The Matrix: A Decade of Awakening Minds

This year marks the 10^th anniversary of the Matrix. It’s hard to believe that it’s really a decade old. Some of us weren’t even old enough to drive or stay home alone hehe. Some of us were just out of high school or College and some of us were just old enough to drink legally.

In 1999 I was an 18 year old living in Orlando Fl, and the night I saw the Matrix, I knew movies would never be the same. When Trinity for the first time suspends herself in midair defying gravity, I think I gasped out loud, along with the rest of the theater. I had never experienced that kind of wonderment, except maybe the first time I saw Star Wars.

This movie was the little movie that could, word of mouth spread like wildfire, not expecting to do anything but flop it ended up being the most talked about movie in decades winning academy awards and the respect of moviemakers. They proceeded to copy the Matrix’s trademark slow 360 camera spin in just about every movie that followed. It was so remarkable it upstaged the return of Star Wars. In a way it changed how movies were made forever.

It opened doors to our minds, made us think and ponder our very existence. It was much more then just a movie. It was the key to our own inner thoughts and questions. Philosophy was never cooler. We tried to decode every nook and granny of that movie, trying to find life’s answers. Till this day debates rage about Reality VS the Dream world. Was it really possible the movie could be not so sci fi after all?.

The Matrix Universe expanded in 2003 giving us two more films to devour. More hidden messages, and religious overtones. More hallways to pursue, characters that helped put the pieces of the puzzle together. Though not all understood or liked the last film, it still held valuable insight to our thought process and the lengths we will go through for love. Cuz after all it didn’t ONLY come down to choice did it?

That brings us to 2004. The world was finally ours to explore first hand. The Matrix Online was the game of all games. We immersed ourselves into the landscape free to choose any organization we wanted. We could try to walk in Neo, Morpheus, or even an Agent’s footsteps to understand what we stood for, fought for or to protect.. My time spend inside the MXO is one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. So many friends and community I will miss. It’s a big part of my life and I’m grateful to have had the chance to be apart of it. In such a short time we’ve all experienced so much together, learning about WHAT IS THE MATRIX? I guess it’s really what is the Matrix to YOU?

As we know all good things come to an end and it’s only appropriate it comes at the Ten year mark of the Matrix. The birth and death if you will.  It began in 1999 and will unplug for the last time now 2009. A decade of awakened minds that will never forget the ride we’ve all taken together. Here’s to all of you!

/Salute

Midnight

I dedicate these two videos to all of you to remember the good times, the nostalgia and to the Rabbit Hole we will never get tired of being sucked down in.

THE MATRIX TRILOGY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNG2AxHifhc

THE MXO ONLINE THE EARLY DAYS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pqk7HtdKH90

Remind me again why this was removed? Perhaps this could be a good parting gift for those who want to play the class.

Its already in their system isn't it? Couldn't they just put back into play.

I think that would be very cool to allow us some new if not small content.

So alot of us seem to be either just starting or just about to finish up college. I was wondering what kind of fields others are studying.

So what's your concentration and what do you plan on doing after graduating?

I'm about finished my two year but I have to transfer right away to the four year college so though It will feel like a accomplishment, I will have to basically do another two years right after. I'm studying Forensics and Criminal Justice, concentration in Crime Scene/Forensics. My final this week is for fingerprinting.. and man it's hard.

I want to work in federal law enforcement either FBI or NCIS. I hope to have a internship in a year and a half  at either the FBI or NCIS.

Since the game is ending, is it possible to allow us the right to make up our own title's under our name. As long as it's not rude, swearing or anything inappropriate.

We are individuals and it would be nice to be able to have our own personality that seperates us from one another.

Pretty Please?

Ice with his "Tail"

If your a basketball fan or even if your not, who do you think will win?

Los Angeles Lakers or Orlando Magic and why?

Myself I hope the Orlando Magic wins, Dwight Howards and his team mates have been on fire, who would've thought they could pretty much wipe the floor with the Cavs? I didn't.

Just curious

I was just turned on to this recently and I must say it has a very cool futuristic look, not MXO but maybe something similar to keep us entertained, I will be checking this out myself and have signed up for Beta.

the link is

www.fallenearth.com

Whose going to that game?

Hey where did the recursion board go? Anyway theres some nice pvp in mara for once in I dont know how long. Anyone wants to join it would be awesome. We need some machines and mervs

I have had some great memories of sigs that have been created by some very cool and people, a majority of mine by NoJ,Aqua, though before I met him a good friend of mine  Zeroblank made a few. I have so many but I just picked my favorites.

Just now going through my old MXO pics I found a few. Here are some of mine. Aww the memories again.

My first sig ever use.This was early beta when the forum had just gone up and we didnt have access to the game yet. Serenity was made for the RP section. I got the name midnight from her blue suit.

My first sig with my actual name. Zeroblank made this one and the one above it

The rest just upgraded over time

Some of Aqua and Noj's handy work

My personal favorite one

Finally some work by GARU

Those are some of my favorites, What are some of yours?

I was really sad to hear this news, though I knew someday it would come. I haven't been active in a couple years, though I have stopped by here and there to keep my character. It's different though when you leave on your own, you make that choice with that you can always return at anytime, its not the same when that choice is made for you.

What I felt instantly when I read the email this morning was a wave of saddness, memories and the sad acceptence that after next month I will never step foot into the Matrix again. Though people from the outside may laugh at the fact were sad about a game ending it's so much more then that. First of all alot of real life friends have been made through here, alot of real world events have been hosted and even some have found true love. Its not just a game it's a real breathing world and alot of people may lose touch with each other over some time.

Second nothing came close to MXO MMO wise, I know there are other games like WOW or LOTR but it still doesn't have the same realistic vibe the Matrix did, I feel like a part of my young adult life has ended. Most people don't realize the Matrix itself is now over a decade old!! Its a huge part of alot of people's lives and with this game ending, it's both bittersweet and a shame such potential was washed down the drain.. There were people wanting this to succeed, they didn't see that as valuable enough I guess but alas..

There is a silver lining as small as it may seem, We have one month to get everyone back into the game to share the last of our Matrix Redpill lives togather, Go out in style. Forget the past, forget the bitterness you may have for one another and enjoy what little time we have left. In hindsight looking back at some issues they seem so trival and silly, My sincere apology to anyone I may have had problems with in the past

I'd like to ask faction leaders and crew members to spread the world and rejoin before June 1st to have one last journey togather, I will also be putting togather one last major PvP battle to go out with a major bleeping bang!

Though most may wait till july to actively jack in, it's still a wonderful way to say goodbye.  The last day is 31st I propose a two day pvp battle before hand on each server. I want one last memory before my jack is unplugged for good.

Spread the Word

Midnight

Hey If anyone is on Recursion and is a high level I need some people to help me out with some storyboards I'm doing.

MXO has such realistic enviornments it's fantastic for storyboarding. I need about two people. Two guys would be great, also one female.

These characters are to look very scary bad a**, perhaps halloween costumes? There suppose to be vampires that a character kills in a hand to hand battle.

I will also need help taking some shot of me on certain buildings etc. If anyone wants to help out please let me know asap.

Thank You

I'm so excited today I got a HDMI cable to hook up my new laptop to my big screen tv and it's amazing!

It's crystal clear and in HD, the game is really really fun now.

I took a couple pics but alas the quality of the camera isn't very good but you get a  idea

Hey guys,

I'm Midnight from Recursion, I just came back from being gone for two years and decided to leveling a character on syntax.

Its sad to see so many people gone, but I may as well start from scratch. I'm currently level 7 with the handle Midnight2 (yeah i know how original ) anyway if there are any level 50s out there who can help me level, I would like to start with all the hardlines.

I'll be in game asap till about 5pm pst

Thanks alot!

Midnight

Matrix is my all time favorite film but Star Wars is a close second. I grew up with the originals and I thought I'd share some recent pictures.

What do you do when you've had a hard day, or a horrible week? If your like us you beat the crap out of each other with sabers.

A group of us had some fun last night ontop a parking garage at like midnight.

I'll add more later on when my friend sends them but here's two of my favorite group poses. " width="15" height="15">

*This one is cool too, I forgot I had this one as well. Sith rule mahaha. Im alittle burry though.

** Yes that guy in the middle is Shia Labeouf from Transformers and the new indy movie. Sorry I forgot to add that.

Ok So I've been trying to get back into the game, and have had all the patches downloaded.

I go to log in and it's fine, it goes to the Loading area and everything looks and sounds perfect. The second I go to load in a world my entire screen goes BLACK but I can hear everything as normal and once the code is done though I can't see anything I know that on the other side I look fine.  Also sometimes it loads properly for a few seconds then goes black and my computer is automatically restarted!

I had crowlos log in to where I was and he said I looked fine and could move and everything. I've tried restarting computer a few times and that doesn't help. We also made sure I had all the newest driver downloads and graphic cards etc. We spend three hours last night trying to figure it out. It maybe ram but i've never had problems with MXO.

Now I have no idea what to do.

Oh man I was excited when I saw this then I remembered there was no movie lol.

Great photoshop work whoever did it though. It's flawless.

Your eyes aren't messing with you.

I wanted to say hello it's been a year almost to the day that I left. How is everyone? Any new changes to the game?

I wanted to make sure my character was still here  and visit all my friends. I've thought about you all often and miss playing with you.  I've been doing alot since I left and guess since I'm here for a month I will download the game again and jack in to say hello in person.

Needed a break from Zion

*waves*

For Zippy!

Universal Studios is opening up a Harry Potter theme park in Florida complete with the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Forbidden Forest and Hogsmeade village.

"The Wizarding World of Harry Potter," will open in late 2009 in Orlando, officials said Thursday.

"The plans I've seen look incredibly exciting, and I don't think fans of the books or films will be disappointed," said author J.K. Rowling, who has been working with a creative team to make sure the park resembles the books and films.

More than a dozen artists and designers lead by Stuart Craig, the production designer of the movies, have set up house in the studio where the movies are being filmed to make sure every detail is considered, according to Scott Trowbridge of Universal.

"We're really going to the people who know this world best to ensure that level of authenticity," he said.

The Potter park will allow visitors to view the iconic locations in Rowling's magical world, like Dumbledore's office in Hogwarts and the shops in Hogsmeade. Some locations may be in upcoming books, Trowbridge said.

Trowbridge said while there would not be any character lookalikes at the park, fans wanting to see Harry Potter and his magical friends wouldn't leave disappointed.

"This is Harry's world," said Trowbridge. "Most every fan wants to have an encounter with the star of the show."

Hmm this could be interesting indeed.

Not that this is a shock or anything, but in light of recent events regarding Paris Hilton you would THINK these young stars would wake up.. But I guess not.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070527...ce/people_lohan

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -  Lindsay Lohan was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence Saturday after her convertible struck a curb, and investigators found what they believe is cocaine at the scene, police said.

Lohan, 20, and two other people were in her 2005 Mercedes SL-65 when it crashed on Sunset Boulevard around 5:30 a.m., Sgt. Mike Foxen said. It appeared the actress was speeding, Lt. Mitch McCann said at an afternoon news conference.

Officers at the scene found a "usable amount" of a drug tentatively identified as cocaine, McCann said. He declined to say where the drug was found other than to say Lohan was not carrying it.

Lohan, who spent time at a rehabilitation center earlier this year, was driven in another car to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries, McCann said. The two other people in her car were not hurt.

Officers received a 911 call about the accident and arrested Lohan at the hospital for investigation of misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, McCann said.

She was released from custody because she was admitted to the hospital, police said.

McCann declined to comment on Lohan's blood-alcohol level. He said the case will be presented to the District Attorney's Office where the actress could face more charges, including felonies. Her tentative arraignment date is Aug. 24.

The crash was Lohan's third accident in about two years. In October 2005, Lohan and a passenger received minor injuries when her convertible hit a van in West Hollywood. Authorities said the van driver, who also received minor injuries, was at fault.

Months earlier, Lohan collided with a minivan when she made a U-turn as the van, carrying paparazzi, followed her from a Los Angeles restaurant. A photographer was arrested for investigation of assault with a deadly weapon but prosecutors declined to charge him.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

After months of denying she was a drug addict or was a drinker she is caught red handed with that stuff in her car. Very sad.

I bet Imax is happy about this news

The Terminator is making good on its coming-back word. The Governator, not so much.

The Halcyon Company has announced plans to revive the cyborg-battling movie series with at least three more films, after the production company purchased all rights to the dormant franchise for an undisclosed, though likely eight-figure, sum.

But while Halcyon founders Victor Kubicek and Derek Anderson are looking to begin preproduction on Terminator 4 as soon as possible, they will do so without a leading man. Or man-machine.

Plot details for the fourth film have been kept under tight wraps, though are said to pick up with John Connor, heir to the rebellion, in his thirties, leading the remainder of the human race in its ever-worsening battle against the machines. As the film will mark the beginning of a new trilogy, rather than a continuation of the previous three installments, its unlikely that the Terminator himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger, will even take part in the film reinvention, other than perhaps a cameo.

Of course, there are other reasons why the Ah-nuld won't be featured on the big screen. He has a bit of a schedule conflict due to matters of a more gubernatorial nature.

T4 has already been fast-tracked for production, with Halcyon looking to get the installment in theaters by summer 2009. As it is, Schwarzenegger will be leading the state of California through 2011.

While a spokeswoman for the governor asserts that "no law says he couldn't" star in the reimagined flick if he wanted to, the project was nonetheless "not even on his radar."

Still, the franchise's new minders aren't worried about extending the brand beyond Arnie.

"With T3, we included many incidental details and plot points that, along with the ain narrative, set the stage for an entirely new set of inter-related stories covering the future adventures of John Connor and the Terminators," producer Moritz Borman said. "This new Terminator trilogy will build upon the already huge worldwide Terminator fan base, which was both revitalized and expanded with the global success of T3."

In fact, T3, along with T2 and, well, plain old T, have grossed just over $1 billion worldwide since Terminator was first released in 1984.

"The Terminator franchise represents by far the most popular and successful franchise not owned by a major studio," Kubicek said. "We see this global franchise as a cornerstone of Halcyon's future business plans."

A very large cornerstone.

In addition to the big-screen cyborg saga, the company snapped up all future merchandising and licensing rights to the franchise, future revenue generated by T3: Rise of the Machines and a portion of the rights to an almost guaranteed TV series based on the films.

Warner Bros. has already filmed a pilot for The Sarah Connor Chronicles, an hourlong show based around the Terminator character and mythology surrounding the movies. According to Variety, Fox has already expressed interest in the project, and could opt to pick up the series at next week's upfronts, when the fall prime-time schedules are unveiled.

The death of the cassette made me look up some other stuff I grew up with and found some great memories.

Let's see how many remember the great 80s

Bonkers anyone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeffKUWZIng

The first computer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_f3...ated&search=

The Noid! OH no I thought he was gone forever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaD8...ated&search=

One of my favorites Superhero's contest. Love how only Wonder Womans torso moves

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9A9VgyIgas

When LucasArts buzzed us about unveiling a brand new IP, we were a bit confused. Was there a Jedi mutiny? Did Indy get bit by one snake too many? Why would a company known for some of the most dependable franchises in the world bother with the risky business of building a new one from scratch?

The answer is simple: they wanted to break new ground. Or let you do it for them.

Indeed, "terrain deformation" is the name of the game in Fracture, LucasArts' and developer Day 1's upcoming third-person action behemoth for the Xbox 360 and PS3. In allowing players to literally transform the battlefield by raising, lowering, or flat out obliterating the terrain itself, Day 1 is going full-bore after one of gaming's most elusive holy grails.

Games have attempted this before, most notably THQ's Red Faction series. Fracture looks to differentiate itself by giving players unprecedented freedom in how they manipulate the land, hoping to marry classic, linear game design with truly unscripted sandbox elements.

"The ways that we give the players the ability to deform the terrain are completely unique," said producer David Perkinson. "This is a living, dynamic battlefield that the player will be able to reshape completely on the fly -- terrain deformation is the key mechanic in the game."

After watching a very early build of it in action, we wouldn't argue.

Set in 2161, Fracture tells the potentially prescient tale of a world torn apart by global warming. The polar ice cap has melted, flooding the Mississippi and effectively splitting the U.S. in half. The crisis quickly becomes a global issue as the Western states ally with Asian nations to form Pacifica, a faction founded on the belief that genetic engineering holds the secret to survival, while the East sides with Europe to become the Atlantic Alliance, who take the moral high ground by embracing cybernetics. To settle the score, the two sides meet in a newly parched San Francisco for some good, old-fashioned fisticuffs.

Well, maybe not so old-fashioned. As Atlantic Alliance demolitions expert Mason Briggs, you're armed to the teeth with an array of brutal weaponry capable of dishing out pain to both man and soil. Tectonic grenades cause the ground to erupt upwards, instantly creating mountains out of molehills; conversely, subsonic grenades actually carve chunks out of the ground. Clever use of the two leads to a myriad of tactical strategies, such as blasting open a pit for impromptu cover or building a hill to increase your line of sight. Normal gunfire will also chip away at the terrain, letting you mold each level like a ball of clay.

It doesn't stop there. The Bangalore rocket launcher enjoys an alternate fire (all weapons do, in fact) that's essentially a burrowing missile. Can't seem to crack that enemy bunker? Try an underground torpedo. Wicked vortex grenades suck earth and enemy alike into violent, electrical tornadoes that can quickly change the tide of an outnumbered assault. Perhaps most impressive of all, the killer spike grenades summon enormous pillars of magma that not only act as terrific shields, but can launch you or your enemies several stories high. The deathmatch possibilities are, in a word, awesome. And don't fret, because both Xbox 360 and PS3 versions will enjoy full multiplayer, though the specifics are still under wraps.

With its innovative gameplay mechanics and compelling, real-world narrative, Fracture has loads of potential. Whether or not it has the staying power to stand shoulder to shoulder with LucasArts' more iconic franchises remains to be seen, but with a full year left in development (the game doesn't ship until summer '0, we're excited to watch it grow

-Yahoo News

LOS ANGELES - A judge sentenced Paris Hilton to 45 days in county jail Friday for violating her probation, putting the brakes on the hotel heiress' famous high life.

The judge, saying "there's no doubt she knew her license had been suspended," ruled that she was in violation of the terms of her probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case.
"I'm very sorry and from now on I'm going to pay complete attention to everything. I'm sorry and I did not do it on purpose at all," she told the judge before he announced the sentence.
She was then ordered to report to a women's jail in suburban Lynwood by the set date or face 90 days behind bars. The judge's ruling excluded her from paying to serve time in a jail of her choice, as some are allowed.

As a city prosecutor said during closing arguments that Hilton deserved jail time, Hilton's mother, Kathy, laughed. When the judge ruled, Kathy Hilton then blurted out: "May I have your autograph?"
Paris Hilton was among a series of witnesses who took the stand during the hearing. She testified she believed her license was initially suspended for 30 days and that she was allowed to drive for work purposes during the next 90 days.

She said that when an officer who stopped her in January made her sign a document stating her license was suspended, she thought he was mistaken and did not actually look at the document.

Also called to the stand was Hilton's spokesman, Elliot Mintz. Hilton and her attorneys characterized Mintz as a liaison between Hilton and her lawyers.

Mintz testified that to his knowledge Hilton did not drive during the 30-day period. He said he then advised her that he believed her license was no longer suspended.

The judge called Mintz's testimony worthless and expressed disbelief at Hilton's lawyers.

"I can't believe that either attorney did not tell her that the suspension had been upheld," the judge said. "She wanted to disregard everything that was said and continue to drive no matter what."

Hilton looked forward and didn't speak to news media as she left court. Her mother looked upset.
When a reporter asked what she thought of the judge's decision, a visibly angry Kathy Hilton responded: "What do you think? This is pathetic and disgusting, a waste of taxpayer money with all this nonsense. This is a joke."

Defense attorney Howard Weitzman said he would appeal.
"I'm shocked, I'm surprised and really disheartened in the system that I've worked in for close to 40 years," Weitzman said.
He said the sentence was "uncalled for, inappropriate and bordered on the ludicrous."

"I think she's singled out because of who she is," Weitzman said.

Hilton had arrived at the Metropolitan Courthouse 10 minutes late and ignored screams of photographers as she swept in with her attorneys, mother and father, Rick Hilton. Wearing a gray jacket and white shirt over black slacks and with a black headband on, she said nothing and appeared serious.

The celebrity case brought an unusual scene to the austere courthouse south of downtown in a commercial area. As if at a red carpet event, dozens of photographers and reporters lined up at the rear entrance. Yellow police tape substituted for velvet ropes.

Hilton, 26, pleaded no contest in January to reckless driving stemming from a Sept. 7 arrest in Hollywood. Police said she appeared intoxicated and failed a field sobriety test. She had a blood-alcohol level of .08 percent, the level at which an adult driver is in violation of the law.

She was sentenced to 36 months probation, alcohol education and $1,500 in fines.
Two other traffic stops and failure to enroll in a mandated alcohol education program, are what landed the socialite back in court.

On Jan. 15, Hilton was pulled over by California Highway Patrol. Officers informed her that she was driving on a suspended license and she signed a document acknowledging that she was not to drive, according to papers filed in Superior Court.

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies stopped Hilton on Feb. 27 and charged her with violating her probation. Police said she was pulled over at about 11 p.m. after authorities saw the car speeding with its headlights off.

Mintz said at the time Hilton wasn't aware her license was suspended. A copy of the document Hilton signed on Jan. 15 was found in the car's glove compartment, court papers say.
Hilton was also required to enroll in an alcohol education program by Feb. 12. As of April 17, she had not enrolled, prosecutors said.
Hilton, heiress to the Hilton Hotel fortune, first gained notoriety for her hard partying as a teen. She attracted worldwide attention when a sex tape she made with a boyfriend was released on the Internet.

This contest will be completely different then the last one, so other people can participate.

I will give you the full details after the MXO Poster contest is done.

This one will be a Creative Writing Contest. A wide variety of things will be accepted. The Prizes will be the same as well.

This will be a great follow up to Contest # 1.

Stay tuned for more!

Follow the link

Link Here

This contest will be completely different then the last one, so other people can participate.

I will give you the full details after the MXO Poster contest is done.

This one will be a Creative Writing Contest. A wide variety of things will be accepted. The Prizes will be the same as well.

This will be a great follow up to Contest # 1.

Stay tuned for more!

Have heard any stupid comments or quotes from a celebrity that you shake your head in shame for them?

Post them here.

I'll go first

I loved Jordan. He was one of the greatest athletes of our time.
-Mariah Carey, on the death of the King of Jordan

I think there is a Trojan horse lurking in the weeds trying to pull a fast one on the American people.
-George W Bush

I get to go to lots of overseas places, like Canada.
-Paris Hilton

Is it just me or has the show gone from groundbreaking in finding talent, to a weekly showcase for has been or aging music stars??

Its like they completely forgot what the show is suppose to be for.

Is anyone else suddenly having issues viewing the poll?

It is giving me error messages.

An Error Has Occurred

Please use your browser's back button and try again.
Reason: No row with the given identifier exists: [net.jforum.entities.Poll#9]