Payload maps are popular, but its 5 pt CP maps that make this game, keep the core group of gamers playing and people coming back.
It's funny that you say that. The official stats disagree with you. Right now, the top 5 most played maps are (in order): ctf_2fort cp_dustbowl pl_goldrush pl_badwater cp_badlands
That's a CTF map, a CP assault map, both payload maps, and then a CP symmetric (AKA 5 pt) map.
P.S. The numbers at the bottom of my previous post were not counting the user contributed maps, so I'm not sure where your junction rant came from. Incidentally, Valve has also reworked both Fastlane and Egypt since their releases, although I rarely if ever see them actually played on a server.
While 5 is slightly easier on the 360 because the headset plugs into the controller, PC headsets are not hard to find. Heck, I have one plugged in right now!
Convincing people its better to use a headset than a desktop microphone or built-in mic on a laptop is a trick, though. non-headset mics tend to pick up background noise.
There's a reason Valve hasn't been releases Valve-branded CP maps... they outnumber the Valve-branded maps of others types.
For reference, here are the (pre-Sniper/Spy patch) numbers: CP (symmetric): 3 (cp_granary, cp_well, cp_badlands) plus 1 user (cp_fastlane) CP (assault): 2 (cp_dustbowl, cp_gravelpit) plus 3 user (cp_junction, cp_egypt, cp_steel) TC: 1 (tc_hydro) CTF: 2 (ctf_2fort, ctf_well) plus 1 user (ctf_turbine) PL: 2 (pl_goldrush, pl_badwater) Arena: 5 (arena_well, arena_badlands, arena_granary, arena_lumberyard, arena_ravine) plus 1 user (arena_watchtower)
For the record, that's 6 CP maps (symmetric + assault + TC), 2 CTF, 2 PL, and 5 arena.
On the contrary, the PC version of FPS games have the following advantages: 1. Mouse + Keyboard standard. While you can add them to most consoles these days, the controls must be set up for controllers first and foremost. The mouse is considerably more precise than a controller's analog sticks. 2. Game modifications. Depending on the game, this could be game or server side. Sourcemod is one popular library for Half-Life 2 multiplayer games. Valve's Steam system has even started including popular mods for download. 3. User-created content. Specifically maps. These are other kinds of user-created content, but those usually involve game modifications. 4. Lack of monthly costs. For whatever reason, Microsoft has managed to convince people that paying a monthly fee for their matchmaking service is a good thing.* They actually force you to do it to play online games on the 360... I will never understand how they managed to convince people to buy into this. I don't pay a monthly fee to Valve to use their Steam system... 5. Ease of updates. Big surprise here. When all games are installed to hard drives, they're much easier to update. Particularly games like Team Fortress 2 that are updated a lot.
The examples I used Valve specific; Valve is the current market leader in FPS games for the PC.
* I refuse to pay it; my Xbox Live account is only Silver.
While it's still considered the Source engine, Team Fortress 2 (released October 2007) does have higher system requirements.
They even call this version of the engine the "Orange Box engine" and it's also used by Portal, Half-Life 2: Episode 2, and Day of Defeat Source. It's also the basis of the Left 4 Dead engine; Valve even backported some of the new things from Left 4 Dead back to TF2.
I think that they know how it works. Seeing as how they are protecting their copyright, and seeing as to how they have rereleased the games multiple times to some profit. And the company as a whole is hugely successful. Perhaps you should instead forward this letter to the people hacking the rom to advise them to learn how the economy works?
Not to mention that the most recent re-release of Chrono Trigger was only a year ago...
Yes, and more to the point, there are certain mods on Steam that you need a Source game to use. Garry's Mod is a good example of this, and it's not even a free mod!
Source-engine mods usually need one of these games.
There are even more things you could do with it. For instance, you could add a little game to it where you shoot the duck and win... the chance to view the ad!
What I want is a block-list that blocks the annoying ads (e.g. flash ads that cover the page) but doesn't block un-annoying ads (e.g. demure text-ads).
But, I'd bet Microsoft is going #2. No betting actually, that's the plan.
Yes, it's a documented plan (See "Can I upgrade from the RC to the final version of Windows 7?")
So they're going to have a bunch of people who are just going to deal with reboots.
And, in case you hadn't read, the reboots are only phase one. Phase two is that the RC expires on June 1, 2010. This, like the reboot thing, is documented on the RC's download page.
er... you don't even need to read the EULA to know this. It's the second bullet point after the "Here's what you need to know" on the Windows 7 download page. The one that says Watch the calendar in bold.
Other bolded items in that bullet point are June 1, 2010 and March 1, 2010 (twice). Gee, should read the unbolded text to find out why those dates are important?
It really doesn't seem like it would make sense for Apple to buy out EA. Apple sells Macs and iPods - complete software/hardware packages, in other words.
What do they get by buying EA?
It just doesn't make sense - it's not part of their core competency, not by a long shot.
To answer your question: "To drive Mac sales."
Compared to the PC gaming market, the Mac gaming market is nearly non-existent, to the point where it's the largest reason for the people who actually buy high-end PCs to skip Mac.
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It's funny that you say that. The official stats disagree with you. Right now, the top 5 most played maps are (in order):
ctf_2fort
cp_dustbowl
pl_goldrush
pl_badwater
cp_badlands
That's a CTF map, a CP assault map, both payload maps, and then a CP symmetric (AKA 5 pt) map.
P.S. The numbers at the bottom of my previous post were not counting the user contributed maps, so I'm not sure where your junction rant came from. Incidentally, Valve has also reworked both Fastlane and Egypt since their releases, although I rarely if ever see them actually played on a server.
While 5 is slightly easier on the 360 because the headset plugs into the controller, PC headsets are not hard to find. Heck, I have one plugged in right now!
Convincing people its better to use a headset than a desktop microphone or built-in mic on a laptop is a trick, though. non-headset mics tend to pick up background noise.
There's a reason Valve hasn't been releases Valve-branded CP maps... they outnumber the Valve-branded maps of others types.
For reference, here are the (pre-Sniper/Spy patch) numbers:
CP (symmetric): 3 (cp_granary, cp_well, cp_badlands) plus 1 user (cp_fastlane)
CP (assault): 2 (cp_dustbowl, cp_gravelpit) plus 3 user (cp_junction, cp_egypt, cp_steel)
TC: 1 (tc_hydro)
CTF: 2 (ctf_2fort, ctf_well) plus 1 user (ctf_turbine)
PL: 2 (pl_goldrush, pl_badwater)
Arena: 5 (arena_well, arena_badlands, arena_granary, arena_lumberyard, arena_ravine) plus 1 user (arena_watchtower)
For the record, that's 6 CP maps (symmetric + assault + TC), 2 CTF, 2 PL, and 5 arena.
On the contrary, the PC version of FPS games have the following advantages:
1. Mouse + Keyboard standard. While you can add them to most consoles these days, the controls must be set up for controllers first and foremost. The mouse is considerably more precise than a controller's analog sticks.
2. Game modifications. Depending on the game, this could be game or server side. Sourcemod is one popular library for Half-Life 2 multiplayer games. Valve's Steam system has even started including popular mods for download.
3. User-created content. Specifically maps. These are other kinds of user-created content, but those usually involve game modifications.
4. Lack of monthly costs. For whatever reason, Microsoft has managed to convince people that paying a monthly fee for their matchmaking service is a good thing.* They actually force you to do it to play online games on the 360... I will never understand how they managed to convince people to buy into this. I don't pay a monthly fee to Valve to use their Steam system...
5. Ease of updates. Big surprise here. When all games are installed to hard drives, they're much easier to update. Particularly games like Team Fortress 2 that are updated a lot.
The examples I used Valve specific; Valve is the current market leader in FPS games for the PC.
* I refuse to pay it; my Xbox Live account is only Silver.
While it's still considered the Source engine, Team Fortress 2 (released October 2007) does have higher system requirements.
They even call this version of the engine the "Orange Box engine" and it's also used by Portal, Half-Life 2: Episode 2, and Day of Defeat Source. It's also the basis of the Left 4 Dead engine; Valve even backported some of the new things from Left 4 Dead back to TF2.
er... aren't file systems usually linked lists? Meaning that if you manage to recover the first piece, you can then locate all the others.
That's not to say it isn't still a bear.
No, it's computer science!
That works great... if Youtube is the only site you use a flash downloader on.
Which it isn't in my case.
And possibly get a game that's scuffed, scratched, dented, missing manuals (and/or other special stuff in the box)?
I'd rather pay the extra $2.50 for a known good copy.
Mr. Gates and Mr. Stallman are both offended by your remarks!
That doesn't mean that they won't.
If anything, Final Fantasy IV is evidence to the contrary... its 2D and 3D remakes only came out a few years apart.
Not to mention that the most recent re-release of Chrono Trigger was only a year ago...
Yes, and more to the point, there are certain mods on Steam that you need a Source game to use. Garry's Mod is a good example of this, and it's not even a free mod!
Source-engine mods usually need one of these games.
There were quite a few fan-based mods of Half-Life that became their own games.
The Counter-Strike and Team Fortress teams were even hired by Valve!
There are even more things you could do with it. For instance, you could add a little game to it where you shoot the duck and win... the chance to view the ad!
I found one for you!
Windows has supported transparency on some desktop things (including program windows) since Windows 2000.
As for the shortcut overlay icon, it can be made completely transparent. Either that or removed completely, I'm not sure.
Apple buying EA doesn't automatically mean that EA would stop making Windows games.
The Sims must be doing something right or they wouldn't continue making expansions for it. Seriously, there's like 30 expansions for The Sime 2.
The Sims 3 comes out sometime next month, too.
Yes, it's a documented plan (See "Can I upgrade from the RC to the final version of Windows 7?")
And, in case you hadn't read, the reboots are only phase one. Phase two is that the RC expires on June 1, 2010. This, like the reboot thing, is documented on the RC's download page.
Having said that, there is a way to upgrade Windows 7 Beta or RC, provided (oddly enough) by the the Windows 7 team.
Oh, I didn't even look to see who posted it. I just assumed it was more idiocy from kdawson.
er... you don't even need to read the EULA to know this. It's the second bullet point after the "Here's what you need to know" on the Windows 7 download page. The one that says Watch the calendar in bold.
Other bolded items in that bullet point are June 1, 2010 and March 1, 2010 (twice). Gee, should read the unbolded text to find out why those dates are important?
Release Candidates are usually at least Gamma quality, not Beta.
Besides, with Microsoft's history, the Beta usually works quite a bit better than the final release does... until at least SP1.
Pssh, Microsoft takes backward compatibility very seriously. For instance, the virus on this disk I have in my USB floppy drive works ju
While I mentioned just the high end before, I keep forgetting that EA includes Maxis, whose products target the mainstream.
Products such as The Sims, Spore, etc...
To answer your question: "To drive Mac sales."
Compared to the PC gaming market, the Mac gaming market is nearly non-existent, to the point where it's the largest reason for the people who actually buy high-end PCs to skip Mac.