Although I really liked 007 and Perfect Dark for N64, I stopped letting my kids play these type of games several years ago when I found them and their friends setting the system on 'GOD' mode and just knifing/shooting up the place.
This happens when they are bored and can't figure out the next puzzle fast enough.
IMO, the saddest video game trend have seen lately are 'Turn Based' fighting games for the Gamecube. The names of the games escape me, but I can't see how these games sell at all, but at least you can't torture the players.
-off topic, but...-
I just got mine. I waited for Amazon to lower the price to US$289. Also have a wireless CF card.
I would like to use Firefox vs. Opera, but the machine is stable and fast-enough as is.
Browsing web pages is mostly a pain. I hope more sites become like mapquest and offer PDA friendly page layout.
No quite...
One suite of software is already at risk.
PTC Pro-Engineer will currently stop interprocess communication between modules at approx 1:00pm on Jan 11, 2004
No fix yet posted on their web site
The problem is the same for any service (value/cost)
I can do all of that listed above (check movie times, check headlines, check weather, get a phone number, use mapquest, and a ton of other stuff you used to do with a phone/phonebook/map/newspaper/etc.) with dialup just fine.
My objections to the current state of broadband cable/internet are as follows:
1) No competition. AT&T bought up the local cable company in my area (Southwest PA), and raised the prices for basic and digital cable. They do not offer any better service to justify the higher cost. They also own the phone lines so that if ISP's such as Stargate or Earthlink offer DSL, the price is ALWAYS higher than AT&T and higher than AT&T cable modem service.
2) Content. There is no compelling reason for high speed access. There are niceities (ATOM films, streaming anime, upating/downloading the latest Linux distro, etc...) but no 'Killer App'
3) Fixability. If my dialup service is giving me fits, I can always try another access number (Even long distance if I am desperate). If my cable modem is refusing to connect, I can stare at the blinking lights, or reboot the unit and cross my fingers.
I get along just fine with a 56K dialup service from Earthlink for $21.95/month. If AT&T or others are listening I am willing to pay $30 per month for broadband access and I will no pay more than $60 per month for a combination of broadband access and digital cable.
If they want more for digital cable let me 'roll my own' channel package. For example, sell me the local broadcast channels and 5 'extended channels for $30 / month. Let me subscribe to 'premium' channels on a per monthly basis at some cost ($2-$3 per channel) similar to the way you purchase pay-per view movies. Do not pro-rate the cost for the 'premium' channels. (for example: if I want HBO to watch The Sopranos on the last day of the month, I pay for the whole month).
Oh wait...that puts the consumer in charge of the content... we can't have that.
Sorry for the rant, but the state of broadband internet and digital cable are very disappointing to me and I don't seee it changing soon.
Slashdot Mirror
Although I really liked 007 and Perfect Dark for N64, I stopped letting my kids play these type of games several years ago when I found them and their friends setting the system on 'GOD' mode and just knifing/shooting up the place. This happens when they are bored and can't figure out the next puzzle fast enough. IMO, the saddest video game trend have seen lately are 'Turn Based' fighting games for the Gamecube. The names of the games escape me, but I can't see how these games sell at all, but at least you can't torture the players.
You may be right, but I think Terry Pratchett is for people who wish that Monty Python made more movies.
I'd like to think that Terry Prachett is like Monty Python meets JRR Tolken.
No.. Bill Gates doing a rendition of 4'33"
-off topic, but ...-
I just got mine. I waited for Amazon to lower the price to US$289. Also have a wireless CF card.
I would like to use Firefox vs. Opera, but the machine is stable and fast-enough as is.
Browsing web pages is mostly a pain. I hope more sites become like mapquest and offer PDA friendly page layout.
No quite ...
One suite of software is already at risk.
PTC Pro-Engineer will currently stop interprocess communication between modules at approx 1:00pm on Jan 11, 2004
No fix yet posted on their web site
How about Fair Use challenged.
The problem is the same for any service (value/cost)
I can do all of that listed above (check movie times, check headlines, check weather, get a phone number, use mapquest, and a ton of other stuff you used to do with a phone/phonebook/map/newspaper/etc.) with dialup just fine.
My objections to the current state of broadband cable/internet are as follows:
1) No competition. AT&T bought up the local cable company in my area (Southwest PA), and raised the prices for basic and digital cable. They do not offer any better service to justify the higher cost. They also own the phone lines so that if ISP's such as Stargate or Earthlink offer DSL, the price is ALWAYS higher than AT&T and higher than AT&T cable modem service.
2) Content. There is no compelling reason for high speed access. There are niceities (ATOM films, streaming anime, upating/downloading the latest Linux distro, etc...) but no 'Killer App'
3) Fixability. If my dialup service is giving me fits, I can always try another access number (Even long distance if I am desperate). If my cable modem is refusing to connect, I can stare at the blinking lights, or reboot the unit and cross my fingers.
I get along just fine with a 56K dialup service from Earthlink for $21.95/month. If AT&T or others are listening I am willing to pay $30 per month for broadband access and I will no pay more than $60 per month for a combination of broadband access and digital cable.
If they want more for digital cable let me 'roll my own' channel package. For example, sell me the local broadcast channels and 5 'extended channels for $30 / month. Let me subscribe to 'premium' channels on a per monthly basis at some cost ($2-$3 per channel) similar to the way you purchase pay-per view movies. Do not pro-rate the cost for the 'premium' channels. (for example: if I want HBO to watch The Sopranos on the last day of the month, I pay for the whole month).
Oh wait...that puts the consumer in charge of the content... we can't have that.
Sorry for the rant, but the state of broadband internet and digital cable are very disappointing to me and I don't seee it changing soon.