I'm getting all nostalgic now. I used to play this game for hours and hours with my friends. I tried out this one a few months ago before it was as near to completion, and I had a blast. Just hopping into a multiplayer game and blowing up some tanks is great. The only problem I've found is with AFK players, sometimes you're sitting for a half hour waiting for them to timeout.
Well, most people don't realize that the game is buggy as hell until they've already dropped money down on it. Now that Electronics Boutique (among others) have started revoking their return policies you're pretty much screwed if you purchase a lemon.
Exactly, and it refers to a problem with DirectX9 based cards, so it may just be the FX line that has the (unfixable?) problem. There hasn't been enough information gathered to realize the extent of the issue.
They say it has to do with HalfLife2 packing smaller textures into larger ones, and when multisample AA is turned on the textures bleed into each other.
This game has been in development for a long time, and had a 1 year beta period. It shipped with a few bugs, but so does every other game.
They could have 'polished' the game for another 2 years, but would be digging themselves further in the red each month they did so. It makes sense that they released what they had, which was playable and fun.
Polishing after launch serves the purpose of allowing the development team to grow (because they're making money now).
Fair enough, but the bottom line is that you are actively sharing the data to other people. It's not like they are hacking into your computer and taking the information. By having the file sharing application running, you are distributing.
Having bought AO at launch, I can say that SWGs launch is better.
AO was nearly unplayable even if you could get into the game. I was playing SWG for about 3 hours last night without any problems, once i got past registration.
Nobody does load testing on the registration servers before launch. At least no Beta I've ever been in. Once you got past Registration the game ran fine.
It would be more like this. You set up a table with a sign that says 'free cds' with a stack of copied albums.
It's only illegal for the receiver if they know it is stolen property. Of course it is still legal for those items to be confiscated if they're found, regardless.
I've had the original SideKick since launch last October, and it gets a fair amount of use.
I use it the most while I'm on the bus to work in the morning. I can read the news, send IMs to my fiance, etc. The part I use the most is e-mail, mainly because it's far less obtrusive than a phone call while I'm working, and I hate talking to people.
Seeing Realistic CG characters blow up on your computer screen is far different than gutting someone and listening to them scream and plead, staring into your eyes as they die. If you are so desensitized that you can go through with something like that, there's something other than 'the media' at work.
I agree, but I think more than violence it has to do with competition. Males tend to be extremely competative towards other males. King of the hill, top of the pack, etc.
This also explains the huge popularity of online gaming. It's not *just* violent video games, it's sports titles too. EA makes billions putting out the same sports games every year.
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Amusement is based on opinion.
I absolutely hated every minute that I played Metal Gear Solid, then I see reviews that equate it to the second coming of Christ.
To each their own I guess.
So is the delay a development delay or the publishers pushing it off so they won't step on other product's release dates?
They can get on Square's ass to release Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. I'll buy a GameCube as soon as that game is released.
If it would have come out this year like it was originally expected to, that would probably boost their profits and console sales.
Since Square is waiting until Feb 2004, I don't see that happening anytime soon.
I'm getting all nostalgic now.
I used to play this game for hours and hours with my friends.
I tried out this one a few months ago before it was as near to completion, and I had a blast. Just hopping into a multiplayer game and blowing up some tanks is great. The only problem I've found is with AFK players, sometimes you're sitting for a half hour waiting for them to timeout.
Well, most people don't realize that the game is buggy as hell until they've already dropped money down on it.
Now that Electronics Boutique (among others) have started revoking their return policies you're pretty much screwed if you purchase a lemon.
Exactly, and it refers to a problem with DirectX9 based cards, so it may just be the FX line that has the (unfixable?) problem. There hasn't been enough information gathered to realize the extent of the issue.
They say it has to do with HalfLife2 packing smaller textures into larger ones, and when multisample AA is turned on the textures bleed into each other.
Wait until Fall/Winter, when a bunch of highly anticipated titles are going to float out.
Doom III (PC),
Half-Life 2 (PC),
Fable (X-Box),
FF:Crystal Chronicles (GC)
Yes, because 4 years is a rushed game, right?
This game has been in development for a long time, and had a 1 year beta period. It shipped with a few bugs, but so does every other game.
They could have 'polished' the game for another 2 years, but would be digging themselves further in the red each month they did so. It makes sense that they released what they had, which was playable and fun.
Polishing after launch serves the purpose of allowing the development team to grow (because they're making money now).
The game is really what you make of it, if you expect it to be EverCrack in Space, then it will be.
The grind only exists for people who want to grind to the top, if that's not your goal, there is no grind.
Fair enough, but the bottom line is that you are actively sharing the data to other people. It's not like they are hacking into your computer and taking the information. By having the file sharing application running, you are distributing.
Having bought AO at launch, I can say that SWGs launch is better.
AO was nearly unplayable even if you could get into the game. I was playing SWG for about 3 hours last night without any problems, once i got past registration.
Nobody does load testing on the registration servers before launch. At least no Beta I've ever been in. Once you got past Registration the game ran fine.
That's a bad analogy,
It would be more like this.
You set up a table with a sign that says 'free cds' with a stack of copied albums.
It's only illegal for the receiver if they know it is stolen property. Of course it is still legal for those items to be confiscated if they're found, regardless.
Carpentry and Cabinetry
/.ers can't afford to be picky?
But we all know that means about jack shit.
Upset people post, happy people continue playing the game.
Angry people are much louder than happy people.
Battle.net is Free
They already have the money from the sale of the game, there isn't any lost revenue.
Uh, what about FileShack?
They at least have East Coast servers, which is more than I can say for FilePlanet.
It is called HiptopOS, it's a Java based OS that Danger rolled for the device.
I've had the original SideKick since launch last October, and it gets a fair amount of use.
I use it the most while I'm on the bus to work in the morning. I can read the news, send IMs to my fiance, etc. The part I use the most is e-mail, mainly because it's far less obtrusive than a phone call while I'm working, and I hate talking to people.
Desensitized, but only to a point.
Seeing Realistic CG characters blow up on your computer screen is far different than gutting someone and listening to them scream and plead, staring into your eyes as they die. If you are so desensitized that you can go through with something like that, there's something other than 'the media' at work.
I agree, but I think more than violence it has to do with competition. Males tend to be extremely competative towards other males. King of the hill, top of the pack, etc.
This also explains the huge popularity of online gaming. It's not *just* violent video games, it's sports titles too. EA makes billions putting out the same sports games every year.
Uh, easy, Laptops.
There are a lot more laptops with fast CPUs than laptops with high end 3D chipsets.
If I'm not mistaken, I think there's a picture of that system in the May 2003 issue of Popular Science.
XP has PPoE support in the networking options, but anything before that requires another application.