I have been getting bit by the Steam DRM problem too now that I have a family. Over the years I've gathered over 200 games in Steam without thinking about it, but now if somebody else in my family is playing on Steam, I can't play any of the other games at the same time. Fortunately they added the family share option, so I made separate accounts for everybody and from now on try to spread the games more so can at least play something. The problem is still that the big bulk of the games are on my account, but I suppose it gets better over time as I buy more games and perhaps duplicates too to the other accounts.
Perhaps you're right and the fear is unfounded, but it's only a matter of time until all the parts are printable. After all the mechanism doesn't have to be as complex as in commercial or military guns. Simple revolver or even a single shot gun could be bad enough. Issue about the ammunition is still valid, but lets see. I remember when I was kid I found the Terrorists Handbook from some BBS and printed it out with dads matrix printer. That gave me lot of respect at school and several times I was mulling about making nitroglycerin. I did make some experiments with napalm.
I've never owned a console (hmm, actually dad had some old thing once that had variations of Pong), and I haven't seen the need to downgrade to a one since I have a perfectly good PC to play games on, but now that I have small kids I've been thinking on Wii, since it actually brings something different to the table from PC games and should have plenty of suitable games for kids too. Only problem for me has been the SD graphics. I don't think I'm big snob about the graphics, but since the only screen I have is 130" projector screen I just wish it could do at least 720p. So I think I'll wait for this new console and see if it'll convince me to try it.
I've written couple of bash and python scripts straight on my Nokia N9 and it's useful, but quite hard with virtual keyboard and vi. Writing full fledged apps sounds masochistic.
I have actually been looking for some kind of bluetooth-IR bridge to control my home theater with my phone. After all that's always in my pocket and all them remotes could be where-ever the kids have left them. Noticed some solution for iPhone a while back, but of course that's as closed as every iThing. Might just have to build one myself one of these days.
I have found some of my favorite series as a kid on dvd lately, but still there's plenty of stuff I'd love to show my kids. Problem is that I don't have a tv anymore, only a projector with 135" screen, and even the dvds from the 70's-80's shows look rather horrible. Granted many Internet streams have the same problem. In the end it's often better to just let them watch the videos on the laptop or tablet.
This absolutely pisses me off. Laws are supposed to reflect the people's sense of justice and this absolutely does not. Music is supposed to be culture not business. I just don't see the rationale of them being able to milk the same old songs for 70 years, when the average lifespan of a modern day pop song is like 2 months. I've gone to quite a bit of trouble to acquire my music/books/videos legally, even with idiotic geographical restrictions and other hoops they make you jump, but this camels back is about to break, and I will just stop caring!
Wife pre-purchased the game and was excitedly looking forward to it, then 2 weeks after the release when she still couldn't access the game I had to dowload a crack for her after which she's been playing it "happily". Dunno if they've still fixed it though.
Definitely seems promising, and looks great too! I guess this will be the next mmorpg I'll be looking forward to, and I already managed to stay clean of those for couple of years. Anyway, been disappointed after getting excited by great promises too many times in the past so will have to wait and see. It does bring that glimmer of hope for the next great game though!
I'm following the tablets rather eagerly as well. Only this xmas did I get acquainted with Android (2.1) phone and I'm positively surprised. Still, personally I'll be waiting until MeeGo tablets start popping up before I make my decision about a tablet. Unless I run into an irresistible offer as I did with the phone.
I played Aion some, but didn't continue after the free period, it just didn't manage to hook me and there's also time constraints these days.
Grind is really not the issue though, don't really understand what is everybodys rush to the max level. They should just make the journey there enjoyable. I guess the problem there is that to be effective in PVP you have to be max level.
I remember back in the original EQ the leveling was nightmare compared to modern MMOs, but who cared, you played for fun, not to reach top level!
I think Nokia is hit worst with this patent. I've seen them run tests on this kind of system on shopping malls, and releasing the navigation for free was probably part of the plan to start offering location based advertisement and other services on top of it. Google likely won't be very interested at licensing it either since advertising is their main business.
What happens when I find my old game and want to play it say 10 or 20 years from now and they don't have their server up or the company doesn't exist anymore?
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I tend to forget to return those things in timely manner, which gets pretty expensive fast.
I have been getting bit by the Steam DRM problem too now that I have a family. Over the years I've gathered over 200 games in Steam without thinking about it, but now if somebody else in my family is playing on Steam, I can't play any of the other games at the same time. Fortunately they added the family share option, so I made separate accounts for everybody and from now on try to spread the games more so can at least play something. The problem is still that the big bulk of the games are on my account, but I suppose it gets better over time as I buy more games and perhaps duplicates too to the other accounts.
Perhaps you're right and the fear is unfounded, but it's only a matter of time until all the parts are printable. After all the mechanism doesn't have to be as complex as in commercial or military guns. Simple revolver or even a single shot gun could be bad enough. Issue about the ammunition is still valid, but lets see. I remember when I was kid I found the Terrorists Handbook from some BBS and printed it out with dads matrix printer. That gave me lot of respect at school and several times I was mulling about making nitroglycerin. I did make some experiments with napalm.
That sounds troublesome if any kid can build a working gun unsupervised. I'm sure cartridges and bullets come next.
Then again, you can't resell your HL2 either since it's tied to your Steam account.
Isn't it possible to buy an unlocked phone to begin with, if that is what you want?
I've never owned a console (hmm, actually dad had some old thing once that had variations of Pong), and I haven't seen the need to downgrade to a one since I have a perfectly good PC to play games on, but now that I have small kids I've been thinking on Wii, since it actually brings something different to the table from PC games and should have plenty of suitable games for kids too. Only problem for me has been the SD graphics. I don't think I'm big snob about the graphics, but since the only screen I have is 130" projector screen I just wish it could do at least 720p. So I think I'll wait for this new console and see if it'll convince me to try it.
I've written couple of bash and python scripts straight on my Nokia N9 and it's useful, but quite hard with virtual keyboard and vi. Writing full fledged apps sounds masochistic.
I have actually been looking for some kind of bluetooth-IR bridge to control my home theater with my phone. After all that's always in my pocket and all them remotes could be where-ever the kids have left them. Noticed some solution for iPhone a while back, but of course that's as closed as every iThing. Might just have to build one myself one of these days.
I have found some of my favorite series as a kid on dvd lately, but still there's plenty of stuff I'd love to show my kids. Problem is that I don't have a tv anymore, only a projector with 135" screen, and even the dvds from the 70's-80's shows look rather horrible. Granted many Internet streams have the same problem. In the end it's often better to just let them watch the videos on the laptop or tablet.
Try to take over the world again
That must be one of the most successful space exploration projects so far, too bad it's running out of juice!
This absolutely pisses me off. Laws are supposed to reflect the people's sense of justice and this absolutely does not. Music is supposed to be culture not business. I just don't see the rationale of them being able to milk the same old songs for 70 years, when the average lifespan of a modern day pop song is like 2 months. I've gone to quite a bit of trouble to acquire my music/books/videos legally, even with idiotic geographical restrictions and other hoops they make you jump, but this camels back is about to break, and I will just stop caring!
Oh nm, this was about Origins.. I was talking about DA2 :) Should read the stuff before posting!
Wife pre-purchased the game and was excitedly looking forward to it, then 2 weeks after the release when she still couldn't access the game I had to dowload a crack for her after which she's been playing it "happily". Dunno if they've still fixed it though.
Definitely seems promising, and looks great too! I guess this will be the next mmorpg I'll be looking forward to, and I already managed to stay clean of those for couple of years. Anyway, been disappointed after getting excited by great promises too many times in the past so will have to wait and see. It does bring that glimmer of hope for the next great game though!
I'm following the tablets rather eagerly as well. Only this xmas did I get acquainted with Android (2.1) phone and I'm positively surprised. Still, personally I'll be waiting until MeeGo tablets start popping up before I make my decision about a tablet. Unless I run into an irresistible offer as I did with the phone.
I use Colemak keymap where Caps Lock is mapped as backspace. I still use it too much.
I played Aion some, but didn't continue after the free period, it just didn't manage to hook me and there's also time constraints these days. Grind is really not the issue though, don't really understand what is everybodys rush to the max level. They should just make the journey there enjoyable. I guess the problem there is that to be effective in PVP you have to be max level. I remember back in the original EQ the leveling was nightmare compared to modern MMOs, but who cared, you played for fun, not to reach top level!
I think at least in Finland breaking a copy protection is bigger crime than copying copyrighted material for your own use.
I think Nokia is hit worst with this patent. I've seen them run tests on this kind of system on shopping malls, and releasing the navigation for free was probably part of the plan to start offering location based advertisement and other services on top of it. Google likely won't be very interested at licensing it either since advertising is their main business.
What happens when I find my old game and want to play it say 10 or 20 years from now and they don't have their server up or the company doesn't exist anymore?