I've been really excited about the new hardware accelerated Stage 3D option in flash, but after doing a bit of reading on it I've found out that it will only be supported by graphics cards with drivers newer than 2009 that support Pixel Shader 2+.

I'm wondering why Adobe made the decision to do this seeing as how most flash gamers/developers are in the casual market where older/slower computers are the norm. I looked to see if I could update the driver on my computer but the latest driver I could find was for 2006, so no deal. And anyway, what casual gamer is going to go to the trouble to update their graphics card just to play a flash game. They have a software option, but it's not worth spending any time developing for it in my opinion.

So I'm just wondering how many people here can actually use the hardware rendering.

I found a good test here: http://www.mcfunkypants.com/2011/flash 11-stage3d-tutorial-handling-init-erro rs/

Make sure you've installed the latest update of the flash player (version 11) then scroll down past the tutorial part to the first example in that link. It'll say in the top left "3D Mode." Mine says "Software (Direct Blitting)." I think if it's running on your hardware it'll tell you "Direct X" or "Open GL."

It's actually pretty different, I think. Kind of ritualistic and tribal, robot style. :D

http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen /432581

Check it out!

When they said, "No, it ACTUALLY sounds like someone is taking a shit in your ear," I was thinking they HAD to mean dubstep, LOL. Of course, it seems like a lot of mainstream pop is doing break beats and dub style basses now so maybe they just picked up on it from that end.

Discuss!

Now click here.

Azurefish has been unleashed! Go play it!

http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/
566907

Also, tell me all the things you want to see in William and Sly 2, I've started working on it.

The next game in the Ether series has FINALLY arrived! Hooray and all that crap...

This game has had the hardest time so far, so I'm hoping that won't continue into a downward spiral of doom and destruction. If you guys like it, leave me a review! I do read all of them, even though I might not always respond. You can only say "thanx 4 review!!!" so many ways, you know?

GOGOGOGOGOGOGOGO!!!!

I thought I'd be dramatic like M-L-S.

Help! I adopted a puppy from the shelter a few days ago and he suddenly got really sick! He was fine the first day, but then developed this really bad cough and big clumps of hair started falling out. I figured he was just nervous being somewhere new, or maybe because I had started his dog fight training too soon, but now I think it might be because I accidentally filled his new dog dish with ammonia!

I tried to return him but they said they wouldn't give me a refund and that I should bring him to a vet as soon as possible. The vet said he needed a full stomach and intestinal transplant but I don't have that kind of money; I'd have to buy another dog to get the replacement intestines on top of the $10,000 surgery...

Now, I know a lot of people have been making jokes about this, but this is serious business (srsly)! If I can't fix the little guy I'll never be able to fulfill my dream of winning the neighborhood Jack Russel puppy fighting championship!

Here's a link where you can donate money: Paypal

He was so cute the day I brought him home, so his current look is definitely more BA, but if I can't get the money for the surgery, he'll never be a fighter... D:

This was too good to pass up.

So I keep hearing about this pickle day, and apparently Tom made some game about a pickle a long time ago when he wasn't so damn old, and it was popular among emo goths and suicidal teenagers or something, and now people celebrate it in the same way respected historical figures are, except Martin Luther King day involves a lot less spam and a lot more people with bleeding hearts, which is a dangerous condition brought on by listening to John Stuart, or so I've heard. I'm not sure what a pickle has to do with all that, as I generally hate all semi rotten vegetables and also flash games and wouldn't be caught dead eating or playing either respectively, but I wish you all well and hope the pickle celebrations are done in a safe and non-violent manner (or at least reserve your violence for the designated stick men and poorly drawn video game references that have taken over the portal and are slowly dragging Newgrounds into a flaming pit of despair...or something).

On a different note, today I attended my last class EVAR (assuming I pass everything and I don't end up going to graduate school when I'm older and have more sense). This means from now on I'll have nothing but art to fill in the long hours of staying alive between sleeps. I'll either become monstrously prolific and rich, or wither into a wrinkly ball of despair, or both, as they aren't mutually exclusive. Either way, I'll need to pay the bills, so you can expect some new games by me to come soon to a portal near you.

Speaking of games, they're announcing the Tank Trophies today!! Since I'm wasting my FP news post wishing Tom a happy birthday, I'll go ahead and congratulate whoever won now. Or if it's me, then I retract my congratulations out of feigned modesty. I'm kind of hoping it isn't because then all that I have left to look forward to on my bucket list is a quick and painless death (DAMN YOU SATAN, YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!! Also, why are socks so darn difficult to put on your feet?)

On an unrelated note, pistachios.