580 vs 585 latest generation - its not even close - the 585 (amd opteron) just flat smokes the intel 4 way zeon - top of the line for everything, SAN backend.
We only buy 585, 385 (amd opteron from hp)now for pizza boxes and moving to AMD blades
AMD ftw - and the price point is less...I do have a dual core intel I am writing this on so i can post on slashdot and check email realllly fast.
So we record IM, web, and email at my company...kinda funny when people cyb0r in IM thinking they are safe even after the disclaimer pops up saying it is recorded...
I have played: DSO, Realms, EQ1, AC1, AC2, UO, SQG, AO, Planetside, MxO, HC D2, Horizons, Lineage 1 &2, CoH, GW, and im in a closed beta for Auto Aussault.
Let me say that anyone who is making a game right now better be using WoW as the base or their design goals. I dont mean engine, but features like XML interface, auction house, instancing and things like that.
When I get into game without an auction house I feel the game is inferior as an example.
WoW is quickly becoming a game of haves and havenot (especially on pvp servers) but I guess that's the way to goes.
If you havent played and you want to play a fantasy game its the best $50 bucks you can spend in a MMO and a great ride. Don't forget about your spouse though...
The new XBOX will cost me...$399...or whatever the street price is because like most people on plant earth who have an XBOX and stuff I already have HDTV and DTS sound. Plus you can buy HDTV 30" for as low as $400 or so on the refurbished side of things.
If you have a DVD player and dont have a 480p capable TV - your are missing out. Just go buy one.
Is the advertising. That happy meal with vader on it costs alot for burger king to buy the rights from lucas - think 9 figures.
I don't mind giving ole Lucas my $8.50 for the seat. I've seen it twice and it was a good movie.
I don't buy the licensced crud....but as my kids get older you better believe I will sit them down and make them watch all 6 movies to better understand what daddy means when he says...."No my son...I am your father!" or tells my wife "Don't underestimate the power of my farts"
Please. I don't care if Lucas is a billionaire over this stuff...Its inspired every single person between 25-35 right now that I know...at least the movie didnt BSOD while I was watching.
We build an image and load it at the factory - I can't even buy some Indian guys to install linux faster than that.
Windows install should be slipstreamed now anyways.
Learn to use ghost.
Its really all about 3rd party products. Contrary to what you might think - I dont care at all about the OS outside of security. I need to install a business app (say like ERP/Salesforce) and give a hoot about the plumbing underneath it. They all suck and all have design or security issues. MANY packages still dont use a webinterface (thick clients r suk) and those are what we need - all of the run on windows with no effort...try to get a 3rd part thick client to run on Linux...too much effort.
The browser is all that is truely flawed from MS. Load firefox kkthx.
1. Value, the ability to make or protect earnings 2. Enterprise quality - any idiot can make a webserver, but making 500 of them or rolling out the app to 10,000 people is what you need 3. Vendor Stability - he who has the most money in the bank wins kthxbai 4. Audit/lawyering - SOX needs to die, but right now its important
Notice in here there is nothing about Linux, Windows, Opernsource, blah blah blah. If the business needs an app that they are going to make a buck on that needs SCO - YOU BUY SCO. If its runs on MSSQL YOU BUY MS. If it runs on Oracle - YOU BUY ORACLE...you have to have controls and process around all systems - just because you are using apache doesnt forgive the need to have security, patching, monitoring, and compliance.
I know I am talking to a brick wall..but I thought I would try - my cynicisim hasn't kicked in yet this morning.
I really like the unit. Its got an amazing display and the controls work well. The games are being made for 10-20 minute fixes so its fun to pick up for a bit and put it back down...hard to do that with console games and PC games for the most part.
Everything is working as advertised. Movies look amazing, games are fun. Its odd becuase you compare things to PS2 and then you go - but wait this is a console!
I don't think any games will make you like a genre...ie if you like racing get racing games, RPG get UL, dynasty warriors...
Lumi is great, its like tetris from hell with electonic dance music pumping.
The bottom line is this - the day after I got it I passed the CEO of my company walking to a resturant - he stopped me and we talked about it for abit because the unit is flat out sexy and looks high class...I bet he goes and gets one he can't check his email very well lol.
If you dont mind blowing some cash on games...just buy one - its sweet.
In preparation for my psp in a few days I have been converting some movies for use.
The movies need to copied correctly to a MM DUO (DUO!!! not non DUO) memory stick - the little UMD drive doesnt have a writeable format.
Ok so then you download dvd-decrypter (google) and there a few options for the conversion but I like Rapiz lite (google) its spansish just download and change the menu to english.
Ok a couple of faqs that help: a good guide http://db.gamefaqs.com/portable/psp/file/psp_mp4_c onvert.txt
OK use dvd decrypter to get the VOBs off your DVD - which you own - I do...im just not going to rebuy disks for the UMD format! Run it thru rapiz...move to disk with existing file structure...
Both programs have a lot of settings - I had to tweak DVD decrypter to get really happy with the VOB - check their forums.
Anyways I have a few movies ready to go. I own them all so don't even look at me like that.
Enjoy - I think its going to be a hellauva device.
Rent games Wait for them to drop in price - happens quick Buy used B&M Buy used ebay Pimp your relatives at holiday time for games
I don't pay more than $20 for games if its not a title I am going to go into shock without.
A site that is great for this - cheapassgamer.com
I've always belived people pirate when they can't really afford it anyways - so I dont think these shops are losing any money - they would just not buy it. Ultima 5 - best copy protection ever on the Apple - worst selling Ultima game in the series...
LOL I have a PS2 and a XBOX, and a GBSP, and a GBDS and am going to buy a PSP oh AND the PS3 and XBOX2...and upgrade my PCs!
RPGs for the XBOX have stunk it up except KOTOR...if they get more title and quality then it will be great for everyone...JRPG are releasing at a clip of about 10 a month and XBOX2 wont challenge this at all, but at least after you pop out a good racing game you have some options on the XBOX2 besides racing and spots.
MS just needs to buy Nintendo and get it over with.
As I mentioned above I have cancelled all for my new overlord WoW.
However CoH is the only game with some features and ideas that I would like WoW to get on board with.
The mission radar in CoH is vastly superior to the quest log in WoW - just tell me where the damn mobs are already and dont make me go to www.thottbot.com (only WoW spoiler site u need)
I think the death system in CoH has a better penality than WoW - I think it is ok to dock someone some time instead fo basically no penality except running back for your corpse and a little item durability.
Both games allow you to solo/small group which I find key in todays environments - only the people I support with my tax dollars in the cheese line can play as much as EQ1 wanted you to play in the high end. And students! its not fair! Chicks! Beer! Games! I wish I was 21 again.
The cell phone in CoH rocks - running back to quest guys is lame in WoW. I think speed buffs should be around earlier in WoW than level 40 - I know a few classes get them, but running is painful.
Overall I would give WoW a 9.0 moving to a 9.5 as performance issues and minor bugs are worked out.
Those are some pretty short interviews considering the body of work those folks have done.
I have cancelled UO, SWG, EQ, and CoH for WoW...as an old fart of MMO I can tell you that WoW is where it is at - I think every person I know online has switched to it and have no plans of going back to any of the above games. Oh wait there is this one guy at the helpdesk playing EQ 2 and is a miserable whiner about it.
If you like MMO then just go buy the darn thing - play on a low population PVE or PVP server as per your fancy...if you pvp just remember there is a more uber player over that next hill so dont cry when you get ganked after picking on some n00bs.
I have played lotsa MMORPG - DSO,UO, EQ, AO, EB, CoH, SWG, AC 1, AC2, and now WOW (crap I look at that its really embarassing)
WoW is very clean for a release title - the only bugs were with lag and database writes when they were at the height of the stress test - just a few days before that it was flawless.
It's a more casual game. Although you can kill kobolds for a level its faster (and more fun) to do quests, some of which make you kill kobolds.
I played the warrior, paladin, rogue, warlock, and mage for a few days each. The thing I didnt like was Blizzard was starting to get into the nerf things mode yet locking you into decisions you had already made (like CoH before they added respec missions).
I think they are going to try to cater a little to the power crowd of EQ, but not to the extent that EQ1 has. There was just a massive amount of content in the first 20 levels...more than any other game that has come out. Massive - like I ran probably 200-300 unique quests - not the script generated crap of CoH and AO.
I had a few CTD problems but few actual in game problems. It humors me that fanbois think a magic version is in the box - its the same client as was in beta just a week behind because of when it went to press.
I think this game really caters to people who don't want to play 10 hours a day like FFXI or EQ1. I played every night and had fun, some people who are in the Gov;t cheese line were ahead of me in level - but I was progressing at a reasonable pace and having fun.
I think there is a big round of class balancing that will happen a month or so after retail goes live. I also think the battle.net crowd is going whine like crazy about PvP imbalances...but its a good game, good company...price is too much at 14.99 a month...but at least you can make lots of characters and play 2 sides, pve, pvp, etc.
I will see you in Azeroth on day one. All of my other game accounts are cancelled already. WoW is good stuff - everyone I talked to in the beta liked the game. I think its going to be a big hit and be a major player for a long time.
Two products we have fully implemented that have helpded (no Mandrake/Firefox comments please heh)
1. Trend Micro Office Scan 6.5 (new version) It caught all the Trojans and malware, left most of the adware
2. Spysweeper Enterprise - This put the -smack- down on every little piece of adware and malware...very impressive.
If you are stuck with M$ this will help alot - both products are centrally managed and controlled...I dont work for either, but you can get on top of the virus/malware pain. We had some users w/ 1000+ malware just from add sites, they werent even hitting the porn/hacking stuff.
You can buy a piece of 3rd part software called pdanet - lets you have the IP stack on your laptop via the USB cable - works good - using it on a Treo 600 daily.
Works great in those lame places that try to charge for WiFi access heh.
I still have an account @ UO...here are some details.
Griefing has been removed by the fact that pvp is not allowed on 3 of the 4 parts of each server - if you go to the pvp part, you might get punked.
I still like UO cause it has a lot of content & loot. If you want the old school pure pvp ultima you can play on the Siege Perilous server which is 100% pvp.
The interface is so old...damn. I recently logged out of UO and played SWG - its like interface shock or something =).
Im not a fanboi of UO - but its got content which is lacking in everything else for the most part. Its more of a solo/small group game whereas EQ is a medium to large group game.
Anyways I know why they are putting in Eastern stuff - its cause the Far Eastern playerbase is now the largest and has dedicated servers just for Japan, etc. It doesnt fit in at all w/ traditional UO - I played I-IX standalone...no stinking ninjas in those.
I just want to know if the RFID tag is implanted at birth and where it gets implanted. Also if we will playing Everquest 9 on the PSP 7 or someone is going to make something cool in the next 30 years instead of copycats.
Slashdot Mirror
The casual game that gets you to 60 - and the hardcore game to do anything at 60.
I like the first game, have other things to do (women) instead of the second.
Its a great game - worth the purchase - but unless you are willing to play ALL day you wont be uber.
Twylight
The only thing they are good for is cutting down the pile of resumes from 800 to 50.
I ususally hire referrals, but if not - I refuse to look thru a monster stack of 800 resumes - most are total junk.
I think it also shows some dedication to bother getting it done.
i suggest getting off your LAZY BUTT and doing one even if its a CCNA or something basic.
580 vs 585 latest generation - its not even close - the 585 (amd opteron) just flat smokes the intel 4 way zeon - top of the line for everything, SAN backend.
We only buy 585, 385 (amd opteron from hp)now for pizza boxes and moving to AMD blades
AMD ftw - and the price point is less...I do have a dual core intel I am writing this on so i can post on slashdot and check email realllly fast.
So we record IM, web, and email at my company...kinda funny when people cyb0r in IM thinking they are safe even after the disclaimer pops up saying it is recorded...
Bluecoat ftw.
I have played:
DSO, Realms, EQ1, AC1, AC2, UO, SQG, AO, Planetside, MxO, HC D2, Horizons, Lineage 1 &2, CoH, GW, and im in a closed beta for Auto Aussault.
Let me say that anyone who is making a game right now better be using WoW as the base or their design goals. I dont mean engine, but features like XML interface, auction house, instancing and things like that.
When I get into game without an auction house I feel the game is inferior as an example.
WoW is quickly becoming a game of haves and havenot (especially on pvp servers) but I guess that's the way to goes.
If you havent played and you want to play a fantasy game its the best $50 bucks you can spend in a MMO and a great ride. Don't forget about your spouse though...
Twilight
If you buy the security suite and onsite consulting from CA you can be saved from this awful evil!
twi
How did the 4 people online at the time kill him? I thought he would be more ubah than that.
Game already down to 9.99 at stores heh...
The new XBOX will cost me...$399...or whatever the street price is because like most people on plant earth who have an XBOX and stuff I already have HDTV and DTS sound. Plus you can buy HDTV 30" for as low as $400 or so on the refurbished side of things.
If you have a DVD player and dont have a 480p capable TV - your are missing out. Just go buy one.
twi
Is the advertising. That happy meal with vader on it costs alot for burger king to buy the rights from lucas - think 9 figures.
I don't mind giving ole Lucas my $8.50 for the seat. I've seen it twice and it was a good movie.
I don't buy the licensced crud....but as my kids get older you better believe I will sit them down and make them watch all 6 movies to better understand what daddy means when he says...."No my son...I am your father!" or tells my wife "Don't underestimate the power of my farts"
Please. I don't care if Lucas is a billionaire over this stuff...Its inspired every single person between 25-35 right now that I know...at least the movie didnt BSOD while I was watching.
twi
We build an image and load it at the factory - I can't even buy some Indian guys to install linux faster than that.
Windows install should be slipstreamed now anyways.
Learn to use ghost.
Its really all about 3rd party products. Contrary to what you might think - I dont care at all about the OS outside of security. I need to install a business app (say like ERP/Salesforce) and give a hoot about the plumbing underneath it. They all suck and all have design or security issues. MANY packages still dont use a webinterface (thick clients r suk) and those are what we need - all of the run on windows with no effort...try to get a 3rd part thick client to run on Linux...too much effort.
The browser is all that is truely flawed from MS. Load firefox kkthx.
twi
1. Value, the ability to make or protect earnings
2. Enterprise quality - any idiot can make a webserver, but making 500 of them or rolling out the app to 10,000 people is what you need
3. Vendor Stability - he who has the most money in the bank wins kthxbai
4. Audit/lawyering - SOX needs to die, but right now its important
Notice in here there is nothing about Linux, Windows, Opernsource, blah blah blah. If the business needs an app that they are going to make a buck on that needs SCO - YOU BUY SCO. If its runs on MSSQL YOU BUY MS. If it runs on Oracle - YOU BUY ORACLE...you have to have controls and process around all systems - just because you are using apache doesnt forgive the need to have security, patching, monitoring, and compliance.
I know I am talking to a brick wall..but I thought I would try - my cynicisim hasn't kicked in yet this morning.
twi
I really like the unit. Its got an amazing display and the controls work well. The games are being made for 10-20 minute fixes so its fun to pick up for a bit and put it back down...hard to do that with console games and PC games for the most part.
Everything is working as advertised. Movies look amazing, games are fun. Its odd becuase you compare things to PS2 and then you go - but wait this is a console!
I don't think any games will make you like a genre...ie if you like racing get racing games, RPG get UL, dynasty warriors...
Lumi is great, its like tetris from hell with electonic dance music pumping.
The bottom line is this - the day after I got it I passed the CEO of my company walking to a resturant - he stopped me and we talked about it for abit because the unit is flat out sexy and looks high class...I bet he goes and gets one he can't check his email very well lol.
If you dont mind blowing some cash on games...just buy one - its sweet.
In preparation for my psp in a few days I have been converting some movies for use.
c onvert.txt
The movies need to copied correctly to a MM DUO (DUO!!! not non DUO) memory stick - the little UMD drive doesnt have a writeable format.
Ok so then you download dvd-decrypter (google) and there a few options for the conversion but I like Rapiz lite (google) its spansish just download and change the menu to english.
Ok a couple of faqs that help:
a good guide http://db.gamefaqs.com/portable/psp/file/psp_mp4_
OK use dvd decrypter to get the VOBs off your DVD - which you own - I do...im just not going to rebuy disks for the UMD format!
Run it thru rapiz...move to disk with existing file structure...
Both programs have a lot of settings - I had to tweak DVD decrypter to get really happy with the VOB - check their forums.
Anyways I have a few movies ready to go. I own them all so don't even look at me like that.
Enjoy - I think its going to be a hellauva device.
A couple of solutions:
Rent games
Wait for them to drop in price - happens quick
Buy used B&M
Buy used ebay
Pimp your relatives at holiday time for games
I don't pay more than $20 for games if its not a title I am going to go into shock without.
A site that is great for this - cheapassgamer.com
I've always belived people pirate when they can't really afford it anyways - so I dont think these shops are losing any money - they would just not buy it. Ultima 5 - best copy protection ever on the Apple - worst selling Ultima game in the series...
LOL I have a PS2 and a XBOX, and a GBSP, and a GBDS and am going to buy a PSP oh AND the PS3 and XBOX2...and upgrade my PCs!
RPGs for the XBOX have stunk it up except KOTOR...if they get more title and quality then it will be great for everyone...JRPG are releasing at a clip of about 10 a month and XBOX2 wont challenge this at all, but at least after you pop out a good racing game you have some options on the XBOX2 besides racing and spots.
MS just needs to buy Nintendo and get it over with.
As I mentioned above I have cancelled all for my new overlord WoW.
However CoH is the only game with some features and ideas that I would like WoW to get on board with.
The mission radar in CoH is vastly superior to the quest log in WoW - just tell me where the damn mobs are already and dont make me go to www.thottbot.com (only WoW spoiler site u need)
I think the death system in CoH has a better penality than WoW - I think it is ok to dock someone some time instead fo basically no penality except running back for your corpse and a little item durability.
Both games allow you to solo/small group which I find key in todays environments - only the people I support with my tax dollars in the cheese line can play as much as EQ1 wanted you to play in the high end. And students! its not fair! Chicks! Beer! Games! I wish I was 21 again.
The cell phone in CoH rocks - running back to quest guys is lame in WoW. I think speed buffs should be around earlier in WoW than level 40 - I know a few classes get them, but running is painful.
Overall I would give WoW a 9.0 moving to a 9.5 as performance issues and minor bugs are worked out.
Enjoy
Bladedawn on Blackhand
Those are some pretty short interviews considering the body of work those folks have done.
I have cancelled UO, SWG, EQ, and CoH for WoW...as an old fart of MMO I can tell you that WoW is where it is at - I think every person I know online has switched to it and have no plans of going back to any of the above games. Oh wait there is this one guy at the helpdesk playing EQ 2 and is a miserable whiner about it.
If you like MMO then just go buy the darn thing - play on a low population PVE or PVP server as per your fancy...if you pvp just remember there is a more uber player over that next hill so dont cry when you get ganked after picking on some n00bs.
Bladedawn on Blackhand
I have played lotsa MMORPG - DSO,UO, EQ, AO, EB, CoH, SWG, AC 1, AC2, and now WOW (crap I look at that its really embarassing)
WoW is very clean for a release title - the only bugs were with lag and database writes when they were at the height of the stress test - just a few days before that it was flawless.
It's a more casual game. Although you can kill kobolds for a level its faster (and more fun) to do quests, some of which make you kill kobolds.
I played the warrior, paladin, rogue, warlock, and mage for a few days each. The thing I didnt like was Blizzard was starting to get into the nerf things mode yet locking you into decisions you had already made (like CoH before they added respec missions).
I think they are going to try to cater a little to the power crowd of EQ, but not to the extent that EQ1 has. There was just a massive amount of content in the first 20 levels...more than any other game that has come out. Massive - like I ran probably 200-300 unique quests - not the script generated crap of CoH and AO.
I had a few CTD problems but few actual in game problems. It humors me that fanbois think a magic version is in the box - its the same client as was in beta just a week behind because of when it went to press.
I think this game really caters to people who don't want to play 10 hours a day like FFXI or EQ1. I played every night and had fun, some people who are in the Gov;t cheese line were ahead of me in level - but I was progressing at a reasonable pace and having fun.
I think there is a big round of class balancing that will happen a month or so after retail goes live. I also think the battle.net crowd is going whine like crazy about PvP imbalances...but its a good game, good company...price is too much at 14.99 a month...but at least you can make lots of characters and play 2 sides, pve, pvp, etc.
I will see you in Azeroth on day one. All of my other game accounts are cancelled already. WoW is good stuff - everyone I talked to in the beta liked the game. I think its going to be a big hit and be a major player for a long time.
Twi
/.
Two products we have fully implemented that have helpded (no Mandrake/Firefox comments please heh)
1. Trend Micro Office Scan 6.5 (new version) It caught all the Trojans and malware, left most of the adware
2. Spysweeper Enterprise - This put the -smack- down on every little piece of adware and malware...very impressive.
If you are stuck with M$ this will help alot - both products are centrally managed and controlled...I dont work for either, but you can get on top of the virus/malware pain. We had some users w/ 1000+ malware just from add sites, they werent even hitting the porn/hacking stuff.
Enjoy
I don't think I'll notice the cleans ups or anything - I'm 25 years older also and can't remember what had I had for lunch yesterday.
You can buy a piece of 3rd part software called pdanet - lets you have the IP stack on your laptop via the USB cable - works good - using it on a Treo 600 daily.
Works great in those lame places that try to charge for WiFi access heh.
I still have an account @ UO...here are some details.
Griefing has been removed by the fact that pvp is not allowed on 3 of the 4 parts of each server - if you go to the pvp part, you might get punked.
I still like UO cause it has a lot of content & loot. If you want the old school pure pvp ultima you can play on the Siege Perilous server which is 100% pvp.
The interface is so old...damn. I recently logged out of UO and played SWG - its like interface shock or something =).
Im not a fanboi of UO - but its got content which is lacking in everything else for the most part. Its more of a solo/small group game whereas EQ is a medium to large group game.
Anyways I know why they are putting in Eastern stuff - its cause the Far Eastern playerbase is now the largest and has dedicated servers just for Japan, etc. It doesnt fit in at all w/ traditional UO - I played I-IX standalone...no stinking ninjas in those.
Twylight
I just want to know if the RFID tag is implanted at birth and where it gets implanted. Also if we will playing Everquest 9 on the PSP 7 or someone is going to make something cool in the next 30 years instead of copycats.