Well I'll be, it turns out I own several Aussie games already! Hey, I'm kinda feeling more Australian-like -- I think I'll go throw a few "shrimp on the barbie doll", and try to develop a taste for beer.
This isn't meant to be a troll, but I've never heard of any game development going on in Australia. Maybe I'm forgetting something here, but I try to keep reasonably up-to-date with these things.
As a major first-world country, I'm sure they must have produced something noteworthy in the gaming arena. Could someone spare a link or two?
>...so goes the copyright (Maximum...and not automatic...
I agree with most of your post, except for your view on automatic copyrights. I think that, in passing auto-copyright legislation, the big corps have (quite accidentaly, I'm sure) lowered the bar for publishing your own works, and thus made it easier small-time publishers and individuals.
Three cheers for the retailers involved in this legal action. This is exactly the kind of absurd example we need to get that crappy old DMCA repealed once and for all.
Seriously, anyone else as jazzed about this as I am?
...but how will all those cameras affect Charlie Brown's kite-eating tree? I'd imagine they're not too healthy.
Okay, that wasn't funny. It's late. Night night.
Re:Natural Selection is Fantastic
on
Gaming Goodness
·
· Score: 2
It suffers from "deathmatch syndrome" like CS... people don't want to work with the team.
This "deathmatch syndrome" isn't quite as bad as you make it out to be. After a new game is released, people want to jump in and test the boundaries of what they can and can't do.
After they find out that they can't charge an enemy base alone, then they decide that maybe a bit of teamwork is in order. Of course, "deathmatch syndrome" doesn't go away if it turns out you can be moderately successful at it, but a game like NS really is stacked against the individual lone-wolf player.
I dunno... I only started playing after the patch, but I've still had problems with those damned turrets, even as a Fade. Seems no matter how many acid rockets or bile bombs I throw at the damned things, it doesn't matter. Ditto for using Xenocide as a Skulk.
I need to play it more, I think they might have been repaired frequently, though it's hard to tell when you're peeking around a corner, shooting, then running back under cover. Or busy waiting to respawn.
I actually don't like the Fade so much conceptually, since I think it's a little too marine-like. Great all-around unit, but slightly too generic.
Eh, most games I've joined have been a pitched battle between the two sides, one side makes great advances, then the other side does. It really, really depends on the quality of the marine commander. Having a good commander can make or break a team.
Also, the aliens really need teamwork to take out human fortifications (damned turrets). Preferably one or two weak Lerks to spray some Umbra, then some combat classes to clean house. I really need to play more marines, though.
One team knows they're destined for doom hours ahead of their demise.
Well now, I wouldn't say that. I've heard stories of drastic comebacks and surprise victories on both sides of the fence. It's really hard to say what in the game is imbalanced right now, because people haven't "settled in" yet. Give it another week or two, and the real glaring imbalances will start to surface.
Natural Selection is Fantastic
on
Gaming Goodness
·
· Score: 5, Informative
It's easily the best, most innovative online game I've seen in a long time. It's amazing that a independently-developed, free mod for a four year old game can put the likes of UT2003 to shame.
To those who haven't tried it, it's a game that pits some Zerg-like aliens against a team of space marines in an innovative FPS/RTS hybrid. The humans are led by a single commander (a player voulenteer) with a bird's-eye view of the battlefield. The aliens have no central commander but -- this is neat -- they can "see" their teammates, important waypoints, and any enemies that another team member is seeing right then. (Sort of like an organic built-in radar.)
Anyhow, anyone who likes action games should try it out. There has been a lack of fast servers out there, so if you've got a decent spare box then set up a dedicated server by all means. Also, there may be some balancing issues so early after release, but honestly it's hard to tell.
As an "Armchair Game Designer" (akin to an Armchair Quarterback), I think the most important attribute for a game designer to have is flexibility.
You're right, a lot of people enter the business with passion and a vision, but reality (and money) dictates that you can't always fufill your vision; at least not right away.
If I was a game designer, I'd see bizarre and unworkable ideas from management as a personal challenge. "You want an RTS/RPG game based on the Three Stooges license? Sure! My Little Pony racing game? Don't make me laugh."
Of course, IANAGD, so I probably don't know the first thing about suceeding as one.
The people most to blame are the game buying public itself. If a game comes out that is "too different" or "not flashy enough", then it is doomed to failure despite any merits it has.
The list of great games that have flopped at retail is depressing. Sure, people like to point out the crappy games that fail like Daikatana and Blood 2, but I point out a list of real heartbreakers like:
Planescape Torment System Shock 2 Battlezone Mind Rover Thief 2
Speaking of OOTW, you do know they made a real sequel, right? Not Flashback, but an actual game that picks up where the other one left off. It's called "Heart of the Alien", and it was unfortunately only released for the SegaCD.
But now it's it's available for free at The Underdogs. Just download, burn to a CD, and run on an emulator (I recommend Gens.)
Better watch out, he might have some water arrows left. And when one comes sailing out of the darkness and shorts out your computer, you won't even react.
No, rare texts are rare because few copies exist. Why not? For one thing, many of the books and manuscripts that we're talking about predate the printing press.
I know of a few famous texts, written before the advent of the printing press, that reached wide circulation. Name one? Oh... it's right at the tip of my tongue.
Sorry, can't remember at the moment. Maybe I'll get back to ya.
Slashdot Mirror
Well I'll be, it turns out I own several Aussie games already! Hey, I'm kinda feeling more Australian-like -- I think I'll go throw a few "shrimp on the barbie doll", and try to develop a taste for beer.
;-)
But seriously, thanks for the info.
This isn't meant to be a troll, but I've never heard of any game development going on in Australia. Maybe I'm forgetting something here, but I try to keep reasonably up-to-date with these things.
As a major first-world country, I'm sure they must have produced something noteworthy in the gaming arena. Could someone spare a link or two?
Shhh... don't tell anyone else this, but I've been able to mix and burn my own CDs from home for years now.
It's still very top-secret-hush-hush, so don't go telling all your friends.
Might I suggest you try out DOSbox then? It's still somewhat early in development (no protected mode games), but it's both promising and open-source.
Obsessive-compulsives can get addicted to video games.
Film at eleven.
> ...so goes the copyright (Maximum...and not automatic...
I agree with most of your post, except for your view on automatic copyrights. I think that, in passing auto-copyright legislation, the big corps have (quite accidentaly, I'm sure) lowered the bar for publishing your own works, and thus made it easier small-time publishers and individuals.
That's my view, anyway.
Is this the same Verizon that's fighting for the privacy rights of its DSL users?
I swear, modern corporations have some kind of severe split-personality disorder.
Three cheers for the retailers involved in this legal action. This is exactly the kind of absurd example we need to get that crappy old DMCA repealed once and for all.
Seriously, anyone else as jazzed about this as I am?
Fortunately I live in a Neon/Argon atmosphere, so this shouldn't be much of a problem for me.
...but how will all those cameras affect Charlie Brown's kite-eating tree? I'd imagine they're not too healthy.
Okay, that wasn't funny. It's late. Night night.
It suffers from "deathmatch syndrome" like CS... people don't want to work with the team.
This "deathmatch syndrome" isn't quite as bad as you make it out to be. After a new game is released, people want to jump in and test the boundaries of what they can and can't do.
After they find out that they can't charge an enemy base alone, then they decide that maybe a bit of teamwork is in order. Of course, "deathmatch syndrome" doesn't go away if it turns out you can be moderately successful at it, but a game like NS really is stacked against the individual lone-wolf player.
I dunno... I only started playing after the patch, but I've still had problems with those damned turrets, even as a Fade. Seems no matter how many acid rockets or bile bombs I throw at the damned things, it doesn't matter. Ditto for using Xenocide as a Skulk.
I need to play it more, I think they might have been repaired frequently, though it's hard to tell when you're peeking around a corner, shooting, then running back under cover. Or busy waiting to respawn.
I actually don't like the Fade so much conceptually, since I think it's a little too marine-like. Great all-around unit, but slightly too generic.
absolutely positively... something something
Go crazy?
Eh, most games I've joined have been a pitched battle between the two sides, one side makes great advances, then the other side does. It really, really depends on the quality of the marine commander. Having a good commander can make or break a team.
Also, the aliens really need teamwork to take out human fortifications (damned turrets). Preferably one or two weak Lerks to spray some Umbra, then some combat classes to clean house. I really need to play more marines, though.
Well now, I wouldn't say that. I've heard stories of drastic comebacks and surprise victories on both sides of the fence. It's really hard to say what in the game is imbalanced right now, because people haven't "settled in" yet. Give it another week or two, and the real glaring imbalances will start to surface.
It's easily the best, most innovative online game I've seen in a long time. It's amazing that a independently-developed, free mod for a four year old game can put the likes of UT2003 to shame.
To those who haven't tried it, it's a game that pits some Zerg-like aliens against a team of space marines in an innovative FPS/RTS hybrid. The humans are led by a single commander (a player voulenteer) with a bird's-eye view of the battlefield. The aliens have no central commander but -- this is neat -- they can "see" their teammates, important waypoints, and any enemies that another team member is seeing right then. (Sort of like an organic built-in radar.)
Anyhow, anyone who likes action games should try it out. There has been a lack of fast servers out there, so if you've got a decent spare box then set up a dedicated server by all means. Also, there may be some balancing issues so early after release, but honestly it's hard to tell.
And it's not like drums haven't been done before, even.
Don't get me wrong, I like rhythm games (along with every other genre of video game), but this is not groundbreaking in any sense of the word.
As an "Armchair Game Designer" (akin to an Armchair Quarterback), I think the most important attribute for a game designer to have is flexibility.
You're right, a lot of people enter the business with passion and a vision, but reality (and money) dictates that you can't always fufill your vision; at least not right away.
If I was a game designer, I'd see bizarre and unworkable ideas from management as a personal challenge. "You want an RTS/RPG game based on the Three Stooges license? Sure! My Little Pony racing game? Don't make me laugh."
Of course, IANAGD, so I probably don't know the first thing about suceeding as one.
If I had mod points I'd mod you up (some more).
The people most to blame are the game buying public itself. If a game comes out that is "too different" or "not flashy enough", then it is doomed to failure despite any merits it has.
The list of great games that have flopped at retail is depressing. Sure, people like to point out the crappy games that fail like Daikatana and Blood 2, but I point out a list of real heartbreakers like:
Planescape Torment
System Shock 2
Battlezone
Mind Rover
Thief 2
Speaking of OOTW, you do know they made a real sequel, right? Not Flashback, but an actual game that picks up where the other one left off. It's called "Heart of the Alien", and it was unfortunately only released for the SegaCD.
But now it's it's available for free at The Underdogs. Just download, burn to a CD, and run on an emulator (I recommend Gens.)
Enjoy.
The best third-person action game is Heretic 2. Bar none, it the best playing 3rd person game out there.
Pick it up today, it can be had for about $9.99 in most stores (most likely in a jewel case or bundled with Heavy Gear 2).
Better watch out, he might have some water arrows left. And when one comes sailing out of the darkness and shorts out your computer, you won't even react.
No, rare texts are rare because few copies exist. Why not? For one thing, many of the books and manuscripts that we're talking about predate the printing press.
I know of a few famous texts, written before the advent of the printing press, that reached wide circulation. Name one? Oh... it's right at the tip of my tongue.
Sorry, can't remember at the moment. Maybe I'll get back to ya.
I think that this might qualify as the most naive thing I have heard on Slashdot.
Great! Do I win anything?
Hey, maybe I'm just a religion n00b, but I was under the impression that all the text of the Bible was, uh, in the Bible.
Are they talking about original scans or something?