about the internet, but it's really useful. I know I've done several projects using info from the internet. Just having the internet is something to appreciate.

-SV

You know, I could be a jerkoff and say that the best thing on the internet is getting to correct the hell out of people or getting to insult the biggest idiot, but for me, the best thing is finding people, or even just a person, in a community that accept you.

-InspectorMessiah

With all the dumbasses out there, it's good to find a nice place to talk with people that use a shred of the intelligence they were born with. That's what I like about POS; you guys aren't a bunch of idiots.

-SV

This week in review.

The internet is a great place, right? Go out and punch your local ISP rep, you know you want to.

Don't forget to reply to next week's mailbag!

-SV

Mailbag: Week of 6-11-05

What is pure evil?

Unholy crap

What is pure evil? Hopefully me, but Static might be more evil than I am. However, we we spliced DNA we would most likely create the ultimate form of evil. I'd name it Earl.

-GSGold

That's going to be pretty tough to beat.

-SV

Hey!

Hm... pure evil...

Pure evil is getting locked in a bright pink room while being forced to watch Yogi Bear all while country music plays in the background.

-Static2007

Yogi Bear and country music are your friends. Embrace their bumpkin humor and soothing love melodies.

-SV

Too true, sadly.

I think that sexual predators, rapists and pedophiles, are the most evil group of people in society today. While there have been atrocities commited in the past that are much worse, the sexual predator, with a single act, has the power to utterly devastate a life. It's a crime worse than murder; murder ends with death, and thus an end to pain. Theft only takes material goods, which can be replaced. Rape, however, forces the victim to live with the direct consequences and the long-term emotional effects, which some people never recover from. And even worse is the pedophile, who preys upon people weaker than themselves, who can barely even fight back, and can barely understand what's happening to them. In this case, the emotional effect is even more devastating. So, in conclusion, I think the rapist and the pedophile, sexual predators who ruin lives for the sake of a five-second orgasm, are the worst evil mankind has to offer.

-Wally

Yours will probably be the only serious reply I get, so I hope it stands out to all the POSers who read this. I recommend to everyone who just skimmed that paragraph to go back and give it a better, more in-depth look.

One thing I've always hated is a person who will take what they want without thinking of the consequences of their actions, or even worse, they don't care about the consequences even though they understand them. No matter what you think, your life isn't the most important thing out there; other people DO matter.

-SV

Sac

Pure Evil... hmm... Democracy? I dunno... I guess globalization of McDonalds... not only are WE getting fatter, but so are other countries! I guess that's not so bad... I think that school is pure evil. I mean hell, why can't we all just be homeschooled? That would be teh uber shiznit!

P.S. Sorry bout the jokes, I'll lay off

-UnbrokenTorment

Unfortunately, those are just pretty bad things. Except for the idea of democracy. That one's okay, but the representative democracy we have here today...*shudder*. Public schooling is the closest thing to pure evil; luckily I just got out of it! Private college education for me!

-SV

As you wish

Ashley Terry.

-StarKirby

You asked for no comment, so no comment you shall get. Plus I don't really have anything to say to that.

-SV

Anger banana

those little things at the end of your shoelaces...damn things keep trying to take over the world and then one day their gone... and you never know where they went... kinda like lou bega

-Rick

You, sir, are pure evil! You are the guy who gets a question stuck in my head and no way to find the answer! WHAT ARE THOSE PLASTIC THINGS ON THE ENDS OF SHOELACES CALLED? AUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGH!! *brains exploding*

-SV

This week in review.

A good mailbag if I do say so myself! Now that we've taken a visit to the dark side...something bad might happen? Now go read wally's reply again.

Don't forget to reply to next week's mailbag!

-SV

Mailbag: Week of 6-04-05

What makes a friend?

Who needs real friends?

What makes a friend? 500 pounds of titanium, some hard drives, optical sensors and other robot parts, and some excellent AI. I have my own personal servants that also adore me!

-GSGold

Of course you don't have real friends. No one likes the crazy evil "genius" guy.

-SV

My that GSGold is one strong, intelligent man. And good looking.

-GSGold

Definitely

I think this defines what I think of a friend now

WRITING ON THE SAND

Two friends were walking through the desert. In a specific point of the journey, they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face.

The one, who got slapped, was hurt, but without anything to say, he wrote in the sand:

"TODAY, MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME ON THE FACE".

They kept on walking, until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who got slapped and hurt started drowning, and the other friend saved him. When he recovered from the fright, he wrote on a stone:

"TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE".

The friend who saved and slapped his best friend, asked him, "Why, after I hurt you, you wrote in the sand, and now you write on a stone?" The other friend, smiling, replied: "When a friend hurts us, we should write it down in the sand, where the winds of forgiveness get in charge of erasing it away, and when something great happens, we should engrave it in the stone of the memory of the heart, where no wind can erase it

I dont forget my friends and that in itself makes them friends in the first place

-Rick

I really like that story...I think I've read it before. Anyway, loyalty is definitely important in friendship...that's one thing I really like about you, Rick. You are the most loyal friend I've ever had. I'm proud to call you my friend.

-SV

That was very thoughtful. I even read the entire thing.

-GSGold

Sarcasm...I hope

F is for fire that burns down the whole town, U is for uranium... bomb! N is for no surviiiivors!

So in short, destruction makes a friend.

-Static2007

You and GS would get along just fine...in theory.

-SV

Somebody give this woman a trophy.

-GSGold

Death is too good

Hm... What makes a friend... good qualities, like playing sports ( Stay away from me SV >> ). Loyalty (to SV'S mom! :DDD ). And good music tastes! ( Like STAREYe!!! >> [ and SV's mom ] ) :DDD

-UnbrokenTorment

The number of jokes you've made about my mother has radically increased in the past few mailbags. Note: It's not funny anymore.

-SV

My face once got stuck in a blender. That was a sad day.

-GSGold

Simply true

"Someone you enjoy being with" pretty much covers everything I can think of. Or in my case, someone who doesn't mind that you constantly make fun of them.

-stareyE

Good friends can be hard to come by, it's good to just be able to hang out with someone.

You're a cool dude, STAREYe. (Note that I'll never again properly capitalize your name in a mailbag).

-SV

I constantly make fun of people. They don't mind usually.

-GSGold

This week in review.

Now that we have a good idea of what makes us friends (not really)...[insert witty comment here]!

And everyone cheer for GS and his one liner comments.

Don't forget to reply to next week's mailbag!

-SV

Friends are very important or some stuff. This entire set of submissions was so feel-good I was about to violently vomit half an email in.

-GSGold