While your analogy has some merit, it's important to remember that DirecTV doesn't have any content of their own. They resell other people's content. As such, there is something to be stolen. If you steal DirecTV you're not hurting DirecTV. You're hurting them, and Showtime, and Starz, and Cinemax, and Blockbuster (who does all the PPV movies) and countless others who only get revenue through selling subscriptions (you could argue that it would actually BENEFIT the commerical networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, HGTV, Discovery, etc since they are showing more commercials). DirecTV is best thought of as a middle man, not the origionator of the service.
That said, I think things would end up as they are eventually. Look at cellphones. It used to cost a fortune to make a local call, but it's gotten cheaper to the point of being nearly free. Long distance used to be horrendus, but it's to the point where it's nearly free. Since the infrastructure is there, they can just sell "access units" (phones, or in your case GPS recievers) and they still make money (since maintainc is nearly free, or at least is for GPS). So while it would have taken a while, things would have gotten to this point eventually. It's the natural conclusion of things (or at least it seems to be to me).
I LOVE the way software is done on OS X (and infact the whole Mac platform for a VERY long time). To install a program, you drag it's executable somewhere. To delete a program, you drag the executable to the trash. Sometimes it's in a folder with some other stuff, but whatever. No apt-get blah. No emerge blah. No d:\setup.exe crud. Just drag and drop. Same to erase. Same to move the program around on the disk. No hidden config files. No registry. No DLLs hidden in c:\something\somewhere. Just simplicity. And they way that nearly everything you'd ever want to use is in the same place (and you can categorize it yourself) works as a startmenu of sorts. While I like Debian's packages the best (of all the many Linux distro I've tried), the Mac knows how it should be done and that's what we should be striving for. Putting libraries in one place and bianaries in another and documention in another and... may seem smart and may work well when you have a package manager, but if you install a package by source, it can be a MAJOR pain to remove everything it installed. For user installed programs, it's utter simplicity and nirvana.
I'd put Windows just a little ahead of Linux (because of the multiple formats of Linux packages), but OS X (and all Macs) are way out in front in this arena, IMHO.
I've always wondered why Transmeta hasn't extended code morphing to other cores. Why not release a core than runs PPC code? Why not make a core than can run BOTH PPC and x86 code. Think about this. Apple could use Transmeta processors (since in the past they haven't been as fast as x86 processors anyway) but software like VirtualPC could run at the equivelent of full speed by using different codemorphing. Or you could do things the other way on the PC side. It would allow people to program on one platform and test on another nativly (not through software emulation of hardware) on the same PC.
I think making the code morphing system be able to do multiple cores on one chip could have a LOT of good effects.
Why are they running Windows? In all seriousness, why not Linux or something else? If they run Windows, then the must pay MS money for every console they make. So even if the console becomes a success (I doubt it, based on the number of vaporware consoles over the past few years, and the fact that we have 3 big players, which I think is market saturation) they'll be paying some of their gross income to MS. Does this make sense to anyone? Because it sure doesn't make much sense to me.
The only real plus I can see would be DirectX. That said, Linux has OpenGL, OpenAL, SDL, Allego, SVGAlib, and anything else you want. I would expect the company would make a DevKit anyway that had their OWN video/audio/network APIs. So I ask again, why Windows?
I understand that. That's what I meant by "about to cross the edge." What they're doing seems to me like making veiled threats at people and lobbying congres to make it legal to break the legs of people who don't pay their protection money. Even if they aren't racketeering, the "corrupt organisation" seems to fit. For example, they don't like to let radio stations play their big hits unless they play the little ones that aren't hits too. They are forcing the radio station to do what they want. This is sorta like Sony or Nintendo or MS saying to a store "you can't sell the title _____ (Super Smash Brothers, Splintercell, whatever (insert hit here)) unless you sell nearly every other title in our library (even though you'll proably never sell a single unit of some of 'em). Add things like payola and the "corrupt organisations" label sure sounds like it could fit.
Sherman Anti-Trust Act nothing, I bet it wouldn't be that hard to come up with a RICO complaint against them. They sure sound like they're about to cross the edge to me. Do what we tell you (don't download stuff) or we'll make you regret it (erase your hard drive) sure sounds like racateering to me. Do they do anything to try to stop indie lables? If you can't make a RICO complaint against them now, at the rate they're going, I can't help but wonder how long it will be before they do qualify.
Why a P4 2.66? That's probably what they had that was closest in clockspeed to 2ghz, maybe while still using the newest core. Plus this is still pretty close to 3ghz, so you know the P4 scores wouldn't double if you used one or anything.
Why no Athlon? They probably didn't have one and with the P4 at 3ghz and climbing, the old althon is becomming less and less significant for these pure number crunching apps. Plus maybe they've done previous tests that said that P4 they uesd was faster than an equivelent athlon, so it didn't need to be tested.
Why no Opteron? They probably didn't have one. This is the most valid question you ask.
Why RH 7.1? That's probably what they use. They are benchmarking PURE CPU so the OS doesn't matter too much for this kind of thing.
Yes, you need the remote to buy DVDs, but the drive is a DVD drive so if you were to run Linux on it you could play DVDs that way or just read data DVDs. I'm just trying to make things the same for the hardware, not neccessarily the software.
1. Go to walmart.com 2. Get a Microtel SYSMAR550 PC With 1.2 GHz Duron (without OS) for $200 3. Done
This PC has 128mb of ram (vs X-Box's 64), a 1.2 ghz processor (vs X-Box's 700mhz), 20 gig hard drive (vs X-Box's 8 gig).
It's worse than the X-Box because it doesn't include a monitor (where on the X-Box you can use a TV) and it doesn't have the 3D graphics. Also, it lacks the DVD drive.
It's BETTER than the X-Box in most ways, and you could give it a new graphics card and a DVD drive, but you already get a keyboard and mouse (would cost $20 maybe + $20 for a USB->X-Box adaptor) so it's entirely possible. The Microtel also has parallel and serial ports, audio in, speakers, and it has 2 PCI slots (it would take one to upgrade the graphics) so you could still put in a TV tuner or something.
So for $200 you get a VERY nice PC (compared to anything I have, MORE than enough to do anything including games, all you'd need is a better graphics card). Compare that to $178 for an X-Box (according to Walmart.com) and you have your comparision.
You could do much better if you were to go for that MS pays (since they take a hit on every X-Box, as has already been pointed out).
It's not stated in the article but I assume they are allowed to make games for Sony's SPS (their portable) and the PS3 (which should be introduced within the next four years too). Does anyone know if either are covered, or is this truly PS2 exclusive? I would assume not.
I, like the poster, have no artistic skill, but I love to program and would love to work on games. Is there something the opposite of what the poster asks, in a way? Is there a site that has the art and game ideas where the people are looking for programmers to make their game? So the concept and all the art would be there, I would just have to make the engine?
Without that kind of information, it's hard to tell just how serious this is. Sure 1000 sounds like alot, but what if 5000 are hit by boats ever day? Then that would be more important. I seriously doubt that that happens anywhere near that frequency, but you get the idea. Numbers don't mean much without perspective.
It's the same hardware as the GBA, just in a different case (and lacking the LCD, etc). The GBA already uses the SGB colors. As for it it can read that custom border that SGB games had, I don't know but I would guess yes. I assume that new games will be able to make a custom border as well.
But I see no reason why it shouldn't use the SGB data, since the GBA does, doesn't it?
God forbid that someone takes a stand against some of the crap that gets marketed today. They are a private company and it's their RIGHT to be able to do that. If you don't agree, don't buy from them. But I bet there are many people who buy at Walmart specifically to get clean versions, or because they know they won't buy a movie there that looks interesting to find that it's almost pornographic.
There is nothing wrong with holding a standard of decency. Are you going to yell at them for not selling porn too? Get off your crooked high horse and realize that some people LIKE it this way. I see nothing wrong with what they're doing. I wish MORE companies would stand up against the trash that gets marketed today.
I'm somewhat suprised that the parrent wasn't moderated as a troll, at least once. You see a "... has a long and unbroken track record of removing/banning/censoring things too non-consertative... for their... brain dead store-goers.". That is blatently inflamitory in language. I would say that what they're doing is "... has a long and strong track record of making sure what they sell stands up to their corporate standards of decency.".
And how do you know they won't rent the "unbasterdized" (to go along with your language) versions for those who want them? How do you know that you won't have to specifically ASK for the edited versions?
Hooray for Walmart. I see them as a great company, and I think that this move will be beneficial for consumers in the end. I'm sorry if I can't seem them for the evil conlogmerate that many of you/.ers seem to.
There is a big difference between Unlockables and New Content. I don't think they would be getting any heat if they has simply said "Plus new level(s) will be unlockable with X-Box Live!", instead of saying that it was brand new and downloaded. If you make unlockables, you should make a way for people w/o X-Box live (like those w/o broadband) to get them. You should be able to go to a website to get a password, send in a postcard, or have some special code that you enter at the main menu that gets published in game magazines when they announce that a new level can be downloaded. Now in this case it seems a bit pointless to release a multiplayer map to people who in all likely hood don't play multiplayer nearly as much as those who have X-Box Live. But if it was something like The Sims and they had furniture that couldn't be unlocked, I could see a big fuss over that.
Still, none if this would happen if there were just clear up front. Now if they DO start to make levels that are ACTUALLY DOWNLOADED then that's fine with me too.
PS: All of this is on the assumption that it's not downloaded, because if it is then this whole argument is moot since the article is moot.
You have to blame the car makers for this one. They won't license the car models if the cars can take damage in game. That means that to have in-game damage, you'd have to have a bunch of cars that sorta look like real cars but aren't and are distunguisable from the real things (so that they don't get sued). It's not PD's fault.
I think we all know that even if Half-Life is barely successfull at all, we'll see it ported to consoles. The big question is when? There is a good chance that it won't come out on consoles untill X-Box 2, PS3, and or the GC's successor (I can't find what I named it in a previous post).
If it does end up on the current consoles, I doubt that it would end up on anything other than the X-Box due to pure processing/graphics power. It would take so much time to get it to run on the PS2/Cube (due to rewriting the graphics stuff) that it might not happen.
The holes in Outlook that make this so easy. Have you noticed that like 90% of the major virii out there (if not more) make use of holes in Outlook. Your annalogy would be correct if the windows were paper thin and included a sign that said "throw brick here." I'm just asking that MS puts real windows in their cars so that there is some reasonable level of protection.
... and in some cases even attempts to control infected computersâ(TM) modems.
Seems to me that would be the way to get these things fixed permanantly. Make a worm that would call MS tech support on peoples modems. Or any other MS 800 number. Untill something costs them a LOT of money, these will continue to show up.
What more do I have to say? Those were two great games, that were also very inavative. What is this guy looking for? Oddities like "Mr. Mosquito"? Yes Nintendo has lots of sequels, but if you look at E3 this year that's just about all there is.
What is there for the XBox or PS2 that's so innovative? I already mentioned "Mr. Mosquito", there is that new game for the PS2 that uses a camera, and Ico was very innovative in many ways. The XBox had... um... I'm not quite sure. MechAssault was somewhat unseen on consoles. I'm sure there are a few more but let's face it, none of the consoles has a ton of innovative games.
So where are they? The PC gets lots of odd games, although they aren't often very big. What does get a ton of games? The GBA. WarioWare Inc (I'm playing this now, it's fantastic), HamHam Heartbreak is sorta unique, it just gets lots of stuff.
All that said, what's so bad about sequels? I'm looking forward to Pikmin 2. There are many sequels that I'm looking forward to. The "sequels suck" thing is just more generalizations that come from games like "SofaSalesmen Tycoon" and "Army Men 312". Many games have sequels done to death, but many are great. I can't wait for Advanced Wars 2 either.
So in short, Nintendo is doing a very good job. Shut up and go find a good game if you want one instead of waiting for the next big thing. Mario Sunshine was no Mario 64, but it was still a pretty good game. Zelda, on the other hand, was simply fantastic. I don't mind sequels if they are well done and top rate.
I have recently discovered anime and like it alot, but I haven't seen too much. Most of what I have seen is the stuff that's aired on TV (Betterman, Dual, DB(Z), Rurouni Kenshin, Yu Yu Hakusho, etc) simply because it's expensive. The blockbusters of the world don't carry much (a movie or two like Akira and Princess Mononoke) but if I want to watch a series, I have to wait for it to be on TV.
I agree with you that anime is very expensive, but so are most other TV shows. Unfortunatly I think this is due to the DVD format it's self. It was designed for movies, and as such can only hold 4 or 5 episodes of a half hour show per disc. And with shows running into 6 discs for a single season for some shows (this is from Buffy season 2) at nearly $50 it's very expensive.
This all assumes you can even get it. The Cowboy Bebop collection is no longer sold, so I'd have to buy each disc individualy. The Betterman saga is something like $150 in a full set.
This is why I hope Blu-Ray discs and players appear soon. While they may not add to much for movies (full HDTV or something maybe) but for collection like series, they would probably reduce the cost a ton. Or you could fit all of the Starwars triligoy on one disc (episodes 4, 5, and 6) or any other trilogy. So even if it costs 5 times as much to make a blu-ray disc, it holds as much as about 7 DVDs, making it cheaper (not including the cost of packaging 7 DVDs, labeling them, running that many production lines, etc).
Blu-ray, where are you?
PS: I don't condone privacy. I could download entire series, but I don't think that's right. I'll wait untill I can afford them or they are on TV.
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That said, I think things would end up as they are eventually. Look at cellphones. It used to cost a fortune to make a local call, but it's gotten cheaper to the point of being nearly free. Long distance used to be horrendus, but it's to the point where it's nearly free. Since the infrastructure is there, they can just sell "access units" (phones, or in your case GPS recievers) and they still make money (since maintainc is nearly free, or at least is for GPS). So while it would have taken a while, things would have gotten to this point eventually. It's the natural conclusion of things (or at least it seems to be to me).
The origional PS was $300 when it first came out. Just so you know.
I'd put Windows just a little ahead of Linux (because of the multiple formats of Linux packages), but OS X (and all Macs) are way out in front in this arena, IMHO.
I've always wondered why Transmeta hasn't extended code morphing to other cores. Why not release a core than runs PPC code? Why not make a core than can run BOTH PPC and x86 code. Think about this. Apple could use Transmeta processors (since in the past they haven't been as fast as x86 processors anyway) but software like VirtualPC could run at the equivelent of full speed by using different codemorphing. Or you could do things the other way on the PC side. It would allow people to program on one platform and test on another nativly (not through software emulation of hardware) on the same PC.
I think making the code morphing system be able to do multiple cores on one chip could have a LOT of good effects.
Just an idea.
The only real plus I can see would be DirectX. That said, Linux has OpenGL, OpenAL, SDL, Allego, SVGAlib, and anything else you want. I would expect the company would make a DevKit anyway that had their OWN video/audio/network APIs. So I ask again, why Windows?
I understand that. That's what I meant by "about to cross the edge." What they're doing seems to me like making veiled threats at people and lobbying congres to make it legal to break the legs of people who don't pay their protection money. Even if they aren't racketeering, the "corrupt organisation" seems to fit. For example, they don't like to let radio stations play their big hits unless they play the little ones that aren't hits too. They are forcing the radio station to do what they want. This is sorta like Sony or Nintendo or MS saying to a store "you can't sell the title _____ (Super Smash Brothers, Splintercell, whatever (insert hit here)) unless you sell nearly every other title in our library (even though you'll proably never sell a single unit of some of 'em). Add things like payola and the "corrupt organisations" label sure sounds like it could fit.
Sherman Anti-Trust Act nothing, I bet it wouldn't be that hard to come up with a RICO complaint against them. They sure sound like they're about to cross the edge to me. Do what we tell you (don't download stuff) or we'll make you regret it (erase your hard drive) sure sounds like racateering to me. Do they do anything to try to stop indie lables? If you can't make a RICO complaint against them now, at the rate they're going, I can't help but wonder how long it will be before they do qualify.
Why no Athlon? They probably didn't have one and with the P4 at 3ghz and climbing, the old althon is becomming less and less significant for these pure number crunching apps. Plus maybe they've done previous tests that said that P4 they uesd was faster than an equivelent athlon, so it didn't need to be tested.
Why no Opteron? They probably didn't have one. This is the most valid question you ask.
Why RH 7.1? That's probably what they use. They are benchmarking PURE CPU so the OS doesn't matter too much for this kind of thing.
Yes, you need the remote to buy DVDs, but the drive is a DVD drive so if you were to run Linux on it you could play DVDs that way or just read data DVDs. I'm just trying to make things the same for the hardware, not neccessarily the software.
Easy:
1. Go to walmart.com
2. Get a Microtel SYSMAR550 PC With 1.2 GHz Duron (without OS) for $200
3. Done
This PC has 128mb of ram (vs X-Box's 64), a 1.2 ghz processor (vs X-Box's 700mhz), 20 gig hard drive (vs X-Box's 8 gig).
It's worse than the X-Box because it doesn't include a monitor (where on the X-Box you can use a TV) and it doesn't have the 3D graphics. Also, it lacks the DVD drive.
It's BETTER than the X-Box in most ways, and you could give it a new graphics card and a DVD drive, but you already get a keyboard and mouse (would cost $20 maybe + $20 for a USB->X-Box adaptor) so it's entirely possible. The Microtel also has parallel and serial ports, audio in, speakers, and it has 2 PCI slots (it would take one to upgrade the graphics) so you could still put in a TV tuner or something.
So for $200 you get a VERY nice PC (compared to anything I have, MORE than enough to do anything including games, all you'd need is a better graphics card). Compare that to $178 for an X-Box (according to Walmart.com) and you have your comparision.
You could do much better if you were to go for that MS pays (since they take a hit on every X-Box, as has already been pointed out).
It's not stated in the article but I assume they are allowed to make games for Sony's SPS (their portable) and the PS3 (which should be introduced within the next four years too). Does anyone know if either are covered, or is this truly PS2 exclusive? I would assume not.
I, like the poster, have no artistic skill, but I love to program and would love to work on games. Is there something the opposite of what the poster asks, in a way? Is there a site that has the art and game ideas where the people are looking for programmers to make their game? So the concept and all the art would be there, I would just have to make the engine?
I'd recomend "Sex on the Beach" by Bleeding Gums Murphy. Just don't tell the record store guy he's dead otherwise he'll raise the price on you.
Without that kind of information, it's hard to tell just how serious this is. Sure 1000 sounds like alot, but what if 5000 are hit by boats ever day? Then that would be more important. I seriously doubt that that happens anywhere near that frequency, but you get the idea. Numbers don't mean much without perspective.
But I see no reason why it shouldn't use the SGB data, since the GBA does, doesn't it?
There is nothing wrong with holding a standard of decency. Are you going to yell at them for not selling porn too? Get off your crooked high horse and realize that some people LIKE it this way. I see nothing wrong with what they're doing. I wish MORE companies would stand up against the trash that gets marketed today.
I'm somewhat suprised that the parrent wasn't moderated as a troll, at least once. You see a "... has a long and unbroken track record of removing/banning/censoring things too non-consertative ... for their ... brain dead store-goers.". That is blatently inflamitory in language. I would say that what they're doing is "... has a long and strong track record of making sure what they sell stands up to their corporate standards of decency.".
And how do you know they won't rent the "unbasterdized" (to go along with your language) versions for those who want them? How do you know that you won't have to specifically ASK for the edited versions?
Hooray for Walmart. I see them as a great company, and I think that this move will be beneficial for consumers in the end. I'm sorry if I can't seem them for the evil conlogmerate that many of you /.ers seem to.
Still, none if this would happen if there were just clear up front. Now if they DO start to make levels that are ACTUALLY DOWNLOADED then that's fine with me too.
PS: All of this is on the assumption that it's not downloaded, because if it is then this whole argument is moot since the article is moot.
You have to blame the car makers for this one. They won't license the car models if the cars can take damage in game. That means that to have in-game damage, you'd have to have a bunch of cars that sorta look like real cars but aren't and are distunguisable from the real things (so that they don't get sued). It's not PD's fault.
If it does end up on the current consoles, I doubt that it would end up on anything other than the X-Box due to pure processing/graphics power. It would take so much time to get it to run on the PS2/Cube (due to rewriting the graphics stuff) that it might not happen.
Cigarettes aren't selling well? Just wait untill people get rabies! Then give them our vaccine, and they'll get addicted to it! It's the perfect plan.
He he he.
The link is broken. Does anyone have a correct one?
The holes in Outlook that make this so easy. Have you noticed that like 90% of the major virii out there (if not more) make use of holes in Outlook. Your annalogy would be correct if the windows were paper thin and included a sign that said "throw brick here." I'm just asking that MS puts real windows in their cars so that there is some reasonable level of protection.
Seems to me that would be the way to get these things fixed permanantly. Make a worm that would call MS tech support on peoples modems. Or any other MS 800 number. Untill something costs them a LOT of money, these will continue to show up.
What more do I have to say? Those were two great games, that were also very inavative. What is this guy looking for? Oddities like "Mr. Mosquito"? Yes Nintendo has lots of sequels, but if you look at E3 this year that's just about all there is.
What is there for the XBox or PS2 that's so innovative? I already mentioned "Mr. Mosquito", there is that new game for the PS2 that uses a camera, and Ico was very innovative in many ways. The XBox had... um... I'm not quite sure. MechAssault was somewhat unseen on consoles. I'm sure there are a few more but let's face it, none of the consoles has a ton of innovative games.
So where are they? The PC gets lots of odd games, although they aren't often very big. What does get a ton of games? The GBA. WarioWare Inc (I'm playing this now, it's fantastic), HamHam Heartbreak is sorta unique, it just gets lots of stuff.
All that said, what's so bad about sequels? I'm looking forward to Pikmin 2. There are many sequels that I'm looking forward to. The "sequels suck" thing is just more generalizations that come from games like "SofaSalesmen Tycoon" and "Army Men 312". Many games have sequels done to death, but many are great. I can't wait for Advanced Wars 2 either.
So in short, Nintendo is doing a very good job. Shut up and go find a good game if you want one instead of waiting for the next big thing. Mario Sunshine was no Mario 64, but it was still a pretty good game. Zelda, on the other hand, was simply fantastic. I don't mind sequels if they are well done and top rate.
I agree with you that anime is very expensive, but so are most other TV shows. Unfortunatly I think this is due to the DVD format it's self. It was designed for movies, and as such can only hold 4 or 5 episodes of a half hour show per disc. And with shows running into 6 discs for a single season for some shows (this is from Buffy season 2) at nearly $50 it's very expensive.
This all assumes you can even get it. The Cowboy Bebop collection is no longer sold, so I'd have to buy each disc individualy. The Betterman saga is something like $150 in a full set.
This is why I hope Blu-Ray discs and players appear soon. While they may not add to much for movies (full HDTV or something maybe) but for collection like series, they would probably reduce the cost a ton. Or you could fit all of the Starwars triligoy on one disc (episodes 4, 5, and 6) or any other trilogy. So even if it costs 5 times as much to make a blu-ray disc, it holds as much as about 7 DVDs, making it cheaper (not including the cost of packaging 7 DVDs, labeling them, running that many production lines, etc).
Blu-ray, where are you?
PS: I don't condone privacy. I could download entire series, but I don't think that's right. I'll wait untill I can afford them or they are on TV.