I'm well aware of all that. But one big-name release, done relatively quickly compared to previous Linux game releases, is a huge first step to providing the needed momentum.
This ought to go a long way towards legitimizing Linux as a gaming platform. It's Doom 3, for god's sake. Hard to get bigger than that. As long as they're able to standardize installation across some of the most popular distros.
Of course Rutan didn't perform any of the fundamental research that lead to the first manned flights, so his efforts are piggy-backing on those of NASA.
Besides the fact that SpaceShipOne utilizes a completely different and more efficient aeronautical approach than NASA to reach space, what relevance does your flippant remark even have? We're talking about the budget required to build the thing. Take a look at Scaled Composites' expenditures and then compare then with those of NASA for one damn shuttle launch. Then shut your mouth.
And, trust me on this, these games are dorky and far from exciting to anyone who plays them for the game,
What are you talking about? Centipede? Missile Command? I play these games in MAME on a regular basis because they're utterly challenging, exciting, and fun. These arcade hits were the very definition of twitch gaming--concentrate with everything you've got, because if you don't, you're dead. This is videogaming immersion at its very, very finest. Give me Missile Command on my Xbox/PS2 with my big TV and I will be enthralled.
I don't know if you work in Corporate IT but I have heard here (and in my own personal experience) that Corporate users don't like upgrades.
As a matter of fact, I do work in corporate IT--I'm a sysadmin for a large telco. We dislike having to do upgrades, but we will do them, because we would rather disrupt operations for a little while rather than risk a longer disruption later down the road because we were obstinate about installing something.
All in all, I look forward to it but I wonder how many will install it. Will it make a difference when it comes out?
Corporate users, at the very least, will install it in droves. The article author said it himself: for businesses, the decision of whether or not to install it "should be a no-brainer":
No matter how annoying or substantively lacking in any real advantage other than increased security, there should be no debate in business or home circles about whether this one should be installed. Just do it. We have enough computer security problems without people getting stubborn about whether this upgrade takes away some of their computer liberties. It really doesn't.
...that the first few posts, as well as several posts afterward, will be easily-swallowable generalizations about how Service Pack 2 (not even RC2)...
- "isn't good enough" - "actually worsens security" - "is just another ploy" - "is way behind what Linux already has" - "is too risky to download" - "is another sign of bad programming"
And many of these comments will be posted without having read the Information Week article.
Sallah (laughing): Papers? Of course! (to Marcus) Sallah: Run. Marcus Brody: Yes. Sallah: Papers. Got it here! Just finished reading it myself! (to Marcus) Sallah: Run. Marcus Brody: Yes? Sallah: "Egyptian Mail," morning edition! [to Marcus] Sallah: Run. Marcus Brody: Did you say, uh... (Sallah punches German Dude) Sallah: RUN!
Most orders seem to have been made on impulse: they are done during or immediately after the spam run.
And I'd have thought they'd engage in long, thoughtful consideration before trying an experimental manhood-enhancing product, mortgaging their home, choosing a Third World bride, or deciding which bestiality DVD set to purchase?
In-freaking-deed. The Babylon 5 storyline possesses breadth and depth that cement the show's place as a rare science-fiction treasure, on the level of anything concocted by Bradbury or Clarke. We are not likely to see anything of that level of accomplishment for a long time--at least on television.
That said, if Straczynski were to work with Paramount, and Paramount didn't get their stupid clumsy hands into his game... he would have a very, very good chance of pulling Star Trek out of the hellpit it's been in for the last several years. It might not be Babylon 5 caliber, and it definitely wouldn't be Star Trek the way anyone was expecting, but it would be a damned good story and a damned good show.
Personally I don't see JMS being able to play ball with Paramount. I think he'd last 3-6 months tops before he blew up at them and walked.
Babylon 5 was extraordinary for two reasons:
(1) An astronomically talented writer (2) Said writer having complete creative control over the show
That is why Babylon 5 was able to be what it was: an utterly fantastic story stretched over five seasons. JMS himself has said that he had the general structure and philosophy of the story laid down from day one.
I don't see item #2 having a hell's chance of survival at Paramount, do you?
There are signs that online hate is getting worse.
Perhaps the online expression of it. The hate itself was always there and will only be minimized/eradicated with gradual cultural shifts on a global scale that will take centuries, if not millennia.
First off, I am not sure I would call an NT system "state of the art".
Well, the article says the computers are state-of-the-sart, not the operating system. However, I doubt they're running NT 4.0 in any case. Windows 2000 or Server 2003, most likely, and those are simply not operating systems to be laughed at.
Slashdot Mirror
STEWART: It's not honest. What you do is not honest. What you do is partisan hackery. And I will tell you why I know it.
CARLSON: You had John Kerry on your show and you sniff his throne and you're accusing us of partisan hackery?
STEWART: Absolutely.
CARLSON: You've got to be kidding me. He comes on and you...
STEWART: You're on CNN. The show that leads into me is puppets making crank phone calls.
***
CARLSON: Jon, you're bumming us out. Tell us, what do you think about the Bill O'Reilly vibrator story?
STEWART: I'm sorry. I don't.
I'm well aware of all that. But one big-name release, done relatively quickly compared to previous Linux game releases, is a huge first step to providing the needed momentum.
This ought to go a long way towards legitimizing Linux as a gaming platform. It's Doom 3, for god's sake. Hard to get bigger than that. As long as they're able to standardize installation across some of the most popular distros.
Of course Rutan didn't perform any of the fundamental research that lead to the first manned flights, so his efforts are piggy-backing on those of NASA.
Besides the fact that SpaceShipOne utilizes a completely different and more efficient aeronautical approach than NASA to reach space, what relevance does your flippant remark even have? We're talking about the budget required to build the thing. Take a look at Scaled Composites' expenditures and then compare then with those of NASA for one damn shuttle launch. Then shut your mouth.
Depending on exactly what you have stored, millions of people may want to help you backup as soon as possible.
And, trust me on this, these games are dorky and far from exciting to anyone who plays them for the game,
What are you talking about? Centipede? Missile Command? I play these games in MAME on a regular basis because they're utterly challenging, exciting, and fun. These arcade hits were the very definition of twitch gaming--concentrate with everything you've got, because if you don't, you're dead. This is videogaming immersion at its very, very finest. Give me Missile Command on my Xbox/PS2 with my big TV and I will be enthralled.
Protecting Your Machine
Why, yes, it is a machine. Thank you.
Watch as Gene Roddenbury spins over and over in his grave and is then resurrected like in Star Trek IV!
You think once we get Gene Roddenberry spinning in his grave fast enough, we'll be able to power an engine with him?
Man, unless he's time-traveling back, it'll be damn hard to make him look like the feisty young thing of the '60s.
They'll have to slather him with makeup and airbrush half of him out of the frames.
simple 2-hour-ish film
Simple perhaps in concept, but certainly not in execution.
I don't know if you work in Corporate IT but I have heard here (and in my own personal experience) that Corporate users don't like upgrades.
As a matter of fact, I do work in corporate IT--I'm a sysadmin for a large telco. We dislike having to do upgrades, but we will do them, because we would rather disrupt operations for a little while rather than risk a longer disruption later down the road because we were obstinate about installing something.
All in all, I look forward to it but I wonder how many will install it. Will it make a difference when it comes out?
Corporate users, at the very least, will install it in droves. The article author said it himself: for businesses, the decision of whether or not to install it "should be a no-brainer":
No matter how annoying or substantively lacking in any real advantage other than increased security, there should be no debate in business or home circles about whether this one should be installed. Just do it. We have enough computer security problems without people getting stubborn about whether this upgrade takes away some of their computer liberties. It really doesn't.
...that the first few posts, as well as several posts afterward, will be easily-swallowable generalizations about how Service Pack 2 (not even RC2)...
- "isn't good enough"
- "actually worsens security"
- "is just another ploy"
- "is way behind what Linux already has"
- "is too risky to download"
- "is another sign of bad programming"
And many of these comments will be posted without having read the Information Week article.
Buy hey, I'm just guessing.
"Your papers, please?"
Sallah (laughing): Papers? Of course!
(to Marcus)
Sallah: Run.
Marcus Brody: Yes.
Sallah: Papers. Got it here! Just finished reading it myself!
(to Marcus)
Sallah: Run.
Marcus Brody: Yes?
Sallah: "Egyptian Mail," morning edition!
[to Marcus]
Sallah: Run.
Marcus Brody: Did you say, uh...
(Sallah punches German Dude)
Sallah: RUN!
People who refuse to identify themselves, even if they are not suspected of a crime, will be arrested. Sound Orwellian?
"What's your name?"
"Rutherford."
"Rutherford is an unperson."
"Ogilvy."
"Ogilvy's a dead war hero."
"Uh--"
"To Miniluv with you!"
The Supreme Court also said people who are suspected of another crime might not be subject to arrest for not revealing their name.
"You are under suspicion for extreeeme bestiality."
"Uh, no."
"What's your name?"
"Forget it."
"To Miniluv with you!"
Most orders seem to have been made on impulse: they are done during or immediately after the spam run.
And I'd have thought they'd engage in long, thoughtful consideration before trying an experimental manhood-enhancing product, mortgaging their home, choosing a Third World bride, or deciding which bestiality DVD set to purchase?
Straczynski can.
In-freaking-deed. The Babylon 5 storyline possesses breadth and depth that cement the show's place as a rare science-fiction treasure, on the level of anything concocted by Bradbury or Clarke. We are not likely to see anything of that level of accomplishment for a long time--at least on television.
That said, if Straczynski were to work with Paramount, and Paramount didn't get their stupid clumsy hands into his game... he would have a very, very good chance of pulling Star Trek out of the hellpit it's been in for the last several years. It might not be Babylon 5 caliber, and it definitely wouldn't be Star Trek the way anyone was expecting, but it would be a damned good story and a damned good show.
Personally I don't see JMS being able to play ball with Paramount. I think he'd last 3-6 months tops before he blew up at them and walked.
Babylon 5 was extraordinary for two reasons:
(1) An astronomically talented writer
(2) Said writer having complete creative control over the show
That is why Babylon 5 was able to be what it was: an utterly fantastic story stretched over five seasons. JMS himself has said that he had the general structure and philosophy of the story laid down from day one.
I don't see item #2 having a hell's chance of survival at Paramount, do you?
Does nobody see what is about to happen?
Those computers will read that list and know which computers to connect to, to take over the world!!
WARN
THERE IS ANOTHER SYSTEM
There are signs that online hate is getting worse.
Perhaps the online expression of it. The hate itself was always there and will only be minimized/eradicated with gradual cultural shifts on a global scale that will take centuries, if not millennia.
...but I imagine the Linux Gazette web server sounds like Rice Krispies about now.
For most of the United States (sorry West Coast), this is the season for lightning.
Damn. And I had my cable hanging down from the Hill Valley Clock Tower all ready too.
First off, I am not sure I would call an NT system "state of the art".
Well, the article says the computers are state-of-the-sart, not the operating system.
However, I doubt they're running NT 4.0 in any case. Windows 2000 or Server 2003, most likely, and those are simply not operating systems to be laughed at.
The problem some of us are running into is that our significant others aren't too happy with us gaming all the time.
How could people this addicted have found the time or inclination to have pursued and won over significant others in the first place?
1. Ugly
Baseless.
2. Have a clunky interface with lots of glitz and glitter
Baseless. Seen the interfaces for Server 2003 and XP? They rock, plain and simple.
3. Play WMA only
MP3 is the universal digital music format right now. To not play those files is to alienate most of the market. Microsoft is not that stupid.
4. Require XP
If it runs Windows, it will be a super-stripped-down version of probably the XP kernel that will barely resemble XP itself, if at all.
Have limited hard drive capacity
Um, no. Decent hard drives are as cheap as they ever were.
6. Run Pocketwindows and crash regularly
Baseless.
7. Have its own host of viruses within half a year
8. Still sell like crazy because for some reason people seem to prefer mediocre crap
You haven't even seen the damn thing yet. How do you know it's mediocre?