After reading 3 articles and skimming the rest.
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Literate Gaming Analysis
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· Score: 3, Insightful
I am impressed. This is definently quality reading, although it does reak of a stench of self importance. It feels like they are trying to use big words for the sake of using big words, however if you can get around that (I did) it is actually very well written and insightful.
Very insightful, and leaps and bounds beyond the standard magazine/gamesite review. While I certainly wouldn't recommend reading it to decide if you want to purchase a game (in fact it is written in a way that in order to appreciate it you should have already played the game in question), I would definently recommend it for anyone looking for a deeper more intellectual look then games are often given.
High quality middleware is the best hope
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OGRE 1.0 Released
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· Score: 5, Insightful
I have been a happy user since I discovered OGRE 4-5 months ago. The amount it has improved in that short time is simply astounding, and when I entered it was hands-down the best Open Source rendering engine.
My opinion is that it is ultra-high-quality middleware like OGRE where I find OSS's best chance at making penetration into the games industry. Fully OSS games simply have a profit-model problem, but there are very obvious benefits for a company electing to use OSS middleware. Just look at OpenAL for an example: it is used in many high profile games (Unreal Tournament 2004 anyone?).
The benefits are just too numerous. Cost is either saved developing an engine internally or licensing a high-priced engine from ID/Valve/Epic. The real benefit will come after one company takes the step and a high-profile game is released using OGRE. My reasoning is that any developement studio that uses it is likely to make some patches and improvements, that will peak the interest of another company, who will do the same. As more comapanies start using it as their middleware, more patches and improvements are added, causing more developers to take interested, causing more improvements. It is a snowball effect.
There is no reason it OGRE could not be ported to run on console systems as well. Once that snowball gets rolling this is the next logical step, and the snowball will keep rolling. Result? Open source produces the next Renderware, and this time it can't be purchased by EA.
THAT is the greatest strength of OSS, to be middleware. At least in my humble opinion..;)
I am not going to venture a stab at if it will be free or not, but I find it a possibility. Certainly Ubisoft won't do it for free, but that doesn't mean that the military won't pay Ubisoft to develope/distribute it for free.
I suppose it depends on if it is still seen primarily as a recruiting tool, which I suppose depends on how successful it has been as a recruiting tool. Some analysis on it's success in that regard would be VERY interesting, to say the least.
I think the aspect of Firefox that keeps me so distracted is the "Bookmarks Toolbar". I will load it up with some specific purpose in mind, and just open a few tabs of my favorite sites. Before I know it I have totally lost track of what I am doing and I have wasted a good 30 minutes browsing my favorite sites.
Bear in mind this is at home, not at work. However I am seriously considering disabling the "Bookmarks Toolbar" for no reason other then it is simply too convenient. I just can't keep myself from losing track of everything in it.:O
Is it possible some features are so useful, so accessible, that they are actually harmful?
Heck, I just hit 'preview' to see how this would look, and while it was loading I instinctively opened new tabs at a pair of regular websites, and started reading. I just used up 5 minutes.. Oy
I don't think anyone can claim that the founder of Electronic Arts has not had a signficant impact on the video game industry. That being said I am weathering my house for the flame storm I am predicting not far down the road.
Truely though, he left EA in what, 1991? To found 3DO of all companies, a company which really didn't have much impact on the industry. Now he is trying another venu, Digital Chocolate.. A Pocket-Computer game developer.. Considering that EA wasn't really that big a deal back in 1991, how much effect did this man really have. I hate to sound like I am trying to cheapen his award (because, thats exactly what I sound like), but I think there are a number of developers out there who are more deserving of this award.
One can not help but wonder what the industry would be like if he was still running EA. Considering his success with 3DO, I will speculate that the face of the industry would be much different.
Compared to five years ago, it is just as "dead" as ever. PC Game sales have never come CLOSE to console sales, and you can take that number back as far as you want to go.
I am not saying PC Gaming is dying. It never has been, and while I won't say it never will, I will say I find that very unlikely. I think these 'PC Games are dying' statements just come from the fact that PC Gaming has never performed at the same level as consoles.
While I won't venture as far as you in deciding the reason an author choses a certain category, my best guess is that the idea of a counter-strike movie is just kind of funny in-and-of it's self.
Certainly I understand the supposed Microsoft strategy: Be in the red as long as it takes to build up the brand, at which point it turns to gorgeous green. And certainly I understand that Microsoft has enough resources to maintain this for quite some time.
But (and I am fully prepared to be modded down to oblivion for the following:P) it seems almost benevolent of Microsoft to continue in this fashion. How long are they going to be in the green just to regain lost sales afterall? I suppose it is true that Microsoft is a smart buisness, and thus all the dots must all connect somewhere to equal massive profits...
I don't know. The XBox is a wonderful console, and by far the most mod-friendly. While certainly it can be said this was an accident (poor planning) and simply a result of M$ stick with what they know best (PCs).. But I have this nagging thought in the back of my head that perhaps there is some goodwilled tech team that planned for such an accessible box.
Furthermore XBox-Live is a real innovation in the console world, and I believe is the sole reason that online gaming has gained such momentum in that arena. Certainly Sony's online attempts are a response to this, and Nintendo is even starting to come around. It doesn't seem unfair to thank Microsoft for bringing popular online gaming to the console realm.
I think this generation, and perhaps next generation's, major console advances can largly be attributed to what is currently a 'gift' from the evil borg empire. Perhaps there is some benevolent midpoint manager in there that loves gamers more then the bottom line. *shrug* Maybe it is just an error in the borgs profit-processing AI?;)
That statement is a dead giveaway. This article was probably written some time ago, and it was written based off playtime in Doom3 and Screenshots/Movies in HL2.
I am probably the 20th person to say this, but what sells, is what sells. They are a business, and it is unfortunate that your handcrafted product is not always in demand.
Personally I disagree with his statement. Then again the only gaming magazine I regularly read is PC Gamer, and I find that pretty mature (generally).
I agree 110%. Use the best software, whatever it is. Very often this just happens to be open source software however! Firefox, OpenOffice.org, FileZilla, XVid, etc.. The list goes on.
Microsoft might be evil and borg-like, but they arn't stupid. At least not in their buisness practices, and history has shown many times that videogames are VERY price sensitive. If MS has any sense at all (hint: they do) then this article is total BS.
Keeping the regulation of VOIP seperate from traditional phone services is just going to open the door to regulate it differently.. More severely. Things that have not been tolerated on phones thus far will probably be thrusted on VOIP due to the fact that it is still hardly widely used.
You mean to tell me if I cut my arm off with a Craftsmen Saw, I can sue Craftsmen for cutting off my arm? Sweeeeeeeet! Lets all go out and make bad decisions, and then get defensive, and sue everyone!
If I go to a ROM site and download a ROM of a game I own, then I didn't make the backup copy. Is it necessary that I make the backup copy myself?
AFAIK you do have to make it yourself. I understand the rule used to be you had to own the game, or delete the copy within 24hours. ROM sites posted that all over like it was bible. Then a few years ago that message dissapeared from everywhere. I am just making an informed guess.
Second point is that the copy I made is for backup purposes. Even if you allow me that getting a backup copy from a ROM site is ok, then I cannot use it until my original fails. So emulation, while I still have an original working copy, appears to be prohibited.
Emulation has legal uses, such as homebrew. Just check all the legal, public domain, homebrew games available at Zophar. Although I do realize you probably just mean 'Emulation of the backup', but the wording was a little off.;)
As for the rest of your questions, clear as mud here. Not even informed guesses on this side.
I was under the impression that Asimo is remote-controlled. I suppose it is a pretty slick remote-controlled toy, but I think a large part of the Asimo scheme is just conning the world into believing they have something really amazing: AI that advanced.
The annual Game Developers Conference hosts an award ceremony to pick the best games in various catagories including "Game of the Year". The appealing this about these awards is they are picked BY game developers. It is my opinion that peer review is best, and that there must be no higher honor for a game developer then to have your work aknowledged by other developers.
I think your jumping to conclusions in assuming that it can't still play GBA/DS games. He hasn't said if it can, or if it can not. Either way I will definently be watching this guys Livejournal in hopes of finding out!
Slashdot Mirror
I am impressed. This is definently quality reading, although it does reak of a stench of self importance. It feels like they are trying to use big words for the sake of using big words, however if you can get around that (I did) it is actually very well written and insightful. Very insightful, and leaps and bounds beyond the standard magazine/gamesite review. While I certainly wouldn't recommend reading it to decide if you want to purchase a game (in fact it is written in a way that in order to appreciate it you should have already played the game in question), I would definently recommend it for anyone looking for a deeper more intellectual look then games are often given.
I have been a happy user since I discovered OGRE 4-5 months ago. The amount it has improved in that short time is simply astounding, and when I entered it was hands-down the best Open Source rendering engine.
;)
My opinion is that it is ultra-high-quality middleware like OGRE where I find OSS's best chance at making penetration into the games industry. Fully OSS games simply have a profit-model problem, but there are very obvious benefits for a company electing to use OSS middleware. Just look at OpenAL for an example: it is used in many high profile games (Unreal Tournament 2004 anyone?).
The benefits are just too numerous. Cost is either saved developing an engine internally or licensing a high-priced engine from ID/Valve/Epic. The real benefit will come after one company takes the step and a high-profile game is released using OGRE. My reasoning is that any developement studio that uses it is likely to make some patches and improvements, that will peak the interest of another company, who will do the same. As more comapanies start using it as their middleware, more patches and improvements are added, causing more developers to take interested, causing more improvements. It is a snowball effect.
There is no reason it OGRE could not be ported to run on console systems as well. Once that snowball gets rolling this is the next logical step, and the snowball will keep rolling. Result? Open source produces the next Renderware, and this time it can't be purchased by EA.
THAT is the greatest strength of OSS, to be middleware. At least in my humble opinion..
I am not going to venture a stab at if it will be free or not, but I find it a possibility. Certainly Ubisoft won't do it for free, but that doesn't mean that the military won't pay Ubisoft to develope/distribute it for free.
I suppose it depends on if it is still seen primarily as a recruiting tool, which I suppose depends on how successful it has been as a recruiting tool. Some analysis on it's success in that regard would be VERY interesting, to say the least.
For every politcal/social related slashdot there is 0.01% that actually decides to do some real research on the topic, and 99.99% flinging poo around.
And whenever I finally find a post by that 0.01% I find myself with 0 mod points. Guess I should meta-moderate more often.
history, it seems, will no longer be "written by the victor" but "written by those with a broadband internet connection".
:)
May I refer you to: "American View on Korean Broadband Leadership"
Sorry, the irony of the way you said what you were saying (despite the fact that your core point is, infact, correct) was just too rich to pass up.
I think the aspect of Firefox that keeps me so distracted is the "Bookmarks Toolbar". I will load it up with some specific purpose in mind, and just open a few tabs of my favorite sites. Before I know it I have totally lost track of what I am doing and I have wasted a good 30 minutes browsing my favorite sites.
:O
Bear in mind this is at home, not at work. However I am seriously considering disabling the "Bookmarks Toolbar" for no reason other then it is simply too convenient. I just can't keep myself from losing track of everything in it.
Is it possible some features are so useful, so accessible, that they are actually harmful?
Heck, I just hit 'preview' to see how this would look, and while it was loading I instinctively opened new tabs at a pair of regular websites, and started reading. I just used up 5 minutes.. Oy
I don't think anyone can claim that the founder of Electronic Arts has not had a signficant impact on the video game industry. That being said I am weathering my house for the flame storm I am predicting not far down the road.
Truely though, he left EA in what, 1991? To found 3DO of all companies, a company which really didn't have much impact on the industry. Now he is trying another venu, Digital Chocolate.. A Pocket-Computer game developer.. Considering that EA wasn't really that big a deal back in 1991, how much effect did this man really have. I hate to sound like I am trying to cheapen his award (because, thats exactly what I sound like), but I think there are a number of developers out there who are more deserving of this award.
One can not help but wonder what the industry would be like if he was still running EA. Considering his success with 3DO, I will speculate that the face of the industry would be much different.
for every time I wish I had a mod point.
Compared to five years ago, it is just as "dead" as ever. PC Game sales have never come CLOSE to console sales, and you can take that number back as far as you want to go.
I am not saying PC Gaming is dying. It never has been, and while I won't say it never will, I will say I find that very unlikely. I think these 'PC Games are dying' statements just come from the fact that PC Gaming has never performed at the same level as consoles.
While I won't venture as far as you in deciding the reason an author choses a certain category, my best guess is that the idea of a counter-strike movie is just kind of funny in-and-of it's self.
Certainly I understand the supposed Microsoft strategy: Be in the red as long as it takes to build up the brand, at which point it turns to gorgeous green. And certainly I understand that Microsoft has enough resources to maintain this for quite some time.
:P) it seems almost benevolent of Microsoft to continue in this fashion. How long are they going to be in the green just to regain lost sales afterall? I suppose it is true that Microsoft is a smart buisness, and thus all the dots must all connect somewhere to equal massive profits...
;)
But (and I am fully prepared to be modded down to oblivion for the following
I don't know. The XBox is a wonderful console, and by far the most mod-friendly. While certainly it can be said this was an accident (poor planning) and simply a result of M$ stick with what they know best (PCs).. But I have this nagging thought in the back of my head that perhaps there is some goodwilled tech team that planned for such an accessible box.
Furthermore XBox-Live is a real innovation in the console world, and I believe is the sole reason that online gaming has gained such momentum in that arena. Certainly Sony's online attempts are a response to this, and Nintendo is even starting to come around. It doesn't seem unfair to thank Microsoft for bringing popular online gaming to the console realm.
I think this generation, and perhaps next generation's, major console advances can largly be attributed to what is currently a 'gift' from the evil borg empire. Perhaps there is some benevolent midpoint manager in there that loves gamers more then the bottom line. *shrug* Maybe it is just an error in the borgs profit-processing AI?
That statement is a dead giveaway. This article was probably written some time ago, and it was written based off playtime in Doom3 and Screenshots/Movies in HL2.
I am probably the 20th person to say this, but what sells, is what sells. They are a business, and it is unfortunate that your handcrafted product is not always in demand. Personally I disagree with his statement. Then again the only gaming magazine I regularly read is PC Gamer, and I find that pretty mature (generally).
I agree 110%. Use the best software, whatever it is. Very often this just happens to be open source software however! Firefox, OpenOffice.org, FileZilla, XVid, etc.. The list goes on.
Microsoft might be evil and borg-like, but they arn't stupid. At least not in their buisness practices, and history has shown many times that videogames are VERY price sensitive. If MS has any sense at all (hint: they do) then this article is total BS.
The confusion runs deep. EA = Evil Enemy, Blizzard = Friend who loves me!
:)
I am conficted!
I am astonishmed!
I am astonishmed!
I am emotionally upset!
I am befuddled!
I am bewilded!
I am confounded!
I am perplexed!
I am puzzled!
I am unsettled!
At least we know we can still agree Microsoft is evil, right?
This is a shard emulation program. Choice #1 sir.
Keeping the regulation of VOIP seperate from traditional phone services is just going to open the door to regulate it differently.. More severely. Things that have not been tolerated on phones thus far will probably be thrusted on VOIP due to the fact that it is still hardly widely used.
Every game is going to go out of it's way to generate hype. Hype generates sales. If you buy into the hype you can only blame yourself.
You mean to tell me if I cut my arm off with a Craftsmen Saw, I can sue Craftsmen for cutting off my arm? Sweeeeeeeet! Lets all go out and make bad decisions, and then get defensive, and sue everyone!
You can sue anyone you want.
Winning is a different story.
If I go to a ROM site and download a ROM of a game I own, then I didn't make the backup copy. Is it necessary that I make the backup copy myself?
;)
AFAIK you do have to make it yourself. I understand the rule used to be you had to own the game, or delete the copy within 24hours. ROM sites posted that all over like it was bible. Then a few years ago that message dissapeared from everywhere. I am just making an informed guess.
Second point is that the copy I made is for backup purposes. Even if you allow me that getting a backup copy from a ROM site is ok, then I cannot use it until my original fails. So emulation, while I still have an original working copy, appears to be prohibited.
Emulation has legal uses, such as homebrew. Just check all the legal, public domain, homebrew games available at Zophar. Although I do realize you probably just mean 'Emulation of the backup', but the wording was a little off.
As for the rest of your questions, clear as mud here. Not even informed guesses on this side.
Who gave mod points to the guys with munchies?
Please correct me if I am wrong, but...
I was under the impression that Asimo is remote-controlled. I suppose it is a pretty slick remote-controlled toy, but I think a large part of the Asimo scheme is just conning the world into believing they have something really amazing: AI that advanced.
The annual Game Developers Conference hosts an award ceremony to pick the best games in various catagories including "Game of the Year". The appealing this about these awards is they are picked BY game developers. It is my opinion that peer review is best, and that there must be no higher honor for a game developer then to have your work aknowledged by other developers.
I think your jumping to conclusions in assuming that it can't still play GBA/DS games. He hasn't said if it can, or if it can not. Either way I will definently be watching this guys Livejournal in hopes of finding out!