There's a long tradition of game sequels. These are additional content that come out after the game's release - not that much different than DLC is it?
A big difference between pre-release and post-release content is that post-release content can take feedback into consideration in its development. Even if it starts during QA of the final game, the post-launch DLC can incorporate gameplay and content that players felt was lacking. Sequels often take the chance to remove annoyances and add more of what people liked. DLC can do the same thing.
Otherwise DLC is double dipping, gaming players with more money (or interest) into paying more for the same game. Like the Windows Home / Professional analogy someone made further up in this thread. But pre-release content being sold as DLC feels dishonest.
If they want to segment the market by removing game features, they should do it on release day with "light" and "full" versions of the game. There have been many "collector's edition" game releases, and no one felt particularly gypped by those, despite often costing $30+ more than the base game.
Is it evil though? What if she was protecting humanity from Aperture's evil deeds by flooding the enrichment centre with a deadly neurotoxin? "Morality device" could be doublespeak for "killing people is wrong even if those people are evil".
Just throwing the idea out there, no clue if there's any specific support for it.
You're assuming that people to whom this occurs have control over what they see and when
Not really - he's saying no matter WHAT you see, at ANY time (well, with a minimum lead time of a day or week or so) would be enough to become ungodly rich. If nothing else, simply by writing it down and getting a cool million from James Randi when it occurs.
I just forced myself through Bioshock 1 on the PC. I'm guessing the game is a lot better on consoles. The worst example was that plasmid slots couldn't be arranged on the PC, eg. to keep your Shock on F1.
Every time you added or replaced a plasmid it shuffled all your plasmids over 1 key binding. I ended up going through the game rebinding my keys every time I got an upgrade.
The control config doesn't even say "Plasmid Slot 1: F1", it says "F1: F1" (or by the end of the game for me, "F1: F6")
I don't know a ton about cell phone tech, but for the search example, I know as a developer that I'd want to hang on to searches for data mining usage patterns to improve the search service.
I've never had the chance to anonymize data yet, but it seems like a one-way hash would be the only way you could anonymize the data while still continuing to tack new data onto the same "anonymous" user.
To take a wild stab at the cell phone location data - there are charges based on location, and they need to retain the data for their help desk when you call in to say "why the hell did I get charged $5,000 this month for my data plan!" (and it turns out you went to Niagara Falls and got hooked into a canadian tower)
Schmidt's comment, taking in context, was like saying:
"The cell phone companies already know and record your location. Turn your phone off if you don't want them tracking you. The tracking is fundamental to them providing cell phone service, and if they have it, the government will be able to subpoena it."
That seems like common sense, not sure what there is to get riled up about in there. Except for the government trying to get the data without a warrant, of course.
I assume you're referring to TDD? TDD can be done in many ways, and only the most extreme and (as you said) cumbersome involve testing frameworks or unit testing.
I've found unit testing to be good for critical and complex back end components that are difficult to test from the front end. But to me, TDD can be as simple as "test each function as you write it to make sure it actually works". You can do it with print statements if you want, whatever works. As long as you don't get to 500,000 lines of code before trying to execute any of it.
Iterative style development? Maybe that might work for an MMO where the customers don't mind being permanent beta testers.
MMOs are definitely a strong case for Agile. MMO worlds and features are always evolving. You can't waterfall a feature for a year, toss it out the door, and then ignore it when it's a flop with the users.
Using an agile methodology doesn't mean your end-users are beta testers either. The point isn't to implement broken features and test+fix them later, it's to add and improve working features in a timely fashion. If a feature isn't ready for the deadline, you drop that feature and go ahead with your deadline.
MMO development is a lot like website development. Your users need to see continued improvement to stay interested, and to keep your product comparable to the competition. And you're getting continuous feedback from the end users on what they like and don't like, and can do something about it quickly in the next release. With a single-launch product you're stuck with focus groups and testers, crossing your fingers that the real world bears out their feedback.
If you look through forums, users have been demanding these things for years and Apple has done nothing.
The items you mention all sound extremely minor. Is it really worth fracturing the usability by adding every crufty preference someone on the internet could think of? Probably not.
It's extremely subjective trying to decide between "bad behavior", "option in preferences", and "default behavior".
A lot of Windows and open source software lean way too heavily towards "option in preferences", and suffer for it.
Apple probably leans too far on the "no options, default only" side. Everyone runs into something on the Mac that they wish they could change. But I'd be surprised if everyone runs into the same thing, and wants it changed in the same way.
What they do is force you to work in a limited way according to their rules and in Apple's interests.
Apple's interest is to provide a superior user experience, so that they can sell more products. By all measures, they're vary successful at this. People continue to pick Apple over competitor's despite higher prices.
You can plug your ears and pretend it's some magic fairy dust reality distortion field. The reality is that Apple is providing something of value that people want.
I'll take a first-party only device that does what I want over an "open" device that sucks. And I'll gladly pay a premium for the time and headache I save by doing so.
My 2-month old son was vaccinated yesterday, and interestingly enough, they specifically warned his behavior may change or be unusual the rest of the day. However, they also recommended a "fix" for the behavioral change - tylenol. Get jabbed with a needle is a bit traumatic, according to my son's red-faced screams.
I wonder if a good bit of the "my child changed overnight" is from pain aggravating the pre-existing behaviors enough for the parents to notice it for the first time.
Yeah - agreed that you have to be practical when it comes to "actual traffic speed" versus posted speeds.
The downtown area near me, fortunately, does have 25mph speeds and 4-way stops at most intersections. The stop signs keep speeds low and also pushes cars to a handful of cross-city streets that are 35mph or 45mph.
Out in the suburbs though, it's rare that you can get anywhere useful without traveling on a 45mph street. The block I live on is literally surrounded by 45 mph roads (where people drive 50-55). There's even a park 1 mile away, but everyone has to drive to get there safely.
You're no more fucked on a bike than on a motorcycle. I think it's a bit absurd and dangerous to ride a bike on a 45 mph rode, for sure, especially without a bike lane. But a 25mph suburban or city street? Hell yeah. Bikes can go that fast pretty easily. It sure as heck beats running down pedestrian on the sidewalk.
It's unfortunate that in the US few bikers OR automobile drivers know (or obey) how bikes should behave in vehicular traffic.
anything else is like bringing a knife to a gun fight.
Do you really think of driving in traffic as fighting with the other vehicles?
This is no different than if Wal-mart stopped selling Coke products because Coke wanted to charge $2 for a 2-liter when Wal-mart wants to charge $1. Both parties are making legitimate business decisions.
But it would be entirely disingenuous for Wal-mart to pretend they're taking some higher moral ground for "sticking it to the Coca-cola monopoly". Same goes for Amazon and Macmillian.
"I'm not interested in an iWhatever because I can only choose between apps on the Mac app store" is a reasonable argument. That is not what is being argued.
What is being argued is that Apple choosing to make a closed product is righteously unjust and infringes on my basic human rights. THAT argument is absurd.
I don't think anyone is arguing Apple should get iEverything by default. The issue here is that there is no Fujitsu iPad, so the trademark should not be upheld. (no idea how that'll actually fly in trademark court)
I haven't looked recently, but they used to hit you with higher monthly rates if you aren't in a contract. So not only are you not getting a $200+ phone from them, you're paying an extra $10-$20 to do so.
That may only be during the initial signup, as I don't recall contract rates ever going up on the day the contract ends.
Indeed. If you still have an @aol address, you are much better off going to a job full of people with @aol addresses. Who wants to get teased incessantly at work about still having dial-up and not knowing what a web browser is?
Slashdot Mirror
There's a long tradition of game sequels. These are additional content that come out after the game's release - not that much different than DLC is it?
A big difference between pre-release and post-release content is that post-release content can take feedback into consideration in its development. Even if it starts during QA of the final game, the post-launch DLC can incorporate gameplay and content that players felt was lacking. Sequels often take the chance to remove annoyances and add more of what people liked. DLC can do the same thing.
Otherwise DLC is double dipping, gaming players with more money (or interest) into paying more for the same game. Like the Windows Home / Professional analogy someone made further up in this thread. But pre-release content being sold as DLC feels dishonest.
If they want to segment the market by removing game features, they should do it on release day with "light" and "full" versions of the game. There have been many "collector's edition" game releases, and no one felt particularly gypped by those, despite often costing $30+ more than the base game.
Is it evil though? What if she was protecting humanity from Aperture's evil deeds by flooding the enrichment centre with a deadly neurotoxin? "Morality device" could be doublespeak for "killing people is wrong even if those people are evil".
Just throwing the idea out there, no clue if there's any specific support for it.
You're assuming that people to whom this occurs have control over what they see and when
Not really - he's saying no matter WHAT you see, at ANY time (well, with a minimum lead time of a day or week or so) would be enough to become ungodly rich. If nothing else, simply by writing it down and getting a cool million from James Randi when it occurs.
I just forced myself through Bioshock 1 on the PC. I'm guessing the game is a lot better on consoles. The worst example was that plasmid slots couldn't be arranged on the PC, eg. to keep your Shock on F1.
Every time you added or replaced a plasmid it shuffled all your plasmids over 1 key binding. I ended up going through the game rebinding my keys every time I got an upgrade.
The control config doesn't even say "Plasmid Slot 1: F1", it says "F1: F1" (or by the end of the game for me, "F1: F6")
Agreed. Making him the last of an uber-race basically trashes his every accomplishment as "oh, he was just born awesome".
Midichlorians in Star Wars did the exact same thing. "Oh, Luke didn't work hard, he just licked walls of midichlorian-tainted paint as a kid"
Thanks for the links!
I don't know a ton about cell phone tech, but for the search example, I know as a developer that I'd want to hang on to searches for data mining usage patterns to improve the search service.
I've never had the chance to anonymize data yet, but it seems like a one-way hash would be the only way you could anonymize the data while still continuing to tack new data onto the same "anonymous" user.
To take a wild stab at the cell phone location data - there are charges based on location, and they need to retain the data for their help desk when you call in to say "why the hell did I get charged $5,000 this month for my data plan!" (and it turns out you went to Niagara Falls and got hooked into a canadian tower)
I'm sure everyone that hated Bush is OK with Obama doing this.
No. This is flagrantly wrong no matter what administration it's being done under.
Serious question:
Did the entire justice department get replaced in the past year?
Schmidt's comment, taking in context, was like saying:
"The cell phone companies already know and record your location. Turn your phone off if you don't want them tracking you. The tracking is fundamental to them providing cell phone service, and if they have it, the government will be able to subpoena it."
That seems like common sense, not sure what there is to get riled up about in there. Except for the government trying to get the data without a warrant, of course.
I assume you're referring to TDD? TDD can be done in many ways, and only the most extreme and (as you said) cumbersome involve testing frameworks or unit testing.
I've found unit testing to be good for critical and complex back end components that are difficult to test from the front end. But to me, TDD can be as simple as "test each function as you write it to make sure it actually works". You can do it with print statements if you want, whatever works. As long as you don't get to 500,000 lines of code before trying to execute any of it.
Iterative style development? Maybe that might work for an MMO where the customers don't mind being permanent beta testers.
MMOs are definitely a strong case for Agile. MMO worlds and features are always evolving. You can't waterfall a feature for a year, toss it out the door, and then ignore it when it's a flop with the users.
Using an agile methodology doesn't mean your end-users are beta testers either. The point isn't to implement broken features and test+fix them later, it's to add and improve working features in a timely fashion. If a feature isn't ready for the deadline, you drop that feature and go ahead with your deadline.
MMO development is a lot like website development. Your users need to see continued improvement to stay interested, and to keep your product comparable to the competition. And you're getting continuous feedback from the end users on what they like and don't like, and can do something about it quickly in the next release. With a single-launch product you're stuck with focus groups and testers, crossing your fingers that the real world bears out their feedback.
If you look through forums, users have been demanding these things for years and Apple has done nothing.
The items you mention all sound extremely minor. Is it really worth fracturing the usability by adding every crufty preference someone on the internet could think of? Probably not.
It's extremely subjective trying to decide between "bad behavior", "option in preferences", and "default behavior".
A lot of Windows and open source software lean way too heavily towards "option in preferences", and suffer for it.
Apple probably leans too far on the "no options, default only" side. Everyone runs into something on the Mac that they wish they could change. But I'd be surprised if everyone runs into the same thing, and wants it changed in the same way.
Blech,
vary successful = "very" successful
competitor's = competitors
What they do is force you to work in a limited way according to their rules and in Apple's interests.
Apple's interest is to provide a superior user experience, so that they can sell more products. By all measures, they're vary successful at this. People continue to pick Apple over competitor's despite higher prices.
You can plug your ears and pretend it's some magic fairy dust reality distortion field. The reality is that Apple is providing something of value that people want.
I'll take a first-party only device that does what I want over an "open" device that sucks. And I'll gladly pay a premium for the time and headache I save by doing so.
My 2-month old son was vaccinated yesterday, and interestingly enough, they specifically warned his behavior may change or be unusual the rest of the day. However, they also recommended a "fix" for the behavioral change - tylenol. Get jabbed with a needle is a bit traumatic, according to my son's red-faced screams.
I wonder if a good bit of the "my child changed overnight" is from pain aggravating the pre-existing behaviors enough for the parents to notice it for the first time.
Yeah - agreed that you have to be practical when it comes to "actual traffic speed" versus posted speeds.
The downtown area near me, fortunately, does have 25mph speeds and 4-way stops at most intersections. The stop signs keep speeds low and also pushes cars to a handful of cross-city streets that are 35mph or 45mph.
Out in the suburbs though, it's rare that you can get anywhere useful without traveling on a 45mph street. The block I live on is literally surrounded by 45 mph roads (where people drive 50-55). There's even a park 1 mile away, but everyone has to drive to get there safely.
You're no more fucked on a bike than on a motorcycle. I think it's a bit absurd and dangerous to ride a bike on a 45 mph rode, for sure, especially without a bike lane. But a 25mph suburban or city street? Hell yeah. Bikes can go that fast pretty easily. It sure as heck beats running down pedestrian on the sidewalk.
It's unfortunate that in the US few bikers OR automobile drivers know (or obey) how bikes should behave in vehicular traffic.
anything else is like bringing a knife to a gun fight.
Do you really think of driving in traffic as fighting with the other vehicles?
What does online have to do with it?
This is no different than if Wal-mart stopped selling Coke products because Coke wanted to charge $2 for a 2-liter when Wal-mart wants to charge $1. Both parties are making legitimate business decisions.
But it would be entirely disingenuous for Wal-mart to pretend they're taking some higher moral ground for "sticking it to the Coca-cola monopoly". Same goes for Amazon and Macmillian.
$50 gets you an OS and apps with interfaces made specifically for the iPad, as a massive upgrade over WindowsXYZ
Fixed that for you. Tablets and netbooks are nothing new, but they've never been successful so far. The software and interfaces have all sucked.
"I'm not interested in an iWhatever because I can only choose between apps on the Mac app store" is a reasonable argument. That is not what is being argued.
What is being argued is that Apple choosing to make a closed product is righteously unjust and infringes on my basic human rights. THAT argument is absurd.
Story? Huh? You mean the summary right?
Ok ok, yeah, it looks like there is actually a Fujitsu iPad that is indeed close enough in function to be a conflict with the Apple tablet:
http://www.currentdirections.com/hardware/fujitsu/ipad100.html
Wonder how Apple managed to miss something that obvious?
I don't think anyone is arguing Apple should get iEverything by default. The issue here is that there is no Fujitsu iPad, so the trademark should not be upheld. (no idea how that'll actually fly in trademark court)
I haven't looked recently, but they used to hit you with higher monthly rates if you aren't in a contract. So not only are you not getting a $200+ phone from them, you're paying an extra $10-$20 to do so.
That may only be during the initial signup, as I don't recall contract rates ever going up on the day the contract ends.
Indeed. If you still have an @aol address, you are much better off going to a job full of people with @aol addresses. Who wants to get teased incessantly at work about still having dial-up and not knowing what a web browser is?