Just FYI, you can format FAT drives greater than 40GB... you just can't do it with the tools that come with Windows. It's a false limitation to "force" you to use NTFS (which is better anyway, except if you need to share the filesystem between operating systems).
I've got an 80GB drive in a USB enclosure formatted as FAT32 so I can use it with my XP boxes and my iBook. IIRC I formatted it using OS X's Disk Utility, but I could've done it with any of a dozen other tools (Partition Magic probably, any bootable Linux installation disc that supports USB drives, etc.).
Similarly, Cryptic's excellent City of Heroes hasn't had a single expansion (unless you're one of those folks who consider City of Villains to be an expansion) since release, although it has had six major updates released for free. New power sets, new archetypes (like classes in most regular MMOGs), new zones, new graphics, etc.
This is entirely impossible given the current bean-counter-controlled game publishing/development system. Until the next-gen consoles are "cracked" and can run third-party, independant developer code easily, a "golden age" like we experienced in the 80's/90's can't happen.
Gaming is controlled by risk-averse corporate goons without souls. The only place you're likely to see innovation is on open computer platforms (and "open" here means any platform that has readily available development tools, where people can create and run whatever software they feel like).
Sure the odd gem will appear (c.f. Katamari Damacy), and Nintendo will continue to innovate (c.f. the DS and the many interesting games it's generated), but the vast, vast majority of games released in the foreseeable future will be recycled sequals and weak movie/TV licenses.
I think we're much more likely to see a gaming crash (like in the early 80's) before the next golden age.
The xor swap trick is only useful on horrible register-starved CPU architectures that should've been retired a decade or more ago...
(Note that current horrible CPU architectures have loads of registers internally and do some magic to compensate for legacy code that works hard to only access a couple of registers.)
I think I'm in my third year of what might be an infinite boycott of EA games; they haven't released anything I've been interested in since Clive Barker's Undying.
Undying came out in 2001, but I bought a bargain-bin copy a few years ago, that's why it's only the third year of my accidental boycott.
So hook it up to a monitor. There's a hack you can download (Google for it) that'll let you use both displays at once, too.
That GFX memory can also be used by OpenGL apps and games, so it's not like it's wasted. I suspect Quartz Extreme also uses some of it for window backing store, so you're always using more than 4MB of video RAM, even at 1024x768.
Think about it this way, if World Of Warcraft started advertizing on TV they could, theoritically, have everyone in the world know what WoW was and could (at least in theory) make it a cool game to play.
Personally, I'd like to see World of Warcraft start advertising inside these MMOGs that have in-game advertising. Blizzard could flaunt their lack of in-game advertising.
Then again, I've been playing City of Villains since the pre-order head start, so maybe I'm just thinking in-character.
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Drive-by goatse?
Just FYI, you can format FAT drives greater than 40GB... you just can't do it with the tools that come with Windows. It's a false limitation to "force" you to use NTFS (which is better anyway, except if you need to share the filesystem between operating systems).
I've got an 80GB drive in a USB enclosure formatted as FAT32 so I can use it with my XP boxes and my iBook. IIRC I formatted it using OS X's Disk Utility, but I could've done it with any of a dozen other tools (Partition Magic probably, any bootable Linux installation disc that supports USB drives, etc.).
You guys are missing an important fact.
Besides the "flagship" desktop/latpop chips, Intel makes a boat-load of embedded chips.
Apple sells a boat-load of embedded systems (iPod).
If Apple can get major discounts on embedded CPUs for their top-selling hardware, their margins will go way up.
Similarly, Cryptic's excellent City of Heroes hasn't had a single expansion (unless you're one of those folks who consider City of Villains to be an expansion) since release, although it has had six major updates released for free. New power sets, new archetypes (like classes in most regular MMOGs), new zones, new graphics, etc.
There's already a Britney Spears game, on three platforms no less. Fear.
This is entirely impossible given the current bean-counter-controlled game publishing/development system. Until the next-gen consoles are "cracked" and can run third-party, independant developer code easily, a "golden age" like we experienced in the 80's/90's can't happen.
Gaming is controlled by risk-averse corporate goons without souls. The only place you're likely to see innovation is on open computer platforms (and "open" here means any platform that has readily available development tools, where people can create and run whatever software they feel like).
Sure the odd gem will appear (c.f. Katamari Damacy), and Nintendo will continue to innovate (c.f. the DS and the many interesting games it's generated), but the vast, vast majority of games released in the foreseeable future will be recycled sequals and weak movie/TV licenses.
I think we're much more likely to see a gaming crash (like in the early 80's) before the next golden age.
Woo, the best man at my wedding works at RIM...
Presumably they do some sort of testing with their patches before they release...
The xor swap trick is only useful on horrible register-starved CPU architectures that should've been retired a decade or more ago...
(Note that current horrible CPU architectures have loads of registers internally and do some magic to compensate for legacy code that works hard to only access a couple of registers.)
I imagine Seagate will either shut down Maxtor (very bad for employees), or use their stuff as a "value line" rebranded.
Just wait long enough and Hollywood recycles them as big-screen remakes.
DC vs. Marvel as soon as someone makes a Superman or Batman clone?
Your link is bad, try this one.
Also, I would agree. And it seems that all "western" nations are heading in this direction, unfortunately.
I'd like to apologise for the last apology. - Brian Dunn
They're attributes of the <a> elements; View Source for this page and search.
To answer a question with another question:
Is he a corporate executive?
What makes you think your just being mean?
I think I'm in my third year of what might be an infinite boycott of EA games; they haven't released anything I've been interested in since Clive Barker's Undying.
Undying came out in 2001, but I bought a bargain-bin copy a few years ago, that's why it's only the third year of my accidental boycott.
But seriously... I suspect they won't give up "Pentium"; they've spent Brazilions of dollars marketing that into a household name.
"Pentium 5" should be named "Tentium" for marketing purposes.
I could ship it now:
* XP + SP3 + new skin = Vista
I will now demand my six-figure project manager salary, as I've clearly earned it.
So hook it up to a monitor. There's a hack you can download (Google for it) that'll let you use both displays at once, too.
That GFX memory can also be used by OpenGL apps and games, so it's not like it's wasted. I suspect Quartz Extreme also uses some of it for window backing store, so you're always using more than 4MB of video RAM, even at 1024x768.
Surely you know that the Internet is only for child pornographers and terrorists plotting destruction via email.
Hasn't the Dept. of Homeland Security taught you anything?
The most excellent V for Vendetta is set in the UK, isn't it?
Personally, I'd like to see World of Warcraft start advertising inside these MMOGs that have in-game advertising. Blizzard could flaunt their lack of in-game advertising.
Then again, I've been playing City of Villains since the pre-order head start, so maybe I'm just thinking in-character.