I played Silent Hill on the PSX and it was definately the scariest game I had ever played. We cranked up the stereo for the awesome sound effects, closed the curtains, and played for days until we finished. I probably couldn't bear to play it alone. It's just too insane. The ambient effects really make the game.
That said, after hearing that the latest two games in the series are even scarier, I can totally understand how you feel.
I thought about this one for a minute, and then came up with a solution. It's actually pretty simple. I just tested this on my machine and it worked great.
You need to have a version of XFree86 that supports RandR, of course. I'm using 4.3 right now. If you have 4.3, then you're good to go. This was tested with GDM.
Test this first, by opening a console (while in X). Type "xrandr -s 800x600". If it works, then you're in luck. You can change it back to your standard resolution.
Next, open up your Gnome Control Center. You may be able to quickly do this by typing "preferences:///" in the Nautilus bar. On standard Gnome installs, there is an "Advanced" button. Click that, then select the "Sessions" button. If, for some reason, you can't access it this way (I don't know if other distros change it, but they probably don't), you can just type "gnome-session-properties" from a console and it will do the same thing.
In the sessions box, click on the "startup programs" tab. Hit the "add" button to add the xrandr command.
I used "xrandr -s 800x600" to mine. Now, log out of X. Every time you log back in, it should automatically resize the desktop for the user with this setting. It won't apply it to abyone else. If you ever want to remove this, all you have to do is remove that startup command.
Let me know if it works.;) The results here worked very well.
Well, it's been said by the developers that the spec does support bit-depth switching. If it is an issue later on, it's easy to put it back in (according to Keith Packard). When I said that color depth is supported, I merely meant that it was included in the specs.
The extension does support it (allegedly). It's just not implemented at the moment.
The Gnome system monitor does not give an accurate indication of how much RAM is truly in use. Gnome shares memory between apps. If an application requires the memory, later, it will be released. You're most likely just looking at cached memory that hasn't been released.
It's not a problem, technically. People are just paranoid about their memory usage and don't understand how Gnome really makes use of it.
Nautilus can do this as well, under Gnome, but it's not a very well-documented feature at the moment. It's also lacking in some options, in my opinion. I believe that this is because it's beta status at the moment.
You won't run into problems installing official programs for vanilla installations. People bork up their machines by installing software that wasn't built for their desktops.
It's like trying to install a program that was built for WindowsXP, but wasn't meant for Win 98. It may work, but it also may not.
Honestly, I've had more problems getting Windows 98 apps to work with Windows 2000. Grim Fandango was one of them. Dark Age of Camalot was another. Both were incredibly crash-prone because the developers hadn't chosen to support the newer desktops. Win9x emulation mode helped, but didn't totally correct the problem. I've also experienced similar problems getting some CDR software to work on older Windows machines.
You're going to run into these sorts of problems as long as you have changes in your operating system. It's just the way that it goes.
There's a myth that keeps floating around that is based upon this assumption.
Linux is no different than Windows in the sense that it can use binary installers with included libraries, in just the same fashion. Take Icculus' ports for instance. Installing Serious Sam for Linux is simple. Pop your CD in the drive and run a bin (Linux EXE) that has a sugar-coated installer by means of the Loki Games Installer (like a Linux InstallShield).
OpenOffice is similar. Run a "setup" binary and it's installed.
Opera works the same way, though its installer is commandline based.
Netscape does this as well (graphical installer).
The list goes on and on. In 99% of standard desktop installations, it's likely that you'll never have a dependency problem, as long as you aren't using a terribly out-of-date distribution.
People keep propagating myths of Linux of yesterday. Linux of today is far different. You shouldn't comment unless you know for fact that things haven't changed.
Granted, many of Linux's apps, being GPL'd with open sourcecode, still need to be compiled. But normally, you can find precompiled programs that don't use conventional installers, but are still quite simple to manipulate.
How is that any different than Square releasing poor ports of old Final Fantasy games on the Playstation? Or, how about Infogrames releasing the one-billionth Atari Classics game collection? Or what about Sega Ages?
Obviously, Nintendo is doing something right if the GBA is such a hot seller. Also, they've certainly come a long way from that pit that they dug themselves into with the N64. If any of the goons here think that Nintendo is in trouble with the Gamecube (which they are not), then you were obviously blind to the fact that the N64 was a day late and a dollar short.
For the one billionth time. Metroid is not a FPS game! It's "First Person Adventure". SO much emphasis is placed on exploration and learning about the Chozo and what happened to them. In fact, the monsters are just there to kill time and put some action into the game.
If you want a fast-paced FPS, buy Hhalo or Quake. But I, and everyone else told the world (in ever single review out there) that Metroid was not an FPS title. It's nobody's fault but your own, if you went into it with different expectations.
On the other hand, Zelda did have its flaws. I wasn't too terribly fond of the "Water World" theme, but I found that the rest of the game was quite awesome. And the gameplay was top-class.
None of those guys even work for RARE anymore. They went on to start their own company (Time Splitters was one of their games).
The RARE that you knew during the N64 era is gone. Now, they're left with nothing. If you think that Nintendo sold off their franchises that RARE developed, then you're sorely mistaken. RARE's got Conker, but do most people care?
There is NOT a more money in the home console market. Production costs for GameBoy Advance titles are incredibly low, and sales ratios are very high. On average, you make more money on an average selling GameBoy game than a high-selling console game. Why else would any Joe-Schmo be able to develop his own GameBoy games? I must know at least 3 independent GameBoy development companies.
Even if the Gamecube sells a third as many units as the PS2 has, the GameBoy Advance will still sell more units than the PS2 has. Until the PSP arrives, we don't know how things will turn out. However, anyone that doesn't think that Nintendo's working on a portable that will be as equally powerful as the the Sony device, is definately a fool.
Some of you guys are such douches. Where do you come up with this stuff?
You guys seriously overexaggerate this issue. Nintendo didn't sell as many consoles as they thought they would this quarter. So what? They were the only one of the three companies that actually was really profitable this last quarter. The console is not starting to "fail". There currently has just been a shortage of excellent new games on al three platforms over the last few months.
If EyeToy isn't a niche device, then I don't know what is. Games like the big franchises (e.g. Final Fantasy and Gran Turismo) are the big sellers. Most people could care less about EyeToy.
Nintendo will be dead and gone if they start bleeding money, as SEGA did. As for now, they are continuing to make a profit. You only see them as a failure because that's what you want to see.
With what games? Does XBox have the Square and Capcom games coming their way? What about games that we'll see soon like F-Zero? How about RPGs from Monolithsoft and Namco?
They look practically identical. We have all three versions. The only thing that the XBox has over the Gamecube version is better HDTV support, which smooths the graphics out a bit. Realistically, how many people have televisions which actually make this mean anything? I'd rather have Link than Spawn, seeing as I don't have a $2000 TV.
I like the Gamecube controller a lot as well. The Wavebird is actually a bit larger than the standard controller - heavier as well. So it fits well in my big hands. The PS2 controller isn't bad at all. It's very well designed, but I'm not much of a fan of the new all-analog design. Certainly, the XBox's S controller in much better than the original, but I still don't care for the new controller. However, I'm one of the few people that actually liked the Dreamcast controller. Some people claim that the XBox controllers are similar to SEGA's controller, but they just do not feel the same.
As for which is best for Soul Calibur? None of them. Soul Calibur should be played with an arcade stick.
The Gamecube is *not* just market towards kids. It's marketed towards *everyone*. People keep missing the fact that it has Eternal Darkness and the best lineup of current Resident Evil games. It's not as though Nintendo has to develop a slew of first party titles with violence. So, Animal Crossing and Pikmin don't appeal to you "hardcore" gamers. My girlfriend would never play videogames without Animal Crossing.
The fact is that Sony and Microsoft (especially) are ignoring everyone on the market except for the teenage male that wants FPS games, sports titles, and boobies (Dead or Alive). With the exception of Disney licenses, they NEVER do anything to appeal to the rest of the market, especially when it comes to first party titles. Ninteno's resources have gone to making games that can appeal to wide varieties of people. Those of you that don't understand that obviously have no clue as to what types of games that the Gamecube really has to offer. If you can't play Super Monkey Ball, Pikmin, or Animal Crossing (aside from the fact that you may just not like the games for some bizarre reason), you've probably got some serious problem with feeling secure about yourself. DOn't worry. We have Metroid and Eternal Darkness to make you feel macho. Of course, you wouldn't want to play the role of a girl, would you?
Where have you been? Nintendo and Square/ENIX built a co-op game company; the same company that is writing Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles. Nintendo and Capcom have teamed up to make quite a few exclusive Gamcube games. Nintendo and Konami have teamed up to do the remake of Metal Gear Solid, which is being handled primarily by Silicon Knights (now a Nintendo company). Nintendo and SEGA co-developed the new F-Zero game. Nintendo and HAL Labs co-developed Kirby Air Ride. Companies like Namco, Square/ENIX, and MonolithSoft are making new games for the Cube and GameBoy, including brand new RPGs.
This is not far-fetched. I know many people that have purchased at least two PS2s. Some of them have import systems as well as domestics. Others had to buy replacements. When taking into account that the GameCube has a warranty period that is 4 times as long as the PS2's or XBox's, then there are a lot fewer replaced Gamecubes. Also, it's important to note that the PS2 has had more than a year's head start on the other two machines...
It's it obvious that the PS2's replacement rate and head-start would contribute to having 3 times the number of sold GameCube machines. Having a larger game library with backward compatibility does help as well. I seriously think that a lot of zealots totally overexaggerate the Gamecube's "failure". It's done quite respectably, and still has some of the best games of the big three consoles (in my opinion).
I have an Athlon with a gig of RAM for my Linux box. Why in the hell would I want to run Linux on an XBox? If I had an XBox, it would merely be for JSRF, PDO, SegaGT, and the other good games (albeit few excellent exclusives). I wouldn't buy it for Linux.
The hack factor is nice, but in reality, I've got a great PC that can do the Linux job... AND play games.
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I played Silent Hill on the PSX and it was definately the scariest game I had ever played. We cranked up the stereo for the awesome sound effects, closed the curtains, and played for days until we finished. I probably couldn't bear to play it alone. It's just too insane. The ambient effects really make the game.
That said, after hearing that the latest two games in the series are even scarier, I can totally understand how you feel.
This means that Xbox2 will have Gatos 3D driver support for its video drivers, when someone boots Linux on the machine. Hehe.
I thought about this one for a minute, and then came up with a solution. It's actually pretty simple. I just tested this on my machine and it worked great.
;) The results here worked very well.
You need to have a version of XFree86 that supports RandR, of course. I'm using 4.3 right now. If you have 4.3, then you're good to go. This was tested with GDM.
Test this first, by opening a console (while in X). Type "xrandr -s 800x600". If it works, then you're in luck. You can change it back to your standard resolution.
Next, open up your Gnome Control Center. You may be able to quickly do this by typing "preferences:///" in the Nautilus bar. On standard Gnome installs, there is an "Advanced" button. Click that, then select the "Sessions" button. If, for some reason, you can't access it this way (I don't know if other distros change it, but they probably don't), you can just type "gnome-session-properties" from a console and it will do the same thing.
In the sessions box, click on the "startup programs" tab. Hit the "add" button to add the xrandr command.
I used "xrandr -s 800x600" to mine. Now, log out of X. Every time you log back in, it should automatically resize the desktop for the user with this setting. It won't apply it to abyone else. If you ever want to remove this, all you have to do is remove that startup command.
Let me know if it works.
Well, it's been said by the developers that the spec does support bit-depth switching. If it is an issue later on, it's easy to put it back in (according to Keith Packard). When I said that color depth is supported, I merely meant that it was included in the specs.
The extension does support it (allegedly). It's just not implemented at the moment.
You can set up seperate .bashrc files in each users' directory to start X at a specific resolution.
n ua ry/024345.html
Here's an example, but you can do it different ways as well.
http://lists.q-linux.com/pipermail/plug/2003-Ja
XRANDR can change color depth as well as resolution. I believe it has the capability to change frequency range as well.
The Gnome system monitor does not give an accurate indication of how much RAM is truly in use. Gnome shares memory between apps. If an application requires the memory, later, it will be released. You're most likely just looking at cached memory that hasn't been released.
It's not a problem, technically. People are just paranoid about their memory usage and don't understand how Gnome really makes use of it.
Nautilus can do this as well, under Gnome, but it's not a very well-documented feature at the moment. It's also lacking in some options, in my opinion. I believe that this is because it's beta status at the moment.
You won't run into problems installing official programs for vanilla installations. People bork up their machines by installing software that wasn't built for their desktops.
It's like trying to install a program that was built for WindowsXP, but wasn't meant for Win 98. It may work, but it also may not.
Honestly, I've had more problems getting Windows 98 apps to work with Windows 2000. Grim Fandango was one of them. Dark Age of Camalot was another. Both were incredibly crash-prone because the developers hadn't chosen to support the newer desktops. Win9x emulation mode helped, but didn't totally correct the problem. I've also experienced similar problems getting some CDR software to work on older Windows machines.
You're going to run into these sorts of problems as long as you have changes in your operating system. It's just the way that it goes.
There's a myth that keeps floating around that is based upon this assumption.
Linux is no different than Windows in the sense that it can use binary installers with included libraries, in just the same fashion. Take Icculus' ports for instance. Installing Serious Sam for Linux is simple. Pop your CD in the drive and run a bin (Linux EXE) that has a sugar-coated installer by means of the Loki Games Installer (like a Linux InstallShield).
OpenOffice is similar. Run a "setup" binary and it's installed.
Opera works the same way, though its installer is commandline based.
Netscape does this as well (graphical installer).
The list goes on and on. In 99% of standard desktop installations, it's likely that you'll never have a dependency problem, as long as you aren't using a terribly out-of-date distribution.
People keep propagating myths of Linux of yesterday. Linux of today is far different. You shouldn't comment unless you know for fact that things haven't changed.
Granted, many of Linux's apps, being GPL'd with open sourcecode, still need to be compiled. But normally, you can find precompiled programs that don't use conventional installers, but are still quite simple to manipulate.
It's funny. Laugh.
How is that any different than Square releasing poor ports of old Final Fantasy games on the Playstation? Or, how about Infogrames releasing the one-billionth Atari Classics game collection? Or what about Sega Ages?
Obviously, Nintendo is doing something right if the GBA is such a hot seller. Also, they've certainly come a long way from that pit that they dug themselves into with the N64. If any of the goons here think that Nintendo is in trouble with the Gamecube (which they are not), then you were obviously blind to the fact that the N64 was a day late and a dollar short.
For the one billionth time. Metroid is not a FPS game! It's "First Person Adventure". SO much emphasis is placed on exploration and learning about the Chozo and what happened to them. In fact, the monsters are just there to kill time and put some action into the game.
If you want a fast-paced FPS, buy Hhalo or Quake. But I, and everyone else told the world (in ever single review out there) that Metroid was not an FPS title. It's nobody's fault but your own, if you went into it with different expectations.
On the other hand, Zelda did have its flaws. I wasn't too terribly fond of the "Water World" theme, but I found that the rest of the game was quite awesome. And the gameplay was top-class.
That depends on weather or not you have a GBA player. ;)
None of those guys even work for RARE anymore. They went on to start their own company (Time Splitters was one of their games).
The RARE that you knew during the N64 era is gone. Now, they're left with nothing. If you think that Nintendo sold off their franchises that RARE developed, then you're sorely mistaken. RARE's got Conker, but do most people care?
You've got to be kidding. The GameBoy Advance is the hottest selling machine in the world. The SP is outselling even the PS2 right now.
Look at GAF.
There is NOT a more money in the home console market. Production costs for GameBoy Advance titles are incredibly low, and sales ratios are very high. On average, you make more money on an average selling GameBoy game than a high-selling console game. Why else would any Joe-Schmo be able to develop his own GameBoy games? I must know at least 3 independent GameBoy development companies.
Even if the Gamecube sells a third as many units as the PS2 has, the GameBoy Advance will still sell more units than the PS2 has. Until the PSP arrives, we don't know how things will turn out. However, anyone that doesn't think that Nintendo's working on a portable that will be as equally powerful as the the Sony device, is definately a fool.
Some of you guys are such douches. Where do you come up with this stuff?
You guys seriously overexaggerate this issue. Nintendo didn't sell as many consoles as they thought they would this quarter. So what? They were the only one of the three companies that actually was really profitable this last quarter. The console is not starting to "fail". There currently has just been a shortage of excellent new games on al three platforms over the last few months.
If EyeToy isn't a niche device, then I don't know what is. Games like the big franchises (e.g. Final Fantasy and Gran Turismo) are the big sellers. Most people could care less about EyeToy.
Nintendo will be dead and gone if they start bleeding money, as SEGA did. As for now, they are continuing to make a profit. You only see them as a failure because that's what you want to see.
With what games? Does XBox have the Square and Capcom games coming their way? What about games that we'll see soon like F-Zero? How about RPGs from Monolithsoft and Namco?
Sure. Microsoft has Halo 2.
They look practically identical. We have all three versions. The only thing that the XBox has over the Gamecube version is better HDTV support, which smooths the graphics out a bit. Realistically, how many people have televisions which actually make this mean anything? I'd rather have Link than Spawn, seeing as I don't have a $2000 TV.
I like the Gamecube controller a lot as well. The Wavebird is actually a bit larger than the standard controller - heavier as well. So it fits well in my big hands. The PS2 controller isn't bad at all. It's very well designed, but I'm not much of a fan of the new all-analog design. Certainly, the XBox's S controller in much better than the original, but I still don't care for the new controller. However, I'm one of the few people that actually liked the Dreamcast controller. Some people claim that the XBox controllers are similar to SEGA's controller, but they just do not feel the same.
As for which is best for Soul Calibur? None of them. Soul Calibur should be played with an arcade stick.
The Wavebird is a must for any Gamecube gamer. In fact, I'm going to buy a second one. It's really great on batteries as well.
The Gamecube is *not* just market towards kids. It's marketed towards *everyone*. People keep missing the fact that it has Eternal Darkness and the best lineup of current Resident Evil games. It's not as though Nintendo has to develop a slew of first party titles with violence. So, Animal Crossing and Pikmin don't appeal to you "hardcore" gamers. My girlfriend would never play videogames without Animal Crossing.
The fact is that Sony and Microsoft (especially) are ignoring everyone on the market except for the teenage male that wants FPS games, sports titles, and boobies (Dead or Alive). With the exception of Disney licenses, they NEVER do anything to appeal to the rest of the market, especially when it comes to first party titles. Ninteno's resources have gone to making games that can appeal to wide varieties of people. Those of you that don't understand that obviously have no clue as to what types of games that the Gamecube really has to offer. If you can't play Super Monkey Ball, Pikmin, or Animal Crossing (aside from the fact that you may just not like the games for some bizarre reason), you've probably got some serious problem with feeling secure about yourself. DOn't worry. We have Metroid and Eternal Darkness to make you feel macho. Of course, you wouldn't want to play the role of a girl, would you?
Where have you been? Nintendo and Square/ENIX built a co-op game company; the same company that is writing Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles. Nintendo and Capcom have teamed up to make quite a few exclusive Gamcube games. Nintendo and Konami have teamed up to do the remake of Metal Gear Solid, which is being handled primarily by Silicon Knights (now a Nintendo company). Nintendo and SEGA co-developed the new F-Zero game. Nintendo and HAL Labs co-developed Kirby Air Ride. Companies like Namco, Square/ENIX, and MonolithSoft are making new games for the Cube and GameBoy, including brand new RPGs.
Where do you people come up with this stuff?
This is not far-fetched. I know many people that have purchased at least two PS2s. Some of them have import systems as well as domestics. Others had to buy replacements. When taking into account that the GameCube has a warranty period that is 4 times as long as the PS2's or XBox's, then there are a lot fewer replaced Gamecubes. Also, it's important to note that the PS2 has had more than a year's head start on the other two machines...
It's it obvious that the PS2's replacement rate and head-start would contribute to having 3 times the number of sold GameCube machines. Having a larger game library with backward compatibility does help as well. I seriously think that a lot of zealots totally overexaggerate the Gamecube's "failure". It's done quite respectably, and still has some of the best games of the big three consoles (in my opinion).
I have an Athlon with a gig of RAM for my Linux box. Why in the hell would I want to run Linux on an XBox? If I had an XBox, it would merely be for JSRF, PDO, SegaGT, and the other good games (albeit few excellent exclusives). I wouldn't buy it for Linux.
The hack factor is nice, but in reality, I've got a great PC that can do the Linux job... AND play games.