"So I'm guessing that you're one of those people that 25 years ago said, "Skywalker? How cheesy is that? Does he even think he's a native-American tribal hero?"
*Sigh* I had this conversation once with somebody about Star Wars. I mentioned not liking Episode I and he immediately jumped on me with "Why? Because Han Solo and Princess Leia aren't in it?" He then proceeded to lecture me about how wrong I was etc. This guy was so defensive about Star Wars that he latched on to that old excuse. It really is hard for some people to get the idea that Episodes I and II were bad movies whether they're compared to the original trilogy or not.
A lot of people get Star Wars, and they still don't like the new trilogy.
"What I'd like to see is a comparison of growth rates of major software companies. Even if Microsoft still comes out on top, at least the comparison would be relative to _something_."
Yeah, because whenever there's a silver lining, there's bound to be a dark cloud. Right?
"as if football(american or soccer), rugby or tennis ever was exclusive."
Erm... do you understand what the deal here is? It's about licensing. Licensing means the game looks like what you see on TV. Wanna make a game featuring the Lakers? Gotta pay up.
So yes, there is very much an exclusive to be had here. Ever play a racing game where the car never gets damaged? That's licensing, believe it or not. The owners don't want their cars looking damaged. Heh.
"they need a bitchslap to remind them what games are about.."
Eh. Sorta. They want to make a game that is authentic to the experience as possible. The result is a better game. (or at least one that provides a more immersive experience.) Im sure there's a bitchslap needed here, but not specifically for the reason you mentioned.
" But this time, at least Mr. Kutaragi is willing to admit the PSP has a problem, and can offer a logical explanation for the engineering compromises that led to this design...."... then call it the most beautiful thing in the world and imply that eccentricity in a design is okay.
" Many, if not most, other sizeable game developers have nearly identical practices, but you don't hear their names mentioned. It's easy to pick one target, and pound on it, but when the problem is systemic, the larger picture is entirely missed."
Eh this is partially true. Sometimes workers at game companies (and FX/3D art studios) work unpaid overtime. This is called crunch time. The reason why EA is on everybody's radar is because they require ridiculous work weeks all the time. They're the worst offender, at least as far as public awareness goes.
As for the larger picture being entirely missed... come on.. this is Slashdot. Sensationalism is the game. Frankly, I sympathize with your view here. Though I'm one of the pitchfork shakers at EA, the same stupid thing happens with Microsoft here. Sometimes, it drives me nuts. I don't care much for Microsoft, but so much misinformation and sensationalism flies around that I get annoyed with just how petty and childish some people can be. But, with all this, all I can say is that everybody has their passions. It's easy to critcize, but we're all probably guilty of it. For example: Is it really doing all that much good for Slashdot to post stories hinting at Enterprise's demise? Yeesh, it's on UPN, like anybody who didn't want to see it couldn't avoid it.
In short: I don't think the original post should have been modded up. The dude spouted off about it without understanding why people are anti-EA to begin with. I also feel that the anti-EA sentiment has special merit. (If the AC were aware of that, he wouldn't have posted.) What I agree with you on is that people could be more rational and Slashdot could be more responsible. On some topics, Slashdot is more of a tabloid than any form of journalistic resource. Slashdot's slogan should be "Opinions of Nerds, Ready Pitchforks."
"Zonk and the other editors seemed to have embarked on a jihad against EA for some odd reason. Did you get turned down for a job there or something?"
Didja stop and think to ask why EA's such a big deal before being so critical about Slashdot's feelings towards EA?
I suggest you have a peek at this article here. The basic gist of the story is that EA's been seriously overworking their employees. Since a lot of them are artists, tehy are exempt from getting overtime or any real compensation.
Certainly not stuff that matters to most people here? Show of hands: Who all here either has a salaried position or is on their way to one? Not only do quite a few of us reading Slashdot find this sort of treatement disgusting, but it's also an awful thought that a lot of us could be treated bad if the idea catches on at other corps.
You may not care. Fine. Ignore the stories. But there really is a reason people are passionate about them. Heck, Slashdot's not the only place I get to hear about it. A bunch of fellow artists over CGTalk are just as pissed and it's a hot topic over there, too.
Slashdot's 'obsession' with it reflects the feelings of a significant portion of the population. (as opposed to the actions of a handful of people like you implied.) It may be childish or whatever, but it's not like somebody read their horoscope today and randomly determined they were going to attack EA.
"Much as I wouldn't mind seeing Frakes and Sirtis in action again, it would only be because for nostalgia's sake. When your show becomes characterized by this kind of hysterical desperation, it's a pretty good sign you should just let it die."
About a year ago, there was a rumor floating around that there'd be a new Trek series starring Frakes as captain of the Titan. The idea was that the show would feature the fall of the Federation while Enterprise was featuring the creation of the Federation.
Frankly, I'm up for this. First Contact had the potential to really muck up the past that Picard and company came to know and love. The new timeline could have serious ripples in the 24th century. I'm curious to see that happen, could be pretty slick.
"There is only one "standard" keyboard (QWERTY) and everything else."
I believe that's called 'de-facto'. I figured I'd mention it because a lot of people on Slashdot don't realize that some standards are actually defined by the end users and not by deals signed with underground deities.
" Zelda is not. It looks 'stylish' or whatever, but I really wish they would have just left it alone and made it look like 'normal.' Zelda looks better the way it's 'always' looked..."
Though I don't entirely agree with you, I understand your point of view. You'd prefer the other look, right? I don't have a problem with that statement. If that's what ya said, I doubt you'd be one of those that I was thinking of. To a point, I agree with you.
There were some who treated it like Nintendo pooped on the franchise. And man, I just don't agree with that. I think their stylistic choice was good. It was pleasing to the eye, and nicely animated. Would the game look better with the style used in the original GameCube trailer?.... yeah I think so. Would that have detracted from the game? Probably not. So yeah, I can see eye to eye with ya on this one. To make a long story short, what you're saying right now wouldn't cause me to write a scathing reply, and I hope you don't feel included in my generalization.
"but I really wish they would have just left it alone and made it look like 'normal.' Zelda looks better the way it's 'always' looked..."
Ehh... I don't see Wind Waker as being that drastic of difference from Ocarina. His head is shaped a little different, but I wouldn't say one is much more realistic than the other. What we saw in the GC SpaceWorld demo.. that was a new animal altogether.
Maybe though, I'm just looking at it from a different perspective. I create 3D art for a living. So maybe I'm seeing it like "It wouldn't be much of a switch for me to go between the styles of Wind Waker and Ocarina, but it'd take significantly more time to represent the new style Nintendo has created Zelda with recently." (Sorry for my less-than-grammatically-correct writing style here.)
Slashdot Mirror
"Why would a proctologist be on /.?"
He's still mad that you bit his finger.
"So I'm guessing that you're one of those people that 25 years ago said, "Skywalker? How cheesy is that? Does he even think he's a native-American tribal hero?"
*Sigh* I had this conversation once with somebody about Star Wars. I mentioned not liking Episode I and he immediately jumped on me with "Why? Because Han Solo and Princess Leia aren't in it?" He then proceeded to lecture me about how wrong I was etc. This guy was so defensive about Star Wars that he latched on to that old excuse. It really is hard for some people to get the idea that Episodes I and II were bad movies whether they're compared to the original trilogy or not.
A lot of people get Star Wars, and they still don't like the new trilogy.
I'm surrounded by assholes!
"What I'd like to see is a comparison of growth rates of major software companies. Even if Microsoft still comes out on top, at least the comparison would be relative to _something_."
Yeah, because whenever there's a silver lining, there's bound to be a dark cloud. Right?
"Let's poo poo Microsoft!"
... click on this article and get "Nothing to see here, move along..."?
"Previously covered on slashdot"
Yeah, well I missed it last time. I'll read here, you move on.
"as if football(american or soccer), rugby or tennis ever was exclusive."
Erm... do you understand what the deal here is? It's about licensing. Licensing means the game looks like what you see on TV. Wanna make a game featuring the Lakers? Gotta pay up.
So yes, there is very much an exclusive to be had here. Ever play a racing game where the car never gets damaged? That's licensing, believe it or not. The owners don't want their cars looking damaged. Heh.
"they need a bitchslap to remind them what games are about.."
Eh. Sorta. They want to make a game that is authentic to the experience as possible. The result is a better game. (or at least one that provides a more immersive experience.) Im sure there's a bitchslap needed here, but not specifically for the reason you mentioned.
" But this time, at least Mr. Kutaragi is willing to admit the PSP has a problem, and can offer a logical explanation for the engineering compromises that led to this design...." ... then call it the most beautiful thing in the world and imply that eccentricity in a design is okay.
" Many, if not most, other sizeable game developers have nearly identical practices, but you don't hear their names mentioned. It's easy to pick one target, and pound on it, but when the problem is systemic, the larger picture is entirely missed."
Eh this is partially true. Sometimes workers at game companies (and FX/3D art studios) work unpaid overtime. This is called crunch time. The reason why EA is on everybody's radar is because they require ridiculous work weeks all the time. They're the worst offender, at least as far as public awareness goes.
As for the larger picture being entirely missed... come on.. this is Slashdot. Sensationalism is the game. Frankly, I sympathize with your view here. Though I'm one of the pitchfork shakers at EA, the same stupid thing happens with Microsoft here. Sometimes, it drives me nuts. I don't care much for Microsoft, but so much misinformation and sensationalism flies around that I get annoyed with just how petty and childish some people can be. But, with all this, all I can say is that everybody has their passions. It's easy to critcize, but we're all probably guilty of it. For example: Is it really doing all that much good for Slashdot to post stories hinting at Enterprise's demise? Yeesh, it's on UPN, like anybody who didn't want to see it couldn't avoid it.
In short: I don't think the original post should have been modded up. The dude spouted off about it without understanding why people are anti-EA to begin with. I also feel that the anti-EA sentiment has special merit. (If the AC were aware of that, he wouldn't have posted.) What I agree with you on is that people could be more rational and Slashdot could be more responsible. On some topics, Slashdot is more of a tabloid than any form of journalistic resource. Slashdot's slogan should be "Opinions of Nerds, Ready Pitchforks."
"Zonk and the other editors seemed to have embarked on a jihad against EA for some odd reason. Did you get turned down for a job there or something?"
Didja stop and think to ask why EA's such a big deal before being so critical about Slashdot's feelings towards EA?
I suggest you have a peek at this article here. The basic gist of the story is that EA's been seriously overworking their employees. Since a lot of them are artists, tehy are exempt from getting overtime or any real compensation.
Certainly not stuff that matters to most people here? Show of hands: Who all here either has a salaried position or is on their way to one? Not only do quite a few of us reading Slashdot find this sort of treatement disgusting, but it's also an awful thought that a lot of us could be treated bad if the idea catches on at other corps.
You may not care. Fine. Ignore the stories. But there really is a reason people are passionate about them. Heck, Slashdot's not the only place I get to hear about it. A bunch of fellow artists over CGTalk are just as pissed and it's a hot topic over there, too.
Slashdot's 'obsession' with it reflects the feelings of a significant portion of the population. (as opposed to the actions of a handful of people like you implied.) It may be childish or whatever, but it's not like somebody read their horoscope today and randomly determined they were going to attack EA.
"When you consider all of these factors, this "best deal around" doesn't really seem to be quite so great anymore."
Erm. Unless it's a common practice to move to the USA to get cheaper internet, why would one from the UK even consider this factor?
"Making the joke funny would have been sufficient."
It was funny.
Face facts: Not everybody gets every joke, and sometimes the dudes with mod points jump the gun when they mod.
"For 700 bucks I get a DVD burner, 80 Gig HD and the best OS on the planet."
That's great except ya still have to go monitor shopping.
"On the other hand, this is a blatant attempt to appeal to TNG's popularity to save what has been an otherwise horrible series."
Or it's a blatant attempt to show the effects the temporal cold war will have on the future like they've done already with the Enterprise-J.
I realize it's popular opinion here to hate Enterprise, but geez, give them a little credit.
"Much as I wouldn't mind seeing Frakes and Sirtis in action again, it would only be because for nostalgia's sake. When your show becomes characterized by this kind of hysterical desperation, it's a pretty good sign you should just let it die."
About a year ago, there was a rumor floating around that there'd be a new Trek series starring Frakes as captain of the Titan. The idea was that the show would feature the fall of the Federation while Enterprise was featuring the creation of the Federation.
Frankly, I'm up for this. First Contact had the potential to really muck up the past that Picard and company came to know and love. The new timeline could have serious ripples in the 24th century. I'm curious to see that happen, could be pretty slick.
"Please, no. Just let it get cancelled and go the way of the dodo like it should!"
Um, some of us like the show. You have the option of not watching it. We don't have the option of conjuring it up if it's cancelled.
"...so what then, can a software/hardware company like Apple do?"
;)
Ever hear of a little known company called Nintendo?
"No, I imagine it's for the event at which the Mac was introduced; you know, "It sure is great to get out of that bag" and all that."
You're right. Man... I wish I could put myself in the right state of mind to cheer on what the Mac was doing. Was it really that startling?
"There is only one "standard" keyboard (QWERTY) and everything else."
I believe that's called 'de-facto'. I figured I'd mention it because a lot of people on Slashdot don't realize that some standards are actually defined by the end users and not by deals signed with underground deities.
".. they still don't get it..."
Whoopee, you don't like Zelda or Mario. Nintendo's still making millions off them.
"x86 is dead and mobile devices wrote the eulogy."
Until my mobile devices can play Wing Commander, you're full of shit.
" Zelda is not. It looks 'stylish' or whatever, but I really wish they would have just left it alone and made it look like 'normal.' Zelda looks better the way it's 'always' looked..."
.... yeah I think so. Would that have detracted from the game? Probably not. So yeah, I can see eye to eye with ya on this one. To make a long story short, what you're saying right now wouldn't cause me to write a scathing reply, and I hope you don't feel included in my generalization.
Though I don't entirely agree with you, I understand your point of view. You'd prefer the other look, right? I don't have a problem with that statement. If that's what ya said, I doubt you'd be one of those that I was thinking of. To a point, I agree with you.
There were some who treated it like Nintendo pooped on the franchise. And man, I just don't agree with that. I think their stylistic choice was good. It was pleasing to the eye, and nicely animated. Would the game look better with the style used in the original GameCube trailer?
"but I really wish they would have just left it alone and made it look like 'normal.' Zelda looks better the way it's 'always' looked..."
Ehh... I don't see Wind Waker as being that drastic of difference from Ocarina. His head is shaped a little different, but I wouldn't say one is much more realistic than the other. What we saw in the GC SpaceWorld demo.. that was a new animal altogether.
Maybe though, I'm just looking at it from a different perspective. I create 3D art for a living. So maybe I'm seeing it like "It wouldn't be much of a switch for me to go between the styles of Wind Waker and Ocarina, but it'd take significantly more time to represent the new style Nintendo has created Zelda with recently." (Sorry for my less-than-grammatically-correct writing style here.)
"There was so much anger when Zelda was cel-shaded from a very vocal group."
Man, that really ticked me off. $1 says most of those peeps complained about Wind Waker, hit submit, then turned around and watched Family Guy.
"But the government won't use this law against big companies (who give them all those nice fat brown envelopes)"
That isn't what's happening in that case.
A new Zelda game is coming out for GC. But that's bad because it's bad when Nintendo uses their franchise characters. Oooo Gran Turismo 4!!