Techwright

Looking through that list, there's not a single movie in the first three phases that I'd not watch again, and that includes the often maligned ones. I do have a list of ones I consider weak, but my reasons are different from others, so I'll not start an argument by listing them. I did a personal sort, and about 11 of those original 22 films, half of them, I consider great. A couple of the remaining ones have increased status in my eyes after multiple re-watchings when I can better soak in the details and nuances. Half of Phase 4 I'll not touch. That right there is telling, but its shaping up for the same opinion of Phase 5. Of those two phases I only think of one film as great, and a second as nearly-great. Still waiting to see Thunderbolts, though. Phase 6...wait...Masters of the Universe?? In the MCU?

Was this something other than just the 6th season of The Clone Wars? I thought I was at least casually acquainted with everything Star Wars put to film or TV, but I can't think of what Netflix had except for The Clone Wars season 6. Was there a kiddie show, like the old Droids cartoon? I might have missed something like that.

What was the origin of what I'd dub the "floating islands" game concept? It may have a more formal name. I'm oblivious to it, if so. Is there a predecessor game which others are mimicking? Here's what I'm seeing: Character wakes up on a floating land mass, and can see several other land masses, large and small, both close and far away. Floating lands appear over a vast emptiness, like infinite sky downwards. (If we stopped right there, I'd say the movie Avatar was the sole inspiration, but I'm seeing more.) The land masses have forests, creeks, pools, hills, rocks, caves, and some sort of ancient ruins (and likely ancient tech) on them. The floating islands are rich in resources to be collected for food and construction. There are numerous hidden spots on these land masses. Many of these spots are only accessible by flying around the lower parts of the chunk of floating land. Players build houses and gardens on these land masses. Players build hand gliders to get around elevation needs on these islands and to make short hops between floating islands. (this felt like it was inspired by the other Avatar, The Last Airbender. Players must build some sort of sky ship to do extended travel and/or battle between the islands. These sky ships might even be using smaller floating islands as a core over which to build the ship. There is some sort of terrible "Big Bad" that announces its presence with a slow terrifying bellow or cry that shakes the lands, causes darkening of skies and or maelstroms. Game mechanics feel almost identical between the games. For example, when testing out one this weekend, I found I was playing by "muscle memory" from my extended time playing on another game's demo over a year ago. I could probably list other similarities if I put my mind to it. I've tried several game demos over the last couple, and was surprised to find ones that felt very similar in concept and even controls. Which makes me think they're all knock offs of some game of which I'm previously unaware, perhaps a console game. Some of the ones that spring to mind are: demo of the upcoming Lost Skies, demo of the upcoming Solarpunk, Aloft, First Dwarf, and honorable mention to the Temple of the Gales dungeon zone of Palia.

Apparently several concept art panels have been leaked for the movie, giving a possible direction for the film, as well as some alternate style concepts. I'm not going so far as to say this absolutely is a real leak, but if it is not, there's enough art revealed and certain unusual details in the pieces, that someone went through an awful lot of trouble to make it look authentic. (Perhaps a planned leak?) I found them on a video posted earlier today, which I'll link in the spoilers box.

Perhaps "City Beat Reporter" can earn a limited-time percentage increase for tips mission drops? Tips would seem in keeping with the job.

Oh, absolutely, you're quite right, but that's a hero's way. To at least two, and probably all three other stances, a good tug on a barbed hook and chain is just so much more... satisfying. 😈 I know I would have used it on a certain villainous CEO of a corrupt company last week when she tried running back through the full maze of rooms and corridors.

It has been discussed before on these forums, but I empathize as I've done multiple searches on topics important to me before, failed the search, and only learned later that a minor wording difference was needed. I'm one for personal bases, but I'm also aware to some little degree of the strain on voluntary dev resources, not to mention the pitfalls in this particular game's code. I suppose the question would come down to whether a "simple" (ha!) amount of coding could copy everything the super group bases have into a format for personal bases. One big question would be salvage storage: do they copy over the salvage storage racks, thereby significantly increasing character storage (and possibly triggering hoarding vs. selling excess in the AH) or do personal bases ban the extra shelves?

I'll settle for a hook, a long chain, and a "get over here!" third-column ability.

At least on the surface, this sounds a bit similar to the supergroup vs supergroup base raids from the original game, which, if I recall correctly, got canned because of design problems. I never actually got into such a conflict, only read about them. Were that to ever be brought back (yeah, not likely) it need not be hero vs villain group, just two opposing groups.

I'd think "Fixer" would be the one to call in when something goes wrong in a non-mechanical context, like unexpected personnel entering the floor requiring a distraction, though I'm not sure how that would work in SBB context. "Maker" sounds like a swap for "Mechanic" which I see show up in a few sci-fi shows. They're the McGuyver of the team. In a reworked SBB context, I might see it as a position that is called upon when the game gives a random McGuffin need to any of the others blocking progress, and probably more than one through the full scenario, so it would be a timing thing. Say, did that show put two of The Librarians on the team?

You've seen it here first folks: Lusca: Praetorian version. Coming soon™.

Manti, shmanti. I'm still trying to figure out how to pronounce Arakhn. I'd like to buy a vowel or two. Yep, one of the four members of the South Korean team W.I.S.D.O.M. intended for the original game, but their premier was aborted. He was added later as the trainer in The Hollows next to the Atlas Park gate. Mirror Spirit, the trainer in Faultline, is the only other member of that team to currently be in the game.

Mom and I both read mystery novels. Based on what info has been put out so far, I turned to her today and stated that this is the kind of mystery that writers would love to have thought up for their next novel. Sadly, it is real.

Large grain of salt taken. If Disney is selling Star Wars, I'd very much be surprised. They've sunk a lot into the theme park sections and merchandise, and are continuing to announce projects in the works. At very least I'd have expected a pause on the projects in anticipation of a sale. But to be fair, I'm not a market analyst, and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Money doesn't necessarily equal "meh" or "not meh". In these specific cases, there are other variables at play. The Force Awakens at least partially justified its earnings by being the first film to feature the original cast in decades (with the exception of the voice actors). It had also been leaked that Solo was going down, and fans wanted one last look at their favorite grouchy smuggler. I thought The Last Jedi was rubbish of rubbish. I'd heard it would be that and I went anyway. Why? Like so many others, I'd heard it was Mark Hamil's last foray as Luke Skywalker (or so we thought) and I went to see him off. Carrie Fisher had died almost 1 year before the film's premier, and fans wanted to see their "princess" one last time. Regarding episode 9, the hype was all about the return of Ian McDiarmid to the role of emperor, and a curiosity as to whether the film could salvage the trilogy. I would also like to point out that just because a string of profitable films is out there doesn't mean one individual made that success. While it can happen, it's generally a group endeavor and some times it happens despite the top dogs, because the guys in the trenches know how to work around that to get things done. There's also the coat tails of the established franchise which can sometimes smooth over rough patches. Lots o' variables in play. (Oh, and I look forward to Galaxy's Edge. I've got a non-expiring park hopper pass, which, if I ever use, you'll likely learn who I really am because they'll probably put it in the national news due to how long I've held on to it. 😅 )

Did anyone even notice if Indom was down? Anyone?

Now that I actually focus on it, does that thing count for both shoulders and cape?

I've not worked in AE since the original game. Would the third-column power "Combat Teleport" at least help for a homage to this character?

Not to derail the OP, but I'd also be for some color and pattern possibilities for the "squid" and "lobster" forms as well as the powers. One of the things I find somewhat annoying is that the characters, of necessity, remain in these forms for long times without displaying the efforts the player made to craft the human form. Having a bit of creativity with these forms, instead of just blue-gray would be appreciated.

That's okay. There's another movie theater on the north side of the town. They can go watch it with the other two viewers, so long as they get in before March 6, which the theater has announced is the last showing.

I may not care for a person occupying a specific role, but I cannot argue with the foresight for a succession plan, especially with a multi-billion franchise. That's just good business. I've seen first hand the chaos that happens when a person dies in office or suddenly leaves, and there's no notes or person trained to replace them.

What a tragic turn of events. Hackman was one of those I'd have wished to see live beyond 100. There's two iconic Hackman films I've long been meaning to see: The French Connection, and Hoosiers. The latter is ironic as I lived in Indianapolis for 3 years in the 1990s, heard about the film constantly from friends and neighbors, yet to this day, I've never seen it. I guess I should set up a watching schedule. His wife, Betsy Arakawa passed away as well. The reports say she was a classical pianist. I went to YouTube to see if there was anything of her works, but I've yet to find any.

I'm good with the "as is" status, although...I'd be very much for receiving either a stuffed plesiosaur or a plesiosaur hide as a reward decor for my base. Entirely for proving Sally was real, of course. And by the way, no, no, no... spell check, "plesiosaur" is not "apatosaurus", nor is it "apple sauce"! (Seriously?) In what back alley was this spell check acquired?

Looks like they might be mothballing their Nemesis system as well. I've never played a game it was utilized in, but it sounds great. I'd love something similar added to our game (fully realizing it will never happen).

I'm game for more variety in AE

So...you type a full sentence instead? That's just...ridiculous, girl.