Sony, your desperate attempt to win back the Slashdot crowd is admirable, but I'm afraid it's too late...
Sincerely,
Slashdot
Ok Slashdotter... you drive a hard bargain. What do you want? Chicks? Cars? We can do that. It may cause us to push back the launch date, but we can do it. I can see us having a beautiful relationship, Slashdotter. Beautiful!
Halo has brand recognition under its belt. You have to look at Halo in the terms of an iPod to understand why, barring some major screw up, it will always be successful.
Halo is to multiplayer FPS's as iPod is to MP3 players. There are a number of similarities when comparing the two. Halo was not the first multiplayer FPS, we've been doing this on PCs for years. In the same way, the iPod was not the first MP3 player out there. In both cases, it was the technically savvy, the geeks, the "true-believers" that actually utilzed what was existing at the time. iPod and Halo brought this stuff to the mainstream masses, in an easy to use, friendly way.
Now they're a part of culture and they "are" the market they belong to. "Do you have an MP3 player?" gets "um.... I have an iPod!?" Same way with Halo... The thing is you know there's better stuff out there, and I know that there's better stuff out there, but the populous either doesn't know or doesn't care. Plus you have to factor in the fact that Halo was a lot of people's first time... and as they say, you always remember your first.
Halo is multiplayer fps, fragging a bunch of the guys on Friday night, the future of gaming, to much of the population out there. Just like it's fun for us to get together and LAN party, it's fun for them to get together and Halo party. That's why the next iteration of Halo will be successful.
A better question is, "why should I care?" I understand that you visit people's sites, download their rants and listen to them on the go... but I still don't "get" it. Why is this useful to me? I see so many geeks excited about this, and I feel I must have missed out on something. Does this appeal to the whole blogger group... who enjoy hearing about a complete stranger's day, or listening to them voice their opinion? Because that's what podcasting seems like to me... again, I wonder if I'm missing something. If it was news or other information, I could see the usefulness, but podcasting seems like a fancy soapbox for people.
I immediately thought of Monty Python's Holy Grail scene:
Large Man with Dead Body: Here's one. The Dead Collector: That'll be ninepence. The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I'm not dead. The Dead Collector: What? Large Man with Dead Body: Nothing. There's your ninepence. The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I'm not dead. The Dead Collector: 'Ere, he says he's not dead. Large Man with Dead Body: Yes he is. The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I'm not. The Dead Collector: He isn't. Large Man with Dead Body: Well, he will be soon, he's very ill. The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I'm getting better. Large Man with Dead Body: No you're not, you'll be stone dead in a moment. The Dead Collector: Well, I can't take him like that. It's against regulations.
Seems to me, when you get that engrossed in a game... it affects your thinking that much (as in the Tony Hawk example) then there has been an excellently crafted game. Tony Hawk did it to me, along with games like Need for Speed, CS and others. Doesn't mean I think about speeding, or shooting people IRL - but it did change how I looked at enviroments.
Anyway, you don't have to spend a lot time gaming for an extremely well crafted game to change the way you look at the world. I think it just means the design team accomplished what they set out to. Create a fully engrossing enviroment.
Is it just me, or does anyone else out there think that an open container of water on your PC is a bad idea? I generally work with a cup of coffee or glass of Coke next to the keyboard, but that's a little different than having a fishbowl's worth of water sitting on top of my PC. Of course, I have really clumsy friends too...
I think I'd prefer non-commercial software, please...
At the risk of offending some, I must say that this kind of setiment is one thing that's hurting Linux growth. How can we expect software developers to make software for Linux, when we can't assure them that they'll be able to make any money?? And you may ask.. "why do we need commercial software developers anyway?" Because we want more "Joe Sixpack" types to switch to Linux. If you're average user can't go to the store and buy a program for Linux, they're going to find an OS where they can. And right now, there is pretty much no commercial software market in Linux. I've also heard the chicken and egg problem.... to get brand name apps on Linux you need the users, but to get the users you need the brand name apps. Well here's a start, support the commercial software on Linux... even if you don't like commercial apps, do it because you hate Microsoft, and maybe then commercial developers will see that it's worth their time (and money) to port Brand X to Linux.
It all comes down to money. They want you to use their client so they can shoot their ads out to you and make more money. Use a third party client and they don't have that ability. It always comes down to money.
I more or less agree with the parent. If you honestly believe that an 82 year old man would say "un-fucking-believable" to a college newspaper reporter, then I've got some leaked Microsoft memos to sell you. The man is a politician, not a highschool student, I'm sure he kept an eye on what he was saying - knowing full well that it was going to end up in black and white. And honestly, that statement made me question the validity of the entire article.
If Microsoft were to close up shop, who do the readers of Slashdot think would be tomorrow's Microsoft?
I honestly believe if there were no Micro$oft we'd all be sitting around here bitching about Apple. They "owned" the education market for a long time. So long that those students that first learned on an Apple are now consumers. I believe that alone makes Apple a strong contender for the desktop crown... if only....
I don't understand the deal with the mini! Why buy the mini when, for fifty bucks more, you can have the regular one? Seems to me that you are loosing 11GB and the ability to have it now, all to save $50. I say, if you're already going to spend $250, don't get scared now - go on and pay the $300 for more space. Is it the size that makes the differance?? The multiple available colors? I really don't understand why the mini is so cool and desireable.
I can't help but wonder if the increase of internet users, with most being in the female 35 and up range, has anything to do with the rise of match making web sites like cupid.com in the last few years. Seems like I've read somewhere that the US population has 5 million more females than males, which could lead to more women looking for Mr. Right on the PC.
Can Slashdotters offer some personal experience, pro/con, with being instantly and constantly accessible to one's spouse and children? Does this tend to break down your 'personal time'?
No more than having a cell phone on your hip when you go to the toilet:
"Hello?! Uh... I'm busy... Doing... stuff. Nevermind that sound, what do you want!!?"
...one has to wonder whether AOL is desperate for new customers and resorting to bribery, or just progressing to the next step of branding
Seems the me the obvious answer to that question is that AOL is indeed desperate. Their subscription base has been continually dropping, and with more homes moving to broadband it seems the trend will continue. I think it's the natural progression of internet users who, as they become more proficient with PCs, realize they do not need AOL to hold their hand while online. Plus you've got a generation of kids growing up with computers, educated on high speed networks, that know what they can do when they're not limited to that dialup modem. All in all, people don't "need" AOL like they did 5 years ago, and probably never will again. The time of AOL is over.
I'm sure this will get modded down as a troll, but I feel I must clear my chest. I say bravo to Microsoft for giving them the finger. You buy the software "as is". Windows comes with Internet Explorer, Outbreak Express, and the Win Media Player - for everyone. That's the way it is. They are not in the business of customizing their operating system for certain audiences. It is my uderstanding that the EU sees WMP as a threat to other multimedia technologies, but I don't think they should force MS to remove their application as a solution. Truth of the matter is you don't see anyone jumping on Apple's case for having built-in web, email, and multimedia. If roles were reversed, and everybody used a Mac, would the EU be telling Apple that they should unbundle Quicktime with their os due to monopolistic practices?? I feel the Union is overstepping its boundries... I don't belive that Microsoft has a superior product with WMP, and I believe their response to the EU was a nice way of saying, "screw off, we're not going to reengineer our crap!" And honestly people, how many times have you wanted to say that yourself?
Considering they take up half of the card. Why don't they come out with better technology rather than patching their old stuff (ie clocking it higher and putting an even more massive heatsink on it)?
But when they said "the game of life" I instantly thought of the Hasbro Game of Life that I played as a kid. Did anyone else ever sell their family members at the end of the game for extra cash?? Anyone?? Anyo... Maybe I have bigger problems than just not being geek enough.
Slashdot Mirror
Sony, your desperate attempt to win back the Slashdot crowd is admirable, but I'm afraid it's too late...
Sincerely,
Slashdot
Ok Slashdotter... you drive a hard bargain. What do you want? Chicks? Cars? We can do that. It may cause us to push back the launch date, but we can do it. I can see us having a beautiful relationship, Slashdotter. Beautiful!
Your friend,
Sony
How the hell do they know Halo 3 will be huge?
Halo has brand recognition under its belt. You have to look at Halo in the terms of an iPod to understand why, barring some major screw up, it will always be successful.
Halo is to multiplayer FPS's as iPod is to MP3 players. There are a number of similarities when comparing the two. Halo was not the first multiplayer FPS, we've been doing this on PCs for years. In the same way, the iPod was not the first MP3 player out there. In both cases, it was the technically savvy, the geeks, the "true-believers" that actually utilzed what was existing at the time. iPod and Halo brought this stuff to the mainstream masses, in an easy to use, friendly way.
Now they're a part of culture and they "are" the market they belong to. "Do you have an MP3 player?" gets "um.... I have an iPod!?" Same way with Halo... The thing is you know there's better stuff out there, and I know that there's better stuff out there, but the populous either doesn't know or doesn't care. Plus you have to factor in the fact that Halo was a lot of people's first time... and as they say, you always remember your first.
Halo is multiplayer fps, fragging a bunch of the guys on Friday night, the future of gaming, to much of the population out there. Just like it's fun for us to get together and LAN party, it's fun for them to get together and Halo party. That's why the next iteration of Halo will be successful.
And you can watch it as many times as you want in that period before you "throw it away".
Poor server never saw it coming... :(
The answer is quite simple actually: IT'S GODZILLA (R)(C)(TM) Aaaahhhh!!
A better question is, "why should I care?" I understand that you visit people's sites, download their rants and listen to them on the go... but I still don't "get" it. Why is this useful to me? I see so many geeks excited about this, and I feel I must have missed out on something. Does this appeal to the whole blogger group... who enjoy hearing about a complete stranger's day, or listening to them voice their opinion? Because that's what podcasting seems like to me... again, I wonder if I'm missing something. If it was news or other information, I could see the usefulness, but podcasting seems like a fancy soapbox for people.
Personally, I don't think it will catch on.
Bet you said the same thing about the Ipod. We're techs... marketing geniuses. Keep your day job.
I immediately thought of Monty Python's Holy Grail scene:
Large Man with Dead Body: Here's one.
The Dead Collector: That'll be ninepence.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I'm not dead.
The Dead Collector: What?
Large Man with Dead Body: Nothing. There's your ninepence.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I'm not dead.
The Dead Collector: 'Ere, he says he's not dead.
Large Man with Dead Body: Yes he is.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I'm not.
The Dead Collector: He isn't.
Large Man with Dead Body: Well, he will be soon, he's very ill.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I'm getting better.
Large Man with Dead Body: No you're not, you'll be stone dead in a moment.
The Dead Collector: Well, I can't take him like that. It's against regulations.
Seems to me, when you get that engrossed in a game... it affects your thinking that much (as in the Tony Hawk example) then there has been an excellently crafted game. Tony Hawk did it to me, along with games like Need for Speed, CS and others. Doesn't mean I think about speeding, or shooting people IRL - but it did change how I looked at enviroments.
Anyway, you don't have to spend a lot time gaming for an extremely well crafted game to change the way you look at the world. I think it just means the design team accomplished what they set out to. Create a fully engrossing enviroment.
And.... she's bathed in a soothing green light. I'll give you two guesses on what website she's looking at on the screen!!
Is it just me, or does anyone else out there think that an open container of water on your PC is a bad idea? I generally work with a cup of coffee or glass of Coke next to the keyboard, but that's a little different than having a fishbowl's worth of water sitting on top of my PC. Of course, I have really clumsy friends too...
It all comes down to money. They want you to use their client so they can shoot their ads out to you and make more money. Use a third party client and they don't have that ability. It always comes down to money.
I more or less agree with the parent. If you honestly believe that an 82 year old man would say "un-fucking-believable" to a college newspaper reporter, then I've got some leaked Microsoft memos to sell you. The man is a politician, not a highschool student, I'm sure he kept an eye on what he was saying - knowing full well that it was going to end up in black and white. And honestly, that statement made me question the validity of the entire article.
That is informative!!! Thanks!!!
I honestly believe if there were no Micro$oft we'd all be sitting around here bitching about Apple. They "owned" the education market for a long time. So long that those students that first learned on an Apple are now consumers. I believe that alone makes Apple a strong contender for the desktop crown
I don't understand the deal with the mini! Why buy the mini when, for fifty bucks more, you can have the regular one? Seems to me that you are loosing 11GB and the ability to have it now, all to save $50. I say, if you're already going to spend $250, don't get scared now - go on and pay the $300 for more space. Is it the size that makes the differance?? The multiple available colors? I really don't understand why the mini is so cool and desireable.
I can't help but wonder if the increase of internet users, with most being in the female 35 and up range, has anything to do with the rise of match making web sites like cupid.com in the last few years. Seems like I've read somewhere that the US population has 5 million more females than males, which could lead to more women looking for Mr. Right on the PC.
Can Slashdotters offer some personal experience, pro/con, with being instantly and constantly accessible to one's spouse and children? Does this tend to break down your 'personal time'?
No more than having a cell phone on your hip when you go to the toilet:
"Hello?! Uh... I'm busy... Doing... stuff. Nevermind that sound, what do you want!!?"
Sheesh, that's the worst.
...one has to wonder whether AOL is desperate for new customers and resorting to bribery, or just progressing to the next step of branding
Seems the me the obvious answer to that question is that AOL is indeed desperate. Their subscription base has been continually dropping, and with more homes moving to broadband it seems the trend will continue. I think it's the natural progression of internet users who, as they become more proficient with PCs, realize they do not need AOL to hold their hand while online. Plus you've got a generation of kids growing up with computers, educated on high speed networks, that know what they can do when they're not limited to that dialup modem. All in all, people don't "need" AOL like they did 5 years ago, and probably never will again. The time of AOL is over.
My haiku:
Tonight On Slashdot
Kurzweil Poetry Machine
Please don't mod me down
... Maybe I shouldn't quit my day job.
Looking at that job posting, you could almost play a game of Bullshit Bingo with it...
I'm sure this will get modded down as a troll, but I feel I must clear my chest. I say bravo to Microsoft for giving them the finger. You buy the software "as is". Windows comes with Internet Explorer, Outbreak Express, and the Win Media Player - for everyone. That's the way it is. They are not in the business of customizing their operating system for certain audiences. It is my uderstanding that the EU sees WMP as a threat to other multimedia technologies, but I don't think they should force MS to remove their application as a solution. Truth of the matter is you don't see anyone jumping on Apple's case for having built-in web, email, and multimedia. If roles were reversed, and everybody used a Mac, would the EU be telling Apple that they should unbundle Quicktime with their os due to monopolistic practices?? I feel the Union is overstepping its boundries... I don't belive that Microsoft has a superior product with WMP, and I believe their response to the EU was a nice way of saying, "screw off, we're not going to reengineer our crap!" And honestly people, how many times have you wanted to say that yourself?
Considering they take up half of the card. Why don't they come out with better technology rather than patching their old stuff (ie clocking it higher and putting an even more massive heatsink on it)?
But when they said "the game of life" I instantly thought of the Hasbro Game of Life that I played as a kid. Did anyone else ever sell their family members at the end of the game for extra cash?? Anyone?? Anyo... Maybe I have bigger problems than just not being geek enough.