Whenever I used to see someone using Star Wars to promote their open source zealotry, I would cringe. Now I have the peace of mind knowing that at least they won't be reproducing.
And that the vast majority of Microsoft's "innovations" were clever buys from little software companies like Loma Prieta (FrontPage) and Bungie.(Halo)
Only on Slashdot would I see FrontPage and Halo listed as examples of Microsoft's "innovations". It's quite revealing in describing your experience with Microsoft products.
If it somehow found a way (legally) into my house and onto my hard drive, it belongs to nobody else but me, and as long as I keep it for myself, I'm allowed to do whatever I damn well please with it.
If an iTunes DRM'ed protected AAC file found it's way legally to your hard drive, I'm going to guess that happened using iTunes, the terms of which you agreed to. So, if you agreed to to their terms before using their service, I believe you are going to be legally bound to those tunes, no?
In fact, DRM exists because copyright holders know this. Otherwise, there wouldn't be a need for DRM! The whole point of DRM is to keep you from doing things you are legally entitled to do as specifically written in copyright law.
What things are you legally entitled to do as specifically written in copyright law that Apple iTunes prevents you from doing? I would highly advise you read section IV of the ruling in the MPAA v. 2600 case for more information on "fair use". The term is so heavily misused on Slashdot that it has become meaningless.
Out of the entire list, that was title I'm most anxious for. I actually never did purchase it for the N64, just rented it twice. I rarely purchased N64 games, but I definately will be purchasing this when it comes out for the GC.
You are correct though as to what they could really do differently. The game was just about perfect. A graphical uprgrade wouldn't hurt, but it's not the most graphically intense game anyway.
Even LAN support wouldn't make sense because the whole thing takes place on one screen. Perhaps online support? That would truly rock, but isn't going to happen.
OpenGL and SDL are still the only way to obtain true cross-platform compatibility - not being able to cross-compile for Linux and Macintosh cuts you out of about 15% of the market, and that's TODAY. In a year and a half, when any game project started today would ship, the ratio's going to be a lot more heavily weighted in favor of Linux and OSX, possibly as much as 20%
15%?? In a year and a half, 20%??
Did you have to get proctologist to get deep enough for those numbers?
All Microsoft products are xxx Next. Yukon is SQL Server Next, Whidbey is Visual Studio Next, Longhorn is Windows Next. Its just a way to refer to the version currently being worked on.
Um, what? I've never heard those before. Each of the products you mentioned were codenamed: SQL Server - Yukon, Visual Studio.NET - Whidbey, Windows - Longhorn, but I've never heard the term "Next" in any codenames. Also, the next versions of SQL Server and Visual Studio have already been officially named, "SQL Server 2005" and "Visual Studio.NET 2005", respectively.
Where are you getting this about using the word "Next"?
That's really all the hard disk brings to the table.
I would have loved to have seen what they could have done at Nintendo with Animal Crossing if they had a hard drive. As it is, it's an amazingly fun game. With more room, the city could have been much bigger and there could have been a lot more customizable content. As it was, they were dealing with the Nintendo Memory Card 57 which I think was 8Mb (~1/2 MB).
I agree with the comments on online play and complex play mechanics, but as far as FPS, I've yet to enjoy playing an FPS on a console.
I do agree that FPS play is superior on a computer with keyboard/mouse combinations, but I still have a lot of fun playing multiplayer FPS's on a console. The split screen really sucks, which is why I want online or at least networked play. But what is sorely missing on the PC is the easy ability to voice chat with friends and opponents like on XBox Live. Plus, it is difficult to keep up with the constantly shifting demands and requirements for playing the latest FPS's.
Have you ever tried Timesplitters 2? It was an awesome console FPS. If I could have that online with voice chat on my console, it would have been perfect.
I'm a proud owner of SMB2 and I love the game. You make a good point in terms of a game that is simple, yet challenging. However, the game I play the most often, and have since I purchased it, would be Soul Calibur II. It's a rather complex fighting game with astounding graphics. And it's a favorite of my friends too.
It also doesn't seem to fall into Nintendo's notion of what a great game should be. There general focus seems to drift further and further from what I'm getting interested in as I get older. Now, please don't take that to mean I'm into gory, violent or "adult" games, because I'm not. However, I am interested in things like online play, complex play mechanics, FPS's, etc.
Nintendo President Satoru Iwata has said on numerous occasions that the video game industry has started to alienate fans by developing games that are too complex and too heavily dependent on graphics.
As I a Nintendo fan-boy that has owned ever Nintendo console since I was 12 years old, I'm starting to find myself more and more dissatisifed with the company. Don't get me wrong, I really do enjoy my GameCube, and I have a ton of fun with the big games for the system. But it seems that Nintendo has really developed this attitude that all games have to be really, simple with no flashy graphics to be fun. And their attitude towards online play has really bothered me. I'm an adult now with a family. I don't always have time now to get a bunch of friends together to play Nintendo. I'd like online play so I can play with friends. I don't mind better graphics. I don't mind some complexity in my gaming.
It's possible that I may be switching to another company for my next console choice. I'll just have to see what Nintendo is planning on offering me for the next go-around.
Ok, so you mean MS is breaking compatibility from "legacy" software with their NEW product? Not exactly shocking news here but still disheartening.
Um, yeah. I don't know how many times I've had to point this out, but did you know you can still run the apps that came with Windows 2.0 in Windows XP? How about the fact you can open Office documents from Office 95 in the newest version of Office (minus Access apps)? In the tech industry, Microsoft is the king of backwards compatibility.
Let's see here, I've got around 4 or 5 unsolicited mails here. All of them look to be from legitimate businesses. All of them have paid money to try to solicit me.
...Checks Yahoo! inbox...
Hmm, around 150 unsolicited emails in a single day. I don't dare look at them because of the web bugs, scams, etc. that are present.
Do you think that if postal mail didn't cost anything that I'd be receiving only 4 or 5 unsolicited mailings a day?
Um, I have this friend who used to date Linus Torvalds. One time, this friend was watching Linus install Linux and um, he was really frustrated and said "Man, this whole thing sucks! Why did I ever write it!". Seriously, and then Linus pulled out a crack pipe and started smoking.
Slashdot Mirror
Whenever I used to see someone using Star Wars to promote their open source zealotry, I would cringe. Now I have the peace of mind knowing that at least they won't be reproducing.
Only on Slashdot would I see FrontPage and Halo listed as examples of Microsoft's "innovations". It's quite revealing in describing your experience with Microsoft products.
If an iTunes DRM'ed protected AAC file found it's way legally to your hard drive, I'm going to guess that happened using iTunes, the terms of which you agreed to. So, if you agreed to to their terms before using their service, I believe you are going to be legally bound to those tunes, no?
What things are you legally entitled to do as specifically written in copyright law that Apple iTunes prevents you from doing? I would highly advise you read section IV of the ruling in the MPAA v. 2600 case for more information on "fair use". The term is so heavily misused on Slashdot that it has become meaningless.
Out of the entire list, that was title I'm most anxious for. I actually never did purchase it for the N64, just rented it twice. I rarely purchased N64 games, but I definately will be purchasing this when it comes out for the GC.
You are correct though as to what they could really do differently. The game was just about perfect. A graphical uprgrade wouldn't hurt, but it's not the most graphically intense game anyway.
Even LAN support wouldn't make sense because the whole thing takes place on one screen. Perhaps online support? That would truly rock, but isn't going to happen.
Is that like some mad scientist created mixture of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush?
Not really.
Actually, the reason they can't use the VAT on open source work is that usually, there is no value-added.
Yeah, I got karma to burn.
I'm trying to figure out which is more lame, Slashdot on April 1st, or the phrase "hella lame".
It's a toss up.
If not for the possible trademark infringment with whoever owns Jello, that would make a great ad slogan.
15%?? In a year and a half, 20%??
Did you have to get proctologist to get deep enough for those numbers?
Um, what? I've never heard those before. Each of the products you mentioned were codenamed: SQL Server - Yukon, Visual Studio .NET - Whidbey, Windows - Longhorn, but I've never heard the term "Next" in any codenames. Also, the next versions of SQL Server and Visual Studio have already been officially named, "SQL Server 2005" and "Visual Studio .NET 2005", respectively.
Where are you getting this about using the word "Next"?
I would have loved to have seen what they could have done at Nintendo with Animal Crossing if they had a hard drive. As it is, it's an amazingly fun game. With more room, the city could have been much bigger and there could have been a lot more customizable content. As it was, they were dealing with the Nintendo Memory Card 57 which I think was 8Mb (~1/2 MB).
n/t
We just picked up Animal Crossing (GCN), and my wife seems to like that. She also enjoys puzzle-like games.
Hmm, why did you just mention Arnold and Bush then to begin with?
I do agree that FPS play is superior on a computer with keyboard/mouse combinations, but I still have a lot of fun playing multiplayer FPS's on a console. The split screen really sucks, which is why I want online or at least networked play. But what is sorely missing on the PC is the easy ability to voice chat with friends and opponents like on XBox Live. Plus, it is difficult to keep up with the constantly shifting demands and requirements for playing the latest FPS's.
Have you ever tried Timesplitters 2? It was an awesome console FPS. If I could have that online with voice chat on my console, it would have been perfect.
I'm a proud owner of SMB2 and I love the game. You make a good point in terms of a game that is simple, yet challenging. However, the game I play the most often, and have since I purchased it, would be Soul Calibur II. It's a rather complex fighting game with astounding graphics. And it's a favorite of my friends too.
It also doesn't seem to fall into Nintendo's notion of what a great game should be. There general focus seems to drift further and further from what I'm getting interested in as I get older. Now, please don't take that to mean I'm into gory, violent or "adult" games, because I'm not. However, I am interested in things like online play, complex play mechanics, FPS's, etc.
Good article. I noticed this bit:
As I a Nintendo fan-boy that has owned ever Nintendo console since I was 12 years old, I'm starting to find myself more and more dissatisifed with the company. Don't get me wrong, I really do enjoy my GameCube, and I have a ton of fun with the big games for the system. But it seems that Nintendo has really developed this attitude that all games have to be really, simple with no flashy graphics to be fun. And their attitude towards online play has really bothered me. I'm an adult now with a family. I don't always have time now to get a bunch of friends together to play Nintendo. I'd like online play so I can play with friends. I don't mind better graphics. I don't mind some complexity in my gaming.
It's possible that I may be switching to another company for my next console choice. I'll just have to see what Nintendo is planning on offering me for the next go-around.
From the grandparent:
Most universities don't teach "programming". They are teaching "computer science". You might do well to learn the difference.
If you just want to be a programmer, you might want to look at something like CIS.
Interesting that someone who would complain about the usage of language would have a subject that tries to convey an idea in code.
Um, yeah. I don't know how many times I've had to point this out, but did you know you can still run the apps that came with Windows 2.0 in Windows XP? How about the fact you can open Office documents from Office 95 in the newest version of Office (minus Access apps)? In the tech industry, Microsoft is the king of backwards compatibility.
Um, yeeeah....
Let's see here, I've got around 4 or 5 unsolicited mails here. All of them look to be from legitimate businesses. All of them have paid money to try to solicit me.
Hmm, around 150 unsolicited emails in a single day. I don't dare look at them because of the web bugs, scams, etc. that are present.
Do you think that if postal mail didn't cost anything that I'd be receiving only 4 or 5 unsolicited mailings a day?
Oh wow, I get it. Blue Screens. Windows.
Heh, nice.
Interesting? Um, ok. Let me try.
Um, I have this friend who used to date Linus Torvalds. One time, this friend was watching Linus install Linux and um, he was really frustrated and said "Man, this whole thing sucks! Why did I ever write it!". Seriously, and then Linus pulled out a crack pipe and started smoking.