I got what had to be at least a dead tree's worth of legal papers in the mail from the DVD attorneys about a week ago. (Would've been two weeks ago, but they sent it via certified mail and I refused to accept it)
People here might be interested to know that the DVD lawyers printed out an entire Slashdot discussion (comments and all) and included it in these legal filings.
Couldn't help but laugh when I saw a slashdot forum among all these hundreds of papers full of legalese.:)
I think the most fun old games are the ones that didn't try and 'push' the system to far. By that I mean, games that didn't try to produce 'amazing' graphics, because by default those graphic will appear to suck to future generations.
As far as modern games go, Sonic Adventure on the Dreamcast does some amazing things with graphics and they're not even pushing the hardware. Most of the graphics are "slight of hand", and you don't really notice how they did it unless you look very closely. A good game keeps you busy enough watching the foreground to not even have to worry about looking at the background.
Those are the kind of games I like to play, the ones where some real thought went into the question of "How do I present this image to the player with the least possible resource usage?"
I'd say a game like Soul Calibur pushes the Dreamcast to about 50% of its potential, and it's phenominal. Probably the best-looking and best-playing fighter out there now. It's a system seller.
Just makes me want to see what they'll come up with next.
Just finished typing out a HTML conversion of the 6 page, 300K TIFF that was emailed to the me by the CCA's lawyers.
We're still in the game, the judge confirmed that linking is crucial to how the internet operates, and we're still allowed to link to mirrors of the files elsewhere.
Can't 2600 et. al. simply post links to overseas sites with the DeCSS code and send a big FU to the MPAA?
I think the injunction bars them from being able to link to or distribute the software. The lawyers are arguing that linking is "contributory infringement".
I was reading up on LDs just the other day and happened to bookmark this neat page, which shows photos of new dual-layer DVDs which suffer from "laser rot".
DVD does support multiple video streams ("angles"), but they are not used in many titles. I'm not sure if the player can automatically switch angles, but I'm guessing it can.
Geeks will never be as intelligent as Lain. I don't think Hollywood would be capable of producing something that in-depth without screwing it up somehow.
Lain was much more interesting to watch than The Matrix was.. Granted, Lain has much more time to get its message across, but The Matrix would still pale in comparison even if it were 6 hours long.
If anyone here hasn't seen Lain yet, then shame on you. The entire series is out on VHS and DVD. Get it. Now.
Anyone ordering VHS should get the subbed version. There's so much that can be lost with a dub. But remember, the DVD has both languages and some neat extras. (:
This should come as no surprise. Bill is just making sure that he and Ballmer have control of two of the three Microsofts that will exist after the breakup.
I was thinking of just throwing them on a BBQ and/or frisbee'ing them down the block.. A microwave might work better now that you mention it. Tried it with CDs, but never with a DVD.
Anyway, I'm sure we'll win, so I hope I'll never have to nuke a DVD (though Star Trek IV is getting on my nerves....)
If I want to send a private message to you, I'd email douglas@min.net. But I guess that would be lost to you, as you seem to think web sites are the ideal tool to do private messages
If we go by that reasoning, then Slashdot would be better off as a newsgroup, as web sites aren't the ideal tool to do public messages.
I don't think you understand my primary intention for the feature.. Originally, it was only able to store notes from the "System" (telling you that someone replied to one of your comments, sending admins error messages, etc.) It was then expanded to be able to do user-to-user communications. It was designed to integrate seamlessly with the site, making it possible to fire off a quick memo to a user, or in the case of the admins, a list of users within seconds. For thoughts that don't quite warrant sending off e-mail.
It's been invaluable as a communications tool. And if Slashdot gets it, it'll give me yet another way to bother CowboyNeal.:)
That's something like I originally intended to do, but 1) I didn't want to attract people to my site solely for free email, 2) the abuse control / administrative tasks would be a nightmare, and 3) it'd put a significant load on the machine (which, right now, is pulling double duty as a SlashNET server)
A private messaging system would be neat. That's one of the features I implemented at osonline.org, and it's been a nice tool for interacting with others on the site.
I've always held the opinion that the real winner of the console wars will be the one that first releases an openly programmable console. Sure, you'd lose on charging for the dev kits, but your hardware sales would increase sharply (think PalmPilot).
Take the C64 for example.. It enjoyed long-lived success because it had some neat commercial software, and the hackers made it into a great machine. Almost everybody and their cat had one. There are still some in service today.
I think this is Microsoft's plan for their "X-Box", except you'd be tied down with Microsoft compilers and, of course, Windows.
If someone like Sony, Sega, or Nintendo released a programmable console, it'd be awesome, crush the competition, and live forever.
I must agree on this point.. Ballard never ceases to amaze me with the informativeness and level-headedness of his posts, a rarity on the modern Usenet. Reportedly, he's had experience in the field as a computing professional, and it shows.
Slashdot Mirror
People here might be interested to know that the DVD lawyers printed out an entire Slashdot discussion (comments and all) and included it in these legal filings.
Couldn't help but laugh when I saw a slashdot forum among all these hundreds of papers full of legalese. :)
As far as modern games go, Sonic Adventure on the Dreamcast does some amazing things with graphics and they're not even pushing the hardware. Most of the graphics are "slight of hand", and you don't really notice how they did it unless you look very closely. A good game keeps you busy enough watching the foreground to not even have to worry about looking at the background.
Those are the kind of games I like to play, the ones where some real thought went into the question of "How do I present this image to the player with the least possible resource usage?"
I'd say a game like Soul Calibur pushes the Dreamcast to about 50% of its potential, and it's phenominal. Probably the best-looking and best-playing fighter out there now. It's a system seller.
Just makes me want to see what they'll come up with next.
We're still in the game, the judge confirmed that linking is crucial to how the internet operates, and we're still allowed to link to mirrors of the files elsewhere.
This isn't over yet.
I think the injunction bars them from being able to link to or distribute the software. The lawyers are arguing that linking is "contributory infringement".
I was reading up on LDs just the other day and happened to bookmark this neat page, which shows photos of new dual-layer DVDs which suffer from "laser rot".
The Business Software Alliance consists of, among other member companies, Microsoft.
DVD does support multiple video streams ("angles"), but they are not used in many titles. I'm not sure if the player can automatically switch angles, but I'm guessing it can.
FILM STUDIOS BRING CLAIM AGAINST DVD HACKERS IN FEDERAL COURT
Connecticut Claim
New York Claim
Note: The "New York Claim" document does not render properly in Netscape.
Here's hoping for ten more years.
I think it's part of the DVD spec that all DVD players must support CDDA (audio CDs).
Geeks will never be as intelligent as Lain. I don't think Hollywood would be capable of producing something that in-depth without screwing it up somehow.
If anyone here hasn't seen Lain yet, then shame on you. The entire series is out on VHS and DVD. Get it. Now.
Anyone ordering VHS should get the subbed version. There's so much that can be lost with a dub. But remember, the DVD has both languages and some neat extras. (:
That was a pretty dumb ending.. I thought it would've been better if the screen just went to black and the credits rolled when he hung up the phone.
This, however, took a whole 10 minutes. (:
Is it live, or is it Bill Gates caught reading Slashdot?
This should come as no surprise. Bill is just making sure that he and Ballmer have control of two of the three Microsofts that will exist after the breakup.
I was thinking of just throwing them on a BBQ and/or frisbee'ing them down the block.. A microwave might work better now that you mention it. Tried it with CDs, but never with a DVD.
Anyway, I'm sure we'll win, so I hope I'll never have to nuke a DVD (though Star Trek IV is getting on my nerves.. ..)
"Think Different. Or else."
Slash lets authors schedule when their story appears.
If we go by that reasoning, then Slashdot would be better off as a newsgroup, as web sites aren't the ideal tool to do public messages.
I don't think you understand my primary intention for the feature.. Originally, it was only able to store notes from the "System" (telling you that someone replied to one of your comments, sending admins error messages, etc.) It was then expanded to be able to do user-to-user communications. It was designed to integrate seamlessly with the site, making it possible to fire off a quick memo to a user, or in the case of the admins, a list of users within seconds. For thoughts that don't quite warrant sending off e-mail.
It's been invaluable as a communications tool. And if Slashdot gets it, it'll give me yet another way to bother CowboyNeal. :)
That's something like I originally intended to do, but 1) I didn't want to attract people to my site solely for free email, 2) the abuse control / administrative tasks would be a nightmare, and 3) it'd put a significant load on the machine (which, right now, is pulling double duty as a SlashNET server)
A private messaging system would be neat. That's one of the features I implemented at osonline.org, and it's been a nice tool for interacting with others on the site.
Take the C64 for example.. It enjoyed long-lived success because it had some neat commercial software, and the hackers made it into a great machine. Almost everybody and their cat had one. There are still some in service today.
I think this is Microsoft's plan for their "X-Box", except you'd be tied down with Microsoft compilers and, of course, Windows.
If someone like Sony, Sega, or Nintendo released a programmable console, it'd be awesome, crush the competition, and live forever.
Dreamcast tidbits
Well, I guess we can all predict the winner of the Hemos Award...
I must agree on this point.. Ballard never ceases to amaze me with the informativeness and level-headedness of his posts, a rarity on the modern Usenet. Reportedly, he's had experience in the field as a computing professional, and it shows.