In the only fee based MMORPG I played, the monthly fee had value attached to it - specifically, monthly updates, new quests/items/etc.
Would a game like Guildwar be better if the developer had an extra $5 a player to spend each month on improvements?
I've noticed that among the newer RPGs, the ones that do provide that extra value for the monthly sub (WoW, etc) do well compared to those that simply collect the sub and provide only the continuing value of the live server.
Let me ask you, though - would you still be whining if there was no upfront price for the box and just a monthly fee to play on their server?
Let me also ask you if, in your occupation, when someone pays you to paint their house, and a few years later, it needs painting again, does that initial payment for the first payment entitle them to have you come paint their house a second time?
When a game requires continual support - specifically server hosting and programing to defeat the latest and most creative hacks - why would you not expect there to be a continuing fee? Even Guildwars expects to get more than just one payment from you - through expansions, etc.
That is a poorly conceived idea. The reason being that computers that run the game rely on numbers, and while you may try to 'hide' the numbers, people will still derive them - either logically or through hacking.
I really disliked the few MMORPGs that tried to hide the stuff from me. It makes decisions more difficult and gives huge incentives to the people who have the time to play for a really long time and have protected information - much more so than in a typical non-hidden game where they already have a large dominance.
His argument is assinine. The product is whatever they want it to be. I suppose he is still looking for a car that doesn't have a stereo because, damnit, he just wants a car, not an audio system (despite the fact that the best soundsystem mostpeople will own is the one in their cars).
One thing I am doubtful about - I really don't understand what is so great about the game. I suppose the graphics are pretty good but I've seen as good or better demos the next gen and almost as good demos for current gen. Hells bells, how hot can it be if they are running on hardware that they built months ago.
Anyway, it's a good read, but def not sold on the game.
I owned one of the OLD ones back when it was Windows CE v2. It is now updated and better than ever - instant on and instant off. Powerful but just the essentials.
Right, in your nerd world governed by piracy justifications. But in the real world, when two things are ALWAYS occuring in common with maybe a.05% rate of not occuring at the same time, the two things become equivilents.
Why? Because, dude, about the only reason to chip is piracy so when you say 'chip' you are at the same time implying piracy. I don't care about the typical slashdot Nerd who looks for any alternative explanation (MAYBE HE JUST WANTED TO RUN LINUX ON HIS XBOX@!!!!). Chipping allows you to play games burned on DVDs you download from the internets. That's why people do it (in addition to getting a hard-drive full of games.)
I agree with you - I enjoyed it and I am happily way out of touch with the world. And I did sign-up so I would get an email notice each week when the new one came out. It's MUCH better than the Chris Gore reviews on AOTC. Like you said, not super funny, but funny enough.
No, not it wasn't. They totally ripped BeWitched. It was great. I actually subscribed so I could know when the updates are coming out. It was really funny.
I'm really glad to hear you figured out how to see the action block and get to your weekly RPG session. But that still avoids the question - why SATURDAY night? Because many who spend the night rolling their 10-sided die need something to wathc that they perceive as being relevant to their lives. Hence japanese TV shows about guys with big swords.
You know why the action block is on Saturday night? Because only losers who watch anime are at home on Saturday nights.
I even saw on one of the bumps that when they dropped futurama as the lead-in the ratings tanked.
There are enough channels out there to have an all anime network. Granted, a lot of the comedy AS stuff is horrid (I'm looking at you, Chan), but it's really great great stuff overall.
So someone is going to make a machine better than or equal to the 360 - a machine that MS is going to sell at a huge loss - and sell their machine at an even bigger loss. And unlike MS, they will get no liscencing fees from game sales....
Why don't the editors on/. at least think this stuff through before they post.
If you think that funding beer is more important than funding software development, you would be right.
Society doesn't net gain from piracy by making it harder for people to structure contracts as they see fit (you must pay to watch my show) because the result is less diverse media that has to appeal to a larger common denominator.
Know what else you can probably count on? 360 will be releasing H3 on the day of the PS3 release. Want to also wager that there will be a price cut and a package deal for H3 on the same day, too?
With a PC, game companies push the limits for the bleeding edge graphics cards on machines with huge specs. There is no guarantee that it will work well on your PC because of compatibility issues.
The reason it may not work well on your PC is because the devs have to take into account every... possible...variation. Very few games that are released are made for SOTA machines. But they do not get to as easily/inexpensively/quickly optimize for one system/one graphic card/one CPU/etc.
Slashdot Mirror
Would a game like Guildwar be better if the developer had an extra $5 a player to spend each month on improvements?
I've noticed that among the newer RPGs, the ones that do provide that extra value for the monthly sub (WoW, etc) do well compared to those that simply collect the sub and provide only the continuing value of the live server.
Let me ask you, though - would you still be whining if there was no upfront price for the box and just a monthly fee to play on their server?
Let me also ask you if, in your occupation, when someone pays you to paint their house, and a few years later, it needs painting again, does that initial payment for the first payment entitle them to have you come paint their house a second time?
When a game requires continual support - specifically server hosting and programing to defeat the latest and most creative hacks - why would you not expect there to be a continuing fee? Even Guildwars expects to get more than just one payment from you - through expansions, etc.
I really disliked the few MMORPGs that tried to hide the stuff from me. It makes decisions more difficult and gives huge incentives to the people who have the time to play for a really long time and have protected information - much more so than in a typical non-hidden game where they already have a large dominance.
What is an invasion?
His argument is assinine. The product is whatever they want it to be. I suppose he is still looking for a car that doesn't have a stereo because, damnit, he just wants a car, not an audio system (despite the fact that the best soundsystem mostpeople will own is the one in their cars).
Not only does the trailer look great, but the voice of the king character is none other than Captain Jean-Luc Picard.
linky
But it does seem you are correct.
One thing I am doubtful about - I really don't understand what is so great about the game. I suppose the graphics are pretty good but I've seen as good or better demos the next gen and almost as good demos for current gen. Hells bells, how hot can it be if they are running on hardware that they built months ago.
Anyway, it's a good read, but def not sold on the game.
You big dummy. It is an Xbox 360 launch title and exclusive.
I owned one of the OLD ones back when it was Windows CE v2. It is now updated and better than ever - instant on and instant off. Powerful but just the essentials.
Is it offtopic to mention the free PSP link in my signature? Fulfill one for me and I will paypals you $10 US.
If you had told me you had no common sense, I would ... oh never mind. /. par for the course.
Right, in your nerd world governed by piracy justifications. But in the real world, when two things are ALWAYS occuring in common with maybe a .05% rate of not occuring at the same time, the two things become equivilents.
It's like me saying "It's A-ok to drink and drive" - because I'm drinking Diet Pepsi.
Don't be such a chump. Besides, you don't need to chip to use the Xbox Media Center (extender).
chiping=pirate, yar!
You big dummy, the loss reduces the net income ergo reduces the taxes.
Why? Because, dude, about the only reason to chip is piracy so when you say 'chip' you are at the same time implying piracy. I don't care about the typical slashdot Nerd who looks for any alternative explanation (MAYBE HE JUST WANTED TO RUN LINUX ON HIS XBOX@!!!!). Chipping allows you to play games burned on DVDs you download from the internets. That's why people do it (in addition to getting a hard-drive full of games.)
I agree with you - I enjoyed it and I am happily way out of touch with the world. And I did sign-up so I would get an email notice each week when the new one came out. It's MUCH better than the Chris Gore reviews on AOTC. Like you said, not super funny, but funny enough.
These are legit reviews, not just promos.
I'm really glad to hear you figured out how to see the action block and get to your weekly RPG session. But that still avoids the question - why SATURDAY night? Because many who spend the night rolling their 10-sided die need something to wathc that they perceive as being relevant to their lives. Hence japanese TV shows about guys with big swords.
And like I said, it's on SATURDAY NIGHTS for a reason.
When I read that, I heard it in the voice of that Simpsons Comic Book. Was I the only one?
I even saw on one of the bumps that when they dropped futurama as the lead-in the ratings tanked.
There are enough channels out there to have an all anime network. Granted, a lot of the comedy AS stuff is horrid (I'm looking at you, Chan), but it's really great great stuff overall.
Why don't the editors on /. at least think this stuff through before they post.
Just because you are reviewing a technical manual doesn't mean the review needs to read like one.
Society doesn't net gain from piracy by making it harder for people to structure contracts as they see fit (you must pay to watch my show) because the result is less diverse media that has to appeal to a larger common denominator.
Perfect example of moderators on crack.
Know what else you can probably count on? 360 will be releasing H3 on the day of the PS3 release. Want to also wager that there will be a price cut and a package deal for H3 on the same day, too?
The reason it may not work well on your PC is because the devs have to take into account every ... possible...variation. Very few games that are released are made for SOTA machines. But they do not get to as easily/inexpensively/quickly optimize for one system/one graphic card/one CPU/etc.