I don't care for Xandros either, but you could at least open the screenshots before you comment on them. The text is anti-aliased, the icons are 32-bit and 3D-perspective, and the dialog boxes look the same as any other Linux distro.
Blizzard must be doing a great job if these two "problems" are the best reason critics can come up with to justify avoiding the game.
1) If you played the game you would know this is a non-issue. At most you get an extra bubble bonus (total) from the first few kills after being offline all night. It's just an incentive to log out at an inn.
2) It's an issue with the way billing is handled. From what I understand they don't have the infrastructure set up for international billing (outside of the native country for the server farm). Blizzard reps said that they will get it set up, but not in time for launch. Also, they noted that if you have a way to pay for the account with a US billing address you are free to do so and play on the US servers (and vice versa with Euro servers I assume). It's just a matter of being able to do billing correctly.
Yeah, I'd love playing a Nose Tackle... or maybe Guard! Then I can block for people I don't even know so they can make that big play! That'd be fun for all of about three plays.
Most people play video games to be the hero. There's a lot of positions on a football team that aren't exactly "exciting" but they're necessary. It's fun when playing with a bunch of friends outside. But to even approach that type of play in an online game you'd have to have a well-coordinated guild. You're not going to just log in have a fun pickup game with 20 people you don't know.
So to answer your question: Not nearly as cool as getting your friends together and going down to the park.
Where did that comment come from? I really hate you Nintendo bashers.
NES was definitely better than the SMS and Atari.
SNES was unquestionably stronger than Genesis.
I'm sure some could argue the N64 was better than the PSX, but using cartridges really hurt the N64. I think the N64 was a weaker system because of it.
The Gamecube has much better hardware than the PS2, but weaker hardware than the Xbox. Although again, I'm sure some could argue that the GC's hardware has been put to better use.
For the record I have all three consoles. My Gamecube gets the most play time, followed by my PS2, then the Dreamcast, and finally my Xbox... which I use to play emulated SNES on.
I got my saddlebag free when I bought a Palm, I think it was about four or five years ago. I didn't have a laptop to use with it, so it just served as a backpack for a while.
However, since getting an iBook I've used it every day for the past two years, taking it everywhere I go. I could probably convince anyone I just bought it last week, it's still in "like new" condition. The parent isn't lying when he says it's VERY durable. If I lost it, or it somehow got torn apart tomorrow, I'd order a new one immediately.
You do make a good point regarding the power usage of the optical disc. I guess I'm looking at how the DVD drive in my iBook sucks battery.
The other thing to consider is that optical drives have a relatively slow transfer rate. This--while reducing battery consumption effectively in an audio player--would lead to long load times in a handheld gaming unit.
That said, you have convinced me to reserve my judgement. We'll see how the power consumption is on the PSP when it's released.
Maybe I should have used two words for statement (2): Internet Gaming. Playing your DS games against your friends in other cities and states.
I agree with you on (4), it would be a nice feature. However, I was under the impression you'd be required to use Sony's (proprietary format) memory sticks to play MP3s on the PSP. I could be wrong on this so feel free to correct me.
1) I'll belive when I see it. Nintendo already has a portable that can easily get 8 hours of battery life and Sony is using a disc-based system.
2) One word: Internet
3) GBA games. PSP has nothing, so your selection is limited to launch titles and you have to build your library from scratch. The second I buy my DS I already own 6 great games from my GBA to play on it without spending an extra cent.
4) Personally, I couldn't care less. Many people will see this feature as a good thing, though.
Honestly I think you're taking it a little too personally.
They are offering a service, no one is compelling you to subscribe. However, for many people that $13/month is more than worth the convenience and entertainment it provides.
You're paying for a subscription service that forces commercials upon you!
Seriously though, I'm just having fun with you. I think Sirius provides the same convenience factor that cable TV provides to you.
Many people travel a lot, and in many areas radio reception is very poor. I know when driving across Nebraska, or driving from Phoenix to LA, there are quite a few "dead zones" where you only get a couple AM stations. Not to mention people who live in rural areas where they may not get very many radio stations or any that they really like.
There's also the fact that Sirius subscribers can listen to Sirius online. For people who can't have a radio at work for whatever reason, but can listen to a stream online, that could be a deciding factor.
The point is, it doesn't look like a bad service, and there's no reason to believe they'll change their business model any more than there is to belive HBO would change theirs.
Cancelled?! That means at one time you... *gasp*subscribed?
Man, I'm glad to hear you came to your senses before they started showing those commercials we know they've been planning. Glad to have you back with the smart folk, brother. One day the rest will see what we've been saying all along, and they'll be sorry.
I think the point was that it's worse to lose your personal files and OS/apps, than it is to only lose your personal files. In both cases you lose any personal files you don't have backed up. However, in one case you also lose the OS and applications.
Both are bad, yes, but I wouldn't classify them as equal. I don't know about you, but I know it takes me longer to restore an entire system than just a few documents.
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I don't care for Xandros either, but you could at least open the screenshots before you comment on them.
The text is anti-aliased, the icons are 32-bit and 3D-perspective, and the dialog boxes look the same as any other Linux distro.
Did you just feel like complaining today?
Actually, Azureus supports UPnP, so he probably doesn't even need to do that.
"I've only used it as a recovery once when I compiled a kernel that wasn't configured properly and I over wrote the working kernel."
So you've found gentoo works as a recovery CD?
Good to hear.
Ahh, that makes a lot more sense.
Thank you for clearing that up for me.
"the JVM is stack-based ... while Parrot is stack-based ..."
Oh, that explains it. Thanks.
Blizzard must be doing a great job if these two "problems" are the best reason critics can come up with to justify avoiding the game.
1) If you played the game you would know this is a non-issue. At most you get an extra bubble bonus (total) from the first few kills after being offline all night. It's just an incentive to log out at an inn.
2) It's an issue with the way billing is handled. From what I understand they don't have the infrastructure set up for international billing (outside of the native country for the server farm).
Blizzard reps said that they will get it set up, but not in time for launch. Also, they noted that if you have a way to pay for the account with a US billing address you are free to do so and play on the US servers (and vice versa with Euro servers I assume). It's just a matter of being able to do billing correctly.
Yeah, I'd love playing a Nose Tackle... or maybe Guard! Then I can block for people I don't even know so they can make that big play! That'd be fun for all of about three plays.
Most people play video games to be the hero. There's a lot of positions on a football team that aren't exactly "exciting" but they're necessary. It's fun when playing with a bunch of friends outside. But to even approach that type of play in an online game you'd have to have a well-coordinated guild. You're not going to just log in have a fun pickup game with 20 people you don't know.
So to answer your question: Not nearly as cool as getting your friends together and going down to the park.
Then I guess Genesis developers just sucked.
All SNES games ran faster/looked better than their Genesis counterpart.
Where did that comment come from?
I really hate you Nintendo bashers.
NES was definitely better than the SMS and Atari.
SNES was unquestionably stronger than Genesis.
I'm sure some could argue the N64 was better than the PSX, but using cartridges really hurt the N64. I think the N64 was a weaker system because of it.
The Gamecube has much better hardware than the PS2, but weaker hardware than the Xbox. Although again, I'm sure some could argue that the GC's hardware has been put to better use.
For the record I have all three consoles. My Gamecube gets the most play time, followed by my PS2, then the Dreamcast, and finally my Xbox... which I use to play emulated SNES on.
I got my saddlebag free when I bought a Palm, I think it was about four or five years ago. I didn't have a laptop to use with it, so it just served as a backpack for a while.
However, since getting an iBook I've used it every day for the past two years, taking it everywhere I go. I could probably convince anyone I just bought it last week, it's still in "like new" condition. The parent isn't lying when he says it's VERY durable. If I lost it, or it somehow got torn apart tomorrow, I'd order a new one immediately.
You do make a good point regarding the power usage of the optical disc. I guess I'm looking at how the DVD drive in my iBook sucks battery.
The other thing to consider is that optical drives have a relatively slow transfer rate. This--while reducing battery consumption effectively in an audio player--would lead to long load times in a handheld gaming unit.
That said, you have convinced me to reserve my judgement. We'll see how the power consumption is on the PSP when it's released.
Maybe I should have used two words for statement (2):
Internet Gaming. Playing your DS games against your friends in other cities and states.
I agree with you on (4), it would be a nice feature. However, I was under the impression you'd be required to use Sony's (proprietary format) memory sticks to play MP3s on the PSP. I could be wrong on this so feel free to correct me.
1) I'll belive when I see it. Nintendo already has a portable that can easily get 8 hours of battery life and Sony is using a disc-based system.
2) One word: Internet
3) GBA games. PSP has nothing, so your selection is limited to launch titles and you have to build your library from scratch. The second I buy my DS I already own 6 great games from my GBA to play on it without spending an extra cent.
4) Personally, I couldn't care less. Many people will see this feature as a good thing, though.
"Square, have thrown their weight behind the PSP"
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Square announced they will be remaking FF3(JPN) for the DS.
Honestly I think you're taking it a little too personally.
They are offering a service, no one is compelling you to subscribe. However, for many people that $13/month is more than worth the convenience and entertainment it provides.
You're paying for a subscription service that forces commercials upon you!
Seriously though, I'm just having fun with you. I think Sirius provides the same convenience factor that cable TV provides to you.
Many people travel a lot, and in many areas radio reception is very poor. I know when driving across Nebraska, or driving from Phoenix to LA, there are quite a few "dead zones" where you only get a couple AM stations. Not to mention people who live in rural areas where they may not get very many radio stations or any that they really like.
There's also the fact that Sirius subscribers can listen to Sirius online. For people who can't have a radio at work for whatever reason, but can listen to a stream online, that could be a deciding factor.
The point is, it doesn't look like a bad service, and there's no reason to believe they'll change their business model any more than there is to belive HBO would change theirs.
"This also reminds me of that old headline at The Onion: "Dolphins Develop Thumbs: 'Oh Shit,' say Humans""
For those who want to see the article, it's gone into the archives at the onion so you won't be able to view it without a premium account.
However, for those without a premium account, here's a link to the article courtesy of archive.org
So what you're saying (in a few more words) is, "[I] mean that bastard child of a vp codec derivate".
You subscribe to cable?!
That's even worse!
Come back to us man. Break the chains of slavery that tie you to a monthly bill for entertainment with commercials!
Cancelled?! That means at one time you... *gasp* subscribed?
Man, I'm glad to hear you came to your senses before they started showing those commercials we know they've been planning. Glad to have you back with the smart folk, brother. One day the rest will see what we've been saying all along, and they'll be sorry.
"And I'm not signing up for any pay radio service, like a slave. Betcha it'll have ads soon enough."
Yeah, just like that HBO thing.
Rope you in with no comercials, great shows, no ads... but they make you pay for it, monthly!
We know the ads will show up any day now, and we'll be forced to continue paying. We're on to them--you and me--they'll never get a dime from us!
Why? Restoring personal files doesn't take long at all.
Reinstalling the OS and all applications (whether from CD or disk image) takes much longer in comparison.
...which would be a problem in both cases.
"IMO - both situations are equally terrible."
I think the point was that it's worse to lose your personal files and OS/apps, than it is to only lose your personal files. In both cases you lose any personal files you don't have backed up. However, in one case you also lose the OS and applications.
Both are bad, yes, but I wouldn't classify them as equal. I don't know about you, but I know it takes me longer to restore an entire system than just a few documents.
Look close, you can make it out.
It says "Processor: 887MHz PowerPC G3"