Not that I like delayed games, but your comparison doesn't work. When was the last time a movie had to go through Q&A testing? Had to be bugtested? Had to be balanced?
Movies just have to have the filming finished, effects put in, and be edited. Overly simplistic, perhaps, but it is much different then video games.
Certain games like Daikatana/Duke Nukem Never/etc are horrible examples that have no excuse whatsoever though
I know Pokemon originated on GB. I wasn't that clear, but it seemes like the vast majority of games on GBA are Ports OR remakes OR pokemon (which I can't stand).
There are some great games out there though. Golden Sun and Golden Sun: The Lost Age are two of the best Console RPGs out there. Other then those Pokemon and a scant few others, there are no original RPGs on the system.
I know the financial reasons for it, but why must every damn portable system have so many ports from their non-portable cousins?
Metal Gear Solid, Gran Turismo... make some new games for launch! Don't just sell the system with "play your console games that you've already paid for on your portable!".
I don't mind a few ports, but if you look at the GBA it seems like a majority of the games are ports/remakes/pokemon. If the PSP will be the same I will great it less then enthusiastically. At least the GBA is $100
I was tempted to say the same before I RTFA, but they are using the abbreviation for "Digital Disk Recorder"... Please, if you're going to make up an abbreviation, please make up something that doesn't already exist in computers/gaming
No discussion about game music should ignore the incredible composer Jeremy Soule. He doesn't get nearly as much attention as Nobuo Uematsu (sp?) of Final Fantasy fame, but is just as good IMHO.
Some of his credits include:
Icewind Dale (my favorite of his)
Morrowind (my second favorite of his)
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Neverwinter Nights
Unreal II
Dungeon Siege
and many more.
What simpler theory is there?
on
Testing Relativity
·
· Score: 5, Insightful
That is often true but... what is that simplest solution? People compare string/M-Theory to how the geocentric view of the universe was justified. People had supposed a heliocentric view of the world, but people believed that there were epicycles and such instead of that.
Where is the simpler solution here? General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics are NOT compatible in many cases (for example extremely small but extremely heavy objects like black holes cause things like infinite probabilities which does NOT make sense). We have no simpler solution. String theory is about all we have now.
Yes, and that frightnes me immensly. The Comp Sci department in my Alma Mater (where I now work as a Sytems Admin) is going to be dropping dropping C++ completely (only a few years after dropping assembly) and just doing Java in the intro classes.
I did Computer Engineering instead and think I came out a better then the vast majority of the Computer Science majors.
Well, May 2002 actually. When someone in the U.S. (like me) says class of xxxx they usually mean one of the two things:
1) Graduated in May of year xxxx 2) Was supposed to graduate in my of year xxxx but our advisor screwed us over and made a mistake and we need one more bullshit class that we need to take in the summer
Most of the people getting out are the ones who were just going into it for the money. They thought that Computer Engineers/Programmers/etc were going making tons of money no matter what. That time is long gone.
Hopefully this in the long term will mean those who graduate in CS/CE/EE/etc. will be much stronger then some of my classmates have been (class of 2002 in Computer Engineering here).
I applaud this decision. Even though it will possibly cost them customers or cost them additional tech support time, they will be cutting off peoples owned windows boxes.
Lets hope they hold to this once the calls start coming in from people who have everything from Bagle to Netsky (along with probably a heavy dose of spyware too)
I could be wrong, but I am almost 100% sure that Electronics Boutique is not a franchise operation. Each store is owned by the main company.
So, in otherwords, this is all the companies fault, they can't blame a franchisee. The most they can do is say (if it is the case) that the manager violated company policy.
Going by my former help desk experience at a college, and by experience with friends and families computers I'd expect three in twenty would be more accurate.
Though I tell people when I fix their computers from spyware, that I will do it once, put Spybot on their computers, along with Mozilla Phoe^H^H Fireb^H^H Firefox on their computers.
If they get more spyware from using IE over Firefox, then I'll charge them to take it out next time.
A third solution is to try to tweek the game rules so that advancement requires exponentially more time at higher levels. Say you need 1M experience to get from level 50->51, and 10M to get from 51->52, and 100M to get from 52->53, etc. Of course this is just a way to pretend there's not much difference between a L50 and a L53 player - it won't be long before everyone catches on that a L53 character is far "better" than a L50 character. This could be fun for casual players, but sends a terrible message to a game's most dedicated players that they're no longer wanted.
Most games already take more time to raise higher levels then lower. Doing the first 40% (1-20 in a 50 level game like DAoC) of the levels in many games can be done VERY quickly (especially if you are experienced in the game). Doing the next 40% (20-40 in DAoC or similar) is slower, but doing the last 20% (or 10 levels in DAoC) is MUCH slower. Perhaps not as exponentially high as you propose, but still high.
The consensus (of the higher modded posts so far) seems that death penalties in games should be considerably higher. Maybe some games will exist for these 'hardcore' people.
I am not one of them. I want to have fun in a game. I don't want it to be more then an inconvenience.
In Dark Age of Camelot, it was best IMHO. You died in PvE, you lost some experience (but could never de-level), and had to pay to have some constitution points restored. This cost went up as you went up in level. Also, if you went back to your death site you could 'pray' at your grave to get back half of your lost experience.
I don't want to lose items I worked hard for. I don't want to de-level. I don't want to go on a run for my corpse. I CERTAINLY do not want to die and have the servers to an rm on my character.
These games should be about fun, plain and simple. An inconvenience is needed, perhaps, but nothing more. There is a very small percentage of gamers that want perma death. For those that do, spend some time playing on a full on PvP server like Darktide in AC, or Mordred in DAoC. Most of those then would change their minds.
EA buys companies left and right that have made some successful games. They then tinker with the company, forcing them to make less sucessful games. When they make a couple games that aren't blockbusters, the division is gutted and shut down (or just the name is kept).
They have done this with MANY divisions of their company. Most notably Origin a few years back.
There is only one reason for arcades now. Games that require special peripherals beyond keyboard/mouse/gamepad. They could be basic driving games, or they could be things such as Dancing Pads for DDR.
I may drop a quarter now and then to play a good racing game in an arcade. I'm not going to drop a hundred bucks for a steering wheel/gear shift/pedal set for my PC/console.
Slashdot Mirror
Not that I like delayed games, but your comparison doesn't work. When was the last time a movie had to go through Q&A testing? Had to be bugtested? Had to be balanced?
Movies just have to have the filming finished, effects put in, and be edited. Overly simplistic, perhaps, but it is much different then video games.
Certain games like Daikatana/Duke Nukem Never/etc are horrible examples that have no excuse whatsoever though
I know Pokemon originated on GB. I wasn't that clear, but it seemes like the vast majority of games on GBA are Ports OR remakes OR pokemon (which I can't stand).
There are some great games out there though. Golden Sun and Golden Sun: The Lost Age are two of the best Console RPGs out there. Other then those Pokemon and a scant few others, there are no original RPGs on the system.
I'm glad the grammar nazi's are out in force.
I know the financial reasons for it, but why must every damn portable system have so many ports from their non-portable cousins?
Metal Gear Solid, Gran Turismo... make some new games for launch! Don't just sell the system with "play your console games that you've already paid for on your portable!".
I don't mind a few ports, but if you look at the GBA it seems like a majority of the games are ports/remakes/pokemon. If the PSP will be the same I will great it less then enthusiastically. At least the GBA is $100
Actually, perhaps not.
Have you SEEN some of the swings of life long AL pitchers that play their first World Series? Some of them can be down right pathetic.
I was tempted to say the same before I RTFA, but they are using the abbreviation for "Digital Disk Recorder"... Please, if you're going to make up an abbreviation, please make up something that doesn't already exist in computers/gaming
So that's why the iPod Mini sold out!
:)
I was wondering why people were paying more for less GB. I gues size does matter
No discussion about game music should ignore the incredible composer Jeremy Soule. He doesn't get nearly as much attention as Nobuo Uematsu (sp?) of Final Fantasy fame, but is just as good IMHO.
Some of his credits include:
Icewind Dale (my favorite of his)
Morrowind (my second favorite of his)
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Neverwinter Nights
Unreal II
Dungeon Siege
and many more.
If you haven't heard his work, check his website: www.jeremysoule.com
That is often true but... what is that simplest solution? People compare string/M-Theory to how the geocentric view of the universe was justified. People had supposed a heliocentric view of the world, but people believed that there were epicycles and such instead of that.
Where is the simpler solution here? General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics are NOT compatible in many cases (for example extremely small but extremely heavy objects like black holes cause things like infinite probabilities which does NOT make sense). We have no simpler solution. String theory is about all we have now.
Maybe they should write a new webserver in Prothon... to survive the slashdotting...
Yes, and that frightnes me immensly. The Comp Sci department in my Alma Mater (where I now work as a Sytems Admin) is going to be dropping dropping C++ completely (only a few years after dropping assembly) and just doing Java in the intro classes.
I did Computer Engineering instead and think I came out a better then the vast majority of the Computer Science majors.
Well, May 2002 actually. When someone in the U.S. (like me) says class of xxxx they usually mean one of the two things:
1) Graduated in May of year xxxx
2) Was supposed to graduate in my of year xxxx but our advisor screwed us over and made a mistake and we need one more bullshit class that we need to take in the summer
Most of the people getting out are the ones who were just going into it for the money. They thought that Computer Engineers/Programmers/etc were going making tons of money no matter what. That time is long gone.
Hopefully this in the long term will mean those who graduate in CS/CE/EE/etc. will be much stronger then some of my classmates have been (class of 2002 in Computer Engineering here).
Does it still say PC Load Letter?
Don't spill my secret plan to the world!
'rapidly register and draft' computer specialists
Better go out and start writing my e-mail with Outlook Express! That will immediately prove I am not a computer specialist
I applaud this decision. Even though it will possibly cost them customers or cost them additional tech support time, they will be cutting off peoples owned windows boxes.
Lets hope they hold to this once the calls start coming in from people who have everything from Bagle to Netsky (along with probably a heavy dose of spyware too)
I could be wrong, but I am almost 100% sure that Electronics Boutique is not a franchise operation. Each store is owned by the main company.
So, in otherwords, this is all the companies fault, they can't blame a franchisee. The most they can do is say (if it is the case) that the manager violated company policy.
Going by my former help desk experience at a college, and by experience with friends and families computers I'd expect three in twenty would be more accurate.
Though I tell people when I fix their computers from spyware, that I will do it once, put Spybot on their computers, along with Mozilla Phoe^H^H Fireb^H^H Firefox on their computers.
If they get more spyware from using IE over Firefox, then I'll charge them to take it out next time.
A third solution is to try to tweek the game rules so that advancement requires exponentially more time at higher levels. Say you need 1M experience to get from level 50->51, and 10M to get from 51->52, and 100M to get from 52->53, etc. Of course this is just a way to pretend there's not much difference between a L50 and a L53 player - it won't be long before everyone catches on that a L53 character is far "better" than a L50 character. This could be fun for casual players, but sends a terrible message to a game's most dedicated players that they're no longer wanted.
Most games already take more time to raise higher levels then lower. Doing the first 40% (1-20 in a 50 level game like DAoC) of the levels in many games can be done VERY quickly (especially if you are experienced in the game). Doing the next 40% (20-40 in DAoC or similar) is slower, but doing the last 20% (or 10 levels in DAoC) is MUCH slower. Perhaps not as exponentially high as you propose, but still high.
The consensus (of the higher modded posts so far) seems that death penalties in games should be considerably higher. Maybe some games will exist for these 'hardcore' people.
I am not one of them. I want to have fun in a game. I don't want it to be more then an inconvenience.
In Dark Age of Camelot, it was best IMHO. You died in PvE, you lost some experience (but could never de-level), and had to pay to have some constitution points restored. This cost went up as you went up in level. Also, if you went back to your death site you could 'pray' at your grave to get back half of your lost experience.
I don't want to lose items I worked hard for. I don't want to de-level. I don't want to go on a run for my corpse. I CERTAINLY do not want to die and have the servers to an rm on my character.
These games should be about fun, plain and simple. An inconvenience is needed, perhaps, but nothing more. There is a very small percentage of gamers that want perma death. For those that do, spend some time playing on a full on PvP server like Darktide in AC, or Mordred in DAoC. Most of those then would change their minds.
Don't for get educational pricing:
RHEL 3 Workstation - $25
RHEL 3 Advanced Server - $50
No support included though, but all updates are.
EA buys companies left and right that have made some successful games. They then tinker with the company, forcing them to make less sucessful games. When they make a couple games that aren't blockbusters, the division is gutted and shut down (or just the name is kept).
They have done this with MANY divisions of their company. Most notably Origin a few years back.
There is only one reason for arcades now. Games that require special peripherals beyond keyboard/mouse/gamepad. They could be basic driving games, or they could be things such as Dancing Pads for DDR.
I may drop a quarter now and then to play a good racing game in an arcade. I'm not going to drop a hundred bucks for a steering wheel/gear shift/pedal set for my PC/console.
I will not consider this game a True success until it covers at least 100 of the RPG Cliches!
The 'every 14 year old is the chosen one' is a classic one though.
Grand List of Console RPG Cliches