The BEST business model for MMORPGs....
on
Sim-Dud?
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· Score: 1
Have the user spend $50 or whatever ont eh game, and give them 6 months of free service.
It's INCREDIBLY annoying to pay for a game, then PAY to play the game!!!
Giving the game away is OK, but it doesn't generate immediate cashflow (quite the reverse, actually), and by NOT charging for the first 6 months, you encourage users to try it out through the teething pains and allow your user base to build up quickly.
Worst case - you end up selling a new game to somebody every 6 months, or until you decide to no longer offer the free initial period (though most users would probably want to keep the characters they've built up, anyway.)
Yes, I'm sure John Ringo is wondering the same thing.
Actually, humans might have a better time of it than the Posleen. I've seen similarly daunting tasks performed quite well with machine vision and targeting systems.
As a software engineer currently working with vision systems, I understand a bit of this, and as one other poster commented, dynamic range is where film has it "all over" digital.
That's changing, however.... because of non-linear sensors that can greatly enhance the perceptual range of color at 12-16 bits per pixel (by pixel, I mean a single red, green or blue imaging element)
The thing to remember folks, is there are OTHER problems as well; sensor artifacts, for example, are a big barrier to imaging without supersampling techniques (which reduces absolute resolution). We currently see 'edges' on objects as they pass across the imaging quad arrays (RGGB), resulting in false red and blue edges. Not only are the edges a problem, but fin objects can even be lost BETWEEN these pixels.
BTW: Pixels != RGB Quads in imagers. If I'm not talking out of my ass (since my experience is in machine vision), imagers running 1600x1200 pixels, for example, are ACTUALLY 800x600 QUADS. You need 4 pixels (one red, one blue and two greens) to make a valid 32-bit quad (which is a screen pixel, but not an imager pixel, get it?) Camera use interpolation techniques to create the image, effectively grabbing the other three pixels surrounding each sensor pixel. It's a cheap way of anti-aliasing and extrapolating an image larger than the camera is physically capable of. Essentially you are looking at redundant data.
Why? Because just like a few hundred years ago, our exploration will bring new virii and microphages that could ravage our immune systems.
We haven't even explored all of the possible locations of isolated life here on Earth, yet, let alone on other worlds. The chances of finding a particularly virulent form of life that could host in humans is higher than you might think, and the lull in exploring 'new' frontiers has allowed the human race to begin the homogenation process that reduces our genetic variety and decreases our chances of surviving such an onslaught.
Fear new life.
I don't propose we become bio-isolationists, but we must remember the big picture in this matter. Bio-diversity is as much a blessing as it is a curse. Life spreads and flourishes because of this, but often at the expense of other life. The most basic forms of life are also the most successful because of this very fact. We need to understand the threat and deal with it through science and careful containment. Something as simple as a core sample from a deep water probe could spell disaster for the human race.
This is why the code was important... without the security code, you can't just "replace the BIOS"
The Linux project has the same problem. They jsut built a special BIOS to initialize the system for Linux. It's been rendered inoperative, at least until somebody cracks the new security code.
This applies to all Xboxes built on or after April 23, 2002.
Flourescing(sp?) media uses 3D storage (holograms) to pack more data into a standard form-factor 120cm disc - albiet not as compact as 1cm, but they certainly could achieve that with.
These guys are still at it.. though when they wil release somethign to the market is anybody's guess. I was in brief contact with them over a particular application of their card technology.
Of course, they are attempting to develop for the commercial market, and include write-once and rewritable options. IMO, this is bigger 'news' though the trail seems to have gone stale on FD.
I want my terabytes on the desktop today, not a decade from now.
Hilary Rosen is the reason the recording industry is suffering. Her abrasive attitude towards consumers and the attempts to seize control over the very way we LISTEN to music has put her and the industry she represents at odd with the average music buyer.
To make a long story short, copy protection, distrust, and the crackdown on MP3s has lead to alienation of the most IMPORTANT aspect of the music industry.... the ones paying cash to listen to the music. The RIAA has nobody to blame but themselves.
Tommy downloaded the cool new Army RTS, West Point Maneuvers(TM) but too quickly clicked the "I Agree" button.
Two days later, the e-mail from the recruiter came:
Congradulations Tommy Johnson <tjohnson34@aol.com>!
Your proficiency with artillery units has qualified you for any MOS in Gunnery and Armor fields! Of course, you may decide to select another position, but your bonus is awaiting you in your pre-selected professional path.
Report to your local recruiter's office to finalize your enlistment arrangements. As per your agreement when installing this game, you are only signed up for a 6 year hitch, but that may be extended at your option, pending your physical results and ASVAB test results.
Hmmm... someone is having difficulty parsing the English language today, eh?
I wasn't implying they 'took my advice', only that Nintendo's conclusions agreed with mine, even though some posters here vehemently objected to them, when I made them.
Perhaps you should spend a bit more time paying attention in your special ed classes, particulary those English lessons.
Slashdot Mirror
Wow. Carmack's ship looks like "Salvage One"
Is Andy Griffith piloting?
"This is Matlock; Junkyard, we've got a problem"
Come on, guys, there's no reason to register when you use the correct links into NYT!!
...but why would we want a language that takes so long?
Dr. Pepper bought advertising space from Fark.com a while back... I guess it was a test for future plans.
Gotta hand it to them for figuring out a way to use the internet to their advantage - I'm all in favor of it as long as they aren't spamming me.
...with all those legal Pearl Jam bootlegs.
Have the user spend $50 or whatever ont eh game, and give them 6 months of free service.
It's INCREDIBLY annoying to pay for a game, then PAY to play the game!!!
Giving the game away is OK, but it doesn't generate immediate cashflow (quite the reverse, actually), and by NOT charging for the first 6 months, you encourage users to try it out through the teething pains and allow your user base to build up quickly.
Worst case - you end up selling a new game to somebody every 6 months, or until you decide to no longer offer the free initial period (though most users would probably want to keep the characters they've built up, anyway.)
It's the only model that makes sense.
(Damn short titles!!)
If you give the copyright holders absolute access to copy protection, how would you access works after the 14 or 28 year expiration?
All they need to do is keep the original source material locked in a vault.
It's an oldie, but a goodie featuring David Boies in the starring role.
Flash animation featuring Mr. Boies:
Geez... not even an effort to make real console sofware for it, either.
Probably running Linux and offering up crappy Java applets as games.
If their hapless victims, erm, customers, are lucky, it'll have WindowsXP and be able to run real PC games.
Otherwise,t his thing isn't bringing ANYTHING to the table.
Did they ever make it to the end of THEIR retracing of the Lewis And Clark expedition, and would this have helped them?
I really couldn't stand this show. The premise was DUMB and it had lower production values than an episode of Cleopatra 2525.
Good riddens.
Yes, I'm sure John Ringo is wondering the same thing.
Actually, humans might have a better time of it than the Posleen. I've seen similarly daunting tasks performed quite well with machine vision and targeting systems.
You have witnessed a bit of the terrible secret of space. Let me push you, to prevent any more from being revealed to you....
As a software engineer currently working with vision systems, I understand a bit of this, and as one other poster commented, dynamic range is where film has it "all over" digital.
That's changing, however.... because of non-linear sensors that can greatly enhance the perceptual range of color at 12-16 bits per pixel (by pixel, I mean a single red, green or blue imaging element)
The thing to remember folks, is there are OTHER problems as well; sensor artifacts, for example, are a big barrier to imaging without supersampling techniques (which reduces absolute resolution). We currently see 'edges' on objects as they pass across the imaging quad arrays (RGGB), resulting in false red and blue edges. Not only are the edges a problem, but fin objects can even be lost BETWEEN these pixels.
BTW: Pixels != RGB Quads in imagers. If I'm not talking out of my ass (since my experience is in machine vision), imagers running 1600x1200 pixels, for example, are ACTUALLY 800x600 QUADS. You need 4 pixels (one red, one blue and two greens) to make a valid 32-bit quad (which is a screen pixel, but not an imager pixel, get it?) Camera use interpolation techniques to create the image, effectively grabbing the other three pixels surrounding each sensor pixel. It's a cheap way of anti-aliasing and extrapolating an image larger than the camera is physically capable of. Essentially you are looking at redundant data.
Why? Because just like a few hundred years ago, our exploration will bring new virii and microphages that could ravage our immune systems.
We haven't even explored all of the possible locations of isolated life here on Earth, yet, let alone on other worlds. The chances of finding a particularly virulent form of life that could host in humans is higher than you might think, and the lull in exploring 'new' frontiers has allowed the human race to begin the homogenation process that reduces our genetic variety and decreases our chances of surviving such an onslaught.
Fear new life.
I don't propose we become bio-isolationists, but we must remember the big picture in this matter. Bio-diversity is as much a blessing as it is a curse. Life spreads and flourishes because of this, but often at the expense of other life. The most basic forms of life are also the most successful because of this very fact. We need to understand the threat and deal with it through science and careful containment. Something as simple as a core sample from a deep water probe could spell disaster for the human race.
The code that changed has to do with the BIOS, and defeats BIOS replacement mods.
Games will be uneffected (unless they are "backups" of course).
This is why the code was important... without the security code, you can't just "replace the BIOS"
The Linux project has the same problem. They jsut built a special BIOS to initialize the system for Linux. It's been rendered inoperative, at least until somebody cracks the new security code.
This applies to all Xboxes built on or after April 23, 2002.
The code HAS changed.
All machines made on or after April 23 of this year have the new security codes which renders all the current mod chips useless.
Yes, they will break it again, but M$ has bought itself a little bit of time, at least.
Flourescing(sp?) media uses 3D storage (holograms) to pack more data into a standard form-factor 120cm disc - albiet not as compact as 1cm, but they certainly could achieve that with.
These guys are still at it.. though when they wil release somethign to the market is anybody's guess. I was in brief contact with them over a particular application of their card technology.
Of course, they are attempting to develop for the commercial market, and include write-once and rewritable options. IMO, this is bigger 'news' though the trail seems to have gone stale on FD.
I want my terabytes on the desktop today, not a decade from now.
Hilary Rosen is the reason the recording industry is suffering. Her abrasive attitude towards consumers and the attempts to seize control over the very way we LISTEN to music has put her and the industry she represents at odd with the average music buyer.
To make a long story short, copy protection, distrust, and the crackdown on MP3s has lead to alienation of the most IMPORTANT aspect of the music industry.... the ones paying cash to listen to the music. The RIAA has nobody to blame but themselves.
Big stretch to use the acronym 'WaSP' for this one. Perhaps 'WSaP' might be better, then Bud can sponsor the project...
So if I give people my competitor's service away FREE it somehow increases my own?
Unlikely.
Two days later, the e-mail from the recruiter came:
Hmmm... someone is having difficulty parsing the English language today, eh?
I wasn't implying they 'took my advice', only that Nintendo's conclusions agreed with mine, even though some posters here vehemently objected to them, when I made them.
Perhaps you should spend a bit more time paying attention in your special ed classes, particulary those English lessons.