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miracle69 writes: "Well, it looks like the perfect convergence for the average Slashdot reader. What we've got here is a game that is approaching the Slashdot Enthusiast's Valhalla. It's released under Windows and Linux, costs a mere 25 USDs, and has no middleman to jack prices up. Of course, that means it's not available in stores, nor will it be seen on TV, but according to Newsforge, it's got great gameplay. So, will 25 bucks, a fresh game idea, and a Linux release make others in the gaming world stand up and take notice?"
From: Gordon Letwin (gordonl@microsoft.UUCP)
Subject: Microsoft needs Wizards
Newsgroups: net.jobs
View: (This is the only article in this thread) | Original Format
Date: 1984-02-21 11:27:14 PST
This is a "solicitation" letter from the Microsoft Corp. It's written
by a software engineer, rather than the personnel dept: I consider Microsoft an excellent home for the software wizard because: 1) its a great place to work. The company is owned (a key issue)
and operated by software wizards: Bill Gates and Paul Allen.
This means :
- private offices (as many with windows as topology permits)
- informal lounges for design/discussion/rap sessions
- whatever hardware facilities are needed for the job
- Microwave ovens, refrigerators, free soda, etc.
throughout the buildings But, most importantly, you're working for and with other
systems programmers that understand both the job and the
people. The technical hierarchy is kept very simple and
"shallow" so that there is minimal bullshit and over-
organization. Since the development people report strictly to software
engineers, who report directly to chairman/CEO Gates, we
never do anything stupid because some manager/MBA/suit-type
has power without knowledge. (When we do something stupid,
its our own fault!) Likewise, there are no "politics", just
engineering. 2) The work that you do here at Microsoft MATTERS. Your work
won't be canceled due to some political/financial upheaval,
nor just used in-house; your work will be used by millions
of people. Most sharp software people have seen endless
amounts of software that "missed the boat". If you've felt
this way, here's your chance to show the world (and yourself)
just how good you are. I've been here over 5 years; thats the most sincere recommendation I
can give. This is a place where I can literally explore the limits of
my capabilities as a software engineer. The company that did the
first microcomputer system software (BASIC), the first plug-in
processor (the Softcard), the first lap-held computer (we conceived
and designed the Tandy Model 100) and many other "firsts" lacks no
boldness of vision. Since we're "owned and operated" by these same
bold people, having no venture capital owners or cash crunches to
limit us, the company's limits are set only by the ability of our
engineers to envision great things and then to (the tough part) make
them fly. Like the variety of small startups, Microsoft offers its key technical
people stock options. We can offer technical challenges as good as
or better than startups, financial packages ditto, and, since we're
> 90% owned by ourselves, we have no outside investors to restrict or
direct our development efforts. If you're interested in the possibilities, please send your resume or
request additional information from: decvax!Microsoft!joannr
or
Joann Rahal
Microsoft Corp.
10700 Northup Way
Bellevue, WA 98004
You obviously didn't look at these ones
Parsec is non-commercial and will be free (as beer)! Finally a state of the art online action game that for Linux (and MacOS X). CS is dead, long live Parsec! Unfortunately it's not finished yet.
Did you know you can fertilize your lawn with used motor oil?
I bet it takes all of three seconds to get the zip file's password, considering there are dozens of zip file (brute force) password crackers around.
War is Peace
Freedom is Slavery
Ignorance is Strength
I made a game too. It won't be in stores, but I blame "the man" and "the system" for that. It may not have great graphics or great gameplay, but I am still selling it.
Did I mention that it is also revolutionary?
------
Let me give you the lowdown
-1, cluestick
Get outta town. No, really.
After I hacked in and changed some guys social security number, the demo ended because my rating got too high.
Wow, you're fuckin' 133t!
My name is Inigo Montoya...
You raped my dog...
Prepare to die!
Yeah, I'm a 9th level Wizard, and let's just say my charm person spell works really well down a the local pub.
>
> I tried that game. In my version, the World Trade Center got blown up by terrorists, starting a war in Afghanistan. Pretty far out, huh?
Shit, I must have made the same fuckup you did back in the '80s. The walkthrough even warned me about using cheat codes in Afghanistan-80s, but did I listen? Nope.
Ah well, blow 'em to hell. Pretty kewl graphics when those 15000-pounders go off at the mouths of their caves!
> > The best are these "chat" areas where you can talk to AI programs. Also, there are weblogs that detail the daily life of some simulated people. Much more convincing than the SIMS! But it doesn't show you the people inside the computer as often as the SIMS. Very cool stuff! Am I supposed to tell you guys that you're only AI programs running on my P3 800MHz?
Shyeaaaah, right. I tried the chat rooms, and the game's AI sucks goat ass. My 4.77 MHz 8086 could outthink the AIs in the chat rooms.
A CD Drive is $300?? I just bought a cd-re-writer for $84.00. Give me your address, and I'll send one to you half price, only $150. Whatta Deal.
Funny thing when a iso sites are better review sites than commerical websites sites.
How is this flamebait? It's insightful into the banality of the /. community.
Also, to save a few clicks:
banal: "Drearily commonplace and often predictable"
I suspect his Vaio is a laptop... used as a desktop computer. In which case a CD-ROM drive really would be $300 (and also that's why he wouldn't already have one)
Slashdot has really gone downhill lately. Far too many posters complain about the Linux bias of Slashdot, when, they could just go to another site and leave us obsessive zealots to it.
Does a Christian soccer team even need a goalkeeper?