Of course there is always the fact that when Microsoft wanted to buy the best game maker out there to insure their multi-million dollar X BOX gamble they
While the smell of 1000 burning cows might not be bad I don't wanna be around hundreds of liquefying bovines. I'll bet the stench would be utterly unbearable.
"Could someone tell me why I hear so many things like this about South Korea..."
First of all your asking g33ks a sociology question; but since we are free to speculate I'm going to have to say that, in the absence of any data other than a suspected higher percentage of users that this may be one answer. In other words, since there are more people using there are more abusing. The article leads me to believe, however, there is more to it than that. Some have alluded to the status this type of activity bestows. This quote seems to buttress that.
"Some professional gamers are as young as 13, and there are more than 50 pros starring on gaming channels on a regular basis," she added. "One superstar even has a fan club with more than 100,000 members."
I don't think there is any US equivalent to this yet. Also I haven't heard of any US cases of the more extreme examples as reflected in this quote.
"Local media has reported six deaths related to online gaming since late 2002, including a gamer who killed his sister after becoming confused between the online world and real life.."
Summary: the sheer number of users may account for the higher incidents of Asian aberrancies. There is certainly more information needed to explain things further.
I've relaxed about schizophrenia in common usage. It's not too far from the etymology of the word after all. In addition the second definition is given as "...contradictory or antagonistic qualities or attitudes".
BTW I'm at work on a closed psych unit right now and the bipolar pt is up slamming drawers. Guess I'd better go check..
I was considering buying a PSX to have a second PS2 system to use AND to get the benefit of PVR abilities. I have a question about the later though. With more shows in digital and the handful of channels I get as HDTV will the machine have enough capability to reproduce recorded material with reasonable fidelity?
Just because IBM specializes in PowerPC chips, does not mean that they cannot design an x86 compatible chipset. Their facilities will just as easily manufacture a x86 wafer as they would a PPC wafer. Still, it'll be interesting to see what kind of chip ends up in the xbox 2.
I don't know from CPUs but what about this?
According to Bernie Meyerson, IBM Fellow and chief technologist for IBM's
Technology Group, the new Xbox technologies will be based on the latest in
IBM's family of state-of-the-art processors.
I was watching The Ring and thinking what a how well scripted it is for a videogame. You would think since that movie stories are generally better written that this progression would make more sense.
This became a tougher question the more I thought about it. I like the author's idea about serialization but I have to wonder how this would fit in with the needs of the developers.
Another thought should be given to platform. I can tolerate a longer game with a console vs. PC. Also a hand held game could be very long because I use it to divert myself on long trips and so forth plus there is a smaller back log of really must have titles.
The videogame category is yet another consideration. I don't think RPGs should be short. FPSs have many levels because most of the game's novelty comes in the scene and setting changes. On the other hand; I prefer a great story line (such as in Ico) in my action adventure or horror games. Length for length's sake would really ruin things here.
I would bet that individual preferences would be one of the largest factors. As the author pointed out--teens and college students probably have more time to lavish on longer games and they want more bang for their buck. As a senior gamer (over 50) quality matters most to me.
Summary: length of game play as a desirable feature depends on at least several variables.
I have to agree with the article about Nobuo Uematsu's sophistication. Most of his work was done under constraints much greater then that of current composers. As Mr. Mirapaul points out; gaming music is getting better in part due to the properties arising from DVDs. Some of Mr. Uematsu's scores were done in 8 bits! Like a great sonnet writer Nobuo Uematsu used those constraints to their fullest extent.
Of his oeuvre I think "One Winged Angel" is the most highly lauded. I remember wanting the music so badly I Napstered it to be sure the quality was good then gulp plunked down $40 for the four CD set. --and at 53 I buy precious little music anymore (well, at least before iTunes that is). I consider it money well spent now.
...(2) Walk down the row, pushing a button on each machine, causing it to "wake up" from attract mode and display how many coins are in the bank.
(3) If the number of coins in the bank is greater than 30, camp out at that machine and play one coin at a time until you "break the bank", then immediately cash out. and stop playing...
Great! So you can use the display to show the past behavior of the machine and use this information to predict the likely outcome (ie; that the machine is DUE for a win). This is really valuable information!
Interesting viewpoint. Of course Marc Laidlaw disagrees with you. Here is what he says.
I think of these as Gordon's finest qualities (not speaking). They set him apart from any number of other game protagonists. Being Gordon is a very particular kind of experience; it's part of the essence of Half-Life.
I think the player is meant to appreciate Gordon as a character by how people react to him. And there is always the concept that without the character Gordon there is no story or a very short story in which the aliens win uncontested. I think I can understand your assertion, however. As gameplayer I have much less feeling as to the attributes of the main character then I experience as movie-goer or reader.
BTW, I enjoyed his joke
"Q. What is a millihelen?" "A. The amount of beauty it takes to launch a single ship."
On average an American will spend 75 hours this year playing videogames.. eclipsing that of DVD or tape rentals today.
You really can make statistics say anything you want. Nevermind that a movie lasts 2 hours (maybe 4 if you're an Oliver Stone fan), whereas a game is required to supply 50+ hours of gameplay or it's considered a waste of money.
I'm not sure I understand your objection. Sure the average time for the two activities differ in their unit length--I get the point that we see more movies but play videogames longer. I think the salient point is that these pastimes are reaching parity in monetary outlays and the total time of engagement. Many of my friends (older folks) are stunned to hear videogames have better sales then first run movies. This would be important points for advertisers, say or investors. The datum is valid for some uses but not others.
All my geek friends are introverts that really enjoy coding while listening to 30 hour long techno tracks from Europe
I would propose we call this affliction Attention Excess Disorder. This individuals would, of course, benefit by a regime of downers for complicated paradoxical reasons.
IMNAPsy...
I am also looking for some good sites for comparing and learning more about the current state-of-the-art in televisions.
Try CNET.com where they give a good overview of TVs and reviews by the staff and users alike. They have a good database set up to compare products. I used this resource in researching my TV purchase. I eventually bought a Sony 32 inch XBR flat screen and love it. I found that Crutchfield's online price beat any of the local outlets since I didn't have to pay $300 sales tax. They delivery was free and the nice men even put the set into my entertainment center.
Agreed!
If only I had the money to buy this technoloGee when I deserved it--still it makes this old flabby rider better, without a doubt. Same goes for carbon fiber and brake shifters.
Slashdot Mirror
What a mOOving sight tho!
double rim shot. cymbal crash
First of all your asking g33ks a sociology question; but since we are free to speculate I'm going to have to say that, in the absence of any data other than a suspected higher percentage of users that this may be one answer. In other words, since there are more people using there are more abusing. The article leads me to believe, however, there is more to it than that. Some have alluded to the status this type of activity bestows. This quote seems to buttress that.
I don't think there is any US equivalent to this yet. Also I haven't heard of any US cases of the more extreme examples as reflected in this quote.
Summary: the sheer number of users may account for the higher incidents of Asian aberrancies. There is certainly more information needed to explain things further.
Amen to that. My personal fav is Uematsu who looks a little different than I thought as seen in this photo from Time's 100 innovators.
I've been geeked. or out-geeked or sumtin.
I've relaxed about schizophrenia in common usage. It's not too far from the etymology of the word after all. In addition the second definition is given as "...contradictory or antagonistic qualities or attitudes". BTW I'm at work on a closed psych unit right now and the bipolar pt is up slamming drawers. Guess I'd better go check..
I was considering buying a PSX to have a second PS2 system to use AND to get the benefit of PVR abilities. I have a question about the later though. With more shows in digital and the handful of channels I get as HDTV will the machine have enough capability to reproduce recorded material with reasonable fidelity?
I don't know from CPUs but what about this?
According to Bernie Meyerson, IBM Fellow and chief technologist for IBM's Technology Group, the new Xbox technologies will be based on the latest in IBM's family of state-of-the-art processors.
I was watching The Ring and thinking what a how well scripted it is for a videogame. You would think since that movie stories are generally better written that this progression would make more sense.
Another thought should be given to platform. I can tolerate a longer game with a console vs. PC. Also a hand held game could be very long because I use it to divert myself on long trips and so forth plus there is a smaller back log of really must have titles.
The videogame category is yet another consideration. I don't think RPGs should be short. FPSs have many levels because most of the game's novelty comes in the scene and setting changes. On the other hand; I prefer a great story line (such as in Ico) in my action adventure or horror games. Length for length's sake would really ruin things here.
I would bet that individual preferences would be one of the largest factors. As the author pointed out--teens and college students probably have more time to lavish on longer games and they want more bang for their buck. As a senior gamer (over 50) quality matters most to me.
I have to agree with the article about Nobuo Uematsu's sophistication. Most of his work was done under constraints much greater then that of current composers. As Mr. Mirapaul points out; gaming music is getting better in part due to the properties arising from DVDs. Some of Mr. Uematsu's scores were done in 8 bits! Like a great sonnet writer Nobuo Uematsu used those constraints to their fullest extent.
Of his oeuvre I think "One Winged Angel" is the most highly lauded. I remember wanting the music so badly I Napstered it to be sure the quality was good then gulp plunked down $40 for the four CD set. --and at 53 I buy precious little music anymore (well, at least before iTunes that is). I consider it money well spent now.
Great game, great music.
Interesting viewpoint. Of course Marc Laidlaw disagrees with you. Here is what he says.
I think the player is meant to appreciate Gordon as a character by how people react to him. And there is always the concept that without the character Gordon there is no story or a very short story in which the aliens win uncontested. I think I can understand your assertion, however. As gameplayer I have much less feeling as to the attributes of the main character then I experience as movie-goer or reader.
BTW, I enjoyed his joke "Q. What is a millihelen?" "A. The amount of beauty it takes to launch a single ship."
I'm not sure I understand your objection. Sure the average time for the two activities differ in their unit length--I get the point that we see more movies but play videogames longer. I think the salient point is that these pastimes are reaching parity in monetary outlays and the total time of engagement. Many of my friends (older folks) are stunned to hear videogames have better sales then first run movies. This would be important points for advertisers, say or investors. The datum is valid for some uses but not others.
No thanks, I prefer my cows more austere.
My vote is for any of the feminine apparel from the Final Fantsy collection. The nice Tifa shorts or garbs worn by Yuna or (yum) Lulu!
or maybe a trash talking white trash can. It could live in a trailer down by the river. Its daddy was a dumpster and and and...nm
Agreed! If only I had the money to buy this technoloGee when I deserved it--still it makes this old flabby rider better, without a doubt. Same goes for carbon fiber and brake shifters.