About as obvious as a 70/30 win for Sigma. You just can't beat classic Shalashaska, and Nemesis is just...hideous.

Err, Ocelot is nothing to talk about in that picture, but I know you're quite biased toward him anyway so I would expect you to say such. Nemesis is suppose to look hideous and monsterous, that's what he is.

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“If history is to change, let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If my fate is to die, I must simply laugh.”

I cannot see how you could possibly make an argument, outside of Sin is from FF, over Robotnik.

That's a pretty decent argument by itself though.
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www.SC2K5.com

Yes, he is supposed to look like that, but it doesn't make him any less hideous and unappealing visually.
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Can't keep a good man down, baby!

That's a pretty decent argument by itself though.

Relying on that solely, especially on an incredibly well-known villain like Robotnik, doesn't make much sense to me. I couldn't possibly go through with Sin based upon that fact alone.

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“If history is to change, let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If my fate is to die, I must simply laugh.”

And your comparisons between Sigma, Wily, and Robotnik make little to no sense.

It'll make sense after Robutt gets his face beaten in. Not even his fat ass can escape Giga Graviton.

~*ST*~
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Winner of the Spring 2004 "Best. Game. Ever." Contest
"If my fate is to die, I must simply laugh!" -Magus Zeal

It'll make sense after Robutt gets his face beaten in.

Even if that happens...No, it won't.
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Can't keep a good man down, baby!

And your comparisons between Sigma, Wily, and Robotnik make little to no sense.

The parallels between Wily and Robotnik are evident in that the are recurring (and recurring...and recurring again....) villains from long-lived popular video game series.

They are also old scientists types; with the main difference in their character type being that Robotnik is fat.

Thus it would make sense for belief in the strength (or lack thereof) in one of them to be tied with a belief in the strength, or weakness, of the other.
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www.SC2K5.com

Though I think Nemesis has the cooler picture, I'm happy that CJay used the older Ocelot pic here. That's the best style he's got, methinks.
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Serious Reminder: Vote for Dr. Wily in 2k5
Meanwhile, let's pray I pass my finals.....

Actually, my first thought is Mother Brain, not Sin

Mother Brain had her moments, I'm sure she has the vote of most Super Metroid fans.
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He needs nominations, 61! Nominate Raiden (Metal Gear Solid 2) for SC2K5!

I don't like the pic at all.... Revolver Ocelot with no revolver showing....
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Graduation: April 30, 2005 "There are only 10 kinds of people in this world, those that read binary and those that don't."

The parallels between Wily and Robotnik are evident in that the are recurring (and recurring...and recurring again....) villains from long-lived popular video game series.

Bowser happens to be the exact same thing and I don't see anyone jumping out to say that Robotnik would be higher due to how Bowser performs. It's ridiculous to think that how Wily does will determine, or give a good idea, of how Robotnink will do. Quite frankly, there's little doubt in my mind that Robotnik is the more well-known and probably stronger of the two.

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“If history is to change, let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If my fate is to die, I must simply laugh.”

Though I think Nemesis has the cooler picture, I'm happy that CJay used the older Ocelot pic here. That's the best style he's got, methinks.

He actually sorta HAS to use Shalashaska pictures. He's only known as "Revolver" once he joins FOXHOUND.

Kinda the same way that CJayC says Mega Man represents all forms and yet he only uses classic Blue Bomber pictures.
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Can't keep a good man down, baby!

I don't like the pic at all.... Revolver Ocelot with no revolver showing....

Well, it's a head shot, so it's kinda hard to fit one in there. He'll get one in the sprite round.
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Can't keep a good man down, baby!

I liked the SC2k2 and SC2k3 second round pics better where CJayC showed the entire torso. Those were some of the best pics in the contest....
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Graduation: April 30, 2005 "There are only 10 kinds of people in this world, those that read binary and those that don't."

SC2k3 in particular had some of my favorite second round pictures.

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“If history is to change, let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If my fate is to die, I must simply laugh.”

Quite frankly, there's little doubt in my mind that Robotnik is the more well-known and probably stronger of the two.

I agree that Robotnik should be the stronger of the two. He is after all the most bossiest boss fight ever.
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www.SC2K5.com

Stats be up. Congrats to TRE and Haste, among others.
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Proud supporter of Ghaleon, Kefka, Bowser, Ultros, Liquid, Ocelot, and Wily!

That's 43 picks for Sephiroth, 2 for Albedo (??), and 1 each for:

Kuja
Kefka
Ghaleon
Ganondorf
Bowser

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www.SC2K5.com

And congratulations to CJayC at 19th!
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Can't keep a good man down, baby!

And not even 30000 Spring Contest entries either.
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Can't keep a good man down, baby!

CJay's not even 1st, and he put the dang thing up too. He he he.
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Serious Reminder: Vote for Dr. Wily in 2k5
Meanwhile, let's pray I pass my finals.....

~25,000 brackets entered this year. We're getting lower and lower as we go along.

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“If history is to change, let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If my fate is to die, I must simply laugh.”

Sashanan's up there too, heh.
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Serious Reminder: Vote for Dr. Wily in 2k5
Meanwhile, let's pray I pass my finals.....

The people have spoken...

The fans have demanded it...

The kiddies have tried to stop it...protesting to Ceej with a bogus petition...

No it is not a re-release of Lee Trevino's Fighting Golf...it is...

Steve Illumina Speaks

You know it, noobs! It is the irreverent column that mocks the contest that geeky gamers live breathe and talk in the school cafeterias about for weeks. It can be fav games...it can be fav characters...or villains...or heroes...or joke bosses...or box art. It dont much matter...nerds will flock to it like fat kids to Whoppers. Now, lets get a move on, shall we!

Beginning with the Oyster 'Mushroom' Division...

(3)Revolver Ocelot vs (6)Nemesis
AKA: Da Peacemaker vs A Game Boy Shooter

Steve's Pick: Ocelot
Newbie Pick: Ocelot
Kiddie Pick: Nemesis cause he looks 'spooky'
Non Gamer Pick: Ocelot cause they will see the words and either think of the NRA and guns or of cute little foxlike animals...the ocelots

Comments: We continue this tourney with a ho-hum matchup of different fanbase favorite sons. That being the Metal Gears and the Resident Evils for the clueless who are still trying to master the intricacies of Dig Dug.

This match is a yawner and does nothing for me...so let me talk about a more compelling matchup from these series which would be far more interesting...that being "The Truck Have Started To Move vs Jill Valentine"

Yep, now this is a match that would be too close to call. On one side, ya got has-been heroine Jill "I aint Vincent' Valentine, who jobs in contests to bums like...oh I forgot who cares. And on the other side, ya got the infamous grammatical error known as the Solid Snake transport system of NES Metal Gear fame, that being...the army truck.

Sure all the preteen prepubes would vote for Jill and her scantily clad attire, but the rednecks, the industrialists, army brats, veterans, Konami Kids, and yours truly would band together to vote for The Truck. And The Truck Will Started To Move into the 2nd round, with an epic showdown against another toughie...the Pickle Guy from Burgertime.

Editor's Note: Sharin another piece of fanmail with you all:

'Dear Steve, I like..so love your column! Your insight has helped me make picks in past contests, and your jokes are hilarious. Its refreshing to see someone make light of all this, when so many seem to take it as life or death with every .01 of a change in the poll readings! Keep up the good work, friend! -Wylvane

Always nice to get this sort of stuff! And please, feel free to share ideas, input, comments and opinions at illuminasteve78@yahoo.com Who knows...you may even see yourself written into one of my sacred satires!

And that is all I have to say for today. Tune in tomorrow for my sentimental fav, Dr. Wily and his showdown with another of my favs, the first true Square joke boss, Ultros. That one I will enjoy writing about...

Quotes: Ocelot: "I am the one to fear..." Nemesis: "Fungahhh! Growlllll Yarrrrrr!"
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SP2K Dream Final: Dr. Wily vs Kefka
Read Steve Illumina Speaks! Pub Trivian Forever

Well, it looks like the match might still reach 70,000 votes.
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Can't keep a good man down, baby!

Lots of names up there I recognize. Not that that's anything new.

Anywho, umm... umm... Jezz, this match should have ended hours ago. So boring.
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But my silent fears have gripped me, long before I reach the phone, long before my tongue has tripped me. Must I always be alone?

Not half as boring as Revolver/Nemesis will be.
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Serious Reminder: Vote for Dr. Wily in 2k5
Meanwhile, let's pray I pass my finals.....

Heh. 43 of the Top 50 have Sephiroth as the winner. After one match.

Crazy.
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"Thank you, Mario. But our princess is in another castle."
-Toad in Super Mario Bros.

Just wait until after the first round is over if you think 43's high up there.....
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Serious Reminder: Vote for Dr. Wily in 2k5
Meanwhile, let's pray I pass my finals.....

Well, it'll at least be interesting to discuss how Ocelot's performance prepares him for Dr. Wily. We already know Sigma's doomed next round.
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Can't keep a good man down, baby!

Yeah, well, what other match would I have said to take half a day? See, we split up today between two boring as hell matches and catch up with the schedual we should be on.

Oh, and at least Ocelot vs. Nemesis has one thing going for it... We get to see a character that might actually mean something in the contest do something.
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But my silent fears have gripped me, long before I reach the phone, long before my tongue has tripped me. Must I always be alone?

Wouldn't it be fitting if CJayC got the first perfect bracket ever? I bet he lurks in this topic...

Caught you Site Admin! I knew it!

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RIP: Tnote827 - 4/4/05
Fighting Illini (37-2): #2 in the nation, #1 in our hearts

We said that about Sigma yesterday, too...

...but yeah, Revolver will surely not disappoint like Sigma did. Surely, maybe.
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Serious Reminder: Vote for Dr. Wily in 2k5
Meanwhile, let's pray I pass my finals.....

You may have, but I didn't. I never thought Sigma was anything of note, and if you'd have asked me before the contest I'd have easily picked ANSEM to beat him along with Ocelot, Kuja, Robotnik, and Wily. I didn't even expect Sigma to be in the top 10, really.
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But my silent fears have gripped me, long before I reach the phone, long before my tongue has tripped me. Must I always be alone?

Fair enough. Man, damn this contest hype; I know I used to say Bass and Sigma wouldn't amount to much in the off-season (or maybe even back during the summer contest...not sure). Ah well, we now know better.
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Serious Reminder: Vote for Dr. Wily in 2k5
Meanwhile, let's pray I pass my finals.....

See, and back then I'd be all about backing you up on that. I always thought Wily was the only MM character that hadn't been in that might amount to something. Frankly, I'd take Bass over Sigma too, which says something. I've never played a MMX game long enough to ever see, let alone fight, Sigma... so no foolish attachment for me like HM there.

And yet with my low esteem of Sigma before hand I'm still disapointed in him. Unless Andross proves to be closer to Fox than I expected Imma have to say Sigma fails on countless levels.
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But my silent fears have gripped me, long before I reach the phone, long before my tongue has tripped me. Must I always be alone?

Well, it'll at least be interesting to discuss how Ocelot's performance prepares him for Dr. Wily. We already know Sigma's doomed next round.

I'm curious too. Bowser is obviously winning this division, no question...but I think it might be Wily/Bowser in the division finals.
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Today's subliminal thought is:

To think that CJayC doesn't occasionally lurk in this topic is pretty silly. I know you're there, Jeff <_<

Anyway, on the more serious side, it sucks that the contest gets less and less popular as we move along. I hope this doesn't translate into the contest being forsaken altogether. Also, congrats to everyone on the leaderboard that I know (especially Sashanan, ineligible or not; though given that I know his bracket, he won't be up there for very long), as well as everyone with sense enough to pick Sephiroth to win it all. Anyone who picked otherwise is either joking around, ignorant, or going for a zero bracket.

~*ST*~
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Winner of the Spring 2004 "Best. Game. Ever." Contest
"If my fate is to die, I must simply laugh!" -Magus Zeal

I've never played a MMX game long enough to ever see, let alone fight, Sigma... so no foolish attachment for me like HM there.

That might be why you thought such. But I might recommend playing the Mega Man X Collection that Capcom will release later this year.

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“If history is to change, let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If my fate is to die, I must simply laugh.”

Well, let's see; is it possible Andross isn't all that far away from Fox? He's mentioned through-out the short game of SF64 and was in the original SF as well (I'm almost glad he lost though, so we wouldn't have to see that ****ty Andross sprite, heh). For what it's worth, he was two trophies in SSBM as well, and he was mimicked and mentioned in the recent SF:Assault in the first level.

Could Andross be closer to Fox's estimated 21% on Link than we think?
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Serious Reminder: Vote for Dr. Wily in 2k5
Meanwhile, let's pray I pass my finals.....

I still haven't gotten MMAC, and you think I'm going to go get an MMXC? No thanks, man, not until I've got the classics first. Frankly, I don't play game much/enough anymore to consider buying anything short of import music games (the only ones I can pick up and play to my content)
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But my silent fears have gripped me, long before I reach the phone, long before my tongue has tripped me. Must I always be alone?

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

I still want to say, again, that it is going to be awesome if Lavos does well against Liquid.

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“If history is to change, let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If my fate is to die, I must simply laugh.”

Lavos isen't even a villian, he just wants breakfeast.
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BANG BANG BANG VIPER BEAM!

Too bad most CT fans don't even respect him.

And no, I don't mean like how Crono is disrespected, for anyone who'd bother to bring it up.
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But my silent fears have gripped me, long before I reach the phone, long before my tongue has tripped me. Must I always be alone?

And why the hell is he a three seed to boot?
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BANG BANG BANG VIPER BEAM!

We need some Lavos love. ;_;

http://img198.echo.cx/img198/7278/lavosa35th.gif

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“If history is to change, let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If my fate is to die, I must simply laugh.”

Well, that they're not getting more popular doesn't really bother me. First this is the spring, second it is just a villains contest, and third, it can't be denied that these same style contests (though not this one for us) will get old. I mean that's a driving reason for people wanting to spice up the summer contest, but as long as we have a similar styled contest, popularity shouldn't really be expected to increase.

it's also a trend in other areas, too. Sometimes the second is the best in tv shows. I'm thinking about survivor here (second was most watched) and just in general. By the time the second of something has rolled around, I generally think that most people who were going to participate in it would have, and that by the third time it's starting to get old for the old members.
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One who knows nothing can understand nothing.
"Revenge is a dish best served cold." - Old Klingon Proverb

Fiesta-Lavos...heh.
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Serious Reminder: Vote for Dr. Wily in 2k5
Meanwhile, let's pray I pass my finals.....

If you want someone not a damn soul cares about, look no further than Sin.

How do you know?

Quite frankly, there's little doubt in my mind that Robotnik is the more well-known and probably stronger of the two.

Being well-known doesn't necessarily mean strength in these contests.
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Land of the Dead - June 24, 2005
*is M410123*