True, I think Dante's a general casual-predictor's safe bet, more than others anyways...but I won't necessarily say that's the case here, either. I hate to bring up the secret character status in this situation, but in 2k3 the 11-seeded Aeris had 45.89% of the brackets behind her in a four-pack with Sora and Master Chief (as well as Felix, but, ya know.....). Vincent, as a 5-seed (now a 9/10-seed if you translate the bracket-format), had 25.14% of the brackets behind him in a four-pack with Dante...then Terra and Kerrigan. MC is a good deal bigger on the casual bracket-support than Dante, and both Terra and Kerrigan are weaker than Sora and Felix. Vincent also had better seeding than Aeris. Now, I'll give some benefit of the doubt here -- Aeris did well the year before, and Dante was a 1-seed...but something screwy is there.

It's just so weird to think that the fan-favorite of FF7 is much less supported by bracket-makers than, ahem...spoilers.
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EC, I'd run to yours.
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Miss my Four-Pack Of Fun? Go here:
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Well that was uncalled for and hurtful.

---
Explicit Content
Cheer Up Emo Kids

Okay, now that the Nomination Rally tournament is over, let's talk about the winners, since that's about the only thing we've got worth discussing until a contest is announced.

For those who aren't aware, the five chosen characters were The Prince of Persia, Nightmare, Sub-Zero, Captain Falcon, and Raiden. I'll begin by asking a few questions about the characters in general:

1. How would you rank them in order of strength?
2. Who is the strongest character you would take each character over?
Subbie>PoP>Nightmare>CF>Raiden.
3. What seed do you foresee each character getting, should they make it in?
SZ: 5-6
PoP: 4-5
N: 9-8
CF: 5-6
R: 3-4
4. Which character(s) would you like to see each character face in a contest match?
CF:Ness.
SZ: Tommy Vercetti.
PoP: Kratos.
N: Ryu.
R: Tidus.
5. How does this group compare to last year's five (Ocelot, Tifa, Leon Kennedy, Kerrigan, Lloyd)? Did we get a better selection this year?
Waaaaaay better.

Now for individual questions:

The Prince of Persia - Do you think he'll be stronger or weaker than Kratos from God of War?
Stronger, but not by much.

Nightmare - Are there any other fighting game characters that have yet to be in a contest that you would rank above him? Was he the best possible representative from Soul Calibur (Link doesn't count...).
No, Kilik would be.

Sub-Zero - The obvious one: How far above or below Scorpion do you think he'll be? Would you take him in a direct match against Ken?
About 5-6% over 2k4. I'd take SZ.

Captain Falcon - In a direct match against Ness, who would get SFF'd, if anyone did? Are there any other characters who draw most of their power from Super Smash Brothers who would do better than Falcon OR Ness?
Ness. Game and Watch. Roy/Marth.

Raiden - Will the lack of exposure since MGS2 hurt him? In other words, was his potential strength higher in 2003 than it is now? Also, will he be stronger than Liquid and/or Ocelot? Would he beat either head-to-head?
No, he will be stronger. Lower. Stronger than both. Yes.
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it was a weird night, with the Sexual Foot of Desire and the Sexual Moose of Lust and all.-Iamdead7

Just taking the top 64 would make a decent enough bracket, but then again, as long as there are no era divisions, pretty much any Game bracket you throw together would result in a great Contest. I still say 10 noms is the way to go about it though... even though the Top Ten drew from the same basic "voter pool,"

- the results are a little old now
- they're top heavy toward dedicated fanbases (SotN, Earthbound)
- poll was open too long; Board 8 wasn't able to swing the results

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"lol x-stats" - The Contest Simulator: http://thengamer.com/xstats
Ngamer's Contest Archives: http://thengamer.com/gamefaqs/

Yeah, I want to go back to a question I asked in the Rally topic, simply because I think it relates to some recent conversations concerning the winners...


...briefly, I just want to ask if anyone would consider taking Agent 47 over Sam Fisher.
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Please, nominate Aeris Gainsborough for SC2k6:
http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=8&topic=26571751

I wouldn't consider it an impossibility. Is that supposed to be some sort of foolhardy pick or something?
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Raiden is still [-29] nominations short!
http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=8&topic=25457391

Having Fisher's four-pack adjusted by MC-2k3, I'd most likely take Fisher to win, though how close it'd be would be up for debate. The more time I spend thinkin' about Sora/Alucard though, the more I think I haven't adjusted them enough...

...I'm guessing this has to relate to the adjustment of Kratos, which, in turn, would help a lil' more in guessing where PoP is at. Just a guess.
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It's a number of things, really, and while they some do involve the Prince, that's not exactly all of it...

As I said in the other topic as well, adjusting 47 upwards to any significant value puts him over Fisher 2k4, so...
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Please, nominate Aeris Gainsborough for SC2k6:
http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=8&topic=26571751

Unadjusted Agent 47 gets 35.12% on unadjusted Sam Fisher and 40.75% on Fisher based off of MC's 2k3 value. If Agent's four-pack is adjusted by Sora 2k4 (the most reliable value you can find; Alucard's been behind controvery every year and the other two are new), that makes him get 40.24% and 46.68% on said Fisher's (respectively). To go higher starts basing off of Alucard, and he is one sketchy character to really adjust by...

...though not impossible, I see Sam Fisher simply out-classing Agent 47. Just for fun though, can we perhaps compare the sales of their games? Also, I know Splinter Cell is multi-platform...but is Hitman?
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Yeah, all the Hitman games are multiplatform, save the first one (PC only). 47 gets the bulk of his popularity from the second game, though.

Also, while I haven't really looked at their actual stats, I put Fisher 2k4 and Agent 47 2k5's unadjusted stats into lol x-stats and got 47 with 46.65% on Fisher. I don't think it would take too much of an adjustment to change that result...are you using your own personalized stats in those calculations?
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Please, nominate Aeris Gainsborough for SC2k6:
http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=8&topic=26571751

- they're top heavy toward dedicated fanbases (SotN, Earthbound)

About time somebody else pointed that out! That's all I will say on that matter.

As for Fisher/Agent 47? I'd take Sam Fisher with no problem. Sure it could end up a close match, but it's not like either has a dedicated fanbase on here. Fisher has the Splinter Cell brand name behind him, and his trademark "3-eyed" Night vision goggles give him instant recognition and a distinct look, not that Agent 47 doesn't look cool as well. But still, in Splinter Cell vs. Hitman, I'd take Splinter Cell. Although the series isn't the industry darling that it used to be after the original was released.
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Nominate Carmen Sandiego for SC2k6
Currently playing: MMXC, Fight Night R2, Threads of Fate, Jade Empire

I mentioned the stats I was using in these instances; I compared unadjusted Agent and Fisher and adjusted-by-Sora-2k4/MC-2k3 Agent and Fisher. I didn't use Fisher-2k4 because of two reasons:

1) The 2k3 values of MC, DK, and Fisher (alongside Face-CATS) make that four-pack line up very very nicely.
2) Samus, for whatever reason, decimated both Sam and Lara to the point of being projected over Cloud.
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Well, neither series are exactly powerhouses...and it may be just me, but I always thought of Fisher garnering a lot of resentment both due to his initial affiliation with XBox (SC was XBox exclusive for a while at its inception) and due to how he and his series often come off as a poor imitation of Snake's.

I mean, c'mon, I'm not the only person that could see Snake overperforming on Fisher, right?
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Please, nominate Aeris Gainsborough for SC2k6:
http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=8&topic=26571751

I see what you're saying, but I *really* don't like using Fisher's 2k3 value...for, um, reasons.
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Please, nominate Aeris Gainsborough for SC2k6:
http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=8&topic=26571751

Fisher's 2004 drop is what I used to justify Squall > Magus. I'm not buying that his 2003 value is the correct one.

I'd actually probably take 47 were they to match. My kinda upset pick.
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Raiden is still [-29] nominations short!
http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=8&topic=25457391

Well, neither series are exactly powerhouses...and it may be just me, but I always thought of Fisher garnering a lot of resentment both due to his initial affiliation with XBox (SC was XBox exclusive for a while at its inception) and due to how he and his series often come off as a poor imitation of Snake's.

I hardly ever see any hatred towards Splinter Cell besides anything involving Kyle Bowen. I actually heard nothing but GOOD things about Splinter Cell, both through magazines/professional reviews and gamers. It wasn't in the spotlight enough to get the Halo-type Xbox hate. Besides, in 2k3 it didn't really matter if he had resentment or not as he was against the Magus hype-train anyways. By 2k4, I think most of the original Xbox resentment was gone.
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Nominate Carmen Sandiego for SC2k6
Currently playing: MMXC, Fight Night R2, Threads of Fate, Jade Empire

*I* like SC, but even now I'm certain it gets a lot of hate from all sides. It comes up almost every time I see it mentioned, from real life to Board 8 to LUE. The man is unpopular for a reason.
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Please, nominate Aeris Gainsborough for SC2k6:
http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=8&topic=26571751

Ah, I see something: I shouldn't be saying Fisher-2k3 so much as I should say Fisher based off of his 2k3-relationship with Tidus (where, stats be damned, I assumed Tidus 2k3 = 2k4). In other words, I extropolated that single four-pack, saw the gap between Sam and Tidus, and applied it to Tidus-2k4 to determine where Sam -- and the other three that year -- were most likely at. Dangerous to mess around like that, but Tidus/Ganon/Magus were so close that year and Tidus is easily the most trustworthy of the three. I also still trust that more than what we got in 2k4 from Fisher.
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Ah, I see what you're saying. I can see that working out, but even then assuming Fisher is still as strong as he was in 2k3 is a sketchy thing. Yeah, he's had two new games since then, but ever since the original game they've been received with very little fanfare outside of the core fanbase acquired by the first SC. Not that I wouldn't like to see him that high...as far as I'm concerned, Fisher is PoP's minimum...but I think there's more to it than that.

Lara had potential reason to be overrated in 2k3 too, after all (hello there Tomb Raider movie on weekend of match).
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Please, nominate Aeris Gainsborough for SC2k6:
http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=8&topic=26571751

Yeah, I remember the movie arguments when they were supported and when they were shot down...I don't imagine the movie helped her out THAT DAMN MUCH though, heh. I figure it just helped hide her two-year-long drop...but that's neither here nor there.

What do you think of a Magus/DK match-up?
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Miss my Four-Pack Of Fun? Go here:
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So now that we're almost at 500, you guys wanna just let this thing purge or what? 277 is a ****ing awesome number.

---
Explicit Content
Cheer Up Emo Kids

- they're top heavy toward dedicated fanbases (SotN, Earthbound)

About time somebody else pointed that out! That's all I will say on that matter.

I thought that was kinda obvious...
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SC2K6 Nominations: Squall, Ramza, Serge, Seifer, Laguna, The Prince of Persia, Nightmare, Sub-Zero, Captain Falcon, Raiden

277 is a ****ing awesome number.

*takes complete credit*
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Miss my Four-Pack Of Fun? Go here:
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I thought that was kinda obvious...

Well with the countless number of times someone has used ____ placed #___ on the Top 100 list, etc, you would think otherwise...
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Nominate Carmen Sandiego for SC2k6
Currently playing: MMXC, Fight Night R2, Threads of Fate, Jade Empire

Heh, I guess that's my cue to raise my hand.

I gotta head to classes for the day, but, given how little info we have on game popularity (and what we have is often not completely accurate), I work with what I got. #15 and #37 doesn't make them #15 and #37 on the site, but it's hard for me to say they're of little importance too.
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Miss my Four-Pack Of Fun? Go here:
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Well, I know that some games got ranked more highly than others due to hardcore fanbases. I know I wouldn't take Symphony of the Night over the likes of FFVIII or StarCraft, nor would I take Earthbound over Sonic 2.
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SC2K6 Nominations: Squall, Ramza, Serge, Seifer, Laguna, The Prince of Persia, Nightmare, Sub-Zero, Captain Falcon, Raiden

Not to mention the fact that there are games that are universally and consistently liked, but not necessarily Top 10 on a lot of people's lists.
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Nominate Carmen Sandiego for SC2k6
Currently playing: MMXC, Fight Night R2, Threads of Fate, Jade Empire

Also, would anybody actually take SMB1 over SMW?
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SC2K6 Nominations: Squall, Ramza, Serge, Seifer, Laguna, The Prince of Persia, Nightmare, Sub-Zero, Captain Falcon, Raiden

No.
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Xbox 360 melts disks!
And people made jokes about the PS3 being a grill. ~bokunokuso

Now, who would win, Halo 2 or Starcraft?
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Xbox 360 melts disks!
And people made jokes about the PS3 being a grill. ~bokunokuso

I'd take Starcraft.
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Board 8: Where people treat each other right.

Yeah? Well I'd take teh Halo 2. Halo 1 almost beat Starcraft and its rally, so the more popular Halo 2 ought to win.
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Xbox 360 melts disks!
And people made jokes about the PS3 being a grill. ~bokunokuso

I would pick Starcraft without thinking. Yes HALO 2 is better, but Tales of Symphonia got a higher place in the top 100 than Halo 2.
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transience: I'm in everyone's sig!

lol write-ins. Both would've been higher if they were on the drop-down list. Also, Halo 1 wouldn't have been stealing as many votes from Halo 2. And lol, the Top 100 list is clearly indicative of contest strength!!
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Xbox 360 melts disks!
And people made jokes about the PS3 being a grill. ~bokunokuso

I never said it was, it's just that I think that HALO is stronger than HALO 2.
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transience: I'm in everyone's sig!

Can't say I understand that, what with Halo 2 outselling Halo 1 it by a huge margin, and being online.
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Xbox 360 melts disks!
And people made jokes about the PS3 being a grill. ~bokunokuso

How do we know Halo 2 is more popular? Doesn't really look like it garnered the series any new fans.
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Board 8: Where people treat each other right.

*raises hand timidly* It garnered me...


But I'd still take SC over Halo anything.
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Accio Captain Planet! See? A one post summon!
Detective in Sir Chris' Police

Can't say I understand that, what with Halo 2 outselling Halo 1 it by a huge margin, and being online.

US Sales:

Halo - 4,168,396
Halo 2 - 4,811,175

More sales, sure, but it's far from a huge difference. Truth be told, I'd be more inclined to pick the original Halo over Starcraft rather than it's younger brother.
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Board 8: Where people treat each other right.

>_> This board is so confusing. Everyone picking Halo 1 over Halo 2. Remember that Halo 2 has had three less years and it still outsold Halo 1. And is that Halo 1 number just the Xbox, or the Xbox and PC?
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Xbox 360 melts disks!
And people made jokes about the PS3 being a grill. ~bokunokuso

Just Xbox sales in the US.
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Board 8: Where people treat each other right.

Nearly done with another contest stats topic...
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Sign my petition! Topic ID: 22242738
"XiC is a little guy. I could probably throw him into a dartboard, headfirst, using one arm." - Ohfennsiv

Yet people love 278.
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Xbox 360 melts disks!
And people made jokes about the PS3 being a grill. ~bokunokuso

I seriously doubt that Halo 2 is less popular than Halo. I don't see how one could think that Halo could beat Starcraft but Halo 2 couldn't. Xbox Live alone is big enough reason for Halo 2 to be more popular. I couldn't see many instances where someone would vote for Halo and not vote for Halo 2.
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Nominate Carmen Sandiego for SC2k6
Currently playing: MMXC, Fight Night R2, Threads of Fate, Jade Empire

Halo 2 > Halo 1...it's hard to imagine more justification being necessary.
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Just to help get this topic out of the way:

Knuckles > Magus
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Miss my Four-Pack Of Fun? Go here:
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*rushes to 500*

lol seriously >_>

Halo 2 > Halo 1...it's hard to imagine more justification being necessary.

Nah, I still see Halo as being the more popular of the two were they to face each other. If they didn't, I could feasibly see Halo 2 finishing higher than it in the stats. It'd be possible rSFF, like Mario/Samus.
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Sign my petition! Topic ID: 22242738
"XiC is a little guy. I could probably throw him into a dartboard, headfirst, using one arm." - Ohfennsiv

Nah, I still see Halo as being the more popular of the two were they to face each other. If they didn't, I could feasibly see Halo 2 finishing higher than it in the stats. It'd be possible rSFF, like Mario/Samus.

Completely reverse that and you'll have what I'm thinking at the moment. It's all based on my gut, of course, but WHO CARES.
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Board 8: Where people treat each other right.

Link > Cloud
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Board 8: Where people treat each other right.