The "article" paints too broad of a brush. I don't think it's entirely fair to classify all MMOFPS games together. Sure, what few MMOFPS games are out there do tie what equipment you can acquire to kills, not stats or currency - I think that's pretty much standard. In my experience MMOFPS games also give you basic team management tools - but building a good persistent squad of players depends more on the players themselves, not the game. MMORPGs have to be compared to each other by looking at their scale, speed and time requirements.
World War II Online (which the article doesn't mention, even though it is about 5 years old) has a much steeper learning curve than Planetside. It demands a lot of time due to its scale - the single map is huge, and a lot of time is spent getting to a fight (and dying right away). It is also very unforgiving to the new player due to its realism. It is a "history-buff" type game - those really wanting to fly a Stuka or drive an Opel will endure the system.
Planetside isn't particularly quick-paced (if you seriously care about defending acquired bases, and the base isn't contested, you'll may spend 15 minutes doing little to nothing), but it certainly moves quicker than WWIIOL. The maps are small enough to travel across relatively quickly, as long as you have the right abilities. PS isn't really ideal as a pick-up game: you may not be able to jump in and just start blasting away, like you might in your standard deathmatch. In that sense, it is a relative time sink. Planetside is more of a thinking-person's FPS.
Huxley seems more catered to small groups of players in instanced combat. The combat is probably faster, but the scale probably won't match the others. But, seeing as the game is in development and I've never experienced it firsthand, I can't really comment on how good it will be (I'll let the "article" do that for me). From what I gather though, it trades more detail and thought for "twitch"-style gaming.
Some gamers will want the historical immersion, others will want almost pure twitch, and still others will want something in-between. Unfortunately, the article doesn't consider the real variations in the genre. That's the more important discussion in my opinion - what combination or amount of elements (scale, speed and time requirements) will make MMOFPSs really take off?
If any Oregonians are interested, the public hearing on HB 2445 takes place Wednesday, Feb. 23rd at 8 am in HR B. The bill itself is before the House Business, Labor and Consumer Affairs Committee.
Portland is just one area where municipal broadband projects would take a nosedive. Interestingly, this will hurt consumers with few to no choices. I know of at least one small town (Independence) which has been trying to put in a network for some time now. The only broadband to speak of in town is a wireless system. Since the big communications companies seem disinterested in wiring up these areas, restrictions only set back these towns further into the 20th century.
Hopefully this clears some things up:
If you're challenging the rejection of a patent, you first have to go through administrative patent judges within the PTO (Patent and Trademark Office). Dissatisfied with the ALJ's decision? Section 132 of the Patent Act (Title 35 of the United States Code) says that after two unfavorable decisions, the person prosecuting the patent can appeal to the Board of Patent Appeals. Appeals go on from there to the United States District Court for the Federal Circuit (specialized circut that has jurisdiction over patents) and then off to the Supreme court, if necessary.
From what I know, there really isn't a way to challenge the patent examiners favorable decisions - why would you go through really expensive litigation to challenge a patent. Of course, other parties can challenge a patent (though I don't think that negligently issuing patents is a real concern).
My two cents, hope that helps.
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Any chance of a MMOFPS based on the WH40K universe?
World War II Online (which the article doesn't mention, even though it is about 5 years old) has a much steeper learning curve than Planetside. It demands a lot of time due to its scale - the single map is huge, and a lot of time is spent getting to a fight (and dying right away). It is also very unforgiving to the new player due to its realism. It is a "history-buff" type game - those really wanting to fly a Stuka or drive an Opel will endure the system. Planetside isn't particularly quick-paced (if you seriously care about defending acquired bases, and the base isn't contested, you'll may spend 15 minutes doing little to nothing), but it certainly moves quicker than WWIIOL. The maps are small enough to travel across relatively quickly, as long as you have the right abilities. PS isn't really ideal as a pick-up game: you may not be able to jump in and just start blasting away, like you might in your standard deathmatch. In that sense, it is a relative time sink. Planetside is more of a thinking-person's FPS.
Huxley seems more catered to small groups of players in instanced combat. The combat is probably faster, but the scale probably won't match the others. But, seeing as the game is in development and I've never experienced it firsthand, I can't really comment on how good it will be (I'll let the "article" do that for me). From what I gather though, it trades more detail and thought for "twitch"-style gaming.
Some gamers will want the historical immersion, others will want almost pure twitch, and still others will want something in-between. Unfortunately, the article doesn't consider the real variations in the genre. That's the more important discussion in my opinion - what combination or amount of elements (scale, speed and time requirements) will make MMOFPSs really take off?
If any Oregonians are interested, the public hearing on HB 2445 takes place Wednesday, Feb. 23rd at 8 am in HR B. The bill itself is before the House Business, Labor and Consumer Affairs Committee. Portland is just one area where municipal broadband projects would take a nosedive. Interestingly, this will hurt consumers with few to no choices. I know of at least one small town (Independence) which has been trying to put in a network for some time now. The only broadband to speak of in town is a wireless system. Since the big communications companies seem disinterested in wiring up these areas, restrictions only set back these towns further into the 20th century.
Hopefully this clears some things up: If you're challenging the rejection of a patent, you first have to go through administrative patent judges within the PTO (Patent and Trademark Office). Dissatisfied with the ALJ's decision? Section 132 of the Patent Act (Title 35 of the United States Code) says that after two unfavorable decisions, the person prosecuting the patent can appeal to the Board of Patent Appeals. Appeals go on from there to the United States District Court for the Federal Circuit (specialized circut that has jurisdiction over patents) and then off to the Supreme court, if necessary. From what I know, there really isn't a way to challenge the patent examiners favorable decisions - why would you go through really expensive litigation to challenge a patent. Of course, other parties can challenge a patent (though I don't think that negligently issuing patents is a real concern). My two cents, hope that helps.