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Next: Q4: Buggy and annoying...
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External
Since: Oct 19, 2005
Posts: 10
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(Msg. 1) Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 9:56 am
Post subject: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics?
Archived from groups: comp>sys>ibm>pc>games>action (more info?)
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I'm having a weird problem and I'm wondering if anyone out there can
shed any light on it for me. I've got Quake 4 but I'm finding the
graphics are quite underwhelming--not nearly as good as Doom 3 even
though it's the same engine. But I'm wondering if it's due to some
limitation of my card which is a GF 5950 Ultra. Right now the best way I
can describe the graphics is that they look "harsh" or "brackish" to me,
rather than smooth and polished (that plastic-y look, I guess) like they
did in Doom 3.
My other specs are: Intel 3.2 GHz, 1.5 GB RAM, Direct x 9.0c, WinXP
(SP2), latest video drivers (forceware 81.85).
I have the visuals set to high detail, 800@600. Under advanced options,
I have shadows and anti-aliasing off but everything else on (bump
mapping, specular lighting, high special effects). The models look sort
of OK, but everything else? Nope. It's like the textures are "off" and
forget about the outside levels so far (I'm still very early in the
game--I'm in the part where you're in the trenches working on taking out
the big gun and am in fact stuck trying to follow orders to find another
way into the next area for my squad mates). Those look absolutely
horrible. The ground textures are extraordinarily poor. I can even see
seams in the wall textures outside in the early trench level!
But I can live with all that. It's the inside levels so far that are
perplexing me. I've tried turning bump mapping and specular lighting off
and variations thereof, but it still looks relatively poor. The specular
lighting seems to give everything an even brighter "sheen" but it's a
very harsh looking sheen and I can't honestly say it's pleasing to the eye.
Could the problem be that the FX series of cards don't do bump mapping
or specular lighting correctly? Every review I read gushes over the
graphics but so far I'm saying huh?
I also have the gamma two spots from the highest setting. It looks
better if it's darker but then I can't see a bloody thing so have to
play with the gamma probably higher than intended (which tends to wash
things out even further).
(Unfortunately, I can't even use gaming sites' screenshots for
comparison because they're so dark, I can't see anything anyway.)
Anyway, is there something I'm missing here? Because I desperately want
this game to look as good as Doom 3 did, which was one of the things I
enjoyed in that otherwise at times boring game.
I also have FEAR and even though I have to play with just about
everything set to minimum, it still looks far better than Q4 in my
opinion. God only knows how gorgeous it must be with better settings.
But I KNOW the Doom 3 engine can do better than it's doing for me now
because I saw it in action in that game and the Resurrection of Evil
expansion.
thanks |
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External
Since: Oct 23, 2005
Posts: 1
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(Msg. 2) Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 10:18 am
Post subject: Re: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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I see it too. I'm running Q4 on a new Dell XPS w/7800GTX in SLI at high res
with the latest 81.85 WHQL drivers and the graphics are bad. Colors are
cartoony and the environment is not sharp in detail even though I have
everything maxed out. FEAR is a different story. Very immersive.
Gotta be a way to fix it.
TRF |
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External
Since: Sep 29, 2004
Posts: 757
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(Msg. 3) Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 8:55 pm
Post subject: Re: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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"Silent Sorrow" <bill.DeleteThis@mann.net> wrote in message
news:UpSdndGw4_D8Y8benZ2dnUVZ_tKdnZ2d@rogers.com...
> If I turn my monitor's brighteness and contrast controls to max, I can see
> slightly more of the screenshot, but it's mostly still dark. I certainly
> can't tell what I'm looking at. What should I be seeing?
>
The player with a pistol in his hand by some really poorly textured crates
and another marine crouching just in front. You need to perhaps look at
your gamma settings? I'll bet you hated Doom 3 with a passion  >> Stay informed about: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? |
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External
Since: Apr 26, 2004
Posts: 46
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(Msg. 4) Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 8:55 pm
Post subject: Re: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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"Silent Sorrow" <bill DeleteThis @mann.net> wrote in message
news:pcmdnQz55qK1VsbenZ2dnUVZ_sudnZ2d@rogers.com...
> Hmm, unfortunately, that screenshot is so dark, I see nothing but a flew
> blips of blue.
>
Don't feel too bad. I can't really make out anything in that picture either.
Then again, I already realise that my monitor seems to be a little darker
than it really should (despite brightness and contrast at maximum!)
I simply used the command "r_gamma 1.5" in Doom 3 to correct it. I could
then see what I considered the right amount of detail/scenery with dark
corners still being black (as intended). Actually, I may have even moved the
gamma to 2.0..... can't really remember, but whatever, experiment and see
what seems to work for you. >> Stay informed about: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? |
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External
Since: Oct 19, 2005
Posts: 10
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(Msg. 5) Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 8:55 pm
Post subject: Re: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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Well, if I turn up the gamma in my card's settings the desktop is far
too bright. It's set at 1.00 (right in the middle). If I turn it up past
that everything starts getting "whited out" in a "you really can't leave
your desktop like this" kind of way. I can now see the details in the
screenshot as you describe them, but obviously my gamma isn't supposed
to be set this high.
What a strange problem I'm having.
Shawk wrote:
> "Silent Sorrow" <bill.TakeThisOut@mann.net> wrote in message
> news:UpSdndGw4_D8Y8benZ2dnUVZ_tKdnZ2d@rogers.com...
>
>>If I turn my monitor's brighteness and contrast controls to max, I can see
>>slightly more of the screenshot, but it's mostly still dark. I certainly
>>can't tell what I'm looking at. What should I be seeing?
>>
>
>
> The player with a pistol in his hand by some really poorly textured crates
> and another marine crouching just in front. You need to perhaps look at
> your gamma settings? I'll bet you hated Doom 3 with a passion
>
>
> >> Stay informed about: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? |
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External
Since: Feb 06, 2005
Posts: 16
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(Msg. 6) Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 9:51 am
Post subject: Re: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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"Shawk" <shawk RemoveThis @clara.co.uk.3guesses> wrote in message
news:1130109896.10663.0@nnrp-t71-02.news.uk.clara.net...
> The player with a pistol in his hand by some really poorly textured crates
After all these years of all these FPS games, is anyone really still
paying attention to *crates*?! ;-D >> Stay informed about: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? |
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External
Since: Sep 29, 2004
Posts: 757
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(Msg. 7) Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 2:55 pm
Post subject: Re: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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"StreetMedic" <zhyvaxxeSPAMMERJAMMER.DeleteThis@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:fr6dnUE61uY3e8HeRVn-tg@comcast.com...
>
> "Shawk" <shawk.DeleteThis@clara.co.uk.3guesses> wrote in message
> news:1130109896.10663.0@nnrp-t71-02.news.uk.clara.net...
>
>> The player with a pistol in his hand by some really poorly textured
>> crates
>
> After all these years of all these FPS games, is anyone really still
> paying attention to *crates*?! ;-D
>
Only when they are textured like that guys screenshot....
>> Stay informed about: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? |
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External
Since: Sep 26, 2004
Posts: 1999
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(Msg. 8) Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 11:55 pm
Post subject: Re: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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"Silent Sorrow" <bill RemoveThis @mann.net> wrote in message
news:pYWdnUFqc4_Au8HeRVn-gA@rogers.com...
> Well, if I turn up the gamma in my card's settings the desktop is far too
> bright. It's set at 1.00 (right in the middle). If I turn it up past that
> everything starts getting "whited out" in a "you really can't leave your
> desktop like this" kind of way. I can now see the details in the
> screenshot as you describe them, but obviously my gamma isn't supposed to
> be set this high.
Load the images up in a graphics program, most have a tool to lighten
images. Paint Shop Pro has tools for brightness/contrast, gamma,
hue/saturation/lightness. I think iRfanView does too and it's free.
McG.
>
> What a strange problem I'm having.
>
> Shawk wrote:
>> "Silent Sorrow" <bill RemoveThis @mann.net> wrote in message
>> news:UpSdndGw4_D8Y8benZ2dnUVZ_tKdnZ2d@rogers.com...
>>
>>>If I turn my monitor's brighteness and contrast controls to max, I can
>>>see slightly more of the screenshot, but it's mostly still dark. I
>>>certainly can't tell what I'm looking at. What should I be seeing?
>>>
>>
>>
>> The player with a pistol in his hand by some really poorly textured
>> crates and another marine crouching just in front. You need to perhaps
>> look at your gamma settings? I'll bet you hated Doom 3 with a passion
>>
>>
>>
>>
> >> Stay informed about: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? |
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External
Since: Oct 29, 2004
Posts: 107
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(Msg. 9) Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 3:55 am
Post subject: Re: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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Silent Sorrow wrote:
> Well, if I turn up the gamma in my card's settings the desktop is far
> too bright. It's set at 1.00 (right in the middle). If I turn it up past
> that everything starts getting "whited out" in a "you really can't leave
> your desktop like this" kind of way. I can now see the details in the
> screenshot as you describe them, but obviously my gamma isn't supposed
> to be set this high.
>
> What a strange problem I'm having.
>
If it's a CRT, my guess is that your monitor is on it's last legs. If
it's an LCD, was it *really* inexpensive? Either way, there are
workarounds...
Try this:
Start by setting your monitor's brightness to zero and contrast to 100
(all the way up). Then, go to Display Properties > Settings > Advanced
> GeForce 5950 tab, and fiddle with not only the gamma slider, but
brightness and contrast as well (I wouldn't personally turn that
"Digital Vibrance" thing on, but play with that too, and if you like the
effect, maybe use a little). Try and get your desktop to look as
'normal' as possible with those sliders, or maybe just a tad on the dark
side (maybe with the too-dark screenshot open: my monitor is calibrated
pretty well, and the screenie looks quite 'normal' to me - not overly
dark). Then adjust your monitor's brightness up a bit from there (10% -
20% of maximum) until things look just right to you. At least this way
you'll have a bit of slack in either direction when something comes up
that's too dark/bright - brightness on most monitors is usually a one
button excercise.
Apologies, as obviously none of this helps with your original problem,
but hopefully this should sort out your seeming
brightness/contrast/gamma issues.
Cheers,
-joe.
________________________________________
Dyslexics have more fnu. >> Stay informed about: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? |
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External
Since: Jan 17, 2005
Posts: 843
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(Msg. 10) Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 7:55 am
Post subject: Re: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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On Sun, 23 Oct 2005, Silent Sorrow wrote:
> If I turn my monitor's brighteness and contrast controls to max, I can
> see slightly more of the screenshot, but it's mostly still dark. I
> certainly can't tell what I'm looking at. What should I be seeing?
In Doom 3 there was a console variable (r_gamma) which could be set to 1.5
to brighten up the game without the washout effect. It's a shame that that
was not implemented into the user interface of Doom 3 (and Quake 4)...
--
Werner Spahl (spahl@cup.uni-muenchen.de) Freedom for
"The meaning of my life is to make me crazy" Vorlonships >> Stay informed about: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? |
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External
Since: Oct 19, 2005
Posts: 10
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(Msg. 11) Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 12:27 am
Post subject: Re: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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Actually, this is good stuff re the calibration process. As it happens
I've just upgraded to a 6800 Ultra and boy does everything look
different--and better. Much, much better. Something about the 5950 was
screwed up in Quake 4.
But I do think my monitor is darker than normal. Maybe it's on its last
legs but just about everything else looks fine, so I wonder.
Joe Mama wrote:
> Silent Sorrow wrote:
>
>> Well, if I turn up the gamma in my card's settings the desktop is far
>> too bright. It's set at 1.00 (right in the middle). If I turn it up
>> past that everything starts getting "whited out" in a "you really
>> can't leave your desktop like this" kind of way. I can now see the
>> details in the screenshot as you describe them, but obviously my gamma
>> isn't supposed to be set this high.
>>
>> What a strange problem I'm having.
>>
>
> If it's a CRT, my guess is that your monitor is on it's last legs. If
> it's an LCD, was it *really* inexpensive? Either way, there are
> workarounds...
>
> Try this:
>
> Start by setting your monitor's brightness to zero and contrast to 100
> (all the way up). Then, go to Display Properties > Settings > Advanced
> > GeForce 5950 tab, and fiddle with not only the gamma slider, but
> brightness and contrast as well (I wouldn't personally turn that
> "Digital Vibrance" thing on, but play with that too, and if you like the
> effect, maybe use a little). Try and get your desktop to look as
> 'normal' as possible with those sliders, or maybe just a tad on the dark
> side (maybe with the too-dark screenshot open: my monitor is calibrated
> pretty well, and the screenie looks quite 'normal' to me - not overly
> dark). Then adjust your monitor's brightness up a bit from there (10% -
> 20% of maximum) until things look just right to you. At least this way
> you'll have a bit of slack in either direction when something comes up
> that's too dark/bright - brightness on most monitors is usually a one
> button excercise.
>
> Apologies, as obviously none of this helps with your original problem,
> but hopefully this should sort out your seeming
> brightness/contrast/gamma issues.
>
> Cheers,
> -joe.
>
>
>
> ________________________________________
>
> Dyslexics have more fnu. >> Stay informed about: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? |
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External
Since: Jan 08, 2005
Posts: 1819
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(Msg. 12) Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 2:15 pm
Post subject: Re: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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Joe Mama <bloodywanker RemoveThis @drugsmakemecool.com> looked up from reading the
entrails of the porn spammer to utter "The Augury is good, the signs
say:
>Silent Sorrow wrote:
>> Actually, this is good stuff re the calibration process. As it happens
>> I've just upgraded to a 6800 Ultra and boy does everything look
>> different--and better. Much, much better. Something about the 5950 was
>> screwed up in Quake 4.
>>
>> But I do think my monitor is darker than normal. Maybe it's on its last
>> legs but just about everything else looks fine, so I wonder.
>
>Well, generally, CRTs shouldn't have to have the brightness anywhere
>near 100 (all video driver settings being 'normal', mine stays at about
>15) - it's usally a sign they may be near the end of their useful life,
>or even about to die completely.
This is something that varies between monitors, some are just plain
darker than others.
The monitor i'm currently using (Samsung SyncMaster 750s) has both the
brightness and contrast at max just to be usable, and it's been like
that since the day I bought it brand new, many years ago.
Various 14" monitors in the past have had bright ones and quite dark
ones - it's just one of those things.
Xocyll
--
I don't particularly want you to FOAD, myself. You'll be more of
a cautionary example if you'll FO And Get Chronically, Incurably,
Painfully, Progressively, Expensively, Debilitatingly Ill. So
FOAGCIPPEDI. -- Mike Andrews responding to an idiot in asr >> Stay informed about: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? |
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External
Since: Oct 19, 2005
Posts: 10
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(Msg. 13) Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 6:48 pm
Post subject: Re: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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Interesting. I have the monitor-controlled settings almost maxed but the
Nvidia software controls (brightness. contrast and gamma) at varying
levels. I suspect both you and joe are correct to some degree in my
case. I still want to try joe's suggestion with my new card just to see
what happens though.
Xocyll wrote:
> Joe Mama <bloodywanker.RemoveThis@drugsmakemecool.com> looked up from reading the
> entrails of the porn spammer to utter "The Augury is good, the signs
> say:
>
>
>>Silent Sorrow wrote:
>>
>>>Actually, this is good stuff re the calibration process. As it happens
>>>I've just upgraded to a 6800 Ultra and boy does everything look
>>>different--and better. Much, much better. Something about the 5950 was
>>>screwed up in Quake 4.
>>>
>>>But I do think my monitor is darker than normal. Maybe it's on its last
>>>legs but just about everything else looks fine, so I wonder.
>>
>>Well, generally, CRTs shouldn't have to have the brightness anywhere
>>near 100 (all video driver settings being 'normal', mine stays at about
>>15) - it's usally a sign they may be near the end of their useful life,
>>or even about to die completely.
>
>
> This is something that varies between monitors, some are just plain
> darker than others.
>
> The monitor i'm currently using (Samsung SyncMaster 750s) has both the
> brightness and contrast at max just to be usable, and it's been like
> that since the day I bought it brand new, many years ago.
>
> Various 14" monitors in the past have had bright ones and quite dark
> ones - it's just one of those things.
>
> Xocyll >> Stay informed about: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? |
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External
Since: Oct 29, 2004
Posts: 107
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(Msg. 14) Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 8:55 pm
Post subject: Re: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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Xocyll wrote:
>
> This is something that varies between monitors, some are just plain
> darker than others.
>
> The monitor i'm currently using (Samsung SyncMaster 750s) has both the
> brightness and contrast at max just to be usable, and it's been like
> that since the day I bought it brand new, many years ago.
>
> Various 14" monitors in the past have had bright ones and quite dark
> ones - it's just one of those things.
>
> Xocyll
Yes, *usually* with a good CRT they start to dim as they wear out, but
of course you're right, and I am only referencing anecdotal evidence here.
Cheers,
-joe.
________________________________________________
I must be lost: I've passed the point of no
return three times in the last hour. >> Stay informed about: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? |
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External
Since: Jan 08, 2005
Posts: 1819
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(Msg. 15) Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2005 1:15 pm
Post subject: Re: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
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Joe Mama <bloodywanker DeleteThis @drugsmakemecool.com> looked up from reading the
entrails of the porn spammer to utter "The Augury is good, the signs
say:
>Xocyll wrote:
>>
>> This is something that varies between monitors, some are just plain
>> darker than others.
>>
>> The monitor i'm currently using (Samsung SyncMaster 750s) has both the
>> brightness and contrast at max just to be usable, and it's been like
>> that since the day I bought it brand new, many years ago.
>>
>> Various 14" monitors in the past have had bright ones and quite dark
>> ones - it's just one of those things.
>>
>> Xocyll
>
>Yes, *usually* with a good CRT they start to dim as they wear out, but
>of course you're right, and I am only referencing anecdotal evidence here.
Heh, in the case of one of the monitors I had it got brighter the last
couple months before it died.
You'd turn it on and it would go super-bright (as in throwing enough
light to read by even with brightness and contrast at minimum) and after
30 minutes or so it would drop back toward more normal levels.
Xocyll
--
I don't particularly want you to FOAD, myself. You'll be more of
a cautionary example if you'll FO And Get Chronically, Incurably,
Painfully, Progressively, Expensively, Debilitatingly Ill. So
FOAGCIPPEDI. -- Mike Andrews responding to an idiot in asr >> Stay informed about: is something wrong with my quake 4 graphics? |
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