The shortage lasted a long time. Almost all the PS2's on ebay were selling at ridiculous prices. On top of that there still wasn't any in stores. Just because there were a lot of scalpers doesn't mean there still wasn't a shortage.
The computers track your every move, they even have computers that lurk in games recording the actions of every player, without the computer actually playing. Online poker has thus become a different game - a good memory is no longer much of an advantage, and even if you're playing someone you've never played with before, they might very well have a history of nearly every hand you've played.
I'll agree with this. In fact, I do it too. I import every single hand I play online into a database. This aids me in improving my game a lot. I can replay any of the few hundred thousand hands I've played and see where I am misplaying them.
I have my computer "watch" 20 other tables at the limits I play when I am not at my computer and import those hands into a database. When I do play I use that information by overlaying the players stats who I have hands on. From those couple numbers I can get a good idea of how loose they are, how aggressive they play, and how many times they will call me down when met back with aggression. It gives me a rudimentary read on a player before I play them. It also (and more importantly imho) allows me to spot the tougher competition.
Is this cheating? I don't think so. The poker sites themselves have no problem with it. I am not automating any of my play. I still make every single decision. I am only using publically available information to aid my decision making.
Is it different from B&M play? Most certainly. That however doesn't mean it is any better or worse than live poker. I think it is no more unfair than it is for the common tourist walking into a casino and playing the local sharks.
Raven has already said the single player will be based off of Quake2 and the multiplayer more like Quake3. This is perfect imho. Just because you see a couple screenshots that make it look like Doom3, which is a huge surprise of course since they use the same damn engine, doesn't mean gameplay will be the same.
Except there is no law stopping a kid from seeing or purchasing a violent movie. There is no law stopping a kid from buying a CD with explicit lyrics. There is a law for cigarettes but that is only because there is serious physical health affects.
If anything, video games are easier to regulate by the parents than both movies and music. They are generally much more expensive, and they must be played at a house. No, we don't need a law for this. The rating is as clear as light and day on the package.
We could use better regulation by the stores themselves but that is improving too. Heck, it is still easy enough for a kid to buy CDs with explicit lyrics. It doesn't mean we need a law passed about it.
Best online game? Half Life 2? Am I the only one who sees the problem here? Ok, there is HL2 deathmatch but there's no way in that could possibly win any award. There's what, a whole two maps? One of them with some serious design flaws. CS:S is decent, but hardly award worthy.
Neither did they enforce their restrictions against 'bots.
I'd love for you to name one game that has, and has been even remotely successful. Just stay away from MMOs man because they ALL have this exact same thing.
No, it isn't fair. I don't think anyone has claimed buying something from IGE was. However, it also isn't fair I have to work 40 hours a week while others get to play during those 40 hours. It isn't fair that some people are on dial up while others are on broadband. It isn't fair that someone else has some super high end system while others can barely run the game. Life isn't fair. This applies to virtual worlds just as much as it does reality.
IGE provides a service to a demand. That's how an open market works. Do you think it is illegal? Doubtful, but I guess it could be. However, no game developer is going to be bringing it to court anytime soon.
If you play a MMO and you are unaware of sites like ebay, playerauctions, and IGE, then all you have is your own ignorance to blame. This is far from a new phenomenon.
So let me get this right. EA does it, it is bad. Take Two does it, it is good because it stops EA. You understand there are more than two publishers out there right? Oh well, typical Slashdot hypocrisy.
Re:Sounds like a piracy crackdown, not a ban.
on
China Bans 50 Games
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· Score: 1
To me it sounds like the chinese government is already forbiding these games to be sold in their country. So if they do see these games, they are having them confiscated under the guise of stopping piracy. This is despite the government being the one who is forcing the piracy of them in the first place, but I could be wrong. This article really doesn't tell you enough.
I agree. They should use the "Blizzard Downloader." Much better right? Or how about bring all the servers down for 16 hours of maintenance, and when they are back up they are actually worse than they were before. Oh I know, make people wait in line for 30-60 minutes to get into the server. However, since Blizzard is doing these things it is ok.
Servers going down during prime time all weekend and 20 minute queues to get on are not small problems. They may not be affecting you personally, but a lot of people are getting sick of it (myself included).
I am getting ready to migrate to a new server. It really is getting bad. This last weekend my server went down around 7pm CST and saturday and sunday. Monday, there was 30-50 minute queues to get on. The only thing stopping me from making a new character on a new server is the hope that Blizzard will allow character transfers soon. There has been mention of it by GMs but nothing currently announced.
You need to make the distinction of application vs OS. With MS, IE is part of the OS. Something that exploits IE also exploits the OS. Now look at the Xpdf flaw you presented:
An attacker could entice a user to open a specially-crafted PDF file, potentially resulting in the execution of arbitrary code with the rights of the user running the affected utility.
That is not a linux problem. That is an Xpdf problem. Xpdf is letting the maker of a PDF file gain the rights that the Xpdf program normally has. Now, if this exploit allowed the user to gain root access (assuming the current user is not root) there would be a tad more going on as Xpdf should never have root access.
Now this isn't to say linux is perfect, but saying that every linux application security bug is the fault of linux isn't true either. However, this really comes down to the design differences between linux and windows. Running linux as root all the time can be just as dangerous as windows.
It is also a problem of monolithic vs. modular programming. Having IE, your window to the internet, being so deeply imbedded into your OS is only asking for problems.
Enough with the EQ2 flaming
on
New Year MMOG News
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· Score: 2, Interesting
First off, downtime in EQ2 is very rare in groups. Soloing is much harder though and will have downtime. Second, WoW has had it fair share of problems. Actually, they have a ton. Login server outtage is nothing out of the norm. Four hours of maintenance once a week is scheduled but it usually runs to 6+ (during which time the forums are also down). The blizzard downloader is HORRID. Auction house, mail box, and server lag during peak times can also get really bad. Oh, and their is no point in changing your home point from Ironforge (for alliance) because that is the only place with an auction house. Also, there is no honor system in the PvP which means a lot of ganking of lower level players who have no chance.
Despite all this I still play WoW over EQ2 even though I own both. I just get sick of all EQ2 sucks and WoW is perfect talk. EQ2 has had 1 day of downtime where the players were both reimbursed financially and given accelerated experience to make up for it. Heck, a written apology from the CEO doesn't hurt either.
EQ2 isn't perfect, but to claim it is so amazingly better than WoW is just wrong. WoW is a casual game. There are tons of people at the level cap already, and there really isn't much to do then other than start a new character and do it again.
EQ2 takes a lot more time. It is group based. Grouping in WoW is usually reserved for instanced dungeons and other elite quests. I gain almost all my level experience solo. In fact, I usually earn less experience when grouped.
If you just don't like SOE then fine. However, the EQ2 dev team has done a pretty bang up job with EQ2. To some people what you claim as grinding is fun.
Is it any suprise? They grew up with a president who never has to pay the price for anything. What did you think they were gonna do?
There hasn't been a Kennedy as president for a while now.
Nintendo is one of the few companies out there to consistently pump out quality games across all their platforms. Sure, there is Mario Tennis, Mario Party, Mario Golf, Super Mario DS, etc, but every single one of those games is solid. The same goes with the Metroid and Zelda series. Nintendo doesn't use its franchises as a way to sell bad games. They are instead constantly reinforcing how good the games are that come from their franchises.
I had the EXACT same problem with ironically, VB.NET programs. The buffer overflow protection in Mcafee was causing no text in dialog boxes. It took me a few hours to figure this out. Called Mcafee, they knew of it immediately and sent us a patch. Sorry, but blaming one software's fault on another is indeed acting like a moron. Especially coming out of a microsoft employee.
Sorry, but IGE, ebay, etc have not trashed other other games economies. This includes FFXI, a game I also came from. Compared to the overall exchange and transfer of money in these game's economies, the money sold by IGE and players is nothing. Nowhere near enough to make a difference to the economy. In game problems like money dups have far more of an effect.
Second, you think any of the things you suggested Blizzard does would work? Not a chance. How is Blizzard going find how the accounts of players buy from IGE? How are they going to find IGE's accounts? Sure, Blizzard could buy money from IGE and ban the account who sends it to them, but that would be enough to ban one account. Good luck trying the ban buyers.
There is one thing this does have in common with the RIAA suing people. It would be just as effective as the RIAA has been in scaring people.
As far as a legal standing goes, IANAL, but this would be far from an open and shut civil case. I think the fact that this has been going on for years and there hasn't been a single case is testament enough to this.
Slashdot Mirror
The shortage lasted a long time. Almost all the PS2's on ebay were selling at ridiculous prices. On top of that there still wasn't any in stores. Just because there were a lot of scalpers doesn't mean there still wasn't a shortage.
Not sure what you are talking about it never happening. Remember the PS2 launch?
I'll agree with this. In fact, I do it too. I import every single hand I play online into a database. This aids me in improving my game a lot. I can replay any of the few hundred thousand hands I've played and see where I am misplaying them.
I have my computer "watch" 20 other tables at the limits I play when I am not at my computer and import those hands into a database. When I do play I use that information by overlaying the players stats who I have hands on. From those couple numbers I can get a good idea of how loose they are, how aggressive they play, and how many times they will call me down when met back with aggression. It gives me a rudimentary read on a player before I play them. It also (and more importantly imho) allows me to spot the tougher competition.
Is this cheating? I don't think so. The poker sites themselves have no problem with it. I am not automating any of my play. I still make every single decision. I am only using publically available information to aid my decision making.
Is it different from B&M play? Most certainly. That however doesn't mean it is any better or worse than live poker. I think it is no more unfair than it is for the common tourist walking into a casino and playing the local sharks.
Raven has already said the single player will be based off of Quake2 and the multiplayer more like Quake3. This is perfect imho. Just because you see a couple screenshots that make it look like Doom3, which is a huge surprise of course since they use the same damn engine, doesn't mean gameplay will be the same.
So, don't buy them. What does the GBA come with the PSP doesn't?
Except there is no law stopping a kid from seeing or purchasing a violent movie. There is no law stopping a kid from buying a CD with explicit lyrics. There is a law for cigarettes but that is only because there is serious physical health affects. If anything, video games are easier to regulate by the parents than both movies and music. They are generally much more expensive, and they must be played at a house. No, we don't need a law for this. The rating is as clear as light and day on the package. We could use better regulation by the stores themselves but that is improving too. Heck, it is still easy enough for a kid to buy CDs with explicit lyrics. It doesn't mean we need a law passed about it.
So basically the quality of customer service we have come to expect from every MMO in existance.
Best online game? Half Life 2? Am I the only one who sees the problem here? Ok, there is HL2 deathmatch but there's no way in that could possibly win any award. There's what, a whole two maps? One of them with some serious design flaws. CS:S is decent, but hardly award worthy.
Any corporation with labtops should have been loading a software firewall on them long before sp2.
I'd love for you to name one game that has, and has been even remotely successful. Just stay away from MMOs man because they ALL have this exact same thing.
IGE provides a service to a demand. That's how an open market works. Do you think it is illegal? Doubtful, but I guess it could be. However, no game developer is going to be bringing it to court anytime soon.
If you play a MMO and you are unaware of sites like ebay, playerauctions, and IGE, then all you have is your own ignorance to blame. This is far from a new phenomenon.
That may be true, but who would you rather sue. Microsoft or Xfire?
Only if you consider "plenty of competition" one extra title per platform from developers in bed with Nintendo, Sony, or Microsoft.
So let me get this right. EA does it, it is bad. Take Two does it, it is good because it stops EA. You understand there are more than two publishers out there right? Oh well, typical Slashdot hypocrisy.
To me it sounds like the chinese government is already forbiding these games to be sold in their country. So if they do see these games, they are having them confiscated under the guise of stopping piracy. This is despite the government being the one who is forcing the piracy of them in the first place, but I could be wrong. This article really doesn't tell you enough.
I agree. They should use the "Blizzard Downloader." Much better right? Or how about bring all the servers down for 16 hours of maintenance, and when they are back up they are actually worse than they were before. Oh I know, make people wait in line for 30-60 minutes to get into the server. However, since Blizzard is doing these things it is ok.
Servers going down during prime time all weekend and 20 minute queues to get on are not small problems. They may not be affecting you personally, but a lot of people are getting sick of it (myself included).
I am getting ready to migrate to a new server. It really is getting bad. This last weekend my server went down around 7pm CST and saturday and sunday. Monday, there was 30-50 minute queues to get on. The only thing stopping me from making a new character on a new server is the hope that Blizzard will allow character transfers soon. There has been mention of it by GMs but nothing currently announced.
And that is what makes it so good. It makes it so clear to see how dumb many of the beliefs of fundamentalist christians are.
An attacker could entice a user to open a specially-crafted PDF file, potentially resulting in the execution of arbitrary code with the rights of the user running the affected utility.
That is not a linux problem. That is an Xpdf problem. Xpdf is letting the maker of a PDF file gain the rights that the Xpdf program normally has. Now, if this exploit allowed the user to gain root access (assuming the current user is not root) there would be a tad more going on as Xpdf should never have root access.
Now this isn't to say linux is perfect, but saying that every linux application security bug is the fault of linux isn't true either. However, this really comes down to the design differences between linux and windows. Running linux as root all the time can be just as dangerous as windows.
It is also a problem of monolithic vs. modular programming. Having IE, your window to the internet, being so deeply imbedded into your OS is only asking for problems.
First off, downtime in EQ2 is very rare in groups. Soloing is much harder though and will have downtime. Second, WoW has had it fair share of problems. Actually, they have a ton. Login server outtage is nothing out of the norm. Four hours of maintenance once a week is scheduled but it usually runs to 6+ (during which time the forums are also down). The blizzard downloader is HORRID. Auction house, mail box, and server lag during peak times can also get really bad. Oh, and their is no point in changing your home point from Ironforge (for alliance) because that is the only place with an auction house. Also, there is no honor system in the PvP which means a lot of ganking of lower level players who have no chance.
Despite all this I still play WoW over EQ2 even though I own both. I just get sick of all EQ2 sucks and WoW is perfect talk. EQ2 has had 1 day of downtime where the players were both reimbursed financially and given accelerated experience to make up for it. Heck, a written apology from the CEO doesn't hurt either.
EQ2 isn't perfect, but to claim it is so amazingly better than WoW is just wrong. WoW is a casual game. There are tons of people at the level cap already, and there really isn't much to do then other than start a new character and do it again.
EQ2 takes a lot more time. It is group based. Grouping in WoW is usually reserved for instanced dungeons and other elite quests. I gain almost all my level experience solo. In fact, I usually earn less experience when grouped.
If you just don't like SOE then fine. However, the EQ2 dev team has done a pretty bang up job with EQ2. To some people what you claim as grinding is fun.
Is it any suprise? They grew up with a president who never has to pay the price for anything. What did you think they were gonna do? There hasn't been a Kennedy as president for a while now.
Nintendo is one of the few companies out there to consistently pump out quality games across all their platforms. Sure, there is Mario Tennis, Mario Party, Mario Golf, Super Mario DS, etc, but every single one of those games is solid. The same goes with the Metroid and Zelda series. Nintendo doesn't use its franchises as a way to sell bad games. They are instead constantly reinforcing how good the games are that come from their franchises.
I had the EXACT same problem with ironically, VB.NET programs. The buffer overflow protection in Mcafee was causing no text in dialog boxes. It took me a few hours to figure this out. Called Mcafee, they knew of it immediately and sent us a patch. Sorry, but blaming one software's fault on another is indeed acting like a moron. Especially coming out of a microsoft employee.
Second, you think any of the things you suggested Blizzard does would work? Not a chance. How is Blizzard going find how the accounts of players buy from IGE? How are they going to find IGE's accounts? Sure, Blizzard could buy money from IGE and ban the account who sends it to them, but that would be enough to ban one account. Good luck trying the ban buyers.
There is one thing this does have in common with the RIAA suing people. It would be just as effective as the RIAA has been in scaring people.
As far as a legal standing goes, IANAL, but this would be far from an open and shut civil case. I think the fact that this has been going on for years and there hasn't been a single case is testament enough to this.