Re:I tried to find a store in Maryland... SOLD OUT
on
Xbox 360 Launches In U.S.
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· Score: 2, Interesting
I was at Gamestop during the Dreamcast launch, and if employees got machines it was because they pre-ordered one just like the rest of the world. Games and accessories are usually available before the system launches (I saw those for Xbox 360 at Target this past weekend), and the supply problem is usually localized to the system itself. I can't remember if there was a ban on discounted games and accessories for Dreamcast, but it wouldn't surprise me.
Employees don't get discounts on systems anyhow since there is virtually no markup on them. AFAIK, this holds true at other retailers.
The closest technical universities to us are GA Tech and Clemson. Their Comp Sci majors can't program worth a damn.
Bullshit. I've worked with 3 people from GA Tech over the years, and they were extremely talented developers. 2 were Windows/UNIX, 1 was Windows/Mac. None of them exhibited the problems you claim.
I agree with previous posters, sounds like the problem is within your company, not with the people you hire.
1. FSU had a requirement that you MUST take Florida government classes. At the time I inquired, they would not substitute these classes for something else (like government classes from your own state).
2. U Hawaii required that you take final exams on site. If you can afford 2 trips a year to Hawaii, then this is a great option. Oh damn, you MUST go to Hawaii twice a year! What a HORRIBLE degree plan!
3. NJIT seems to have pulled back what they now offer for someone seeking a CS degree. In addition, NJIT had the highest tuition of these 3 programs.
Ultimately, here is my take. A degree is a degree. Obviously the more recognized the name the better, but don't fret over that too much. Try to avoid programs that give "life credit" for working in a real job, or offer things like "Bachelor's Degree in Computer Studies". These things look funky on a resume, especially if you apply at a prestigious company or university. You may also look at local schools in your area if you live some place with choice. Here in Dallas, The University of Texas at Dallas offers many of their CS classes at night, and if you take your basics at night at a local junior college you can get through while still working. This is obviously a tough path, and one that will take many years of hard work.
Re:Current MMORPGs are doing just fine
on
MMORPG Evolution
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· Score: 1
I don't think the continents are ALL used up, are they? I know if you look at the map in game and on the offical site, there are a few zones that do nothing when you mouse over them, implying that they are meant for future expansion.
As for the guild house idea, I like that a lot. I know nothing of the code behnd WoW, but perhaps they could make the entrance to the guild house an instance, where you enter a portal in a major city (Stormwind, Undercity, etc.) and appear automatically in the house of your guild (similar to the officer's quarters portal I've seen in Stormwind, perhaps). The environment could look the same, but each guild has their own dedicated instance. Maybe the horsepower needed to run this for all guilds on all servers would be too great to implement.
You idea of a global 'looking for group' channel is REALLY needed. Even better would be a way to globally say, "I'm looking for a group to help with quest X'. One of the things I hate most about WoW is that the process of finding people to help on tough quests is sketchy. Sometimes I find 10 people right away that want to help, other times I have to move to another zone and a different quest because I can't find a group to save my life. It could be that someone in Southshore is looking to finish a quest in Stranglethorn Vale, they just were up in another zone for business of some sort. Hooking up with those people could help speed the progress of a character.
Current MMORPGs are doing just fine
on
MMORPG Evolution
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· Score: 5, Informative
Developers must do six very real things to make MMO games reach out to even more people:
rethink monthly fees
I think the game should be handed out for free (or minimal charge of $9.99 for shipping you a live copy). That's the main gripe I hear from a lot of players and friends: that we need to pay to get the game AND pay each month. Of course, after a year, you forget that you even paid for the game...
manage in-game economies in new ways
I think WoW is doing just fine with that. So far it's not like Everquest where within a year you were pretty much useless unless you had platinum pieces.
explore new worlds and themes
Isn't that what City of Heros/Villans does? WoW? Final Fantasy? Star Wars? Sims Online? WTF do you want, a Dukes of Hazzard MMORPG?
use new technology to change the way people access games
Until someone invents new technology for ALL of us, you're just gonna have to use a computer and an internet connection to play. Duh. This statement, to me, is pointless.
weigh the balance between structured storytelling and open worlds
Call me crazy, but I think WoW does a fine job of this.
and foster a better sense of community among players
Humans are humans, and when they get into an online world, they act stupid. There's little accountability for their actions. Again, I think WoW has done a good job of controlling camping (though ninja looting can be a problem, but that's the fault of the player), providing instanced raids for mass amounts of people, faction vs. faction battle, etc. Not sure what the other games are doing, but I think this evolution is happening.
From reading the summary and glancing at the article, am I the only one here wondering if these people have even PLAYED an MMORPG recently?
Your blanket statements sound good, but you have no clue as to my situation. Most of what you said is standard boilerplate rhetoric spewed by outsiders that don't take an individual into consideration.
Yes, but her mother works full-time, so that's the breaks. She also lives out of town, so I or my family am not able to pick her up. It's not as bad as it sounds, since it's a school/day care. The facility is top-notch, and I and my ex-wife feel rather comfortable having her there.
That said, divorce is rough on kids, and this is just one of the side effects.
I've been a Usenet junkie for a long time, even before I figured out you could get files and such. GUBA must have seriously evolved, because last I saw them they were basically a fast web-based portal for porn pics.
I seriously doubt this parent is going to substitute a preschool-aged video game system for human interaction. My daughter (3.5) is at school almost 8 hours a day. I think most kids like her get enough interaction that a bit of video game time isn't going to damage them forever.
That said, we like the VSmile a lot. The basic cartridge that it comes with has a few games on it, and she does OK with it. It took a bit of practice for her to figure out how to use the joystick properly, and she likes to hit the colored buttons just to hear the guy say them over the TV. Most games that we've played only require the joystick and the big orange button, so getting started is easy. The graphics are probably SNES quality, along with similar sound. We had to get extra carts, though, cause the one it comes with gets old fast.
The other thing I like about the VSmile is it has a portable counterpart. Think TurboGrafix 16, but for kids. We haven't purchased it yet, but I have to drive my daughter a few hours each way on my custody weekends, and that's something to help entertain her when we've played out all the Barney and Veggie Tales CDs...
One final comment -- if you get the VSmile, get the AC adapter. It takes 3C batteries, but they get eaten quickly, especially since small children are prone to turning the unit on without you knowing (and hence leaving it on for an extended period of time).
I see where you're coming from. I have to agree that I enjoy the first trilogy more. My stepkids like the newer trilogy better. I think it's because maybe the movies are more on their level than IV, V & VI.
Usenet, I think, will still remain the bastion of "smart" users for some time. Downloading files has gotten easier with servies like Newzbin, but there's still more involved than your typical P2P client. You still need to learn to use PAR and RAR files, and for most "basic" users, the concept of rejoining and decoding files is a bit far-fetched. Again, the software packages make it easier, but most people that I teach to use Usenet for file download end up saying, "P2P is much easier".
because I knew the ending and the whole thing felt like they were shoe horning a story I basically already knew into three long films
A couple of comments on this:
1. This generation doesn't necessarily know the whole story, and Lucas has said that this Star Wars is for the old fans as well as the new ones. My 2 stepsons have seen the older trilogy but didn't quite put it all together. After seeing the frist trilogy they started to understand the connection better. I'm sure many younger kids are in the same position.
2. I somewhat disagree with the knowledge of the ending ruining the film experience. Most everyone knew the ending to Apollo 13, but that was still a great movie. I remember watching it in the theater thinking, "Maybe I'm wrong; maybe they did die in space." To me, that's good film making. I'm not saying that the prequels are the best movies ever made, but to me, they were fun rides. Sith did a fine job keeping me entertained, and I never felt that I was just waiting to get to the end so I could see Darth Vader being built.
I still cast my vote on the side of idiocy. My parents know nothing about how a computer works, to the point of calling me and asking where the "on button" is located when the power goes out (and my response is firstly, "where it was the last time you called about locating the 'on button'"). They don't use e-mail frequently, hardly ever chat and only browse a handful of websites. Because of this ignorance of how everything works, they run from things that don't immediately look familiar to them. They correctly delete spam messages from people they don't know (sometimes deleting relavent messages simply because the sender didn't LOOK like someone they knew), they always close popups and never click on strange links. They are ignorant to the ways of the computer, but they're not idiots, so they don't just blindly trudge into something they don't understand. Idiots click random links and reply to spam, etc. because they refuse to acknowledge their ignorance and act as if they know what they're doing.
I had a contract last year where they used GoToMeeting with good results. It seemed to be a rather spiffy program, but others that have used it more extensively may have deeper thoughts on it. Generally we used it to present changes to clients via our project manager's PC. We would all also call in to a meeting number and the client app tracked who was on the phone and who was watching the project manager's presentation.
Blizzard has done an awesome job of integrating the Warcraft stories into World of Warcraft. There is a quest on the Alliance side where you meet up with Jaina Proudmoore, who was a character in Warcraft III. If you play as the undead, you can see the entry to Undercity looks just like the throne room from the cut scenes in Warcraft III (where mad Prince Arthas assassinates his father). Mages have spells that rain down ice (like "Blizzard" in Warcraft II) and change enemies into sheep (just like "Polymorph" in Warcraft II). There are other instances, and I'm sure the list can go on and on. I personally never finished Warcraft III under single player, so there are probably many more references that I'm missing.
Little stuff like this makes me very impressed, and shows that Blizzard knows how to make a game world truly flourish.
And it shows you're in the group that I mentioned before : ignorant blowhards. For some stupid reason people here on Slashdot think IDE developer = developer must not be worth a damn. Since when did using an integrated development environment make you a bad coder? Are you saying that because I use a C++ dev tool (which happens to make development with VB.NET a breeze by generating a lot of code) makes me a developer that can't write a "hello world" program? That shows a lot of ignorance on your part.
Macromedia uses Visual Studio. Adobe uses Visual Studio. id Software uses Visual Studio. Are you saying that the developers at these and other renowed companies can't write a "hello world" program because of their dev tool choice? If you think this, then you're just a fucking idiot, plain and simple.
When I read some of these responses here, it sounds like a bunch of blowhards that are just bitching about IDEs in general. To make statements that Visual Studio causes you to write bad code or instills bad habits is no different than saying Linux students who use pico instead of emacs or vi will be poor coders. Your choice of editor has little bearing on how talented and/or meticulous you are about your code.
I've been using Visual Studio professionally since 4.2. I've also used CodeWarrior extensively on Mac OS. I'm sorry, but there is no substitute for a graphical editor with integrated compiler, linker and debugger. Tools like this are invaluable to a developer, and that's exactly what Visual Studio gives you. Sure, it can generate code skeletons, help with glue code for UI elements when using MFC/ATL, generate some (nasty) COM wrappers (hello, who here LIKES dealing with IDispatch?) when needed, etc. Raise your hand if you think writing IDL and RPC marshalling code is a fun weekend project. No thanks. I'm GLAD that I get certain things for free when it comes to my development tools.
The big catch is that you don't HAVE to do any of this. When you create a project, "Empty Project" is always an option. Developers that actually care about honing their skills pick this option. I've done this since I first touched VS in 1997, ALWAYS creating my own setup for GUI apps (Petzold-style, not MFC. I'll take the code generation there, thank you) and console apps alike. I'm a much better programmer for it, but it's only because I chose to take the time to learn how things work rather than blindly accepting what my IDE gives out. I generally only use generated code when I need complex COM object wrappers or want to quickly generate an MFC app as a test harness.
The key here is choice as well as environment. If you're using C++, you get a lot less help than if you're using VB.NET or C#. And the code that gets generated is usually basic setup code and GUI helpers. It's not like you have a button in the IDE that says, "generate code to spawn 5 threads and keep them all synchronized with an appropriate object". You can however say, "generate the basic functions for handling button events", which leaves you to concentrate on other important code that requires more manual intervention.
Maybe next we should gang up on Xcode from Apple. After all, they give you tools to do the same things that Visual Studio helps with and leave the developer with the same choices regarding manual vs. generated code.
It frustrates me when I read comments like this. Not all non-game programming industry jobs are boring. Think of it this way : are all auto mechanic jobs not working on Ferraris or Porsches boring because you're not in some sort of exclusive section of your industry? I've worked on call center software, IVR software, video playback software, PDA software, commercial shrinkwrap software and much more. All of it has been fun, and all of it has been challenging. Why? Because I love to code, and there are programming challenges to be solved in all types of software, not just games. I've talked with one of the largest banks in the country about working on their software, and trust me, there's a ton of fun stuff to do. It just doesn't involve games, but that doesn't make it boring.
And I will stand corrected on this, but most any job where you're making at least 6 figures will require more than 40 hours a week. Maybe some of that work is done at home, but it's still more than the standard man-week. Doctors, lawyers, programmers, etc. all have the potential to make a lot of money, but our companies usually demand a little extra in return.
Tell me about it -- I knew something was up when I only had 367 unread messages in my 'Spam' folder. I thought maybe the internet was down last night or something.
If you know the history for Gamestop (Babbage's Etc. in a previous life), then you'll retract your statement that closing down stores is a bad thing. When Babbage's and Software Etc. merged back in 1990-something, they left open competing stores in malls, leading to internal competition. This was a huge contributing factor to the Neostar Retail Group filing for bankruptcy and emerging as Babbage's Etc. with massive funding from Len Riggio, then CEO of Barnes & Noble. The current Gamestop leadership (which I think is relatively the same) is going to learn from their past mistakes, and closing stores is a part of that. I have met and spent time with the C-level of Gamestop and they are all sharp business people who know this industry inside and out. They want to see things succeed as much as you and I.
Personally, I would rather see Gamestop stay intact and thriving than crumbling to bits due to bad management. I think the shareholders would agree!
Dallas is good because it is centrally located in the United States. There are a few other companies that I know of that located in Dallas for this reason. In addition, the main Gamestop office is right on the western edge of DFW International Airport, making shipping via FedEx, UPS, DHL and other carriers relatively easy. From working there over a period of a few years, I can think of a few instances where that worked to their advantage (Dreamcast launch for one).
This, unfortunately, is all too true, and it is something that I will never understand. A company will deny you rightful compensation, watch you leave, hire someone on AT THE SALARY YOU ASKED FOR and wait 6 months for them to get up to speed. All because company policy doesn't allow large pay increases.
The bottom line, and my response to the article, is this : with rare exception, there is no such thing as company loyalty. A business is a business, and they will do whatever it takes to stay in business, even if it means laying off their most loyal employees. I learned a long time ago to treat a company as a shark while I act as the lamprey. Find "resume building activities" that can help you while helping the company reach their goals (making shitloads of money). Always look out for yourself and your family and your career first so you're not stuck when the company decides that your department no longer meets the companies needs.
I know it sounds bad, but I've been burned too many times over the past 10 years as a developer. I've also seen way too many friends burned as well. I've worked for some high profile companies in the past several years, and all of them ultimately put their needs over the needs of the employees. The faster you learn that this is the way the world works, the better off you'll be!
If we're going to churn out students with a passion for engineering studies that actually KNOW their stuff, we need more teachers like Dr. Richard Feynman and less TA's who learned barely enough English to fill out their student visa forms.
And he's right. Some of us decided to suffer through our science and math courses, but many students turn to majors that are a bit less stressful in order to actually enjoy their college years. What's the fun in studying 5 hours a day for a single class only to get a 35% on a test? And then find out that 35% was a GOOD grade?!?! Most people don't want to see their tuition used in that manner. It's just us die hards that tend to tough it out. And you need more than a few die hards to keep a field of study moving forward for this country's future.
Slashdot Mirror
I was at Gamestop during the Dreamcast launch, and if employees got machines it was because they pre-ordered one just like the rest of the world. Games and accessories are usually available before the system launches (I saw those for Xbox 360 at Target this past weekend), and the supply problem is usually localized to the system itself. I can't remember if there was a ban on discounted games and accessories for Dreamcast, but it wouldn't surprise me.
Employees don't get discounts on systems anyhow since there is virtually no markup on them. AFAIK, this holds true at other retailers.
The closest technical universities to us are GA Tech and Clemson. Their Comp Sci majors can't program worth a damn.
Bullshit. I've worked with 3 people from GA Tech over the years, and they were extremely talented developers. 2 were Windows/UNIX, 1 was Windows/Mac. None of them exhibited the problems you claim.
I agree with previous posters, sounds like the problem is within your company, not with the people you hire.
In this instance the "???" isn't needed.
It is if you don't speak Hindi.
I have looked at 3 online degree programs in recent years: Florida State, University of Hawaii, and New Jersey Institute of Technology. The downsides to these programs :
1. FSU had a requirement that you MUST take Florida government classes. At the time I inquired, they would not substitute these classes for something else (like government classes from your own state).
2. U Hawaii required that you take final exams on site. If you can afford 2 trips a year to Hawaii, then this is a great option. Oh damn, you MUST go to Hawaii twice a year! What a HORRIBLE degree plan!
3. NJIT seems to have pulled back what they now offer for someone seeking a CS degree. In addition, NJIT had the highest tuition of these 3 programs.
Ultimately, here is my take. A degree is a degree. Obviously the more recognized the name the better, but don't fret over that too much. Try to avoid programs that give "life credit" for working in a real job, or offer things like "Bachelor's Degree in Computer Studies". These things look funky on a resume, especially if you apply at a prestigious company or university. You may also look at local schools in your area if you live some place with choice. Here in Dallas, The University of Texas at Dallas offers many of their CS classes at night, and if you take your basics at night at a local junior college you can get through while still working. This is obviously a tough path, and one that will take many years of hard work.
Good luck to you!
Apple is dying!
Don't you mean beleaguered ?
I don't think the continents are ALL used up, are they? I know if you look at the map in game and on the offical site, there are a few zones that do nothing when you mouse over them, implying that they are meant for future expansion.
As for the guild house idea, I like that a lot. I know nothing of the code behnd WoW, but perhaps they could make the entrance to the guild house an instance, where you enter a portal in a major city (Stormwind, Undercity, etc.) and appear automatically in the house of your guild (similar to the officer's quarters portal I've seen in Stormwind, perhaps). The environment could look the same, but each guild has their own dedicated instance. Maybe the horsepower needed to run this for all guilds on all servers would be too great to implement.
You idea of a global 'looking for group' channel is REALLY needed. Even better would be a way to globally say, "I'm looking for a group to help with quest X'. One of the things I hate most about WoW is that the process of finding people to help on tough quests is sketchy. Sometimes I find 10 people right away that want to help, other times I have to move to another zone and a different quest because I can't find a group to save my life. It could be that someone in Southshore is looking to finish a quest in Stranglethorn Vale, they just were up in another zone for business of some sort. Hooking up with those people could help speed the progress of a character.
Developers must do six very real things to make MMO games reach out to even more people:
rethink monthly fees
I think the game should be handed out for free (or minimal charge of $9.99 for shipping you a live copy). That's the main gripe I hear from a lot of players and friends: that we need to pay to get the game AND pay each month. Of course, after a year, you forget that you even paid for the game...
manage in-game economies in new ways
I think WoW is doing just fine with that. So far it's not like Everquest where within a year you were pretty much useless unless you had platinum pieces.
explore new worlds and themes
Isn't that what City of Heros/Villans does? WoW? Final Fantasy? Star Wars? Sims Online? WTF do you want, a Dukes of Hazzard MMORPG?
use new technology to change the way people access games
Until someone invents new technology for ALL of us, you're just gonna have to use a computer and an internet connection to play. Duh. This statement, to me, is pointless.
weigh the balance between structured storytelling and open worlds
Call me crazy, but I think WoW does a fine job of this.
and foster a better sense of community among players
Humans are humans, and when they get into an online world, they act stupid. There's little accountability for their actions. Again, I think WoW has done a good job of controlling camping (though ninja looting can be a problem, but that's the fault of the player), providing instanced raids for mass amounts of people, faction vs. faction battle, etc. Not sure what the other games are doing, but I think this evolution is happening.
From reading the summary and glancing at the article, am I the only one here wondering if these people have even PLAYED an MMORPG recently?
Your blanket statements sound good, but you have no clue as to my situation. Most of what you said is standard boilerplate rhetoric spewed by outsiders that don't take an individual into consideration.
Yes, but her mother works full-time, so that's the breaks. She also lives out of town, so I or my family am not able to pick her up. It's not as bad as it sounds, since it's a school/day care. The facility is top-notch, and I and my ex-wife feel rather comfortable having her there.
That said, divorce is rough on kids, and this is just one of the side effects.
I've been a Usenet junkie for a long time, even before I figured out you could get files and such. GUBA must have seriously evolved, because last I saw them they were basically a fast web-based portal for porn pics.
I seriously doubt this parent is going to substitute a preschool-aged video game system for human interaction. My daughter (3.5) is at school almost 8 hours a day. I think most kids like her get enough interaction that a bit of video game time isn't going to damage them forever.
That said, we like the VSmile a lot. The basic cartridge that it comes with has a few games on it, and she does OK with it. It took a bit of practice for her to figure out how to use the joystick properly, and she likes to hit the colored buttons just to hear the guy say them over the TV. Most games that we've played only require the joystick and the big orange button, so getting started is easy. The graphics are probably SNES quality, along with similar sound. We had to get extra carts, though, cause the one it comes with gets old fast.
The other thing I like about the VSmile is it has a portable counterpart. Think TurboGrafix 16, but for kids. We haven't purchased it yet, but I have to drive my daughter a few hours each way on my custody weekends, and that's something to help entertain her when we've played out all the Barney and Veggie Tales CDs...
One final comment -- if you get the VSmile, get the AC adapter. It takes 3C batteries, but they get eaten quickly, especially since small children are prone to turning the unit on without you knowing (and hence leaving it on for an extended period of time).
I see where you're coming from. I have to agree that I enjoy the first trilogy more. My stepkids like the newer trilogy better. I think it's because maybe the movies are more on their level than IV, V & VI.
Usenet, I think, will still remain the bastion of "smart" users for some time. Downloading files has gotten easier with servies like Newzbin, but there's still more involved than your typical P2P client. You still need to learn to use PAR and RAR files, and for most "basic" users, the concept of rejoining and decoding files is a bit far-fetched. Again, the software packages make it easier, but most people that I teach to use Usenet for file download end up saying, "P2P is much easier".
because I knew the ending and the whole thing felt like they were shoe horning a story I basically already knew into three long films
:
A couple of comments on this
1. This generation doesn't necessarily know the whole story, and Lucas has said that this Star Wars is for the old fans as well as the new ones. My 2 stepsons have seen the older trilogy but didn't quite put it all together. After seeing the frist trilogy they started to understand the connection better. I'm sure many younger kids are in the same position.
2. I somewhat disagree with the knowledge of the ending ruining the film experience. Most everyone knew the ending to Apollo 13, but that was still a great movie. I remember watching it in the theater thinking, "Maybe I'm wrong; maybe they did die in space." To me, that's good film making. I'm not saying that the prequels are the best movies ever made, but to me, they were fun rides. Sith did a fine job keeping me entertained, and I never felt that I was just waiting to get to the end so I could see Darth Vader being built.
My 2 cents...
I vote that it's more ignorance
I still cast my vote on the side of idiocy. My parents know nothing about how a computer works, to the point of calling me and asking where the "on button" is located when the power goes out (and my response is firstly, "where it was the last time you called about locating the 'on button'"). They don't use e-mail frequently, hardly ever chat and only browse a handful of websites. Because of this ignorance of how everything works, they run from things that don't immediately look familiar to them. They correctly delete spam messages from people they don't know (sometimes deleting relavent messages simply because the sender didn't LOOK like someone they knew), they always close popups and never click on strange links. They are ignorant to the ways of the computer, but they're not idiots, so they don't just blindly trudge into something they don't understand. Idiots click random links and reply to spam, etc. because they refuse to acknowledge their ignorance and act as if they know what they're doing.
I had a contract last year where they used GoToMeeting with good results. It seemed to be a rather spiffy program, but others that have used it more extensively may have deeper thoughts on it. Generally we used it to present changes to clients via our project manager's PC. We would all also call in to a meeting number and the client app tracked who was on the phone and who was watching the project manager's presentation.
https://www.gotomeeting.com/
Blizzard has done an awesome job of integrating the Warcraft stories into World of Warcraft. There is a quest on the Alliance side where you meet up with Jaina Proudmoore, who was a character in Warcraft III. If you play as the undead, you can see the entry to Undercity looks just like the throne room from the cut scenes in Warcraft III (where mad Prince Arthas assassinates his father). Mages have spells that rain down ice (like "Blizzard" in Warcraft II) and change enemies into sheep (just like "Polymorph" in Warcraft II). There are other instances, and I'm sure the list can go on and on. I personally never finished Warcraft III under single player, so there are probably many more references that I'm missing.
Little stuff like this makes me very impressed, and shows that Blizzard knows how to make a game world truly flourish.
And it shows you're in the group that I mentioned before : ignorant blowhards. For some stupid reason people here on Slashdot think IDE developer = developer must not be worth a damn. Since when did using an integrated development environment make you a bad coder? Are you saying that because I use a C++ dev tool (which happens to make development with VB.NET a breeze by generating a lot of code) makes me a developer that can't write a "hello world" program? That shows a lot of ignorance on your part.
Macromedia uses Visual Studio. Adobe uses Visual Studio. id Software uses Visual Studio. Are you saying that the developers at these and other renowed companies can't write a "hello world" program because of their dev tool choice? If you think this, then you're just a fucking idiot, plain and simple.
When I read some of these responses here, it sounds like a bunch of blowhards that are just bitching about IDEs in general. To make statements that Visual Studio causes you to write bad code or instills bad habits is no different than saying Linux students who use pico instead of emacs or vi will be poor coders. Your choice of editor has little bearing on how talented and/or meticulous you are about your code.
I've been using Visual Studio professionally since 4.2. I've also used CodeWarrior extensively on Mac OS. I'm sorry, but there is no substitute for a graphical editor with integrated compiler, linker and debugger. Tools like this are invaluable to a developer, and that's exactly what Visual Studio gives you. Sure, it can generate code skeletons, help with glue code for UI elements when using MFC/ATL, generate some (nasty) COM wrappers (hello, who here LIKES dealing with IDispatch?) when needed, etc. Raise your hand if you think writing IDL and RPC marshalling code is a fun weekend project. No thanks. I'm GLAD that I get certain things for free when it comes to my development tools.
The big catch is that you don't HAVE to do any of this. When you create a project, "Empty Project" is always an option. Developers that actually care about honing their skills pick this option. I've done this since I first touched VS in 1997, ALWAYS creating my own setup for GUI apps (Petzold-style, not MFC. I'll take the code generation there, thank you) and console apps alike. I'm a much better programmer for it, but it's only because I chose to take the time to learn how things work rather than blindly accepting what my IDE gives out. I generally only use generated code when I need complex COM object wrappers or want to quickly generate an MFC app as a test harness.
The key here is choice as well as environment. If you're using C++, you get a lot less help than if you're using VB.NET or C#. And the code that gets generated is usually basic setup code and GUI helpers. It's not like you have a button in the IDE that says, "generate code to spawn 5 threads and keep them all synchronized with an appropriate object". You can however say, "generate the basic functions for handling button events", which leaves you to concentrate on other important code that requires more manual intervention.
Maybe next we should gang up on Xcode from Apple. After all, they give you tools to do the same things that Visual Studio helps with and leave the developer with the same choices regarding manual vs. generated code.
It frustrates me when I read comments like this. Not all non-game programming industry jobs are boring. Think of it this way : are all auto mechanic jobs not working on Ferraris or Porsches boring because you're not in some sort of exclusive section of your industry? I've worked on call center software, IVR software, video playback software, PDA software, commercial shrinkwrap software and much more. All of it has been fun, and all of it has been challenging. Why? Because I love to code, and there are programming challenges to be solved in all types of software, not just games. I've talked with one of the largest banks in the country about working on their software, and trust me, there's a ton of fun stuff to do. It just doesn't involve games, but that doesn't make it boring.
And I will stand corrected on this, but most any job where you're making at least 6 figures will require more than 40 hours a week. Maybe some of that work is done at home, but it's still more than the standard man-week. Doctors, lawyers, programmers, etc. all have the potential to make a lot of money, but our companies usually demand a little extra in return.
Tell me about it -- I knew something was up when I only had 367 unread messages in my 'Spam' folder. I thought maybe the internet was down last night or something.
If you know the history for Gamestop (Babbage's Etc. in a previous life), then you'll retract your statement that closing down stores is a bad thing. When Babbage's and Software Etc. merged back in 1990-something, they left open competing stores in malls, leading to internal competition. This was a huge contributing factor to the Neostar Retail Group filing for bankruptcy and emerging as Babbage's Etc. with massive funding from Len Riggio, then CEO of Barnes & Noble. The current Gamestop leadership (which I think is relatively the same) is going to learn from their past mistakes, and closing stores is a part of that. I have met and spent time with the C-level of Gamestop and they are all sharp business people who know this industry inside and out. They want to see things succeed as much as you and I. Personally, I would rather see Gamestop stay intact and thriving than crumbling to bits due to bad management. I think the shareholders would agree!
Dallas is good because it is centrally located in the United States. There are a few other companies that I know of that located in Dallas for this reason. In addition, the main Gamestop office is right on the western edge of DFW International Airport, making shipping via FedEx, UPS, DHL and other carriers relatively easy. From working there over a period of a few years, I can think of a few instances where that worked to their advantage (Dreamcast launch for one).
This, unfortunately, is all too true, and it is something that I will never understand. A company will deny you rightful compensation, watch you leave, hire someone on AT THE SALARY YOU ASKED FOR and wait 6 months for them to get up to speed. All because company policy doesn't allow large pay increases.
The bottom line, and my response to the article, is this : with rare exception, there is no such thing as company loyalty. A business is a business, and they will do whatever it takes to stay in business, even if it means laying off their most loyal employees. I learned a long time ago to treat a company as a shark while I act as the lamprey. Find "resume building activities" that can help you while helping the company reach their goals (making shitloads of money). Always look out for yourself and your family and your career first so you're not stuck when the company decides that your department no longer meets the companies needs.
I know it sounds bad, but I've been burned too many times over the past 10 years as a developer. I've also seen way too many friends burned as well. I've worked for some high profile companies in the past several years, and all of them ultimately put their needs over the needs of the employees. The faster you learn that this is the way the world works, the better off you'll be!
Here's a better way to summarize the article :
If we're going to churn out students with a passion for engineering studies that actually KNOW their stuff, we need more teachers like Dr. Richard Feynman and less TA's who learned barely enough English to fill out their student visa forms.
And he's right. Some of us decided to suffer through our science and math courses, but many students turn to majors that are a bit less stressful in order to actually enjoy their college years. What's the fun in studying 5 hours a day for a single class only to get a 35% on a test? And then find out that 35% was a GOOD grade?!?! Most people don't want to see their tuition used in that manner. It's just us die hards that tend to tough it out. And you need more than a few die hards to keep a field of study moving forward for this country's future.