Just an idea (and probably a bad one;)), but if indie film makers *could* make cheap films that people would want to see in theaters for $4 then wouldn't this be a good thing?
I know next to nothing about the industry, but if theaters make a majority of the money on overpriced pop-corn and soda, then cheaper tickets may be their best bet. Hell, maybe they could even show today's hot TV shows like Lost for $2 a head?
Yeah, this is probably just the coffee talking.;) But if the theater chains are having as much problems as they say, they need to do something radical to get butts back in their sticky seats.
I'm a big fan of Bebop and I've seen previews of the game, don't get your hopes up. Unless they did something amazing in the last 5 months, it isn't worth remembering the release date for...
This astro-turf style of marketing is already happening. I've run into at least one such user on my forum (not for Infinium, but for another product). They log into several forums, make some generic posts for a while (so people think they're just normal users) then, once they get the call to advertise a certain product, they do couple of "soft sell" posts saying how much they like a product.
I got one that was a little too obvious, but I'm guessing there are a few more who play the game better (and I'm sure there are a few who post on Slashdot).
This wasn't even news at E3 2005. They had some interesting concept demos at the GDC in...I'm thinking 2003 or 2004. Some of the stuff in the demo has been used for EyeToy games, and I'm sure we will see more of the stuff used in other games over the next few years.
I got the same rumors online, but I wouldn't say it was a trustworthy source.:) This person may just be sharing the common rumors that are being told on the Microsoft campus.
The idea makes sense however. Microsoft has been trying to get into the mainstream media market for some time now. The XBox360 could make a great DVR, movies-on-demand, and music jukebox. My guess is they are going to try to take on not only Sony, but Apple and Google as well.
So how bad was the shaking, nausea, and palpitations when you kicked your dangerous Quake habit?
I'm not saying you can't become addicted to games. You can become addicted to *anything* (food, water, sex, sun-light, driving fast,...). But it isn't the same thing as a drug addition.
Maybe some people have a hard time giving up their WoW or EQ accounts, but this isn't the same sort of addiction that you get from drugs. Comparing the two is not helpful for game players *OR* drug addicts ("Why can't you give up Meth? I stopped playing EQ.").
This is why I don't watch the news. I'm sure there is some good information in their nightly broadcast, but it is covered in sensationalized Bull Crap. At best it is sick entertainment (like watching a car wreck), at worse they are twisting your view on how things really are:
You can't change the world
But you can change the facts
And when you change the facts
You change points of view
If you change points of view
You may change a vote
And when you change a vote
You may change the world
- Depeche Mode
The fact that you can bring something like this up shows exactly how hard it is going to be to please the Star Trek audience. I can't think of another group of "fanbois" that obsess so much about a fictional universe (and I hang out with Firefly fans;)).
It isn't a stupid idea if the hard-core fans are willing to pay $70 in order to have the game right when it comes out. The fact that you are willing to hold off buying the game until the price comes down just means it isn't worth $70 to you.
You can't price games based on "quality", which is totally subjective (I, for one, wouldn't pay $5 for a Need for Speed game), and a long game isn't better than a short one (unless all you are looking for is a way to kill time). You price the game at what you think people will pay for it, and adjust it as you get more data.
If this was almost any other industry (film, oil, beef) many lawyers would be buying new cars. I believe in freedom of the press but that doesn't allow them to tell lies when they KNOW the truth.
When somebody publicly questions the sexuality of a Hollywood star, they get sued for millions, but it is okay to say that a product is being used to molest little kids when it just isn't true?
He is if your definition of a sellout is somebody who has made a product that sells to a mainstream audience. I'm not a big fan of virtual dollhouses myself but The Sims was an amazing bit of game design.
As far as making in-depth, open-ended games, his future product, Spore (see the other post answering you), makes SimEarth look like a cute little Flash game. I'll also bet he would of had a hard time convincing anybody to back such a huge project if he hadn't "sold out" and made such a popular game for the masses.
So, in short, don't be such a Will Hater. The man never forgot his roots.:)
I agree with that. I'm sure they are encouraging Bungie to get Halo 3 out as quickly as possible, but they probably know better than to rush it half finished out the door (at least that's my hope).
My main point is that Microsoft isn't going to sit on a finished Halo 3 until Vista is launched.
My guess is that the gun pictured is not being sold in the US market. Some other countries are not as paranoid as the US is when it comes to toy guns (probably due to the fact that they have much lower gun-crime rates...or less lawyers).
Sure, and he can also carve a block of soap into the shape of a gun.
Sorry, there is only so much you can do to stop people from being dumb-asses. If somebody goes out of their way to paint the gun black, then it really isn't your fault.
And I would be surprised if they held off on releasing Halo3 just to push Vista.
Halo 3 will be released shortly after it is finished (which may be after Vista is launched, I don't know). Microsoft already said publicly that it will be their weapon against the PS3.
PC gamers will switch over to Vista in time since they don't have much of a choice (what are they going to do, buy a Mac?;)), DX10 and Vista only video cards will make sure of that. But there is serious competition in the console market. Microsoft isn't going to hold back.
It could be used for that, but I think the truth is less devious.
Every new account gets some "Start-up" benefits (L$, cheap land, etc.). Somebody with a lot of time on their hands could create a lot of accounts and dump all these benefits into a single account (or just sell them outright).
Also, there is a LOT of nudity and sex in SL! They need to keep minors out and using a CC# is a (not foolproof) way to do this.
Slashdot Mirror
I know next to nothing about the industry, but if theaters make a majority of the money on overpriced pop-corn and soda, then cheaper tickets may be their best bet. Hell, maybe they could even show today's hot TV shows like Lost for $2 a head?
Yeah, this is probably just the coffee talking. ;) But if the theater chains are having as much problems as they say, they need to do something radical to get butts back in their sticky seats.
I guess some people work much shorter days then I do. ;)
I'm a big fan of Bebop and I've seen previews of the game, don't get your hopes up. Unless they did something amazing in the last 5 months, it isn't worth remembering the release date for...
I did my vote Monday, and Nintendogs is on the list. I think it was for best technology.
I got one that was a little too obvious, but I'm guessing there are a few more who play the game better (and I'm sure there are a few who post on Slashdot).
The idea makes sense however. Microsoft has been trying to get into the mainstream media market for some time now. The XBox360 could make a great DVR, movies-on-demand, and music jukebox. My guess is they are going to try to take on not only Sony, but Apple and Google as well.
I'm not saying you can't become addicted to games. You can become addicted to *anything* (food, water, sex, sun-light, driving fast, ...). But it isn't the same thing as a drug addition.
You can't change the world
But you can change the facts
And when you change the facts
You change points of view
If you change points of view
You may change a vote
And when you change a vote
You may change the world
- Depeche Mode
The fact that you can bring something like this up shows exactly how hard it is going to be to please the Star Trek audience. I can't think of another group of "fanbois" that obsess so much about a fictional universe (and I hang out with Firefly fans ;)).
You can't price games based on "quality", which is totally subjective (I, for one, wouldn't pay $5 for a Need for Speed game), and a long game isn't better than a short one (unless all you are looking for is a way to kill time). You price the game at what you think people will pay for it, and adjust it as you get more data.
When somebody publicly questions the sexuality of a Hollywood star, they get sued for millions, but it is okay to say that a product is being used to molest little kids when it just isn't true?
I haven't had a fall in 2 years, but 6 years ago I fell without pads and had to have my elbow replaced (wires, bolts, etc.). Not fun.
I'm not saying everyone should wear pads, just know you are taking a bigger risk than just road rash without them.
That said, if this new suit is cool enough and strong enough to replace my pads, I'd be willing to spend $$$ on it. The elbow cost me $6000...
As far as making in-depth, open-ended games, his future product, Spore (see the other post answering you), makes SimEarth look like a cute little Flash game. I'll also bet he would of had a hard time convincing anybody to back such a huge project if he hadn't "sold out" and made such a popular game for the masses.
So, in short, don't be such a Will Hater. The man never forgot his roots. :)
My main point is that Microsoft isn't going to sit on a finished Halo 3 until Vista is launched.
Wow, you have to ride a bus 24 hours a day, seven days a week! Sucks to be you.
My guess is that the gun pictured is not being sold in the US market. Some other countries are not as paranoid as the US is when it comes to toy guns (probably due to the fact that they have much lower gun-crime rates...or less lawyers).
Sorry, there is only so much you can do to stop people from being dumb-asses. If somebody goes out of their way to paint the gun black, then it really isn't your fault.
Halo 3 will be released shortly after it is finished (which may be after Vista is launched, I don't know). Microsoft already said publicly that it will be their weapon against the PS3.
PC gamers will switch over to Vista in time since they don't have much of a choice (what are they going to do, buy a Mac? ;)), DX10 and Vista only video cards will make sure of that. But there is serious competition in the console market. Microsoft isn't going to hold back.
Every new account gets some "Start-up" benefits (L$, cheap land, etc.). Somebody with a lot of time on their hands could create a lot of accounts and dump all these benefits into a single account (or just sell them outright).
Also, there is a LOT of nudity and sex in SL! They need to keep minors out and using a CC# is a (not foolproof) way to do this.
I'm sure there are good recruiters out there, but there are some very bad ones as well.
You bring up very good points. I wish Bush's speech writers would have talked to you instead of whatever religious zealot they took notes from.