Thats funny. Last time I had to call the Microsoft Product Activation Center, I was completely bombed. (I'm a pretty cheap drunk, and I had at least 7 or 8 beers in me) Couldn't walk, and had, I'm sure, a pretty slurred speech.
Never had a glitch or even had to repeat myself to the robot. Straight through and thank you for calling Microsoft!
I'm pretty sure anyone with a strong accent would have a hard time (texan, east indian, french italian... you get the idea), but it seemed pretty easy to me:)
I remember shaking my head halfway through the call going, "why did I do this now??"
Well, as much as I want this to make sense, it just cannot be used. Replace 'Violent Video Games' with 'Prostitute' or 'cigarettes'. And I am sure that you have enough arguments to use when those two come up.
While it seems to be a design failure it sometimes is not.
I like to play games that take time to 'round' out a character, then if the game allows, I can play against other ppl in the PvP section. I also like to play solo at times I want to enjoy a game. Most RPGs are long and have tedious parts that require nothing but time. (I enjoy them to a point, there has to be a limit at some point)
The problem comes when FPS players want to PvP but don't want to put in the time to play and build up the character with XP, money and getting the armor that comes from drops and saving money. These players are in the wrong games.
I want to play hundreds of hours, thats why I bought the game. To waste time, and I don't want to be buying games every month or two. I want to take my time and enjoy the game as long as I can.
Still honestly not many ppl care. And for the record Canada is the largest country in the world(unless we sold some large islands I wasn't aware of). USSR was the largest until it split up into Ukraine and such. Suprised that no one else mentioned this. Be glad they mentioned Canada, most people around the world just group us as American as we live on North America. Or they come from Vancouver and most Americans think Vancouver, WA, and Canadians think Vancouver, BC.
If you can't go into a store and buy it, why not just pirate it?
HA! Thats funny. Somehow it makes me think of when I was a young teenager and was reading porno mags. I couldn't buy them but we could rummage around in the bin around back. Without the covers of course:)
OH MAN THE HORROR. EA MUST DIE! or WHO CARES. DON'T BUY THE GAME!
What gives? So Sega will produce a football without the current logos and stuff. And have the ability to quick create new "players" and logos that are similar or close to the actual ones. If the game is more superior then buy the new and improved ESPN game without the logos. Its all make believe. Make believe that its your favorite team playing!
Personally I hope that they go back in time and concentrate on a new "Mutant League Football". That was the best football game evar!
For the record I bought 10 games in the last year, and I now have 2 consoles, with 2 computers. And thats about average. I want the games just I never have a chance to play them. And with a single player game my last Civ game took 3 weeks.
All in all you are right. It isn't cost effective yet to produce a MMPOG for my class. Not yet. Hopefully some day it will be. Because I spend money on games.
Maybe an emphasis on what casual means to me. Casual is when I get to play a game or two, maybe a couple of days a week. That means 1 - 2 hrs a week. $50 bucks up front, and 8 hrs of game play a month. ~2 dollars an hr ( alittle high but as the months wear on so does the game play). then lets say I play for 6 months. 48hrs of game play for $146 And somehow thats worth it for a gamer to pay?? Then compare that a hardcore gamer has paid $50 for the game and gotten the same amount of hours in the first week, and is now complaining about "level grinding".
I like the games its that theres just not enough to them or incentive when I can play GTA San Andreas for $50 and keep playing whenever I feel like. Even a couple of years down the road when everyone else has given up on the game. mmmmm Diablo. Tetris, Civ... you get the idea. Really I'm not talkin cost per experience point. I'm talking cost per content. If you bought GTA SA and played it to the end it may take you a month. If I bought GTA SA and played it to the end it might take me a year. But we both paid the same amount for the same content. and thats what I'm talkin bout.
I disagree, with Cable television I have the choice to upgrade the monthly subscription to a higher level. If I want more channels (More content) then I can pay a higher fee. Cause I would watch more television. MMPOGs don't offer that or any options at all. If you have Digital cable you can opt out of getting movies on PPV channels or you can order them. You can down grade your channels for a smaller package. You can opt out of many things. Its not a flat only $40. Its a package that if you pay the $40 you get the same as your buddy. But if you change that $40 to say get regular cable (non digital) and some PPV when you want it. thats the difference.
But If I only watch a little tv then I can have the choice to not pay at all.(Rabbit ears - which I have). I don't mind much paying a monthly fee for things I use. But when I only use it a little bit I want the option to do things cheaper than the guy that goes hard and does it all the time. Or at least compensation. (some way to gain the content the same as the other guy).
BTW vcrs have been around for many moons and have been able to bring the content that I want when I want. If there were some way that you could replicate that into an MMPOG then sure that would help too.
Bottom line - Casual gamers pay hundreds more for a game that has the same content as a hardcore gamer. If MMPOGs what that business then they have to compensate for that difference.
Not to say that your wrong. That the game should move ahead as much as you are playing it. Only MMPOGs have a monthly fee associated. The person who only plays casually will end up paying more for the same content that the person who plays obsessively will. That somehow doesn't seem right to me.
A Person who plays FF and plays to the end in two days or two years will still end up paying the same amount of money. (of course assuming that they both bought the game at the same price.) No matter what the cost of the game, the same content isn't going to be in the hundreds of dollars difference.
Isn't that kinda like sayin that if I stole your watch (Not that piracy is property theft), you get the right to ransack my house looking for the watch. And somehow that ties to an agreement between you and someone else on how to use said watch.
I guess they forgot that they taught the world how to create these characters, right?? I remember having the "How to draw" books and having a couple of them dedicated to Hulk, She-Hulk, X-men, etc.
Look out everyone, hide those books if you still gottem. It's Stan "Wannabe Elliet Ness" Lee comming to get you!
The movie industry has also tried to battle piracy by running ads in movie theaters
I Also know those ads! As soon as I saw the ad I imediatly went out to get my money back. They asked why, and I told 'em. "I just saw an ad that says that I could just download the movie and watch it free. Why would I pay you $30 bucks (Date) to see this movie when I can see it for free??"
I mean really its 15 bucks CDN a pop to go see a movie in a decent theatre on a friday night. Not a lavish theatre where they serve you in your seat. But a decent one where the floor is somewhat clean and you don't have to wonder what your sitting on. And I have to put up with people talking throughout the friggin movie. Or I could just buy the movie for 20 Bucks CDN and watch it at home as many times as I want.
Which movies are good movies to buy you ask? Well just download the crapola version from P2P networks and find one you like. Then go buy the good copy. Wow that was hard. And in Canada its legal to do it. I am making a copy for my own personal information. Saved money. And buy only movies that I like(or my gf).
As a contract software developer, the client calls all the shots. If no matter how many times I explain that a properly designed system will be faster to build, cheaper to build, and be more stable when finished. They still seem to think that the phrase "Go ahead and get started, and I will get back to you on what I want." works nowadays.
Currently I have a client who does nothing but come to me with a revolving set of requirements. Client: "Oh I just thought that this would be a nice feature." Me: "Yes, yes it would. But would require me to spend 1 or 2 months to rework that into the design and make sure it works. BTW, when is the system going to be used?" Client: "Two weeks from now." Me: "Ok then we work it into the next version then." Client: "No, no go ahead and get started on it and I will get back to you." Me: "You know that it won't work in two weeks then?" Client: "Why not?" . . . Me: "Well its your money, whatever you want. I will see what I can do."
-Two weeks later- Client: "Is the system ready to be used?" Me: "No." Client: "Why not." Me: "Well, you remember..."-interupts- Client: "Oh I have an idea what about adding this?"
What the client wants he gets. And when its crap thats what he gets. He wants to pay me for it. So be it! I have to fund my own projects somehow.
While I agree with your statement, (broadband certainly does make it easier to download games and give one more access to those games) But it does not make copyright violations "easy". CD burners and copy utilities make it easier to violate a copyright as one do not need an internet connection to copy a game.
Video games are slowing down for the PC because it is simply easier to play a game on a console than it is on a PC. On a PC I have to go through and install the game (depends on the game but usually 15 -30 mins) then I have to be sure that any drivers need to be up to date(anywhere from a few minutes to hours depending on my internet speed). Newer games especially.
Now add on the new "Copy protection Scheme" which criples legit parts on MY PC! Adding more time and frustration to the PC gaming experience. Then compare that to what ever console you prefer. Buy game, put game in machine, play game within 5 minutes. (Assuming that you watch the intro and flip through the manual)
Its no wonder that the transition to console is picking up speed.
BTW its just as easy to copy a console game as it is to copy a PC game. Only with a little hardware modification is needed for the most part.
Top Ten Industry Facts
1/ U.S. computer and video game software sales grew eight percent in 2003 to $7 billion - a more than doubling of industry software sales since 1996.
2/ In 2003, more than 239 million computer and video games were sold, or almost two games for every household in America.
3/ Half of all Americans age six and older play computer and video games.
4/ The average age of a game player is 29 years old.
5/ The average game buyer is 36 years old. In 2003, 94 percent of computer game buyers and 84 percent of console game buyers were over the age of 18.
6/ Thirty-nine percent of game players are women.
7/ Eighty-five percent of all games sold in 2003 were rated "E" for everyone or "T" for teen. (For more information on ratings, please see www.esrb.org.)
8/ Ninety-two percent of parents surveyed who have children under the age of 18 say they monitor the content of the interactive games their children play, and 55 percent of parents say they play interactive games with their kids at least once a month.
9/ Forty-three percent of game players say they play games online one or more hours per week, up from thirty-seven percent in 2003 and thirty-one percent in 2002.
10/ More than half of game players expect to be playing as much or more 10 years from now as they do today.
"http://www.theesa.com/pressroom.html"
There is no need for this kind of protection the only thing that they are doing is giving more people the reason to move to the consols. If the consol just works, then why mess with the PC. Two games for every house hold?? Thats a helava lotta games sold.
I agree with having to pay for the necessary broadband at home. If its really needed. As long as time done at home with the broadband is paid for by the company. I mean wouldn't you still have broadband at home even if you didn't work there? Probably.
OTOH I bought and use my own workstation for my work because the ones supplied by my employer SUCK! and he seems to think that having VNC or PC anywhere so he can peek anytime and make sure I'm working. I have no problems him comming and looking. But I also do work for others people(not on the employers time mind you, only reading and responding to slashdot once in a while;). And that is private. I also don't like the fact that he would come in and tell me to download such and such a program, then get mad that it screwed up the computer. "Its lost productivity, this is a big problem!" "Too many Viruses on the network!" Even though I have explained the problem. I prefer just to lock down my computer and when he wants me to check out something. I have the option to say Nope! no viruses and trojans for me thanks.
Why is everyone on this Alone thing. Haven't you ever just sat and watched a kid play and gave hints to them? I usually call that playing with them. And there a few bombs in buildings in GTA VC. One in the mall, one using the RC Helicopter.
Perhaps the guy was sitting with the kid 'Watching' him play and somehow hit the speed dial (yes ppl do that with work numbers) accidentally (because the phone was on the chair and he was kinda sitting on it) and then yelled 'Bomb in the building.Everyone get out!hahaha', then realized that the phone was there, realized it was on and hung it up (what the hell I didn't phone anyone why is this on?).
Internet - Oh man as a geek I cannot answer that but it was a collabaration in the States... between universities with professors from around the world.
Light bulb - Yep that was the americans Thomas Edison
Telephone - That I know was a Canadian. Alexander Graham Bell.
While it is not possible for a properly functioning cell phone to ignite the fumes of gas at the pumps. A faulty phone with a short in it certainly has the possibility to. A shorted battery or worn wire while in the correct cercumstances(sp?) can cause a spark.
It is also true that the newer cells also have a number of protections from it. But do you remember the ones that were made 10 years ago? those big buggers that pulled down your pants cell phone? Yea there were lots of possibilies with those.
Having worked at a gas station for many years you see lots of stupid ppl doing stupid things. Lighting cigarettes at the pumps. And ppl smoking standing directly next to the huge propane tank.(Darwinism at its best, I was just glad that I was behind a bullet proof window and large cement wall) - Not that it would have helped too much but might have saved my life.
While your chances of being a ball of flame is small with a newer cell phone are the same as the lottery, are you completly possitive that the phone is not faulty in any way? Do you want to take that chance? And will you live with yourself if something happens to someone working there because of you? And Really How important is that call??
I think that even a more or less unknown state college is better, at least their mandate is to teach, not separate money from the marks
While not entirely true you are right. I got my Diploma from a local college and the education I recieved was excellent for what I paid for. But when entering the work force I was joined by ppl who had thier BS and Masters, from Larger University's (UBC, UofVic and BCIT - Canadian, British Columbian Biggies) I found I was on the same level as them when it came to solving problems. There came many times I was showing them how to do things that I felt they should have known.
Now I know that different ppl learn differently but I mean thats not the only job where I have been in that position. As I only have a diploma I should not be as knowlegable as someone with a masters from a big well known school. Some how I know who got separated from there money, and who got taught.
The point is this, if you want an education look for the schools that are smaller, and more affordable. Preferably one that is accredited with and association that has the same goals as you. If you are just in it for the money go for the big names and shell out the money.
Sometimes looking back over my unemployment history and the trouble I have getting proper work I think I would have been better off being separated from my money. The names sell better for the job.
... yet more proof that making games for the PC just does not bring as much profit anymore..
I don't think that there is no profit in PC games anymore, I think that the companies are trying to come out with the same games on the PC as they are on platforms. Then that puts them in direct competition with the console instead of isolating the market.
To me it seems that the games that are now being created on the PC are better played on a console. (more action less strategy) - PS not a fan of FP games more of a RPG fan -
I regularily pick up turn based games and stategy games for the PC because they play better. And other action games(ie FF, WWE, Puzzle) for the console.
I just think that PC game makers are just spending thier time and money in the wrong places. Not that there is no profit.
Interplay was my inspiration to getting into the game industry and producing games as my career. Ok that was a lie(I always wanted to make games since I was 6) but it certainly boosted me to get going.
Interplay started going downhill when it went public and stoped making games for gamers by gamers. They had the share holders to deal with and wouldn't take chances.
Slashdot Mirror
Thats funny. Last time I had to call the Microsoft Product Activation Center, I was completely bombed. (I'm a pretty cheap drunk, and I had at least 7 or 8 beers in me) Couldn't walk, and had, I'm sure, a pretty slurred speech.
:)
Never had a glitch or even had to repeat myself to the robot. Straight through and thank you for calling Microsoft!
I'm pretty sure anyone with a strong accent would have a hard time (texan, east indian, french italian... you get the idea), but it seemed pretty easy to me
I remember shaking my head halfway through the call going, "why did I do this now??"
Just wanted to add that The Fallout series was my all time favorites. Fallout, fallout 2, and Fallout Tactics.
:)
The team from Fallout went on to make another of my favorites, Arcanum. Same style and more character customization.
Thanks for the link, I will check it out when I get a chance
Well, as much as I want this to make sense, it just cannot be used. Replace 'Violent Video Games' with 'Prostitute' or 'cigarettes'. And I am sure that you have enough arguments to use when those two come up.
/not a troll, just pointing my opinion
While it seems to be a design failure it sometimes is not.
I like to play games that take time to 'round' out a character, then if the game allows, I can play against other ppl in the PvP section. I also like to play solo at times I want to enjoy a game. Most RPGs are long and have tedious parts that require nothing but time. (I enjoy them to a point, there has to be a limit at some point)
The problem comes when FPS players want to PvP but don't want to put in the time to play and build up the character with XP, money and getting the armor that comes from drops and saving money. These players are in the wrong games.
I want to play hundreds of hours, thats why I bought the game. To waste time, and I don't want to be buying games every month or two. I want to take my time and enjoy the game as long as I can.
Still honestly not many ppl care. And for the record Canada is the largest country in the world(unless we sold some large islands I wasn't aware of). USSR was the largest until it split up into Ukraine and such. Suprised that no one else mentioned this. Be glad they mentioned Canada, most people around the world just group us as American as we live on North America. Or they come from Vancouver and most Americans think Vancouver, WA, and Canadians think Vancouver, BC.
If you can't go into a store and buy it, why not just pirate it?
:)
HA! Thats funny. Somehow it makes me think of when I was a young teenager and was reading porno mags. I couldn't buy them but we could rummage around in the bin around back. Without the covers of course
Ahhh those were good times.
What a split column.
OH MAN THE HORROR. EA MUST DIE!
or
WHO CARES. DON'T BUY THE GAME!
What gives? So Sega will produce a football without the current logos and stuff. And have the ability to quick create new "players" and logos that are similar or close to the actual ones. If the game is more superior then buy the new and improved ESPN game without the logos. Its all make believe. Make believe that its your favorite team playing!
Personally I hope that they go back in time and concentrate on a new "Mutant League Football". That was the best football game evar!
For the record I bought 10 games in the last year, and I now have 2 consoles, with 2 computers. And thats about average. I want the games just I never have a chance to play them. And with a single player game my last Civ game took 3 weeks. All in all you are right. It isn't cost effective yet to produce a MMPOG for my class. Not yet. Hopefully some day it will be. Because I spend money on games.
Maybe an emphasis on what casual means to me. Casual is when I get to play a game or two, maybe a couple of days a week. That means 1 - 2 hrs a week. $50 bucks up front, and 8 hrs of game play a month. ~2 dollars an hr ( alittle high but as the months wear on so does the game play). then lets say I play for 6 months. 48hrs of game play for $146 And somehow thats worth it for a gamer to pay?? Then compare that a hardcore gamer has paid $50 for the game and gotten the same amount of hours in the first week, and is now complaining about "level grinding".
I like the games its that theres just not enough to them or incentive when I can play GTA San Andreas for $50 and keep playing whenever I feel like. Even a couple of years down the road when everyone else has given up on the game. mmmmm Diablo. Tetris, Civ... you get the idea. Really I'm not talkin cost per experience point. I'm talking cost per content. If you bought GTA SA and played it to the end it may take you a month. If I bought GTA SA and played it to the end it might take me a year. But we both paid the same amount for the same content. and thats what I'm talkin bout.
I disagree, with Cable television I have the choice to upgrade the monthly subscription to a higher level. If I want more channels (More content) then I can pay a higher fee. Cause I would watch more television. MMPOGs don't offer that or any options at all. If you have Digital cable you can opt out of getting movies on PPV channels or you can order them. You can down grade your channels for a smaller package. You can opt out of many things. Its not a flat only $40. Its a package that if you pay the $40 you get the same as your buddy. But if you change that $40 to say get regular cable (non digital) and some PPV when you want it. thats the difference.
But If I only watch a little tv then I can have the choice to not pay at all.(Rabbit ears - which I have). I don't mind much paying a monthly fee for things I use. But when I only use it a little bit I want the option to do things cheaper than the guy that goes hard and does it all the time. Or at least compensation. (some way to gain the content the same as the other guy).
BTW vcrs have been around for many moons and have been able to bring the content that I want when I want. If there were some way that you could replicate that into an MMPOG then sure that would help too.
Bottom line - Casual gamers pay hundreds more for a game that has the same content as a hardcore gamer. If MMPOGs what that business then they have to compensate for that difference.
Not to say that your wrong. That the game should move ahead as much as you are playing it. Only MMPOGs have a monthly fee associated. The person who only plays casually will end up paying more for the same content that the person who plays obsessively will. That somehow doesn't seem right to me.
A Person who plays FF and plays to the end in two days or two years will still end up paying the same amount of money. (of course assuming that they both bought the game at the same price.) No matter what the cost of the game, the same content isn't going to be in the hundreds of dollars difference.
Isn't that kinda like sayin that if I stole your watch (Not that piracy is property theft), you get the right to ransack my house looking for the watch. And somehow that ties to an agreement between you and someone else on how to use said watch.
I guess they forgot that they taught the world how to create these characters, right?? I remember having the "How to draw" books and having a couple of them dedicated to Hulk, She-Hulk, X-men, etc. Look out everyone, hide those books if you still gottem. It's Stan "Wannabe Elliet Ness" Lee comming to get you!
The movie industry has also tried to battle piracy by running ads in movie theaters
I Also know those ads! As soon as I saw the ad I imediatly went out to get my money back. They asked why, and I told 'em. "I just saw an ad that says that I could just download the movie and watch it free. Why would I pay you $30 bucks (Date) to see this movie when I can see it for free??" I mean really its 15 bucks CDN a pop to go see a movie in a decent theatre on a friday night. Not a lavish theatre where they serve you in your seat. But a decent one where the floor is somewhat clean and you don't have to wonder what your sitting on. And I have to put up with people talking throughout the friggin movie. Or I could just buy the movie for 20 Bucks CDN and watch it at home as many times as I want.
Which movies are good movies to buy you ask? Well just download the crapola version from P2P networks and find one you like. Then go buy the good copy. Wow that was hard. And in Canada its legal to do it. I am making a copy for my own personal information. Saved money. And buy only movies that I like(or my gf).
As a contract software developer, the client calls all the shots. If no matter how many times I explain that a properly designed system will be faster to build, cheaper to build, and be more stable when finished. They still seem to think that the phrase "Go ahead and get started, and I will get back to you on what I want." works nowadays.
Currently I have a client who does nothing but come to me with a revolving set of requirements.
Client: "Oh I just thought that this would be a nice feature."
Me: "Yes, yes it would. But would require me to spend 1 or 2 months to rework that into the design and make sure it works. BTW, when is the system going to be used?"
Client: "Two weeks from now."
Me: "Ok then we work it into the next version then."
Client: "No, no go ahead and get started on it and I will get back to you."
Me: "You know that it won't work in two weeks then?"
Client: "Why not?"
.
.
.
Me: "Well its your money, whatever you want. I will see what I can do."
-Two weeks later-
Client: "Is the system ready to be used?"
Me: "No."
Client: "Why not."
Me: "Well, you remember..."-interupts-
Client: "Oh I have an idea what about adding this?"
What the client wants he gets. And when its crap thats what he gets. He wants to pay me for it. So be it! I have to fund my own projects somehow.
Its kinda like calling a New Zealander a Kiwi.
While I agree with your statement, (broadband certainly does make it easier to download games and give one more access to those games) But it does not make copyright violations "easy". CD burners and copy utilities make it easier to violate a copyright as one do not need an internet connection to copy a game.
Video games are slowing down for the PC because it is simply easier to play a game on a console than it is on a PC. On a PC I have to go through and install the game (depends on the game but usually 15 -30 mins) then I have to be sure that any drivers need to be up to date(anywhere from a few minutes to hours depending on my internet speed). Newer games especially.
Now add on the new "Copy protection Scheme" which criples legit parts on MY PC! Adding more time and frustration to the PC gaming experience. Then compare that to what ever console you prefer. Buy game, put game in machine, play game within 5 minutes. (Assuming that you watch the intro and flip through the manual)
Its no wonder that the transition to console is picking up speed.
BTW its just as easy to copy a console game as it is to copy a PC game. Only with a little hardware modification is needed for the most part.
Top Ten Industry Facts
1/ U.S. computer and video game software sales grew eight percent in 2003 to $7 billion - a more than doubling of industry software sales since 1996.
2/ In 2003, more than 239 million computer and video games were sold, or almost two games for every household in America.
3/ Half of all Americans age six and older play computer and video games.
4/ The average age of a game player is 29 years old.
5/ The average game buyer is 36 years old. In 2003, 94 percent of computer game buyers and 84 percent of console game buyers were over the age of 18.
6/ Thirty-nine percent of game players are women.
7/ Eighty-five percent of all games sold in 2003 were rated "E" for everyone or "T" for teen. (For more information on ratings, please see www.esrb.org.)
8/ Ninety-two percent of parents surveyed who have children under the age of 18 say they monitor the content of the interactive games their children play, and 55 percent of parents say they play interactive games with their kids at least once a month.
9/ Forty-three percent of game players say they play games online one or more hours per week, up from thirty-seven percent in 2003 and thirty-one percent in 2002.
10/ More than half of game players expect to be playing as much or more 10 years from now as they do today.
"http://www.theesa.com/pressroom.html"
There is no need for this kind of protection the only thing that they are doing is giving more people the reason to move to the consols. If the consol just works, then why mess with the PC. Two games for every house hold?? Thats a helava lotta games sold.
I agree with having to pay for the necessary broadband at home. If its really needed. As long as time done at home with the broadband is paid for by the company. I mean wouldn't you still have broadband at home even if you didn't work there? Probably.
;). And that is private. I also don't like the fact that he would come in and tell me to download such and such a program, then get mad that it screwed up the computer. "Its lost productivity, this is a big problem!" "Too many Viruses on the network!" Even though I have explained the problem. I prefer just to lock down my computer and when he wants me to check out something. I have the option to say Nope! no viruses and trojans for me thanks.
OTOH I bought and use my own workstation for my work because the ones supplied by my employer SUCK! and he seems to think that having VNC or PC anywhere so he can peek anytime and make sure I'm working. I have no problems him comming and looking. But I also do work for others people(not on the employers time mind you, only reading and responding to slashdot once in a while
Why is everyone on this Alone thing. Haven't you ever just sat and watched a kid play and gave hints to them? I usually call that playing with them. And there a few bombs in buildings in GTA VC. One in the mall, one using the RC Helicopter.
Perhaps the guy was sitting with the kid 'Watching' him play and somehow hit the speed dial (yes ppl do that with work numbers) accidentally (because the phone was on the chair and he was kinda sitting on it) and then yelled 'Bomb in the building.Everyone get out!hahaha', then realized that the phone was there, realized it was on and hung it up (what the hell I didn't phone anyone why is this on?).
And there it is a reasonable explanation!
Internet - Oh man as a geek I cannot answer that but it was a collabaration in the States... between universities with professors from around the world.
Light bulb - Yep that was the americans Thomas Edison
Telephone - That I know was a Canadian. Alexander Graham Bell.
While it is not possible for a properly functioning cell phone to ignite the fumes of gas at the pumps. A faulty phone with a short in it certainly has the possibility to. A shorted battery or worn wire while in the correct cercumstances(sp?) can cause a spark.
It is also true that the newer cells also have a number of protections from it. But do you remember the ones that were made 10 years ago? those big buggers that pulled down your pants cell phone? Yea there were lots of possibilies with those.
Having worked at a gas station for many years you see lots of stupid ppl doing stupid things. Lighting cigarettes at the pumps. And ppl smoking standing directly next to the huge propane tank.(Darwinism at its best, I was just glad that I was behind a bullet proof window and large cement wall) - Not that it would have helped too much but might have saved my life.
While your chances of being a ball of flame is small with a newer cell phone are the same as the lottery, are you completly possitive that the phone is not faulty in any way? Do you want to take that chance? And will you live with yourself if something happens to someone working there because of you? And Really How important is that call??
I think that even a more or less unknown state college is better, at least their mandate is to teach, not separate money from the marks
While not entirely true you are right. I got my Diploma from a local college and the education I recieved was excellent for what I paid for. But when entering the work force I was joined by ppl who had thier BS and Masters, from Larger University's (UBC, UofVic and BCIT - Canadian, British Columbian Biggies) I found I was on the same level as them when it came to solving problems. There came many times I was showing them how to do things that I felt they should have known.
Now I know that different ppl learn differently but I mean thats not the only job where I have been in that position. As I only have a diploma I should not be as knowlegable as someone with a masters from a big well known school. Some how I know who got separated from there money, and who got taught.
The point is this, if you want an education look for the schools that are smaller, and more affordable. Preferably one that is accredited with and association that has the same goals as you. If you are just in it for the money go for the big names and shell out the money.
Sometimes looking back over my unemployment history and the trouble I have getting proper work I think I would have been better off being separated from my money. The names sell better for the job.
I don't think that there is no profit in PC games anymore, I think that the companies are trying to come out with the same games on the PC as they are on platforms. Then that puts them in direct competition with the console instead of isolating the market.
To me it seems that the games that are now being created on the PC are better played on a console. (more action less strategy) - PS not a fan of FP games more of a RPG fan -
I regularily pick up turn based games and stategy games for the PC because they play better. And other action games(ie FF, WWE, Puzzle) for the console.
I just think that PC game makers are just spending thier time and money in the wrong places. Not that there is no profit.
Interplay was my inspiration to getting into the game industry and producing games as my career. Ok that was a lie(I always wanted to make games since I was 6) but it certainly boosted me to get going.
Interplay started going downhill when it went public and stoped making games for gamers by gamers. They had the share holders to deal with and wouldn't take chances.