Well, I can't dispute your comment about audio quality. However you CAN listen to the music in your car, you just have to burn it to CD first.
And yes, that is a little inconvenient, but try not to think of this as them selling a "music CD" in the traditional sense. This is more like them selling a multimedia bundle, in an interesting format which is reusable by most people out there as opposed to the alternative media that could hold this amount of data...a DVD.
Now, when you compare it to a DVD multimedia release, you STILL wouldn't be able to play it in your car, and most people don't have DVD burners while most people DO have USB ports.
You know, while every day we hear more and more reasons why our legal system is broken, its nice to see that this time it is working exactly as it should. I commend this judge for fulfilling his obligation to the State and to the law. Personally, this is just like a friggin soap opera for me.
Seriously, its like a contest between Jack Thompson, Sony, and the RIAA to see who can bury themselves the fastest while at the same time sustaining the most bullet wounds to their feet.
"Sometimes I find myself thinking that I should invent some electrical snake oil to liberate audiophools from their excess money, but I just don't want to sink that low."
You'd also probably have to pay Monster some licensing fees since they patented that idea ages ago.
The way this was written, I almost expected there to be a PayPal link at the end. On the otherhand, this is one such cause I wouldn't mind being advertised to about since it is an important exhibit in these scientifically challenged times.
The reason why most people (note: not the minority of geeks here on slashdot) don't do that is because they don't want to bother, may not know how, or don't know they can. Its not like the cellphone companies are pushing the datacords as much as they are ringtone services. The companies know how much more money they make off of ringtones, so they advertise that as THE way to get ringtones. Frankly, they would be stupid to do otherwise.
But you really would be amazed at how many tech savvy people out there don't know they can upload their own ringtones. The cellphone companies do a great job of brainwashing people.
We want Slashdot to fix it. The fact that its been broken for as long as you remember just says that much more about little the editors care about the site.
But I hardly think the proper course of action is to just stop complaining. Because if we did that, they might think they were doing the right thing, which they're not.
The reason people get so pissed at the editors is because there is not a single chance in hell they AREN'T aware of the dupe problems (not to mention all the others), and the fact that they have ignored their readers for THAT LONG is just plain fucking insulting to us.
Re:Houston, we have a busted/confirmed myth
on
Ask The Mythbusters
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· Score: 5, Funny
You sir have nothing to base this off of. I'm sure Hollywood HATES the gravy train that is the games-based-off-movies market tha they get a cut out of.
Again with you trying to force your views on the world! Not everybody feels the same way about life as you do. Not everybody feels they need to be the most productive person alive.
I am also supporting myself fresh out of college with a good paying job. But I also spend a lot of time playing games. Why? BECAUSE THEY'RE FUN! For me personally, life is about doing things I enjoy, and gaming is one of them. Who are you to say that people need to be furthering themselves academically or professionally to have meaning in their lives.
Again, I'm not arguing that these are poor ideals for you to strive for. Its your life, more power to you. But you shouldn't be knocking these people because they do not share similar values in their lives. Its just not your place.
"These kids getting super addicted to WoW and other RPGs are just kids who don't have proper perspective on life. They place an over abundance of importance and value in the games when personal and professional development is more important."
You know, I've really started to wonder about this. As society and technology progress, who are you to say which values and aspects of life are more important. We already have an entire generation who can see just as much importance in something virtual as something they can touch and feel, what if this is some form of personal development for them? And lets not forget that some people have made a LOT of money from MMORPG economies.
Perhaps what you meant to say is that these people place an over abundance of importance and value in games when personal and professional development is more important TO YOU.
Ok...I NEVER complain about my mods...but I gotta say whoever modded this as overrated is an idiot and here's why:
What I suggested has a MUCH better chance of affecting Sony than simply selling a few shares which would be completely unnoticed by Sony. If you attended a shareholder meeting, and discussed this issue in a well thought out manner and pointed out the fiscal implications to other attendees, you have a much better chance of reaching the ears of the people who are MAJOR shareholders of Sony. The people who's financial stake in Sony makes a significant difference. If you convince them to pull out, Sony will definitely notice.
'Bad time to sell my shares, but maybe I should do it anyway. It would help to make sure that Sony gets the message."
Actually....while it might be a moral thing to do, financially if you wanted to get the most out of your investment, I'd hold on for a while until the bad news is forgotten (and don't worry, it will be in due time). All you would accomplish now by selling is give some power broker a chance eat up your shares while Sony is cheap so he could later sell them for a greater profit.
A much BETTER way to stick it to them would be to show up at shareholder meetings and press this issue home, and to vote against people who continue to try to institute these draconian measures.
I would LOVE for big news outlets and game magazines to publicly blast this show for the crap paid-for spectacle that it is. Its not just the horrid product placement categories.....its the fact that they vote for games that aren't even out yet, which to us gamers is just plain fucking insulting. It insults our integrity, our intelligence, and our loyalty to gaming. If anybody knows the email addresses of the people behind this farce, please by all means post it here so we can let them know how we feel. For now, you can go to the feedback page and leave them a note. I tried to find a marketing persons email address through their media kit section, but you have to REGISTER TO GET THEIR MEDIA KIT! As someone in advertising.....I have to say thats bloody ridiculous. Great way to keep people from getting more information about advertising opportunities with you idiots. Although maybe thats for the best now that I think about it.
As someone who is considering lawschool in the future....what is your take on the horror stories of first year law? Do you really spend every waking minute doing research and studying?
Also...as somewhat of an odd question....as a very experienced D&D dungeon master and self-professed "rules lawyer", do you think any of that experience might help give me a leg up? If I was a natural at understanding D&D rules and their abuses/loopholes, do you think I have the right mindset for lawschool?
As society becomes ever more shallow, but strives to constantly become more "wholesome" and "down to earth" (and becomes even shallower in the process) they look for the next fad out there that they can latch on to that will make them feel like they are accomplishing their goal. For girls, it used to be the whole Bohemian thing....now they're hearing and seeing in the media that geeks tend to be more genuine, nicer, and more intelligent than these people are, so they seek to emulate us.
Although I do have to admit, for those of us guys who only are attracted to geek girls...this is certainly bringing in some fresh blood. The funny thing is, while they want to pretend to be like us, they don't really want to be us. They don't have the same interests that we do, they just have an interest in our subculture. Original geeks flocked together because of their geeky interests, these people are flocking to us now because of the media attention.
The good reviews are easy to find, and can definitely highlight some good perks of a game. However when I make my purchase decisions I want to find ALL of the negative reviews and problems I can before I make my purchasing decision. That way I can find out what key compatability issues might be, or if things aren't working out like the developers intended (as happens TOO frequently in MMORPGs).
The reason you should be bothered by this is simple. Advertising thrives on the slippery slope principle. I should give a disclaimer that I am an advertising executive who is familiar with this landscape.
You see, in advertising, its all about getting noticed above your competition and above the "noise". Now, there are two main ways of doing this. Producing a SPECTACULAR ad which gains eyeballs merely because people want to see it and seek it out...and producing an ad that is more attention grabbing than the next persons. Now, while a lot of people want to compare Massive's advertising to its real world counterparts, that only works up to the point of incorporating the visual look and feel to be consistent with the environment. However, the nature of the game still means that all of their ads are net based ads, which enable ad agencies to do a whole lot more with what they put out and the info they can gather.
So it starts as just a few billboards that don't detract from gameplay...suddenly there are slightly animated ads...then gradually you will see ads that add interactivity. Trust me, you have no idea how much an advertiser would be willing to pay for a clickable ad in a gameworld when none of the others are clickable. We've already seen product placement, but now there will be product placement in ways we can't even imagine yet. Lets say there is a video in the game somewhere...can you say product placement?
On the otherhand, this might encourage the game producers to update content more frequently as more fresh content means more advertising opportunities. So we'll just have to see what happens.
Having read the original story/writeup of the guy who executed the scam, I have to say it was one of the best pieces of writing I've seen in a long time. The way he describes the personalities of the other parties involved added a lot of depth to the story.
As to the scam itself? Bloody brilliant. But in an age where suddenly there's a SERIOUS time commitment to make that amount of cash, and theft causes SERIOUS anger in people, it makes me wonder how long it will be before the government tries to get involved. I mean, how is cash in a game different from any other nonphysical thing which you can be busted for stealing?
The funny thing is that after he got it all, he gave it to some noob and deleted his character, since this was this guy's way of "beating" the game. Which I guess makes sense in a game that places so much importance on the all mighty credit.
As someone who's recently finished reading The Schismatrix (EXCELLENT book btw), I read this and really start to wonder about what sorts of future social issues will arise from this. What sorts of social dynamics will change? A lot of people are against genetically modifying themselves...but what if they can suddenly live six times as long?
You really gotta wonder where peoples morals and beliefs will end, and where the primal human instinct to survive and reproduce as much as possible will kick in and make them cave.
Also, with the worlds changing view of the acceptance of plastic surgery, will it become more normal to receive it if you were to get life extension gene therapy? I mean, whats the point of living to be 300 if you're in a withered old husk that scares even old people.
While I'm glad they are taking some steps forward, you can be sure someone will take their DRMed torrent, pirate it, and release it on traditional torrent sites. But nonetheless, if they can find a pricepoint that works with their crippled offering, more power to em.
"The biggest surprise for me was that Microsoft, who usually pisses me off, actually was the only company to step up to the plate in a meaningful way. I expected far, far better from the antivirus/spyware vendors."
I don't know why you're so surprised. There are SERIOUS legal implications for anybody who gets involved in this. And yes, the AV companies do have the cash to fight....but they don't want to justify the risk, and they have a fairly good image with the public (until now at least).
MS on the other hand is CONSTANTLY trashed, and known for weak security and bad practices. Not only that, but they have a shitload of money. This is the perfect opportunity for them to step in and say "hey, AV companies aren't doing squat, we're going to come in and save the day, and if Sony wants to try to sue us, BRING IT."
It may not make you code better, but if you EVER have the possibility of being in the line of sight of a client or potential client, your dress code can have a HUGE impact on that person's impressions of your company, which could in turn affect your companies revenue or potential revenue. So while I personally agree with you that it is in general a stupid thing, the fact of the matter is that in today's world the majority of business decision makers like professionalism, and people make stereotypes about certain types of clothing.
Your attitude shows that you probably are not best suited for work in an industry that cares so much about these stereotypes, so I hope for your sake you're in a job where nobody cares.
But let me ask you this...if it meant your job, or a awesome potential job in the future, would you give a shit then?
Actually...now that you mention it, and this is quite an odd question, but what are British prisons like? We all know the stories about US Pound-Me-In-The-Ass prisons, but are they like that in the UK?
Slashdot Mirror
And yes, that is a little inconvenient, but try not to think of this as them selling a "music CD" in the traditional sense. This is more like them selling a multimedia bundle, in an interesting format which is reusable by most people out there as opposed to the alternative media that could hold this amount of data...a DVD.
Now, when you compare it to a DVD multimedia release, you STILL wouldn't be able to play it in your car, and most people don't have DVD burners while most people DO have USB ports.
Seriously, its like a contest between Jack Thompson, Sony, and the RIAA to see who can bury themselves the fastest while at the same time sustaining the most bullet wounds to their feet.
You'd also probably have to pay Monster some licensing fees since they patented that idea ages ago.
But you really would be amazed at how many tech savvy people out there don't know they can upload their own ringtones. The cellphone companies do a great job of brainwashing people.
But I hardly think the proper course of action is to just stop complaining. Because if we did that, they might think they were doing the right thing, which they're not.
The reason people get so pissed at the editors is because there is not a single chance in hell they AREN'T aware of the dupe problems (not to mention all the others), and the fact that they have ignored their readers for THAT LONG is just plain fucking insulting to us.
I am also supporting myself fresh out of college with a good paying job. But I also spend a lot of time playing games. Why? BECAUSE THEY'RE FUN! For me personally, life is about doing things I enjoy, and gaming is one of them. Who are you to say that people need to be furthering themselves academically or professionally to have meaning in their lives.
Again, I'm not arguing that these are poor ideals for you to strive for. Its your life, more power to you. But you shouldn't be knocking these people because they do not share similar values in their lives. Its just not your place.
You know, I've really started to wonder about this. As society and technology progress, who are you to say which values and aspects of life are more important. We already have an entire generation who can see just as much importance in something virtual as something they can touch and feel, what if this is some form of personal development for them? And lets not forget that some people have made a LOT of money from MMORPG economies.
Perhaps what you meant to say is that these people place an over abundance of importance and value in games when personal and professional development is more important TO YOU.
What I suggested has a MUCH better chance of affecting Sony than simply selling a few shares which would be completely unnoticed by Sony. If you attended a shareholder meeting, and discussed this issue in a well thought out manner and pointed out the fiscal implications to other attendees, you have a much better chance of reaching the ears of the people who are MAJOR shareholders of Sony. The people who's financial stake in Sony makes a significant difference. If you convince them to pull out, Sony will definitely notice.
Actually....while it might be a moral thing to do, financially if you wanted to get the most out of your investment, I'd hold on for a while until the bad news is forgotten (and don't worry, it will be in due time). All you would accomplish now by selling is give some power broker a chance eat up your shares while Sony is cheap so he could later sell them for a greater profit.
A much BETTER way to stick it to them would be to show up at shareholder meetings and press this issue home, and to vote against people who continue to try to institute these draconian measures.
Unfortunately the video game business is not about being a "good" company. Its about making money. Nice thought though.
Also...as somewhat of an odd question....as a very experienced D&D dungeon master and self-professed "rules lawyer", do you think any of that experience might help give me a leg up? If I was a natural at understanding D&D rules and their abuses/loopholes, do you think I have the right mindset for lawschool?
Although I do have to admit, for those of us guys who only are attracted to geek girls...this is certainly bringing in some fresh blood. The funny thing is, while they want to pretend to be like us, they don't really want to be us. They don't have the same interests that we do, they just have an interest in our subculture. Original geeks flocked together because of their geeky interests, these people are flocking to us now because of the media attention.
You see, in advertising, its all about getting noticed above your competition and above the "noise". Now, there are two main ways of doing this. Producing a SPECTACULAR ad which gains eyeballs merely because people want to see it and seek it out...and producing an ad that is more attention grabbing than the next persons. Now, while a lot of people want to compare Massive's advertising to its real world counterparts, that only works up to the point of incorporating the visual look and feel to be consistent with the environment. However, the nature of the game still means that all of their ads are net based ads, which enable ad agencies to do a whole lot more with what they put out and the info they can gather.
So it starts as just a few billboards that don't detract from gameplay...suddenly there are slightly animated ads...then gradually you will see ads that add interactivity. Trust me, you have no idea how much an advertiser would be willing to pay for a clickable ad in a gameworld when none of the others are clickable. We've already seen product placement, but now there will be product placement in ways we can't even imagine yet. Lets say there is a video in the game somewhere...can you say product placement?
On the otherhand, this might encourage the game producers to update content more frequently as more fresh content means more advertising opportunities. So we'll just have to see what happens.
As to the scam itself? Bloody brilliant. But in an age where suddenly there's a SERIOUS time commitment to make that amount of cash, and theft causes SERIOUS anger in people, it makes me wonder how long it will be before the government tries to get involved. I mean, how is cash in a game different from any other nonphysical thing which you can be busted for stealing?
The funny thing is that after he got it all, he gave it to some noob and deleted his character, since this was this guy's way of "beating" the game. Which I guess makes sense in a game that places so much importance on the all mighty credit.
You really gotta wonder where peoples morals and beliefs will end, and where the primal human instinct to survive and reproduce as much as possible will kick in and make them cave.
Also, with the worlds changing view of the acceptance of plastic surgery, will it become more normal to receive it if you were to get life extension gene therapy? I mean, whats the point of living to be 300 if you're in a withered old husk that scares even old people.
I don't know why you're so surprised. There are SERIOUS legal implications for anybody who gets involved in this. And yes, the AV companies do have the cash to fight....but they don't want to justify the risk, and they have a fairly good image with the public (until now at least).
MS on the other hand is CONSTANTLY trashed, and known for weak security and bad practices. Not only that, but they have a shitload of money. This is the perfect opportunity for them to step in and say "hey, AV companies aren't doing squat, we're going to come in and save the day, and if Sony wants to try to sue us, BRING IT."
Your attitude shows that you probably are not best suited for work in an industry that cares so much about these stereotypes, so I hope for your sake you're in a job where nobody cares.
But let me ask you this...if it meant your job, or a awesome potential job in the future, would you give a shit then?