Man, I'm with you on the topic of pushing the social bounds that a video game can touch. Why is it ok to write books, plays, film movies and TV shows about horrible events - but you depict it in a video game and suddenly your an amoral asshat?
For some of use, we would like to see video games mature into interactive media that conveys a message with more clarity and depth than any of the current one dimensional media vehicles available. This game is a step in that direction. Hell, some people call it art.
Anyone see that film Capote? Critical acclaim everywhere. The movie was about a self indulgent asshole who basically wrote a "true Crime" novel. Whoop de dooo. I don't see anyone flipping out over that.
Lets take a look at the book now. In Cold Blood. Read the reviews on that page, they're ridiculous. Capote's writing is boring, typical, and worshipped by those who couldn't handle Tolstoy. The subject of a book, a murder. A REAL murder.
Where is the outcry there? Hell, where is the outcry on the "pulp true crime" novels written about serial killer after serial killer? It's pretty damn small and has NO face.
People can't handle media if they haven't been ingesting it for 20 years or more. This "kiddie" media is mostly being purchased by people over 18. This is knee jerk reaction to an overhyped statistical anomonoly.
This is not an attack on those who still might have very deep pain over this event, I feel for you. But this game is NOT demeaning you. This game is NOT trying to foster this behavior in others. The very people who are demeaning this game should take a look at it, see how it makes you feel. My guess is repulsed. And every time you re-enact a slaying you should be asking yourself "what kind of monster can do this?" That, ladies and gentlemen, is the point. What does it take to make two confused youth transform into heartless killers? What is the aftermath? How much pain does not understanding or ignoring the early warning signs cause after all is said and done?
No, who cares about those things. Sweep that shit under the rug and turn on the tube - I wanna see who's gonna be the next American Idol. As long as I'm not starving or suffering - I try not to worry too much abouth the specifics. If this stuff didn't exist the problem might just go away.
I'm not gonna hammer you, you make good points. I just have a question.
If the information that an agent has is so secret that his leaking it could endanger lives, why isn't he under surveilance already and his phones being traced as a security measure?
This being the case we would only need to corroborate the journalists phone records with the agents to get the investigation pointed in the right direction, then we can quit analyzing our civilian citizens.
While I understand that there is no proof that our phone conversations are recorded, there is a disturbing trend in the current administration being found conducting themselves a little outside of what they said they were. And in the case of trying to find leaks to the press, there is a possibility that these leaks and reporters could be stopped before they could report on our conversations being recorded if they actually were being recorded.
I'll wait and see what actually happens when the console becomes available. While certain facts point to Sony taking a serious hit, it has been proven over and over again that the US market is often overestimated in their sophistication.
Are hardcore gamers pissed of at Sony? Sure. But there are more than enough fanbois doing damage control for free.
Is the video game media a little miffed about Sony's attitude at E3? Sounds like they are, but that is kind of a moot point. Game magazines CANNOT put a major player out to hang, or they run the risk of losing subscribers. With the constant barrage of criticism that the gaming press constantly receives, they don't want to lose any more readers than they have to. Otherwise the doors close.
Has Sony done this type of thing before? You bet.
Have they been removed from the face of the earth? Not yet.
Well, don't put the link in your post, just your sig. That will cut down on that by a significant amount.
Second, don't try to micromanage your web presence - it will drive youcrazy. If people start to foe you, well ok. There a lot more peopel who haven't foed you. Also, there are plaenty of other gaming message boards where you can link to your website in your sig.
If you are spamming boards with links in the posts that are completely irrelevant, well - thats not the advice I gave. Use the sig, its a common area for posters to push their "hobby" agenda. I'm not calling your games hobbies, I'm just stating that people are really receptive of this practice along all subjects.
Second, try changing the text in your sig every week. Keep it fresh. Post your opinions on everything related to games, not just those you think are related to your product. If you post well thought out points of discussion, people WILL check out your stuff.
Trusr me, driving traffic to your website isn't that hard. It part of what I consult on.
That having been said, maybe it is hard in the beginning - so is everything new. The conclusion I reached isn't in any way wrong or insulting. I would love to post my hard numbers, but I have these funny NDA's I have to worry about. The trust me is a statement imploring the poster I was responding to to try it out. They will see a positive difference.
Let's address your "difficulties" one by one and see just how simple they are.
You have to generate newsworthy events
Bullshit. You can create a press release for whatever you want, there is NO level of newsworthy that prevents a news agency from using your press release as a primer. Will you get on the front page of the New York Times with lame content, probably not - but there are innumerable smaller publications that need filler content for their side blurbs. Take a look at a copy of your favorite gaming mag (physical) and you will see a TON of these strewn throught the mag.
create and distribute press releases
$100 - $700 to one place, PRweb will do the trick. Do some google searches on PRweb results and you will see that the migration of your release to news websites is pretty fast(3 - 5 days is usually when you hit max density and start a 2 week decline.)
generate screenshots and videos
Wow, video capture and screen shots are NOT hard to get. Now, you want really really SLCIK ones, you have to get someone with design and editing skills. But if you're an indy game shop - I bet a copy of iLife and Photoshop CS would do it. This I can see as being time consuming and difficult if you have no art skills, so get the artist on your team to do it.
hound editors to write about your products and contact review sites to review them
I have never had this problem with anyone I have consulted for, but it MAY be an issue with the video game mags - I do not know. I do know that if you send a free copy of anything you want to get looked at by most online sites concerning your product, they will write a review. This is true of every client I have worked for, but to be fair - I haven't done a video game company yet. This might be true.
It really isn't that hard. Your comparison of getting online traffic to the adding functionaliity to object oriented code that doesn't end up breaking the game or unbalancing it is ridiculous. They are nothing alike.
Another thing, its not hard - but it takes WORK. Bringing in the groceries from your car isn't hard either, but you have to work at it. Making Macaroni and Cheese isn't hard, but you have to exert effort. The lack of labor is not the definition of easy.
Man, they haven't been accused of anything like exaggerating what is being asked for, their lawyers are doing their job. The testimony of A SAMBA project leader is not a court accusation.
Also, the problem obtaining it is coming from the Judge, John Cooke, in this instance - not Microsoft.
The larger problem is that people only get their news from sources that confirm what they wanted to believe in the first place. I'm not advocating either side in this issue, but your post is so anti-MS leaning that its not even funny.
(d) DISABLING DURING ADULT OR EDUCATIONAL
USE.--Section 254(h)(5)(D) of such Act is amended--
(1) by inserting ''OR EDUCATIONAL'' after
''DURING ADULT'' in the heading; and
(2) by inserting before the period at the end the
following: ''or during use by an adult or by minors
with adult supervision to enable access for educational purposes'' .
Minors can't look at the stuff in a library. Theres a lot of shit minors can't do - its that way for a reason.
Man, it takes virtually NOTHING to drive traffic to your site. Games? How about putting "CHECK OUT MY NeW GAME!" link in your sig on slashdot and posting in every single videogame discussion. You get traffic, trust me.
As horrible as it sounds, use MySpace. You can generate a disgusting amount of traffic on there.
Cough up the $100 - $700 it takes to get a press release out on PR web. That generates a suprising amount of traffic.
(d) DISABLING DURING ADULT OR EDUCATIONAL
USE.--Section 254(h)(5)(D) of such Act is amended--
(1) by inserting ''OR EDUCATIONAL'' after
''DURING ADULT'' in the heading; and
(2) by inserting before the period at the end the
following: ''or during use by an adult or by minors
with adult supervision to enable access for educational purposes''.
Yeah, I know New England. Hell I can even find Connecticut on a map. I lived in Simsbury. And your condecending reply is typical of the population there.
Now, how about reading the bill before you go and cry "I won't be able to learn!"
(d) DISABLING DURING ADULT OR EDUCATIONAL
USE.--Section 254(h)(5)(D) of such Act is amended--
(1) by inserting ''OR EDUCATIONAL'' after
''DURING ADULT'' in the heading; and
(2) by inserting before the period at the end the
following: ''or during use by an adult or by minors
with adult supervision to enable access for educational purposes''.
I really expected more from someone going to a magnet school
While I completely agree with you, that doesn't stop this type of thing. No lawmaker is going to try to pass a law that bans this type of stuff on EVERYONES computer, but in order to look like they are doing something they write laws that affect what they can - government computers.
I'm just acknowledging the reality of the situation.
Uh, the law only restricts the access from government systems. That is in NO WAY what you are talking about. I don't condone censorship. But I do condone property rights, and if the government owns the box - they can say what that specific box has access to.
OK, I can see why a public library might need a little more room to wiggle, I will definitely concede that point - but public schools and those oh so great government jobs? They don't need access to MySpace.
I also have a hard time believing that it isn't vague for specific reasons. Police might need to be able to access these sites for research reasons, as would some Gov't employees tasked with research. You don't want those people restricted in their web access.
You do however want to restrict that moron at the DMV from checking out the American Idol blogs.
This seems to be a common way for legislators to write law that can be selectively enforced.
Ahhh, its moot anyway. These people don't understand what it is they're writing laws for anyway - they just know they have to do something or lose votes.
Why is this so hard to grasp? Quit leasing your car so you can get a girl who expects more than you can provide financially because you fronted and then live your life maintaining a massive debt load that ensures you will be working until the day you die.
I'm no programmer, but my job is tech related - and I couldn't agree with you more.
Forming a Union while offshoring is such a viable option is kind of retarded. Remember what happened to the striking Air Traffic Controllers? While I understand the desire to create a sense of job security for those who want to take on a more responsibility laden life (children, house, nicer car, ect...), I don't think it should be done at the expense of the Meritocracy feel that exists now.
I also respect that people with these responsibilities may wish for a union so they can secure the future of those responsibilities. What I don't respect is the stance that I should get in line so they can have it. You make your choices and I make mine, there is also a healthy amount of randomly placed events in there so it doesn't stay stagnant - but not enough to label all succesful people as "lucky".
I think another aspect of this that should be explored is that a large percentage of IT workers have NO BUSINESS SKILLS. We provide a function, a service. While highly technical and specialized, it is not easily transfered by everyone into a secondary business function.
I don't know many software engineers with great management skills, as I don't know many managers with great software engineering skills. The difference being a manager, a good manager, can manage just about any group of people doing any function. This is not (perceived to be) true of a software engineer.
We also have a tendency to shoot ourselves in our own feet. More often than not our ilk brazenly state we are specialists on a function and that other "lesser" functions are demeaning to us and we won't touch them. Well, that's not a really desirable quality in a business environment. Especially when those perceived "lesser" functions exist above us in the pecking order or in tried and true parallel departments such as Marketing or Sales.
Maybe our jobs would be a little more secure if we proactively integrated ourselves into the environments we work in and attempted to convey our worth in a manner that the "others" can understand. As it is now, we are often perceived as weird, infantile skilled laborers.
Your second link has some interesting thoughts on the Barabasi-Albert model, which by the way is the topic of that book Linked I refered to in my original post. Oh, they wrote it also.
Unfortunately, I have had to begin teaching myself more complex mathematics since I read that book. I am interested in these models as they apply to sociology and knowledge migration from the web into social business structures and back into the web, so want to make sure I am correctly interpreting them.
I am currently attempting to write a book on this subject and would be most appreciative if you could point out some similar references to the ones you posted.
Slashdot Mirror
Man, I'm with you on the topic of pushing the social bounds that a video game can touch. Why is it ok to write books, plays, film movies and TV shows about horrible events - but you depict it in a video game and suddenly your an amoral asshat?
For some of use, we would like to see video games mature into interactive media that conveys a message with more clarity and depth than any of the current one dimensional media vehicles available. This game is a step in that direction. Hell, some people call it art.
Anyone see that film Capote? Critical acclaim everywhere. The movie was about a self indulgent asshole who basically wrote a "true Crime" novel. Whoop de dooo. I don't see anyone flipping out over that.
Lets take a look at the book now. In Cold Blood. Read the reviews on that page, they're ridiculous. Capote's writing is boring, typical, and worshipped by those who couldn't handle Tolstoy. The subject of a book, a murder. A REAL murder.
Where is the outcry there? Hell, where is the outcry on the "pulp true crime" novels written about serial killer after serial killer? It's pretty damn small and has NO face.
People can't handle media if they haven't been ingesting it for 20 years or more. This "kiddie" media is mostly being purchased by people over 18. This is knee jerk reaction to an overhyped statistical anomonoly.
This is not an attack on those who still might have very deep pain over this event, I feel for you. But this game is NOT demeaning you. This game is NOT trying to foster this behavior in others. The very people who are demeaning this game should take a look at it, see how it makes you feel. My guess is repulsed. And every time you re-enact a slaying you should be asking yourself "what kind of monster can do this?" That, ladies and gentlemen, is the point. What does it take to make two confused youth transform into heartless killers? What is the aftermath? How much pain does not understanding or ignoring the early warning signs cause after all is said and done?
No, who cares about those things. Sweep that shit under the rug and turn on the tube - I wanna see who's gonna be the next American Idol. As long as I'm not starving or suffering - I try not to worry too much abouth the specifics. If this stuff didn't exist the problem might just go away.
So what note was Jimi Hendrix trying to play when he lit his guitar on fire?
The black and white iPods don't have a price difference, why would they charge a premium for something like that on the MacBook.
So your laptop can match your turtleneck?
I'm not gonna hammer you, you make good points. I just have a question.
If the information that an agent has is so secret that his leaking it could endanger lives, why isn't he under surveilance already and his phones being traced as a security measure?
This being the case we would only need to corroborate the journalists phone records with the agents to get the investigation pointed in the right direction, then we can quit analyzing our civilian citizens.
While I understand that there is no proof that our phone conversations are recorded, there is a disturbing trend in the current administration being found conducting themselves a little outside of what they said they were. And in the case of trying to find leaks to the press, there is a possibility that these leaks and reporters could be stopped before they could report on our conversations being recorded if they actually were being recorded.
I'll wait and see what actually happens when the console becomes available. While certain facts point to Sony taking a serious hit, it has been proven over and over again that the US market is often overestimated in their sophistication.
Are hardcore gamers pissed of at Sony? Sure. But there are more than enough fanbois doing damage control for free.
Is the video game media a little miffed about Sony's attitude at E3? Sounds like they are, but that is kind of a moot point. Game magazines CANNOT put a major player out to hang, or they run the risk of losing subscribers. With the constant barrage of criticism that the gaming press constantly receives, they don't want to lose any more readers than they have to. Otherwise the doors close.
Has Sony done this type of thing before? You bet.
Have they been removed from the face of the earth? Not yet.
Well, don't put the link in your post, just your sig. That will cut down on that by a significant amount.
Second, don't try to micromanage your web presence - it will drive youcrazy. If people start to foe you, well ok. There a lot more peopel who haven't foed you. Also, there are plaenty of other gaming message boards where you can link to your website in your sig.
If you are spamming boards with links in the posts that are completely irrelevant, well - thats not the advice I gave. Use the sig, its a common area for posters to push their "hobby" agenda. I'm not calling your games hobbies, I'm just stating that people are really receptive of this practice along all subjects.
Second, try changing the text in your sig every week. Keep it fresh. Post your opinions on everything related to games, not just those you think are related to your product. If you post well thought out points of discussion, people WILL check out your stuff.
Trusr me, driving traffic to your website isn't that hard. It part of what I consult on.
That having been said, maybe it is hard in the beginning - so is everything new. The conclusion I reached isn't in any way wrong or insulting. I would love to post my hard numbers, but I have these funny NDA's I have to worry about. The trust me is a statement imploring the poster I was responding to to try it out. They will see a positive difference.
Let's address your "difficulties" one by one and see just how simple they are.
You have to generate newsworthy events
Bullshit. You can create a press release for whatever you want, there is NO level of newsworthy that prevents a news agency from using your press release as a primer. Will you get on the front page of the New York Times with lame content, probably not - but there are innumerable smaller publications that need filler content for their side blurbs. Take a look at a copy of your favorite gaming mag (physical) and you will see a TON of these strewn throught the mag.
create and distribute press releases
$100 - $700 to one place, PRweb will do the trick. Do some google searches on PRweb results and you will see that the migration of your release to news websites is pretty fast(3 - 5 days is usually when you hit max density and start a 2 week decline.)
generate screenshots and videos
Wow, video capture and screen shots are NOT hard to get. Now, you want really really SLCIK ones, you have to get someone with design and editing skills. But if you're an indy game shop - I bet a copy of iLife and Photoshop CS would do it. This I can see as being time consuming and difficult if you have no art skills, so get the artist on your team to do it.
hound editors to write about your products and contact review sites to review them
I have never had this problem with anyone I have consulted for, but it MAY be an issue with the video game mags - I do not know. I do know that if you send a free copy of anything you want to get looked at by most online sites concerning your product, they will write a review. This is true of every client I have worked for, but to be fair - I haven't done a video game company yet. This might be true.
It really isn't that hard. Your comparison of getting online traffic to the adding functionaliity to object oriented code that doesn't end up breaking the game or unbalancing it is ridiculous. They are nothing alike.
Another thing, its not hard - but it takes WORK. Bringing in the groceries from your car isn't hard either, but you have to work at it. Making Macaroni and Cheese isn't hard, but you have to exert effort. The lack of labor is not the definition of easy.
"My impartial advice to Microsoft is that you have no chance. The search business has been formed,"
I dunno, that sounds similar to the boasts made by almost every large company head right before they get their ass handed to them by someone.
Man, they haven't been accused of anything like exaggerating what is being asked for, their lawyers are doing their job. The testimony of A SAMBA project leader is not a court accusation.
Also, the problem obtaining it is coming from the Judge, John Cooke, in this instance - not Microsoft.
The larger problem is that people only get their news from sources that confirm what they wanted to believe in the first place. I'm not advocating either side in this issue, but your post is so anti-MS leaning that its not even funny.
We're making big headway into finding truth.
Minors can't look at the stuff in a library. Theres a lot of shit minors can't do - its that way for a reason.
Man, I never said it was a good reference to cite, I just said that little tidbit could allow you to see it on a gov't funded school computer.
What are you responding to?
Man, it takes virtually NOTHING to drive traffic to your site. Games? How about putting "CHECK OUT MY NeW GAME!" link in your sig on slashdot and posting in every single videogame discussion. You get traffic, trust me.
As horrible as it sounds, use MySpace. You can generate a disgusting amount of traffic on there.
Cough up the $100 - $700 it takes to get a press release out on PR web. That generates a suprising amount of traffic.
It isn't that hard.
Now, how about reading the bill before you go and cry "I won't be able to learn!"
I really expected more from someone going to a magnet school
While I completely agree with you, that doesn't stop this type of thing. No lawmaker is going to try to pass a law that bans this type of stuff on EVERYONES computer, but in order to look like they are doing something they write laws that affect what they can - government computers.
I'm just acknowledging the reality of the situation.
Before I say anything, is this a public school that only focuses on Business and IT? If so, what school is it?
Good Point. Never thought of that angle.
Uh, the law only restricts the access from government systems. That is in NO WAY what you are talking about. I don't condone censorship. But I do condone property rights, and if the government owns the box - they can say what that specific box has access to.
Knee jerk much?
They arent legislating morality. They're restricting access on their systems. That's completely different.
OK, I can see why a public library might need a little more room to wiggle, I will definitely concede that point - but public schools and those oh so great government jobs? They don't need access to MySpace.
I also have a hard time believing that it isn't vague for specific reasons. Police might need to be able to access these sites for research reasons, as would some Gov't employees tasked with research. You don't want those people restricted in their web access.
You do however want to restrict that moron at the DMV from checking out the American Idol blogs.
This seems to be a common way for legislators to write law that can be selectively enforced.
Ahhh, its moot anyway. These people don't understand what it is they're writing laws for anyway - they just know they have to do something or lose votes.
Here Here!
Why is this so hard to grasp? Quit leasing your car so you can get a girl who expects more than you can provide financially because you fronted and then live your life maintaining a massive debt load that ensures you will be working until the day you die.
Do without today so you don't have to tomorrow.
The links you provided are very helpful, thank you very much. I'll be sure to send you an early early draft for your insight.
Thanks again.
I'm no programmer, but my job is tech related - and I couldn't agree with you more.
Forming a Union while offshoring is such a viable option is kind of retarded. Remember what happened to the striking Air Traffic Controllers? While I understand the desire to create a sense of job security for those who want to take on a more responsibility laden life (children, house, nicer car, ect...), I don't think it should be done at the expense of the Meritocracy feel that exists now.
I also respect that people with these responsibilities may wish for a union so they can secure the future of those responsibilities. What I don't respect is the stance that I should get in line so they can have it. You make your choices and I make mine, there is also a healthy amount of randomly placed events in there so it doesn't stay stagnant - but not enough to label all succesful people as "lucky".
I think another aspect of this that should be explored is that a large percentage of IT workers have NO BUSINESS SKILLS. We provide a function, a service. While highly technical and specialized, it is not easily transfered by everyone into a secondary business function.
I don't know many software engineers with great management skills, as I don't know many managers with great software engineering skills. The difference being a manager, a good manager, can manage just about any group of people doing any function. This is not (perceived to be) true of a software engineer.
We also have a tendency to shoot ourselves in our own feet. More often than not our ilk brazenly state we are specialists on a function and that other "lesser" functions are demeaning to us and we won't touch them. Well, that's not a really desirable quality in a business environment. Especially when those perceived "lesser" functions exist above us in the pecking order or in tried and true parallel departments such as Marketing or Sales.
Maybe our jobs would be a little more secure if we proactively integrated ourselves into the environments we work in and attempted to convey our worth in a manner that the "others" can understand. As it is now, we are often perceived as weird, infantile skilled laborers.
Your second link has some interesting thoughts on the Barabasi-Albert model, which by the way is the topic of that book Linked I refered to in my original post. Oh, they wrote it also.
Unfortunately, I have had to begin teaching myself more complex mathematics since I read that book. I am interested in these models as they apply to sociology and knowledge migration from the web into social business structures and back into the web, so want to make sure I am correctly interpreting them.
I am currently attempting to write a book on this subject and would be most appreciative if you could point out some similar references to the ones you posted.
What, does the Opera browser coming with the Wii's search bar now default to MSN?