From a marketing standpoint, this is an awesome position for Sony to take. They've had a reputation of kind of screwing people over with copy protection *cough*minidisc*cough*.
In an industry where the corporations are suing their customers, there is PLENTY of room for large companies to take a new stance and embrace the now pissed off consumers. If you get in on that early enough in the game, as Sony appears to be doing, then people start rallying behind you against the companies who AREN'T taking that position.
All in all, its a very smart tactical move for Sony, and reading this has restored a sliver of the faith I once had in them.
I've been waiting for something like this for the longest time.
Think of the possibilities for multiplayer games. Finally we'll be able to have a solid medieval warfare FPS with good melee combat that will be as much about skill with the sword as aiming is with a mouse.
Plus, this also opens up the possibility of using the tool as a magic wand. Imagine a game where based on how you move it, certain magical effects are generated based on very precise movements. Want to get better at a spell? Practice the movements. Want to create a new one? Try some different combinations.
I'll give you an example of why people pre-order. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas comes out soon, and I know it will sell out instantly, yet I know I want it right away because I'm a big fan. The pre-order is a guarantee that I get it as soon as possible, which obviously isn't one of your priorities.
And as for why give it to them three months in advance? Because they'll be under budget crunches, and that might help them make my finished game better.
You know, I was thinking a bit about this myself. Games as they are now are not realistic enough, and AI isn't far along enough to make believeable stories like you would get on reality tv.
But once that picks up, you can bet there will be games out there that are basically a Real World: The Sims.
And frankly, I think it would be more entertaining than tv. But they need the ability to run on autopilot because half the fun of watching tv is vegging out. Nobody would want to play it if they had to micromanage every crap the person took.
First of all, who's to say they WEREN'T getting paid for it, and second, NOBODY CLICK PARENT'S IPOD LINK. If you want to put a referral link on your.sig, you should have the courtesy to mention that it is a referral link.
"We are sorry but the slashdoting of a 250MB file was a bit more than we had planned for. We will re-post this file later in the day or this evening once the initial rush cools off. Thank you for your patience."
Dammit, we did it again. Well, at least they know the proper terminology for what hit them!
There's been a lot of jokes on here about how useless this is. Frankly, I think the people who say that need to realize that for some people, its not all about functionality. Different people have different needs. If this encourages people to be geekier, so much the better I say.
But, ultimately I think this is good because once cheap small roll up displays become plentiful, popular, and cheap, these people will have helped pave the way for making it acceptable to wear computers.
So for all who are mocking these people, just remember, its these people who will make it cool for you to wear that wearable computer you've been dreaming about in public.
I agree that this is TOTALLY marketing. As someone in marketing/advertising myself, this is a joke. What they're trying to do is come up with a unique way for people to classify their systems ON THEIR TERMS.
That is key. You see, they want the ability to have the say over what components give you a level X computer, and that my friends is power. It has a lot to deal with how computers were measured by processor speed, and then AMD turned that model on its side. Control over how things are labeled and classified equals control over your market. Plus, if they DID do this, expect them to abuse it to no end in their marketing of gaming machines. GET YOUR XTREME Level 10 GAMING RIG TODAY!!!!! PUTS LEVEL 9's to SHAME!
For those who are finally fed up with this kind of bullshit, and actually want to do something, here is the phone number for EA.
(650) 628-1500
I invite you to call them, ask to be transferred to the marketing/PR department, and POLITELY and INTELLIGENTLY explain to them the folly of their situation. Such as how this won't stop the pirates, who will just release a precracked version that will run fine on any computer while the people who actually bought the game won't be able to play it.
"The AP is reporting that Ask Jeeves is looking to distinguish itself from its competitors by adding new tools for visitors to save and organize links to Web pages they find through the company's online search engine. "
Ok, 2 things, first off, your web browser called and it wants its Bookmarks back.
Second, how ironic that this story shows up today when I just discovered Aks Jeeves on Ebaumsworld last night.
I knwo you're not supposed to whine about your mods, but honestly...what person can't see that I am CORRECTING parent since I am in the industry, he is not, and he is very wrong in the claims he makes.
I've been wondering, when quantum computers become mainstream...will people be able to figure them out? I mean, its hard enough for people to figure out computers today, but will they need to know any quantum mechanics to be able to use their computer?
Will overclockers suddenly be plumbing the depths of quantum physics looking for that little trick that will let make their computer faster?
I'm doing my senior project now in college and it deals with video and online distribution. I'm going to be studying distribution via P2P and Bittorrent and such, but I was wondering if this codec was even close to usable yet, and what would I have to do to implement it.
Otherwise, I'm interested in a cheap (read: free) video streaming solution that would allow people to distribute the load ala streamcast or something, because I can't afford the bandwidth bill.
Well, yes, it IS a travelogue about fictional and fantastic cities, but try reading it with a grain of salt...many of those cities match up with different areas and subcultures of Venice and it is very likely the author was basing it off of that. I believe a quick googling could find some examples. And I say that not to be a nazi, but to give people and interesting new perspective in which to read the book as it really does change things when you read it the second time around with that thought on your mind.
Slashdot Mirror
In an industry where the corporations are suing their customers, there is PLENTY of room for large companies to take a new stance and embrace the now pissed off consumers. If you get in on that early enough in the game, as Sony appears to be doing, then people start rallying behind you against the companies who AREN'T taking that position.
All in all, its a very smart tactical move for Sony, and reading this has restored a sliver of the faith I once had in them.
Think of the possibilities for multiplayer games. Finally we'll be able to have a solid medieval warfare FPS with good melee combat that will be as much about skill with the sword as aiming is with a mouse.
Plus, this also opens up the possibility of using the tool as a magic wand. Imagine a game where based on how you move it, certain magical effects are generated based on very precise movements. Want to get better at a spell? Practice the movements. Want to create a new one? Try some different combinations.
And as for why give it to them three months in advance? Because they'll be under budget crunches, and that might help them make my finished game better.
Newsflash buddy, there's a LOT of people out there who loved Men in Tights.
Yet another ignorant person who assumes that their opinion is fact...
But once that picks up, you can bet there will be games out there that are basically a Real World: The Sims.
And frankly, I think it would be more entertaining than tv. But they need the ability to run on autopilot because half the fun of watching tv is vegging out. Nobody would want to play it if they had to micromanage every crap the person took.
"We are sorry but the slashdoting of a 250MB file was a bit more than we had planned for. We will re-post this file later in the day or this evening once the initial rush cools off. Thank you for your patience."
Dammit, we did it again. Well, at least they know the proper terminology for what hit them!
But, ultimately I think this is good because once cheap small roll up displays become plentiful, popular, and cheap, these people will have helped pave the way for making it acceptable to wear computers.
So for all who are mocking these people, just remember, its these people who will make it cool for you to wear that wearable computer you've been dreaming about in public.
That is key. You see, they want the ability to have the say over what components give you a level X computer, and that my friends is power. It has a lot to deal with how computers were measured by processor speed, and then AMD turned that model on its side. Control over how things are labeled and classified equals control over your market. Plus, if they DID do this, expect them to abuse it to no end in their marketing of gaming machines. GET YOUR XTREME Level 10 GAMING RIG TODAY!!!!! PUTS LEVEL 9's to SHAME!
What do you want to bet you're going to have to opt out of receiving "special offers" and crap when you sign up to trade a file.
(650) 628-1500
I invite you to call them, ask to be transferred to the marketing/PR department, and POLITELY and INTELLIGENTLY explain to them the folly of their situation. Such as how this won't stop the pirates, who will just release a precracked version that will run fine on any computer while the people who actually bought the game won't be able to play it.
Ok, 2 things, first off, your web browser called and it wants its Bookmarks back.
Second, how ironic that this story shows up today when I just discovered Aks Jeeves on Ebaumsworld last night.
Will overclockers suddenly be plumbing the depths of quantum physics looking for that little trick that will let make their computer faster?
Otherwise, I'm interested in a cheap (read: free) video streaming solution that would allow people to distribute the load ala streamcast or something, because I can't afford the bandwidth bill.