Monday, March 8, 2004

   My Artwork

I hadn't noticed the comments attached to my art pieces on here until recently. And I noticed something interesting about them. Quite a few people made negative comments about my "Skater" picture. This is presumably because I mentioned that my character is based on Beat, from Jet Set Radio. There are a few important things to mention here though. First and foremost, the majority of artwork on our fan art site isn't original. Most of it is someone's sketch of an existing character. Yes, my Skater image is in the Original Anime category, because the character itself is unique. But this category was also my only option at the time, because we had no video game category (and this wouldn't necessarily go there, because it isn't Beat, even though it's somewhat similar). Part of the problem could be that I said I "coloured it and added a shadow behind". This implies that I didn't actually draw it from scratch, which I did do...so maybe that's part of it. The funny thing is, people are saying the same thing about the Skater image, but not about the Proteus image. But both images are the same, in the sense that they're both based on existing art styles. The Skater is based on the Jet Set Radio "style" and Proteus is based on the Megaman style. Both characters are my own, but they are designed to "fit into" the franchises that already exist. So I just wanted to address that. Someone said that you "can't call it original if it's based on something else". So...this means that if someone draws a new character for an existing series (like if they invent a new Star Wars character), it's not original, because it's based on an existing style? I don't know. Maybe that comment is right. But I found it kind of annoying. I think it missed the point of what I was trying to do. Anyway, to answer one of the questions about the images, no, I don't make them in Photoshop. I use Paint Shop Pro and it was used for both of those pieces. I wouldn't say that they are great pieces or anything like that, but it's a little bit disappointing when people vote "no" because it's "too cartoony". You really do have to take the art in the context that it was made afterall. I mean, you wouldn't draw a Mario picture with blood and assault weapons in the image, if you were trying to keep things in context. This week's classes have been pretty good. My two classes on Wednesday are all digital -- one of them is specifically related to magazine/layout design, which is fun (and challenging, especially when you're setting things up for publication). And the second class is specifically related to animation and digital production. Then I have another two classes on Friday. The first is called "Design for Industry" -- it basically prepares you for industry-related design, where you have more restricted briefs. You also have to have a better understanding of the materials and processes involved in production. And the second class on Friday is basically a "discussion group", for lack of a better term. The class is all about the media and how it has influenced society over the years. It's quite an interesting class...I'm sure that it will create plenty of debate as we move forward through it.

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Thursday, March 4, 2004

   The Sisters

I'm just writing this post before I get to bed. I have to be up at 5am tomorrow, for Friday's classes. Oh well. My schedule is still a lot better than last year. However, apparently the second semester is going to be downright nasty. I won't get any days off at all and I'll have longer days. Ouch! I'm going to enjoy this semester as much as I can, in that case. In recent days, I've been doing the usual stuff. The new myOtaku logo is pretty much decided on, however, I have to get it set up in the format that we require. So that'll be done on the weekend. We're almost there though, very close now. Other than that, I've mostly been focusing on school this week, of course. I've squeezed in a few minutes to write some more for my new Matrix RPG. Actually, the research that I did early on was really beneficial. If this thing goes up, you will see evidence of this research if you look hard enough. I'm also being careful to ensure that everything links to the previous movies and that everything has a point/meaning/relevance. It's not easy. I don't think I've ever done anything like this before. It's sort of...90% research, 10% story. Not that I'll be slack on the story (quite the contrary), but the story itself will be heavily supported, which should be good. I have also been taking a lot of time to simply work out who all the characters will be. There will be "main characters", which members will have to "bid" for. So, members will have to bid for a main character if they want to play as that character...I'm still trying to work out how to set that up. The point is that each main character will be pre-determined by me. I'll decide their name and their biography. It will be up to the player to flesh them out within the RPG. There will also be "non-main characters", for lack of a better term, that players can create themselves. But this will be with the understanding that such characters do not play a major role (a central or pivotal role) in the overall story, as the story itself will also be pre-determined, from beginning to end. I don't want to say too much about it right now, because things will change...and I only have a basic skeleton worked out right now. I can say, however, that there will be plenty of "evil" characters. In particular, the nine sisters. Or, "The Sisters", if you'd want to give them a label. They're going to be cool, but only a few (perhaps three) will actually be main, playable characters. Hopefully I can also design them and show images of them at some point. For inspiration, I took a look at The Matrix Online, which apparently takes place after Revolutions. However, very little info is out there. My basic idea is somewhat related to The Matrix Online...but only in the most superficial sense. I imagine that what I come up with will be very different to what the developers of the game come up with. Anyway, other than that, there isn't a lot for me to talk about. Things are going expectedly well at the boards and I'm still exploring my first week of school. I look forward to getting into the swing of things by the weekend, when I know everything about my classes (there are two that I still haven't taken yet, which are tomorrow). Anyway, I will tell you a bit more about my classes on the weekend. Should be interesting...*snore*

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Sunday, February 29, 2004

   A Coming Revelation

A couple of posts ago, I mentioned that I had some ideas for a new Matrix-based RPG. And for the last couple of days, I've been fleshing these ideas out...trying to see if I can make things consistent across the board. So far it seems to be working. But of course, with the kind of complexity evident in the source material...it will take me a while to generate anything like a complete story. So we'll see how it goes. If it goes go live, it will be the biggest and most complex RPG I have ever produced. I'm not sure if that will actually encourage people to sign-up or what. But I don't really care. It will, at the very least, provide some kind of guide post or example for members in general. And I guess we can always do with more RPGs that contain a high production value. There are only a couple of other things that I want to mention in this post. First, staff team pages. I've been asked about this a lot lately, by everyone. They are coming, but not just yet. Although they are not really huge pieces of work in and of themselves, there are other things that are more important right now (ie: myOtaku v2 work and so on). Also, school starts up again on Wednesday. So I've had a lot of preparation to do in that regard. And I'm still lacking various materials. -.-; Other than that...there isn't a whole lot to report. I'm hoping that my workload this year (for school) isn't too nightmareish. There are just too many online-related things that I want to do...and I'd hate to push lots of things to the side this year, like I did last year. But I guess the fact that I'm doing any online stuff at this point is pretty acceptable. I should definitely be satisfied with what's been done so far. ^_^

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Friday, February 27, 2004

   Open Your Eyes

I'm really tired. Nobody responded to my last post, because there probably wasn't much to respond to. I pretty much addressed Lea and Boba exclusively though, so you guys can go back into my archives if you'd like to read what I said. Today, I read an article by Bernard White, who played Rama Kandra in The Matrix Revolutions. His article is called "My Defense of Zion". It's quite a lengthy article and it doesn't set out to explain the trilogy in any comprehensive way. But...it does address the negative reviews. And it points out why they are largely unfair. Here is the link to the article: http://www.matrixfans.net/editorials/bernardwhite.php And here are a couple of specific quotes from it. "I thought to compare this movie to another famous and complex anti-war work of art. Picasso’s GUERNICA. At first look, it’s an aggressive mess. The viewer doesn’t know what he’s looking at. For appreciation, it demands a look closer. It demands the love that allows one to look closer. I was able to do this the second time I saw THE MATRIX REVOLTUIONS. I have now seen it an additional 5 times. Making it an even 7. The movie is nothing, I mean nothing, short of brilliant. The depth and complexity is well worth the closer look, that, it seems to me, some of these critics were not willing to take. It seemed to me that they did not want to risk falling in love with this film. Why? I believe it has to do with betrayal. Not wanting to be betrayed, not wanting to buy into the overdone hype of the Warner Brothers Publicity Machine. Not wanting to reward this quiet underground discovery of theirs turned Hollywood Blockbuster. They will, of course, site things like “wooden performances” and “clunky dialogue”. An “uneven and confusing storytelling” that they feel amounts to a kind of sound and fury signifying nothing. I will not stop short of saying that with this movie as the culmination of this trilogy, we have seen the deepest and most complex original modern mythology to ever be put on film. (I exclude LORD OF THE RINGS, since it is based on JRR Tolkien’s classic novels)." "In the mythical world that they have created the war is between man and machine. It is as bitter a war as any. What the machines did to the humans is in line with what the Colonial Powers did to the Africans in the slave trade. What the humans did to the machines can be compared to the genocide of the Native Americans and the holocaust of the Jews. (see the Animatrix). So, these two sides have some animosity toward each other. A long and bitter and cruel war, in deed. And then if RELOADED blurred these lines, than REVOLUTIONS obliterated the lines all together, in a literal explosion of light. Good didn’t conquer evil, they balanced each other in the attainment of peace. And thus bringing on the dawn of a whole new era. I believe these critics, who say that THE MATRIX is a mish-mosh and a shallow sampling of many spiritual and philosophical traditions, aren’t willing to look deep enough into these traditions to really see that it is not a mish-mosh but rather a monumental integration of these traditions. Especially the integration of Hindu and Christian thought." "These movies are not simplistic. They cannot be dismissed by labeling them over-hyped and failed Hollywood Blockbusters. They certainly cannot be written off like Peter Travers in Rolling Stone (that bastion of forward thinking) did by saying “To put it simply, this movie sucked.” They ought to be considered for the serious works of art that they are. Of course, there’s room for criticism. Some of the dialogue is clunky. Some of the performances are wooden. But to get back to my original point, (yes, I inhabit that world of still trying to make points) for the criticism to be genuine, it must be made through the prism of love. I am much more eager to listen to the genuine disappointment of the real fan, than to the critic who lacks investment. REVOLUTIONS is just too filled with light, for it to not be given this kind of serious consideration. So critics, here’s my unsolicited advise to you; Turn off the lights in your back rooms as they did at that theatre in Westwood. Don’t force your viewing by covering up the beauty of yet another work of art as they did with the organ at Disney Hall. You must see the film, being in the right place. The right place, both inside and out. My advise is to see the film at the IMAX. Sit somewhere in the center, right in the middle of the action. Have the Bhagavad Gita in your back pocket and some buttered popcorn on your lap. Give yourself another chance to fall in love." I like the last quote the most. If they interest you, please read the entire article. Mr. White actually starts off saying that he was disappointed (and somewhat angry) about the movie. But when you see how things develop...well, hopefully you'll reach the same conclusion as Mr. White. Biggest injustice in the history of film making.

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   RPGs & Stuff

I wanted to use this post to specifically answer a few people, who commented on my last post. But before I do that, I just want to reiterate that I couldn't be more happy with the quality on V7 right now. One look at Adventure Arena, and you'll see a host of amazing RPGS being played out. You'll also see some fantastic new RPGs, which have popped up in recent days. Very cool. Congrats to everyone who has put in work on these stories. I particularly want to congratulate Sage for his new Final Fantasy RPG. The detail he went into on that is absolutely stunning. It's well worth a look. Anyway, on with the show. ~_^ Lea: Well, as you know, The Matrix carries a lot of religious symbolism. I think Shy really had his finger on the button when he labled Neo as Jesus, The Architect as God and The Oracle as Satan. The Neo/Jesus thing is pretty obvious. Not only are there a million Jesus-references in The Matrix, but Neo himself ends up "dying to save the people". Of course, he isn't the savior that Morpheus expects, but the end result is still the same. Before I finish talking about Neo, I just want to mention some of the foreshadowing that goes on in the first movie. The following quote comes from the guy who visits Neo at his apartment. When you read it after watching the trilogy, it slaps you in the face like a frozen fish. "Hallelujah. You're my savior, man. My own personal Jesus Christ. Yeah, I know, this never happened. You don't exist. It's called mescaline. It's the only way to fly. Hey, it just sounds to me like you might need to unplug, man." You're my savior? My own Jesus Christ? This never happened and you don't exist? Flight? You might need to unplug? Consider yourself slapped! In terms of The Oracle, we have to look at her role. Shy mentioned to me that The Architect is there to "balance the equation", while The Oracle is there "to unbalance it". The Architect is a purely logical program, The Oracle is an intuitive program. The Oracle also acts as a kind of "temptation" for Neo. That is, she is using her intuitive design to guide him to the source, where the path of The One ends. Remember that the machines want Neo to go to the source. That's his role. His role isn't to be a savior (ostensibly, as far as the machines are concerned). The whole idea of The One being a savior is something that the machines created, to fuel this idea of a prophecy. The One is unique and he is obviously special. This is not because he's a supernatural figure or anything like that. It's simply because he is really a personification of the highest level of subconscious resistance to The Matrix. It's like Neo is a built-up resistance, or "vaccine", but in computer terms. This is why a portion of code that he carries must be re-inserted into The Matrix, so that it can refresh. Once this is done, the probability of subconscious rejection diminishes slightly. Obviously, the machines have to keep this process going over and over again, in order to ensure that the unavoidable resistance does not grow out of control. So, back to The Oracle. The Oracle is like Satan, because she's the pleasant form...she's the temptress, guiding Neo to his final destination. She cannot read the future, nor can she really extend herself beyond her purpose. Remember, she says to Neo "we're all here to do what we're all here to do". Meaning, of course, "I'm here to guide you to the source, because that is my job" and "you are supposed to go to the source, because this is your job". She also says that if Neo doesn't go to the source, Zion will fall. This implies that Neo can save Zion if he reaches the source. But this is a lie. The machines intend to destroy Zion regardless. Zion only exists because it facilitates the function of The One; it gives Neo an inherent attachment to his own species. And so, when he learns the truth from The Architect, he will be compelled to do as he is told (to enter the source), as a result of his attachment to the people of Zion. All of the previous versions of Neo did this, as the machines expected. The most recent version of Neo, in the Sixth Matrix, does not do this, because of Trinity. So his experience is fundamentally different from the others, as The Architect points out. Anyway, I'm getting off track a little there. It's hard not to, because there are so many issues related to one another. But it's interesting to note that The Oracle really isn't what we think. She herself is another form of control. Even the way that she "guides" Neo in Revolutions (by showing him how to defeat Smith), is ultimately only done to aid the machines. So, The Oracle is compared to Satan for these reasons. She tells the truth to Neo for the most part, but she also deliberately manipulates Neo, for the machines' collective benefit. If you have any other questions, I'd certainly be happy to try and answer them. It definitely took me quite a while to actually start to understand the ins-and-outs of the plot...simply because there's such extraordinary detail there. Boba: Yeah, you're absolutely right about that. I am currently thinking about doing a Matrix RPG, that is set after Revolutions. But that requires a lot of research and time on my part. So I'm not sure. If I do it though, you can expect it to be something very unique. Specific to The Second Renaissance...I think there's a lot of potential to explain specific things in our own way. If you read my latest post, you'll definitely see what I'm trying to say. It's really obvious. But that's okay; I didn't want to be cryptic just for the sake of it, even though there are possibly some cryptic messages involved there. It's cool that you and Raiha are posting in the RPG again, also. I hope Sara joins in. ~_^

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Wednesday, February 25, 2004

   Matriculated: Part 2

Thanks to everyone who responded to my last entry. It's always good to get a response to stuff like that. It's funny that I've never really been as fanatical about getting a message across, I don't think. I mentioned that I wanted to talk about specific parts of The Matrix and explain their meaning. The problem is, I don't even know where to start. On some specific issues where I was unsure, I did a lot of cross-checking (by watching a particular scene over and over, to make note of dialogue and then comparing that to various analysis on the web). So from that, I've definitely confirmed a few of my own ideas. If nothing else, it's been a good intellectual exercise. So I guess, for those of you who are open to the idea of discussing specific parts of The Matrix without getting too viscious (you'd be surprised at how viscious people can get over a movie lol), that'd be cool. Maybe pose a couple of questions in my comments below, and I can use my next entry to answer you. Or at least, I can provide you with my own theories. That might be interesting. While I'm here, I'd like to tip my hat to Sara. We had our third discussion in as many years yesterday. That is truly a momentous occasion. And, as always, it was a great pleasure. The fact that Sara seems to be open to the idea of exploring Matrix philosophy is also a plus for me. It's nice to be greeted by that, rather than the constant "OMG!! Da effex w3re not az good1!! i h@ated it!!" Anyway, I don't have much else to say in this entry, other than the above. I'll only add, for those who are interested, that our new greetings site is doing very well. We're now at a level where around 100 greetings are being sent per day. As Adam said (and I'm paraphrasing in the most vague way possible), "that's a lot of joy to a lot of people in one day". Yes, indeed it is. ^_^

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Monday, February 23, 2004

A few days ago, Roadshow Entertainment announced that Australia would be the first territory to see the release of The Matrix Revolutions on DVD/VHS. This is really cool news. They cited the fact that it was a "joint Australian/US effort" (and the film's abnormal following in Australia) as being the primary reason. So, that's good to hear. I guess I'm one of those abormal Aussie Matrix fans. I was watching Reloaded again the other day. The more I watch these movies, and the more I read various articles and philosophical pieces about them, the more I appreciate the sheer energy and creativity that has been injected into the franchise. I know that it's kind of popular to bash The Matrix, especially because Reloaded was kind of a "half movie" (that is, Reloaded and Revolutions are really intended to be one single piece). Still, I think that The Matrix will always hold a really unique place in movie history, both for the genius behind its story, as well as the revolutionary technical achievements of the franchise. When watching the bonus DVD with Reloaded (especially when you watch the making of the freeway chase), you realize how absolutely insane the attention to detail was on a technical level. I also find it incredibly cool to know that Carrie-Anne Moss actually rode that motorcycle into oncoming traffic. She's awesome. Of course, it's also great that The Matrix has really been one of the first "big budget" Australian movies. It's very much like Lord of the Rings. Lord of the Rings was a joint Australian-New Zealand effort, made with American funding. The Matrix was a joint Australian-American effort, produced largely with American funding. Naturally, the movie industries in both Australia and New Zealand are incredibly small compared to the United States. But it's great that more American studios are seeing the talent in this part of the world -- and providing funding for projects accordingly. It's also great that both The Matrix and LotR are really showing off Australian special effects and engineering talent. I know that a graduate of my little graphic design school ended up becoming one of the special effects creators in Revolutions. Although, admittedly, I don't know his name. I'll have to find out more about that. My excitement surrounding The Matrix is actually an odd story. I really adored the first movie, like just about everyone out there. When I saw Reloaded, I liked it, but I certainly wasn't as crazy about it as I had been with the first movie. However, upon watching it a second time (and coming to a greater understanding of the overall story), my appreciation for it really grew, as did my overall enjoyment. Side projects like The Animatrix, the 300 page free comics, short stories and official essays all helped, of course. At first I was inclined to believe that all of these projects were just cash-ins; that they were simply licensed products. But that's actually not true at all. Although it's true that these things are undoubtedly cash-ins, they are also critical pieces of the Matrix puzzle. Anyone who has seen The Animatrix will know that it fills in a huge amount of information, which one would otherwise simply never get. You would have to look at Reloaded very hard to come away with the answers that The Animatrix provides. I've also come to the realization that most movie goers simply don't want to put in the effort. This is why, in my estimation, Reloaded was so unverisally canned. Mind you, it wasn't really canned by the critics. Many of the critical reviews were pretty positive, in fact. But the general populace seemed to meet it with a "ho hum" attitude. I think, if you take the original movie in a vacuum, what you have is something far more simple and easy to understand. It's something you can think about for five minutes after the movie and completely understand (well, not completely, but to a satisfactory degree). But both Reloaded and Revolutions demand more from the audience. These movies aren't serving you everything on a plate. They're simply beckoning you -- they're asking you to follow them down the trail, as it were. Or maybe down the rabbit hole. I've been asked whether this is a sign of good film making or bad film making. The truth is, I don't know. Should we expect writers and directors to create a very airtight movie, where we come away understanding everything and seeing every angle? Is the creator obligated to tie up all of the loose ends in front of our very eyes? I think it's true that, for the most part, movies are a form of entertainment that probably shouldn't be too confusing for the audience. A great director will probably take a relatively complicated concept and use imagery and dialogue creatively, in order to filter that down for the masses. But at the same time, I think we have to ask ourselves if we, as an audience, are not being underestimated by movie creators. Originally I thought to myself "Okay, so, I have to watch the movies, read the comics, read the short stories, watch The Animatrix and play the video game. Uhh, no thanks." It seemed a bit too wide open and pointless to me. That is, until I actually went out there and began exploring for myself. The end result is that I haven't come back, having seen a bunch of licensed and somewhat-unrelated stories and ideas. Everything has a purpose, everything is consistent and everything holds true to a continuous spine. When I then look at the enormous and deliberate structure of this web...I really can't help but be amazed by the intelligence behind it. I mean, I wouldn't call myself an ignorant or gullible person (and my original skepticism really demonstrates that). But at the same time, I'm definitely willing to concede that something is worthwhile if I discover that intelligence myself. And this is also why I have been such a vocal defender of the franchise -- because it deserves to be explored and appreciated, by people who recognize and adore the truly great stories out there. I am thinking of actually writing down some of my own theories and analysis, as well as providing some important comparisons. The primary reason that I haven't done any of this to any great degree yet (save for on OtakuBoards occasionally) is that I just haven't had the time for it. Even sitting here, writing out my thoughts, takes a certain amount of time. And I guess I would want to do justice to the subject matter, by providing it with my full attention. But we'll see. In any case, I've been looking at Matrix fansites over recent days. None of them are very good. Even the biggest Matrix-related message board is pretty awful. I want to keep this in the back of my mind, should I decide to show them how it's done. ~_^

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Saturday, February 21, 2004

   Looking Ahead

I know I've said it multiple times now, but this year is going to be exciting. When I compare where we are now, to where we were at this time in 2001, there's just no comparison. Everything back then was spammier, messier, uglier and more boring. Today, everything is so much nicer. It's really amazing to consider the evolution of this network over the years. Those of you who were around back then will definitely know what I'm talking about generally. For one thing, I'm really pleased with the Play It and Anime Lounge forums. Initially, there were those who disagreed with the concept of collapsing them. But as OB7 begins to become a little clearer for members, I think we're really seeing how beneficial this decision is becoming. Play It is experiencing more high quality activity than Nintendo, Sony or Microsoft have ever had, really. It's quality and quantity. Anime Lounge is doing similarly well; people are apparently embracing this whole idea of using individual topics more broadly. There's always a tendency to talk about creating more forums, or forums for specific franchises. I had one person telling me that he wished we had a music forum. And I said, "but you can talk about that in Movies, Music & TV". Why does it matter where you're specifically talking about something, as long as you have somewhere to discuss it? Not to mention the fact that this forum has been really successful since its conception -- I doubt that it'd be as popular if I were to divide the three subjects into their own unique areas. I'm also trying to encourage people to use the "Search this Thread" feature. It's so simple, but really cool. Rather than clicking to a new page and then doing a detailed search...you can simply use the pop-up menu to do a quick search in the one forum. It's great, because you don't need to tick various settings or anything like that -- you just type a name and go. It's really easy and really fast. I hope that once people start using this system, they'll realize that Anime Lounge and Play It are actually quite intuitive, if you are prepared to follow the guidelines. It also seems that some of the..."lesser quality" members haven't returned for V7. That's good news. I've seen better quality posting all-round, so far. It's only early, but I really feel confident that this new version is pushing things in a more desirable direction.

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Friday, February 20, 2004

   The One-Two Punch

It seems that people are now getting used to the new OtakuBoards, after only a day of use. So that's good news. There are a few more things to set up before I can finally relax, in relation to the boards. But most of it relates to team pages and various stuff like that. It's not too much of an issue. The funny thing is, people have been focusing on OtakuBoards so much that they haven't even considered the other big project. It's the second punch, of the big one-two punch that we're delivering this month. Although, if you think about it, we've delivered even more than that. theOtaku.com: Greetings is a pretty big achievement. Then there's OtakuBoards and then there's two other projects coming online this month. The first has already been mentioned by Adam; we are working on a next generation version of myOtaku.com. Yep, that's right. myOtaku.com v2, to coincide with OtakuBoards 7. Isn't that cool? The beauty is that myOtaku.com's second version is pretty much complete. Adam showed it to me today and I was pretty impressed. It's definitely a step up from what everyone is using now. I don't want to tell you anything too specific about it, but I will say one thing; if you think you have customizable pages now...the new myOtaku will blow you away. ^_^; All in all, it's going to be a huge, huge month for the Otaku Universe. Who needs MEGATON when you have Otaku? ~_^

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Wednesday, February 18, 2004

   She's Live

Well, OtakuBoards is now live. I know that already, people are experiencing difficulties, in the sense that they don't understand how certain things work. I urge people who experience these problems to use the relevant forums (ie: Suggestions & Feedback or Technical Support). Furthermore, we are experiencing some technical problems. These are generally minor in nature, however. And they will be fixed shortly. But again, if you're having technical problems, please use the relevant forum to describe 'em. That way, others can see what the problems are, if they are having the same issues. Finally, certain things aren't entirely implemented yet. Specifically, myOtaku/OB connection. But this will be done tonight/tomorrow. So that's not a big issue right now. Team Homepages and various other little tidbits will also be added. A few tweaks will be made to formatting and settings (user default titles, signature restrictions and so on) will be adjusted accordingly. The main thing is, you guys can now post. I didn't want to keep the boards offline any longer than was absolutely necessary. And, also, certain bugs will only show up when visitors start using the site more intensively. So, I ask everyone who is having problems to bear with us over coming days. We'll sort things out one by one and within the next week, things will be running more smoothly. Also, we have another couple of skins in development right now. Those will be up within the next few weeks as well. Should be interesting. ^_^ I hope you guys are all enjoying the elements that do work (thankfully 99% of the site is functional lol). Happy posting. ^_^

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