I got my iPhone a little while after the 3G was released and I haven't found any of the appstore applications to be all that interesting. The only third party application from the appstore I use on a regular basis is Flashlight (which is free). The applications I use semi-regularly are SFNetNews, Palringo and Units (also all free). I can't recall a paid app that I bothered to use for more than a week. On the other hand I use Winterboard, Terminal (and the CLI apps that go with it such as OpenSSH), AdBlock and Reminder quite regularly (granted AdBlock and Reminder are passive applications); all from Cydia. Perhaps if the restrictions on what Appstore applications could do were loosened appstore developers could create really useful applications. Imagine the profit that could be made from an application that provided much needed functionality, such as a "mark all mail as read" button.
The problem is if you develop web-based games then you are going to attract a young target audience, even more so if your application is for a social networking site. Children often do not understand what is involved with making the game ("but XYZ does it for free!?"), also children either don't have money or have no method of transfering it via the internet (no credit card unless their parents let them use it). In my opinion, you're not going to make any significant profit out of such a target audience unless your profit does not come directly from them, ie. advertising; whether it be on the page or in the game itself.
I wouldn't say there is anything sinister behind it, or that it is a sign that "gaming has reached a critical threshold of mainstream normalcy". I think it is more that they have looked around for people who are offering positive contributions to society and they have chosen two people who bring in tourist dollars, give to charity and provide scholarships. The fact that they are gaming-related doesn't detract from these contributions nor does it indicate anything other than that Washington is willing to acknowledge the work they do.
According to the related article on TorrentFreak the server was a topsite used by numerous scene groups and Peter Sunde (aka Brokep of the The Pirate Bay) has said that "it is possible that it's a major source" for The Pirate Bay.
I am sure a large portion of obese people have played video games.
I am sure a large portion of people with cancer, heart disease and diabetes have played video games.
I am sure a lot of people who have died have played video games.
Therefore the reason for obesity, illness and death *must* be video games, right? Ornot.
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There was an interesting article on TorrentFreak a while back; How Piracy Can Boost iPhone App Sales, may be worth a read.
I got my iPhone a little while after the 3G was released and I haven't found any of the appstore applications to be all that interesting. The only third party application from the appstore I use on a regular basis is Flashlight (which is free). The applications I use semi-regularly are SFNetNews, Palringo and Units (also all free). I can't recall a paid app that I bothered to use for more than a week. On the other hand I use Winterboard, Terminal (and the CLI apps that go with it such as OpenSSH), AdBlock and Reminder quite regularly (granted AdBlock and Reminder are passive applications); all from Cydia. Perhaps if the restrictions on what Appstore applications could do were loosened appstore developers could create really useful applications. Imagine the profit that could be made from an application that provided much needed functionality, such as a "mark all mail as read" button.
The problem is if you develop web-based games then you are going to attract a young target audience, even more so if your application is for a social networking site. Children often do not understand what is involved with making the game ("but XYZ does it for free!?"), also children either don't have money or have no method of transfering it via the internet (no credit card unless their parents let them use it). In my opinion, you're not going to make any significant profit out of such a target audience unless your profit does not come directly from them, ie. advertising; whether it be on the page or in the game itself.
I wouldn't say there is anything sinister behind it, or that it is a sign that "gaming has reached a critical threshold of mainstream normalcy". I think it is more that they have looked around for people who are offering positive contributions to society and they have chosen two people who bring in tourist dollars, give to charity and provide scholarships. The fact that they are gaming-related doesn't detract from these contributions nor does it indicate anything other than that Washington is willing to acknowledge the work they do.
Their response, the related comic.
According to the related article on TorrentFreak the server was a topsite used by numerous scene groups and Peter Sunde (aka Brokep of the The Pirate Bay) has said that "it is possible that it's a major source" for The Pirate Bay.
And people that breath air tend to die. Not immediately but eventually.
I am sure a large portion of obese people have played video games. I am sure a large portion of people with cancer, heart disease and diabetes have played video games. I am sure a lot of people who have died have played video games. Therefore the reason for obesity, illness and death *must* be video games, right? Or not.