+1 to Stolazi for a quick, smooth, cross platform trade.  Recommended.

Thank you.  Even just a forum post or two about a fond memory of a favorite strategy game can help.  Or you can even read some of the stories already posted in the forum and ask questions or make comments.  It's all good.

Hopefully this doesn't cross the line into "pimping my site" territory.

If you read my post in Off Topic, you'll know that my son was born 10 weeks premature.  My wife and I have been spending a lot of time at the hospital.  Fortunately, David is growing bigger and stronger each day and we hope to bring him home from the hospital around Thanksgiving.

So what does this have to do with PC gaming and strategy gaming?  Well, I run my little strategy gaming website pretty much by myself.  I've had several contributors, but no one has really been a regular.  I've found that works pretty well since most people like to help when they can, but know they don't have enough time to make long term committments to a website.  The short of it is, I could use some more contributors about now since my family duties are taking me away from the site.

I really believe in the concept behind Talk Strategy.  While it has a news section and some reviews, the heart is telling war stories from various strategy games.  That and discussing strategy and tactics for various games.  If you're interested in helping out,  check out the site (click on the website link in this post or in my profile).  Then contact me.

I like to look at it as a win/win.  If you're serious about writing about games, most sites (including CG, I'd imagine) like to see some of what you've written.  The more you have out there; the easier their evaluation is.  There are easy ways on the site to submit war stories, strategies, news and even mini reviews.  Larger articles can be handled by email.

The idea is to create a small community around a common interest.  I'd hate to see that set too far back because of time constraints.  I appreciate any help people can offer.  I also appreciate the support the Gone Gold and Console Gold communites have given me, my family and Talk Strategy.

:Looks around:

... anyone?

 

I knew we never completed a trade, but I went back through my email and we did negotiate once.  So I can verify you assuming you still have the same email.  Email or PM me.

+1 to ROTC1983 for a very cordial transaction.  Recommended.

Phormio is verified.

Thank you.  We're thankful that each day he's getting stronger.  The support of family and friends has been amazing.  Thanks again.  One more picture:

Me and my boy.

Wow.

My wife Debbie and I were expecting our first child.  He was supposed to be born on the 5th of January next year.  Thursday, Debbie went into early labor.  They tried to stop it, but my son insisted on coming right then and there.  It was quite amazing watching the miracle happen.

David Wesley was born at 12:04 pm Thursday.  For only 30 weeks, he was huge at 4 lbs. 2oz. and 17 in long.  Fortunately the hospital here has a great neonatal unit.  He was rushed there and stablilized quickly.  They've already taken out most of the tubes.  He's doing very well and eating mother's milk (through a feeding tube for the time being).

Debbie is doing great.  She's already back home (though we both still practically live at the hospital).   She seemed 100% better yesterday when we both finally got to hold him for the first time.  We can't wait to take him home.  Originally, they told us Christmas, then they said Thanksgiving.  If he keeps getting stronger, it could be earlier.

I'm getting behind on my email so I thought I'd put this here to reach as many friends as possible at once.  All the kind thoughts and prayers are appreciated.   I'll try to post updates here and on my website for those interested.

I'm stuck with a crappy local company.  I only wish I could get AT&T.  If I lived a block further south, I could at least get our local bell.

I've edited my earlier message for clarity.

ArmyOfOne is now verified.

If you decide you want the PS1 version, let me know.  I've got a copy sitting around collecting dust.

Hrothgar has verified me as Paul Roberts.  Thanks!  

I was Paul Roberts at Gonegold and now I am Paul Roberts here at Consolegold, and also at Octopus Overlords.

I'm glad to find the GoneGold community still alive after the shipwreck.

Actually, I hadn't yet, but I will now.  Paul Roberts is Paul Roberts.  He checks out.

I don't know about wiki, but Postnuke works well with 1and1.  It's on the news section of my site.  It manages news, links, downloads.  Users can submit all of those, but they have to be approved (and potentially edited) by an Admin.  You can even use pnPHPBB to add a forum.  It's pretty easy to install and tweak.  Heck, I figured it out (mostly). :wink:

I know a guy who's looking for someone to review that game.  If you've written anything that I can show him on the web, I could put in a good word for you.

I'd love to help, but I'm pretty swamped with my own site and the other one I write for.  Good luck.

That's the word.  Check your Sunday paper.

I vowed never to go to Fry's (Houston) again on Black Friday.  They had some great deals, but the crowd was insane.  Less than 30 minutes after they opened, they had to stop letting people in due to fire code restrictions.  Then people had to wait until others left for an equal number to be let in.  Even with their 70+ cashiers, the check out line stretched several times the length of the store and wrapped all the way around to the back.  Imagine Disney World when the great new ride has mechanical problems.

Of course, the best deals were sold out before most people even made it into the store.  If you went, it was almost guaranteed to take up about half your Black Friday.  I think I'll stick to the internet.

Back in the day, I used to use switchhouse before it died.  It was pretty handy.  Here are some of the features I liked:

Small, avatar sized cover photos for games lists.  It made scanning quicker if you knew what you were looking for.

Flexible searching (ie search only my tradable vs. my want or wants vs all my games or only with people with certain # of positive trades, or even just a search for a particular game, etc.)

The system had a built in proposal system so after a search, I could hit the propose trade button.  It would then bring up their tradable list and mine, I could check the boxes I was interested in and propose a trade.  It made multiples easier.  Then they'd get an email notifying them of a proposed trade.  They could accept, decline or propose a different trade.

Whenever someone's username was listed, it was a link to their profile/trading feedback.  Feedback included a numerical evaluation of the trade plus an optional text field.  Note you could only give feedback on accepted and completed trades.

Once a trade was accepted, the system automatically sent out emails to each party reminding them what they agreed to and providing the appropriate mailing address.  Note, the only way to get someone's mailing address was to successfully negotiate a trade with them.  Though I didn't use it, the email also included a link to printable mailing label you could use for the trade.

After the trade was accepted, the games traded were removed from the individual's library.  They were sort of held in limbo.  In your pending trades section, you would push the "trade shipped" button when you shipped off the package.  As I recall, they didn't have a pull down menu where you could choose the method you shipped it or a box to add a confirmation number, but that would be nice.  The system would automatically email the other party letting you know the trade had shipped.  After, I think it was a week, the system would send you a reminder email asking if you'd received the package.  When you clicked "package received", you'd go to the trade screen and verify you received everything they promised.  Once you did, the games would be automatically added to your collection.  Then it took you to the feedback section.

You had a default option when games were added to your collection.  You could choose to have them automatically as available for trade or just added to your library.  Of course, it was easy to check/uncheck the box, but if you liked turning over your library, the default option was nice.

It was a great system especially for the time.  Too bad they never figured out how to make money with it without driving their users away.  I hope that helps.  It was probably a little rambling, so feel free to contact me with any questions.

I'm sorry I wasn't clear.  I have office and the MDI tool.  I can create MDI files.  I was curious if anyone could read them.   I mean if I put a PDF up on the web, I'm pretty sure most anyone can read it.    It seems like M$ designed the MDI format to compete with PDF, but if they don't put out a free reader, it's pretty useless.

Why would I buy Acrobat if I have office and can just make MDI files.  Well, I would if no one can read MDI files.

The compression seems comparable to PDF.   If I print a forum thread to it, for example, one was about 143k.  However, if no one can use it in that form and I have to convert it to TIF (the only other option in Imaging), it balloons up to 14.5 MB.  That's not web friendly.  Neither is creating proprietary formats.

I can also verify that Bob (here) = BobM (GG).

I can't verify if he's hotter than Driver or not.

[Someone: Cool new strat game out, check it out...Andy: Does it have a random map generator, if so that an instant buy for me.]

You forgot to mention Andy's favorite feature: a random map generator.

Sorry, that was kind of a running joke at GG:

Someone: Cool new strat game out, check it out...

Andy: Does it have a random map generator, if so that an instant buy for me.

I guess .MDI is M$ answer to the PDF.  Do they have a free reader out there?  Does anyone use that format?  It's kind of handy for archiving web pages and stuff, but less so if no one uses it.

Any thoughts?

http://www.paintball.co.nz/game/

Not what you might expect.

Here's the list of people I can verify if they contact me with their email and/or mailing address:

Paulbot
Lord Ebonstone
dobberhd
inverarity
JR
whiteboyskim
Tim Maynard
BCR (RIP)  
mad alien
jetfred
phormio
buster poindexter aka buster 2k
grifman
yellowking
appaz knarf
rage_gs
zekester
kiloohm
kernelvenus
rowan
lawbeefaroni
fishbulb
zoyd
JMDiller

PM or email as the others.  I'll remove people as they are verified.

Edit: Oh, yeah, I can verify that Stiffler here is as there.  Good guy despite rooting for the Braves over my Astros. :wink:

No Change in the Gamertag.

Games:
SC: Pandora Tomorrow
Burnout 3
Crimson Skies
FSW
SW: Clonewars/Tetris
SB:LoC
ESPN NFL 2k5
Mechassault

I'll probably pick up Halo2 sometime once it's out.

Edit: Memory like a sieve

From the Press Release:

The global anticipation for Half-Life 2 has reached unprecedented heights, as consumers around the world mark their calendars to buy the game at retail on November 16th. The Half-Life 2 product will include Counter-Strike: Source.  VU Games will also release a Half Life 2 Collector’s Edition that will include Half-Life 2 in DVD-ROM format, Counter-Strike: Source, Half-Life: Source, a free limited edition t-shirt, and a Half-Life 2 Prima strategy guide book.

I guess what I'm looking for is a hangout for grown-up gamers who are free to share their thoughts on any topic in a mature fashion.  That seems pretty simple to me, but there is an awful lot of anxiety about it here.  I'd just as soon not create stress for a pre-existing community that was already plenty happy with what they created.  We're the gypsies; if its not home, we should just keep moving until we find it.  There are other options out there.

Er, isn't that exactly what we have here? What else does KD have to do to make you happy? You don't have to have a seperate forum and he is allowing you to discuss R&P here (civilly). What else do you want? Why do you need to move elsewhere?

I'm troubled that KD feels like he has to make any concessions at all.  Contrary to tripwire's post above, its quite easy for me to understand why the powers that be here have traditionally been against R&P.  Further, as trip illustrates below, many of the people here do not want to see R&P style topics.  That's fine.  I can't imagine why the CG community would want to cater to anyone on the subject; you guys had a great place here before GG's demise and it will be great if a bunch of us move on.  But I'm looking for a GG experience, and its clear to me that there is a tremendous amount of angst here about providing that atmosphere.  That means that its not a perfect fit for me, but may be a perfect fit for 95% of the remaining GG refugees.  I begrudge nobody that preference.

Has he really made major concessions?  It sounds to me like some of the discourse here made the staff think about the real purpose behind the policy.

I think when you reasonably say, "I want a place where I can hang out with gamers, talk games, but also feel free to discuss anything."  I don't imagine Ron thinking "I don't want to give them that, but I'd hate to lose them."  I'd suggest CG's thinking was more along the lines of, "Yeah, that is the kind of place we want to have.  We just don't want bile and name calling.  If clear and firm forum moderation can give us that, we should reword the rules to more accurately reflect what we want in a forum."

Guido, I think you understand that the letter of the law doesn't always reflect the intent of the people who wrote it.  Sometimes it takes a few rewrites and clarifications, but that doesn't mean they're changing to accomodate others.

Of course, there was some accomodation, such as the creation of a PC gaming area, but those flowed logically out of the death of Gone Gold.

You lost the manual?  No wonder you never finished that article.  j/k.

I am a little surprised your parting with your precious.

[Items I want to move]

I claim this spot in the name of Hrothgar (unless any monsters come around; then I might have to find someone else to defend it).

Ok, Here we go:

Items I want to move: (These are the ones that I'm practically giving away. Don't be afraid to ask for one or more in addition to what you really want)

Codes: (M)=manual (MB)=manual/box (C) complete package (BB) From Blockbuster (no manual, playable but far from mint condition)

PC games for trade (the ones I really want to move):
Alpha Centauri
SHOGO: Mobile Armor Division
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
Mechwarrior 2 pentium edition M
Redline Racer OEM
Strike Commander (on 3.5 floppies!)
The Chessmaster 4000 Turbo for Windows (3.5 Floppy) M
Wing Commander II Vengeance of the Kilrathi (3.5 Floppies, includes speech pack) M
Soulbringer (from the double pack, I'll never get around to playing it)
Aquanox OEM
Shogun Total War: Warlord Edition (JC)

PS2
Kessen

GBA
Fire Pro Wrestling
Kirby's Tilt and Tumble (GB, not GBASP compatable)

Here are some items I'm willing to part with for the right trade:
If I contacted you, all these are on the table. I won't necessarily agree to any trade, but don't exclude them from your consideration.

Have List

GBA
Tony Hawk 2
Madden 2002
Super Street Fighter II Turbo
Virtua Tennis
Karnaaj Rally

PC
3D Ultra Minigolf (M)
Age of Mythology & Titans(M)
Alien vs. Predator 2 (C)
Battle Realms (C)
Battlezone II (M)
Battlecruiser Millenium (M)
Black and White (M)
Command and Conquer: Renegade (C)
Deus EX 2 (M)
Freedom Fighters (M)
Freedom Force (M)
Grim Fandango
Homeworld (M)
JA2: Unfinished Business (C)
Mafia (M)
Max Payne (M)
Max Payne 2 (C)
Mechwarrior 3 + pirate moon (M)
Mechwarrior 4 + Black Knight (M)
Nerf Arena Blast (M)
Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions (M)
Rogue Spear (M)
Startopia (C)
Rails across America (C)
Warrior Kings (C)
Starlancer (M)
Homeworld: Cataclysm (M)
Nocturne
Sheep
Simgolf (M)
Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds (M)
Starfleet Command (M)
Age of Wonders II (M)
Vampire: TM: Redemption (M)
The Hulk (M)
Tron 2.0 (M)
Space Colony (M)
Titans of Steel: Warring Suns (M)

PSX
Kartia

PS2
Beyond Good and Evil
Castlevania: LoI
GTA III & Vice City
Gran Turismo 3
Hitman: Contracts
Madden 2001
Madden 2003
Seek and Destroy
Sega Sports Tennis
Metal of Honor: Frontline (BB)
Final Fantasy X & X-2
SSX
Stuntman (BB)
Twisted Metal Black + Online
Metal Gear Solid 2
NBA Street
NFL Street
Dropship
Future Tactics
Mace Griffin
Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven
Tony Hawk 3
War of the Monsters
Way of the Samurai
Virtua Fighter 4

GCN
Star Wars Bounty Hunter
Mario Sunshine + Strategy guide
Skies of Arcadia Legends
Rocky
Pikmin

Xbox
SW: The Clone Wars / Tetris Worlds
Brute Force
Hunter: The Reckoning (BB)
Breakdown
Buffy (BB)
Batman: Sin Tzu
I-ninja
Metal Arms
Outlaw Volleyball
Phantom Crash
Rogue Ops
Sphinx
Chronicles of Riddick: EFBB
Splinter Cell & Pandora Tomorrow
True Crime LA
Jade Empire LE
ESPN NFL 2k5
Halo
Red Dead Revolver


Additionally, here is my Complete collection. Not that I'm thinking of trading items not listed, but somebody might make me an offer I can't refuse. Of course, all offers will be listened to and replies sent. Multiples are always and option (either way).

Edit for clarification: Multiples can mean anything 3, 4, 5, 6 for 1.

If it's something I really want make an offer. You'll always get a response and usually I'm able to work with people to make a trade where everyone is happy. Don't worry about looking greedy asking for a lot, I might come back with a lowball reply just to see how serious you are. I'm not worried about "maximizing the value of my collection." I want to try games I'm interested in and if I can do that and get rid of games I no longer have an interest in, so much the better.

Here is some random stuff I'm interested in getting in return (The Want List) :
PC
Doom 3
Massive Assault
Dominions 2
Space Rangers 2

PS2
Naval Ops: Warship Gunner
SMT: Nocturne
Shadow Hearts 1&2
Devil May Cry 3
Digital Devil Saga
Stella Deus
PTO IV

PSX
Vandal Hearts
Arc the Lad collection

GBA
 A GBA-SP (any color)
Astroboy
Super Monkey Ball jr.
Mario Kart
Mario Golf Advance

GCN
Resident Evil 4
Super Monkey Ball 2
Mario Kart: Double Dash
Mario Tennis
Wavebird Controller
Bongos and associated games

Xbox
Topspin
D&D Heroes
Ninja Gaiden
MS controller S or Logitech wireless

Nintendo DS
A DS console
Super Mario 64 DS
Warioware Touched

PSP
A PSP console
Lumines
Metal Gear Acid
Wipeout Pure

List is not all inclusive. I like strategy games, but I'm flexible.

My compromise would be to carry the numbers over, but limit the time you can claim them.  So, let's say 30 days after this poll closes, you can claim your previous feedback.  After that you have to start fresh.  That limits the opportunity for scammers.  Also, keep in mind that with the GG and CG trading crowd, negative feedback hits hard.  You wouldn't last long on a fake reputation if you don't come through.

A lot of us also have emails and street addresses if there's a question over someone's identity.

I dont think GG is coming back...

Or is it?

That bothers me. How would you negotiate with Rich if he doesn't want to talk to people?

It seems you're just asking to split up the community.  I realize that we've already splintered to some degree, but each attempt to resurrect will just make it worse.  Thanks to the staff here, there's been a remarkably orderly transition.  If the community fails here, then perhaps other plans will be needed.

I liked the mods at GGF, but then the turnover was nearly 100% from when I joined.  I don't think GGF was ever the staff, it was the community.  It seems most of the community is here now.  Why rock what has turned out to be the rescue ship?

What about R&P?  Well, if I were Ron, this is how I'd handle it.  I'd meet with my current mods, hammer out a strict set of moderating guidelines for a R&P forum.  Draft some of the people who really want the R&P forum to be that sections mods.  Hold their feet to the fire on the guidelines.  They're not fired if the guidelines aren't upheld; the R&P forum goes away.  Then all the non R&P mods have to do is spot checks.  Of course, you could go one step further and make R&P a hidden forum where you have to sign up to even see it, but that might be too far.

Ron could get in a lot of trouble if he started taking my advice. :lol:

Like I said in the other thread, it seems like this action was what's best for Rich.  That's good enough for me.

Thanks Andy, Stephen, Bill, Joel, Jason and all the mods and everyone I'm forgetting.  Most of all thanks to Rich.  He more than anyone made me feel proud to be part of the gaming community.  Best of luck Chief.

Maybe it's just me, but I can think of a lot of reasons Rich might need to make a clean break from Gone Gold.  Now that we know Rich is ok, I'm happy to assume that it was a decision in Rich's best interest until we hear otherwise.

I'm grateful to Rich for everything he did for me and the community.  Best of luck Chief.

Wow, that has a link to our little morality debate on Target rainchecks.  Good times.  Too bad the thread itself isn't there.

Hrothgar, I just wanted to see if I could get more information.  I knew you had called....I am just as surprised as the rest of you.   I just want to know whats going on...the hardest part is waiting and hoping.

I know, I was just teasing.  My attempts at humor are even more dry than usual when I'm down.

You're doing a great job here and have handled this situation exceptionally well.  Thanks.

I'd love to see:

stuff

stategy forum (turn based or real time)

more stuff

How about a strategy website with its own dedicated forum?  I heard there's one around here somewhere.  There might even be a few GGer's around there. :wink:

Yea.  Can the Rocket come through on short rest?  We'll see tomorrow.

I presume that Ron called so that we had two accounts from EV1 rather than because he didn't believe me.  Certainly two independent witnesses are more credible.

Maybe it's just my imagination, but when they told me the account was cancelled on the 5th, I had the distinct impression that they meant that someone had called up and cancelled it.  That's as opposed to a billing problem or something.  My thought at the time was, "Gone Gold is over."

Ron's mentioned that it's a burden at times to run a website when you just aren't able to get things done.  Even on my small website, I know that's true.  Before people criticize Rich, if he did pull the plug, you might want to ask how he could do it in a way that would be less painful for him.

Sure, if he said, 7 days to doomsday, he'd get lots of thanks and good lucks, but he'd also get pleas to keep it running, turn it over, save this or that or the other.  Would that really be easier or better?  I think we all agree that if it's Rich's health or Gone Gold, we'd want Rich to be healthy.  So if it does turn out to be over and we don't get further word, let's just assume it's in Rich's best interest and this was the easiest way for him.  Surely we owe him that much.  I know I do.

Be careful out there, Tiny Fuzz.  God bless you and your family Rich.

There was a big old stack of them when I was at Fry's yesterday.  No difficulties in Houston.

Would either of these two reasons have required the plug to be pulled with no advance warning?

they wouldn't require it (or justify it IMHO), but they might explain it.

More importantly what response would either explanation give?

A) There was much rejoicing and dancing in the streets

B) The silence was deafening

C) There was sadness across the land

PS. Thanks Meal