About Amsterdam - if you're planning to move to the city center it would be best if your employer can arrange a place to live for you (and foot the bill). We called several estate agencies and the message was uniformly 'sorry, there just too much demand for too few places.' The few places we did see were about the same price as one would pay in London.
Perhaps he was hinting at 'terminator technologies' - genetically engineered crops that produce infertile seed, forcing farmers to buy new seed every year. Monsanto hold a patent to this.
For example, I observe that as a general rule (generalization disclaimer again) we don't make games which include elements of rape, incest, racism, hate, etc. These things are "tasteless" and thus find their way out of good game designs before they are even created. Apparently, no further rationalization is needed to eliminate these elements. Yet, (you know what I'm about to say) blood-gushing homicides repeated ad-infinitum in choose-your-favorite-doom-clone are not tasteless? War games where thousands of little virtual men get splatted like lemmings are not tasteless? Why and when did we "decide" this? How do we justify this dichotomy?
Funnily enough, I think it's because of the medium's relative youth that these 'tasteless elements' are not yet found in computer games. It won't be long before someone does it... And I don't even think it needs to be such a bad thing either. The difference with movies is, of course, interaction. I hope I can live with computer games (18+?) in which the bad guy spouts racist crap (happens all the time in movies/novels), but it all becomes a bit more poignant if the game allows you to somehow influence what's happening (e.g. save your girlfriend from being raped?).
Things might even go further. When in a movie someone 'plays' the bad guy, we know this is only pretending on the part of the actor. How does playing a rapist reflect on the actor's character? Not badly I hope. And does this translate to someone playing a rapist in an online RPG?
'We are working on a new DOOM game, focusing on the single player game experience, and using brand new technology in almost every aspect of it. '
I was expecting them to come up with a title even more strongly focused on online gaming (see evolution of Quake series). Their networking code is second to none.
Pity, I would've liked to see what id would've made of the Metaverse.
I moved from England (Digital Highway ISDN and sky-high phonebills) to Belgium (cablemodem @ 20 quid/month). I'd love to move back to England, but if I can't get some cheap bandwidth there, I'm better off just living in another country and taking the plane now and then. Having an always-on, fast connection radically changes the way you look at the internet.
We achieved some good working results, but then decided that the best way to do it would be to have a sort of distributed system, in which the processing was spread out onto the computers of anyone who was logged in.
Please enlighten me... If I read this correctly, you're saying that the processing power of the server became so much of an issue that you decided it would be a good idea to distribute it over the clients? Was there so much processing involved that a bigger server couldn't have handled it? I assume this was in the game code, as I can't see the actual network code take more than a trivial amount of time...
According to the Deutsches Museum Enigma Page (in English), between 100,000 and 200,000 Enigma machines were built during World War II. The Polish were breaking Enigma ciphers as early as December 1932 and January 1933, as mentioned in passing here - in fact it was Polish dissidents that delivered an Enigma to Bletchley Park. This page has some recent Enigma selling prices in case you want to start saving up for one (prices start around $15000). I wonder what's so special about the stolen one, and why there's only three of that type remaining...
It's called FileFury, and also works peer-to-peer. Now, if it had as much hype as Gnutella perhaps someone would use it and the network would have some value.
FileFury allows you to share files of any type, and search over other computers with FileFury, all over the Internet, instantly. With FileFury, you can find and obtain files easily; allow your friends access to your files; and surf through any computer with FileFury installed, copying whatever you want
According to the FAQ they plan to introduce some kind of central server (if I interpret well) that would allow you to find some random 'friends' (avoiding the 'problem' that Gnutella has with finding a first connection to the network).
For a lot of people, this is not a desireable feature; you should not have to coordinate with your friends to start searches. For this reason, Tenebril has elected to introduce a new feature in the next release of FileFury. In addition to starting searches on all your online friends, FileFury will also start searches on some number (say 5) of random online computers. No matter where you are, or when you run your search, you'll get results, instantly. And, at each hop, the search will be forwarded not only to friends but to five more random computers. So, for any search, you're likely to hit at least (5^6 = 15,625) over 15,000 computers. Instantly.
Actually, I much prefer the grass-roots Gnutella. Tenebril, the company producing FileFury, has released the source code to much of the program - but not the critical peer-to-peer network library. They claim to have Open-Sourced the app, while actually it looks more like they've released some code to advertise their networking library. Still very nice of them if you're into MFC, mind you, but calling it Open Source won't go down well on this forum, will it?
By the way, it IS possible to vote for 'none of the above', by not colouring any of the dots. In the days of paper forms you used to be able to draw a micky mouse on the form, but since we've got pin cards with magnetic stripes, and terminals with light pens, you can't anymore. The computer still allows you not to vote though, which is essential.
So even people who want to exercise their freedom of speech by not voting can do so.
At least there's more information in the fact that 3% of the voters returned an empty form, than in knowing that 51% didn't bother voting.
Here in Belgium, voting is mandatory. There's a fine for not voting, and every election there's a few thousand people (population ~10 million) that do get fined (although there's probably a lot more that escape).
One of the main arguments pro voting duty is that 'less privileged' parts of the population get to have their democratic say.
OTOH, some people think it encourages people to use their vote irresponsibly (voting for extreme right-wing parties out of dissatisfaction with more centrist ones, for example).
Personally, I like it. It gives me a warm feeling to know everybody's had his or her say in the government of the country. Oh, and it's nice to have a choice of parties, as well. As in more than two parties.
Absurd. PSX2 uses a proprietary OS. Early dev tools were running under Linux, and perhaps the Sony tools still are (I don't know, I don't have one). But you can get a whole development environment for Windows, e.g. ProDG from SN Systems. Funnily enough, it's based on the GNU compiler and tools.
But then, perhaps an AC can break his NDA and tell us more.
They quote MCV UK as the source - a British computer game industry trade mag. MCV doesn't have any online presence that I can find, though. The few times I've read it it was alright. I no longer receive it but perhaps someone here does.
Perhaps I'm stating the obvious by mentioning (Sir) Roger Penrose's 'The Emperor's New Mind and Douglas Hofstadter's 'Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid'. Both are scientists of excellent pedigree, check out the links if you're interested. They study consciousness from a physical/mathematical viewpoint, and the interesting thing is that they reach quite different conclusions.
This page has several (technical!) articles on Penrose's ideas about consciousness.
These books are pretty old, though (ENM '89 and GEB '79). Could anyone recommend some more recent books along the same line?
Unless I'm very much mistaken, MP4 does not compress an audio track like MP3 does. It is not an improved version of MP3. From what I've read on the MP4 Developer Tools Site, MP4 works somewhat like an augmented version of MIDI files (in fact there seems to be legacy support for MIDI). So you wouldn't be able to convert your CD tracks to MP4.
Quotes: 'MP4-SA is different from standards like the MIDI File Format, because it includes not only the notes to play, but the method for turning notes into sound.'
'If the instrument models use algorithmic synthesis instead of wavetables, an MP4-SA file can describe realistic musical performances without using any audio data -- just score data, mixdown cues, and DSP algorithms. In this case, the MP4-SA file is about the same size as a MIDI File, but is a lossless encoding of the audio heard at mixdown. Just like a WAV file -- but 50 to 1000 times smaller!'
History of the Hurd: "RMS explains the relationship between the Hurd and Linux in The Hurd and Linux, where he mentions that the FSF started developing the Hurd in 1990. As of [Gnusletter, Nov. 1991], the Hurd (running on Mach) is GNU's official kernel. "
Slashdot Mirror
Alright then, here's a picture of the third one: the NeXT Cube.
Taken from Jim's Computer Garage.
That's too bad. I'm moving soon, but not to a place that doesn't have cable or ADSL, that's for sure. I had ISDN before - oh the phonebills...
Let me guess... British Telecom right?
In Belgium, OTOH, cable modems are everywhere.
They don't rate online credit card merchants, though, do they? Where's the link to that?
About Amsterdam - if you're planning to move to the city center it would be best if your employer can arrange a place to live for you (and foot the bill).
We called several estate agencies and the message was uniformly 'sorry, there just too much demand for too few places.'
The few places we did see were about the same price as one would pay in London.
Perhaps he was hinting at 'terminator technologies' - genetically engineered crops that produce infertile seed, forcing farmers to buy new seed every year.
Monsanto hold a patent to this.
However, after much controversy Monsanto backed down late last year.
Funnily enough, I think it's because of the medium's relative youth that these 'tasteless elements' are not yet found in computer games. It won't be long before someone does it... And I don't even think it needs to be such a bad thing either.
The difference with movies is, of course, interaction. I hope I can live with computer games (18+?) in which the bad guy spouts racist crap (happens all the time in movies/novels), but it all becomes a bit more poignant if the game allows you to somehow influence what's happening (e.g. save your girlfriend from being raped?).
Things might even go further. When in a movie someone 'plays' the bad guy, we know this is only pretending on the part of the actor. How does playing a rapist reflect on the actor's character? Not badly I hope. And does this translate to someone playing a rapist in an online RPG?
In Europe, the caller pays.
'We are working on a new DOOM game, focusing on the single player game experience, and using brand new technology in almost every aspect of it. '
I was expecting them to come up with a title even more strongly focused on online gaming (see evolution of Quake series). Their networking code is second to none.
Pity, I would've liked to see what id would've made of the Metaverse.
I moved from England (Digital Highway ISDN and sky-high phonebills) to Belgium (cablemodem @ 20 quid/month). I'd love to move back to England, but if I can't get some cheap bandwidth there, I'm better off just living in another country and taking the plane now and then.
Having an always-on, fast connection radically changes the way you look at the internet.
We achieved some good working results, but then decided that the best way to do it would be to have a sort of distributed system, in which the processing was spread out onto the computers of anyone who was logged in.
Please enlighten me... If I read this correctly, you're saying that the processing power of the server became so much of an issue that you decided it would be a good idea to distribute it over the clients? Was there so much processing involved that a bigger server couldn't have handled it? I assume this was in the game code, as I can't see the actual network code take more than a trivial amount of time...
According to the Deutsches Museum Enigma Page (in English), between 100,000 and 200,000 Enigma machines were built during World War II.
The Polish were breaking Enigma ciphers as early as December 1932 and January 1933, as mentioned in passing here - in fact it was Polish dissidents that delivered an Enigma to Bletchley Park.
This page has some recent Enigma selling prices in case you want to start saving up for one (prices start around $15000).
I wonder what's so special about the stolen one, and why there's only three of that type remaining...
It is.
According to the FAQ they plan to introduce some kind of central server (if I interpret well) that would allow you to find some random 'friends' (avoiding the 'problem' that Gnutella has with finding a first connection to the network).
Actually, I much prefer the grass-roots Gnutella. Tenebril, the company producing FileFury, has released the source code to much of the program - but not the critical peer-to-peer network library. They claim to have Open-Sourced the app, while actually it looks more like they've released some code to advertise their networking library. Still very nice of them if you're into MFC, mind you, but calling it Open Source won't go down well on this forum, will it?
By the way, it IS possible to vote for 'none of the above', by not colouring any of the dots. In the days of paper forms you used to be able to draw a micky mouse on the form, but since we've got pin cards with magnetic stripes, and terminals with light pens, you can't anymore. The computer still allows you not to vote though, which is essential.
So even people who want to exercise their freedom of speech by not voting can do so.
At least there's more information in the fact that 3% of the voters returned an empty form, than in knowing that 51% didn't bother voting.
Here in Belgium, voting is mandatory. There's a fine for not voting, and every election there's a few thousand people (population ~10 million) that do get fined (although there's probably a lot more that escape).
One of the main arguments pro voting duty is that 'less privileged' parts of the population get to have their democratic say.
OTOH, some people think it encourages people to use their vote irresponsibly (voting for extreme right-wing parties out of dissatisfaction with more centrist ones, for example).
Personally, I like it. It gives me a warm feeling to know everybody's had his or her say in the government of the country. Oh, and it's nice to have a choice of parties, as well. As in more than two parties.
Absurd. PSX2 uses a proprietary OS. Early dev tools were running under Linux, and perhaps the Sony tools still are (I don't know, I don't have one). But you can get a whole development environment for Windows, e.g. ProDG from SN Systems. Funnily enough, it's based on the GNU compiler and tools.
But then, perhaps an AC can break his NDA and tell us more.
To wince - to shrink or start involuntarily, as in pain or distress; flinch.
They quote MCV UK as the source - a British computer game industry trade mag. MCV doesn't have any online presence that I can find, though.
The few times I've read it it was alright. I no longer receive it but perhaps someone here does.
Perhaps I'm stating the obvious by mentioning (Sir) Roger Penrose's 'The Emperor's New Mind and Douglas Hofstadter's 'Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid'.
Both are scientists of excellent pedigree, check out the links if you're interested. They study consciousness from a physical/mathematical viewpoint, and the interesting thing is that they reach quite different conclusions.
This page has several (technical!) articles on Penrose's ideas about consciousness.
These books are pretty old, though (ENM '89 and GEB '79). Could anyone recommend some more recent books along the same line?
Unless I'm very much mistaken, MP4 does not compress an audio track like MP3 does. It is not an improved version of MP3. From what I've read on the MP4 Developer Tools Site, MP4 works somewhat like an augmented version of MIDI files (in fact there seems to be legacy support for MIDI).
So you wouldn't be able to convert your CD tracks to MP4.
Quotes:
'MP4-SA is different from standards like the MIDI File Format, because it includes not only the notes to play, but the method for turning notes into sound.'
'If the instrument models use algorithmic synthesis instead of wavetables, an MP4-SA file can describe realistic musical performances without using any audio data -- just score data, mixdown cues, and DSP algorithms. In this case, the MP4-SA file is about the same size as a MIDI File, but is a lossless encoding of the audio heard at mixdown. Just like a WAV file -- but 50 to 1000 times smaller!'
--Luc
History of the Hurd:
"RMS explains the relationship between the Hurd and Linux in The Hurd and Linux, where he mentions that the FSF started developing the Hurd in 1990. As of [Gnusletter, Nov. 1991], the Hurd (running on Mach) is GNU's official kernel. "
The sliced-up person mentioned in the article has his homepage here. There's also a nice Java applet to view slices of him here.