The Subscription Wars are fast upon us. It seems like every company out there is trying to turn their business model from one-time payment into a monthly subscription. Why? Because it is a steadier revenue stream.
Unfortunately, when everybody starts trying to charge a subscription for their "service"...and nobody seems to have many subscriptions under $5/month...they will end up feeding off each other. I only make $X/month, and before, I would save up and purchase something. But now it seems companies want me to keep paying them month after month, and my paycheck can cover only so many subscriptions. I think companies will fast realize that not all of them can charge a subscription, and in fact they might do better not to.
Now if only they could make a program to let you visualize the results of your sequence. Can anybody explain any of this for people who do not have a degree in genetics?
'Your attention to mainstream media makes it seem like you shouldn't be calling yourself or other people "geek". Moreso if some of the titles you mentioned were television shows."
My industry requires that I be up to date on mainstream media and the pulse of society as a whole. So, while I would love to publish information from the several thousand dollar studies I base my observations off of, unfortunately I am contractually prohibitted from doing so.
For those worried about the safety of the link for work...it is a machinima music video done in World of Warcraft. Quite hilarious, just make sure your volume is low. No nudity.
Here's another idea...why not turn this problem they have into a revenue stream that is potentially more profitable than standard UMD sales...why not *gasp* SELL BLANK UMDs? Let people copy their movies over, and turn the UMD into a mass storage device similar to DVDRs. Of course...this is Sony we're talking about, so thats not even a remote possibility, but whatever.
"So are they arguing that you have to buy music from an online dealer (something akin to iTunes) if you want to be able to use your portable device? Sounds like just one more reason not to buy CDs."
Gee...that couldn't be at all what they want...could it now? Remember, they're not in the business of selling CDs, they're in the business of selling music...over and over again on as many different forms of media as possible. I'm sure they'd love for the CD to become out-dated so they can cram a much more 'secure' format down our throats. And also remember that they make more money and have more control with online downloads.
"If you're basing this on the newfound popularity of computer geeks, I'd argue that it's not cool to be intellectual, but to be percieved as potentially rich and powerful. If anything, I'd say American society is trending toward complete apathy."
I disagree. I think that geeks are becoming recognized as less shallow, more intellectually satisfying and more interesting than non-geeks. What is my basis for this? Mainstream media.
Take a look at recent hits...the movie Garden State....Beauty and the Geek....Seth from The O.C.....the list goes on. Girls are starting to realize that hey...once we clean up and dress well and learn to talk to them, we are actually way more interesting and fun to be around than Joe Fratboy who only knows how to go to the bar and do keg stands.
Society as a whole is looking for deeper emotional and intellectual fulfillment, and geeks are some of the best people around to provide that.
And we have better odds at being rich....but that was before we all got outsourced to India.
Its not so much that it is anti intellectual...I think what grandparent meant is that it is swinging to the religious, anti-scientific end of things. I know plenty of intellectual religious people...of course I think they're fools for believing in god, but thats their problem.
"Likewise, I don't think that the Revolution's controller is some "holy grail" for fighting games."
Agreed. And if you're allowed to match it up so that one person "moves" to execute their moves, while the other just pushes buttons....the one who's just pushing buttons will have a HUGE advantage because of the speed with which they can push them. That's why I've always preferred the PS2's joystick for Gran Turismo as opposed to the racing wheel....I can simply execute my moves quicker with the buttons than having to turn the whole wheel, etc.
Slightly off-topic...but still Mazda related.....has anybody heard anything about a new RX7 being developed? Are there any spy pictures out? The RX8 is nice and all....but compared to the original RX7 its a friggin economy car.
I have to say these prostitutes are pretty hypocritical...
"They note that the games are a bad influence on children, and might encourage rape and violent behavior towards prostitutes in real life."
What about the issue of kids being encouraged to PICK UP a prostitute in real life? Looks like that one managed to slip by them...wonder why...
And for the record, I have no moral issue against prostitution, its the worlds oldest profession...but I only support the regulated kind, where they work in safe environments, have regular testing and support, etc. Not this crap where you pick up one in your car and drive to a quiet place. Children should NOT be encouraged to do that.
Something tells me they won't be talking much about Fair Use rights in all of this. Its all going to be "file sharing is bad and you're a criminal!" rather than "file sharing is infringing on a copyright, not theft" and "you are able to copy your media under these conditions".
I think someone should put together a website that monitors this program, corrects any incorrect info that they try to teach and also gives useful info (like I mentioned above) that isn't taught. This could then be made known to the students who could come to class with questions that I"m sure would make the teacher pretty uncomfortable. Nothing like students armed with factual knowledge.
Thank you! The only people who think this is an addiction are the people who didn't grow up with it. The other interesting thing is how this so-called "addiction" is growing to encapsulate internet addiction as well. I am curious to see a study broken down by age groups and seeing their thoughts on computer addiction. I'll bet the younger they are, the less they think using it a lot is an addiction.
Another thing I'd be curious about is seeing what people considered "addictions" in previous eras. And no, I'm not referring to chemical addictions, those have been around since well, almost since man was man.
I count myself among the geeks here who don't have much luck with the opposite sex. I have never loved a girl, and have never been loved by one (romantically that is...moms don't count!). What I'm wondering is....is there any way for me to experience this? Falling in love with someone isn't just something you can set out determined to do...it apparently just happens...with no guarantee that it will happen.
That is a shitty thought, and I want to know what its like to be in love. Can any Slashdotters give me some suggestions?
"Both methods take the same exact amount of work, but with method 2 you don't wait."
Really? From your post it seems method 1 took significantly less work to do. Sure, you have to be a little embarrassed, but in the end it seems you are doing less work overall....
So lets say that not only are interrupts my problem, but just plain laziness....any suggestions for that? I'm trying to break a 22 year old habit, and its not exactly working (hence why I'm posting on Slashdot during work).
Eagl, thanks for the VERY in-depth responses to my posts. I really appreciated the insight into a profession that I know little actual truths about.
I have kind of another random question...but in Battlefield 1942, Desert Combat, and BF2, I would consider myself to be (pardon my bragging) a bit of an ace based on my score and the fact that I consistently am ranked best pilot on the servers I play on...now, my question is, in your opinion how much relevance do real world dogfighting tactics have in this kind of game?
Obviously the physics are VASTLY different (I can't even imagine how many negative G's I must be pulling sometimes), but if you're familiar with the game, are there any tactics you can recommend I read up on?
This is quite obviously a press release to coincide with the recent magazine based ad campaign Guildhall has going on right now. Nothing more, move along.
Besides...do game companies actually hire from these places? Anybody can make a game...but it takes a good programmer to develop one.
Slashdot Mirror
Sometimes I just wish that all non-religious people could start our own country.
Unfortunately, when everybody starts trying to charge a subscription for their "service"...and nobody seems to have many subscriptions under $5/month...they will end up feeding off each other. I only make $X/month, and before, I would save up and purchase something. But now it seems companies want me to keep paying them month after month, and my paycheck can cover only so many subscriptions. I think companies will fast realize that not all of them can charge a subscription, and in fact they might do better not to.
But doesn't that keep you earning money? Dilema....
My industry requires that I be up to date on mainstream media and the pulse of society as a whole. So, while I would love to publish information from the several thousand dollar studies I base my observations off of, unfortunately I am contractually prohibitted from doing so.
Gee...that couldn't be at all what they want...could it now? Remember, they're not in the business of selling CDs, they're in the business of selling music...over and over again on as many different forms of media as possible. I'm sure they'd love for the CD to become out-dated so they can cram a much more 'secure' format down our throats. And also remember that they make more money and have more control with online downloads.
I disagree. I think that geeks are becoming recognized as less shallow, more intellectually satisfying and more interesting than non-geeks. What is my basis for this? Mainstream media.
Take a look at recent hits...the movie Garden State....Beauty and the Geek....Seth from The O.C.....the list goes on. Girls are starting to realize that hey...once we clean up and dress well and learn to talk to them, we are actually way more interesting and fun to be around than Joe Fratboy who only knows how to go to the bar and do keg stands.
Society as a whole is looking for deeper emotional and intellectual fulfillment, and geeks are some of the best people around to provide that.
And we have better odds at being rich....but that was before we all got outsourced to India.
Agreed. And if you're allowed to match it up so that one person "moves" to execute their moves, while the other just pushes buttons....the one who's just pushing buttons will have a HUGE advantage because of the speed with which they can push them. That's why I've always preferred the PS2's joystick for Gran Turismo as opposed to the racing wheel....I can simply execute my moves quicker with the buttons than having to turn the whole wheel, etc.
"They note that the games are a bad influence on children, and might encourage rape and violent behavior towards prostitutes in real life."
What about the issue of kids being encouraged to PICK UP a prostitute in real life? Looks like that one managed to slip by them...wonder why...
And for the record, I have no moral issue against prostitution, its the worlds oldest profession...but I only support the regulated kind, where they work in safe environments, have regular testing and support, etc. Not this crap where you pick up one in your car and drive to a quiet place. Children should NOT be encouraged to do that.
I think someone should put together a website that monitors this program, corrects any incorrect info that they try to teach and also gives useful info (like I mentioned above) that isn't taught. This could then be made known to the students who could come to class with questions that I"m sure would make the teacher pretty uncomfortable. Nothing like students armed with factual knowledge.
Another thing I'd be curious about is seeing what people considered "addictions" in previous eras. And no, I'm not referring to chemical addictions, those have been around since well, almost since man was man.
That is a shitty thought, and I want to know what its like to be in love. Can any Slashdotters give me some suggestions?
They already have, I believe its called Holy Water.
Really? From your post it seems method 1 took significantly less work to do. Sure, you have to be a little embarrassed, but in the end it seems you are doing less work overall....
Since when have we been able to create micro-black holes? Man.....screw lightsabers, i want a gun that shoots micro-black holes!
I have kind of another random question...but in Battlefield 1942, Desert Combat, and BF2, I would consider myself to be (pardon my bragging) a bit of an ace based on my score and the fact that I consistently am ranked best pilot on the servers I play on...now, my question is, in your opinion how much relevance do real world dogfighting tactics have in this kind of game?
Obviously the physics are VASTLY different (I can't even imagine how many negative G's I must be pulling sometimes), but if you're familiar with the game, are there any tactics you can recommend I read up on?
Besides...do game companies actually hire from these places? Anybody can make a game...but it takes a good programmer to develop one.