Googleshng:
Not much I can add to that, although as soon as I hear something about VHD2 I'll be sure to let you all know.

Sachi:
True, the site update was long overdue. While I see your point on many of the issues, I don't agree with your point that RPGamer is looking more and more like a generic RPG site. Ok, so its true that some elements you mentioned are shared in common with such sites, but we think the new look definitely has a particular style about it that also complements the previous look entirely as well. Afterall, this is a visual site UPGRADE - and to completely discard those elements which make it associated with RPGs and RPGamer in the first place would be a little dissapointing. Remember, RPGamer has been around for a lenghly time period, and many of those "generic RPG sites" you mentioned have popped up since due to RPGamer's success - and no doubt tried to mirror RPGamer's entire premise. I hate cliches and stereotypes as much as the next person - but sometimes there is a difference between icons/symbols and cliched imagery. In this case, we hoped we tapped into the former. It is good to see a strong response to the site's new look - since it is the visitors that ultimately should appreciate it the most. Thanks for your opinion Rail, and hopefully it will grow on you as much as it has on us.

Googleshng:
Well, let's see... I'm glad you like most of it. Anyway, like Sachi kind of said, way back when (actually not THAT long ago) RPGamer looked pretty much like this, but without the polished look and color schemes that weren't all that great (white and green?) Anyway, then other sites popped up with the same sort of layout, or heck, maybe they were there all along and I just didn't see them. When I first saw RPG Fan for example I thought it was RPGamer's evil twin. It looked exactly the same except for the colors (BLACK and green?!?). Anyway, long story short, we experimented with something else for a while with the big blue pill of a header up top, and, for the record, a lot of people hated the change (myself included). So, for this one, we put it back the good way. As for the game on the top, well, that's so the layout looks good on any resolution. I have mine on the small side so there's a very small gap, yours is evidently a big bigger. As for the margins and dates, hopefully they'll be put in before next week.

Sachi:
Well to be honest, I like both. Toriyama looks good in 2D animation, but probably not in 3D. But the Chrono Cross characters actually do look good in CG. However, it was a little disappointing to not see Toriyama return - but I have a feeling Square were going for a more mature look in this next-generation sequel.

Googleshng:
Someone told me AOL is down to about $20 a month now, but even so, under $13 bucks is a really good price if it also functions as an ISP. Then there's the keyboard. Anyway, as for the Toriyama/Yuuki thing, well, like I said, I like them both. I honestly haven't seen more than a few character designs from CC because I'm avoiding all info until I have it, but as far as movie segments go, his style translates to 3D perfectly (as opposed to Amano) so I'm happy. Toriyama's drawing style wouldn't convert to 3D well either with those big intricate ears and a bit of hatching here and there. If nothing else, he doesn't make stuff shiny, which is nessessary for CG conversions.

Sachi:
I can't name ONE favourite RPG, but to name a few... Dragon Quest IV, Final Fantasy VIII, Vagrant Story, and Seiken Densetsu III. As far as American RPGs go, I've played only few - e.g. Ultima VII, and Baldur's Gate. I prefer Japanese RPGs because they are more often focused on the story... and I have a fixed opinion that if most companies cannot even translate an RPG properly, they can't write a good plot either. Period. :)

Googleshng:
I've answered this one enough.

Sachi:
Well Xeros, I'm actually living in Australia...but I'm half Japanese and have lived there for 8 years. I loved it, and will probably go back to live too. Now, to answer your Lodoss question. "Record of Lodoss War" was a video release, and yes, it has Parn and Deedlit and the characters you mentioned. Last year, they showed a new TV series of Lodoss War. I'm not really sure if it uses the same characters or not. Learning Japanese is more of a challenge then, say, French or Italian, since you have to learn a totally new writing system. It's hard for me to say how difficult it is to learn the language, however, because I learnt it as a mother-tongue :)

Googleshng:
Yet again, I'm totally out in the cold here. Aha! Learning Japanese! Well, actually it's an easy language to learn in some respects, you don't have "false friends" to deal with (except maybe hai and no) or weird grammatical rules with so many exceptions that they hardly seem like rules. As for learning to read again from scratch, well, it's not as hard as it sounds... unless you want to learn kanji.

Sachi:
1. One site: Anime Web Turnpike. (www.anipike.com) It's a very large links database of many different anime/manga. For someone who's just starting to watch/read it, you're bound to find heaps of information on whatever you might be interested in.

2. Two names: Hayao Miyazaki and Masakazu Katsura. Hayao Miyazaki is possibly the greatest animation director in the world and he makes beautiful movies, plus the stories are moving. Masakazu Katsura mostly does hilariously funny romantic comedies, such as Video Girl Ai, and the latest I"s. Definitely two names you should check out.

Googleshng:
I'd better answer that last question. Of course it does, that's the point. As for fees with PSO, well, I seem to recall hearing that aside from the cost of actually buying the game, it's totally free. Now then, I agree that Ani-Pike is the place to go. As for what I'd recommend, Ranma (in manga form), Slayers (SUBBED!), Escaflowne (which is only available subbed), and as for something dubbed... hmm... well, Eva has a decent dubbed but it's not a good thing to start with... Pokémon? Too bad Skiffy isn't showing anime right now, there's is a good mix (with bad ratios).

You know what? I, too, bought a Saturn just to play Dragon Force. It's funny, once I beat it, I sold them both. Ah well.

-={~Potato Jones~}=-

Dear Google,
Do you get payed for your work? If so, ...... Good! You deserve it!
-The Infamous Son Gokou

hey sachi and google
so you wanted anime questions, well here's one for you: can you explain to me the end of evangelion (aside that yoshiyuki sadamoto was on crack ) i hope i'll get an answer because i have yet to make sense of the ending of this brillantly written serie
thanks
makkura

Googie!
I always pronounced your name "Googleshnug". I do not know why... o_O

--Toby,...the real one.

BEAT! you BEAT a game, you don't WIN it!
-culex

Are Shenmue US version translated both conversation and subtitle or either one ?. Thank you.

Just thought you'd be interested that TF: The Movie is being released on DVD on 10/10!!!! Whoooooo!

-DaRKoNe "With a gun shoved down your throat, you only speak in vowels"

The Last Laugh: