On the "doomed to fail" front...

http://www.warppipe.com/archives/000043.html

Another foolish one decided to try and scam me, and it got through the spam blocker... (Not a surprise, even with that thing activated, a lot of stuff gets through... I haven't had a non-spam e-mail in a few months...) Anyway, it's rather hilarious so I decided, eh, might as well post it...

Quote:MR. CHEUNG PUI
HANG SENG BANK LTD.
Sai Wan Ho Branch
171 Shaukiwan Road
Hong Kong.
cheungpui77@internav.com


Let me start by introducing myself. I am Mr. Cheung
Pui
credit officer of the Hang Seng Bank Ltd. I have a
concealed business suggestion for you.

Before the U.S and Iraqi war our client General.
Ibrahim Moussa who was with the Iraqi forces and also
business man made a numbered fixed deposit for 18
calendar months, with a value of Twenty millions Five
Hundred Thousand United State Dollars only in my
branch. Upon maturity several notice was sent to him,
even during the war early last year. Again after the
war another notification was sent and still no
response came from him. We later found out that the
General and his family had been killed during the war
in bomb blast that hit their home.

After further investigation it was also discovered
that Gen. Ibrahim Moussa did not declare any next of
kin in his official papers including the paper work of
his bank deposit. And he also confided in me the last
time he was at my office that no one except me knew of
his deposit in my bank. So, Twenty millions Five
Hundred Thousand United State Dollars is still lying
in my bank and no one will ever come forward to claim
it. What bothers me most is that according to
the laws of my country at the expiration 3 years the
funds will revert to the ownership of the Hong Kong
Government if nobody applies to claim the funds.

Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I
will like you as a foreigner to stand as the next of
kin to Gen. Ibrahim Moussa so that you will be able to
receive his funds.

WHAT IS TO BE DONE:

I want you to know that I have had everything planned
out so that we shall come out successful. I have
contacted an attorney that will prepare the necessary
document that will back you up as the next of kin to
Gen. Ibrahim Moussa, all that is required from you at
this stage is for you to provide me with your Full
Names and Address so that the attorney can commence
his job. After you have been made the next of kin, the
attorney will also fill in for claims on your behalf
and secure the necessary approval and letter of
probate in your favor for the move of the funds to an
account that will be provided by you.

There is no risk involved at all in the matter as we
are going to adopt a legalized method and the attorney
will prepare all the necessary documents. Please
endeavor to observe utmost discretion in all matters
concerning this issue.

Once the funds have been transferred to your nominated
bank account we shall then negoiate the sharing ratio.

Should you be interested please send me your private
phone and fax numbers for easy communication and I
will provide you with more details of this operation.

Your earliest response to this letter will be
appreciated.please contact me via this
E-mail:cheungpui77@internav.com



Kind Regards
Mr. Cheung Pui

Quote:Interesting plan, but here's a better one. How about
instead of negotiating this nasty sharing business, I
take ALL the money for myself, and in exchange, I
won't turn you in to your government for fraud. Don't
think I won't do it. You made the mistake of giving
me all the information I need. I require you send ALL
the money to me in the form of an access code for that
bank account within 24 hours or you can consider
yourself out of a job, among other things. I do hope
this can conclude quickly and without any treachery on your part, and you hope this too.

Galleon: Islands of Mystery, by the makers of Tomb Raider. They left after making the first Tomb Raider, refusing to make a sequel in a year... too bad the game's only for X-Box, though. I seem to recall that at some point it was for PC... maybe originally? :(

http://xbox.ign.com/articles/536/536097p1.html

Hope for Duke Nukem Forever? :D

Did anyone here get Sabre Wulf yet? It's Rare's latest GBA release, came out back in June. If this were 1999 we'd be all over this like crazy. EB has it for $20 so I think I'll pick it up soon.

Okay people! Places everyone! It's time once again for the GameFAQs Character Battle. You all know the rules, all you have to do is post your predictions, and bicker childishly about why your favorite character deserves to win over someone else! Okay...<a href="http://www.gamefaqs.com">go!</a>

So far, Link has defeated CATS, Ganondorf kicked the snot out of Alucard, and Yoshi defeated Ryo Hazuki. Right now, Luigi is in the process of pummelling Pac-Man.

My prediction? Hmm...I'm going to be rooting for Ganondorf and Auron, just like last year, but my realistic side is saying the overall winner will be...Sephiroth.

Despite the fact that my computer is an old relic that barely fit the minimum system requirements I've managed to log in about an hour of Doom 3. Doom 3 to put it one way is Half-Life on steriods. It has that feel to it, seemingly random scripted mini-events are everywhere [box falling when a platform collapses, an imp bust through a staircase as you attempt to climb it, ect] and it looks very good even with all the settings turned down to the bare minimum.

Doom 3 is fun. Crazy fun. And, although I'm not really a good person to judge this, very scary. After things go bad there are a lot of areas that have poor lighting with many parts of the room in total darkness and as we all know that's where scary things like to lurk. And they do. But sometimes they don't. Sometimes you think there's something hiding in the darkness but it turns out it's only a barrel or a dead body. Except it's not quite dead. You have a flashlight but you can't use a gun at the same time, so you have to decide which is more important at that particular time. Also there's all sorts of noises that might be a monster hiding somewhere waiting to jump out from behind a grate or it could just be the building shifting from slight tremors. It has a very moody atmosphere that'll keep you one edge and I guarantee that you'll jump when that imp comes out of the stairs.

The graphics are amazing, the best I've seen and that's with all the settings turned down. Even turned down the framefrate is a bit choppy, but it's decent enough to play. Nearly everything casts a shadow and the lighting is simply amazing. There's also lots of bumpmapping. The character models are very well done as are the monsters; the lip-syncing is also very realistic.

In conclusion, Doom 3 is crazy-awesome so don't listen to all those haters.

http://www.thisislondon.com/news/article...20Standard

Quote:340 killed in inferno
By Chris Millar, Evening Standard
2 August 2004
Hundreds of people were left to die inside a blazing supermarket after security staff locked doors to prevent customers from running out without paying, it emerged today.

Initial reports suggested as many as 340 people were killed when the fire tore through a large shopping centre in the Paraguayan capital of Asuncion after an industrial propane tank exploded.

Police have charged the store's owner Juan Pio Paiva and his son Daniel with homicide after they allegedly ordered security personnel to lock down every exit. Firefighters had to batter down the locked main entrance to the complex before they could reach hundreds of trapped shoppers.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/08/04/...04138.html

From Gamespot again:

Quote:Nintendo has announced the upcoming release of a new GameCube hardware bundle this August that will revolve around the upcoming sequel to Metroid Prime. Dubbed the Metroid Prime Bonus Bundle, the hardware and software combo, due to hit stores August 15 for $99.99, will include a GameCube system, a copy of the original Metroid Prime, and a bonus disc that will include a playable demo of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, the upcoming sequel to 2003's critically acclaimed update of the popular Metroid franchise. In addition, the bonus disc will include an interactive history of the Metroid franchise called The Metroid Chronicle, two trailers for Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, and a Metroid Prime art gallery. The entire bundle will come packaged in Metroid-styled packaging.
The demo disc marks the first opportunity for consumers to try the upcoming Metroid Prime sequel, which is set to launch November 15. The latest entry in the series will send heroine Samus Aran to explore the dual light and dark sides of the split-dimensional planet Aether. The first-person adventure will feature a number of new gameplay elements, including new power-ups, a new ammo system, and special suit upgrades, as well as the return of Samus' trusty screw attack. The game will also include a multiplayer mode--a first for the series--that will let up to four players battle against each other using all of Samus’ unique powers and abilities.
As with its previous hardware bundle, The Legend of Zelda Collector's Edition bonus disc </gamecube/action/zeldacollectors/news_6078201.html>, Nintendo is offering two methods for existing GameCube owners to procure the Metroid bonus disc. The first method is to subscribe to or renew an existing subscription to Nintendo Power magazine. The second method requires those who are interested to register at Nintendo.com and then register their GameCube hardware and five or more selected games listed on the Web site. Complete details for both options can be found at Nintendo Power's Web site <http://www.nintendopower.com/metroidprime2>. The Metroid Prime Bonus Bundle offer will only be available while supplies last.
By Staff -- GameSpot <http://www.gamespot.com>
POSTED: 08/04/04 06:24 AM PST

From Gamespot:

Quote:TOKYO--According to retailers that participated in Nintendo's latest exhibition, the company will release a new WarioWare game for the Game Boy Advance. The new WarioWare will have over 200 new mini-games, and over 100 bonus mini-games that can be unlocked by playing through boss stages.
Titled "Mawaru Made in Wario" in Japanese, the game translates to "Spinning WarioWare Inc." in English. Appropriate to the title, the new WarioWare game is reportedly played by turning, moving around, and tilting the handheld device itself. The attached sensor will pick up the GBA’s movement and relay it into the game. As such, the new WarioWare will make no use of the handheld's directional pad. Mawaru Made in Wario is slated for release in Japan on October 14, at the retail price of 4,800 yen ($43).
In other news from its exhibition, Nintendo revealed that Pokemon Emerald on the GBA can be played with the e+ Card reader. There will be 83 cards available in total for Pokemon Emerald, which will retail starting on October 7 at 200 yen ($1.8) per pack. By reading up to eight cards with the e+ Card reader at a location in the game called Trainer Hill, the player can call out different enemy trailers and floor maps. The game is will be released in Japan on September 16 for 4,800 yen ($43).
Additionally, the newly announced F-Zero Climax for the GBA reportedly plays in a style similar to the original SNES game and F-Zero GP Legend, but now has a new technique where the player can spin around and destroy opponent cars. F-Zero Climax will also have a course edit mode, which allows players to create their own racing tracks. The game is scheduled for a fall release
Tomy's Zoids Versus 3 for the GameCube was also shown at the exhibit. The game will allow four players to play simultaneously, either against each other or in different team match-ups. The number of Zoids in the game will be greatly increased, and Zoids from the new TV anime series Zoids Future, which will begin broadcasting in Japan starting October 3, will be included in the game. Zoids Versus 3 will be released in Japan on September 30, at the retail price of 7,140 yen ($64). The first 50,000 shipments of the game will come with a free Ptero-zoid figure, which can attach to the Rayse Tiger figure that was released last month.