It is amazing how First Person Shooters drive the video card business.
Almost every penny I have spent on my computer in the past 3 years was so I could get more frames per second...at a higher resolution, with a faster mouse, on a better monitor...etc. etc.
Of course, everything else benefits from the speed too..but that is just secondary. I mean...how many frames does the Internet get anyway?
Don't forget- you can always go back to the 'classic' view. Looks like Windows 2000. And yes, part of the Start menu has changed, but not enough to really confuse anyone.
The post above (and the one above that) are an excellent example of what needs to happen before Linux becomes a bigger desktop force.
Concessions need to be made.
But that almost goes against the 'choice' that everyone wants.
Unfortunately, if Group A wants KDE and Group B wants Gnome- somewhere along the line someone needs to decide which to use. Some people will be unhappy, but it is necessary.
Windows GUI is not perfect, and it never will be. Some features are in there for new users, and some for more experienced users. It can't be all things, to all people. Unfortunately, they don't have an interface that tailors itself to your individual needs.
So, having a single GUI will help the development- but it will lessen the choices.
It's one thing for some (geek?) guy to wear an Atari shirt- although that one is so OVER due to over-exposure, by The Ataris no less. Also, we have other things like Homestar Runner clothing (I'm wearing The Cheat right now!).
But dressing up as characters? That goes a little too far.
The DOAX Volleyball bikinis are cool- because the chicks (the real ones) are hot. And if you have a girlfriend who looks like those, then damn- pay the $150 for the bikini.
But, I shudder when imagining the pasty/fat/greasy chicks trying to dress up as Lara Croft. Damn bitch- put your Sonic The Hedgehog costume back on!!
I see this as a good thing for Halloween. "Who are you?" "Dude...I'm Max Payne/Masterchief/J.C. Denton" Okay, that will fly.
So- put on some tee-shirt with that fake-retro Old Navy look.
Dress up as a Barbarian for Halloween.
But for god sakes, don't wear your stupid tassle boots to the arcade, and play Gauntlet all day. It makes all of us video game players look bad.
And on a serious note- if you are that dude that walks around UC Davis all the time, wearing your purple cape (and tassle boots) you really need to stop. You'll end up some day in the back of the library, bitter, because none of the humans will talk to you. No, it's not because you are an elf/troll/hobbit/whatever, and the rest of us are biased...it's because you are wearing a freakin' cape (and tassle boots) even when it is 100+ degrees outside.
This was a big problem for me. I couldn't pass one of the (earlier) missions, so I just got stuck.
I blamed it on the crappy controls on the PC- driving with a keyboard is never good- but maybe it is just because I'm not very good at the game.
What about Hollywood? What about Griffith Park? (You might not know the name, but you know the park) Interesting stuff like the La Brea tarpits- imagine sinking your enemies car into that- loaded with a trunk full of thugs.
LA city hall is far more recognizable than NY's (you've seen it on TV a million times.) And what about General Hospital? Yes, it is a real place- once again, very recognizable.
This game is about a cop, who uses violence to get the job done. You don't think that the LAPD has a reputation for this?
LA has a Chinatown/Little Tokyo (always important for crime syndicates!) as well as just about every other ethnic group having a stronghold. Seen the LA riots? (that was a popular show on TV a few years ago) You do NOT mess with Korean shop-owners.
The game could have a lot of missions in East LA, Compton, Inglewood, etc. You might remembers stories where people get shot for just driving down the wrong street (avenida de asesinos I believe).
LA is not all suburbs- in fact, by definition, the suburbs are not part of the city. Yes of course there is sprawl, but if you are looking for recognizable landmarks, LA is full of them. True, the MTV studios are not here, and being able to blast Carson Daly with a shotgun would be great- but the Church of Scientology HQ's would be a nice place to go on a rampage.
I used to be a huge PC gamer. I thought it kicked butt over all of the consoles. 1200X1600! How can a console compare?!
Then I got an Xbox, and I haven't even considered playing games on the PC since then.
It is a totally different way to play, and on many game genres, it is hugely better. Fighting games fall into that category.
As someone else mentioned, playing against your friends is 10* easier on a console. Plus, the controllers are much better on the console (for this type of game). Yes, you can get gamepads on the PC (I have one) but they are not nearly as good as a console controller. Also, how many people actually own decent gamepads for the PC?
It would be a nightmare to sell the game on a PC, and you have thousands of kids bummed out because they don't have a gamepad, and controlling a fighting game on the keyboard is nearly impossible.
On the other hand, most RTS games would not work on a console. I can't imagine how a game like 'Rise of Nations' would work. Or, if you would even want it to.
The difference in games can be correlated to your seating style while playing. I play my console while sitting on the couch, leaned back (usually..unless the Covenant is coming on really strong, and I'm nearly out of ammo- then I have to lean forward) while PC games are played in an upright, or forward leaning position. More thinking can be done that way. Fighting games aren't usually 'thinking' games.
Xboxes can be linked, you can have up to 16 people playing together.
NBA Street, with 4 'real' players would be awesome, and is much more team oriented than an FPS.
Since you would have dough (Xboxes being less than PC's) you could use the linking more than split-screen, it would just cost more for the TV's.
Also, you can use Xbox live- which might de-complicate things.
I know that I have far more social interaction when playing on my Xbox, than my PC- even when I am playing an FPS with my office mate, and we are on the same team- the games are built for individuals, where consoles are built for groups.
Just remember, not everyone's economy is tanking. Yes, we think of the US economy as a whole, but usually it is in a state of yin/yang.
Maybe this is one of those companies that dismantles and auctions off failed companies.
Or, they are lawyers that specialize in wrongful termination suits.
Or, maybe they publish Harry Potter books.
Maybe they invested wisely in the Beanie Baby market.
Believe it or not, a lot of people are still making money- the tech sector may blow (oh yeah..maybe they are Columbian drug lords) but the rest of the world is still going 'round.
I agree with you wholeheartedly. Run, rush, and shoot people (with blood and gore) on your way to your local gamestore. They will pay big bucks for this game right now (I got a whopping $28 for it) sell it quick, before everyone else who was totally disappointed goes in to sell their copy.
I predict this game will fill the 'used game' shelves by Christmas.
I hope that Crimson Skies is not a similar disappointment...
Nobody 'told' me much about KOTOR, except that it was a great game. In fact, I never thought I needed to blame anyone, because potentially the game is great- if you like that type of game.
My point was that *I* was disappointed. I did not present any judgment, except for my own disappointment. I did not say the game sucked, or anything else. I just wanted to express my own dissatisfaction.
So, you think the game is one of the "best console RPG in the post-cartridge era." I just plain didn't like it. Hey! We disagree! But that's okay...that's what makes the world go round.
For me, Knights of the Old Republic was a huge disappointment. The lack of 'real' (videogame style) combat was a killer. I've already sold my copy back, before I got too far.
This game looks much better, just in the fact that you get to control your character during combat. But, can it be compared to Dead or Alive? Is it the same type of kill-only game?
For game of the year, since the EA titles are usually out- Otogi looks like a possiblity, at least from the demo.
Actually, my guess is that "Guys who use Macs on desks like the one in the picture" don't go out with the girls in the picture. They go out with the guy who took the picture of the girl.
As far as disappointments go, Knights of the Old Republic was my big-time number one.
I heard so much good stuff about this game "Best Star Wars Game Ever". Everyone said it was great.
Nobody warned me about the stupid combat system! When I play games, I like to have a little bit of skill involved. Like, when I kill people, it is fun to run around, aim, and shoot. Not just select the dumb 'engage' option and hope for the best.
I also like to choose who I shoot. Everyone who plays first person shooters knows the joy of shooting at your allies, to see them run, cower, die, or whatever. It's good to have a choice of who to kill, which guards to attack, etc. You know, if I want to take on a bunch of Sith guards out in broad daylight, let me do it!
After trying it out for a week (boy oh boy...lets get involved in one of those STUPID duels!) I figured I needed to rush back to the store so I could sell it for a decent amount. The clerk at the store assumed I had beat the game, but when I told him I hated it, he was dumbfounded. He said that he bought an XBox specifically for that game (ahh...the hype I was talking about).
If you like action in your games, avoid this one like the plague. If you like to dress up as a Jedi, and try to translate wookie (or Klingon, or whatever you are into) then you might dig it.
The one saving grace was that they gave me $28 bucks for it at the store. They clerk said this was the highest he has ever seen for a game...
When Microsoft first announced the Platinum Hits ($19.99 games) there were quite a few really good games. Here is a complete list of original games. They have since added quite a few games. The original list included some really good games such as:
Max Payne
Oddworld
Project Gotham
Rallisport Challenge
Simpsons Road Rage
All of those games were good. This is a fairly strong collectiong to start with. They are adding new games all the time.
I used to feel the same way- I didn't understand why there were so many sports games out there. But recently I have played two games that have completely changed my mind:
NBA Street 2 Tiger Woods 2003
I was amazed to see that Tiger Woods is one of the highest rated console games. Pick it up, give it a try- excellent game! This game is still in the $45 range USED- because people really like it.
NBA Street 2 just plain rocks. Play it single player for a while, and it's cool. Play it with some friends, and it is one of those games that will have you screaming, yelling, laughing, etc. etc. Some of the most fun I have ever had with video games.
I've never understood the whole form factor debate/complaint.
Personally, I put my Xbox in my cabinet a few months ago, and haven't really moved it since.
It's not like playing with a football, where I actually have to throw the console or something. It just sits. I use the controller to play the games.
Do you move your Xbox around? The Xbox controllers have the longest cord on the market- so you wouldn't have to move the console as much. Maybe that should compensate for the larger size?
I play console games. I don't play with the actual console itself...
In both cases, the insurance covered just over half of the surgery. Neither one of these (appendectomy, gall bladder ectomy (whatever)) is a difficult/expensive surgery.
Yes, the insurance did save me money. I believe that health insurance is necessary- but I would rather pay more money, to get better coverage.
That has to be the worst advice you can give to anyone in the U.S.
Playing the odds like that might be okay if you are single, young, and don't have any responsibilities. But, what if we are playing the numbers like that, and get hurt in the first year. Tons of money goes out the window, and you will probably end up bankrupt.
What if you have a problem with lingering effects? Maybe you need to take medication, or continuing treatments? Shit outta luck.
I was a person who ran a lot, worked out at the gym, etc- I was in very good shape, and excellent health. Eventually, I developed a back problem that required two surgeries, and dozens (upon dozens) of trips to the doctors office for treatment. This entire situation would have probably cost me well over $100,000. And I was 'healthy'!
Do you know how much an MRI costs? A myleogram? CT Scan? One set of those would wipe out a years worth of your savings- easy. Surgeries, hospital stays, doctor visits, medication, physical therapy, etc. etc. This is big bucks.
Of course, you could be an indigent (which is exactly the way they would classify you WITHOUT INSURANCE) and be treated at the County hospital. But, just take a look at their staff/doctors/clientele, and you will pray for something- anything - better to come along.
Slashdot Mirror
Not only is it silly that they don't make the license available, it forfeits their right to enforce the license.
So- screw 'em...if they don't make it available to you, it is their problem.
It is amazing how First Person Shooters drive the video card business.
Almost every penny I have spent on my computer in the past 3 years was so I could get more frames per second...at a higher resolution, with a faster mouse, on a better monitor...etc. etc.
Of course, everything else benefits from the speed too..but that is just secondary. I mean...how many frames does the Internet get anyway?
Don't forget- you can always go back to the 'classic' view. Looks like Windows 2000. And yes, part of the Start menu has changed, but not enough to really confuse anyone.
The post above (and the one above that) are an excellent example of what needs to happen before Linux becomes a bigger desktop force.
Concessions need to be made.
But that almost goes against the 'choice' that everyone wants.
Unfortunately, if Group A wants KDE and Group B wants Gnome- somewhere along the line someone needs to decide which to use. Some people will be unhappy, but it is necessary.
Windows GUI is not perfect, and it never will be. Some features are in there for new users, and some for more experienced users. It can't be all things, to all people. Unfortunately, they don't have an interface that tailors itself to your individual needs.
So, having a single GUI will help the development- but it will lessen the choices.
It's a dilemma...
Well for the most part, fashion this is not.
It's one thing for some (geek?) guy to wear an Atari shirt- although that one is so OVER due to over-exposure, by The Ataris no less. Also, we have other things like Homestar Runner clothing (I'm wearing The Cheat right now!).
But dressing up as characters? That goes a little too far.
The DOAX Volleyball bikinis are cool- because the chicks (the real ones) are hot. And if you have a girlfriend who looks like those, then damn- pay the $150 for the bikini.
But, I shudder when imagining the pasty/fat/greasy chicks trying to dress up as Lara Croft. Damn bitch- put your Sonic The Hedgehog costume back on!!
I see this as a good thing for Halloween. "Who are you?" "Dude...I'm Max Payne/Masterchief/J.C. Denton" Okay, that will fly.
So- put on some tee-shirt with that fake-retro Old Navy look.
Dress up as a Barbarian for Halloween.
But for god sakes, don't wear your stupid tassle boots to the arcade, and play Gauntlet all day. It makes all of us video game players look bad.
And on a serious note- if you are that dude that walks around UC Davis all the time, wearing your purple cape (and tassle boots) you really need to stop. You'll end up some day in the back of the library, bitter, because none of the humans will talk to you. No, it's not because you are an elf/troll/hobbit/whatever, and the rest of us are biased...it's because you are wearing a freakin' cape (and tassle boots) even when it is 100+ degrees outside.
New York
London
Paris
Munich
On the radio?
Pop Muzik of course.
This was a big problem for me. I couldn't pass one of the (earlier) missions, so I just got stuck. I blamed it on the crappy controls on the PC- driving with a keyboard is never good- but maybe it is just because I'm not very good at the game.
Well, your sig just reinforces my opinion of people who blindly hate Microsoft...
Maybe it is the built-up sexual tension that causes it...
LA is a good city for this.
It has crime-
It has streets you can actually drive on-
It has famous buildings, parks, etc.
What about Hollywood? What about Griffith Park? (You might not know the name, but you know the park) Interesting stuff like the La Brea tarpits- imagine sinking your enemies car into that- loaded with a trunk full of thugs.
LA city hall is far more recognizable than NY's (you've seen it on TV a million times.) And what about General Hospital? Yes, it is a real place- once again, very recognizable.
This game is about a cop, who uses violence to get the job done. You don't think that the LAPD has a reputation for this?
LA has a Chinatown/Little Tokyo (always important for crime syndicates!) as well as just about every other ethnic group having a stronghold. Seen the LA riots? (that was a popular show on TV a few years ago) You do NOT mess with Korean shop-owners.
The game could have a lot of missions in East LA, Compton, Inglewood, etc. You might remembers stories where people get shot for just driving down the wrong street (avenida de asesinos I believe).
LA is not all suburbs- in fact, by definition, the suburbs are not part of the city. Yes of course there is sprawl, but if you are looking for recognizable landmarks, LA is full of them. True, the MTV studios are not here, and being able to blast Carson Daly with a shotgun would be great- but the Church of Scientology HQ's would be a nice place to go on a rampage.
I used to be a huge PC gamer. I thought it kicked butt over all of the consoles. 1200X1600! How can a console compare?!
Then I got an Xbox, and I haven't even considered playing games on the PC since then.
It is a totally different way to play, and on many game genres, it is hugely better. Fighting games fall into that category.
As someone else mentioned, playing against your friends is 10* easier on a console. Plus, the controllers are much better on the console (for this type of game). Yes, you can get gamepads on the PC (I have one) but they are not nearly as good as a console controller. Also, how many people actually own decent gamepads for the PC?
It would be a nightmare to sell the game on a PC, and you have thousands of kids bummed out because they don't have a gamepad, and controlling a fighting game on the keyboard is nearly impossible.
On the other hand, most RTS games would not work on a console. I can't imagine how a game like 'Rise of Nations' would work. Or, if you would even want it to.
The difference in games can be correlated to your seating style while playing. I play my console while sitting on the couch, leaned back (usually..unless the Covenant is coming on really strong, and I'm nearly out of ammo- then I have to lean forward) while PC games are played in an upright, or forward leaning position. More thinking can be done that way. Fighting games aren't usually 'thinking' games.
Excellent idea-
Xboxes can be linked, you can have up to 16 people playing together.
NBA Street, with 4 'real' players would be awesome, and is much more team oriented than an FPS.
Since you would have dough (Xboxes being less than PC's) you could use the linking more than split-screen, it would just cost more for the TV's.
Also, you can use Xbox live- which might de-complicate things.
I know that I have far more social interaction when playing on my Xbox, than my PC- even when I am playing an FPS with my office mate, and we are on the same team- the games are built for individuals, where consoles are built for groups.
Just remember, not everyone's economy is tanking. Yes, we think of the US economy as a whole, but usually it is in a state of yin/yang.
Maybe this is one of those companies that dismantles and auctions off failed companies.
Or, they are lawyers that specialize in wrongful termination suits.
Or, maybe they publish Harry Potter books.
Maybe they invested wisely in the Beanie Baby market.
Believe it or not, a lot of people are still making money- the tech sector may blow (oh yeah..maybe they are Columbian drug lords) but the rest of the world is still going 'round.
Chance that the avid Quake player did not shower before work: 50%.
Chance that there is nobody at home who will notice: 40%
Women who find men who are sweaty, fit, and slightly 'stank' from exercise more attractive than globs of goo with a monitor tan: 95%
NONE of this will matter when Doom III comes out. It will change EVERYTHING!
Crazyphilman-
I agree with you wholeheartedly. Run, rush, and shoot people (with blood and gore) on your way to your local gamestore. They will pay big bucks for this game right now (I got a whopping $28 for it) sell it quick, before everyone else who was totally disappointed goes in to sell their copy.
I predict this game will fill the 'used game' shelves by Christmas.
I hope that Crimson Skies is not a similar disappointment...
Mike-
Nobody 'told' me much about KOTOR, except that it was a great game. In fact, I never thought I needed to blame anyone, because potentially the game is great- if you like that type of game.
My point was that *I* was disappointed. I did not present any judgment, except for my own disappointment. I did not say the game sucked, or anything else. I just wanted to express my own dissatisfaction.
So, you think the game is one of the "best console RPG in the post-cartridge era." I just plain didn't like it. Hey! We disagree! But that's okay...that's what makes the world go round.
For me, Knights of the Old Republic was a huge disappointment. The lack of 'real' (videogame style) combat was a killer. I've already sold my copy back, before I got too far.
This game looks much better, just in the fact that you get to control your character during combat. But, can it be compared to Dead or Alive? Is it the same type of kill-only game?
For game of the year, since the EA titles are usually out- Otogi looks like a possiblity, at least from the demo.
Actually, my guess is that "Guys who use Macs on desks like the one in the picture" don't go out with the girls in the picture. They go out with the guy who took the picture of the girl.
And how does this affect the stores that buy/sell used games, or rent games?
Rather than spreading FUD, I've actually read the EULA, and it states:
"grant the end user the right to use the Software Title on only one Xbox console at a time"
Yes- at a time. Not EVER, not anything like that. You can bring it around, and use it everywhere. You can upgrad from Xbox to Xbox 2.
The rest of the EULA is similarly plain and simple.
Sometimes it is a lot more fun to imagine the worst, rather than to actually find out the truth. Christians do it every day.
As far as disappointments go, Knights of the Old Republic was my big-time number one.
I heard so much good stuff about this game "Best Star Wars Game Ever". Everyone said it was great.
Nobody warned me about the stupid combat system! When I play games, I like to have a little bit of skill involved. Like, when I kill people, it is fun to run around, aim, and shoot. Not just select the dumb 'engage' option and hope for the best.
I also like to choose who I shoot. Everyone who plays first person shooters knows the joy of shooting at your allies, to see them run, cower, die, or whatever. It's good to have a choice of who to kill, which guards to attack, etc. You know, if I want to take on a bunch of Sith guards out in broad daylight, let me do it!
After trying it out for a week (boy oh boy...lets get involved in one of those STUPID duels!) I figured I needed to rush back to the store so I could sell it for a decent amount. The clerk at the store assumed I had beat the game, but when I told him I hated it, he was dumbfounded. He said that he bought an XBox specifically for that game (ahh...the hype I was talking about).
If you like action in your games, avoid this one like the plague. If you like to dress up as a Jedi, and try to translate wookie (or Klingon, or whatever you are into) then you might dig it.
The one saving grace was that they gave me $28 bucks for it at the store. They clerk said this was the highest he has ever seen for a game...
- Max Payne
- Oddworld
- Project Gotham
- Rallisport Challenge
- Simpsons Road Rage
All of those games were good. This is a fairly strong collectiong to start with. They are adding new games all the time."Who cares about sports?"
I used to feel the same way- I didn't understand why there were so many sports games out there. But recently I have played two games that have completely changed my mind:
NBA Street 2
Tiger Woods 2003
I was amazed to see that Tiger Woods is one of the highest rated console games. Pick it up, give it a try- excellent game! This game is still in the $45 range USED- because people really like it.
NBA Street 2 just plain rocks. Play it single player for a while, and it's cool. Play it with some friends, and it is one of those games that will have you screaming, yelling, laughing, etc. etc. Some of the most fun I have ever had with video games.
I've never understood the whole form factor debate/complaint.
Personally, I put my Xbox in my cabinet a few months ago, and haven't really moved it since.
It's not like playing with a football, where I actually have to throw the console or something. It just sits. I use the controller to play the games.
Do you move your Xbox around? The Xbox controllers have the longest cord on the market- so you wouldn't have to move the console as much. Maybe that should compensate for the larger size?
I play console games. I don't play with the actual console itself...
In both cases, the insurance covered just over half of the surgery. Neither one of these (appendectomy, gall bladder ectomy (whatever)) is a difficult/expensive surgery.
Yes, the insurance did save me money. I believe that health insurance is necessary- but I would rather pay more money, to get better coverage.
You are absolutely, positively nuts.
That has to be the worst advice you can give to anyone in the U.S.
Playing the odds like that might be okay if you are single, young, and don't have any responsibilities. But, what if we are playing the numbers like that, and get hurt in the first year. Tons of money goes out the window, and you will probably end up bankrupt.
What if you have a problem with lingering effects? Maybe you need to take medication, or continuing treatments? Shit outta luck.
I was a person who ran a lot, worked out at the gym, etc- I was in very good shape, and excellent health. Eventually, I developed a back problem that required two surgeries, and dozens (upon dozens) of trips to the doctors office for treatment. This entire situation would have probably cost me well over $100,000. And I was 'healthy'!
Do you know how much an MRI costs? A myleogram? CT Scan? One set of those would wipe out a years worth of your savings- easy. Surgeries, hospital stays, doctor visits, medication, physical therapy, etc. etc. This is big bucks.
Of course, you could be an indigent (which is exactly the way they would classify you WITHOUT INSURANCE) and be treated at the County hospital. But, just take a look at their staff/doctors/clientele, and you will pray for something- anything - better to come along.
Just my opinion, based on my experience.