Sword Art Online

[Aranneas]

on mechanics

if PKing is 'encouraged' that implies to me some sort of 'plunder' system. so either other players are the best source of resources/experience, or you actually get to take piece(s) of gear from your kills. the latter would also neatly tackle death penalties.

[valondar]

^
You know I do think you're right. It also clarifies why people really do not want to suffer that death penalty.

Which reminds me of a bit of the episode I liked I didn't comment on,

Kirito's reluctance to delete all his stuff. That made me smile, such a genuine MMOer moment.

[Klaaz]

"no one in their right mind would strap on that nerve gear helmet after the disaster with SAO."

People die every day from driving cars. Still we all keep using them.

[Nihatclodra]

Originally Posted by Itoukaiji01

Then there is the hardware they are using. I don't care that it's a different company running the thing, no one in their right mind would strap on that nerve gear helmet after the disaster with SAO. It's completely unbelievable that this game is populated with people or that it would even go on sale as it is.

*Raises hand* I would. Then again, I realize I'm hardly normal.

Originally Posted by valondar

I'd choose the game which actually has a log out function and which doesn't kill me in real life.

Lightweight. Though, I do agree on the logout option... I would rather eat real food than be hooked up to an IV in the hospital, eating virtual food.

[Pidjiken]

Such an epic episode.

[renorxukuth]

Episode 16

So creepy guy's company basically just took the available code and made a new world. Plus Kirito has all his stats from SAO and is essentially a badass, as shown in the fight towards the end of the episode. Also seeing the little girl program turned into a pixie was pretty cute.

[TheZippo]

I'm suprised nobody mentioned this yet,

as I think it was strongly implied when Yui explained how the graphics and programming of Alf-whatever are the copy of SAO.

1) The creepy guy said he's keeping Asuna alive. At the time we figured that he meant that by continuing the company running, her mind wasn't completely lost yet.

2) Asuna appears to be in another MMO

3) The MMO that she's in happens to run on the same SAO software as if it was purposely made to be able to take and keep the minds of those from SAO.

4) The creepy guy benefits from Asuna being asleep and is in charge for Alf-whatever.

5) In game Asuna seems to be literally tapped in the game by a cage as though to make sure she can't get out.

Putting 2 and 2 together I'm at the conclusion that the creepy dude used the SAO graphics for the new game in order to trap Asuna in there so that he can marry her. He may intend then to "free" her afterwards so that even though she wakes up, he gets all the benefits.

[Seyren]

Episode 16

I shared that 'coming home' feeling with Kirito. We're in the virtual world once more. Loved the part where he was so reluctant to delete his items, even though they we're completely useless in Alfheim. Not sure what i think about him keeping all his stats though. He's basically the strongest player already, so who is going to give us some good action then?

[hoffstyle]

Originally Posted by valondar

Episode 15

Considering you could basically just rephrase his argument as a critique of the story of the light novels, this is not much of a comeback.

He listed a specific story based dislike as if it should have been rewritten to suit his taste. I am merely pointing out that as far as the

Damsel in distress, Princess is in Another Castle thing goes

This is already set in stone. The LN's are already in existence. You can't unring the bell as far as the basic plot goes. Hence why I suggested he go with an anime that has original content.

[valondar]

Originally Posted by hoffstyle

This is already set in stone. The LN's are already in existence. You can't unring the bell as far as the basic plot goes. Hence why I suggested he go with an anime that has original content.

If the LNs have made bad decisions a viewer doesn't care for it's quite acceptable to critize that in a series based on the LNs because that is part of the product. You don't like this story and think its crap? That it's based on a novel series with the same idea you consider dumb does not magically give a bad story a pass.

So yeah if someone thinks that plot point X would have worked out better in the TV series, it's also possible they'd think it would have been a better route for the LN to take. Changing the LNs is entirely academic, but then, so is changing the series - even if this was an original anime, they would have several episodes already written ahead by the time we're discussing the latest one.

And the logical conclusion of 'this is from the LN therefore you can't criticize it' is to only complain about derivations from the LN, or only to discuss the show's animation, voice acting, and music. And yeaaaaaah... not interested in that.