The U.S. will never pay this. It is an election year during a war. Do you honestly think any of the candidates will honestly agree to pay this fine and appear "weak"? Democrat or Republican, neither is going to go for this. If the WTO is smart, they will dial down the rhetoric and they might get what they want: online gambling. If not, they will get neither gambling or a fine.
Company of Heroes is an awesome game. The graphics could be much worse and it would still be really good. The fact that the graphics are good is a bonus. The idea that great graphics = bad game is ridiculous.
That is like saying that "Money can't buy happiness". Yeah, you can be poor and happy, but it is alot easier if you have money.
I looked at an apartment complex once and as I was walking around I noticed DirectTV dishes on people's balconies. So I said, "That is cool, you allow satellite dishes on the balconies." The employee said, "No, not anymore, those are grandfathered in. You have to get Comcast if you want cable." This sounded really fishy, so we promptly left. Living in the rust belt we ended up buying a house instead since the costs were similar (but now i have to do yard-work).
I am not so sure about this. I think that this may hurt the big channels more than the small channels. How many people who pay the cable bill actually watch MTV (and would likewise jump at the chance to get rid of it so that there teenagers couldn't watch it)? How many households would buy ESPN once they realized that it was BY FAR the most expensive channel?
Networks like Food Channel, G4, and the History Channel would be very cheap compared to ESPN and MTV, so fans of those channels could easily justify buying it.
I attended two major US public Universities (Undergrad and Grad), and neither one was allowed to use the "real" curve. The professors were only allowed to adjust grades in the favor of the student. In other words, if everyone in the class got an 85% or above on a test, then everyone would at least get a B. The professor was not allowed to adjust the scale so that the person who got exactly an 85% would get an F. The professors were allowed to make a high of 95% be 100% and adjust everyone else's grades accordingly.
Like you, I have never actually seen or heard of a real curve being used. Maybe they are used in places like India where the competition is extremely fierce, or in competitive private colleges.
I've played first person shooters, I've played 3rd person shooters. I want something *new*.
Yes, because playing next to someone is *new*. Online play is just for the few who have the internet, right?
Perfect launch? I could not play this game for 2 days after launch on PC. Apparently, Steam + DX10 + Bioshock = FAIL. I had to reinstall directX run-times just to get the game to work; but of course I did this *after* i reinstalled drivers, messed with game options, reboot, reboot, reboot, surf forums, etc. I noticed after day 2 when I logged onto the game through steam it forced a directX update again, so apparently this was fixed. The widescreen issue was annoying, but there is already a 3rd party fix to this.
I expect these issues on the PC, and they don't really bother me. What bothers me is the DRM limitations on the number of installs. I don't mind the Steam DRM system, but this other DRM issue is completely unfair. This game is great, but I wish I could return it and pirate it. This game would be 10/10, but because of these screw-ups, gets an 8/10 from me. If you are considering buying it vs pirating it, I would definitely pirate it. This is a game worth playing but 2k already thinks you are a criminal; you might as well act like one and not give them there money.
I think expanding the level cap every 12 months is actually a good thing for casuals. It adds more leveling content, and limits gear inflation for casual pvpers. Even a very casual player can get a toon from level 60 to 70 within 12 months. The thing I am most excited about is the new PvP content. New BGs and PvP options are great for people who cannot commit to a raid schedule.
The only thing I'm curious about is the new Hero class... the way they are doing it just seems very odd. My guess is that they do not balance it as a viable PvP class, since it is "free". Otherwise it makes Shamans and Pallys kind of obsolete.
...and realize there is a huge market out there for a console that will allow AO games? Can't they just have parental lockout for games with a certain rating, just like DVR's and TV's do now? Why does the entire industry push forward this notion that video games are played primarily by children?
Comparing video games, a relatively new medium (~25 years old), to film (~90 years old?) or classical art and music is extremely unfair. When "motion pictures" first came out and consisted mostly of train robberies and pirate movies, I bet there were art snobs who said the same thing about film as Ebert is saying about video games. Most universities in the world have a specialized program in film study, but only a limited number of universities include undergraduate video game study.
The fact is, without a doubt, video games posses more capacity to include art than any other form of art in human history! A video game is able to combine the following elements:
plot + visuals + sound + music + interaction with story = more art than is possible with any other medium!
I think Apple is vulnerable in the Mp3 player market right now. The iPod does not have great battery life, and it still scratches easily. If they don't release a new version this holiday season, I will think about getting a Zune 2.0. I read that Zune 1.0 had great battery life and was well made, the problem was the DRM. If they fix the DRM, then Zune 2.0 might well be the superior device.
Canadian System = Tax Everyone for the "right" to transfer CDs to your IPOD, but not to share CDs with friends.
American System = No one gets taxed, RIAA sues dumb people who are still using Kazaa. Therefore dumb people subsidize my piracy.
Dumb people subsidize piracy > Everyone subsidize "transfer rights"
The night before I got my Verizon FIOS internet installed I had nightmares that I was going to end up with Yahoo toolbar, Google Desktop, and Norton Antivirus on my pristine gaming PC. So right before they came I hid my gaming PC in my closet and had my Macbook sitting out. It was very obvious that I had a missing desktop since I had my 5.1 gaming speakers not connected to anything. I figured that I could undo whatever crap they did on OSX better than I could on Windows. They refused to touch my laptop, so I just had them leave the router and I configured it myself. I never found out what was on that CD they wanted to install, but I am sure it was something horrible and evil.
In my opinion, go Computer Engineering. Unless your goal is to write application software, a computer engineering degree is far more lucrative and flexible than either a CS or an IT degree. As a CE writing software, you will understand the hardware far better, and will be the l33t ninja low level coder that writes device drivers for custom HW, and can get linux to run on a battery-powered thimble. And you can interview for both software and hardware positions. Granted, you won't learn how to do web or database programming, but to me that stuff is not very interesting. Definitely think about it, but you better like math. You get all the math of a CS, plus some of the math of an EE. Also, you can easily switch to EE or get a graduate degree in EE if you decide you like hardware more.
I am running Vista Home Premium (32bit), I use it primarily for gaming (I do every other possible computing task on my Macbook). I recently installed a program called Akimbo (didn't have an OSX version). Akimbo, against my will, ninja installed the "Macrovision InstallShield Update Manager". The Macrovision "tool" did not have an uninstall icon in the Vista GUI. Pissed off, I uninstalled Akimbo per the Vista GUI, thinking it would get rid of the Macrovision "tool" since it installed it, but the PoS Macrovision program remained, with no icon at all in my Vista Add/Remove. Now that I am done using up the free $25 for Akimbo, I'm going to get rid of Akimbo and hopefully Macrovision... any suggestions? I read above that someone said to run Vista in "Full Admin" mode, I have not tried that yet since I didn't know there was two different admin modes.
"I've noticed a pattern recently (particularly in large chains) where the staff are instructed in the company policy but not in law - and the company policy is often in complete contradiction to the law."
They do this because if they can prevent x% of returns, they will make y% more money, which is > than the cost of defending against a law suit which may never come. Despicable? Definitely. Good business? Very.
To me, the hardcore/casual designation is more about who the game is targeted to, not the difficulty level. Example: I consider Guitar Hero a casual game, but the difficulty level is very high on the harder levels. Easy to learn, very hard to master. A typical FPS like Halo is a hard game to learn (for someone new to FPSs), but very easy to master (the single player).
I define a hardcore game as a game targeted to the age 14-35 male demographic (approximately), and a casual game as targeted to the 6-65 male/female demographic. Nintendo is focused on games for the larger demographic. If you are a 14-35 male, you are not being targeted by Nintendo anymore, so the odds are that you will enjoy games from the consoles that are targeting *you*. Personally, I do not like the "general audience" type of games, and do not feel a need to buy a Wii. That does not imply that it is not a good console for the average Joe, it is just not the optimum console for the average Joe in the 14-35 male demographic. It also doesn't imply that some of the "general audience" type of games will not be extremely good and attract mass attention from the hardcore audience.
If a crude dirty bomb went off in a major city, there would be short-term economic impact. There would be economic impact for any terrorist attack, whether radiation based or not. But you can clean up something like this fairly easily, especially with all of the resources that would be dedicated to it after a terrorist attack. Just because you cannot visually see radiation, does not mean you cannot detect it and wipe it away. This is done every day at power plants across the country. I would think that radiation is far more easy to clean up than a chemical attack, and it is definitely easier to clean than a biological attack. If the radiation levels are low enough, the clean up crew does not even have to wear suits! Clean up for an Anthrax attack is much harder, and we had a few of those with no major impact.
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The U.S. will never pay this. It is an election year during a war. Do you honestly think any of the candidates will honestly agree to pay this fine and appear "weak"? Democrat or Republican, neither is going to go for this. If the WTO is smart, they will dial down the rhetoric and they might get what they want: online gambling. If not, they will get neither gambling or a fine.
Company of Heroes is an awesome game. The graphics could be much worse and it would still be really good. The fact that the graphics are good is a bonus. The idea that great graphics = bad game is ridiculous.
That is like saying that "Money can't buy happiness". Yeah, you can be poor and happy, but it is alot easier if you have money.
Sorry, Prometheus was canceled.
I looked at an apartment complex once and as I was walking around I noticed DirectTV dishes on people's balconies. So I said, "That is cool, you allow satellite dishes on the balconies." The employee said, "No, not anymore, those are grandfathered in. You have to get Comcast if you want cable." This sounded really fishy, so we promptly left. Living in the rust belt we ended up buying a house instead since the costs were similar (but now i have to do yard-work).
I am not so sure about this. I think that this may hurt the big channels more than the small channels. How many people who pay the cable bill actually watch MTV (and would likewise jump at the chance to get rid of it so that there teenagers couldn't watch it)? How many households would buy ESPN once they realized that it was BY FAR the most expensive channel?
Networks like Food Channel, G4, and the History Channel would be very cheap compared to ESPN and MTV, so fans of those channels could easily justify buying it.
I attended two major US public Universities (Undergrad and Grad), and neither one was allowed to use the "real" curve. The professors were only allowed to adjust grades in the favor of the student. In other words, if everyone in the class got an 85% or above on a test, then everyone would at least get a B. The professor was not allowed to adjust the scale so that the person who got exactly an 85% would get an F. The professors were allowed to make a high of 95% be 100% and adjust everyone else's grades accordingly.
Like you, I have never actually seen or heard of a real curve being used. Maybe they are used in places like India where the competition is extremely fierce, or in competitive private colleges.
Yes, because playing next to someone is *new*. Online play is just for the few who have the internet, right?
Maybe now MS can finally build one that works longer than a few months.
Maybe the criminal only robs stores with cute employees?
Perfect launch? I could not play this game for 2 days after launch on PC. Apparently, Steam + DX10 + Bioshock = FAIL. I had to reinstall directX run-times just to get the game to work; but of course I did this *after* i reinstalled drivers, messed with game options, reboot, reboot, reboot, surf forums, etc. I noticed after day 2 when I logged onto the game through steam it forced a directX update again, so apparently this was fixed. The widescreen issue was annoying, but there is already a 3rd party fix to this.
I expect these issues on the PC, and they don't really bother me. What bothers me is the DRM limitations on the number of installs. I don't mind the Steam DRM system, but this other DRM issue is completely unfair. This game is great, but I wish I could return it and pirate it. This game would be 10/10, but because of these screw-ups, gets an 8/10 from me. If you are considering buying it vs pirating it, I would definitely pirate it. This is a game worth playing but 2k already thinks you are a criminal; you might as well act like one and not give them there money.
Where is the tech in this article? Are they zapping the protestors to the Alien mothership?
I think expanding the level cap every 12 months is actually a good thing for casuals. It adds more leveling content, and limits gear inflation for casual pvpers. Even a very casual player can get a toon from level 60 to 70 within 12 months. The thing I am most excited about is the new PvP content. New BGs and PvP options are great for people who cannot commit to a raid schedule.
The only thing I'm curious about is the new Hero class... the way they are doing it just seems very odd. My guess is that they do not balance it as a viable PvP class, since it is "free". Otherwise it makes Shamans and Pallys kind of obsolete.
It is safer to pirate the movie and watch it at home than to pay money to see it. That is what I learned today.
...and realize there is a huge market out there for a console that will allow AO games? Can't they just have parental lockout for games with a certain rating, just like DVR's and TV's do now? Why does the entire industry push forward this notion that video games are played primarily by children?
It is called a PC.
Comparing video games, a relatively new medium (~25 years old), to film (~90 years old?) or classical art and music is extremely unfair. When "motion pictures" first came out and consisted mostly of train robberies and pirate movies, I bet there were art snobs who said the same thing about film as Ebert is saying about video games. Most universities in the world have a specialized program in film study, but only a limited number of universities include undergraduate video game study.
The fact is, without a doubt, video games posses more capacity to include art than any other form of art in human history! A video game is able to combine the following elements:
plot + visuals + sound + music + interaction with story = more art than is possible with any other medium!
True, but I will be using them if they implement this feature.
"You know we're in serious trouble wheh Michael Moore sounds (at least on this one occasion) like a beacon of reason ..."
...". That would be more fitting.
At first read I thought you said: "... like a bacon of reason
I think Apple is vulnerable in the Mp3 player market right now. The iPod does not have great battery life, and it still scratches easily. If they don't release a new version this holiday season, I will think about getting a Zune 2.0. I read that Zune 1.0 had great battery life and was well made, the problem was the DRM. If they fix the DRM, then Zune 2.0 might well be the superior device.
Canadian System = Tax Everyone for the "right" to transfer CDs to your IPOD, but not to share CDs with friends. American System = No one gets taxed, RIAA sues dumb people who are still using Kazaa. Therefore dumb people subsidize my piracy. Dumb people subsidize piracy > Everyone subsidize "transfer rights"
The night before I got my Verizon FIOS internet installed I had nightmares that I was going to end up with Yahoo toolbar, Google Desktop, and Norton Antivirus on my pristine gaming PC. So right before they came I hid my gaming PC in my closet and had my Macbook sitting out. It was very obvious that I had a missing desktop since I had my 5.1 gaming speakers not connected to anything. I figured that I could undo whatever crap they did on OSX better than I could on Windows. They refused to touch my laptop, so I just had them leave the router and I configured it myself. I never found out what was on that CD they wanted to install, but I am sure it was something horrible and evil.
In my opinion, go Computer Engineering. Unless your goal is to write application software, a computer engineering degree is far more lucrative and flexible than either a CS or an IT degree. As a CE writing software, you will understand the hardware far better, and will be the l33t ninja low level coder that writes device drivers for custom HW, and can get linux to run on a battery-powered thimble. And you can interview for both software and hardware positions. Granted, you won't learn how to do web or database programming, but to me that stuff is not very interesting. Definitely think about it, but you better like math. You get all the math of a CS, plus some of the math of an EE. Also, you can easily switch to EE or get a graduate degree in EE if you decide you like hardware more.
I am running Vista Home Premium (32bit), I use it primarily for gaming (I do every other possible computing task on my Macbook). I recently installed a program called Akimbo (didn't have an OSX version). Akimbo, against my will, ninja installed the "Macrovision InstallShield Update Manager". The Macrovision "tool" did not have an uninstall icon in the Vista GUI. Pissed off, I uninstalled Akimbo per the Vista GUI, thinking it would get rid of the Macrovision "tool" since it installed it, but the PoS Macrovision program remained, with no icon at all in my Vista Add/Remove. Now that I am done using up the free $25 for Akimbo, I'm going to get rid of Akimbo and hopefully Macrovision... any suggestions? I read above that someone said to run Vista in "Full Admin" mode, I have not tried that yet since I didn't know there was two different admin modes.
"I've noticed a pattern recently (particularly in large chains) where the staff are instructed in the company policy but not in law - and the company policy is often in complete contradiction to the law."
They do this because if they can prevent x% of returns, they will make y% more money, which is > than the cost of defending against a law suit which may never come. Despicable? Definitely. Good business? Very.
To me, the hardcore/casual designation is more about who the game is targeted to, not the difficulty level. Example: I consider Guitar Hero a casual game, but the difficulty level is very high on the harder levels. Easy to learn, very hard to master. A typical FPS like Halo is a hard game to learn (for someone new to FPSs), but very easy to master (the single player).
I define a hardcore game as a game targeted to the age 14-35 male demographic (approximately), and a casual game as targeted to the 6-65 male/female demographic. Nintendo is focused on games for the larger demographic. If you are a 14-35 male, you are not being targeted by Nintendo anymore, so the odds are that you will enjoy games from the consoles that are targeting *you*. Personally, I do not like the "general audience" type of games, and do not feel a need to buy a Wii. That does not imply that it is not a good console for the average Joe, it is just not the optimum console for the average Joe in the 14-35 male demographic. It also doesn't imply that some of the "general audience" type of games will not be extremely good and attract mass attention from the hardcore audience.
If a crude dirty bomb went off in a major city, there would be short-term economic impact. There would be economic impact for any terrorist attack, whether radiation based or not. But you can clean up something like this fairly easily, especially with all of the resources that would be dedicated to it after a terrorist attack. Just because you cannot visually see radiation, does not mean you cannot detect it and wipe it away. This is done every day at power plants across the country. I would think that radiation is far more easy to clean up than a chemical attack, and it is definitely easier to clean than a biological attack. If the radiation levels are low enough, the clean up crew does not even have to wear suits! Clean up for an Anthrax attack is much harder, and we had a few of those with no major impact.