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I don't know if they let you actually *register* online, but they put the registry online for you when you're done, and people can purchase the items online if they want to.

http://target.com/registries/

I'm sad to see this happen, but my friends will be happy to get dreamcasts for $100. I suggest anyone reading this go out on Feb 4th (when the pricebreaks happen) and buy one, it's a fantastic system. There's a ton of good games out, and a lot of them are only $20. Check out Crazy Taxi (ultimate party game), Soul Caliber, and Target's current offerings.

The dreamcast is the only online console right now, and according to UPS my ethernet adapter should be on my doorstep this afternoon. Phantasy Star Online ought to kick ass, and give Everquesters a run for their money.

Someone pointed out that the DC runs WinCE, which isn't true most of the time, but it is for Nightmare Creatures 2, as evidenced by the first 10 minutes of playing the game on my birthday: Pic 1, Pic 2

Sega makes some of the most unique games out there, from Jet Grind Radio to Seaman to Crazy Taxi... It would be worth your while to check them out if you haven't already.

My $0.02
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Perhaps I actually DO work for Target, but I'm just posting this stuff straight up. They may have software in their firewall that modifies my outgoing data and automatically inserts anchor tags and their URL around the word Target whenever it appears. (There's an evil thought, isn't it?)

But to answer your question, yes, I do work for Target. Or at least Marshall Field's.

John

Perhaps I actually DO work for Target, but I'm just posting this stuff straight up. They may have software in their firewall that modifies my outgoing data and automatically inserts anchor tags and their URL around the word Target whenever it appears. (There's an evil thought, isn't it?)

But to answer your question, yes, I do work for Target. Or at least Marshall Field's.

John

Perhaps I actually DO work for Target, but I'm just posting this stuff straight up. They may have software in their firewall that modifies my outgoing data and automatically inserts anchor tags and their URL around the word Target whenever it appears. (There's an evil thought, isn't it?)

But to answer your question, yes, I do work for Target. Or at least Marshall Field's.

John

Perhaps I actually DO work for Target, but I'm just posting this stuff straight up. They may have software in their firewall that modifies my outgoing data and automatically inserts anchor tags and their URL around the word Target whenever it appears. (There's an evil thought, isn't it?)

But to answer your question, yes, I do work for Target. Or at least Marshall Field's.

John

Perhaps I actually DO work for Target, but I'm just posting this stuff straight up. They may have software in their firewall that modifies my outgoing data and automatically inserts anchor tags and their URL around the word Target whenever it appears. (There's an evil thought, isn't it?)

But to answer your question, yes, I do work for Target. Or at least Marshall Field's.

John

The nature of banner ads on the internet has always made them invisible to most readers. When the commercials come on, TV viewers hit the mute buttons, VCR viewers hit their fast forward buttons, and ReplayTV viewers hit Quick Skip. The world has learned (for the most part) to tune out the easily identifiable advertising. On the internet, it's even easier. At least with a TV, you pay attention to enough of the ads to know when you've returned to your show. Not so with a banner ad. It takes a miniscule amount of effort to read them, and their size/shape/color makes them instantly identifiable as something to be ignored. Even filter programs can identify them and eliminate them quite accurately (hurray for the Proxomitron!)

So, given that, what are the advertisers going to do now? Some will fold up their tents. The smarter ones will adapt. One of the cleverest approaches I've seen was on a mapping site. Midway through the printed instructions was the location of a WalMart store that we would be passing. I suspect advertising will have to take a more active role in content in order to command money. Think old-tyme TV shows, brought to you by Alpo; or more likely, the Truman Show (with Yummy Mocha Cocoa.) Who knows, even corporate shills who work for big corporations like Target might be asked to plop advertising links in the middle of their usenet posts or Slashdot discussions.

Advertisers will find a way, but it'll take more effort than they've given it so far.

John