George Lucas never mentioned making 9 movies prior to ESB. During the publicity blitz for that movie is when he started talking about a trilogy of trilogies. I remember thinking as a boy, "now, why didn't I now about that sooner."
Recently, I came across some evidence to support this. First, if you watch the Making of Star Wars, towards the end of the video, it's obvious Lucas has no idea what's going to come next. He's even appears uncertain as to what will happen between Luke/Leia/Han (who will get the girl!).
Secondly, while in a bookstore a couple of years ago, I came across a reissue of the first non-film Star Wars novel, Splinter of the Mind's Eye. According to a new Forward (written by the author Alan Dean Foster), Lucas commissioned Foster to write the novel before SW was released, in case the film did well enough to warrant a sequel. The goal was to write a story that could be filmed without a huge budget (most of the story takes place in a sound-studio friendly swamp world). But, Star Wars was released, and the rest is history.
Not necessarily. Although I have yet to join, I plan on doing so. And I won't consider it a donation. I will be paying Mandrake directly for their software. I'd much rather do this than go down to CompUSA because ALL the money is going directly to Mandrake, and not to the middlemen.
The bottom line is that Mandrake must find a way to make money. I consider the club simply a clever way to market their distribution. If you want to look at it as charity, fine. But it's all a matter of perception.
I'd much rather play a FPS in a stealthy manner. Thief was right up my alley. I know other people like to run through these games with guns pointed at anything that moves. Not me. If a game is well made, then I hate to rush through it.
I remember those early levels of Half-Life, how utterly creepy they were. Remember the sounds of those screams and bones crunching? Hell, that scared the crap out of me.
Or in Jedi Knight, knowing a dozen stormtroopers stood between you and your goal. That buildup, of getting the courage to round those corners really made the game so much fun. Its speaks volumes about a game when you can get so involved in it. That's what made Thief and these other games to much so great. You could really enjoy the game. AND play it the way you wanted.
I just bought Deus Ex this weekend and can't wait to fire it up!
Not to troll here, but all this talk about "killing" Microsoft Office is just wishful thinking. Until Microsoft's power over OEMs is reigned in, most consumers will continue to get Office through them. The fact that an alternative suite is better is irrelevant. The fact is that OEMs seem loathe to do anything that might jeopardize their Windows licenses.
I personally can't wait to see some of these alternatives mature and compete with Office. There's hope that maybe some large companies will start switching and get the ball rolling. But I am very skeptical if they'll do much more than ding Office's armor.
Aibo was just cute, and having four legs really made it easy to think of it as just a metal pet. However, to me this thing is a bit creepy. I don't know how well I would sleep knowing it was walking around the apartment, maybe staring at me in the darkness. Think: clown doll in Poltergeist.
Oh, gawd... This is the only game that I continue to play even after getting burnt out on it. After avoiding it for a whole month, in a moment of weakness, I fired up a new game on Friday. Well, that's all she wrote--the whole weekend pissed away telling endless workers to BUILD ROADS, MINES, RAILROADS... Wiping the Chinese from my continent... exploring the world with creaky triremes... Diplomacy... Goodie huts... barbarians... ARGGHH!!!
Just writing about it is making me look at the clock in anticipation for the minute I can run home and finish the game. Man, I need a life!
I've been following this company for a couple of years. I have to admit I was pretty excited when I saw this new product--they've really come quite long way. I especially like the use of standardized equipment (microdrives, usb, etc).
One the things I had a laugh about is how they spin it's usefulness: "You stay connected to breaking news, stock prices, game scores and what's happening at work or with friends." Yeah, that's what I'd use it for!
I joined a government contractor because it was a job I couldn't refuse (international travel--who could resist?). Well, I'm now off the road and working for a much more sedate project. I remember eyeing those pie-in-the-sky salaries of the pre-bust days with envy. Well, things have changed a lot since then. I appreciate the stability--it's a reliable paycheck--but know it would be very easy to become complacent. Even though I don't think I'm gaining much in the skills department, my company does have excellent education benefits that I do take advantage of. I personally don't feel that now is the time for me to make any major career moves, but the glacier pace of the work and the fact that we tend not to be on (or even near) the cutting edge will eventually be reason enough for me to move into the commercial world.
Slashdot Mirror
God forbid that something on the internet should be unfettered.
FUD at it's finest. Too bad CNN can't bring themselves to report this eagerly on something, say, like corruption in politics.
George Lucas never mentioned making 9 movies prior to ESB. During the publicity blitz for that movie is when he started talking about a trilogy of trilogies. I remember thinking as a boy, "now, why didn't I now about that sooner."
Recently, I came across some evidence to support this. First, if you watch the Making of Star Wars, towards the end of the video, it's obvious Lucas has no idea what's going to come next. He's even appears uncertain as to what will happen between Luke/Leia/Han (who will get the girl!).
Secondly, while in a bookstore a couple of years ago, I came across a reissue of the first non-film Star Wars novel, Splinter of the Mind's Eye. According to a new Forward (written by the author Alan Dean Foster), Lucas commissioned Foster to write the novel before SW was released, in case the film did well enough to warrant a sequel. The goal was to write a story that could be filmed without a huge budget (most of the story takes place in a sound-studio friendly swamp world). But, Star Wars was released, and the rest is history.
Not necessarily. Although I have yet to join, I plan on doing so. And I won't consider it a donation. I will be paying Mandrake directly for their software. I'd much rather do this than go down to CompUSA because ALL the money is going directly to Mandrake, and not to the middlemen.
The bottom line is that Mandrake must find a way to make money. I consider the club simply a clever way to market their distribution. If you want to look at it as charity, fine. But it's all a matter of perception.
If you want to change the channel while watching, you'll need to coordinate the button pushing on your remote control with special musical tones...
I'd much rather play a FPS in a stealthy manner. Thief was right up my alley. I know other people like to run through these games with guns pointed at anything that moves. Not me. If a game is well made, then I hate to rush through it.
I remember those early levels of Half-Life, how utterly creepy they were. Remember the sounds of those screams and bones crunching? Hell, that scared the crap out of me.
Or in Jedi Knight, knowing a dozen stormtroopers stood between you and your goal. That buildup, of getting the courage to round those corners really made the game so much fun. Its speaks volumes about a game when you can get so involved in it. That's what made Thief and these other games to much so great. You could really enjoy the game. AND play it the way you wanted.
I just bought Deus Ex this weekend and can't wait to fire it up!
I agree. For me, tables that are compatible are critical and if they aren't, then I guess I'll be sticking with Office.
In fact, that table function introduced in Office '97 was the reason I upgraded.
..can't wait to get their hands on this one!
Not to troll here, but all this talk about "killing" Microsoft Office is just wishful thinking. Until Microsoft's power over OEMs is reigned in, most consumers will continue to get Office through them. The fact that an alternative suite is better is irrelevant. The fact is that OEMs seem loathe to do anything that might jeopardize their Windows licenses.
I personally can't wait to see some of these alternatives mature and compete with Office. There's hope that maybe some large companies will start switching and get the ball rolling. But I am very skeptical if they'll do much more than ding Office's armor.
Aibo was just cute, and having four legs really made it easy to think of it as just a metal pet. However, to me this thing is a bit creepy. I don't know how well I would sleep knowing it was walking around the apartment, maybe staring at me in the darkness. Think: clown doll in Poltergeist.
Kidding aside, it really sounds amazing.
Would have a field day with this one.
I'm sure there are dozens of unidentified species living in there...
Oh, gawd... This is the only game that I continue to play even after getting burnt out on it. After avoiding it for a whole month, in a moment of weakness, I fired up a new game on Friday. Well, that's all she wrote--the whole weekend pissed away telling endless workers to BUILD ROADS, MINES, RAILROADS... Wiping the Chinese from my continent... exploring the world with creaky triremes... Diplomacy... Goodie huts... barbarians... ARGGHH!!!
Just writing about it is making me look at the clock in anticipation for the minute I can run home and finish the game. Man, I need a life!
http://www.safestuff.com/atariart15.jpg
*sigh*
some things never change.
I've been following this company for a couple of years. I have to admit I was pretty excited when I saw this new product--they've really come quite long way. I especially like the use of standardized equipment (microdrives, usb, etc).
One the things I had a laugh about is how they spin it's usefulness: "You stay connected to breaking news, stock prices, game scores and what's happening at work or with friends." Yeah, that's what I'd use it for!
But what a hell of an mp3 player!
I joined a government contractor because it was a job I couldn't refuse (international travel--who could resist?). Well, I'm now off the road and working for a much more sedate project. I remember eyeing those pie-in-the-sky salaries of the pre-bust days with envy. Well, things have changed a lot since then. I appreciate the stability--it's a reliable paycheck--but know it would be very easy to become complacent. Even though I don't think I'm gaining much in the skills department, my company does have excellent education benefits that I do take advantage of. I personally don't feel that now is the time for me to make any major career moves, but the glacier pace of the work and the fact that we tend not to be on (or even near) the cutting edge will eventually be reason enough for me to move into the commercial world.