Like my avatar? Well earlier today I started making more, just to pass the time, getting images by Googling "Mac" and using results I thought looked good enough. I made twelve in total, and I thought, "What the Hell am I going to do with these?"

And then I thought, "Avatar fad, lol." Don't ask why. So here are the twelve I made. Feel free to pick one and claim it as your own.

First Four

http://stuff.benpaddon.co.uk/mac/berniemac.png http://stuff.benpaddon.co.uk/mac/catmac.png http://stuff.benpaddon.co.uk/mac/edisonmac.png http://stuff.benpaddon.co.uk/mac/entermac.png

Second Five... er, Four... now three

http://stuff.benpaddon.co.uk/mac/macdog.png http://stuff.benpaddon.co.uk/mac/macdre.png http://stuff.benpaddon.co.uk/mac/machuff.png

Last Two...

...have been claimed!

In my opinion, they should be slightly more related to "meanings" of the word "Mac" (like yours could be a Big Mac).

If I take part in this fad, I might go with one that is related to the meaning of the word "Mac" that I think of first ;)

Bagsy the captain of the Jupiter Mining Corporation vessel Red Dwarf.

They're all relating to the word "Mac". Check the file-names of the images.

I wonder how much milage we could get out of "I'm a PC"?

Trouble is, Political Correctness is fairly abstract, and Player Character could be anything.

Police Constable works well, though.

I'd considered that. I guess the best bet is to google "PC" and see what you get, really.

Any chance I could have an avatar of the bloke who plays the Mac in the Apple adverts? Then I'll join in :D

*joins in for the hell of it*

Any chance I could have an avatar of the bloke who plays the Mac in the Apple adverts? Then I'll join in :D

http://stuff.benpaddon.co.uk/mac/webbmac.png

Like this? Best pic I could find of the guy, I'm afraid...

*wins*

....

http://stuff.benpaddon.co.uk/mac/webbmac.png

Like this? Best pic I could find of the guy, I'm afraid...
Will have a look in a bit and see if I can get a "better" pic (might see if there's a pic of the American guy as well, and maybe do a short animation of it switching between the two)

There we go :D

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/2519/macmacbs0.gif

Ben is my other hero.

Hey, why not.

LOL, prize ones, guys. I like Euan's, Alex's and Pickle's. Very clever.

Wallah or something.

Another fad, I see.

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/5700/maclk6.gif

MAC GARGAN!
...well, I think the Mac interpretation has more pronounced eyes, but whatever.

Yay, MAC submachinegun! :D

Hmmm, this has to be the most random avatar fad yet - and I bet I'll be blamed for it :p

It's not random, it's quite conformative and subtle, if a little cryptic. No explanation should be given. Half the fun for the unwashed is discovering for themselves what it's all about, and we wouldn't want to deprive them of that fancy. They need some light of truth and meaning in the fog of their existence.

SLOTH LOVES CHUNK!

Sloth, from the goonies will always be the best.;)

Shame it's just a little too bit to big. Think someone could lower the filesize for me, the nweb?

SLOTH LOVES CHUNK!

Sloth, from the goonies will always be the best.;)

Shame it's just a little too bit to big. Think someone could lower the filesize for me, the nweb?

Here you go.

I edited Ben's post in a grotesque abuse of my limited power

I'm in! :p

By gosh so you did. That was disgusting.

What's that SLOTH character got to do with Mac or Macs?

EDIT: Or that lemur? Or is it... a macaque?

EDIT 2: No it isn't because this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macaque) is a macaque!

IT WAS A LEMUR! And a ring-tailed one at that. Oh, well i've changed it now.

Macaque's still available if anyone wants it. Prime one, that one. Ho, ho.

I'm in too with this Mac:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_%28Foster%27s%29
http://img377.imageshack.us/img377/4340/macfostershomesx0.png

What's the font being used for these?

I seem to always be the last one to hear these things..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_MacKenzie

Whatever, this looks fun.

The font is called Myriad. You can download it here (http://www.e-le.com/ele/Fonts/myriad.ttf) (use "save link as"). Best results when using 15pt with strong anti-aliasing.

OUR FIRST IMPOSTER.
http://forum.team17.co.uk/member.php?u=33322
I won't be doing the "not there" thing anymore.
I think that it's silly and/or ELITISTTTISTIST.

And I kinda LIKE other people going into it.

. :p

Don't forget Macgyver!

I'd considered that. I guess the best bet is to google "PC" and see what you get, really.

Better to start here: http://www.acronymfinder.com/af-query.asp?Acronym=PC&Find=find&string=exact

The good ones:

Professional Corporation
Postal Code
Polycarbonate (could use the molecular diagram for this one and some others)
Printed Circuit
Prostate Cancer
Post Card
Police Car
Pancreatic Cancer
Paper Clip
Panama Canal (Mine! Now I just need to post around to make it worthwhile.)
Pepsi Cola
Pocket Calculator
Phosphatidylcholine
Personnel Carrier
Predicate Calculus
Partial Correlation
Püssy Cat
etc...

Here's mine. I was also thinking of putting a picture of Kraft Dinner on there.

Edit: Oh, good thing I didn't. Andrew already had that idea.

Don't ask me how I stumbled on this one. It's not like I watched the show, or anything: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stack_No._2_-_Big_Mac

Better to start here: http://www.acronymfinder.com/af-quer...d&string=exact

Why the heck is Police Constable only on page 3?

EDIT: Parsec would be a fun one to do.

Why the heck is Police Constable only on page 3?

Hmm, well there's pages of meanings ranked 5 stars, so they could be sorted randomly after that. Or, if it's somehow ranked by which meanings are used online the most, I guess nobody bothers to type out 'police constable'. It's usually cops or pigs round these here tubes.

I've made a new one and changed mine to it.

Here's my old one. Feel free to snatch it.

all aboard the bandwagon toot toot

Haha, it's my first time aboard the avatar faddy wagon!

Muahahahahaha!

Muahahahahaha!
Damn! I want a BigMac.
All I got is bananas and vanilla yoghurt.

Trust one person to actually use an Apple Mac in their "I'm a Mac" avatar :p

I think the Apple Mac should actually go with the "I'm a PC" text, since an iMac is a personal computer.

effort .

Very nice, Zero.

Trust one person to actually use an Apple Mac in their "I'm a Mac" avatar :p

I think the Apple Mac should actually go with the "I'm a PC" text, since an iMac is a personal computer.

Oh, now I'm very tempted to get a photo of an Xbox and make an "I'm a PC" one.

Trust one person to actually use an Apple Mac in their "I'm a Mac" avatar :p

I think the Apple Mac should actually go with the "I'm a PC" text, since an iMac is a personal computer.

<-- Indeed. (Edit: to make it clear, the idea came to me before Thomas's post.)

And I would do it, but "Really." doesn't fit after "I'm a PC." with the same font.

This fad seems to be catching on fast with non-OD users.

*hops on*

http://www.lukewallin.co.uk/images/fridgemac.jpg

This fad seems to be catching on fast with non-OD users.
Hehe! :D
I like Liketyspli (http://forum.team17.co.uk/member.php?u=42064)'s new avatar.

Don't forget Macgyver!
What, didn't you see my avatar? I put it up yesterday, before you posted that.

http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/1557/avatarfadjk9.gif

Oh, Iguana.

What, didn't you see my avatar? I put it up yesterday, before you posted that.

I didn't, no D:

I'd like to use one of these, but I can't decide which.

Edit: Done. Anyone is, of course, free to use my previous Mac avatar. But you probably won't like it much either.

Edit2: Can someone explain http://forum.team17.co.uk/member.php?u=8767 ?

http://forum.team17.co.uk/member.php?u=42847

Lazy, lazy people...

http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/1557/avatarfadjk9.gif

Oh, Iguana.

Hahaha, yoink!

Some of these avatars lack the class of Ben's originals. They should have a white surround with an item in the centre, isolated from any differing background. The text should be the same font, size and position and the words should deviate from the usual phrase as little as possible. If we don't conform, the fad becomes messy.

I concur entirely with worMatty. Animated ones with the wrong font are OUT.

That means yours, Pickleworm. Edit: Oh, I see the thread you got that from now.

Besides, what does that have to do with being a Mac, anyway?

Also, MrBunsy, what does your depict?

Also, Slick's is very Mac-unrelated, as far as I can tell.

http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/1557/avatarfadjk9.gif

Oh, Iguana.
It's funny because we aren't doing that.

http://forum.team17.co.uk/member.php?u=19803
This one is rather brilliant.

I concur entirely with worMatty. Animated ones with the wrong font are OUT.

That means yours, Pickleworm.

Besides, what does that have to do with being a Mac, anyway?


It's Iguana's current avatar. He made it because he hates any sort of fun, and throws little fits when internet people play e-pranks. I'm using it as a sort of mockery.

Also, MrBunsy, what does your depict?A fridge. I'd hoped it wouldn't be too obscure.

Also, Slick's is very Mac-unrelated, as far as I can tell.

Sloth is played by John Matuszak.
Matuszak - tusza=
Mac
???
23

OH MY GOD IT'S THE NUMBER 23 WHY? WHY DOES IT KEEP COMING UP?!? :(

Nigguh whut?!

http://forum.team17.co.uk/member.php?u=25136

These are the people that if everyone else in the forum jumped off a bridge, they would.

I'd like to use one of these, but I can't decide which.

Edit: Done. Anyone is, of course, free to use my previous Mac avatar. But you probably won't like it much either.

Edit2: Can someone explain http://forum.team17.co.uk/member.php?u=8767 ?

Err, sorry to be pedantic, but aren't those attachments "technically" macs? XBox 360's use IBM's PowerPC 970 processor, a variant of which was in the PowerMac G5's a couple of years ago. And Microsoft did beta testing for games on G5's before they actually had proper consoles.

Edit2: Can someone explain http://forum.team17.co.uk/member.php?u=8767 ?

I think he just took his existing avatar or another pic he'd drawn and changed the text on it.

Shall we set a date now for when this fad will end, and change back to our old avs as quickly as we got these ones?

I vote for about a week's time - one of these sudden things that leaves everyone stunned.

Technically, no. If that were true, technically the latest Macs would be PCs because of their processors. I'm sure you don't like the idea of that.

After having visited the Apple page that shows all those ads (I've never actually seen those on TV, surprisingly), I think they're a bit childish.

EDIT: Also, Mac man looks and sounds a bit like Ben.

Technically, no. If that were true, technically the latest Macs would be PCs because of their processors. I'm sure you don't like the idea of that.

You haven't watched all of the ads then, have you :p Watch the Touché ad on Apple.com (not apple.com/uk).

Also, Macs are PC's, since they are Personal Computers. "PC" has just become a generic term for windows-based computers

After having visited the Apple page that shows all those ads (I've never actually seen those on TV, surprisingly), I think they're a bit childish.

EDIT: Also, Mac man looks and sounds a bit like Ben.

Watch the US ones - they're better. I assume you've been watching the UK ones.

http://www.apple.com/getamac for the American ones.

Err, sorry to be pedantic, but aren't those attachments "technically" macs? XBox 360's use IBM's PowerPC 970 processor, a variant of which was in the PowerMac G5's a couple of years ago. And Microsoft did beta testing for games on G5's before they actually had proper consoles.

But it's not the Xbox 360 logo. It's the Xbox logo.

According to wikipedia, Xboxes use Pentium III processors, AND they ship with Windows. So this is valid enough for a jab at Xboxes as far as I'm concerned.

Edit: I can't see a reason why we would ever want to end this.

Edit2: MrBunsy: But WHY a fridge?

Sorry, I've been getting confused over XBox logos - I thought the 360 had the green-on-white logo, and the original had a different logo.

PC's a weird one. A mac is a personal computer but not a Personal Computer. It's a shortening of IBM PC. Don't forget all the other x86 operating systems!

Yes, the UK ones with that beady-eyed guy who sounds a bit like Jeremy Clarkson.

The number of non-OD people joining in with this fad sickens me.

I know what you mean, it's disgusting. I haven't seen anything worse since the Conservatives were in power and shut all the collieries down.

Guys I think I might be addicted.

If you want to go snubbing out the flame of this new potential before we get to see what it could develop in to, go right ahead. I'm referring to the gent who coined that wonderful phrase.

P.S. Don't use @ in your published email addresses/mailto links unless you want to be sent those adverts for pharmaceutical goods. I know Gmail has a spam filter but it's still encouraging propogation.

I don't particularly want to use it, I just wanted to make it. You know, see what it looks like.

P.S. spammers don't scare me

Fair enough. But the same goes for anyone who's thinking of using it.

Your logo with "I'm a Mac." would be funnier, taking Tom's points in to account.

The number of non-OD people joining in with this fad sickens me.

The more the better I say, because we're disrupting their (ab)normal lives and causing them to change their avatars without really knowing why. :cool:

The more the better I say, because we're disrupting their (ab)normal lives and causing them to change their avatars without really knowing why. :cool:In fairness, getting a forumer to join a bandwagon is like getting a baby to eat candy. :p

I say we should try something a bit more original than avatars next time, since everyone immediatly notices those by now. Or at least a more subtle variation, though I dunno how much is possible in an internet forum.

The number of non-OD people joining in with this fad sickens me.

I really don't see the problem.

My favorite ones are actually non-OD.

Plus, if we don't do the "wasn't there" thing anymore, then Iguana can't whine about anything, and that's hilarious, right?

A fridge. I'd hoped it wouldn't be too obscure.It is extremely obscure. What does it have to do with being a Mac? Also, whose fridge is green and cylindrical? :D

Iguana comic : http://forum.team17.co.uk/showpost.php?p=568892&postcount=93


rply'd lol

http://forum.team17.co.uk/showthread.php?p=569060#post569060

:(

Ahaha ns.
Also, mine ftw! :P

And I would do it, but "Really." doesn't fit after "I'm a PC." with the same font.

Never mind.

An idea for the XBox avatars:

Have "I'm a PC" with the original XBox logo, then on a new frame, have "I'm a Mac" (or "and I'm a Mac") with the XBox 360 logo, and just have that looping

Some of these avatars lack the class of Ben's originals. They should have a white surround with an item in the centre, isolated from any differing background. The text should be the same font, size and position and the words should deviate from the usual phrase as little as possible. If we don't conform, the fad becomes messy.

Done. I've got double the PC now!

Iguana comic : http://forum.team17.co.uk/showpost.php?p=568892&postcount=93I'm kind of interpreting that last bit with the head exploding as more evidence that he's in on OD... Or wait, was that proven? :p

I'm kind of interpreting that last bit with the head exploding as more evidence that he's in on OD... Or wait, was that proven? :p
How did you interpret it as that, just out of interest? I can't really see any link :confused:

He prepares to say where "there" is and is immediately silenced.

He prepares to say where "there" is and is immediately silenced.
I thought that was just a reference to the "So-and-so was not there!" fad with no real conclusion about "there" ever being drawn.

I'm kind of interpreting that last bit with the head exploding as more evidence that he's in on OD... Or wait, was that proven? :p

...But...

Zeor a-splode.

I'm just interpreting the headsplodeyness as Iguana putting forward the argument that said worm's behaviour is contradictory.

It seems pretty conclusive to me. Not the head exploding bit, but where his eye twitches when he's asked where 'there' is.
It is extremely obscure. What does it have to do with being a Mac? Also, whose fridge is green and cylindrical? :DI don't know, but I want one!

Edit2: MrBunsy: But WHY a fridge?Why not? It even looks like a mac :p

It's not funny.

My favourite two are Bonz' and Ben's, which are both Macs. :D

http://forum.team17.co.uk/member.php?u=25136

These are the people that if everyone else in the forum jumped off a bridge, they would.

What amuses me is that he feels he had to print the guy's name in order for anyone to get the joke. Which perhaps just means it's a rubbish joke.

Hmmm, why has Iguana deleted his thread with that drawing about the avatar fad in it?

*Is suspicous*

Hmmm, why has Iguana deleted his thread with that drawing about the avatar fad in it?

*Is suspicous*
Can you undelete it, or at least post its contents in this thread? I never got the opportunity to see it.

Can you undelete it, or at least post its contents in this thread? I never got the opportunity to see it.
Not going to undelete it, but here's the image: http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/4422/avatarfadsfq7.gif

Hmmm, why has Iguana deleted his thread with that drawing about the avatar fad in it?

*Is suspicous*

I'm just going to guess because me, and from the last time I saw it, Munkee...posted some things mocking him about mocking us. :p
Like my comic. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/VirusMan/scan0003.jpg)

You would think for someone who says they can joke around and it being "ok", he would be able to take a joke. Oh well. His moody-ness is one reason I don't think he'll ever get into OD.

I'm just going to guess because me, and from the last time I saw it, Munkee...posted some things mocking him about mocking us. :p
Like my comic. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/VirusMan/scan0003.jpg)That is a thing of beauty.

Why does Plasma have S2K's sigworm in his avatar?

Simple. He's a d!ck.

I'm a Mac!

Star Worms, you have to make the text on yours alternate between "I'm a Mac" and "I'm a PC".

I'm also a mac.

I was going to use this:

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:eXgo4mHbWYBqwM:http://redmonk.net/wp-content/thumb-lego_mac_plus.jpg

But I found something better looking for a larger picture.

... what is in your avatar?

Star Worms, you have to make the text on yours alternate between "I'm a Mac" and "I'm a PC".Why's that?

Mac=Hamburger
PC=Police Cruiser

This (http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h121/Glombus79/iggydoesntknowwhatthehell.png) was my contribution. I probably tipped the bandwagon with that, but I couldn't help myself. :p

... what is in your avatar?

It's some kind of MP3 player, mounted on a scorpion-robot. Made out of lego.

What does that have to do with being a Mac? Do you and MrBunsy understand the joke?

Fine, if it maters that much I'll do something more relevant.

Iguana comic : http://forum.team17.co.uk/showpost.php?p=568892&postcount=93


rply'd lol

http://forum.team17.co.uk/showthread.php?p=569060#post569060

:(

Delorted? :eek: I thought it was funny too.

Bleh, taking mine down, partly because I already feel like it's gotten a little old and partly because I'd hate to continue to upset Lex.

And partly because it was a half-assed crappy jpeg.

Ack. I'm a positive, fun-loving person! When I ask a question, it's not because I'm upset, but more because I'm curious. Ack. Tell me how I can make myself more easily-readable without becoming verbose. I find that instead of having my questions answered reasonably, I'm just being misinterpreted and seen as annoyed or something. I'm really not sitting behind my monitor, seething with annoyance at the misinterpretation of a funny avatar fad. I'm more feeling like I'm not getting something that someone else sees as funny, and I want in on it.

edited to be more verbose

Simple. He's a d!ck.

Excuse me? Are you going to rag on plasma for contributing a witty, original, and might I had hilarious contribution simply because he wasn't "there", i.e., an OD regular?

I'm shocked at the level of elitism and hatred I see in these fads. Feh. Bleughs. Bleaourgh.

Excuse me? Are you going to rag on plasma for contributing a witty, original, and might I had hilarious contribution simply because he wasn't "there", i.e., an OD regular?

Well in fairness, Plasma is a bit of a dick.

Edit: I don't get how it's hilarious.

philby, remove the background from your avatar, you lazy git. You will become like us.

philby, remove the background from your avatar, you lazy git. You will become like us.But then won't it end up blending in with the white background and becoming worse?

What does that have to do with being a Mac? Do you and MrBunsy understand the joke?

Well, yeah, but I thought something which had absolutely nothing to do with a mac would be more funny. Plus it is a nice looking fridge.

Ack. I'm a positive, fun-loving person! When I ask a question, it's not because I'm upset, but more because I'm curious. Ack. Tell me how I can make myself more easily-readable without becoming verbose. I find that instead of having my questions answered reasonably, I'm just being misinterpreted and seen as annoyed or something. I'm really not sitting behind my monitor, seething with annoyance at the misinterpretation of a funny avatar fad. I'm more feeling like I'm not getting something that someone else sees as funny, and I want in on it.That's just one of the problems with text based communication, I suppose. Unless you have a particularly good way with words it can be hard to get your point out as well as you would by speaking.

I think the problems's more to do with people assuming the typer must be angry because they didn't include a smiley. Those people are emotionally unstable.

Excuse me? Are you going to rag on plasma for contributing a witty, original, and might I had hilarious contribution simply because he wasn't "there", i.e., an OD regular?
Yes, yes I am.

Well in fairness, Plasma is a bit of a dick.

Edit: I don't get how it's hilarious.

Sarcasm is also difficult to convey using just text

But then won't it end up blending in with the white background and becoming worse?

Works for me.

Ack. I'm a positive, fun-loving person! When I ask a question, it's not because I'm upset, but more because I'm curious. Ack. Tell me how I can make myself more easily-readable without becoming verbose. I find that instead of having my questions answered reasonably, I'm just being misinterpreted and seen as annoyed or something. I'm really not sitting behind my monitor, seething with annoyance at the misinterpretation of a funny avatar fad. I'm more feeling like I'm not getting something that someone else sees as funny, and I want in on it.

edited to be more verbose

You need to use emoticons more often http://www.nanacide.com/images/Emoticons/ssh.gif

Edit: oh wormatty beat me to it http://www.nanacide.com/images/Emoticons/argh.gif Should've read the thread.

That's right. Unless you use emoticons you will seem dead serious. :p

:rolleyes:

http://www.nanacide.com/images/Emoticons/c00lbert.gif

This was fun. But I think I'm done.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Emoticons/argue.gif

Yeah, I have switched back to my standard avatar too.

Although I really like M3ntal's idea with the rebel flag avatar mocking trippenz' "lawsuit".
I have made an avatar already and if it's ok, I think we should start a new fad with that only everyone using the very same avatar.

http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/9048/suedrebelgy5.png

Didn't know you were a goon, Run. :p

SupSuper, did I 'make' that avatar?

Five days? Is that all you could manage? What kind of fad is that? Pfft.

A short one?

SupSuper, did I 'make' that avatar?Yeah, and you stated it was up for grabs if you didn't end up using it. Which you didn't.

SupSuper, have you become a man of low moral fiber? ;)

Deja-vu. :p

http://forum.team17.co.uk/showpost.php?p=526243&postcount=8

Deja-vu. :p

http://forum.team17.co.uk/showpost.php?p=526243&postcount=8
Hehe! :)
I have totally forgotten about that.

It was just my generic Monkey Island knowledge.

Speaking of MI, I have yet to play through MI4... :-/

Speaking of MI, I have yet to play through MI4... :-/Most people would tell you not to bother. ;)

There's enjoyment to be had there, especialy for the price you can find if for now.

If possible, go for the PS2 version.

The graphics are less horrible.

Most people would tell you not to bother. ;)
MI3, on the other hand, is awesomely sweet.

MI4 is great. A lot of people just can't get over the graphics and control system. I personally think the graphics are alright and the control system is tolerable so those factors didn't affect my enjoyment of the game. Then again, that's probably because I'm more interested in the quality of the plot, dialogue, etc which is all top-notch.

At the end of the day, it's all a matter of personal opinion. Play it for yourself and see what you think. Don't be a sheep and write it off as crap before you've played it. A lot of people who are anti-MI4 are just following the status quo. They're the same people who'll tell you that MI2 is the best in the series, despite the terrible ending (I still think MI2 is fantastic, just the weakest in the series). It's one thing to actually like or dislike a game based on your own personal opinions, it's altogether more absurd to like/dislike it based on somebody else's.

MI4 is great. A lot of people just can't get over the graphics and control system. I personally think the graphics are alright and the control system is tolerable so those factors didn't affect my enjoyment of the game. Then again, that's probably because I'm more interested in the quality of the plot, dialogue, etc which is all top-notch.

At the end of the day, it's all a matter of personal opinion. Play it for yourself and see what you think. Don't be a sheep and write it off as crap before you've played it. A lot of people who are anti-MI4 are just following the status quo. They're the same people who'll tell you that MI2 is the best in the series, despite the terrible ending (I still think MI2 is fantastic, just the weakest in the series). It's one thing to actually like or dislike a game based on your own personal opinions, it's altogether more absurd to like/dislike it based on somebody else's.

I think in this kind of situation it's less about opinion than it is about what's important to different people. Personally, I don't value plot or dialogue much in a game -- I have films for that -- (although in point-and-click games obviously they're worth more because they interact directly with the gameplay) but I need good controls, and so MI4 sounds like I'd not enjoy it much, even if I held more or less exactly the same opinion as you do about every part of it.

I've actually played all the MI games, so I happen to know that I loathe MI4. And oddly enough I loathe it because I think it's the MI equivalent of the later Simpsons episodes; the humour isn't bad, but it's wrong. It doesn't belong in a MI game. Ditto the puzzles; there's too much guessing and writing long tables. It belongs in a Zork game.

I'd say MI4 is the worst game in the series, and I'd also say it's my least favourite.

And oddly enough I loathe it because I think it's the MI equivalent of the later Simpsons episodes; the humour isn't bad, but it's wrong. It doesn't belong in a MI game.

I don't find the humour any different in MI4 to any of the other games in the series. In fact, I'd say that MI2 seemed the most out-of-synch of the series. Guybrush looks and acts in a manner completely contrary to his behaviour in any of the other games and there are a number of other things that don't seem quite right. The only real difference in the humour in MI4 is that some of it is of a more satirical variety in the way that it mocks commercialism and the fact that the central villain is a caricature of Rupert Murdoch. I actually think a lot of people miss the fact that a large section of MI4 is meant to feel 'not quite Monkey Island-ish'. This is because the whole of the Carribean is meant to have been twisted by the evil malefactions of Ozzie Mandrill. We're meant to feel awkward at the way beloved institutions of previous games such as the Scumm Bar have been warped into abominations, like the Lua Bar. Our feeling of unrest mirrors the central protagonists. As Guybrush would put it, "But I liked the wenches!"

And the humour in the later Simpsons episodes may have started out as not bad, but not true to the Simpsons, but it's now reached a stage where it's just not funny, full stop. I defended that series for quite a while after other people had gone off it, but it really has become terrible in every respect, these days.

Ditto the puzzles; there's too much guessing and writing long tables.

There are a couple of frustrating puzzles, but generally nothing too mind-blowing or irritating. Iirc, it only took me a couple of weeks to complete (maybe less) which is the same time it took me to complete Curse.

The controls in MI4 are definitely messed up.
Countless times I had the problem to skip forth and back with Guybrush from one level section to another because the direction controls changed relatively to the camera.

Well, maybe playing it today with the analog sticks on my Rumblepad2 would help.

The humor, dialog and puzzles are allright, definitely better than towards the end of MI3. :p

The graphics were a bit dated, as it had no 3D acceleration support, AFAIR.

The only real difference in the humour in MI4 is that some of it is of a more satirical variety in the way that it mocks commercialism and the fact that the central villain is a caricature of Rupert Murdoch. I actually think a lot of people miss the fact that a large section of MI4 is meant to feel 'not quite Monkey Island-ish'. This is because the whole of the Carribean is meant to have been twisted by the evil malefactions of Ozzie Mandrill. We're meant to feel awkward at the way beloved institutions of previous games such as the Scumm Bar have been warped into abominations, like the Lua Bar. Our feeling of unrest mirrors the central protagonists. As Guybrush would put it, "But I liked the wenches!"The catch is, that's exactly what was wrong with MI4. Just like MI2's take on things was a bit out-of-place sometimes (specially the ending), MI4's satire on real life simply wasn't something you'd expect from MI. I'm not going to go into detail since tons more have (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escape_From_Monkey_Island#Reaction_and_criticism). It was nice, but not MI-nice. Just like Simpsons was, originally, a satire on real life, and quickly moved away.

Though my main beef with MI4 isn't the story. Things like the controls, the incredibly challenging puzzles (heck, I cringe just at easy puzzles) and Monkey Kombat were just... ugh...

At least the bar name kept the joke, since the previous games used the SCUMM (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scumm) engine, while MI4 (and GF) used a new Lua-based engine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GrimE).

Back to the OT thread with the lot of you. Go on, shoo.

Bwahahahaaa...

The graphics were a bit dated, as it had no 3D acceleration support, AFAIR.

It definately required a 3D accelerator as I couldn't play it on my old non-3D accelerator computer and had to wait to get a new one, before I could play it.

The catch is, that's exactly what was wrong with MI4. Just like MI2's take on things was a bit out-of-place sometimes (specially the ending), MI4's satire on real life simply wasn't something you'd expect from MI.

Why do things have to be what you expect, all the time, these days, anyway? Nowadays, it's impossible not to get blasted if you make a sequel/prequel to anything because people will whine about how its not the same as the old film/game/whatever. But if you want what the previous film/game/whatever had so much, then why don't you just go back and play that?

The people who made MI4 could have chosen to reuse the same old plot points and characters so it just became another case of "Rescue Elaine from LeChuck" but then that would have been neither original or particularly entertaining. So, they went in a different direction and came up with a plot that wasn't just a re-hash of what had gone before, and featured some intelligent and unexpected plot twists. To be honest, I think that's something they should be applauded for, not derrided.

Though my main beef with MI4 isn't the story. Things like the controls, the incredibly challenging puzzles (heck, I cringe just at easy puzzles) and Monkey Kombat were just... ugh...

Yeah, but you were mocking MI4 before you'd even played it, based on things other people had said and the fact that you didn't like the graphics in screenshots so it's hard to know whether you'd have held the same view if it hadn't been for the fact that you came to it biased. You can argue that you would, but it's impossible to know for sure, one way or another.

I'm not going to go into detail since tons more have.It was nice, but not MI-nice.

Monkey Island 4 was actually well recieved by the gaming press. It tended to be more criticised by Monkey Island 'fans', who were obviously more picky and judgemental (as 'fans' always are). JUST LIKE they were about Monkey Island 3 when it came out. Nowadays, a lot of fans say that Monkey Island 3 is the best in the series. Why? Because it's not the most recent game in the franchise, anymore. And everyone knows that the most recent version of anything is always the worst as it's never true to the spirit of the franchise! :rolleyes:

Who are we to judge what is and isn't Monkey Island, anyway? The way I see it, if it's a Monkey Island game made by the company who made the previous games and featuring a number of people who were involved in the previous MI games, then it is Monkey Island, whether people like it or not. Even Ron Gilbert acknowledged, once, that Monkey Island belonged more to Lucasarts than it did to him.

If you met someone who you'd liked a long time ago, and found that their personality had changed over the years so that they weren't anything like they used to be, you might be disapointed. But if you exclaimed to them "You're alright, but you're NOT Dave!", then you'd be bordering on insanity. :p

Back to the OT thread with the lot of you. Go on, shoo.

*hisses like a cat and darts into the shadows*

Artist.gif is too large?

Go to hell, forum.

I don't suppose anybody kept an archive of really old avatars? :p

I always loved MI3. It was brilliant. I'd love that game if it was just the Murray sequences and nothing else.

I don't think there was any one thing particularly bad about MI4. It's jsut that MI1-3 were all consistently great. The graphics were (for their respective times) great, the dialogue was great, the puzzles were great, and so on. MI4 had bad graphics (though well done to them for managing Stan's jacket in 3D), Monkey Kombat and other bad "puzzles", comparatively uninspired dialogue (Murray changed completely and he'd only been invented one game ago -- they ought to have still had the same writers by then), and the controls were like hell with a USB port on them. It's the little things that make the difference between mediocrity and excelling in one direction or the other. MI3 got all the little things right, and MI4 got most of them wrong. A lot of this was purely because they made it 3D, which was a very bad mistake. Lemmings survived the transition to 3D better than MI.

If you met someone who you'd liked a long time ago, and found that their personality had changed over the years so that they weren't anything like they used to be, you might be disapointed. But if you exclaimed to them "You're alright, but you're NOT Dave!", then you'd be bordering on insanity. :p

That's a little crazy but ok...

I don't suppose anybody kept an archive of really old avatars?

I have a number of your old avatars, and I've attached them for your viewing pleasure.

MI4 had bad graphics (though well done to them for managing Stan's jacket in 3D)

When I first played MI4, I was impressed by the graphics. I think the main problem is the character art. The landscapes are actually pretty well realised, imho, but the characters don't quite work.

Monkey Kombat and other bad "puzzles"

Well, puzzles are subjective, really. You could say that the puzzles in Myst are bad because there are a few of them that you can't really complete without a walkthrough, or an extensive knowledge of a particular field of expertise, but other people would argue in favour of them because they found them enjoyable and challenging. Regarding the puzzles in MI4, the only one that is consistantly brought up as bad is Monkey Kombat. I don't really understand this as it's pretty similar to a load of other puzzles in other adventure games where you have to write down a series of stuff to remember, before you can proceed. For example, in one classic adventure game I remember, you had to laboriously draw down each part of a very large map in order to find the correct way through it.

I'm not saying puzzles like this are good, I just don't really understand why Monkey Kombat is criticised to such an extent when other games have featured equally bad, or worse, puzzles and nobody has batted an eyelid.

comparatively uninspired dialogue

Again, this is purely subjective. There are TV shows I don't like that other people would love and vice-versa. I personally like the dialogue in MI4, but then that's just me.

Murray changed completely and he'd only been invented one game ago

As opposed to the complete change of character that Guybrush goes through, from 1 to 2? And back again, from 2 to 3? Iirc, the Pirates of Low Moral Fiber (or whatever they're called) change personality from 1 to 2 rather dramatically, as well. There are numerous instances of this throughout the series.

I do agree that Murray and Stan's appearances in the game were ill-judged, though. It seemed like they didn't actually have any use for them in the story and just shoved them in to please the fans, which is a decidely bad idea. The way I see it, if you don't have any use for a character, leave them out. Better that than to have them randomly standing around for the sake of a cameo.

MI3 got all the little things right, and MI4 got most of them wrong. A lot of this was purely because they made it 3D, which was a very bad mistake.

MI3 is a fantastic game, no argument there. But I feel that MI4 is equally fantastic in its own way. I fully acknowledge its shortcomings in terms of the controls and that it would probably have been better in 2D (or at least point-n-click like the new Sam and Max games) but I can't let that get in the way of the rest of the many things that the game does right. It all boils down to two things - 1) Whether the game's concrete flaws, such as the control system, are enough to spoil your enjoyment of the game, coupled with 2) Your own personal subjective views on the other aspects of the game. Saying anything more would be to go round in circles. You either like it or you don't.

When I first played MI4, I was impressed by the graphics. I think the main problem is the character art. The landscapes are actually pretty well realised, imho, but the characters don't quite work.

I agree -- but Guybrush is onscreen all the time (almost) and he looks like some sort of origami pirate. After the fantastic art in MI3, that just won't do. Not unless there's a damn good reason for it going 3D, and to my mind there wasn't even a passably good reason.

I'm not saying puzzles like this are good, I just don't really understand why Monkey Kombat is criticised to such an extent when other games have featured equally bad, or worse, puzzles and nobody has batted an eyelid.
Well as far as I'm concerned, those kinds of puzzles always annoy me. But they annoy me far more if they're in the middle of a game I don't expect to contain them. If you put one in a Mario game I'd think it was just ridiculous. (The "ping palaces" in SMB2-Japan came close, but there was never more than one or two steps to those you had to remember at once.) Normally, I can just avoid games that require that kind of monotonous research. MI had established itself as a series that didn't require a pad and paper to complete, so to find Monkey Kombat appearing after playing through 95% of the series is a bit of a kick in the teeth. Especially after that similarly unsolvable (as I recall) puzzle in the prosthetics shop.

It's like the Simpsons thing; they started doing a lot of stuff that would have been good had Family Guy done it, but was all wrong in The Simpsons. You have to match the feel of the previous material or use original IP. Otherwise you'll end up being criticised for doing things that would, if taken in and of themselves, be absolutely fine.

Mad, you're awesome.

Stay. :(

Not unless there's a damn good reason for it going 3D, and to my mind there wasn't even a passably good reason.

Well, yeah, the reason seemed to be that everything had gone 3D by that stage so why not make Monkey Island 3D too? But yeah, it wasn't a very good reason. Do people really not buy games just because they're in 2D? Because that seems to be the implication made by a lot of game companies, and yet I've seen absolutely no evidence to prove this one way or another.

MI had established itself as a series that didn't require a pad and paper to complete, so to find Monkey Kombat appearing after playing through 95% of the series is a bit of a kick in the teeth.

I'm sure there's a puzzle where you need a pad and paper in MI1 or 2. Possibly 2. I remember a library section that was a bit of a pain.

Especially after that similarly unsolvable (as I recall) puzzle in the prosthetics shop.

Actually, that one just seems like an annoying trial-and-error puzzle if you don't work it out properly. Afair, the first time I played it, it took me ages and the solution seemed pretty confusing and then the second time I played it, I actually worked out how to do it properly and it took like five minutes. In fact, there are two puzzles in the prosthetics shop that you could complete through trial and error but which actually had proper logical solutions that you could work out.

It's like the Simpsons thing; they started doing a lot of stuff that would have been good had Family Guy done it, but was all wrong in The Simpsons.

I can't stand Family Guy. And I think the main problem with The Simpsons is that it became stagnant. If they'd wanted to make it like an animated sitcom (as it was originally) then they should have had an established continuity that didn't change every other episode and made it so that Lisa, Bart and Maggie aged year on year, allowing for new scope for episodes (as they went through the education system, onto university and then out to work - or whatever).

As it is, they ran out of ideas because, like many cartoon characters, the Simpsons never changed. So the episodes had to constantly be about the same kind of scenarios and character traits. Their solution to this was to make the show more and more insane and akin to other cartoon shows in format. There's only so long that one group of characters can be funny, without changing, and the Simpsons crossed that line a long time ago.

Which is why Futurama was better. There was an established continuity, the characters actually developed and it was set in the future so they could be as out-there as they wanted, allowing for more storyline possibilities. As I've said before, they cancelled the wrong show.

Mad, you're awesome. Stay.

You know what, maybe I will. At least until Munkee gets back anyway. I mean, somebody's got to keep his seat warm.

*grumbles* I had my own seat, back in the old days, until some young whippersnapper came in and stole it (I'm looking at you, PigBuster!). Anyway, they really need to get some new furniture in here. :p

Oh, and cake. Cake would be good.

Anyway, they really need to get some new furniture in here. :p

Yeah, we've still got the same luxury armchairs we had four years ago. (http://forum.team17.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7296)

Also, hurrah.

noisy cheering

Actually, that one just seems like an annoying trial-and-error puzzle if you don't work it out properly.

Yeah, I'm dimly aware of that, and to be honest I like the idea of puzzles like that. The puzzle in Simon where you had to guess the password, and it was written on a little rock or you could guess every word up to and including it starting with "Aardvark" was total genius, and a handy getout for people who can't do harder puzzles. But then, after that you might look at Monkey Kombat and assume there's some twisted logic behind it -- which to my knowledge there isn't.

I can't really recall the library puzzle; I've hardly played the second game. Personally, though, I don't see how being systematic about things is fun. I do that at work, and then only because they pay me.

To drift slightly back in the direction of on-topic, it feels really weird to be the present-day me posting in the visage of old stupid me. :p

Every time I see one of my own posts, it's a tiny flashback.

Edit: And even more so, to scroll down a page and see Paul's, Mad's and my old avatars all lined up against the Retro Purple background... Wow, it was like old times again for a second. I'm probably even acting a little bit like my old self, because I'm up too freakin' late! (Hey, I had things to do, and there's no way I could get up in the afternoon in time to do them all, so might as well do them before sleeping.)

And it's shaping up to be a nostalgic weekend, too, since I just picked up W:A (and W2 and WWP) from the post office while I was out... Man it'll feel good to play that/those again.

You know what, maybe I will. At least until Munkee gets back anyway. I mean, somebody's got to keep his seat warm.

*grumbles* I had my own seat, back in the old days, until some young whippersnapper came in and stole it (I'm looking at you, PigBuster!). Anyway, they really need to get some new furniture in here. :p

Oh, and cake. Cake would be good.

:D :D :D

noisy cheering
Haha, that's great.

To drift slightly back in the direction of on-topic, it feels really weird to be the present-day me posting in the visage of old stupid me. :p

Every time I see one of my own posts, it's a tiny flashback.

Edit: And even more so, to scroll down a page and see Paul's, Mad's and my old avatars all lined up against the Retro Purple background... Wow, it was like old times again for a second. I'm probably even acting a little bit like my old self, because I'm up too freakin' late! (Hey, I had things to do, and there's no way I could get up in the afternoon in time to do them all, so might as well do them before sleeping.)

And it's shaping up to be a nostalgic weekend, too, since I just picked up W:A (and W2 and WWP) from the post office while I was out... Man it'll feel good to play that/those again.And with the return of Worm Mad and all...

Heck, to finish off the retro touch, I got out my first avatar. :)

Yeah, we've still got the same luxury armchairs we had four years ago.


I've half a mind to create a thread demanding that Spadge buys us some new stuff for the OD. The Ribena cooler ran out of Ribena, years back. I've just had a look round and we're down to....ugggh....water. Also, we've only got one mint left and everyone's far too polite to take it. :p

noisy cheering

Hehe, nice pic. My thumb is securely in the up position. :)

But then, after that you might look at Monkey Kombat and assume there's some twisted logic behind it -- which to my knowledge there isn't.

Well, it's really a more confusing version of Insult Swordfighting without the jokes. But since that was that was the whole appeal of Insult Swordfighting, it doesn't really work.

And even more so, to scroll down a page and see Paul's, Mad's and my old avatars all lined up against the Retro Purple background... Wow, it was like old times again for a second.

Damn Straight! It's time for an Open Discussion Renaissance. We're taking the OD back! :D

PS: It's great to see the positive reaction to my return. I guess it's true what we said, all those years ago.... You'll Never Leave!

You know what, maybe I will. At least until Munkee gets back anyway. I mean, somebody's got to keep his seat warm.

*grumbles* I had my own seat, back in the old days, until some young whippersnapper came in and stole it (I'm looking at you, PigBuster!). Anyway, they really need to get some new furniture in here. :p

Oh, and cake. Cake would be good.
YES.

And I'm sorry I took your chair. It was just sitting there, WAITING to be taken.

A bout of kleptomania, I'm afraid.

Damn Straight! It's time for an Open Discussion Renaissance. We're taking the OD back! :D

Taking it back?

Pff, noobs are like vampires -- all we have to do is not invite them in.

Taking it back from the inherent boredom / fad-a-tron it's become. :p

Also, we've only got one mint left and everyone's far too polite to take it. :p

*YOINK*

Screw being polite, I'm hungry :D

PS: It's great to see the positive reaction to my return. I guess it's true what we said, all those years ago.... You'll Never Leave!

Didn't you start that "campaign" in the first place? The whole You'll Never Leave!™ thing

Screw being polite, I'm hungry

You fiend!

Didn't you start that "campaign" in the first place? The whole You'll Never Leave!™ thing

Yeah, I did. Kind of ironic, when you think about it.

You fiend!
*Buys new box of mints to replace the now-empty box*

Happy?

*steals mints* AND YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALI*trips over a shoe* *drops mints* BLAST! FOILED AGAIN *retreats into shadows*

Damn 3 second rule...
*eats mints*
edit: or is it 5 second rule?

The 3 second rule is for seating at crowded social gatherings.

The 5 second rule applys to food droped on the floor.

The 3 second rule is for seating at crowded social gatherings.

The 5 second rule applys to food droped on the floor.

Or ten second rule if the food is to be cooked afterwards.

Two second rule is driving.

The rule for mints is the sod off you've had enough rule.

The 3 second rule is for seating at crowded social gatherings.

The 5 second rule applys to food droped on the floor.
I've always known it as t'other way round.

It's always been philby's way here.