big giant circles

I'll probably pick this up soon. I'd get it now, except I don't really have time to play it, so that's really the only reason I'm holding off for now.

Punk. Nah, people are always going to have more money than me, even douchey ones. But I do feel good knowing they have to spend it on bail rather than a TV or something fun or whatever. That's my mindset anyway. Seriously Gol, I meant no offense dude, don't take me too seriously. *edit* this was all directed at Crowbar, but you posted before I did, so it looks like I'm talking to you Kenogu. But I do see what you mean, and that's a fair perspective to take, I'll happily admit. Though I'm pretty sure Valve would probably spend a lot of time working out an angle that prevents that from happening. Time will tell I guess?

Fair point. However, I don't think the point is to make griefing stop as much as it is to simply punish the people doing it and reward the people not doing it. No force of nature can stop someone from being a dick if that's what they're set on. However, I would feel a lot better knowing that they're paying twice as much for the game than I did just so they can annoy others. Putting people in jail doesn't mean they're suddenly better people, or are going to stop committing crimes when they get out, but I'm glad they're in there because they sure don't deserve to walk around with the same liberties that non-criminals do. Same principle applies here. *edit* Also, yes, you are a griefer. You strike me with lightning in minecraft all the time (I keed I keed)

My bad, I must have overlooked that. Let me rewind a bit. Again, I guess I don't get what your worry is. I really don't know what else to say here. Your concern has been noted, I just don't get what your major fear is. Why would it be so bad to try out a system that makes decent folks pay less and douchebags pay more? How so? I mean no offense, but I'm not going to lie, I do find it laughable that people would get so indignant at the idea of punishing people who's primary function is to inflict misery on others. Sorry if that includes you, but whatcanyado?

Again, I'm amused at how many people are somehow put-off, offended, scared, shocked, whatever the applicable emotion is at the notion of punishing griefers. All of you get a big fat LOL. Because the best way to deal with a problem is to just ignore it, and respect it's right to continue to be a problem, riteguys? I honestly don't care if this actually becomes a real thing so much, but I do maintain that I applaud Valve for even having the balls to discuss a system like this. The "AAAAAAAAAARGHH VALVE YOU SO STUPID FUUUUUUUUUU" reactions are puzzling, but entertaining. You all talk like it would seriously disrupt your lives. Anyway, carry on.

Somewhat unrelated, but you know, I'm not sure there's any one game that can boast the "worst community ever" award. Gamers are just prone to be selfish, whiny, impatient, demanding dicks. That's sort of a fact that reaches across a lot more games than just DotA or Halo or L4D. I still don't see how anybody has answered any of my 4 possible ideas why this idea is being so scorned by a few. Please specify?

I'm not sure I understand those who are staunchly opposed to this notion. Help me understand. 1. Are you somehow worried that you yourself might be unjustly caused to pay more for games/features? Or 2. are you really that concerned about defending Johnny McGriefer's "right" to not have to pay more for a game? Or maybe 3. you're a griefer yourself and don't want to get any flak for it? Or 4. is there some other reason? Because if 1. I wouldn't worry about it, I doubt that will happen. If 2. Why are you bothering to do favors to people who will do none for you? If 3. You are a douchebag and your opinion is invalid. If 4. Please elaborate. Not necessarily. If people are legitimately unplayable bad as teammates, they'll probably either learn to start playing with friends or stick to single player. But I do see your point, and if a system like this were put in place, I'm sure Valve would probably spend a lot of time working out whatever it is that analyzes the player's effect on others, good or bad.

I think the focus would be a way to tell if people on your own team are leaving. Ragequitting because you are getting soundly trounced by another team is pretty common. I'm pretty sure it would be easy enough for them to detect obvious differences between other teams quitting because a team is obliterating them vs someone's own teammates leaving because they are a jackass. And if it's pattern based, it would probably be easy to tell if driving your teammates away it's a consistent occurrence.

I agree with Travis's sentiment though. People can and will be assholes whether public or anonymous, but in public, there are factors that tend to hinder people from being douchebags just for the hell of it, or for fun. It will still happen, sure, but the moment people are able to hide behind hundreds/thousands of miles of electrical signals and don't have to worry so much about getting arrested or having their asses kicked or being publicly shamed, they're going to put on their douche-hats without any need to think twice about it. Even if this idea gets tried out and turns out to be a horrible failure, I will forever FOREVER applaud Valve for having the balls to not tolerate blatant inconsideration and rudeness from the trash of the gaming community and trying to actually do something about it.

I can't say that the idea in effect will be a good idea, but as an idea, I think it's great. Seriously, charge $100 for the obnoxious 14 year olds who are abusing chat to actually have access to voice chat? Who wouldn't want to see that? Offering a feedback system for individual players is intuitive and innovative. There's kinks to work out, and implementing it would be experimental so that a good system could be set in place to keep things fair and prevent abuse, but I'm actually pretty thrilled to hear that an idea like this is even being discussed. And by Valve, no less. Pretty much every single thing Valve has thought up or put out there has benefit the industry.

Oh but yeah, there's no difference (that I know of) between the academic version and the full version. And if you can buy the academic version and get lifetime free updates for less than you could get the digital version, then yeah, just do that. And you are forgiven for ruining the economy and watching Jersey Shore.

Don't get the boxed copy. I bought the boxed copy and I wish to death I'd just got the digital one. 1) You get LIFETIME FREE UPDATES with the digital version. And FL updates almost every year, usually with vast improvements and new features. You have to pay an extra $30 I think to add-on the lifetime updates if you buy it boxed. So it's well worth it for that reason alone. 2) The full version of FL is available to anyone at anytime. All you have to do is download whatever the newest demo version is, and then download your registry key from Image-Line. It's really simple. 3) You don't have to worry about keeping up with a physical disc that's going to be obsolete in a year or two anyway, or worry about it getting scratched, broken, lost, whatever. 4) In exchange for the lifetime free updates, the boxed version gives you the Samplefusion Generic Sample CD I think. It's pretty "meh". I'd rather have got the lifetime free updates. 5) Like those above have said, if you ever reinstall, it's typically easier to just either download it each time, or at least copy the install file on a thumbdrive rather than use the CD. 6) The physical version is for squares. 7) Physical copies make your teeth turn green. If you buy the physical version it means that you watch Jersey Shore. 9) Buying the physical copies ruins the global economy and kills kittens, and you just don't want that on your conscience. 10) I like cheese. 11) 10 is irrelevant. Hope these tips help.

Ask and ye shall receive!

MIDI rips!! Unrelated, please let me know if you donated and I somehow overlooked it, I want to give credit where credit is due! Thanks again everybody, I'm truly amazed that you guys have pulled through so strong on the years I've set what would appear a rather over-ambitious goal. Awesomesauce

Whatever happened to the hot-mom-tan approach? http://home.wanadoo.nl/blackmyst/ocrtlol.jpg

Where? I didn't even know it was still available anywhere.

I said pictures!!! Cool vid

pics or you're lying

Seeing as you have both fathered children to me, I expect due child support from your earnings.

^This ^This ^A thousand times this^

No, no, he can't.

I don't think the shirts will be restocked before our deadline Everybody say "DJP smellz!" for not getting that done sooner

Cindy's been around for a while. She originally did a midi-upgrade release of FF7 not long after VotL and a bunch of people here on these forums gave her a hard time about it, which I didn't agree with. She's a great voice actor, and I've actually spoken to her many times on AIM in the past, but I can never get a clear answer from her regarding things like what software she uses etc (which always makes me wonder). Her remixes do usually sound like MIDI upgrades, which isn't a big deal, but I do know she's prone to claim credit on things that aren't hers. She asked me once to remix a theme from an anime series which I eventually went ahead and did as just a friendly gesture. (She wasn't really too gracious about it either, which was definitely off-putting). Regardless, shortly after sending her the link, I stumbled across a post she'd made on a forum (I forget which) showing off the track as hers, and soaking up any compliments it received. I posted the track officially to my youtube account, and immediately after I noticed that the link in said forum post was taken down, and I think she closed down her account there. Maybe it was coincidence, and she felt bad so she took it down, but then again, maybe since the video had an official link she just didn't want to get caught. (My hunch tells me it was the latter). I didn't bother "going after her" or anything, because honestly it's just not worth my time. I haven't spoken to her regularly in a while, I try to just be nice to her because I think maybe she just craves attention, but I can definitely agree with Enetirnel that she can be prone to rudeness, and it's pretty obvious that she's been known to outright lie. Having spoken to her a bit in the past, I have a hard time feeling outwardly angry at her, because who knows what it is that makes her do the things she does. But as far as I know she hasn't made any money off anyone else's work, she's not misleading huge crowds of people, and again, in the end, I just honestly don't care enough to make the Internet Justice worth my time, seeing as she does follow the "get caught (or whatever), close up shop, wait a while, make new account, rinse and repeat" routine. I've told her she should really just focus on voice-acting, as I really do believe she has a solid knack for that, but yeah, unfortunately, she does have a record of claiming work that isn't her own, so that's really going to inhibit her ability to achieve true success until she outgrows that as well as her tendency to be rude/snappy/indignant with people. TL:DR I feel bad for Cindy, she's definitely not really trustworthy, and is prone to rudeness, but I feel bad for her and just try to be nice to her, and I just don't feel like there's much point in calling her out on any plagiarism cases that pop up with her. I hope she outgrows it, because when she's not throwing fits about denying credit-theft, she's a reasonably nice person and a good voice actor.

You have a good voice!

Can you post a couple examples of the kinds of samples you feel uncomfortable using? Surely you're not opposed to using something like a piano VST, I think we can all agree that would be silly. I have a feeling you're referring more to things like a sample of a synth pad that you didn't create, or relying on a synth's arpeggiator instead of writing the notes out yourself? And probably loops as well?