Hold on... Halo for PC offers 16 players and because of the map design, does very well with the limited number of players. In fact, it really helps with managing teamwork better. I honestly believe that the 64 player model really takes away from the community of a game. I would suggest that people do not consider deeming a game acceptable or unacceptable because it doesn't support X number of players. The real trick these days is to hope that the gameplay conducive to the features provided to the gamer. Make the game interesting by making the gameplay and the mechanics interesting. Don't just add slots so more people can blow each other up even though the game sucks.
As I said before, they better playtest the hell out of it. I rely on reviews, so once they come out, it's likely we will know how well the game playtested.
The only design choice I have a problem with is the third-person perspective that they are using. FPSs are much more immersive than TPSs, however I think if they plan it right, we're gonna see some awesome things with this game if they playtest the hell out of it. I am foregoing the PS2 version and buying it straight for my PC.
Let's hope it's not a subscription.
And what's this about 4 armies to choose from? I thought there were only 2 armies? Who are the 3rd and 4th army?
I solved my console burden with crazy wires by buying wireless controllers. The wireless controllers make a huge difference for convenience sake, and I still am using the same batteries 4 months later on one of my controllers. It does cost money, but if you make video games your serious hobby, consider this option. I recommend Mad Catz brand for the PS2, and I would seek reviews for other console wireless controllers. Also, ask people at your local video game store, as they will likely have experience or reactions from gamers who use them.
Consider the notion that as technologists, we must agree that Microsoft's software as it sits is adequate for everyday business needs and that new upgrades aren't necessary for client PCs. Who needs XP when you have Windows 2000? Unless you are adopting the bleeding edge technologies and constantly keeping yourself up-to-date because you have cash to burn, you aren't going to spend the money you did three years ago. Businesses are trying to save money, so smartly managed companies don't spend cash if they don't have to.
Microsoft has hit a slump because they aren't offering enough to convince customers to pay more money for their newer technologies en masse. The author of the article is trying to say that the flatness is because we're getting defections. No. We are not seeing movement in the bottom line at M$ because nobody wants to spend more $$ on software they don't currently need.
If M$ won't adopt Linux, at least it will use ideas developed in the open source community to help Windows become a better operating system. Isn't that what we all want? Better operating systems?
I wish there was some same sort of law for portability in Canada. It's a real pain to not have the ability to switch. If I could have afforded to switch to a new contract in Toronto from Rogers to say Fido or Telus, I would have long ago.
As for your sweet Nokia... mmmm Nokia GSM... I bought a 3595 and I am very happy with it.. awesome signal on the network. But I found out that Rogers AT&T Wireless "flashed" the OS wrong in my phone, so I don't have data services software.... *sigh* I get my newly flashed phone in the next few days. I can't wait to download "Get Down Tonight" for my ringtone!
puke entertainment? Come on! LOTR? Shit... even an idiot knows that the LOTR trillogy is a huge undertaking, fueled by source material that is unsurpassed (except maybe by Star Wars) in fantasy literature. Dungeon Siege was a videogame, albeit a good one, but hardly worthy of comparing it to LOTR!
I guess the saying "Open mouth, insert foot" was a popular one his parents told him.
If someone else said "You don't need perfect code to have good security." instead of Bill Gates, do you think you it would raise the same kind of stink that this comment makes?
What intrigued me about the New York Times article is that Microsoft didn't even know about the patent. There a significant number of companies that stand to benefit from this patent being invalidated. If all these companies which include Microsoft's rivals work to invalidate this patent, then we're all sitting better.
Maybe W3C is playing politics in the fact that if it protects it members interests, including Microsoft, it has now more power to sway MS when Gates doesn't wanna play ball with the W3C.
Do you really think the games turn kids into this? If you bring the child up with the right values on how to respect and cherish society, then a little make-believe is not harmful. Since when did you know of any children kill other kids because they played cops'n'robbers or cowboys and indians?
Man oh man, I was reading this review and I tell you, I would be offended if I was a Macintosh user, never mind a Windows XP user. This guy is so "it ain't Linux and all the software I'm used to" that it makes me sick. I applaud him for his desire to try out Windows XP, but I think he's whining too much really.
Once you get used to something, no matter what operating system it is, it is easy to use. Period. End of discussion. When you've trained for 4 years on Linux and move to a very different platform, of COURSE you're going to hate it! Sheeit!
I DARE the user to use MacOS X and try to competently review that against Linux. I'm sure he'll be whining about that beautiful system too!
This GTA-Online type idea just extends the concept of playing cops and robbers that we used to play as kids. This would definitely play out well, where you can be either a criminal or a law-enforcement officer, and ala GTA-style, battle it out in a MMORPG environment.
Talk about a nostalgia trip. I think above all MMORPGs, I might consider playing something like that... I wanna be a cop, so I can pop a cap in the ass of some badass dude for beatin' up an old granny walking down the street! Then I can be crooked and rob the criminal. Hell, why couldn't I be on the city's payroll AND the mob's payroll at the same time?
It's a webmail solution, it supports IMAP for remote connectivity, and it filters your spam 100% of the time! It uses a challenge/response solution to prevent unwanted mail from coming in. It supports forwarded mail accounts, and it has a whole host of other features.
It's only $9.95 for 1 year (current promo gives you 3 years at $9.95!) for 12 MB of storage. Sorry it's not free, but it is worth 3 times the amount I paid for it. I love it! It's an awesome web-based mail client and I NEVER have to install or keep track of my mail client ever!
http://www.mailblocks.com
P.S.: I don't work for them, but I am a happy customer:D
Would I get a show of hands who believes that an adapted version of the "New Jedi Order" novel series might be a good trilogy to film and produce for the fans? I think they could probably get all the old actors from Episodes 4,5,6 to play characters that are actually pretty close in age now to the characters to the books. Just seeing the Yuuhzan Vong and the new Jedi's trading blows with all the intrigue going on... I think there is enough story material to do a trilogy of sorts. Hell it might even redeem Lucas if he wrote a crappy Episode 3.
One of the most rewarding ways I have given back to my hometown is to teach seminars to students learning computer technology. You coordinate with the instructors of the course or class, and you prepare a 2 hour presentation and invite as many students that can fill an auditorium. Teach something cool that you know about that students can relate too. Maybe it will be related to their specific field of study. I teach web development practices, and it is usually well received. It's a bit of work to prepare (4-5 preparatory hours for every 1 hour of presentation), but it's very rewarding.
Most companies have to be careful to not dilute their share value by offering too many stock options... This is something to keep in mind when judging fairness. The more options that become available to the employees, the less value outstanding shares hold.
A generous offering of stock options in a pre-IPO company would be 1-3% of the employee's salary in options. A small company starting out might even consider between 5-15% to boost employee interest. For example, if employee earned $50k a year, then if the rate of options granted to an employee is 3%, the employee would receive 1,500 options. Also the vesting period should be considered. Most companies that offer options set their vesting period between 1-4 years for the whole option grant. The company I work for is quite aggressive, so 50% of my options vest immediately upon issuing of options, while the remaining 50% vest 1 year after the options have been issued.
This idea is phenomenal. Finally a way for people to do a search on some meaningful information about their government officials. Hopefully, it will support more government databases in the future, as I believe that there are more than 3,000 government officials in the US.
Unfortunately, I can't search on anything cuz the site just got/.ed;-)
What I find interesting is that Yamauchi thinks that the Gameboy and PSP will not be in direct competition because of the software. HELLO! This is ancient thinking... look at what has happened to Nintendo with the N64 and GameCube? They lost LOTS of marketshare because it wasn't the software that dictated the market, but the PEOPLE who buy the games that dictate the market! Once an alternative hits the market, it's open season on portable gaming, be it the GBA or N-Gage or PSP... it comes down to price point and the types of consumers that want the games.
Nintendo has traditionally catered to children, and now that has hurt them in their quest to remain a player in the gaming industry. It's time for Nintendo to realize the industry's gamers are growing up, the customers that have been relied on in the 80s and 90s are spending more money now this century, and nobody's going to put up with Disney-like videogames forever. Mature themed games are more appropriate for adults, just like R-rated movies.
Nintendo: you will sink into the Pacific ocean if you don't get with the program... your consoles are tanking compared to the other console makers, and all you have left is your GBA to keep you making money... Shit, even MS gets this market better than you, even though they have been only doing consoles for 4 years (Dreamcast/XBox). It's sink or swim baby, and Mario just lost his dingy.
The future of gaming on the PC is in RTS and FPS, and MMORPG games... these are the only games that haven't translated well to the console market. Finally the useless joystick will die on the PC. Sure it's being used for those occasional flightsims, and the odd battle mecha game, but any joystick I bought never really ever did me any good for the PC! Good riddance... I'd rather concentrate my programming and Internet efforts on my PC and use my PS2 console for games... games that were designed to use a joystick. I found the joysticks on the PC a waste of money... sometimes they never worked as well as they looked, and so now that MS is getting out of that business, maybe they can concentrate on a better controller for the XBox!
I found an interesting article on this exact topic of caffeine and how it affects you. Apparently it really affects your blood-sugar levels, where it behaves as though it has dropped significatly, even though your bloodsugar is not as low as you feel. The effect is that you feel hungry and that you will probably consume some more food to satisfy your hunger. What's interesting is that cola has sugar, which gets converted to immediately to energy and forces your body to produce insulin. If you are overweight, you will feel hungry again because you are probably insulin sensitive, and therefore you will feel hungry again and eat.
The Atkins Nutritional Aproach advocates people to avoid caffeine during weight loss.
This "joint-statement" from both companies seems to be a bit lame as far as I am concerned. I bought an ATI Radeon 7200 last year, and I think I'm going to by a newer ATI Radeon this year... The statement hasn't renewed my confidence in neither Nvidia nor Futuremark. I will not consider Futuremark's benchmark as a valid suite and I certainly won't trust Nvidia to produce quality hardware unless the convince me otherwise.
If this is a lie, and they really did back SCO, then can you blame them? This kind of stuff happens in all other sorts of business all the time. This doesn't mean it's right, but I get the feeling that people expect Microsoft not to play the dirty business game. Well they are playing dirty pool, but from my limited legal background, I don't see it being illegal.
Let's all get a reality check and wake up to one simple fact... Microsoft needs to preserve its business. Linux is a threat. It will fund companies who may have a legal claim to sue Linux backers through ligitimate channels.
What would you all think of SCO's claim if it WERE true? Would you blame Microsoft? Probably, but the guy who broke the law would end up paying for it.
We have been slaves to grapes for centuries!
on
Energy from Grapes
·
· Score: 1
Where do you think the term wine-o comes from? We're just getting them back for taking all the energy we've spent getting plastered on them.
I predict that in the future, we will have grape-powered machines growing people who will power more machines to create a virtual world humans believe they have a great time drinking wine!
Slashdot Mirror
Hold on... Halo for PC offers 16 players and because of the map design, does very well with the limited number of players. In fact, it really helps with managing teamwork better. I honestly believe that the 64 player model really takes away from the community of a game. I would suggest that people do not consider deeming a game acceptable or unacceptable because it doesn't support X number of players. The real trick these days is to hope that the gameplay conducive to the features provided to the gamer. Make the game interesting by making the gameplay and the mechanics interesting. Don't just add slots so more people can blow each other up even though the game sucks. As I said before, they better playtest the hell out of it. I rely on reviews, so once they come out, it's likely we will know how well the game playtested.
The only design choice I have a problem with is the third-person perspective that they are using. FPSs are much more immersive than TPSs, however I think if they plan it right, we're gonna see some awesome things with this game if they playtest the hell out of it. I am foregoing the PS2 version and buying it straight for my PC.
Let's hope it's not a subscription.
And what's this about 4 armies to choose from? I thought there were only 2 armies? Who are the 3rd and 4th army?
I solved my console burden with crazy wires by buying wireless controllers. The wireless controllers make a huge difference for convenience sake, and I still am using the same batteries 4 months later on one of my controllers. It does cost money, but if you make video games your serious hobby, consider this option. I recommend Mad Catz brand for the PS2, and I would seek reviews for other console wireless controllers. Also, ask people at your local video game store, as they will likely have experience or reactions from gamers who use them.
Consider the notion that as technologists, we must agree that Microsoft's software as it sits is adequate for everyday business needs and that new upgrades aren't necessary for client PCs. Who needs XP when you have Windows 2000? Unless you are adopting the bleeding edge technologies and constantly keeping yourself up-to-date because you have cash to burn, you aren't going to spend the money you did three years ago. Businesses are trying to save money, so smartly managed companies don't spend cash if they don't have to.
Microsoft has hit a slump because they aren't offering enough to convince customers to pay more money for their newer technologies en masse. The author of the article is trying to say that the flatness is because we're getting defections. No. We are not seeing movement in the bottom line at M$ because nobody wants to spend more $$ on software they don't currently need.
If M$ won't adopt Linux, at least it will use ideas developed in the open source community to help Windows become a better operating system. Isn't that what we all want? Better operating systems?
I wish there was some same sort of law for portability in Canada. It's a real pain to not have the ability to switch. If I could have afforded to switch to a new contract in Toronto from Rogers to say Fido or Telus, I would have long ago.
As for your sweet Nokia... mmmm Nokia GSM... I bought a 3595 and I am very happy with it.. awesome signal on the network. But I found out that Rogers AT&T Wireless "flashed" the OS wrong in my phone, so I don't have data services software.... *sigh* I get my newly flashed phone in the next few days. I can't wait to download "Get Down Tonight" for my ringtone!
puke entertainment? Come on! LOTR? Shit... even an idiot knows that the LOTR trillogy is a huge undertaking, fueled by source material that is unsurpassed (except maybe by Star Wars) in fantasy literature. Dungeon Siege was a videogame, albeit a good one, but hardly worthy of comparing it to LOTR! I guess the saying "Open mouth, insert foot" was a popular one his parents told him.
If someone else said "You don't need perfect code to have good security." instead of Bill Gates, do you think you it would raise the same kind of stink that this comment makes?
What intrigued me about the New York Times article is that Microsoft didn't even know about the patent. There a significant number of companies that stand to benefit from this patent being invalidated. If all these companies which include Microsoft's rivals work to invalidate this patent, then we're all sitting better. Maybe W3C is playing politics in the fact that if it protects it members interests, including Microsoft, it has now more power to sway MS when Gates doesn't wanna play ball with the W3C.
Do you really think the games turn kids into this? If you bring the child up with the right values on how to respect and cherish society, then a little make-believe is not harmful. Since when did you know of any children kill other kids because they played cops'n'robbers or cowboys and indians?
Man oh man, I was reading this review and I tell you, I would be offended if I was a Macintosh user, never mind a Windows XP user. This guy is so "it ain't Linux and all the software I'm used to" that it makes me sick. I applaud him for his desire to try out Windows XP, but I think he's whining too much really.
Once you get used to something, no matter what operating system it is, it is easy to use. Period. End of discussion. When you've trained for 4 years on Linux and move to a very different platform, of COURSE you're going to hate it! Sheeit!
I DARE the user to use MacOS X and try to competently review that against Linux. I'm sure he'll be whining about that beautiful system too!
This GTA-Online type idea just extends the concept of playing cops and robbers that we used to play as kids. This would definitely play out well, where you can be either a criminal or a law-enforcement officer, and ala GTA-style, battle it out in a MMORPG environment.
:D
Talk about a nostalgia trip. I think above all MMORPGs, I might consider playing something like that... I wanna be a cop, so I can pop a cap in the ass of some badass dude for beatin' up an old granny walking down the street! Then I can be crooked and rob the criminal. Hell, why couldn't I be on the city's payroll AND the mob's payroll at the same time?
This idea certainly could get insane...
It's a webmail solution, it supports IMAP for remote connectivity, and it filters your spam 100% of the time! It uses a challenge/response solution to prevent unwanted mail from coming in. It supports forwarded mail accounts, and it has a whole host of other features.
:D
It's only $9.95 for 1 year (current promo gives you 3 years at $9.95!) for 12 MB of storage. Sorry it's not free, but it is worth 3 times the amount I paid for it. I love it! It's an awesome web-based mail client and I NEVER have to install or keep track of my mail client ever!
http://www.mailblocks.com
P.S.: I don't work for them, but I am a happy customer
Would I get a show of hands who believes that an adapted version of the "New Jedi Order" novel series might be a good trilogy to film and produce for the fans? I think they could probably get all the old actors from Episodes 4,5,6 to play characters that are actually pretty close in age now to the characters to the books. Just seeing the Yuuhzan Vong and the new Jedi's trading blows with all the intrigue going on... I think there is enough story material to do a trilogy of sorts. Hell it might even redeem Lucas if he wrote a crappy Episode 3.
One of the most rewarding ways I have given back to my hometown is to teach seminars to students learning computer technology. You coordinate with the instructors of the course or class, and you prepare a 2 hour presentation and invite as many students that can fill an auditorium. Teach something cool that you know about that students can relate too. Maybe it will be related to their specific field of study. I teach web development practices, and it is usually well received. It's a bit of work to prepare (4-5 preparatory hours for every 1 hour of presentation), but it's very rewarding.
Most companies have to be careful to not dilute their share value by offering too many stock options... This is something to keep in mind when judging fairness. The more options that become available to the employees, the less value outstanding shares hold.
A generous offering of stock options in a pre-IPO company would be 1-3% of the employee's salary in options. A small company starting out might even consider between 5-15% to boost employee interest. For example, if employee earned $50k a year, then if the rate of options granted to an employee is 3%, the employee would receive 1,500 options. Also the vesting period should be considered. Most companies that offer options set their vesting period between 1-4 years for the whole option grant. The company I work for is quite aggressive, so 50% of my options vest immediately upon issuing of options, while the remaining 50% vest 1 year after the options have been issued.
This idea is phenomenal. Finally a way for people to do a search on some meaningful information about their government officials. Hopefully, it will support more government databases in the future, as I believe that there are more than 3,000 government officials in the US.
/.ed ;-)
Unfortunately, I can't search on anything cuz the site just got
What I find interesting is that Yamauchi thinks that the Gameboy and PSP will not be in direct competition because of the software. HELLO! This is ancient thinking... look at what has happened to Nintendo with the N64 and GameCube? They lost LOTS of marketshare because it wasn't the software that dictated the market, but the PEOPLE who buy the games that dictate the market! Once an alternative hits the market, it's open season on portable gaming, be it the GBA or N-Gage or PSP... it comes down to price point and the types of consumers that want the games.
Nintendo has traditionally catered to children, and now that has hurt them in their quest to remain a player in the gaming industry. It's time for Nintendo to realize the industry's gamers are growing up, the customers that have been relied on in the 80s and 90s are spending more money now this century, and nobody's going to put up with Disney-like videogames forever. Mature themed games are more appropriate for adults, just like R-rated movies.
Nintendo: you will sink into the Pacific ocean if you don't get with the program... your consoles are tanking compared to the other console makers, and all you have left is your GBA to keep you making money... Shit, even MS gets this market better than you, even though they have been only doing consoles for 4 years (Dreamcast/XBox). It's sink or swim baby, and Mario just lost his dingy.
The future of gaming on the PC is in RTS and FPS, and MMORPG games... these are the only games that haven't translated well to the console market. Finally the useless joystick will die on the PC. Sure it's being used for those occasional flightsims, and the odd battle mecha game, but any joystick I bought never really ever did me any good for the PC! Good riddance... I'd rather concentrate my programming and Internet efforts on my PC and use my PS2 console for games... games that were designed to use a joystick. I found the joysticks on the PC a waste of money... sometimes they never worked as well as they looked, and so now that MS is getting out of that business, maybe they can concentrate on a better controller for the XBox!
For a M$ junkie like me, I do find MSDN to be invaluable for developer reference when I need some definitive answer for an API I don't have handy.
I found an interesting article on this exact topic of caffeine and how it affects you. Apparently it really affects your blood-sugar levels, where it behaves as though it has dropped significatly, even though your bloodsugar is not as low as you feel. The effect is that you feel hungry and that you will probably consume some more food to satisfy your hunger. What's interesting is that cola has sugar, which gets converted to immediately to energy and forces your body to produce insulin. If you are overweight, you will feel hungry again because you are probably insulin sensitive, and therefore you will feel hungry again and eat.
The Atkins Nutritional Aproach advocates people to avoid caffeine during weight loss.
I got this interesting info from this site.
This "joint-statement" from both companies seems to be a bit lame as far as I am concerned. I bought an ATI Radeon 7200 last year, and I think I'm going to by a newer ATI Radeon this year... The statement hasn't renewed my confidence in neither Nvidia nor Futuremark. I will not consider Futuremark's benchmark as a valid suite and I certainly won't trust Nvidia to produce quality hardware unless the convince me otherwise.
If this is a lie, and they really did back SCO, then can you blame them? This kind of stuff happens in all other sorts of business all the time. This doesn't mean it's right, but I get the feeling that people expect Microsoft not to play the dirty business game. Well they are playing dirty pool, but from my limited legal background, I don't see it being illegal.
Let's all get a reality check and wake up to one simple fact... Microsoft needs to preserve its business. Linux is a threat. It will fund companies who may have a legal claim to sue Linux backers through ligitimate channels.
What would you all think of SCO's claim if it WERE true? Would you blame Microsoft? Probably, but the guy who broke the law would end up paying for it.
Where do you think the term wine-o comes from? We're just getting them back for taking all the energy we've spent getting plastered on them. I predict that in the future, we will have grape-powered machines growing people who will power more machines to create a virtual world humans believe they have a great time drinking wine!
Oh you probably will need a DVD-ROM drive for this. I don't know if there is any CD-ROM version out for it.