HEY GUYS! I heard there's an alternative to PayPal....can't remember the name though. Can anyone help me out? I swear I just heard about it from like, five or six people. Something like CoinOp...or CoinBite....
Some of my own speculation of why they aren't releasing the mod-source for both TF2 and L4D are:
- The stats/achievement thing: I can imagine someone with access to the source would be able to make a certain mod which can fool the stats/achievement system, and as such someone can 'cheat': For myself, I don't put too much pleasure in unlocking them that way, but I can see how people would to cheat with enhancing their E-peen (so imo, a half-valid option).
- Afraid of people actually creating new content that can rival their next product: This is especially the case with L4D, whereas I can see that some of the things they're talking about in releasing in L4D2, has been stuff that me and a couple of my mates have been planning to actually do with L4D (but got severely disappointed at not seeing the source released). If this is one of their motivations behind this move... I can only be very disappointed.
- Valve considering the HL2-source to be enough to release to the public, as in the end, simply said, TF2 and L4D are only enhanced modifications of the Source-engine. Again, if this would be the case, I severely disagree, as L4D has several components which are fairly unique to that game, but beg to be enhanced/explored in modifications.
I think #2 gets closest to what I consider to be the reason behind this - mods to multiplayer online games such as TF2, L4D and CS:S would fracture the player base.
On the PC side, I can't remember the last good RTS or RPG that came out that played exclusively/best on PC.
This is the only part I have to disagree with, at least as far as RTS games are concerned. I can't think of a single console RTS game that performs as well on a console as it would on PC because consoles lack a decent control scheme.
Two recent, somewhat well-received console RTS games that come to mind are Tom Clancy's End War (which made use of voice-activated commands on Xbox 360) and Halo Wars (ugh). Either one would have benefited from a better control scheme. You mention mouse and keyboard support for the current console generation, and for all I know these games may have support for KB/mouse...I just think the average console user wouldn't bother.
I don't disagree that the connections to Clearwire and WiMAX smells fishy, but important to note here is that Verizon has changed its original stance and is now supporting a DTV delay, so maybe the LTE rollout wasn't as ready as they'd have hoped.
I haven't had any luck pulling up the stories, but Mark Cuban has in the past been very outspoken on topics such as P2P file sharing and ISP traffic shaping/net neutrality.
Even if they do prove distribution, the claims of damages per track should be fought.
Only since I haven't seen this mentioned here yet, Judge Davis did address the question of excessive damages:
"The statutory damages awarded against Thomas are not a deterrent against those who pirate music in order to profit... Thomas's conduct was motivated by her desire to obtain the copyrighted music for her own use. The Court does not condone Thomas's actions, but it would be a farce to say that a single mother's acts of using Kazaa are the equivalent, for example, to the acts of global financial firms illegally infringing on copyrights in order to profit in the securities market.
While the Court does not discount Plaintiffs' claim that, cumulatively, illegal downloading has farâreaching effects on their businesses, the damages awarded in this case are wholly disproportionate to the damages suffered by Plaintiffs. Thomas allegedly infringed on the copyrights of 24 songs - the equivalent of approximately three CDs, costing less than $54, and yet the total damages awarded is $222,000 - more than five hundred [emphasis his] times the cost of buying 24 separate CDs and more than four thousand times the cost of three CDs...
Unfortunately, by using Kazaa, Thomas acted like countless other Internet users. Her alleged acts were illegal, but common. Her status as a consumer who was not seeking to harm her competitors or make a profit does not excuse her behavior. But it does make the award of hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages unprecedented and oppressive."
Slashdot Mirror
HEY GUYS! I heard there's an alternative to PayPal....can't remember the name though. Can anyone help me out? I swear I just heard about it from like, five or six people. Something like CoinOp...or CoinBite....
RTFA - mobile hive wore a condom.
Not disagreeing with you, but every episode of South Park is available to stream on their website.
Valve managed to effectively decapitate that boycott group by flying the two leaders of the group out to Bellevue, WA for a tour of the Valve offices and a look at the game.
Who knows whether or not it'll actually affect the boycott, though.
Have you seen the recent sequel to that video? Ugh.
Some of my own speculation of why they aren't releasing the mod-source for both TF2 and L4D are: - The stats/achievement thing: I can imagine someone with access to the source would be able to make a certain mod which can fool the stats/achievement system, and as such someone can 'cheat': For myself, I don't put too much pleasure in unlocking them that way, but I can see how people would to cheat with enhancing their E-peen (so imo, a half-valid option). - Afraid of people actually creating new content that can rival their next product: This is especially the case with L4D, whereas I can see that some of the things they're talking about in releasing in L4D2, has been stuff that me and a couple of my mates have been planning to actually do with L4D (but got severely disappointed at not seeing the source released). If this is one of their motivations behind this move... I can only be very disappointed. - Valve considering the HL2-source to be enough to release to the public, as in the end, simply said, TF2 and L4D are only enhanced modifications of the Source-engine. Again, if this would be the case, I severely disagree, as L4D has several components which are fairly unique to that game, but beg to be enhanced/explored in modifications.
I think #2 gets closest to what I consider to be the reason behind this - mods to multiplayer online games such as TF2, L4D and CS:S would fracture the player base.
On the PC side, I can't remember the last good RTS or RPG that came out that played exclusively/best on PC.
This is the only part I have to disagree with, at least as far as RTS games are concerned. I can't think of a single console RTS game that performs as well on a console as it would on PC because consoles lack a decent control scheme.
Two recent, somewhat well-received console RTS games that come to mind are Tom Clancy's End War (which made use of voice-activated commands on Xbox 360) and Halo Wars (ugh). Either one would have benefited from a better control scheme. You mention mouse and keyboard support for the current console generation, and for all I know these games may have support for KB/mouse...I just think the average console user wouldn't bother.
Well, it would have to be a bit smaller, as the Wii only has 512MB storage (512 minus space for saves and previously downloaded games).
The largest files would probably be WiiWare titles (other than Mega Man X), or N64 games.
I don't disagree that the connections to Clearwire and WiMAX smells fishy, but important to note here is that Verizon has changed its original stance and is now supporting a DTV delay, so maybe the LTE rollout wasn't as ready as they'd have hoped.
http://arstechnica.com/media/news/2009/01/verizon-does-180-says-it-now-supports-a-dtv-delay.ars
Personally, I think the bandaid just needs to be ripped off. The same idiots that aren't ready, won't be ready.
Yep, there's one. Thanks.
I haven't had any luck pulling up the stories, but Mark Cuban has in the past been very outspoken on topics such as P2P file sharing and ISP traffic shaping/net neutrality.
He said homebrew, not WiiWare
42! 42! 42!
Even if they do prove distribution, the claims of damages per track should be fought.
Only since I haven't seen this mentioned here yet, Judge Davis did address the question of excessive damages:
"The statutory damages awarded against Thomas are not a deterrent against those who pirate music in order to profit... Thomas's conduct was motivated by her desire to obtain the copyrighted music for her own use. The Court does not condone Thomas's actions, but it would be a farce to say that a single mother's acts of using Kazaa are the equivalent, for example, to the acts of global financial firms illegally infringing on copyrights in order to profit in the securities market.
While the Court does not discount Plaintiffs' claim that, cumulatively, illegal downloading has farâreaching effects on their businesses, the damages awarded in this case are wholly disproportionate to the damages suffered by Plaintiffs. Thomas allegedly infringed on the copyrights of 24 songs - the equivalent of approximately three CDs, costing less than $54, and yet the total damages awarded is $222,000 - more than five hundred [emphasis his] times the cost of buying 24 separate CDs and more than four thousand times the cost of three CDs...
Unfortunately, by using Kazaa, Thomas acted like countless other Internet users. Her alleged acts were illegal, but common. Her status as a consumer who was not seeking to harm her competitors or make a profit does not excuse her behavior. But it does make the award of hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages unprecedented and oppressive."
Taken from an Ars Technica article.
No service will ever top the pirates. Ever.
-Anonymous Coward, 2008
done.
Not surprising that missing from their list of "industry experts" are groups like Free Press, Public Knowledge, and the EFF.