Wouldn't it be something if one of the real planets turned out to be like one of the StarTrek planets?
Yeah, wobbly and part cardboard.
Re:What about the anti-genetic backlash?
on
Genetic Stone Soup
·
· Score: 1
"We've already seen how companies like Montesanto can have their research attacked, spoiled and subjected to the worst kind of slanderous publicity,"
Unfortunately companies like Monsanto are not entirely blameless. They do deserve some of the bad publicity they get.
"In some cases, the very lives of researchers who labour to increase our knowledge is at risk, and we cannot afford to let this happen, not with the problems of population growth looming large over humanity."
The problems of population growth can be solved by slowing procreation - although in some areas the growth curve is shallowing. The West need not consume and waste the proportion of resources it uses - and there is so much food produced in the West and not consumed that we end up with food 'mountains'.
Furthermore, if governments allow the patenting by corporations of the results of the research some people won't be able to afford the products. This is already happening to some Third World countries with drugs and medicines.
But at the end of the day, the protestors believe they are in the right. They are like the religious, who have faith in a God - they 'know' they are right!
I disagree with the people who believe there should be no research whatsoever, but I don't like the idea of 'open-field' research. I haven't been convinced that this research is safe.
Anyway, a democracy that stamps on the beliefs of a 'small bunch of extremists' is no democracy at all.
My point is that development teams with tight budget constraints and few resources are unlikely to choose the PS2 platform to develop a product for - because PS2 developers will write their own pay-cheques in the first few months, there are no official development tools or help resources, and Sony are difficult to work with.
A lot of innovative stuff comes from the smaller teams - not quite the same as the days of bedroom programming, but almost there (lounge?) Do you think they'll consider the PS2 as a viable platform?
I haven't made any of that stuff up. The developers I work with have told me about the problems they face. Luckily, as a publisher, we have some money and time we can throw at those problems. Other people might not be so fortunate.
1. Because it's new, obviously, and therefore there is a lack of developers with PS2 experience;
2. Because there is a lack of 'official' development tools for it, and development teams are having to spend time and resources developing their own;
3. Because Sony are notoriously hard to work with on development issues.
Just because it's going to be difficult doesn't mean the games are going to be better. The Xbox is going to have some great games on it, whether they're ported from the PC or not - simply because it's familiar territory for developers, and therefore development teams can spend more time and resources on creating the game and not the tools.
Don't dismiss the Xbox out of hand just because it's from Micro$oft.
"It seems that games companies now focus more on 'how to bring in the cash' than 'how to entertain the public'." - that's capitalism for you! Money does of course drive the industry.
IMO Marketing and Shareholders are now, unfortunately, the two most important contributing factors in deciding which games a company will publish or distribute, and remember we're in this to make money - not to provide a public service.
Sure, we take risks but as publishers we have to be extremely confident of success. It takes a lot of money and a lot of time to develop today's games and if we aren't sure we'll get a return from that investment then that game will be buried.
From a marketing point of view, if a game is too off-the-wall or unmarketable in another way it's not going to sell. The game must have media coverage and we have to get distributors interested in it - if not the public won't have a chance to buy it.
A decade ago it was a different story. One guy could code a decent game in his bedroom well within a year and make his fortunate. Five years ago you'd need a couple of coders and artists to do it within a year. Now a blockbuster game needs two to five years and a team of twenty.
There's nothing inherently wrong with sequels, as long as the publisher makes money and people enjoy them. Take Championship Manager, for example - it's a database as well ffs - a top ten hit every time in the UK!
And my background? I'm 'lucky' enough to evaluate game designs, 'near-finished' and released product - and let me tell you, you're lucky you don't see 99% of them.
What has ECTS ever claimed to be? The European Computer Trade Show?
It is about 'shiny things, flashing lights, loud noises, lies, and small women with large breasts' - btw I'm surprised you didn't mention alcohol - because it's about marketing product.
It's about networking, and looking better than everyone else. It is shallow, but at the same time entertaining. That said, I have never spent more than two hours walking around the show and looking at stuff - unless I'm looking for new products to sell or scantily clad dancing women - because I can't think of many things more dull.
It's also a chance for small development teams from all over the world to come to a place where, once a year, most of the industry is gathered together and willing to see product. This, however, isn't a contributing factor to a publisher's or distributor's decision to go there.
From a gamers point of view there wasn't much of substance this year, or last year. Hopefully next year, and the change of venue to the Docklands, will be better.
Yours, someone who enjoys ECTS and similar events for what they are and has done for some time.
Slashdot Mirror
Check out Super Monkey Ball on the Gamecube. It is top, top, top, fun!
I don't think a Microsoft virus would be as effective as Code Red or Nimda!
Wouldn't it be something if one of the real planets turned out to be like one of the StarTrek planets?
Yeah, wobbly and part cardboard.
"We've already seen how companies like Montesanto can have their research attacked, spoiled and subjected to the worst kind of slanderous publicity," Unfortunately companies like Monsanto are not entirely blameless. They do deserve some of the bad publicity they get. "In some cases, the very lives of researchers who labour to increase our knowledge is at risk, and we cannot afford to let this happen, not with the problems of population growth looming large over humanity." The problems of population growth can be solved by slowing procreation - although in some areas the growth curve is shallowing. The West need not consume and waste the proportion of resources it uses - and there is so much food produced in the West and not consumed that we end up with food 'mountains'. Furthermore, if governments allow the patenting by corporations of the results of the research some people won't be able to afford the products. This is already happening to some Third World countries with drugs and medicines. But at the end of the day, the protestors believe they are in the right. They are like the religious, who have faith in a God - they 'know' they are right! I disagree with the people who believe there should be no research whatsoever, but I don't like the idea of 'open-field' research. I haven't been convinced that this research is safe. Anyway, a democracy that stamps on the beliefs of a 'small bunch of extremists' is no democracy at all.
A lot of innovative stuff comes from the smaller teams - not quite the same as the days of bedroom programming, but almost there (lounge?) Do you think they'll consider the PS2 as a viable platform?
I haven't made any of that stuff up. The developers I work with have told me about the problems they face. Luckily, as a publisher, we have some money and time we can throw at those problems. Other people might not be so fortunate.
The PS2 is hard to program for:
1. Because it's new, obviously, and therefore there is a lack of developers with PS2 experience;
2. Because there is a lack of 'official' development tools for it, and development teams are having to spend time and resources developing their own;
3. Because Sony are notoriously hard to work with on development issues.
Just because it's going to be difficult doesn't mean the games are going to be better. The Xbox is going to have some great games on it, whether they're ported from the PC or not - simply because it's familiar territory for developers, and therefore development teams can spend more time and resources on creating the game and not the tools.
Don't dismiss the Xbox out of hand just because it's from Micro$oft.
"It seems that games companies now focus more on 'how to bring in the cash' than 'how to entertain the public'." - that's capitalism for you! Money does of course drive the industry.
IMO Marketing and Shareholders are now, unfortunately, the two most important contributing factors in deciding which games a company will publish or distribute, and remember we're in this to make money - not to provide a public service.
Sure, we take risks but as publishers we have to be extremely confident of success. It takes a lot of money and a lot of time to develop today's games and if we aren't sure we'll get a return from that investment then that game will be buried.
From a marketing point of view, if a game is too off-the-wall or unmarketable in another way it's not going to sell. The game must have media coverage and we have to get distributors interested in it - if not the public won't have a chance to buy it.
A decade ago it was a different story. One guy could code a decent game in his bedroom well within a year and make his fortunate. Five years ago you'd need a couple of coders and artists to do it within a year. Now a blockbuster game needs two to five years and a team of twenty.
There's nothing inherently wrong with sequels, as long as the publisher makes money and people enjoy them. Take Championship Manager, for example - it's a database as well ffs - a top ten hit every time in the UK!
And my background? I'm 'lucky' enough to evaluate game designs, 'near-finished' and released product - and let me tell you, you're lucky you don't see 99% of them.
What has ECTS ever claimed to be? The European Computer Trade Show?
It is about 'shiny things, flashing lights, loud noises, lies, and small women with large breasts' - btw I'm surprised you didn't mention alcohol - because it's about marketing product.
It's about networking, and looking better than everyone else. It is shallow, but at the same time entertaining. That said, I have never spent more than two hours walking around the show and looking at stuff - unless I'm looking for new products to sell or scantily clad dancing women - because I can't think of many things more dull.
It's also a chance for small development teams from all over the world to come to a place where, once a year, most of the industry is gathered together and willing to see product. This, however, isn't a contributing factor to a publisher's or distributor's decision to go there.
From a gamers point of view there wasn't much of substance this year, or last year. Hopefully next year, and the change of venue to the Docklands, will be better.
Yours, someone who enjoys ECTS and similar events for what they are and has done for some time.