Whenever you hear the unemployment rate on TV, it's about 5.6%. This in NO way is counting underemployment/discouraged workers. If those were counted, the unemployment rate would be closer to 9%.
The numbers are VERY politicized, and not to be trusted. Even further, you hear talk about "new jobs', being created, even though that's just a positive number, with no indication of the negative, (Jobs leaving+People entering workfore).
You need a game that is controlled enough to allow you to practice, yet intense enough to constantly push yourself.
I suggest Day of Defeat, a Half-Life Mod (Although you can find a stand-alone version). It'll allow you to get good practice without getting boring.
The "cool-down" time is only 15 seconds or so after dying, so you're never sitting out too long. Pick a map, and learn that map, and play that map. (I suggest Caen or Avalanche to start.)
Actually what it was supposed to be was a third-person combat/strategy type multi-player based game, a la Natural Selection.
Something that would have been ground-breaking. Instead, what was released for the X-Box was a well made, but very conventional shooter. The PC/MAC versions WOULD be better, with Internet play built in, but are buggy as shit.
MacSoft should have ported a better game than Halo. That's their problem.
I feel bad for the record stores. I really do. They've been screwed by the labels.
The average, mid-sized record store has been reduced to basic meaninglessness. Forget downloading. The labels focus on less megahits as opposed to a more evenhanded approach to music has left them in a pickle.
The average listerner to music only wants the latest big hits. Because of this, the big box stores can use their size advantage and price them right out of the market. As well, they don't need to dedicate much floor space to this at all.
Locally, there is not a single store dedicated to new music. Not one. One record store closed, and the other sells more DVDs than CDs, and has more store space dedicated to it. CDs are reduced to one wall and one row.
Are Books necessary? I would say no. Young kids are very unlikely to read anything that's really going to enrich their minds. They'll be stuck reading "See Spot Run" instead of reading some book with some actual information. And like it or not, don't say "The Classics", because for the most part those are just as unneeded as anything.
Are computers necessary? Nah. There are plenty of jobs that you can get without any computer experience. If computer experience is necessary, then all computer time should be in instruction, not in usage.
But it's not what the point is what is necessary. It takes more than just information to make a well rounded person. VGs are actually very good for a young person these days. It's an easy point of reference, a way for someone to get social contact in this closed off world.
The problem with that, is that will there be enough money coming into the economic eco-system to prevent massive deinflation or even stagflation?
IANAE (I am not an economocist), although that might give me an advantage in these things:p, however it seems to me that things are running awfully close to the breaking point in that regard as it is.
Can the American economy survive structural unemployment going into the teens? Can any economy? How will that impact the society at large?
Big questions. Maybe too big for/. But they are very important ones.
The problem is, you can't maintain an economy on service-based jobs alone. There has to be some sort of wealth creation at some level other than profit-taking.
It's nice being able to pop-in any of the old Square games for some playtime when the feeling hits you. Right now I'm playing through FFIV for the PS2 again.
My PS1 is sitting in the Den awaiting my DDR dance pad for some good exercise...
I don't think it matters too much that the graphics files were stolen. I think what really matters is that the network code was stolen.
That would allow almost unlimited cheating in HL2 on launch..as well presumibly with some big mod releases simultaniously. (Wouldn't you love HL2 engine versions of CS and DoD included on disk?). That WOULD stop me from buying it. I'm glad it's delayed.
I'm currently reading the second part of that story (It really is one long story. It ends in a cliffhanger of sorts). I'm glad to see it make that list, it is really good.
It may be one of the first "modern" sci-fi stories. Namely that it plays forward some familiar themes from today, and not just 60 years ago. (It seemed to me that science ficition for the most part was stuck in WWII/Cold War logic). One main part of the books is how immortality begets laziness...and how intellectual property plays into that. (One of the main characters, a Senator, is in the middle of a centuries long fillibuster of even more strict IP rules.)
As well, the idea of micro-combat instead of macro-combat is extremly interesting and well done.
Voice mod was recent addition? Hmph. I'm a new subscriber to the Half-Life engine. (Relativly speaking. About a year or so)
Natural Selection is great for voice mod, as people tend to get into it:) Screaming for help when an Oros has you in its tummy is fun. As well, people tend to try and help you more. The game also requires much more communication than the average FPS to play well.
Myself, if a game is complicated enough control wise to require this sort of voice-control, at least for basic commands, then the game might very well be TOO complicated.
In this case, they should start thinking hard at putting a bit more focus into their game.
However, voice is very cool for games, mainly for multiplayer games communicating with your teammates. The Half-Life engine was built with this in mind. It works for the more team based games. I've been playing a lot of Day of Defeat/Natural Selection, and people in those games rely on the voice communication. It works a lot faster than typing things in.
Then again, in Subspace/Continnuum, Chat Macros are easy enough that voice never took off. Sooo..whatever.
Not all graphical splendor is due to technology or polygon pushing. A large part of it is due to design decisions that will make to tend something pleasing, or not pleasing.
The graphics have improved to the point where creators have a pretty damn big canvas to work on. Just improving the technology isn't good enough anymore. It's all about making your game feel good. That's really what it's all about.
Highlights:
Day of Defeat, don't have the computer specs for Call of Duty, at least by the demo. However, I don't really miss it, having such an exceptional game such as DoD. Simple graphics, relativly speaking, but having more atmosphere than most other games. It's just great.
Sure, it was just released, but throw in Natural Selection 3.0. A good idea that was never fully realized, in my eyes, hits the big time with an amazing Combat mode. A great mix between RPG and FPS.
Steam started off rocky, but I like the idea of it. Especially for mods that are under constant design and redesign. Additional servers should help, as well, I would like to see Valve open it up to more mods. NS for one could use it.
Diablo II 1.10. Adds a lot to the game, new synergies give it a whole new life.
Rise of Empires. Half-Civilization, Half-Age of Empires. Massive battles.
Freelance: I was skeptical of the mouse-only control configuration, but it's the best space-pilot sim since Totally Games.
Vice City:Playing Vice City with a Gamecube controller and a custom soundtrack rocks.
Tap A Jam:Check out Gamehouse and see what I mean.
Lowlights:
No FFXI in Canada yet. WTF?
Lionheart:Cool setting. Amazingly sucky game design.
Knights of the Old Republic:Old-school RPG gaming with flashy new lights. Massive screens of reading doesn't make up for boring gameplay. (See Morrowind)
Overall? It's actually not looking too bad for the ol' PC. If Vid card prices continue to fall, and processor/RAM requirements stay constant, then sales will stay good.
The problem is a lack of design expandibility. PC gamers expect the same old thing, just packaged in a nicer box. (Sorry, but it's true). Consoles seem to be much riskier at the moment when it comes to game design, which is why they are growing much faster I think.
Not only that, but speaking for myself, sometimes you get little gifts. I just had HL:GotY edition, but once I ran it through Steam, I had access to Opposing Force as well.
That's something, in my mind that is society wide. This is the sort of thing that sticks in my craw. These people, they have no pride in their work. They think they need to get the payment up front. That in a nutshell, they have to trick people into buying their chairs.
This goes for business, politics, technology, entertainment. It's just a lot of deception. It's about fooling people into thinking you have a good product, not actually having one.
I'm an avid DoD player, and snipers are a way of life. I don't complain too much about them, mainly because I'm skilled enough to kill them.
And frankly, if I decide to "snipe", I'm usually using the Kar or the Garand, depending on the side I'm on. I'm MUCH faster and MUCH more accurate with them. As well, I have more flexibility, and more grenades, which is important in that game.
You missed the sarcasm tag. Too bad it's invisible.
The reason I said that, wasn't that I agreed with it. Just that they're going to try and make it happen. And some people will just follow them right down the rabbit hole, just like you said. They'll say to do anything else will be socialistic!
Theoretically, why would you have no right to use a second-hand product? Because what some of these companies want, is for you to license the material, not purchase it. And for the license to be non-transferrable.
Now, for myself. I'm a person who thinks that "piracy" is actually a good thing, as being able to try something before you plunk down your hard-earned cash is essential to a free market. A free market depends on perfect information. I want to know if a piece of software is going to crash/how good it is before I throw down my cash. However, from a moral standpoint personally, I don't really make a distinction between "piracy"/used purchases/renting. I do all of them, myself from time to time. However, I realize that I'm not helping the producer one bit. Fuck 'em. If I like it/it's good enough, I'll support it..PROVIDING YOU OFFER IT FOR SALE. In a nutshell, I'm not going to pay 30$ to EB or another store to purchase a used game when NO money goes to the producer, when I can download it for free. So your rant is somewhat misplaced.
Nice rant 'tho:)
Via the law. Why?
To the companies, media renting and used selling is piracy. Plain and simple. It has the same effects as piracy. It lowers sales overall, and people get to use something without paying them for it.
Sure, there's fair use rights, but that doesn't mean that it's legal or ethical to purchase it.
Not that I agree with this. However, if you really wanted to reward the producer above all else, then to their bottom line, rental/used purchases ARE piracy.
Chances are, if things such as renting and sales of used media are going to be stopped, it's going to have to be stopped as a piracy measure. See, when you purchase something used, or rent it, the company who produced it gets practically nothing from you. Maybe the renter or the used seller has a legal right to sell it, but you have no legal right to use it.
And if you don't want to purchase a game straight out without trying it first, just find another entertainment medium. Isn't that the capitalist way?
My guess from what I know, is that Nintendo will debut their long announced wireless project.
In a nutshell, it'll be a wireless device, that will send/receive a signal and create a grid/P2P type network. This will allow almost lag-free gaming across a fairly wide area. It'll be good if you're in a city, for example, and it catches on, you could play against all the locals. Would really catch on if it came with voice chat.
Never noticed that one. I saw it on the rental shelf, assumed it was a Faux-Wizardry. Just a same-name game. Will have to check it out.
That's the point. For me, the PC RPG is a stat-heavy strategy fest. They just don't make too many of them anymore. The Bard's Tales were great, same with Wizardry (Although I'll be honest. I much preferred the NES and SNES versions of those games..they were a bit more playable IMO.)
Slashdot Mirror
No, they don't.
Whenever you hear the unemployment rate on TV, it's about 5.6%. This in NO way is counting underemployment/discouraged workers. If those were counted, the unemployment rate would be closer to 9%.
The numbers are VERY politicized, and not to be trusted. Even further, you hear talk about "new jobs', being created, even though that's just a positive number, with no indication of the negative, (Jobs leaving+People entering workfore).
You need a game that is controlled enough to allow you to practice, yet intense enough to constantly push yourself.
I suggest Day of Defeat, a Half-Life Mod (Although you can find a stand-alone version). It'll allow you to get good practice without getting boring.
The "cool-down" time is only 15 seconds or so after dying, so you're never sitting out too long. Pick a map, and learn that map, and play that map. (I suggest Caen or Avalanche to start.)
Actually what it was supposed to be was a third-person combat/strategy type multi-player based game, a la Natural Selection.
Something that would have been ground-breaking. Instead, what was released for the X-Box was a well made, but very conventional shooter. The PC/MAC versions WOULD be better, with Internet play built in, but are buggy as shit.
MacSoft should have ported a better game than Halo. That's their problem.
I feel bad for the record stores. I really do. They've been screwed by the labels.
The average, mid-sized record store has been reduced to basic meaninglessness. Forget downloading. The labels focus on less megahits as opposed to a more evenhanded approach to music has left them in a pickle.
The average listerner to music only wants the latest big hits. Because of this, the big box stores can use their size advantage and price them right out of the market. As well, they don't need to dedicate much floor space to this at all.
Locally, there is not a single store dedicated to new music. Not one. One record store closed, and the other sells more DVDs than CDs, and has more store space dedicated to it. CDs are reduced to one wall and one row.
Are video games necessary? Maybe not.
Are Books necessary? I would say no. Young kids are very unlikely to read anything that's really going to enrich their minds. They'll be stuck reading "See Spot Run" instead of reading some book with some actual information. And like it or not, don't say "The Classics", because for the most part those are just as unneeded as anything.
Are computers necessary? Nah. There are plenty of jobs that you can get without any computer experience. If computer experience is necessary, then all computer time should be in instruction, not in usage.
But it's not what the point is what is necessary. It takes more than just information to make a well rounded person. VGs are actually very good for a young person these days. It's an easy point of reference, a way for someone to get social contact in this closed off world.
The problem with that, is that will there be enough money coming into the economic eco-system to prevent massive deinflation or even stagflation?
:p, however it seems to me that things are running awfully close to the breaking point in that regard as it is.
/. But they are very important ones.
IANAE (I am not an economocist), although that might give me an advantage in these things
Can the American economy survive structural unemployment going into the teens? Can any economy? How will that impact the society at large?
Big questions. Maybe too big for
Service jobs.
The problem is, you can't maintain an economy on service-based jobs alone. There has to be some sort of wealth creation at some level other than profit-taking.
It's nice being able to pop-in any of the old Square games for some playtime when the feeling hits you. Right now I'm playing through FFIV for the PS2 again.
My PS1 is sitting in the Den awaiting my DDR dance pad for some good exercise...
I don't think it matters too much that the graphics files were stolen. I think what really matters is that the network code was stolen.
That would allow almost unlimited cheating in HL2 on launch..as well presumibly with some big mod releases simultaniously. (Wouldn't you love HL2 engine versions of CS and DoD included on disk?). That WOULD stop me from buying it. I'm glad it's delayed.
I'm currently reading the second part of that story (It really is one long story. It ends in a cliffhanger of sorts). I'm glad to see it make that list, it is really good.
It may be one of the first "modern" sci-fi stories. Namely that it plays forward some familiar themes from today, and not just 60 years ago. (It seemed to me that science ficition for the most part was stuck in WWII/Cold War logic). One main part of the books is how immortality begets laziness...and how intellectual property plays into that. (One of the main characters, a Senator, is in the middle of a centuries long fillibuster of even more strict IP rules.)
As well, the idea of micro-combat instead of macro-combat is extremly interesting and well done.
It really is a must read.
Voice mod was recent addition? Hmph. I'm a new subscriber to the Half-Life engine. (Relativly speaking. About a year or so)
:) Screaming for help when an Oros has you in its tummy is fun. As well, people tend to try and help you more. The game also requires much more communication than the average FPS to play well.
Natural Selection is great for voice mod, as people tend to get into it
Myself, if a game is complicated enough control wise to require this sort of voice-control, at least for basic commands, then the game might very well be TOO complicated.
In this case, they should start thinking hard at putting a bit more focus into their game.
However, voice is very cool for games, mainly for multiplayer games communicating with your teammates. The Half-Life engine was built with this in mind. It works for the more team based games. I've been playing a lot of Day of Defeat/Natural Selection, and people in those games rely on the voice communication. It works a lot faster than typing things in.
Then again, in Subspace/Continnuum, Chat Macros are easy enough that voice never took off. Sooo..whatever.
Not all graphical splendor is due to technology or polygon pushing. A large part of it is due to design decisions that will make to tend something pleasing, or not pleasing.
The graphics have improved to the point where creators have a pretty damn big canvas to work on. Just improving the technology isn't good enough anymore. It's all about making your game feel good. That's really what it's all about.
Doesn't really have that great graphics. What it gives you, is something different.
Massive graphics.
Not so much detail, but a lot going on the screen. It's a tradeoff, but one that's worth it.
Highlights: Day of Defeat, don't have the computer specs for Call of Duty, at least by the demo. However, I don't really miss it, having such an exceptional game such as DoD. Simple graphics, relativly speaking, but having more atmosphere than most other games. It's just great. Sure, it was just released, but throw in Natural Selection 3.0. A good idea that was never fully realized, in my eyes, hits the big time with an amazing Combat mode. A great mix between RPG and FPS. Steam started off rocky, but I like the idea of it. Especially for mods that are under constant design and redesign. Additional servers should help, as well, I would like to see Valve open it up to more mods. NS for one could use it. Diablo II 1.10. Adds a lot to the game, new synergies give it a whole new life. Rise of Empires. Half-Civilization, Half-Age of Empires. Massive battles. Freelance: I was skeptical of the mouse-only control configuration, but it's the best space-pilot sim since Totally Games. Vice City:Playing Vice City with a Gamecube controller and a custom soundtrack rocks. Tap A Jam:Check out Gamehouse and see what I mean. Lowlights: No FFXI in Canada yet. WTF? Lionheart:Cool setting. Amazingly sucky game design. Knights of the Old Republic:Old-school RPG gaming with flashy new lights. Massive screens of reading doesn't make up for boring gameplay. (See Morrowind) Overall? It's actually not looking too bad for the ol' PC. If Vid card prices continue to fall, and processor/RAM requirements stay constant, then sales will stay good. The problem is a lack of design expandibility. PC gamers expect the same old thing, just packaged in a nicer box. (Sorry, but it's true). Consoles seem to be much riskier at the moment when it comes to game design, which is why they are growing much faster I think.
Not only that, but speaking for myself, sometimes you get little gifts. I just had HL:GotY edition, but once I ran it through Steam, I had access to Opposing Force as well.
Thanks!
That's something, in my mind that is society wide. This is the sort of thing that sticks in my craw. These people, they have no pride in their work. They think they need to get the payment up front. That in a nutshell, they have to trick people into buying their chairs.
This goes for business, politics, technology, entertainment. It's just a lot of deception. It's about fooling people into thinking you have a good product, not actually having one.
I'm an avid DoD player, and snipers are a way of life. I don't complain too much about them, mainly because I'm skilled enough to kill them.
And frankly, if I decide to "snipe", I'm usually using the Kar or the Garand, depending on the side I'm on. I'm MUCH faster and MUCH more accurate with them. As well, I have more flexibility, and more grenades, which is important in that game.
That's what you get for playing TW:p
Play Warzone fool!
You missed the sarcasm tag. Too bad it's invisible. The reason I said that, wasn't that I agreed with it. Just that they're going to try and make it happen. And some people will just follow them right down the rabbit hole, just like you said. They'll say to do anything else will be socialistic! Theoretically, why would you have no right to use a second-hand product? Because what some of these companies want, is for you to license the material, not purchase it. And for the license to be non-transferrable. Now, for myself. I'm a person who thinks that "piracy" is actually a good thing, as being able to try something before you plunk down your hard-earned cash is essential to a free market. A free market depends on perfect information. I want to know if a piece of software is going to crash/how good it is before I throw down my cash. However, from a moral standpoint personally, I don't really make a distinction between "piracy"/used purchases/renting. I do all of them, myself from time to time. However, I realize that I'm not helping the producer one bit. Fuck 'em. If I like it/it's good enough, I'll support it..PROVIDING YOU OFFER IT FOR SALE. In a nutshell, I'm not going to pay 30$ to EB or another store to purchase a used game when NO money goes to the producer, when I can download it for free. So your rant is somewhat misplaced. Nice rant 'tho :)
Via the law. Why? To the companies, media renting and used selling is piracy. Plain and simple. It has the same effects as piracy. It lowers sales overall, and people get to use something without paying them for it. Sure, there's fair use rights, but that doesn't mean that it's legal or ethical to purchase it. Not that I agree with this. However, if you really wanted to reward the producer above all else, then to their bottom line, rental/used purchases ARE piracy.
Not necessarly.
Chances are, if things such as renting and sales of used media are going to be stopped, it's going to have to be stopped as a piracy measure. See, when you purchase something used, or rent it, the company who produced it gets practically nothing from you. Maybe the renter or the used seller has a legal right to sell it, but you have no legal right to use it.
And if you don't want to purchase a game straight out without trying it first, just find another entertainment medium. Isn't that the capitalist way?
My guess from what I know, is that Nintendo will debut their long announced wireless project.
In a nutshell, it'll be a wireless device, that will send/receive a signal and create a grid/P2P type network. This will allow almost lag-free gaming across a fairly wide area. It'll be good if you're in a city, for example, and it catches on, you could play against all the locals. Would really catch on if it came with voice chat.
Never noticed that one. I saw it on the rental shelf, assumed it was a Faux-Wizardry. Just a same-name game. Will have to check it out. That's the point. For me, the PC RPG is a stat-heavy strategy fest. They just don't make too many of them anymore. The Bard's Tales were great, same with Wizardry (Although I'll be honest. I much preferred the NES and SNES versions of those games..they were a bit more playable IMO.)
As a matter of fact..
I actually didn't like Pool of Radiance all that much. Now Cure of the Azure Bonds I loved. And yes, they are better RPGs than BG 2.
I just don't like that style of combat. I like it more strategic than tactical.