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The funny thing is when ZDNet Australia asked random people about KDE4, people said they thought it was the next version of Windows.

So yeah, we're still keeping up hope 2011 is going to be the Year of the Linux Desktop.

I can't seem to follow this, nor get it straight in my mind.

It all started as rumors such as this one.

But, then, they announced that it was official and that Valve had announced that it would be launching a Linux version. I do not recall seeing any actual Valve announcement, but this news hit Slashdot like a "Microsoft-is-dead!"-news-issue: http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/its-official-steam-coming-linux
And they say:

We recently touched on one way of being a Linux gamer. Recent news that Valve Software will soon be releasing a Linux client promises to provide another option for Linux gamers. The news could not come at a better time as the world will shortly focus on gaming with the upcoming, industry-only E3 conference, the crown jewel of the gaming industry.

While there are still no details on the list of game titles that will be available, the announcement alone is reason for any Linux gamer to get excited. Steam is a content delivery system for gamers which allows you to buy and download game titles and related media, once you have the client installed.

So, how do we go from announced to "not happening". Was this "announcement" a fake? It seems like it was...otherwise someone is BS me...

No, *I* didn't "solve" anything, I simply listen to what the actual facts are from a number of different news and science sources instead of getting my "information" from partisan political sources.

Really? I asked ScienceDaily what caused the oil spill in the gulf of mexico but I didn't find your actual facts. I didn't find the answer on Scienceblips. Science Centric didn't answer it either.

Since you're now down to attacking the messenger without being able to actually refute any of the facts or logical arguments I've presented in any of my replies, you're obviously now running on nothing but ideological fumes, so this will be my last post in this thread.

What facts? You didn't provide any scientific facts. So consider this my last post in this thread.

Falcon

Bah! Already done and perhaps much better than what these guys have. http://earthblips.dailyradar.com/story/the-kiran/

unless he continues to be right. So far, the "CO2 is the cause" crowd have continued to get it wrong, so why do so many people continue to listen to them? The initial theory of CO2 heating the planet up was based on the observations of Venus' atmosphere and temperature. Venus was described as a runaway greenhouse effect. While it's true that the atmosphere of Venus has a much higher concentration of CO2 than on Earth, it's also true that Mars has a higher concentration of CO2. Venus is much hotter than Earth, Mars is much colder. So what gives? Scientists have more recently concluded that the high temperatures on Venus aren't cause by a greenhouse effect.

No Scientists did not conclude that the high temperatures on Venus aren't cause by a greenhouse effect.

Anthony Watts, a climate sceptic and meteorologist, posted an entry by Steve Goddard (I don't know his qualifications) on his blog that said the high temperatures on Venus aren't cause by a greenhouse effect. If you want me to take that post seriously than show me the paper in a respectable peer reviewed scientific journal that says the same thing. That way I know that at least some knowledgeable scientists have looked at the paper and checked the data and calculations.

I'm sorry but I've seen more than enough "scientific" blog posts and it will take more than that to convince me of an argument.

unless he continues to be right. So far, the "CO2 is the cause" crowd have continued to get it wrong, so why do so many people continue to listen to them? The initial theory of CO2 heating the planet up was based on the observations of Venus' atmosphere and temperature. Venus was described as a runaway greenhouse effect. While it's true that the atmosphere of Venus has a much higher concentration of CO2 than on Earth, it's also true that Mars has a higher concentration of CO2. Venus is much hotter than Earth, Mars is much colder. So what gives? Scientists have more recently concluded that the high temperatures on Venus aren't cause by a greenhouse effect.

"Android fragmentation begins"? I don't think so. It's in full-swing.

Seems like every week some marketing dweeb comes up with the brilliant idea to create yet another app store. Motorola and Lenovo have their own, as does China Mobile. That's not even counting the dime-a-dozen independent entries with names like Handango, Cellmania, AndAppStore, MobiHand, GetJar, Nexva, SlideMe, etc. etc.

I am an Android developer, and get an email every week from yet another app store. Each has its own custom requirements and contract overhead, and they expect us to do the work for free for the "privilege" of joining their flock and whatever scheme-of-the-day they are concocting as their business plan.

No thanks. I dump those emails and stick with the Android Market. For all its flaws, developers need to show solidarity and work towards improving it. The alternative is to give away your work and place it in the hands of the likes of wireless carriers, who will continue their land grab game at the expense of the developers, innovators, and consumers.

All true. However I do like how it exposes Rush, and those who support him, as anti-progress Luddites. Actually, that’s being unfair to Luddites. Luddites are quite a few notches above Tea Partiers. Calling them knuckle-dragging cavemen is belittling to cavemen.

Do you have any proof showing that UAC and Protected Mode does not guard against this exploit or others? So far from the security researchers, I've only read very specific conditions under the latest systems that it's a problem.

Oh, so you have already read about conditions where this happens? Guess I dont have to answer this one then, do I?

Besides, I already gave you an example earlier. But just for shits and giggles, here's one that references the chances at 1% on IE8/Vista or IE8/Win7:

DEP Bypassed

Now, while 1% seems a trivial number, it is actually quite large when installed base is taken into account... or only a few million machines.

Then add to that, such an exploit can be attempted multiple times on a machine, which raises the likeliness of the exploit working.

And here's one more recent that states it is even more likely and has been proven to be possible:

Aurora Exploit

Hmmm... does that one sound familiar? Maybe the one this patch is supposed to address?

Or this one: Crappy Ass Microsoft Javascript implementation vector for bypassing DEP

And one that was made available to govts and large security software vendors: DEP being bypassed

And one (just to add it to the list) to bypass XP and hardware DEP: ANI Cursor Exploit

Should I go on? There are TONS of pages I can go through... and I havent even started on the hotfixes and other patches Microsoft has released to fix earlier issues with DEP and UAC.

Knowing what I've read about the various security contests, the only thing that needs to be done is execute code as the user.

But what limited scope is this? Does the vulnerability get contained within the Low profile of IE? If it drops files in there, who gives a damn? Even if it can execute code at the medium privilege level, it still doesn't have access to core system files and settings.

Hmmm... I dunno... what did the .NET stuff do for both Firefox and IE? Is .NET really truly fixed this time? This is the 6th major attempt to do so, and probably the few dozenth attempt overall.

The severity of the vulnerability to me under Windows is what I care more about, simply saying the application is "vulnerable" isn't enough.

True... but then again, I make most of my "repair" money at the company I work for from fixing virus ridden machines running on default settings (DEP and UAC enabled) from customers who have (or claim to have) done nothing and clicked on nothing - other than visiting malicious sites before the most recent .NET patch.

Not that I'm downplaying the exploit nor any fixes for it, I'm just trying to shed light on the various methods used to prevent such things from gaining much traction on a user's computer.

If the exploit can get by IE Protected Mode and execute under medium integrity I'd be a bit worried, but the attack surface is very limited until it generates a UAC prompt.

When exactly does it do that? And you realize there are mechanisms built into Windows Vista and Windows Seven to bypass UAC, correct? I'm cleaning a machine right now with Vista on it (and UAC & DEP enabled), where winlogon was infected (along with just under 100 other files).

If the user clicks OK to the UAC prompt and lets the thing get elevated privileges, well, at that point I no longer blame the application--I blame the user.

I agree... but that is not needed in vari

Is it cooler than the CNC Toaster, or even than this toast printer?

When you claim the media is 'liberal' you do two things: you demonstrate that you do not understand what the word 'liberal' means, and that you subscribe to a simplistic view of the world where everything is black and white.

OK, then how's this: The media treats Democrats better than Republicans. I could also say that the media treated anti-war protesters much better than the anti-government-insurance protesters or "tea-baggers" as the press likes to call them.

Prime example: Here is a CNN reporter at two different protests. One is an anti-Bush protest where she calls a giant Bush head with a Hitler mustache a Bush "look alike". Then you see the exact same reporter interviewing a Tea Party protester with a picture of Obama as Hitler. She says, "do you have any idea how offensive that is?" Same situation, different presidents, different responses. Watch that and please tell me that the press is not biased.

Here is a quote from a UCLA study (not a conservative school, btw):

"Overall, the major media outlets are quite moderate compared to members of Congress, but even so, there is a quantifiable and significant bias in that nearly all of them lean to the left," said coâ'author Jeffrey Milyo, University of Missouri economist and public policy scholar.

Google "media bias" for more.

The current world record for time without sleep is 11 days.

Tied with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, I'm guessing.

The way I see how this is going down, Nintendo is going to go off and do its own thing, and just give Square the complimentary "Fuck You", if they ask to port a game to the gamecube. The consequences? Who knows?

The way I see how this is going down, Nintendo is going to go off and do its own thing, and just give Square the complimentary "Fuck You", if they ask to port a game to the gamecube. The consequences? Who knows?

"Canyonero! Canyonero!"

• http://www.google.com/search?q=john+carmack+xbox
  xbox.consoles-france.com/hardware/ (french - x-late here).
  http://www.dailyradar.com/features/game_feature_pa ge_1387_12.html

Sorry, but good riddens. I've read so many rediculous reviews on that site that I can only say I'll miss the comedic value. Reviews that liken games to works of incomprehensible genius for their obviously intended commentary on the world as we know it. Articles with shocking revelations like 'online games are going to be big'. WHA!??!!?

I will say that I'm surprised they could be short on money when even I accidentally click one of the 100 ads on their front page when I go looking for rediculously stupid articles. Forgive me for my cynicism, I just think that sites like OMM will do fine (despite the tragic loss of Daily Radar), simply because OMM doesn't suck.

Sorry, but good riddens. I've read so many rediculous reviews on that site that I can only say I'll miss the comedic value. Reviews that liken games to works of incomprehensible genius for their obviously intended commentary on the world as we know it. Articles with shocking revelations like 'online games are going to be big'. WHA!??!!?

I will say that I'm surprised they could be short on money when even I accidentally click one of the 100 ads on their front page when I go looking for rediculously stupid articles. Forgive me for my cynicism, I just think that sites like OMM will do fine (despite the tragic loss of Daily Radar), simply because OMM doesn't suck.

Sorry, but good riddens. I've read so many rediculous reviews on that site that I can only say I'll miss the comedic value. Reviews that liken games to works of incomprehensible genius for their obviously intended commentary on the world as we know it. Articles with shocking revelations like 'online games are going to be big'. WHA!??!!?

I will say that I'm surprised they could be short on money when even I accidentally click one of the 100 ads on their front page when I go looking for rediculously stupid articles. Forgive me for my cynicism, I just think that sites like OMM will do fine (despite the tragic loss of Daily Radar), simply because OMM doesn't suck.

I remember seeing this sort of thing in Popular Mechanics a while ago (or some mag), but it was using gasoline powered shoes. I found some interesting things on them however, they are gasoline powered shoes that allow you to get about 4 meters to the stride and allow people to run about 40km/hour (or so the article says) It comes from a russian design.

Daily radar has an article about them here and another article about the gaspowered shoes is available here I want a pair of these!

I noticed that Daily Radar has some nice videos and screen shots of GT3. I believe the official release date is June 15th in the U.S.. There's speculation of a lan/internet based GT3 being released before that time in Japan. There very well may be quite a few versions of GT3 out on the market before next spring. All I can say is.. be prepared for the biggest and best racing game ever. I know I am.

Why do people forget that as failed as the Nintendo 64 was Nintendo still sold double the gaming software of it's closest competitor, EA? Sure, this is due in large part to Pokemon and the Game Boy, but don't forget that while the PSX outsold the N64 in units, the N64 sold more games for the past few years. Nintendo and Rare have made a good number of the best console games in the last generation and I can't wait to see what they do with the GC.

My point is this: Nintendo doesn't have to 'learn' anything. Some people just need to figure out that they really are in their own league. Sony and Microsoft are making computers to play video games, Nintendo is making games that just happen to run on a computer. I'm not saying Nintendo is going to "win" any kind of "console war", but they'll do just fine because they know how to make games that are fun, unlike a large number of the PS2's mature titles, which tend to seem like a chore you undertake just to get to the next cutscene.

The other thing that bothers me is the assumption that Nintendo's games are for kids. I'm 23, I've been playing video games since I was four, I play Q3A, UT, Metal Gear, Total Annihilation, and a whole bunch of other "mature" games, and I still think that Mario Tennis is one of the most fun games I've ever played. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is the best example of level design in any game, period. Video games are supposed to be fun, if they happen to have blood and guts or "mature" themes, fine, but that isn't necessary. However, if it makes you feel any better, there do appear to be a good number of rated M games headed to the Cube at or just after launch, although Nintendo will probably only publish one of those (Perfect Dark 2, maybe, although it's my candidate for 'most likely to be delayed').

As for the non-standard media, this is seen by many as a great move on Nintendo's part. Because you can't pick up black GameCube disks a Best Buy, it's harder to pirate the games (probably not impossible, but much harder). This is a nice selling point to developers trying to decide which console to publish for. Also, they are much cheaper to manufacture than the cartridges, and the licensing fees for the GC are said to be as good as, or better than the PS2 (source: IGN GC FAQ).

Sure, here is the list of X-Box developers, as you can see there is well over 100.

The list of 3rd party developers for Gamecube can be found here. I think you mis-interpreted what I was saying about the GameCube (or I didn't express it well enough). Whilst the GameCube will DEFINATELY have AWESOME games which I and I'm sure many many other people can't wait to play, it will lack a surge of games which is what seemed to put the PS1 ahead of the N64 at the time. Whilst alot of the PS1 games were crap you have to understand that the average gamer is not even hardcore enough to recognise the quality of a game often and therefore choose quantity over quality.

The PS2 is getting a new model with a HD in Japan this week and it will also be sold as an addon at an unspecified later date.
My main point was that X-Box would recieve better sales due to the sheer number of developers compared to other consoles, innovative or not.

I came across this article (URL is http://www.dailyradar.com/news/game_news_7270.html for those of you in terror of links on /.). Basically DC software that will register and only work on one console, kinda like the read-once CD tracks and all the other 'innovations' in anti-piracy that will limit software to one machine/user.

So here's my question, the company may sell the second-hand programs, but will the user be able to use them if they employ such piracy protection?
If they can't, wouldn't that probably be considered interfering with the company's right to sell second-hand software, i.e. by limiting the functionality of second-user software. If so, then any company implementing such 'protection' would have to have a pretty accessible back-door. And, as we all know, hacker's can never find those back-doors(sarcasim).
In short, that implies that this case is pretty landmark(from what I gather - the link won't load on my machine).

8)

I came across this article (URL is http://www.dailyradar.com/news/game_news_7270.html for those of you in terror of links on /.). Basically DC software that will register and only work on one console, kinda like the read-once CD tracks and all the other 'innovations' in anti-piracy that will limit software to one machine/user.

So here's my question, the company may sell the second-hand programs, but will the user be able to use them if they employ such piracy protection?
If they can't, wouldn't that probably be considered interfering with the company's right to sell second-hand software, i.e. by limiting the functionality of second-user software. If so, then any company implementing such 'protection' would have to have a pretty accessible back-door. And, as we all know, hacker's can never find those back-doors(sarcasim).
In short, that implies that this case is pretty landmark(from what I gather - the link won't load on my machine).

8)

New Hampshire is considering taxing video games and movies, and using the money to help sex crime victims. Says proponents: "both forms of entertainment often feature sexual violence or portray woman as objects of sexual gratification".

Does anybody think the connection being made her is a little tenuous?

Anyway, last I heard the GBA includes the GBC chip with it so it's 100% backwards compatible with all the old games

(Sega did the same thing with the Genesis, to play Master System games.) There was actually one title that required the original (green screen) Game Boy because it included a keyboard that plugged into the serial port on the side and didn't fit into the smaller connectors on GB Pocket and GB Color. This title was Workboy; it foreshadowed the modern PDA.

The machine uses the same LCD idea as the Gameboy Color (no backlight to save battery life), but with a larger resolution vs. a paltry 160x120 with 64 colors on screen at one time (Gameboy Color), it's hard to see. You can only go so far with upending resolutions on a not-backlit screen before people start to notice.

There are a couple of obvious design flaws. The cartridge stickers actually face *in*, so you can't see what game you're playing from the back when you turn the until off. The L and R buttons are a bit of an odd touch (traditionally, to use L and R you have to take your hands off the back of the device -- which in this case, would cause you to drop it). When you plug a normal Gameboy or Gameboy Color game in it sticks out the top of the unit.

Couple that with the Hello Kitty colors and the small-buttons, and you don't exactly have a game machine that's going to tie over the Playstation masses. If Sony ever decided to make a handheld device that could play PS One games (which has been rumored for years now), they would win over a lot of adult gamers. All they would need is a battery to recharge a small CD player, and a cost-effective screen like the Gameboy Advance.

P.S. Doom on Gameboy Advance is going to be like Doom for Super Nintendo. That is, slow frame rates, using Mode 7 to generate pixelated graphics. No texture smoothing. Just blocky goodness (and a tinny sounding speaker to hear the grunts).

Absolutely. This is one of the first games in a long time that really looks fun. Problem with most sim/strategy games is that they can be pretty boring. I'm usually very pessimistic about anything vaguely rpg using 3d but this just looks cool. I already pre-ordered one from amazon.

Seen a top 10 videogames list lately?

And ever heard the figure "one hundred million"? That's how many game boys have been sold in the last 12 years. Do you know any other console that's sold that well?
--

I used to have quite the unfavorable opinion of Joe for just these same reasons, until I read this interview, his position on gaming and children really makes a lot of sense. Games should be regulated like movies.

The "controller port" is the front panel of a Dreamcast mounted facing upwards.

Obviously it's a prototype, as advertised. Functionality comes first, then good looks.

The power supply board (toward the front of the case) has the power cable connector attached to it, which runs under the other board and out the back of the case.

Do you have any better ideas for getting power to the thing? (:

The "black thing" over the circuit board in the center of the unit is the standard GD-ROM drive mechanism.

Actually it's a heatsink covering the CPU and PowerVR (pic). The leads for where the GDROM drive would be, are going to the hard-drive looking apparatus at the front-left of the case. Coupled with the fact that it has what looks like an EPROM for the BIOS and two coax leads coming out of the back-left of the box, maybe this thing is exactly what they claim it is, a prototype of a box that lets you download games onto a hard drive and play them.

The "controller port" is the front panel of a Dreamcast mounted facing upwards.

Obviously it's a prototype, as advertised. Functionality comes first, then good looks.

The power supply board (toward the front of the case) has the power cable connector attached to it, which runs under the other board and out the back of the case.

Do you have any better ideas for getting power to the thing? (:

The "black thing" over the circuit board in the center of the unit is the standard GD-ROM drive mechanism.

Actually it's a heatsink covering the CPU and PowerVR (pic). The leads for where the GDROM drive would be, are going to the hard-drive looking apparatus at the front-left of the case. Coupled with the fact that it has what looks like an EPROM for the BIOS and two coax leads coming out of the back-left of the box, maybe this thing is exactly what they claim it is, a prototype of a box that lets you download games onto a hard drive and play them.

Such an irresponsible write-up leads to even more misinformation and bad rumors.

This is a set-top box. It is not a console.

Click here for a Daily Radar article on Sega's plans, and here for an article about their set-top plans specifically.

Such an irresponsible write-up leads to even more misinformation and bad rumors.

This is a set-top box. It is not a console.

Click here for a Daily Radar article on Sega's plans, and here for an article about their set-top plans specifically.

VFX, why not just call it Virtua Fighter 4? (note that Konami's Metal Gear Solid 2 for Xbox is named MGSX and Silent Hill 2 for Xbox is SHX)

The Xbox controller looks amazingly similar to the Dreamcast's.

Sega has announced a PC addon card that enables Dreamcast game playing (probably easy to integrate in the Xbox).

Yu Suzuki mentioned he wanted to release Shenmue 2 before the Xbox came out. How does the release of a new console affect the release of his game?

There has long been rumblings out of MS employees of a startling and huge announcement re: Xbox at TGS.

Gamers.com reports Bill Gates mentioning a bit of missing technology in the Xbox.

Gamers.com also reports that Famitsu mentions a huge developer going Xbox at the TGS (previously assumed to be Square...)

Sega has admitted to having talks with Microsoft earlier last year.

Of course, Microsoft provided a version of WindowsCE for the DC console..

Although the gamers.com article raises some eyebrows, both companies have already denied the allegations. FWIW: Xbox-Dreamcast Rumors Denied

The Dreamcast compatibility was apparently hinted at by an 'anonymous source'. Microsoft and Sega spokespersons deny everything.

It's just some half-baked rumour - there's loads going around relating in some way to the Xbox. Like Halo for Windows and Mac apparently being cancelled (this rumour was described as 'a load of bollocks' by a Bungie spokesman...)

So, take everything you read with a pinch (or two) of salt...

Ford Prefect

it's rather clear cut. You need to sit down, read the letters, and give DR a chance before you continue to base your posts solely on "Daily Radar Sucks." check out this. I think it makes my case completely.

• A source inside Sega has categorically confirmed the continuing manufacture of Dreamcast-enabled products, although it is unlikely that they will take the form of the current white Dreamcast box. This ties in neatly with rumors that Dreamcast-enabled set-top boxes, DVD players and even a PC add-in card are in the works. So it seems that for the moment, the fate of the Dreamcast format is far from sealed.

Either way, sega isn't going anywhere too soon.

-
-Be a man. Insult me without using an AC.

The article doesn't say why Nintendo is suing, but it most likely falls under UCITA, EULAs, etc.... Imagine Media thinks it has 'fair use' to publish screenshots, but what is IP and what is 'fair use,' I guess we'll see when they go to court.

Rather, Nintendo is suing on some pretty reasonable grounds. Imagine copied art from Nintendo's own magazine, guides, and press kits to illustrate their own guide. And Imagine is using the Pokemon logo without licensing it. Just think if Imagine published the "100% Unofficial Guide to Slashdot" and plastered the Slashdot logo all over the place.

Now granted, I think Nintendo overreaches with their claims regarding screenshots, but on the whole, I think they've got a decent case to make against Imagine.

-sk

Now, think of it this way: Nintendo lisences other publishing companies to make strategy guides. These companies in turn pay a sum to be able to use Nintendo's intellectual property. This other company does not.

Where does that leave Nintendo? This company is using their IP to cut into their profits.

They have a legitamite case. I don't think I want them to win, but it is a legitamite case. Fair use is most often applicable to reviews and parodies, not making a product about the copyrighted material in question.

If you want to read the actual suit, it's here in gif format.

Oh, and this is a straight-forward copyright/trademark case, no EULAs involved at all. Console games don't have EULAs.

Yes, Nintendo is bullying, that's the norm here.

But Nintendo has a legal onus to protect it's IP and copyrights.

See this? There's Pokemon Trading Card artwork, as well as other artwork, that Nintendo believes is infringed upon without due compensation or licensing from Nintendo.

Geek dating!

It would be like... someone printing and selling NFL logoed shirts, without licensing said logos from the NFL.

Specifically addressed by copyright law and not a fair use issue.

See this? There's Pokemon Trading Card artwork, as well as other artwork, that Nintendo believes is infringed upon without due compensation or licensing from Nintendo.

Geek dating!

Specifically addressed by copyright law and not a fair use issue.

See this? There's Pokemon Trading Card artwork, as well as other artwork, that Nintendo believes is infringed upon without due compensation or licensing from Nintendo.

Geek dating!

Its more than just about the Strategy Guides. There is info at this link

Besides the screenshots(which I think are bogus allegations and fair use) there's also the artwork from the Pokemon trading cards as well as other promotional/product artwork.

That's clearly a violation, if they haven't licensed such artwork from Nintendo.

Geek dating!

On a side note, I found the complaint Nintendo filed publicly with the court, scanned and archived by daily radar themselves. Apparently the bulk of the charges rest on Imagine using artwork from manuals, and deliberate copying of the Pokemon Gold's manual cover style.

Personally, its a toss up for me. Its a bad prescedent, but maybe its worth it to kill a trendy, no-gameplay scourage like Pokemon...

If you want to see a GUI that uses the circular design rather than the linear, check out the demo for Neverwinter Nights at dailyradar.com. There is no GUI untill you want it and then it is context sensitive and seems to be logically laid out. As an aside, the game itself looks like a must have for any rpg'er.