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This week on Knotcast, we read emails, deal with OS updates ruining our recording program, and learn that Savrin is secretly a Sith. This weeks music is 'Brohoof' by Bucktown Tiger Use our coupon code 'knot' at AdamEve.com for a great deal. Episode 148 - Aftermath

Author: crossaffliction

I may be the only one in the world to say this, but I hope the next Star Fox – assuming there is one – has less flying.

Let me explain.

Reason 1: Star Fox evolved

The flying shooter is a dead genre, especially on consoles. During the GameCube/PS2/Xbox generation, theGameCube was the only console with such games; two StarFox games, and two Star Wars: Rogue Squadron games.

Of these four games, calling StarFox Adventures a flying shooter is really stretching it; an action-adventure game with a tacked on mini-game inspired by flying shooters would be more accurate. Two of the others (StarFox: Assault and the third Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike game) featured on-foot levels.

The Star Fox series has notoriously bounced from one video game studio to another; Rogue Squadron studio Factor 5was bounced from Nintendo to Microsoft to Sony in rapid succession.

None of those games were sold as part of the flying shooter genre to begin with; Star Fox games are mostly bought by Nintendo fans – and, to a lesser extent, furries – while the Rogue Squadron games were sold to Star Wars fans. There wasn’t really a flying shooter consumer base then, and there certainly isn’t one now.

What did in the genre was the release of mega-hit Halo: Combat Evolved. The series featured first person shooting, but also allowed players to control all manner of tanks, jeeps and other vehicles. Plus, as the series progressed, flying machines. The Halo series has influenced console shooters more than any other series from the last decade, and successfully subsumed the flying shooter into the shooter as a whole.

Nintendo has no first-party or even second-party exclusive Halo-esque shooter series, period. This is like going into battle without a weapon. Nintendo needs a weapon. The Metroid series has been touted as Nintendo’s Halo, but don’t let the body-armored, helmeted main character, use of first person perspective, or even the shooting fool you. Metroid is about exploration first, combat second.

The closest Nintendo has to a series that could easily shift to Halo mode is Star Fox. Admittedly, Star Fox: Assault – an early, aborted attempt atStar Fox-does-Halo – wasn’t inspiring. Still, the problem was not so much that its foot levels were on foot, but that they weren’t very good.

Reason 2: Foxes are meant to be seen, not just heard

My second reason is definitely the furrier one: The Star Fox characters are visually distinctive. It is counter-intuitive to stick them in a cockpit where you cannot see them.

Of course, it would also be counter-intuitive to use the first-person perspective, for the same reason. Obviously, on-foot levels should remain in the third-person. Halo is the inspiration – not the end all, be all.

This is where the Star Fox series would be able to differentiate itself from other shooter series. The Star Foxvideo game genre might be shooter, but its story genre is a funny animal parody of space opera.

This parodic bent, plus the series’ trademark campiness, is where it can stand out. Shooters are often – somewhat by necessity – dark and somber. A lighter, funnier shooter might be the next big thing. At the least, a group of furries would be a breath of fresh air after all those beefy, hyper-masculine space marines.

Conclusion

Reinvention of Star Fox as a Nintendo version of Halo would be the best thing for the series — granted that the gameplay is adequate, Nintendo doesn’t balk at the concept and allows it to have modern online multiplayer, and the writers don’t create the next Shadow the Hedgehog.

This may seem like a call for Star Fox to become just another follower rather than a leader of innovation, or even a bit “anti-Nintendo”, but I don’t see that the series can do anything else. It’s what Nintendo needs to do if they intend to go after the “hardcore” gamer again.

Author: GreenReaper

Ohio furs Brown Leopard (Ronald R. Packer II, 33), his wife, Wolfie Stonespirit (Jennifer Packer, 30) and Keba (Joseph O. Luna, 21) were arrested July 14 after exiting a barn around 3AM. The trio were charged with breaking and entering and receiving stolen property.

Marion County police recovered a large amount of stolen property from their home and estimate they have committed over sixty thefts in the area. Brown Leopard is also wanted in West Virginia for failure to appear on a weapons offense.

"Sibe" aka Ross Herbert Reddick

A day later, Sibe (Ross Herbert Reddick, 31) was booked into Clackamas County Jail, charged with third degree sexual abuse, recklessly endangering another person, contributing to the sexual delinquency of a minor, endangering the welfare of a minor and sexual misconduct.

Brown Leopard is listed as head of Security and Webmaster for Morphicon, and Keba assisted with their performance events. Con chairman Jewelsays they no longer serve the organization [tip: Tom Howling]. Sibe, previously jailed for coercion, remains active on the yiff sub-Reddit (NSFW).

In Ohio, breaking and entering is a fifth degree felony, punishable by community service, probation or 6-12 months prison and a fine of up to $2500. Receiving stolen property ranges from fifth to third degree; a fourth degree felony is up to 18 months and $5000.

The first three of Sibe’s charges are Class A misdemeanors in Oregon, each eligible for up to one year in prison and a $6250 fine.

Ever wanted to send an anonymous email but don't know how?
Well, here's a tutorial...
[link]
If you don't need to send anonymous email then there is still a link
to download PGP freeware software.This PGP software can encrypt files
on your computer using keys or passphrases. Always a handy program no

submitted by Fenno
[link] [8 comments]

Fursuiters. Shake Weight. That is all.

submitted by 123not-it
[link] [1 comment]

Abbott & Costello. Martin & Lewis. Now, add to the list of great comedy teams “Darwin and Squirrel.” That’s Darwin as in Charles Darwin, the nineteenth century father of evolutionary theory, and Squirrel as in an American grey squirrel. Squirrel, or The Original of a Species is an original new work from the imaginative pen of Michael Merino based solely on the amusing dialogue between the two of them.

Anthropaws, a local costume-building and repair services company, brought some cheer and smiles to Bothell's Fourth of July Grand Parade with a crew of furry critters. The company offers full custom-design character suits starting at $800, and has a community involvement division that delights in brightening up local community and charity events through the magic of character performance.

Fur the Record is a DJ crew/event production company having run dances on last year's RainFurrest and Further Confusion

Stay up to date on our events in the Pacific Northwest and around the country!
This is NOT a planning list and you will only recieve official announcements, once every 1-3 months.

The movie premiered in China on the 11th this month. No word yet if this will receive a release outside of their borders. It looks to me it maybe inspired off of Kung Fu Panda.

A surprisingly healthy population of rare snow leopards has been caught on camera in the wilds of Afghanistan. Researchers spotted 30 snow leopards in 16 different locations by placing camera traps in the mountains of northeastern Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor.

Snow leopards are threatened by poaching for their fur, the illegal pet trade and shepherds, but researchers with the Wildlife Conservation Society said they were pleasantly surprised by the number of cats they found.

“This is a wonderful discovery – it shows that there is real hope for snow leopards in Afghanistan,” said Peter Zahler, Deputy Director for Asia Programs, in a press release. “Now our goal is to ensure that these magnificent animals have a secure future as a key part of Afghanistan’s natural heritage.”

Conservationists estimate between 4,500 and 7,500 wild snow leopards still live in the remote mountains of Central Asia. Tourism, paired with conservation, they write, could boost both the local economy and the snow leopard’s chances of survival. The Wakhan Corridor, linking Afghanistan and China, is a historical trading route and one of the few peaceful places in Afghanistan. Its people have largely escaped the conflict and strife found elsewhere.

evilsibe has set up a nice sub-reddit for adult furry works (porn, yiff). I don't wish to steal his users.

A reddit user posed a content ratings question: (paraphrased)

Wouldn't a content rating of G -- PG-13 restrict not only porn, but also interesting non-porn content?

What should be the content restrictions?

• Violence
• Sexual
• Porn
• Nude non-pornographic art (Michelangelo's statue of David)
• Non-furry content ( regular or porn )
• Pirated content ( torrents, megaupload )
• Do Not Post lists (most times it is because of pirated content)

A soft restriction could allow the content, but prefer the content to be on r/yiff ? (You could post it here, but r/yiff would prefer it more.)

Recommend rating:

• Content Rating: G -- NC-17 (porn may or may not be allowed)
• Recommended that porn be on r/yiff

submitted by electricfoxx
[link] [19 comments]

submitted by wakahero
[link] [4 comments]

The Saskatoon SPCA is wrestling with the fate of seven dogs rescued from a rural home near Yorkton after the animals ate the remains of their deceased owners.

RCMP last week found the couple -- a man, 67, and woman, 57 -- who had died on a rural property near Springside. Police do not suspect foul play, but the matter is being investigated by the coroner.

Police concluded that for more than a week the dogs -- five Shelties and two mixed breeds -- survived by eating the remains of the couple.

The question now is whether the dogs should be put down or given a new home.

Neighbour Margaret-Ann Irving, who knew the dogs' owners, said the animals cannot now be adopted.

"Those dogs need to be put down," she said. "You can't place a dog that's been eating on human flesh for two or three weeks and put it in a home where there might be a child."

Saskatoon SPCA spokeswoman Tiffiny Koback said it was not an automatic conclusion that the animals should be euthanized.

"They're simply doing what it takes to survive, given the circumstances," said Koback. "So we're not concerned that they're going to go out there and start looking at someone and equating it as a meal."

The dogs are being assessed by a local animal rescue organization to determine whether they are adoptable. Potential owners would be told of their background.

The provincial SPCA said the fate of the dogs in cases like this rests with the local shelter, in this case, the Saskatoon agency.

submitted by miltonelbow
[link] [1 comment]

Author: GreenReaper

Last weekend saw ScotiaCon draw about 50 furs, guests and staff to the Ramada Jarvis Hotel in Inverness. Around a dozen fursuits were seen during the three-day event.

Scotland’s first furry convention was in planning for over two years. Fursuit builder Fatkraken and local composer Fox Amoore were the guests of honour.

Learn more: ScotiaCon 2011 trailer and outtakes – Equium’s con report

See also: ScotiaCon 2011 trailer and outtakes – con reports: Equium, Awkore

A fursuit trip to Inverness ended in downpour, but the auction was a success, with a 30-year-old bottle of Famous Grouse going for £450. Attendees were also invited to sample local delicacies, such as Cullen Sink, haggis and deep-fried Mars bar.

Hotel staff got into the spirit, wearing tails and singing along. There’s plenty of room for expansion, with space for at least 200 attendees.

The launch of this new event came just two months after ConFuzzled in Manchester, now the only other British convention after the suspension of London’s RBW in February.

Creative Commons: Full post may be available under a free license.

Please read my furry fiction: http://fenaux.deviantart.com/art/Just-Another-Day-at-the-Office-244299180

It may be very slightly NSFW, depending on your sensitivities. Please read for literary comprehension, share your thoughts, and critique!

submitted by Fenno
[link] [8 comments]

submitted by Fenno
[link] [1 comment]

Author: RingtailedFox

We’ve known for ages that animals are sentient beings, albeit on a lower level than humans. These stories provide insight into animals’ thought processes and emotions, how they cope with sadness and disappointment, and how they can recover when conditions improve.

Our first story is about Gigi, a Doberman Pinscher, who became depressed after losing her litter of two puppies following birth complications.

The second is a modern take on The Lion King: Agence France-Presse and Brazilian media report that a pair of lion partners were reunited at a zoo in Brasilia, the capital city of Brazil, after the male became so depressed by their separation that he stopped eating.

Puppy love

Gigi’s owner, Lynn White, noted that she had become despondent, stopped eating, and had to be force-fed. “She was very depressed. She loved her babies,” White said. [CBWT-TV (CBC Winnipeg)]

At the same time, Lynn’s friend Bev had puppy troubles of her own: Taylor, her Boxer, had a difficult pregnancy, and died two hours after giving birth to six healthy Boxer puppies. They agreed that they would try to pair up Taylor’s now-motherless foster puppies with Gigi.

White described the arrangement as perfect:

It worked out fabulously. She took to the puppies right way and it was like a match made in heaven.

The six boxer puppies have been living with Gigi for four days now. Gigi has suddenly perked up — almost as if she had a reason to live again, according to White. The Doberman immediately took to cleaning the Boxer puppies and feeding them, although White had to help Gigi with nursing the puppies, to ensure the pups could continue to feed.

It’s so important the puppies have the interaction with the mom. It doesn’t always work out. Sometimes the mom just refuses,

For the next few weeks, the puppies and their new mom will be living at Bev’s house, an hour outside of Brandon, Manitoba. All are doing well.

Lonely lion

Dengo the lion was sedated for his transfer from Niterói‘s ZooNit – which lost its license due to non-compliance issues – to a facility in Brasilia. The herculean effort included eight men loading the tranquilized lion out of his cage, and flying him from Niterói to Brasilia via a Brazilian Air Forceplane (as reported by O Globo).

The eleven-year-old feline, and his friend, ten-year-old Elza the lioness shared a cage in Niterói for eight years, before they were seperated. After Elza was transfered, Dengo spent most of his days lying down, without an appetite. However, things are looking up, as Dengo and Elza will share a large open space with several other lions and Bengal tigers.

The reunion was undertaken by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources, as part of a larger animal relocation from ZooNit on Thursday. Some 490 animals are due to be transferred this month. [The Calgary Herald]

Creative Commons: Full post may be available under a free license.