I know some people aren't into the multichannel recording thing but just to amplify: 5.1 channel audio recordings are available, even for those of you who have nothing more than a decent component CD player.
So go find yourself a DTS CD (you'll need a digital output to something with a DTS decoder, but that's still not really a big deal), or a multichannel SACD or DVDAudio, and its plain-old stereo CD equivalent.
For an example, Telarc's recent issue "Rainbow Body". Available on Audio CD and on SACD (note: if you aren't into classical music, I believe several of "The Police" albums are available in all four formats: CD, DTS CD, SACD and DVDAudio).
Listen to it in unmatrixed stereo from the CD recording. Telarc is an audiophile label, and it sounds good with my two ears.
Then try the same CD in a matrixed surround mode (Neo:6 or Dolby ProLogic II). It's a little gimmicky; most of your sound will come from your center and the surround channels will basically echo the front L/R channel. I can discern some directionality, even with my standard-issue two ears.
Then try the mulitchannel SACD version of the same recording: Now you have an even (if your speakers are properly placed and timbre-matched) pan from left to center to right, essentially matching the seating of the orchestra, and sparsely-used surrounds reserved for the reverberations of brass and percussion, much closer to the way someone in the audience might've heard it.
I can tell the difference between all three. This isn't a "golden ears" thing. If you actually listen to multichannel recordings for any length of time, you'll be able to tell, too.
Is the Palm really a viable platform for such an involved game? And, uh, which OS on the PPC? I mean, I've got probably 2 dozen Motorola StarMax machines out in my garage, so if that's all I need...
Do *try* to recall that broadband isn't available everywhere. No, the right answer is not "move someplace else". There are huge numbers of people in suburban and rural parts of the USA where the choices are $100-a-month DirecWay (if you can get it. I couldn't due to "lay of the land" issues) or crappy dialup.
Master of Magic is a game that deserves an update. A lot of dedicated people still play it, even as it gets harder and harder to make it run. It's a DOS game, but I mostly play it in DOSemu on a Linux machine (I have gotten it to run on 2000 and XP, though).
Mainly, it could use an update to make it more compatible with modern expectations of Windows games, like multitasking and perhaps some directX goodness for the otherwise simple, tile-based animations. Its AI was actually pretty good for its day, but I'm sure that modern standards could be well-applied there, too. I don't think it would take much to get zoomable views and support for higher resolutions, either.
I still manage to play about 1 game a week. It's held up very well for a game that's eight years old.
Another game that could use some updating is "Scorched Earth". I've played countless 3D versions that attempt to capture the fun of the original. None have quite given me the same simple joy I have when I napalm just right through an opponent's shield. I'm not asking for gameplay changes, just something that'll run on a more modern platform. Wendell Hicken, are you listening?
Syndicate was fun and different when it was released. Its graphics STILL look good, but a rotatable view would be nice. I haven't been able to make it run on NTish Windows, but if it could, I would. Wishlist here would be for a mission designer, decent 3D (I've played Syndicate II...) and perhaps adding a level of play at the business management level (e.g. investments, media management). Syndicate would be fun in a persistent world setting, too, with multiple corps, maybe some indy media types, criminal elements, government crusaders... sigh. There was nothing so fun as Persuadertron-ing an entire map of people to do your bidding, arming them, then destroying all your enemies with a horde of peons.
'Cause a lot of IT jobs call for CS/CIS grads, and I didn't want to do the trade school route.
I should've gotten my degree in something interesting like music or literature (of course, had I done that, it wouldn't be at Purdue). The degree I have isn't anything more than my receipt for four years of making it to class more often than not.
On the contrary: The A+ is an extremely valuable cert in several respects. First, it requires a move from hands-on learning to book learning. There are a lot of computer hobbyists and the like who think they know everything. Those guys are in for a shock when it's time to take the A+ exams, with questions about DOS and hardware they've never seen before. It's a good place to weed out morons, in other words.
Second, the A+ material touches on pretty much everything in the land of computer support. Networking, hardware and software. For someone just starting a career, it's a taste of things to come, and for someone who actually has the experience, it's a way to show that you've learned the lessons your job was supposed to teach. It *is* an entry level cert. I don't bother listing it on my resume, either (I put "and numerous CompTIA certifications" instead).
A+ isn't for everyone. It's not for those who already have a couple years of experience. It isn't needed by the guys with a high-level cert. But it's great for those who don't quite have a foot in the door. Given the volume of information an A+ candidate needs to know in order to pass the test, I think you should at least give some credit to those who get the cert.
Oddly enough, I have a BSCS degree from a good school (Purdue), a list of certs as long as my arm (Microsoft, Novell, Sun, Compaq, Lotus, Cisco...) and tons of experience, and I haven't found *any* of it to be that useful in getting an IT job.
I see most jobs going to friends of friends, or being offered on the basis of the IT recruiter willing to suck the most dick (literally, I worked a job where a recruiter slept with 3 different hiring managers to get 20 techies into a 1-year contract.)
What I ended up doing, and I'm not always pleased that I did it, is take a job as an IT trainer. I can certify on anything, for free, and my employer will pay for it. The guys who come into my classes with stars in their eyes mostly get fucked over when they're done, because all they did was study to pass some tests - and I always start my classes with a "It's really tough out there for IT guys now...", but a certain percentage of my students do have a clue, and those guys have managed to get into real IT jobs, and to do well. Because my schedule as a trainer is kind of weird, I usually have Friday - Sunday off from my trainer job + some time off durng middle of the day, which is more than enough time to keep in touch with old customers or to work side jobs.
Anyway, if you've got a decent educational background and a few different high-level certs, you can probably make a good living teaching others.
1. To answer some smartass above who suggested I'm gay: I'm not. I'm not into mommies and I still have strong feelings for my own ex.
2. To the guy who suggested going to his place of work: This winner doesn't work. Somehow I doubt the exchange I'd have with a man in his own home would be as worthwhile or effective as one in an office or factory floor full of people.
My first MP3 was a recording of "Une barque sur l'ocean" by Maurice Ravel. That was 1997, and was literally the only classical piece I could find on the internet. It sounded acceptable on computer speakers but not so good on my stereo. I devoted a considerable period of time thereafter trying to tell others about my music and trying to ensure that there would always be classical music available on the internet.
Presently that means around 200GB of files shared through FastTrack.
Just as a small correction, the nvidia Soundstorm chip matrixes any source (even mono if you're a wild man) to 6 channels. Mostly, it works very well, well enough that I'd probably pass the output from my CD jukeboxes through it if my A7N8X had a digital input.
Man, I can't STAND nvidia graphics cards. I have a bunch of overheating testicle-shitting rectal-wart Geforce2s and 3s nailed to the wall at my workbench. I rant about how shitty they are and I'm flamed regularly by people who apparently either like their AGP cards to come with leaf blowers, or who hate ATI even more.
But nforce soundstorm is EASILY the best matrixed stereo-to-surround technology available to consumers right now. I connected the SPDIF out on my HTPC's Asus A7N8X to my Integra 8.2 receiver, and, seriously, it does an amazing job with crummy stereo content on my PC like MP3s. Sometimes better than "real" DD5.1 tracks on DVDs.
Really, honestly, it's as good as you can do, and I don't have any complaints about nforce2 as a motherboard chipset, either.
So here's the thing: nvidia doesn't make chipsets for Intel. DTS Neo:6 is also better than DPL2 IMO. Why the fuck didn't Intel license either of those superior technologies?
Since I don't enjoy online gaming with all the 'leet 12-year-olds, why not make a discounted, dupable games with no network component as a sort of replacement for the now-dead-since-you-have-to-log-into-fileshack-or-s omething game demo? Put the non-networked version in the box for sale and let the 12-year-olds get mom's credit card to download the "premium" part.
Christy Canyon was stunning when she was 18 or 19 years old (around 1985). She kept performing until at least '97, though, so if your only memory of her is mid-90s, you missed her best work. If you can dig up a copy of "On Golden Blonde", you'll see what I mean.
Why not Fantasia 2000, especially if you've got a HT setup that does DTS? "The Firebird" (the last piece in the movie) makes a fantastic demonstration of what a home theater setup can do.
The recent remake of "Solaris" is cool, too. The production design and cinematography on that movie is breathtaking, and the Cliff Martinez score is remarkable. The movie itself is so low-key that it's very easy to step away from; there just isn't that much to see besides the cool visuals (and George Clooney's ass, if you're into that sort of thing).
OK, some non-artsy choice: If all you have are geeks: Monty Python. It must be said. Holy Grail, Life of Brian, whatever. A roomfull of fans and the fun is in watching with the sound off, to see who remembers the most lines.
If your party is a bunch of alienated, socially awkward geeks who might actually sit down and watch a movie instead of talking at a party, I'd suggest "Ghost World". We are all Seymour.
Or maybe Aronofsky's "pi", which is visually very stark and distinct, and has a cool plot involving math(!) and an interesting score.
I think Naqoyqatsi isn't on the same level as the first two. It's not Glass's best work, for one thing, and those movies are as much Glass as Reggio. Koyaanisqatsi is best for the score but Powaqqatsi is probably better visually.
For the uninitiated too lazy to click on a link, the "Qatsi" movies are a visual tour of man's effect on Earth. If you're watching it from the corner of your eye, you'll miss a lot of the impact of the films.
Her new stuff with Justin Sterling is just... not very good.
If you're going for acceptable background fucking I think the Tera Patrick "Island Fever" movies are OK. Good photography, decent music (for porn) and it's all straight M/F sex.
If you're going to actually WATCH a movie, I'd say something funny. Simon Wolfe's Naughty Bedtime Stories or Ron Jeremy's or kitschier work.
Dell and for that matter Microsoft both initially backed the DVD+R/W format. Microsoft's announcement that it would in fact support the -R format in future versions of windows was a big enough deal that it made the frontpage of/. about 6 months ago.
The dell situation has been in place for two or three years. Where have y'all been that you hadn't heard when this was actually news?
Until VERY recently I had a sub-28.8 connection to the internet.
Someone gave me a boxed copy of Halflife with CS. I blissfully played the single-player game.
Then that same someone showed up with his PC. "Let's play CS!", he said.... and my copy wouldn't work with mine. At all. I thought: OK, I'll just download the updates.
The in-game updater throws errors. "That's certainly odd", I thought.
My friend tells me about steam.
I have to SIGN UP with some retarded game site in order to download the steam installer, and wait 20 minutes to download the installer.
And then I found out that the installer was 600something MB.
Which, at 28.8, is a solid couple of days of downloading.
WHY THE *FUCK* WASN'T THE STEAM VERSION IN THE BOX!?! My friend tells me the only thing I needed out of my nice box was the serial number for Half Life. I know the game has been out for a while but if the content for the game has changed that much why are they selling it?
Now I have broadband, I've signed up with the retarded game site, downloaded the 600something MB of CS updates, and found one of the most god-awful launcher programs in the history of time. Window-spawning, moderately incomprehensible stats, a "search" feature that doesn't work and no explanation as to what all the different games are.
Fuck it. I went back to the program that came in my box.
The Serious Sam games from Crotean retailed for $20 new. I don't know how much those games were pirated but Crotean did well enough to release a second volume.
Slashdot Mirror
I know some people aren't into the multichannel recording thing but just to amplify: 5.1 channel audio recordings are available, even for those of you who have nothing more than a decent component CD player.
So go find yourself a DTS CD (you'll need a digital output to something with a DTS decoder, but that's still not really a big deal), or a multichannel SACD or DVDAudio, and its plain-old stereo CD equivalent.
For an example, Telarc's recent issue "Rainbow Body". Available on Audio CD and on SACD (note: if you aren't into classical music, I believe several of "The Police" albums are available in all four formats: CD, DTS CD, SACD and DVDAudio).
Listen to it in unmatrixed stereo from the CD recording. Telarc is an audiophile label, and it sounds good with my two ears.
Then try the same CD in a matrixed surround mode (Neo:6 or Dolby ProLogic II). It's a little gimmicky; most of your sound will come from your center and the surround channels will basically echo the front L/R channel. I can discern some directionality, even with my standard-issue two ears.
Then try the mulitchannel SACD version of the same recording: Now you have an even (if your speakers are properly placed and timbre-matched) pan from left to center to right, essentially matching the seating of the orchestra, and sparsely-used surrounds reserved for the reverberations of brass and percussion, much closer to the way someone in the audience might've heard it.
I can tell the difference between all three. This isn't a "golden ears" thing. If you actually listen to multichannel recordings for any length of time, you'll be able to tell, too.
I was more concerned about the size and quality of the display and pointing implement than the CPU requirements.
Is the Palm really a viable platform for such an involved game?
And, uh, which OS on the PPC? I mean, I've got probably 2 dozen Motorola StarMax machines out in my garage, so if that's all I need...
Do *try* to recall that broadband isn't available everywhere. No, the right answer is not "move someplace else". There are huge numbers of people in suburban and rural parts of the USA where the choices are $100-a-month DirecWay (if you can get it. I couldn't due to "lay of the land" issues) or crappy dialup.
Worms is a different experience, especially with the ninja ropes and goodie boxes. I enjoy it, too, but Scorch is still in a class all its own.
Master of Magic is a game that deserves an update. A lot of dedicated people still play it, even as it gets harder and harder to make it run. It's a DOS game, but I mostly play it in DOSemu on a Linux machine (I have gotten it to run on 2000 and XP, though).
Mainly, it could use an update to make it more compatible with modern expectations of Windows games, like multitasking and perhaps some directX goodness for the otherwise simple, tile-based animations. Its AI was actually pretty good for its day, but I'm sure that modern standards could be well-applied there, too. I don't think it would take much to get zoomable views and support for higher resolutions, either.
I still manage to play about 1 game a week. It's held up very well for a game that's eight years old.
Another game that could use some updating is "Scorched Earth". I've played countless 3D versions that attempt to capture the fun of the original. None have quite given me the same simple joy I have when I napalm just right through an opponent's shield. I'm not asking for gameplay changes, just something that'll run on a more modern platform. Wendell Hicken, are you listening?
Syndicate was fun and different when it was released. Its graphics STILL look good, but a rotatable view would be nice. I haven't been able to make it run on NTish Windows, but if it could, I would. Wishlist here would be for a mission designer, decent 3D (I've played Syndicate II...) and perhaps adding a level of play at the business management level (e.g. investments, media management). Syndicate would be fun in a persistent world setting, too, with multiple corps, maybe some indy media types, criminal elements, government crusaders... sigh.
There was nothing so fun as Persuadertron-ing an entire map of people to do your bidding, arming them, then destroying all your enemies with a horde of peons.
Sadly true. I've gotten a couple contracts by recommendation, but in general I don't do the social networking thing very well.
'Cause a lot of IT jobs call for CS/CIS grads, and I didn't want to do the trade school route.
I should've gotten my degree in something interesting like music or literature (of course, had I done that, it wouldn't be at Purdue). The degree I have isn't anything more than my receipt for four years of making it to class more often than not.
On the contrary: The A+ is an extremely valuable cert in several respects. First, it requires a move from hands-on learning to book learning. There are a lot of computer hobbyists and the like who think they know everything. Those guys are in for a shock when it's time to take the A+ exams, with questions about DOS and hardware they've never seen before.
It's a good place to weed out morons, in other words.
Second, the A+ material touches on pretty much everything in the land of computer support. Networking, hardware and software. For someone just starting a career, it's a taste of things to come, and for someone who actually has the experience, it's a way to show that you've learned the lessons your job was supposed to teach. It *is* an entry level cert. I don't bother listing it on my resume, either (I put "and numerous CompTIA certifications" instead).
A+ isn't for everyone. It's not for those who already have a couple years of experience. It isn't needed by the guys with a high-level cert. But it's great for those who don't quite have a foot in the door. Given the volume of information an A+ candidate needs to know in order to pass the test, I think you should at least give some credit to those who get the cert.
Oddly enough, I have a BSCS degree from a good school (Purdue), a list of certs as long as my arm (Microsoft, Novell, Sun, Compaq, Lotus, Cisco...) and tons of experience, and I haven't found *any* of it to be that useful in getting an IT job.
I see most jobs going to friends of friends, or being offered on the basis of the IT recruiter willing to suck the most dick (literally, I worked a job where a recruiter slept with 3 different hiring managers to get 20 techies into a 1-year contract.)
What I ended up doing, and I'm not always pleased that I did it, is take a job as an IT trainer. I can certify on anything, for free, and my employer will pay for it. The guys who come into my classes with stars in their eyes mostly get fucked over when they're done, because all they did was study to pass some tests - and I always start my classes with a "It's really tough out there for IT guys now...", but a certain percentage of my students do have a clue, and those guys have managed to get into real IT jobs, and to do well. Because my schedule as a trainer is kind of weird, I usually have Friday - Sunday off from my trainer job + some time off durng middle of the day, which is more than enough time to keep in touch with old customers or to work side jobs.
Anyway, if you've got a decent educational background and a few different high-level certs, you can probably make a good living teaching others.
1. To answer some smartass above who suggested I'm gay: I'm not. I'm not into mommies and I still have strong feelings for my own ex.
2. To the guy who suggested going to his place of work: This winner doesn't work. Somehow I doubt the exchange I'd have with a man in his own home would be as worthwhile or effective as one in an office or factory floor full of people.
Finally, to the other AC:
I will email you.
My first MP3 was a recording of "Une barque sur l'ocean" by Maurice Ravel. That was 1997, and was literally the only classical piece I could find on the internet. It sounded acceptable on computer speakers but not so good on my stereo. I devoted a considerable period of time thereafter trying to tell others about my music and trying to ensure that there would always be classical music available on the internet.
Presently that means around 200GB of files shared through FastTrack.
Just as a small correction, the nvidia Soundstorm chip matrixes any source (even mono if you're a wild man) to 6 channels. Mostly, it works very well, well enough that I'd probably pass the output from my CD jukeboxes through it if my A7N8X had a digital input.
Man, I can't STAND nvidia graphics cards. I have a bunch of overheating testicle-shitting rectal-wart Geforce2s and 3s nailed to the wall at my workbench. I rant about how shitty they are and I'm flamed regularly by people who apparently either like their AGP cards to come with leaf blowers, or who hate ATI even more.
But nforce soundstorm is EASILY the best matrixed stereo-to-surround technology available to consumers right now. I connected the SPDIF out on my HTPC's Asus A7N8X to my Integra 8.2 receiver, and, seriously, it does an amazing job with crummy stereo content on my PC like MP3s. Sometimes better than "real" DD5.1 tracks on DVDs.
Really, honestly, it's as good as you can do, and I don't have any complaints about nforce2 as a motherboard chipset, either.
So here's the thing: nvidia doesn't make chipsets for Intel. DTS Neo:6 is also better than DPL2 IMO. Why the fuck didn't Intel license either of those superior technologies?
Since I don't enjoy online gaming with all the 'leet 12-year-olds, why not make a discounted, dupable games with no network component as a sort of replacement for the now-dead-since-you-have-to-log-into-fileshack-or-s omething game demo? Put the non-networked version in the box for sale and let the 12-year-olds get mom's credit card to download the "premium" part.
Windows XP for 64-bit Extended Editions is available in MSDN subscriber downloads.
I (heart) my Action Pack subscription.
But other than a different splash screen, XP64 isn't much different from the normal one.
Christy Canyon was stunning when she was 18 or 19 years old (around 1985). She kept performing until at least '97, though, so if your only memory of her is mid-90s, you missed her best work. If you can dig up a copy of "On Golden Blonde", you'll see what I mean.
I have three full 400 DVD changers in additions to my file servers. I like having everything at my fingertips.
... or half the storage in my house.
Start working with video files and 2500GB is just a "good start".
Why not Fantasia 2000, especially if you've got a HT setup that does DTS?
"The Firebird" (the last piece in the movie) makes a fantastic demonstration of what a home theater setup can do.
The recent remake of "Solaris" is cool, too. The production design and cinematography on that movie is breathtaking, and the Cliff Martinez score is remarkable. The movie itself is so low-key that it's very easy to step away from; there just isn't that much to see besides the cool visuals (and George Clooney's ass, if you're into that sort of thing).
OK, some non-artsy choice:
If all you have are geeks: Monty Python. It must be said. Holy Grail, Life of Brian, whatever. A roomfull of fans and the fun is in watching with the sound off, to see who remembers the most lines.
If your party is a bunch of alienated, socially awkward geeks who might actually sit down and watch a movie instead of talking at a party, I'd suggest "Ghost World". We are all Seymour.
Or maybe Aronofsky's "pi", which is visually very stark and distinct, and has a cool plot involving math(!) and an interesting score.
Horny Guys? Midget porno.
I think Naqoyqatsi isn't on the same level as the first two. It's not Glass's best work, for one thing, and those movies are as much Glass as Reggio. Koyaanisqatsi is best for the score but Powaqqatsi is probably better visually.
For the uninitiated too lazy to click on a link, the "Qatsi" movies are a visual tour of man's effect on Earth. If you're watching it from the corner of your eye, you'll miss a lot of the impact of the films.
I think she did better work in "Blue Movie".
Her new stuff with Justin Sterling is just... not very good.
If you're going for acceptable background fucking I think the Tera Patrick "Island Fever" movies are OK. Good photography, decent music (for porn) and it's all straight M/F sex.
If you're going to actually WATCH a movie, I'd say something funny. Simon Wolfe's Naughty Bedtime Stories or Ron Jeremy's or kitschier work.
Dell and for that matter Microsoft both initially backed the DVD+R/W format. Microsoft's announcement that it would in fact support the -R format in future versions of windows was a big enough deal that it made the frontpage of /. about 6 months ago.
The dell situation has been in place for two or three years. Where have y'all been that you hadn't heard when this was actually news?
Steam is a lousy idea.
... and my copy wouldn't work with mine. At all.
Until VERY recently I had a sub-28.8 connection to the internet.
Someone gave me a boxed copy of Halflife with CS. I blissfully played the single-player game.
Then that same someone showed up with his PC. "Let's play CS!", he said.
I thought: OK, I'll just download the updates.
The in-game updater throws errors. "That's certainly odd", I thought.
My friend tells me about steam.
I have to SIGN UP with some retarded game site in order to download the steam installer, and wait 20 minutes to download the installer.
And then I found out that the installer was 600something MB.
Which, at 28.8, is a solid couple of days of downloading.
WHY THE *FUCK* WASN'T THE STEAM VERSION IN THE BOX!?! My friend tells me the only thing I needed out of my nice box was the serial number for Half Life. I know the game has been out for a while but if the content for the game has changed that much why are they selling it?
Now I have broadband, I've signed up with the retarded game site, downloaded the 600something MB of CS updates, and found one of the most god-awful launcher programs in the history of time. Window-spawning, moderately incomprehensible stats, a "search" feature that doesn't work and no explanation as to what all the different games are.
Fuck it. I went back to the program that came in my box.
The Serious Sam games from Crotean retailed for $20 new. I don't know how much those games were pirated but Crotean did well enough to release a second volume.