iTunes buyers simply want more freedom. They're using PlayFair to achieve this.
I want more freedom, too. I think I'll take the Linux kernel, modify it, then release just the binary version and keep the source code to myself. Giving everyone the source code is just too much work and bother and it intrudes on my freedom to do what I want.
Want more freedom? Buy the friggin CD instead of entering a known contract then breaking it. The only reason this is different is because it suites your desires.
Quote: Even traditional disclaimers such as "except for video games, which need to stay close to the machine level" usually don't hold water any more.
Yeah, as long as you write simple, 2D games(like the author of the essay does) that would be true. Complex, 3D games are another matter. I write games for a living and even if you're within sight of cutting edge you're writing at least some assembly and spending a lot of time optimizing C++.
Now I'm not knocking all he says or saying that good games need to be in C++ and assembly. Some games rely heavily on scripting languages to handle the game mechanics and world events. There's a lot less assembly code than there used to be. However, the core engine that handles graphics, physics, AI, and I/O is going to be written in C++ and assembly and will be for the forseeable future.
If I published a game that required a 3Ghz computer to display 576x576 images at 66fps, I'd be laughed off the internet. A PS2 has a 300Mhz processor and needs to display a 512x448 image every 30-60 seconds.
No, I'm not. You either lack the ability to understand what I'm typing or you're a troll. I think the latter is most likely. Have fun evolving to live in a vacuum.
Ok, I'll use your language to slowly guide you to the point I'm making.
The tree-dwellers didn't have to team up into large groups of thousands, creating huge bark and leaf suites and twig elevators to send just ONE of them to the ground. All they needed to do was CLIMB DOWN THE DAMN TREE.
There, no mention of currency to distract you from the delicate point I was making. Happy?
I did't think going from 20' in the air to the ground could be compared to going from Earth to a vacuum but you proved me wrong. Congrats.
If traversing from the trees to the ground costed millions of dollars per person we would still be up there, governments or not.
I've also seen a silly comment cracking that our "ancestors settled America using unmanned prairie probes" and "Neanderthals also used unmanned probes to locate food and heat sources."
If you can't see the difference between exploration of the Earth, where in every example posted thus far you don't have to pack 100% of your water & food into a very expensive vehicle and pray your calculations are correct, and exploration of Space then I suggest you go pack your mule and explore the moon. It can't be that hard, right?
Damn politicians just don't know anything about space.
Re:You'd think I'd learn...
on
Our Man In Black
·
· Score: 2, Funny
Hell, I'd settle for a blowjob because I'm a programmer.
You'd think I'd learn...
on
Our Man In Black
·
· Score: 5, Funny
First I find out that being a spy isn't all about gadgets and women. Then I find out being an archaeologist isn't all about running from traps and nazis'. Now I find out that protecting the earth from alien life forms doesn't involve talking to alien dogs and bug guns.
"Thats not snotty IMO, Bud is just crappy 'beer'."
It's amazing how you can deny being snotty and be snotty in the same sentence. Taste is purely subjective and a lot of people like Bud, in case you didn't notice.
Yes, please throw all those who know nothing about programming directly into assembly language programming! That way less people will be interested in programming, thus less Comp Sci graduates, thus solving the problem with exporting programming jobs!
I'm glad SOME of us are thinking ahead. I for one welcome this initiative for keeping our jobs.
Writing $5000/seat proprietary software for the movie industry doesn't make your point valid. Companies don't purchase music via iTunes, regular users do. Regular users don't purchase the software you develop, companies do.
I've been a Mac user for four years now, but I still regularly use Windows and occasionally Linux. To me, Mr. Ulanoff seems to embody the worst type of Mac user - the cynical ex-user. All the Mac users I've talked to aren't snobby or "elite" but almost every single ex-mac user is. It's almost like they were upset that they had to leave MacOS and now all they do is spit insults at anyone who thinks that Macs are cool.
I feel bad for anyone who feels the need to put a group of users down simply due to their choice in tools. That goes for the "Mac elite" that Mr. Ulanoff has to deal with as well.
Does this make Linux bullet-proof or just provide ammo for anti-MS fanatics?
Re:I''m sorry but a lot of this is common sense
on
How to be a Programmer
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
Unfortunately, common sense needs to be taught because it's not as common as people like to think.
I've found in many cases the blame of bad programmers is on two sets of shoulders:
- Management for not hiring enough senior programmers to teach junior ones and for not allowing time to teach junior programmers.
- Senior programmers for not wanting to teach junior programmers because it'll slow them down or they should figure it out for themselves.
I have no control over the first and I try not to be part of the second. From your comments it sounded like you were part of the second problem, I'm sorry if I offended you and that's not the case.
Re:I''m sorry but a lot of this is common sense
on
How to be a Programmer
·
· Score: 3, Insightful
How elitist of you.
Good programmers aren't born that way, they learn to be good programmers. Most "bad" programmers can be taught to be good programmers and those that teach them how are usually "incredible."
From your attitude I'd guess you're a bad programmer because you think most of your co-workers are bad (can't be that you're bad, everyone else sucks). Since you don't need to be told how to program (you already know how and learned everything by yourself), I bet you don't listen to other people well so you're communication skills are lacking.
Some people may be hopeless when it comes to being a good programmer, but 90% implies to me that they aren't the problem (but you may be). 5-15% sounds a little more reasonable (and my experience).
I used to work with someone who talked like you and that person was the worst co-worker I ever had to deal with.
"Increased Monetization of Product Derivatives" - a.k.a. make gamers pay for mods.
"Complete Toolset Integration & Standardization" - Ah yes, the glorious uber-prize that all people want to see. One toolset for all genres of games so it's just a matter of plugging the right bits together for your game.
Sheya, that'll be the day. Take an engine that was build for first person shooters and try making a role-playing game out of it (i.e. ask the Anacronox team) and we'll see what you're tune is. And when you manage to make that easy, try making a fighting game out of that engine. When you do that, make it easy to make a racing game. When you do that...
"Development Teams Become More Transient" - In other words, we don't want to pay for a full-time team of professionals.
"With pervasive gaming, many of the previous nine points come together to create gaming's equivalent to electricity - it's everywhere, always available, and easy to access what you want, when you want it." - now you don't just play games for fun, you live them! Unfortunately, he's probably got this right. Except for the cell-phone part. Hard-core gamers wouldn't have the guts to actually talk to another person from the game.
I like it when people with little game experience start predicting the future of games. The article rehashes some of the popular predictions and adds one or two new ones, probably to legitimize whatever business model they're trying to use. If Mr. Sawyer wishes to continue speculate about the future of games he may want to spend some time in the industry before doing so.
"This evolutionary process is not finished. Increased compartmentalization and object orientated advances will enable re-usable components, character behaviors, game logic and audiovisual content. Over time, some forms of fundamental standardization for various types of content may allow users and developers to interchange content from one product with that from another."
Standardization? Sheya. We don't even have a standard animation format from product to product *from the same company*. Engine programmers are constantly attempting to gain speed and compression of assests and each rev of the engine will affect how assests processed. Even if you could standardize a 3D model format and an animation format you still need some way to hook it up to the game. The day performance is no longer an issue is the day you'll see standardization.
"Key trends in development, including online worlds, continuous development and after-market products from fourth-party developers require new distribution systems."
Oh yes, pay-to-play. That'll go over big with gamers. You dont own the disc anymore and you can't play if you're connection is down. Gamers rent the software, even if it's a one-player game. The Xbox os ready to do this (who woulda thunk it), but the PS2 and Gamecube can't unless you force players to buy more stuff.
"This is awful."
"What about our privacy rights?"
"Why are people accepting this?"
I can't believe most of the posts here. Since when are we guaranteed privacy and anonymity in a PUBLIC place? Yeah, that's right...outside your property is PUBLIC. You're not guaranteed any privacy.
Oh my god! Sooner or later I'm going to be automatically fined for jaywalking or spitting on the sidewalk!!! BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING!
Yeah, so. Most people should be watched in public because they're phucking bass poles. I cheered when they started placing systems to automatically record motorists that run red lights. Why? Before I almost get hit on a regular basis, after I do not fear for my life. I look forward to when they automatically ticket speeders. Yes, I speed. Yes, I'll DEFINATELY slow down if I know I'm being watched. That's the point isn't it?
What? Don't want to be ticketed for actions that you want to do? Well, I have the perfect solution for you. I'll even give you a choice:
1) Don't do them.
2) Lobby your local/state/federal lawmakers to CHANGE THE LAWS.
I think it's high time those old ridiculous laws you hear about on joke sites get reviewed and tossed. Think of it as a code review.:)
The only thing I fear is the system being used on political dissidents. On the other hand, if we can keep our right to arm ourselfs we shouldn't worry too much.
Slashdot Mirror
iTunes buyers simply want more freedom. They're using PlayFair to achieve this.
I want more freedom, too. I think I'll take the Linux kernel, modify it, then release just the binary version and keep the source code to myself. Giving everyone the source code is just too much work and bother and it intrudes on my freedom to do what I want.
Want more freedom? Buy the friggin CD instead of entering a known contract then breaking it. The only reason this is different is because it suites your desires.
I should have ended the post by typing "HEY, GRAMMER FREAKS! LOOK AT ME! I SUCK!" instead of writing that last sentence.
Even traditional disclaimers such as "except for video games, which need to stay close to the machine level" usually don't hold water any more.
Yeah, as long as you write simple, 2D games(like the author of the essay does) that would be true. Complex, 3D games are another matter. I write games for a living and even if you're within sight of cutting edge you're writing at least some assembly and spending a lot of time optimizing C++.
Now I'm not knocking all he says or saying that good games need to be in C++ and assembly. Some games rely heavily on scripting languages to handle the game mechanics and world events. There's a lot less assembly code than there used to be. However, the core engine that handles graphics, physics, AI, and I/O is going to be written in C++ and assembly and will be for the forseeable future.
If I published a game that required a 3Ghz computer to display 576x576 images at 66fps, I'd be laughed off the internet. A PS2 has a 300Mhz processor and needs to display a 512x448 image every 30-60 seconds.
No, I'm not. You either lack the ability to understand what I'm typing or you're a troll. I think the latter is most likely. Have fun evolving to live in a vacuum.
Ok, I'll use your language to slowly guide you to the point I'm making.
The tree-dwellers didn't have to team up into large groups of thousands, creating huge bark and leaf suites and twig elevators to send just ONE of them to the ground. All they needed to do was CLIMB DOWN THE DAMN TREE.
There, no mention of currency to distract you from the delicate point I was making. Happy?
I did't think going from 20' in the air to the ground could be compared to going from Earth to a vacuum but you proved me wrong. Congrats.
If traversing from the trees to the ground costed millions of dollars per person we would still be up there, governments or not.
I've also seen a silly comment cracking that our "ancestors settled America using unmanned prairie probes" and "Neanderthals also used unmanned probes to locate food and heat sources."
If you can't see the difference between exploration of the Earth, where in every example posted thus far you don't have to pack 100% of your water & food into a very expensive vehicle and pray your calculations are correct, and exploration of Space then I suggest you go pack your mule and explore the moon. It can't be that hard, right?
Damn politicians just don't know anything about space.
Hell, I'd settle for a blowjob because I'm a programmer.
First I find out that being a spy isn't all about gadgets and women. Then I find out being an archaeologist isn't all about running from traps and nazis'. Now I find out that protecting the earth from alien life forms doesn't involve talking to alien dogs and bug guns.
WHY DO YOU LIE TO ME, HOLLYWOOD!!!
*sob*
There I go...showing my age again.
"Thats not snotty IMO, Bud is just crappy 'beer'."
It's amazing how you can deny being snotty and be snotty in the same sentence. Taste is purely subjective and a lot of people like Bud, in case you didn't notice.
We follow Monty Python's advice and fill them with eels.
Yes, please throw all those who know nothing about programming directly into assembly language programming! That way less people will be interested in programming, thus less Comp Sci graduates, thus solving the problem with exporting programming jobs!
I'm glad SOME of us are thinking ahead. I for one welcome this initiative for keeping our jobs.
Writing $5000/seat proprietary software for the movie industry doesn't make your point valid. Companies don't purchase music via iTunes, regular users do. Regular users don't purchase the software you develop, companies do.
Oh dear, what will I do now that I can't threaten to move to Canada if Bush gets elected again?!?
At least you aren't cynical about it. :D
I've been a Mac user for four years now, but I still regularly use Windows and occasionally Linux. To me, Mr. Ulanoff seems to embody the worst type of Mac user - the cynical ex-user. All the Mac users I've talked to aren't snobby or "elite" but almost every single ex-mac user is. It's almost like they were upset that they had to leave MacOS and now all they do is spit insults at anyone who thinks that Macs are cool.
I feel bad for anyone who feels the need to put a group of users down simply due to their choice in tools. That goes for the "Mac elite" that Mr. Ulanoff has to deal with as well.
Does this make Linux bullet-proof or just provide ammo for anti-MS fanatics?
Unfortunately, common sense needs to be taught because it's not as common as people like to think.
I've found in many cases the blame of bad programmers is on two sets of shoulders:
- Management for not hiring enough senior programmers to teach junior ones and for not allowing time to teach junior programmers.
- Senior programmers for not wanting to teach junior programmers because it'll slow them down or they should figure it out for themselves.
I have no control over the first and I try not to be part of the second. From your comments it sounded like you were part of the second problem, I'm sorry if I offended you and that's not the case.
How elitist of you.
Good programmers aren't born that way, they learn to be good programmers. Most "bad" programmers can be taught to be good programmers and those that teach them how are usually "incredible."
From your attitude I'd guess you're a bad programmer because you think most of your co-workers are bad (can't be that you're bad, everyone else sucks). Since you don't need to be told how to program (you already know how and learned everything by yourself), I bet you don't listen to other people well so you're communication skills are lacking.
Some people may be hopeless when it comes to being a good programmer, but 90% implies to me that they aren't the problem (but you may be). 5-15% sounds a little more reasonable (and my experience).
I used to work with someone who talked like you and that person was the worst co-worker I ever had to deal with.
I guess you're not into "free" as in "free speech," are you?
How long did it take them to do it? How much of the engine had to be rewritten? Answers: A long time and a lot.
Accidently hit the submit.
"Increased Monetization of Product Derivatives" - a.k.a. make gamers pay for mods.
"Complete Toolset Integration & Standardization" - Ah yes, the glorious uber-prize that all people want to see. One toolset for all genres of games so it's just a matter of plugging the right bits together for your game.
Sheya, that'll be the day. Take an engine that was build for first person shooters and try making a role-playing game out of it (i.e. ask the Anacronox team) and we'll see what you're tune is. And when you manage to make that easy, try making a fighting game out of that engine. When you do that, make it easy to make a racing game. When you do that...
"Development Teams Become More Transient" - In other words, we don't want to pay for a full-time team of professionals.
"With pervasive gaming, many of the previous nine points come together to create gaming's equivalent to electricity - it's everywhere, always available, and easy to access what you want, when you want it." - now you don't just play games for fun, you live them! Unfortunately, he's probably got this right. Except for the cell-phone part. Hard-core gamers wouldn't have the guts to actually talk to another person from the game.
I like it when people with little game experience start predicting the future of games. The article rehashes some of the popular predictions and adds one or two new ones, probably to legitimize whatever business model they're trying to use. If Mr. Sawyer wishes to continue speculate about the future of games he may want to spend some time in the industry before doing so.
"This evolutionary process is not finished. Increased compartmentalization and object orientated advances will enable re-usable components, character behaviors, game logic and audiovisual content. Over time, some forms of fundamental standardization for various types of content may allow users and developers to interchange content from one product with that from another."
Standardization? Sheya. We don't even have a standard animation format from product to product *from the same company*. Engine programmers are constantly attempting to gain speed and compression of assests and each rev of the engine will affect how assests processed. Even if you could standardize a 3D model format and an animation format you still need some way to hook it up to the game. The day performance is no longer an issue is the day you'll see standardization.
"Key trends in development, including online worlds, continuous development and after-market products from fourth-party developers require new distribution systems."
Oh yes, pay-to-play. That'll go over big with gamers. You dont own the disc anymore and you can't play if you're connection is down. Gamers rent the software, even if it's a one-player game. The Xbox os ready to do this (who woulda thunk it), but the PS2 and Gamecube can't unless you force players to buy more stuff.
"Continuous Development" - old hat.
"This is awful."
:)
"What about our privacy rights?"
"Why are people accepting this?"
I can't believe most of the posts here. Since when are we guaranteed privacy and anonymity in a PUBLIC place? Yeah, that's right...outside your property is PUBLIC. You're not guaranteed any privacy.
Oh my god! Sooner or later I'm going to be automatically fined for jaywalking or spitting on the sidewalk!!! BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING!
Yeah, so. Most people should be watched in public because they're phucking bass poles. I cheered when they started placing systems to automatically record motorists that run red lights. Why? Before I almost get hit on a regular basis, after I do not fear for my life. I look forward to when they automatically ticket speeders. Yes, I speed. Yes, I'll DEFINATELY slow down if I know I'm being watched. That's the point isn't it?
What? Don't want to be ticketed for actions that you want to do? Well, I have the perfect solution for you. I'll even give you a choice:
1) Don't do them.
2) Lobby your local/state/federal lawmakers to CHANGE THE LAWS.
I think it's high time those old ridiculous laws you hear about on joke sites get reviewed and tossed. Think of it as a code review.
The only thing I fear is the system being used on political dissidents. On the other hand, if we can keep our right to arm ourselfs we shouldn't worry too much.
Check this out for a more down to earth look at game design. It'll let you know what you're thinking about getting into.