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You don't talk about it when you're in the service, says Yvette McClelland. But sometimes you can just see it in someone's face.
McClelland remembers one young woman—she had a magnetic personality and a big smile when she arrived at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines' Angeles City. "By the time we left, the sparkle was gone out of her eyes. You could just see it. Something happened."
McClelland loved the military. She served in the National Guard at Kirtland for a year in the early '80s and then decided to join the Air Force. Over the course of her 10-year career, she was raped three times by fellow military members, she says. And there was little she could do about it. At the time, there was no safe reporting system: You had to tell your supervisor, and your complaint would go up the chain of command.
According to Department of Defense numbers, there were 3,192 reports of sexual assault in the last fiscal year. Given that the crime is severely underreported, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the number of servicemembers who were sexually assaulted is likely closer to 19,000.
It's estimated that one-third of women in the military are sexual assaulted or raped, and about 90 percent are sexually harassed. Men are also attacked, and according to Veterans Affairs, more than 60,000 in VA care were raped or assaulted while serving.
Staff Sgt. McClelland was a secure telecommunications maintenance specialist. She worked on teletype equipment. It was a male-dominated career field. "I was the only woman in a shop of men." She was really good at her job, she adds. "I built the equipment from scratch, overhauled it and put it back in the field."
But there was a climate of disrespect and hostility. "My immediate supervisor, when I was assigned there, stated in front of me and everybody that not only should women not be in the military, they should not be working in maintenance because they didn't have the mental capacity to understand the complexity of the electronics."
Then the harassment started. It wasn't just sexual jokes, she says. Instead, fellow servicemembers brought in dirty magazines and suggested she wear outfits like the ones in the pictures. They'd brush up against her in an unpleasant sexual manner, she says, or make it a point to talk about sexual things in her presence.
McClelland finally reported the increasing harassment she'd been experiencing for months. As a result, she was admonished on her performance review, she says. "I got the message. Even when I reported the harassment, nobody cared. Nobody was going to care."
The military struggles with deep-seated sexism, McClelland says. "You have to remember the military integrated the races very quickly and very well. If they wanted to integrate men and women working together in harmony, they'd do it."
In late April, Defense Secretary Panetta announced revised policies on sexual assault. Unit commanders at the company or squadron level can no longer decide whether a report of sexual assault merits action. Instead, colonels or Navy captains will make the call. This should increase impartiality, suggests the department. In the past, victims might have been afraid to complain to an immediate superior who also oversaw the attacker.
But McClelland says it's not enough. The commander doesn't have legal training, she points out, and may still know or work with the perpetrator. Most women she's spoken with don't have faith that the policy shift will change much, McClelland says. "Nobody trusts the military anymore."
There's so much victim-blaming going on, she adds. "The first thing they often do is question the victim: Were you drinking? What were you wearing?" People who speak up are revictimized, she says, and diagnosed with personality disorders. "This is standard procedure."
As things stand, victims can make two kinds of reports: With an unrestricted report, command is notified, and an investigation ensues; with a restricted report, the victim only receives services, and confidentiality is protected.
There were about 2,500 investigations in 2011 and roughly 1,500 people were brought before commanders for review and potential discipline; 48 were discharged from the military.
Cases are handled internally, which McClelland says is a real problem. A servicemember who's been raped can't take his or her case to a civilian court.
That's something the Sexual Assault Training Oversight and Protection Act is looking to address. Known as the Stop Act, it would create an independent body made of civilian and military experts to investigate and prosecute sexual assault cases. The Stop Act was introduced by Rep. Jackie Speier of California in November. It prompted McClelland to speak out.
Her memories aren't all bad, she says. After her confidence was shattered at Clark, McClelland was transferred to Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, where she found a great working environment and a supportive immediate supervisor. He pulled her aside and said he could tell by the way she interacted with other servicemen that something had happened in the past. She was defensive, she says, protective and closed-off. He told her she could talk to him if she ran into any problems.
She stayed there until post-Desert Storm budget cuts reduced staff numbers in her career field. She was honorably discharged and eventually moved to Albuquerque where she did contract work for Kirtland. In 2008, unresolved issues resurfaced, and she couldn't handle it anymore, she says. "I'm just now getting back on my feet from that."
McClelland wants people to witness how the military has covered up this dark secret, then call their congressional representatives and tell them to support the Stop Act. "We've got people who are helping to defend our country and defend our rights, and this is what's happening to them: They have no right to defend themselves," she says. "There's just something real twisted about that."


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First of all there are certain rules of thumb that can help keep things running smooth and make our answers more killer and less filler. Please read through these before posting a new thread:
Game Programming Forum Rules
There are lots of game programmers here who are learning or are willing to help others learn, you can find a list of these people in the roll call thread. Maybe you could introduce yourself to someone who shares a similar interest
Game Programming Roll Call
In the tutorials section you can find some great topics, from an introduction to DirectX to programming in XNA, there's a ton of information:
Game Programming Tutorials
We also came together to compile a list of great resources for your hobbyist projects including 3D models, sprites, sound FX and development tools. You can find these in the resource thread:
Game Programming Tool/Resources
If you need some insightful topics from fellow programmers you might want to check out a few developer blogs:
Dev Blogs
These are just a few of the game programming resources available and if by some chance you couldn't find an answer to what you need then you can always start a new thread, just give the huge search bar a try and the rules another read
Most of all welcome to </dream.in.code>
This post has been edited by stayscrisp: 27 January 2011 - 03:20 PM

subset: commoncrawl


text:
- This event has passed.
Dungeons & Dragons Adventurer's League
January 1 @ 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
An event every week that begins at 6:00pm on Wednesday, repeating until February 26, 2020
Our D&D Adventurer's League events are a great way to start learning Dungeons and Dragons! Our in-house DMs (Dungeon Masters) will teach you how to build a character, roll your dice, and combat the evils of the Underdark and beyond! Encounters is designed to allow new players to jump into the game and have a great experience without having much prior knowledge of the rules.
Players can choose to create a level 1 character of their own or use some of the pre-generated characters that will be provided at the start of each session.
Encounters events happen every Wednesday at 6:30 pm and last for 2-3 hours per week.
This event is FREE for first time players! After that, entry is $5 per day or $15 for the entire month
All entry fees are reimbursed in store credit! Our entry fees help us support our DMs with the books and modules they need to help you enjoy game!


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Samsung SyncMaster 240T (PC24PBASS/XEU) : 1 - 12 of 31


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The life of a doctor has changed dramatically in modern times.
The days of turning up at a patient's home, medical bag in hand, for a lengthy discussion about health and lifestyle are long gone.
But the federal government is looking at the possibility that house calls by a health care professional might be a better and cheaper way of providing treatment, especially for people who are really sick.
Kristian Foden-Vencil visited a Portland non-profit that makes house calls. It's participating in a federal study.
At the front door of a small foster home in Tigard, nurse practioner J. C. Provost makes his first house call of the day.
Resident: "Hello."
J.C. Provost: "Hello, good morning. How are you."
Resident: "Good."
He's visiting Elizabeth Rains, who is in her 80's and suffers from dementia. She has a delicate heart and takes the blood thinner, Coumadin. It's a tricky prescription because the thickness of her blood is changed by everything from what she eats, to how much water she drinks.
Provost visits Rains at least once a month.
J.C. Provost: "I'm going to check your blood pressure now. Okay?
Elizabeth Rains: "Okay."
After a series of blood tests, Provost discovers Rains is sub-theraputic, meaning he needs to adjust her medication.
J.C. Provost: "So, it's not unheard of with the change of season from what I've seen. People start eating more greens which provides more vitamin K, which is the antidote of Coumadin. So, I probably will have to increase her Coumadin right now. If it's not thin, she's having a high risk of having a blood clot migrate to either her brain her lungs or her leg. All right Elizabeth, guess who's seeing me next week?"
Elizabeth Rains: "Okay."
A blood clot could mean death, disability or all kinds of other painful and expensive problems — not to mention a trip to the ER and a long stay in an intensive care unit.
Liviu Voinea stands next to Provost and Rains during the visit. He owns and runs this foster home. His job also includes watching over Rains and the other residents — to make sure they're healthy. He says these monthly house calls save residents stressful visits to the doctor.
Liviu Voinea: "We have pretty much 24/7 if we have an emergency or if we have a question or if we make a call we get a response right back. So there is no doctor visit like waiting rooms, there is no waiting time."
Most of the patients at this home are on Medicare or Medicaid.
Provost thinks his house calls probably save the government hundreds if not thousands of dollars per patient per year.
J.C. Provost: "If I were not going to these people's homes, probably a good 40 percent would not get primary care, period. Because going to a doctor's office is something impossible.
Kristian: "And so eventually they would end up in the ER or some much more expensive place."
J.C. Provost: "In a catastrophic fashion, absolutely."
The federal government is interested in finding out whether house calls will keep sick and elderly Americans in better health.
So, the government's Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, has selected the Portland non-profit Housecall Providers and 15 similar outfits around the nation, to study.
Housecall Provider executive director, Terri Hobbs, is confident the program will show significant savings.
The average ER visit in Portland is $1500, she says. Her health care professionals are reimbursed by the government at the rate of up to $100 a visit. The reimbursement can vary depending on whether it's a doctor or a nurse practitioner who makes the call.
Terri Hobbs:"So cost wise for the Medicare system, just saving that one ER visit, they paid for our services for a year."
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden wrote legislation to create the demonstration project as part of the federal Affordable Care Act.
He says the Veterans Administration tried a similar program, where really sick vets were visited at home.
Ron Wyden: "And the VA saved more than 20 percent on their population that was getting cared for at home. So for me, I think the potential in the years ahead is to save billions and billions of dollars."
He says house calls focus attention on the 20 percent of Medicare recipients who use up to 75 percent of the money.
The federal study runs for the next three years.
Doctor Richard Gilfillan is the Director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation in Baltimore, Maryland.
Richard Gilfillan: "So we're hoping to see improvements in health outcomes, that is better health for the patients, improvement of the experience of care for these folks so that they're going to feel, both they and their families will feel like they've got a great care system operating for them and they;'re receiving great care. And over time we think that this better care will actually result in a lower total cost of care for these folks."
Any provider that can show it has reduced costs per patient by a significant amount could be rewarded with a portion of those savings.
This story is part of a reporting partnership between Oregon Public Broadcasting, NPR and Kaiser Health News.


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Last updated in May 2017
Is your favorite password secure? Could a hacker quickly crack it? For most of us, the answers to these questions are "no" and "yes, much faster than you think."
The easiest, most effective, and most neglected security tool is a strong password. Some pointers:
- Configure your computer so a password or fingerprint is required to use it. If you're a Mac user, turn on and use FileVault, which uses your password to protect everything on the device.
- Make passwords long. Secure passwords consist of at least 16 characters, but the longer, the better.
- Avoid incorporating common phrases. Create long passwords, but avoid common phrases, such as "LukeIamYourFather2017!" One effective strategy is to pick a relatively obscure but easy-to-remember secret phrase or sentence and add numbers or punctuation. For example, if your secret phrase is "I love writing articles for Checkbook magazine," you can add additional characters to create the password "&Ilovewritingarticlesfor1625Checkbookmagazine!"
- Change them up. Choose a different password for your computer, your email, and each website login. If you use the same password everywhere, then a lot of databases will have your master password, and anyone who steals it from one site has access to your entire digital existence.
- Consider password-management software. Since we sometimes forget the names of our children, we know it's unrealistic to suggest you remember dozens of different nearly random passwords. Password managers can help by remembering them for you or—even better—creating completely random passwords and then saving them under your master key. Some password managers will even analyze your passwords and alert you if they are weak or used on multiple websites. Good options include Google Chrome's built-in manager LastPass, Dashlane, and 1Password. Macs come with Keychain, Apple's password-management system, which you have to use to log on to its devices, but it's wise to use a separate password manager for websites you use.
- Enable multifactor authentication. Many websites now allow or require users to set up multifactor, or two-factor, authentication. This usually means that the website sends a text message with a temporary code you have to enter to complete registration, change a password, or log on from a new device.
Complex passwords are just one step toward maximizing security, but they'll do nothing if you carelessly let someone take control of your data—the hacker could simply record every action you take and every keystroke you input. Our article on how to maintain your computer and keep it secure details ways to minimize the risk of attacks.


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The death of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in August in a Belgian hospital brought an end to a 21-year rule characterized by repression of dissent and iron-fisted control of the independent press. His fatal illness was shrouded in secrecy. After Meles disappeared from public view in June, the government played down rumors of his illness and suppressed in-depth domestic reporting. The government also faced rare demonstrations by members of the Muslim community, who protested what they called government interference in their affairs. Security forces violently dispersed the gatherings, cracking down on journalists who reported on them, and forcing three Muslim-oriented newspapers to close. The government drew widespread international condemnation for the convictions of nine Ethiopian journalists on vague and politicized terrorism charges. The journalists, five of them exiles tried in absentia, were handed sentences ranging from eight years to life imprisonment. The government finally freed two Swedish journalists who were imprisoned for 14 months for reporting on separatist Ogaden rebels. Six journalists remained behind bars in late year, including award-winning writer Eskinder Nega.
Government persecution has driven dozens of Ethiopian journalists into exile in recent years. Many flee to Kenya and Uganda to escape arrest and imprisonments.
Meles last appeared in public in a meeting with Chinese leaders at the G-20 Summit in Mexico in mid-June. For more than two months, the government treated his health and whereabouts as a state secret. When the government finally announced his death in August, no detail about the nature of his illness was given. International news reports, citing a hospital source, said he had died of liver cancer.
June 17:
|Meles is seen meeting with Chinese leaders at the G-20 Summit in Mexico.
July 14:
|Senegalese President Macky Sall announces that Meles will not attend the African Union Summit in Ethiopia for health reasons.
July 19:
|Government spokesman Bereket Simon breaks the official silence over Meles' disappearance, declaring the prime minister "in good condition."
July 20:
|Government invokes national security laws to block distribution of an edition of the weekly Feteh that reports a range of speculation about Meles' health.
July 25:
|The Ethiopian newspaper The Reporter publishes the story, "Meles on vacation abroad."
August 21:
|The government announces Meles' death.
More than 70 newspapers were forced to close because of government pressure during the 21 years of Meles' rule, according to CPJ research.
|Independent TV stations allowed under Meles
|Independent broadcaster allowed under Meles
|Times that veteran journalist Eskinder Nega was imprisoned
|Newspapers forced to shut in 2012
The state-run printing company halted production of Feteh beginning in July, after the paper tried to distribute an issue carrying front-page coverage of Meles' illness.
|Copies carrying coverage of Meles' health that were confiscated in July.
|Months' suspended prison term for Feteh Editor Temesghen Desalegn on charges of contempt for publishing a statement read by Eskinder Nega during his terrorism trial.
|Days' imprisonment for Temesghen after he was handed four counts of anti-state charges for old articles critical of Meles. The charges were pending by year's end.
|Years in prison for Feteh columnist Reeyot Alemu after her conviction on trumped-up terrorism charges in January. An appeals court later reduced the sentence to five years after dropping most of the terrorism charges.
In May, parliament passed a bill purporting to "prevent and control telecom fraud." But the bill included vague provisions that impose an eight-year prison penalty for dissemination of messages deemed "terrorizing."


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[Country PI: ek]
PDF – 45.8 kB
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Jon and Kate -- Overextended
We're told Jon & Kate Gosselin aren't living hand to mouth, but the $200,000 account that Jon raided was the only real source of living income.
There's a report out that the couple is saddled with a $720,000 mortgage on their $1.12 million house. There was talk that TLC bought the house for them outright but we've learned that is not true. TLC paid them a salary and that's it.
We're told Jon and Kate have established a trust fund for their kids and it's well into the 6 figures, but they have significant debt. They still haven't been able to sell their first house and they owe a mortgage on it.
The reality is ..."Jon & Kate Plus 8" is good for the 8 but Jon and Kate are kinda strapped.
More Jon & Kate
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For Your Child, Your Car And Your Budget
The most important job as a parent is to keep your kids safe.
You can't prevent every bump and bruise but there is one thing that could be the difference between life and death. A properly installed and used car seat. It is estimated that in 2015 child restraint systems were responsible for saving 266 children under age 5. Having your child in a restraint system is literally a life-saver. There are four basic types of car seats: rear facing only, convertible, combination and booster seats. Then there are thousands of models to choose from for each type of seat!
PRO-TIP: All seats have to meet the same federal safety standards. So, how do you narrow down the field?
First and foremost, get the right type of seat for your child's age, height, weight and developmental level. And read your vehicle owner's manual and the labels for the car seats you are considering buying.
Once you know the type, how do you pick which model to buy? Expensive does not mean better AND NEVER BUY OR USE A USED CAR SEAT. You may think you are getting a bargain but it may be missing parts or have been in a crash. Buy one that fits within your family's budget, you will use correctly every time and is appropriate for your child.
Still want more advice:


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Wesley Chapel, Florida (high 67, low 49)
I hope all our blogger friends fared well during Hurricane Sandy.
We were sure glad it didn't hit Florida, but of course we feel bad for the people and animals in the path of the storm.
Unfortunately, many people are going to now learn they have no insurance coverage for their homes, since they don't have flood insurance. So many people think flood insurance is expensive and in most cases, it's really not. We have a rental house in Tampa (in a hurricane area) and we pay only $300 annually for our flood insurance. Money well spent! Remember, rising water is NOT covered under your homeowners policy. You do not have to live in a flood zone to need flood insurance!
Our weather here has turned quite cool. Yeah, I know we were wanting it to cool down and we've been complaining about the heat. It's nice to be able to turn off the air conditioning for a change.
It was 50 degrees when we woke up this morning. For some reason, 50 degrees in Tampa feels much colder than it does other places. When we were in North Carolina, 40 didn't feel this cold. The heat pump is on and the kitties were looking for their electric blanket!
Al survived his sinus surgery just fine. He was pretty wiped out the day of the surgery, but he felt good the next day. We had tickets for a political rally, and he decided he felt good enough to go.
The start of the rally ended up being delayed due to an accident involving the child of one of the speakers. That resulted in us standing for 2-3 hours in a high school football field with 15,000 of our closest friends. He was pretty wiped out by the time we got home.
Sunday morning he wasn't feeling well, but we couldn't pass up a chance to have breakfast with our friends Carol and John. They were staying at Lazy Days for a few days. We got together with them yesterday again for lunch, and we plan to meet up with them in the Keys this winter.
We made reservations for the Keys for two weeks starting November 25th. We had planned on spending Thanksgiving there, but I neglected to make reservations in time. Oh well.
We hope to spend as much a lot of this winter in the Keys. We plan to go back in January after the Tampa Rv Show. Can't miss all the freebies and deals at the rv show!
We're winding down on doctor appointments. Al has a follow up with the ENT surgeon on Thursday and I have a follow up appointment tomorrow. It will be good to get those done.


text: News and Events Faculty Promotions We are delighted to announce that Professors Silke Aisenbrey (Sociology), Anna-Lisa Cohen (Psychology), Marian Gidea (Economics), Joshua Karlip (Jewish Studies), Aaron Koller (Jewish Studies), Jess Olson (Jewish Studies) have been granted tenure, and Professor Jeffrey Freedman (History) has been promoted to Full Professor. Faculty in Print Congratulations to our faculty who have recently published books: Dr. Shawn Aster, Dr. Moshe Bernstein, Dr. Steven Fine, Dr. Jeffrey Freedman, Dr. Joshua Karlip, Dr. Aaron Koller, Dr. Rachel Mesch, Dr. Jess Olson, Dr. Samuel Schneider, Dr. Gillian Steinberg Best wishes to Dr. Rachel Mesch who has recently been asked to serve as Assistant Editor of the flagship journal in her field, Nineteenth-Century French Studies. For a more complete reference of faculty publications visit our YC Research page Blogs, Newspapers and More Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program BlogThe Commentator (student newspaper of Yeshiva College and Syms School of Business)The Observer (student newspaper of Syms School of Business and Stern College for Women)Something Rich and Strange (PDF) is the YU literary magazine published by the students of Yeshiva College and Stern College for Women.Faculty News blog (for the latest news about our illustrious faculty)YU News (for the latest news about Yeshiva University)Marcos and Adina Katz YU Torah Online (features shiurim by YU roshei yeshiva and other Torah lights, including students and alumnae)WYUR (the student-run radio station of Yeshiva University) New Core Curriculum Our Core Curriculum has been redesigned. Take a closer look at the new YC Core. Follow Us on Facebook! For the latest YC news, make sure to like Yeshiva College on Facebook. YU Events Calendar In addition to the many exciting events you'll find right here at Yeshiva College, don't forget also to check out the University-wide Events Calendar too.


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32 wrote:The Warriors have reiterated they won't trade Thompson. The deal to Cleveland is just a matter of time now.
Not to mention we're witnessing an early sighting of Joe Lacob's future pretext for firing Kerr; multiple outlets are reporting the Warriors' hesitancy to part with Thompson is at the behest of Kerr; a first-time coach whose record as a GM is iffy at best.
When Love goes to Cleveland, 3 scenarios arise:
1, Love regresses and Thompson becomes a star... In which case, Lacob will suck up all the credit for not trading him and Kerr will have to make due without even a scrap of commendation despite being the driving force to keep Klay. I find this scenario very unlikely.
2, Thompson regresses (or stays the same), but Love is unspectacular; either due to injury or a lesser role. This might be the most likely scenario and if it comes to fruition, nothing in the media will be made of it.
Or 3, Thompson stays the same (or, God help us, regresses) and Love kills it in Cleveland; helping lead them to a title (or at least deep in the playoffs). This is also a pretty likely scenario and if it happens, Kerr will have a MASSIVE strike on his Lacob-resume... And, unless Joe Lacob is a closet racist slash God-o-phobe, he'll be bringin the wrath come contract time. Cause we can all agree: roadblocking a trade for the best PF in basketball is a helluva lot more agregious than winning 50+ games and taking a twice-as-high seed to 7 contests in the playoffs. If Mark Jackson got publically humiliated en route to a coaching castration, imagine what'll happen to Kerr if he flops as a first-year coach AND becomes the face of 'Why the Warriors Didn't Swing a Trade for Kevin Love.' It'll be a hanging in the town square... That is, provided the universe has any real cosmic justice, cause I swear if Lacob let's a travesty like that slide after canning Mark Jackson for having a good-but-not-great year, I'll have an extremely difficult time clapping for our majority owner and I was one of the few to actually have his back on Chris Mullin night 3 years ago.
Your analysis is spot on and correct! Unfortunately, scenario #3 is the most likely outcome.


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Welcome to RPGFan's Games of 2005 feature. We think we've found a system that we like with the way our staff setup has changed. We're keeping our individual top 5 lists and the point system for one title - RPG of the Year. For the rest of the games, we've decided to switch to a pure vote-based system per category. I think you all will be very surprised, as we've expanded the categories quite a bit this year.
That being said, check out each editor's top 5 RPGs of the year (plus Non-RPG Top Picks) and the Games of the Year list by using the navigation above.
Also to be noted is the fact that Kingdom Hearts II and Front Mission 5 were not considered in this list. As both arrived less than 10 days before the end of the year, KH2 on the 22nd and FM5 on the 29th, our staff members did not have the time to fully appreciate these import titles. Look forward to seeing them on next year's list, but, without further ado, 2005's Games of the Year await.
|Neal Chandran's Top Picks
1) Atelier Iris ~Eternal Mana~ (PS2) - This RPG is as good as 2D gets. Large, detailed sprites that don't get pixilated during close-ups. Lovely hand-drawn environments. Appealing character and monster designs. Yep, I definitely get the warm fuzzies looking at this game. But Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana is more than just a pretty face. The music is excellent. You can choose whether you want Japanese or English voice acting. The gameplay is involved but highly addicting. The characters, including shopkeepers, are very well developed and all have interesting backstories. Yep, this game is certainly a total package.
2) Ever 17 (PC) - KiD's Infinity series, which includes Never 7, offers a fresh take on the love adventure genre with often intellectually stimulating storylines. I'm not sure how much I can call Ever 17 a "love" adventure, but it certainly is a compelling adventure with appealing visuals, great music, top-notch voice work, a riveting storyline with multiple endings, awesome characters and great writing. Some of the conversations between your chosen protagonist and other cast members are extremely deep and I'm always a sucker for philosophy. The moment I completed the game once, I immediately fired it up again and plan to go for a third ending. That kind of desire for immediate replay is rare.
3) Phantom of Inferno (PC) -Before releasing Ever 17 in the US, Hirameki has given US games tastes of other Japanese adventure games. One of which is Phantom of Inferno. Bright and cheery, this game is not, because life as an assassin in an underground crime syndicate is tense and gritty where one wrong move can signal your doom. Despite the young age of our hero, the storyline is very mature and boasts multiple endings, both good and bad. The music and visuals are nicely done as well, but in games like this and Ever 17, it's all about the storyline and the tale woven in Phantom of Inferno is very compelling.
4) Sigma Star Saga (GBA) - Shantae developers WayForward came back with another genre crossing game that harkens back to the shooter-adventure hybrid The Guardian Legend. Sure, there were come gameplay flaws but I still found the game loads of fun and was pleasantly surprised at how good the story was. RPGs and shooters are as disparate as video game genres can get and this was a solid effort to bridge the two. It can only get better from here..
5) Still Life (PC) - The game is short. Some of the puzzles are needlessly wonky or twiddly. The voice acting isn't very good. So what was the striking feature for me in Still Life? The visuals. Sadistic murder scenes with lots of blood and badly bruised corpses that aren't for the faint of heart. Who ever thought blood splatter could be so artistic?
|Patrick Gann's Top Picks
1) Atelier Iris ~Eternal Mana~ (PS2) - At this point I cannot claim objectivity. I put Atelier Iris at the #1 spot out of pure bias. Gust (the developer of the Atelier series) has absolutely captivated my imagination with their charming characters, awesome music, and the most extensive and unique item-creation system I've ever seen in an RPG. NIS America was also kind enough to offer the option to change from English to Japanese voice acting at any given point in the game through a simple menu option; for fans of the "original experience," this is certainly appreciated. I suspect the only game that will top this experience for me in the near future is its upcoming sequel. Though light on plot, everything else about this game was overwhelming enough for me to give it my top spot for 2005.
2) Ys: The Ark of Napishtim (PS2) -Developed by Falcom, the sixth title in the Ys series was an outstanding experience. The gameplay was challenging and enjoyable, the sword-leveling system was refreshing, the music was outstanding, and the hidden option to enjoy the game with Japanese dialogue, text, and anime cutscenes was much appreciated. And, of course, the beautiful character designs were a plus. Purchasing this game will only bring us one step closer to having "The Oath in Felghana" (a complete remake of Ys III) released in the US, so please do so immediately.
3) Xenosaga Episode II: Jenseits von Gut und Bose (PS2) - A lot of people gave up on this series after the first title, namely due to the change in staff. Takahashi (the creator of the scenario) was essentially fired, and the character design and sound teams were replaced. Furthermore, people complained about the complex battle system that left you with lengthy battles and very lengthy boss battles. Well, even with all these changes, the story was still captivating enough for me to put this game in third place for the year. The last two hours of the game have left me begging for Episode III, and if you take the time to play through Episode II, I'm sure you'll feel the same.
4) Romancing SaGa (PS2) - This vote is me at my most objective, because I'd like to put it in the top three. I know that this title did not appeal to every gamer out there, but for me, this game is really something incredible. I have voluntarily completed it four times, and am looking forward to going through it a fifth time. There is truly something new to find every time through, and there are major plot twists that cannot be learned in just one character's playthrough. Furthermore, this game is the most extensive remake of an RPG I have ever seen, and Square Enix did an incredible job with updated graphics, music, and full voice acting.
5) Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (DS) - We Americans are incredibly fortunate to have received such a quirky title from Japan as Phoenix Wright (known in Japan as Gyakuten Saiban). The scenarios are interesting, the dialogue is humorous, and the overall concept of a lawyer simulator is unique enough to be worthy handheld title. It is also worthy of making my top five list.
|Alan Knight's Top Picks
1) Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (PS2) - There's really nothing more to say here. A top-notch story with a wicked sense of humour, an engaging but easy to learn battle system and fantastic locations and graphics - together with the single best overworld ever in a console RPG - combined with a superb localisation and soundwork.
2) Atelier Iris ~Eternal Mana~ (PS2) - This game wasn't very impressive graphically. It didn't have the best battle system out there. It was occasionally clunky, and the plot wasn't much to speak of. But what Atelier Iris did deliver was fun. Despite all of the shortcomings of the game the play experience added up to an RPG I simply didn't want to put down until it was complete.
3) Dungeon Siege II (PC) - Gosh. What a surprise this was. The first Dungeon Siege was a great romp but a plotless, and ultimately simplistic, experience. Along comes Dungeon Siege 2 which, while retaining that core simplicity behind the system, follows it up with a complete and rewarding plotline, some great scenery, a whole host of things to do and a battle system almost as fun for spectators as players.
4) Wild Arms: Alter Code F (PS2) - Wild Arms was my very first RPG on the PlayStation - more than that, my very first game on the entire system. To say that I was looking forward to this was an understatement, and when it finally game I devoured it gleefully. Sheer and wonderful nostalgia.
5) Jade Empire (Xbox) - I'd been feeling a bit Bioware starved, what with Knights of the Old Republic 2 leaving a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. Jade Empires was a great balm; gung-ho, straight-up action with an RPG feel and action movie pacing. Not their best work but one of the best games around for the XBox to this day.
|Woojin Lee's Top Picks
1) Super Robot Wars Alpha 3 (Import PS2) - I've never thought that a year would come where I would be awarding top honors to a SRW game (well, this partially has to do with me skipping some of the major Japanese releases this year more than anything else) but SRW@3 really sets the bar for all SRW games. Great story, great cast, great original additions, and the "OMFG its Ideon!!!" factor are enough keep me busy for hours with this game at a time. :)
2) Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (DS) - As a huge fan of the Gyakuten Saiban series (Phoenix Wright's name in Japan) I was so sure that this game was way too quirky to be brought stateside and now I'm happy to find out I was wrong. Here's to hoping future SG games will be ported as well.
3) Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (GCN) - Glitches aside, Fire Emblem: PoR shows that the Fire Emblem series doesn't have to be on a portable system to be viable. Sure the animations were repetitive and the graphics look dated...but FE has gameplay in spades and the additions made to the classic FE formula made for some interesting games.
4) Fate Hollow Ataraxia (Import PC) - It's odd that my favorite adventure game this year is actually a fan-disc expansion to Fate/Stay Night but the addition of a new storyline that ties up some of the loose ends of the original game and the chance to reunite with some of the old cast made it all worth it.
5) Sakura Taisen V (Import PS2) - To be honest, Sakura Taisen doesn't feel quite the same with an a new cast and the slightly cliched story...but ST V shows that a well polished game can be fun to play even if it does lack the charm of the original.
|Ryan Mattich's Top Picks
1) Ys: The Oath in Felghana (Import PC) - Pay attention, game developers... Ys: The Oath in Felghana (J-PC) is a remake that is, *gasp*, something more than a straight port w/ a few graphical touch-ups, a broken battle system, and a "bonus dungeon" or two. Rather than cheapening my childhood memories, Nihon Falcom went all-out with this one; "The Oath in Felghana" is a near-flawless resurrection of the "Wanderers From Ys" experience, completely modernized. Utilizing the "Ark of Napishtim" engine, Felghana comes to life with three-dimensional environments, an amazing arranged soundtrack, and completely fresh gameplay. It's obvious that the developers were really inspired by the original game, investing the time, effort, and passion to reconstruct it from the ground up... without cutting corners. The amount of care really shows.
2) Rogue Galaxy (Import PS2) - Dear Level 5, Dark Cloud 2, Dragon Quest VIII, and now Rogue Galaxy... I must say, I'm impressed. Very impressed. Personable characters, beautiful environments, and best of all, an awesome action-based battle system. Jester Rogue can swing swords *and* fire guns, and the complete absence (read: clever concealing) of load times was a welcome surprise. Environments are interactive, and the overall experience looks like a combination of "Skies of Arcadia" and "Star Wars," only without Jar Jar. Excellent work.
3) Grandia III (Import PS2) - I'll be honest... Grandia III was a mild disappointment. GameArts simultaneously developed Grandia III and Lunar Genesis, and unfortunately, the former was "meh," the latter was "extremely bad." Despite the excellent, witty writing, Yuuki's adventure suffered from storyline inconsistencies, unnecessary anachronisms, and other oversights which screamed "rush job" to the hardcore fans. The battle system, however, was excellent. The addition of "Aerial Combos," "Aerial Finishes," and other flight-related touches were solid, and moreover, flying around the world was, in a word, amazing.
4) Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (PS2) - Square Enix has managed to rise above and beyond all expectations. Arguably, Dragon Quest VIII has made the most competent transition from old-school origins to new-school splendor in the recent history of the gaming industry. From the gorgeous cel-shaded graphics to the classic sound effects (a nice contrast to the magnificent musical score), Dragon Quest VIII has something for seasoned veterans and relative newcomers to the series alike.
5) Stella Deus (PS2) - The absolute best Strategy RPG since Final Fantasy Tactics. For those who have become bored with Nippon Ichi's 'twist' on the traditional 'Strategy RPG Recipe,' Stella Deus offers generous portions of classic gameplay, nicely garnished with a morally ambiguous and philosophical storyline. It's good stuff. Bon appetit!
Non-RPG Top Picks
|John McCarroll's Top Picks
1) Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 1 + 2 (PS2) - Yes, it's two games. No, I don't care. The Digital Devil Saga games really rejuvenated my love for RPGs in a way I never would've expected. With a great premise, excellent dialogue and voice acting, awesome music, and actual difficulty, Digital Devil Saga 1 + 2 have absolutely no peer this year, possibly even this generation.
2) Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (DS) - This is easily the best adventure game I've played in years. While it's a bit linear compared to most of the adventure games for the PC, Phoenix Wright is simply a superbly written title. Here's hoping that Capcom will release the rest of them stateside.
3) Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords (PC) - It's not quite as good as the first game, but Star Wars: KotOR 2 was still a pretty damn fun game for being Obsidian's first run at a game. It was a little buggy, but that's nothing really to worry about.
4) Radiata Stories (PS2) - Radiata Stories is probably the closest that a console RPG has come to really having a world that feels "alive", at least until Oblivion hits the Xbox 360 next year. The battle system may have been a bit stale, but it's humorous while still being serious, and there's not many games that really strive for that anymore.
5) Jade Empire (Xbox) - Let's get something straight: Jade Empire is a pretty crappy BioWare game. That being said, a crappy BioWare game is still a pretty damn fun Action-RPG... even if Cam Clarke sounds the same in every voice he's ever done.
Non-RPG Top Picks
|Daniel Stringer's Top Picks
1) Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 1 + 2 (PS2) - I honestly don't know what else I can say that I haven't said in the Mailbag a dozen times before. Every few years, an RPG comes along that revitalizes my interest in the genre: this is one such case. These two games, taken as a whole, provide one of the greatest gaming experiences I have ever had the good fortune of partaking in. It's mature without being crass; intelligent without being droll. While the games are as linear as R-Type, and almost as repetitious, they show a remarkable depth in both gameplay and story. I've never experienced its like before, and I doubt I ever will again. I pity anyone who may have missed out on them.
2) Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (PS2) - I've never been a fan of the Dragon Quest games. In fact, the first RPG I ever played was the first game in the series�and many years passed by before I picked up another one. While I readily admit I bought the game for the Final Fantasy XII demo, I quickly became hooked by this saga of cursed kings, diabolical jesters, and murderous canines. More than any RPG in recent memory, Dragon Quest VIII is instilled with a feeling of joy and enthusiasm that I find to be quite infectious. Couple that with the general "old-school" vibe of the battle system and you have a game tailor-made for us old folks who started their gaming careers jumping barrels.
3) Ys: The Oath in Felghana (Import PC) - As a diehard Ys fan since the tender age of nine, I viewed this game with more than a little trepidation when I first heard of it. Nostalgia is a powerful influence on me when it comes to gaming; I don't like to have my memories tampered with. When I heard that a remake of Ys III, one of my all-time favorite games, was in the works, I was quite concerned. I shouldn't have been. I could go on forever about the lovely graphics, the intense combat, and the awe-inspiring music, but I'll keep it short: The Oath in Felghana is the quintessential action RPG of this gaming generation. As good as The Ark of Napishtim is, Oath makes it seem like nothing more than a blueprint. If my complete lack of Japanese skills didn't hinder me, then it probably won't hinder you either. Import it. Now.
4) Castlevania: Curse of Darkness (PS2/Xbox) - While the brains behind Curse of Darkness could still stand to improve their three-dimensional level designs, this game corrects nearly every flaw found in its predecessor, Lament of Innocence. Combat is a pleasure; the variety of death-dealing instruments you have at your disposal make battle immensely entertaining. There's nothing quite like using your rapier to toy with a giant cyclops as your eight foot tall undead samurai servant cuts a swath through a pack of skeletal wolves. Of course, all this reaving and slaughtering is complemented perfectly by one of Michiru Yamane's best OSTs, if not THE best. All in all, this game does an admirable job of translating the Castlevania universe into the third dimension. Any other time, this would have been the best action RPG of the year, but Ys just edges this one out.
5) X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse (Multiplatform) - No one was more surprised than me when this game came out of the blue and earned a place in this year's list. While Rise of Apocalypse is little more than your standard hack-and-slash fare on the surface, the sheer fun this title provides makes up for any lack of innovation. Whether it be knocking an opponent to the ground with the power of your mind or smacking them in head with a boulder or ripping them to shreds with your claws, the combat found here is fresh and fast. While it can get repetitive at times, the joy of manhandling your inferior enemies never gets too old. You don't have to be a fan of the comic book series or the movies to enjoy this.
Non-RPG Top Picks
|Damian Thomas' Top Picks
1) Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (PS2) - Combine excellent overall voice acting with a full symphonic score, Level 5's great cell-shaded graphics, and rock solid Dragon Quest gameplay, and you've got one of the highest quality titles in memory.
2) Ys: The Ark of Napishtim (PS2) - No deep story here, but the characters are memorable, the music is probably the best of any domestic game of the year, and the controls are fantastic.
3) Suikoden Tactics (PS2) - I can sum up this game with two words: apology accepted.
4) Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (DS) - Great dialog, funny, and forces the player to think. Plus, it's a genre we haven't seen in the US before.
5) Riviera: The Promised Land (GBA) - Damn catchy, melding elements of a dating sim with an isolinear puzzle game. Quirky and fun.
Non-RPG Top Picks
|Mike Wilson's Top Picks
1) Ys: The Ark of Napishtim (PS2)
2) Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (PS2)
3) Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (DS)
4) The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA)
5) Riviera: The Promised Land (GBA)