This is the most evil plan related to software that I think I've ever heard. Their plan is basically to prey on the weak. Are they going to patent stealing candy from children next?
That seems a little over-dramatic. Social networks are nothing without good contributors, and this could just be a way of rewarding the most active. They're adding value to the service, so why shouldn't they get a discount of some sort?
My question is, what social networks does Microsoft own anyway? With money involved? The only one that comes to mind is Xbox Live...
Come to think of it, some kind of incentive plan integrated into that service might be a good idea. I'm not sure what they'd reward -- getting friends online? Hosting game servers? Or perhaps something new. It'll certainly be interesting to see. Xbox Live is pretty much the only Microsoft product that hasn't been totally reactionary in nature.
But would I want to live in a country where people can spread lies about each other with no legal redress? No. The problems with freedom of speech go way beyond shouting "Fire!" in a crowded cinema. England and Wales have always regarded responsibilities above freedoms; in this case, the responsibility to get the facts right.
You've got that totally backwards. UK libel laws are famously unconcerned about the truth. The plaintiff merely has to demonstrate that harm was done. Whereas in the US, the truth is an absolute defense against an accusation of libel.
Somebody above gave a good link about Libel Tourism. I advise you read it and wonder why your country is the #1 "tourist" destination: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libel_tourism
That number is a lie. The unemployment rate is not based on the number of people who would like to have work but cannot find a job, but instead on the number of people currently receiving unemployment benefits.
Perhaps I'm being silly, but I'm actually excited that they've finally updated the terrible water texture with WoW: Cataclysm. It wasn't announced, but check out the screenshots. The crappy old texture has pretty much been the weakest part of the game, visually speaking.
See I quit WoW before WotLK because I knew it would mean that Burning Crusade Endgame would be pointless, much like Onyxia and MC and BWL and AQ and Naxx became pointless with the release of Burning Crusade. See I didn't have a problem with Vanilla Wow for that manner, you had to get attuned for Onyxia to get the gear good enough to go into Molten Core. You needed the Gear from Molten Core to progress to Black Wing Lair. So on and so forth (AQ could be argued though).
So... you would have preferred that the level cap never be raised? That all of Burning Crusade have been level 60 content, with its raids being a continuation of difficulty from the old raids? So Karazhan would have been a harder 40-man than lv60 Naxx, and so on? That sounds like it would be a shitty game.
The whole point of playing the game is to play the game, and perhaps have a good time with other people. I don't remember people complaining that the Deadmines became obsolete by level 25.
So I quit Wow. It was TOO easy to progress to endgame, and everyone and their mother could epic themselves with little to no effort. Dropping the regular raid size from 40 to 25 made Raiding seem more casual, which it shouldn't have turned into. Make the raids 25 man accessible? Sure, but why drop 40 mans? Apparently they made a comeback in WotLK so I'll quit my bitching.
Grrr... those dirty pubbies are killing my bosses! They're getting my epics! Do you realize how silly you sound?
40-man raids were a huge pain in the ass to organize, and I'm glad they didn't make a comeback in WotLK.
I have a Tablet PC. Whenever I pull it out and use it at a coffee shop or park I will inevitably have 2-3 people per hour come up to me and ask what is, "Is it a Mac?"
Well duh. Cool things don't exist until Apple releases them.
I don't think that kind of immersion is much related to the graphics, really. Graphics is more like this: Imagine you were sitting down to watch the latest Bond movie. You don't think you're Bond, you have no control over the action - but there's a story unfolding. Now Bond trips over something so it breaks and you see it's only a cardboard prop. That'd break all the immersion and remind you it's all just illusion.
Or how about if the latest Bond film was done in black and white, with as much technical expertise as a Charlie Chaplin film. I hope all of these non-graphics snobs would be lining up to see it.
Yet most Wii games don't really use motion controls at all... They either ignore it, or convert "Waggle" to a button press.
Punch-Out for the Wii supports both motion and button+pad controls. But to be actually successful at the game, you can't use the motion controls. They're just not responsive enough.
Games like Drake's Fortune, Ratchet & Clank, Killzone 2 and the Motorstorm games simply aren't being made for other platforms. These games are unparalleled on other systems, and just being ignored by fanboys who think console sales are everything.
Er, those games aren't any more technically advanced than what's shown up on the Xbox 360. Sure they're nice and polished, but there's no one game that you can point to and say "that would be impossible to do on the Xbox 360!"
Compare this to the original Xbox (or Gamecube), which did have a distinct graphical advantage over the PS2, and it showed up in the games from day one.
If the PS3 hasn't pulled ahead graphically by now, then it's just not going to. There's no super hidden power inside. Just a weird CPU and a run-of-the-mill GPU.
Now see I hated VATS. I thought it was a horrible system which took the worst parts from both real time FPS combat and turn based combat. On one hand you have a finite amount of action points which have to be recharged over time, on the other the enemy doesn't have AP, it just attacks until one of you dies. A lot of the time I would just end up running up to the guy point blank, going into VATS, use all of my AP on his head (which had a 90% probability of hitting) and then watch the slow motion carnage. After it was over I'd run the hell away and let my AP recharge. I know other people didn't mind VATS, but for me it was rather annoying.
Uhm... you can shoot outside of VATS, you know. In fact, real-time aiming is preferred for really long range shooting (i.e. the Sniper Rifle, or even just a hunting rifle.)
Some Americans will no longer be able to afford to own and operate an automobile. That process has already started. People are on the news saying "I can't afford to put gas in my car to commute to work."
Well if you heard people say it on the news, then it must be true.
I do, however, find it interesting that this astroturfing is being done so publicly. Before the sources were always hidden, as if the originators seemed ashamed of it.
Yet another example of McCain's openness and honesty.;-)
The US Economy alone could cut it's war budget by 10% and feed the whole continent.
How naive can you be? What about hostile and/or corrupt governments that would interfere? Well we could just force our way in to distribute food... oops, that's military action.
Starvation in Africa is purely a political problem.
My wife wants the PS3 for Singstar. Yes she loves Singstar. I have yet to see a game for the 360 or PS3 that I must have. So we will keep playing with our Wii, PS2, XBox, and Dreamcast for now.
Has she tried the Karaoke Revolution series? It's pretty highly rated, and some people prefer it to Singstar. Plus, you can buy it used for the PS2 or Xbox. (Providing you can find the microphone too.)
Wait, so the best system is where unwilling people are forced into (unwinnable) PVP situations? And they lose hours of progress? I'm not sure I could be quite as antisocial as you.
It must have been hilarious when Trammel was released. Wish I was around for that.
There's an ongoing meme that WoW is "using up" lore created from previous Warcraft games. And I'd have to say that this is true to an extent. We seem to be systematically killing all major lore villains, or helping the good ones resolve pre-existing plotlines.
Of course, WoW has come up with a lot of great original material. New villains/factions/etc. But we usually end up killing them also.
I can see WoW going on for a few more expansions, but after a certain point it'll get silly. Didn't Blizzard originally say that they wanted to stop at level 100? After that, they need to reboot the fictional universe somehow and start fresh.
A movie, set a number of years "after" WoW, would be a great way of doing that.
Slashdot Mirror
This is the most evil plan related to software that I think I've ever heard. Their plan is basically to prey on the weak. Are they going to patent stealing candy from children next?
That seems a little over-dramatic. Social networks are nothing without good contributors, and this could just be a way of rewarding the most active. They're adding value to the service, so why shouldn't they get a discount of some sort?
My question is, what social networks does Microsoft own anyway? With money involved? The only one that comes to mind is Xbox Live...
Come to think of it, some kind of incentive plan integrated into that service might be a good idea. I'm not sure what they'd reward -- getting friends online? Hosting game servers? Or perhaps something new. It'll certainly be interesting to see. Xbox Live is pretty much the only Microsoft product that hasn't been totally reactionary in nature.
But would I want to live in a country where people can spread lies about each other with no legal redress? No. The problems with freedom of speech go way beyond shouting "Fire!" in a crowded cinema. England and Wales have always regarded responsibilities above freedoms; in this case, the responsibility to get the facts right.
You've got that totally backwards. UK libel laws are famously unconcerned about the truth. The plaintiff merely has to demonstrate that harm was done. Whereas in the US, the truth is an absolute defense against an accusation of libel.
Somebody above gave a good link about Libel Tourism. I advise you read it and wonder why your country is the #1 "tourist" destination:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libel_tourism
That number is a lie. The unemployment rate is not based on the number of people who would like to have work but cannot find a job, but instead on the number of people currently receiving unemployment benefits.
No, that's a myth. The unemployment rate is calculated by a monthly survey of over 60,000 households. Always has been.
http://www.snopes.com/science/stats/unemploy.asp
Perhaps I'm being silly, but I'm actually excited that they've finally updated the terrible water texture with WoW: Cataclysm. It wasn't announced, but check out the screenshots. The crappy old texture has pretty much been the weakest part of the game, visually speaking.
We don't have a middle class anymore? What the hell are you smoking and where can I get some?
Whatever he's smoking apparently makes you have depressing delusions, so are you really sure you want some?
See I quit WoW before WotLK because I knew it would mean that Burning Crusade Endgame would be pointless, much like Onyxia and MC and BWL and AQ and Naxx became pointless with the release of Burning Crusade. See I didn't have a problem with Vanilla Wow for that manner, you had to get attuned for Onyxia to get the gear good enough to go into Molten Core. You needed the Gear from Molten Core to progress to Black Wing Lair. So on and so forth (AQ could be argued though).
So... you would have preferred that the level cap never be raised? That all of Burning Crusade have been level 60 content, with its raids being a continuation of difficulty from the old raids? So Karazhan would have been a harder 40-man than lv60 Naxx, and so on? That sounds like it would be a shitty game.
The whole point of playing the game is to play the game, and perhaps have a good time with other people. I don't remember people complaining that the Deadmines became obsolete by level 25.
So I quit Wow. It was TOO easy to progress to endgame, and everyone and their mother could epic themselves with little to no effort. Dropping the regular raid size from 40 to 25 made Raiding seem more casual, which it shouldn't have turned into. Make the raids 25 man accessible? Sure, but why drop 40 mans? Apparently they made a comeback in WotLK so I'll quit my bitching.
Grrr... those dirty pubbies are killing my bosses! They're getting my epics! Do you realize how silly you sound?
40-man raids were a huge pain in the ass to organize, and I'm glad they didn't make a comeback in WotLK.
-1 Flamebait? Ouch! I guess Apple fanboys don't have a sense of humor?
I have a Tablet PC. Whenever I pull it out and use it at a coffee shop or park I will inevitably have 2-3 people per hour come up to me and ask what is, "Is it a Mac?"
Well duh. Cool things don't exist until Apple releases them.
and the lack of any interesting games (no, FPSes aren't and never have been interesting).
Translation: I think all first-person games are the same! Call of Duty is the same as Fallout 3! Aren't I smart and sophisticated?
Answer: No.
I don't think that kind of immersion is much related to the graphics, really. Graphics is more like this: Imagine you were sitting down to watch the latest Bond movie. You don't think you're Bond, you have no control over the action - but there's a story unfolding. Now Bond trips over something so it breaks and you see it's only a cardboard prop. That'd break all the immersion and remind you it's all just illusion.
Or how about if the latest Bond film was done in black and white, with as much technical expertise as a Charlie Chaplin film. I hope all of these non-graphics snobs would be lining up to see it.
Yet most Wii games don't really use motion controls at all... They either ignore it, or convert "Waggle" to a button press.
Punch-Out for the Wii supports both motion and button+pad controls. But to be actually successful at the game, you can't use the motion controls. They're just not responsive enough.
When I played Fallout 3, I thought "Wow, if they can make the next Elder Scrolls game this good, I'm sold."
Hell, they could probably bring over VATS but give it a less obtrusive interface (so as to fit into a fantasy setting.)
MS has a problem, their architecture died and became the Cell.
The PowerPC architecture is dead? Has Netcraft confirmed this?
Games like Drake's Fortune, Ratchet & Clank, Killzone 2 and the Motorstorm games simply aren't being made for other platforms. These games are unparalleled on other systems, and just being ignored by fanboys who think console sales are everything.
Er, those games aren't any more technically advanced than what's shown up on the Xbox 360. Sure they're nice and polished, but there's no one game that you can point to and say "that would be impossible to do on the Xbox 360!"
Compare this to the original Xbox (or Gamecube), which did have a distinct graphical advantage over the PS2, and it showed up in the games from day one.
If the PS3 hasn't pulled ahead graphically by now, then it's just not going to. There's no super hidden power inside. Just a weird CPU and a run-of-the-mill GPU.
Uhm... you can shoot outside of VATS, you know. In fact, real-time aiming is preferred for really long range shooting (i.e. the Sniper Rifle, or even just a hunting rifle.)
I see news of marches by anti-abortion activists frequently. Clearly that means all Americans are anti-abortion.
Right?
I forget, which party is the one that runs un-democratic caucuses during their primaries?
Some Americans will no longer be able to afford to own and operate an automobile. That process has already started. People are on the news saying "I can't afford to put gas in my car to commute to work."
Well if you heard people say it on the news, then it must be true.
Anecdotes = Data.
I do, however, find it interesting that this astroturfing is being done so publicly. Before the sources were always hidden, as if the originators seemed ashamed of it.
Yet another example of McCain's openness and honesty. ;-)
Am I still counted in Blizzards official subscriber count, despite not having played in over a year?
If you're still paying your subscription, yes.
If not, no.
How naive can you be? What about hostile and/or corrupt governments that would interfere? Well we could just force our way in to distribute food... oops, that's military action.
Starvation in Africa is purely a political problem.
My wife wants the PS3 for Singstar. Yes she loves Singstar. I have yet to see a game for the 360 or PS3 that I must have.
So we will keep playing with our Wii, PS2, XBox, and Dreamcast for now.
Has she tried the Karaoke Revolution series? It's pretty highly rated, and some people prefer it to Singstar. Plus, you can buy it used for the PS2 or Xbox. (Providing you can find the microphone too.)
- Final Fantasy Versus XIII is still (supposedly) a PS3-exclusive
Not to rain on your parade, but don't the action-based FF spinoffs tend to suck?
Wait, so the best system is where unwilling people are forced into (unwinnable) PVP situations? And they lose hours of progress? I'm not sure I could be quite as antisocial as you.
It must have been hilarious when Trammel was released. Wish I was around for that.
There's an ongoing meme that WoW is "using up" lore created from previous Warcraft games. And I'd have to say that this is true to an extent. We seem to be systematically killing all major lore villains, or helping the good ones resolve pre-existing plotlines.
Of course, WoW has come up with a lot of great original material. New villains/factions/etc. But we usually end up killing them also.
I can see WoW going on for a few more expansions, but after a certain point it'll get silly. Didn't Blizzard originally say that they wanted to stop at level 100? After that, they need to reboot the fictional universe somehow and start fresh.
A movie, set a number of years "after" WoW, would be a great way of doing that.