> Open source software is often the better option both on cost and quality.
I love OSS, but in the real world when you leave la-la land and have a deadline to do, OSS can't always compete due to missing functionality which ranges all over the map -- from yes (basic and advanced functionality), to a total joke.
Here are some examples:
Gimp doesn't support: - Grouping of layers - CYMK - 16,24,32-bit channel support - rollup dockable windows - offline user manual on win32 (Note: I DO like the support that GIMP supports Subtract, and Divide layer blends, and Rearrange Colormap)
ClamWin - no real-time virus scanning
? - Yet to see a _good_, visual, easy replacement for InDesign.
I imagine that in about 10 years, yes, _eventually, OSS will become the better option, as it will have all the basic features, and even some of the advanced features (OpenOffice is already there), for each of the various software niches, but as of today, OSS still has a ways to go in some areas, and is making great progress in others.
> we need *MAPS*... A new game mode isn't going to make mercy more exciting.
Agreed.
What the really weird part is, that you can _already_ play Survival mode. A co-worker (accidently?) invented a new game mode about 2 weeks ago since we were getting bored on Expert. We call it "Don's Survival Mode" after him.
Details are: After contacting the rescue mission, run _back_ to the safe house (!), and try to stay alive as long as possible as you get wave after wave of zombie and tank rushes. (We count each Tank(s) spawn as a wave.) Recommended Difficulty: Easy Recommended Campaign: 2nd Campaign, "Death Toll" Recommended Map: 5th Chapter, "Boathouse Finale" (For a tougher challenge, try to hold out at the mini-gun.)
We've introduced this alternate game style to a few co-workers and they'd absolutely loved it. The best part is that it doesn't require any mods -- just "house rules" so to speak.
But yeah, we definitely need more maps -- we've checked out some of the player created maps, but they all suck. As a game programmer, I now how hard it is to design, texture, and play balance a map; can't do anything but wait...
-- "To say that people's consciousness can be represented as alien, and that people are afraid to face that facet of themselves, isn't too far off the mark."
> Why can't I just go about my own game without having to go repeatedly kill things to earn money?
Which is one of the reasons Wow is such a shitty game -- the ONLY way to level up is to kill monsters.
One of these days MMO's will eventually grow up and give you XP (and/or Fame) for crafting things. (Yes, technically you can get XP for exploring but good luck with that...)
-- "Wow is the McDonald's of MMOs -- millions served but still crap."
- Michaelangel007
> equivalent to a resolution of 640x480 pixels, which is twice the resolution of each individual Nintendo DS screen.
Each LCD on the DS only has a native resolution of 256x192 (almost the same as the old Apple ][s, except 15-bit.) Twice the resolution is 512x384. So you really should say "...which is more than twice..." (I would know, since I shipped a DS game last year, and this year.)
For comparision, the Acer Aspire One also uses a 0.3 megapixel camera (which I've found to be OK.) So while the megapixel resolution isn't great, the issue is over-rated IMHO. The low resolution is party to cover up the low native resolution of the LCDs.
> There is one major difference from them and Microsoft. It's something called an operating system. I'm sure you have heard of them. Apples whether for better or worse, is distinctly different from Microsofts.
> But really, it's perceived simplicity and style that gets people all pumped about Apple.
You mean like that the fact that: - Apple Updates actually shows you can icon next to the software if installing it requires a reboot? - The ability to drag and drop your favorite folders in the common open/save dialog box? - There are no Windows Genuine Annoyances when installing the OS - I don't have ever dam app wasting screen space with its own menu, instead of just once - Try using Expose sometime if you have still have trouble with "percieved simplicity"
Apple was _writing_ OS's long before MicroShaft even attempted one. It's the little details of _usage_ that seperates Apple from Microsoft. Let me know when Microsoft adds a "No to all" button when copying files. How many years did that take? Why does Microsoft have to constantly keep moving the users home director -- can't they get it right the first time like Unix?
The difference is that Apple isn't afraid to shaft its own customers by obsoleting its previous hardware (6502 -> 68000 -> PPC -> x86, OS9 -> OSX) because the change in the long run is better then piling hack upon hack.
Apple still sucks -- they just suck less then Microsoft.
> the hardware specs are crippled to 1GB RAM and 160GB hdd.
Eh? What are you talking about, Willis?
I use an Acer Aspire One to play Diablo 2 LOD on. With Adobe Reader, Rotate Page Left (Ctrl-Shift-Minus), Full Screen Toggle (Ctrl-L), it makes a good eBook reader. I even have Dev Studio Express and ToroiseSVN installed on it as a spare dev machine.
Amazon sells a _ 9-cell _ battery, and a spare battery charger, for $70 and $10 respectively. With Fry's now selling the Windows version for $300, I'm almost tempted to pick another one.
I haven't seen any laptops that inexpensive, portable and that lasts for 8 hours of use.
> So breaking the law is OK as long as it's for a article,
1. You're assuming illegal == immoral.
2. Go live in a country that doesn't respect Freedom of Speech. It is your moral duty to dis-obey bad civil laws, until such time they are appealed. Copyright is based on greed, and as such, is immoral. Thankfully its time is over.
Hush. The sheeple are too stupid to understand Imaginary Property rights. Next they'll start getting the crazy idea that since they create and gave rights to the government, that the government exists to serve them.
-- Every government & civilization eventually collapses - thankfully.
Let me know when you can repeat the formation of star, or the universe. Science only uses repeatability as sufficient, not necessary condition. Just because you can't repeat something, doesn't mean it isn't worth studying.
Slashdot Mirror
Nope.
Sorry, forgot to mention that. I'll check it out again though.
> Find some corporation (good luck) that shares our ideals,
Uhm, Red-Hat.
> Open source software is often the better option both on cost and quality.
I love OSS, but in the real world when you leave la-la land and have a deadline to do, OSS can't always compete due to missing functionality which ranges all over the map -- from yes (basic and advanced functionality), to a total joke.
Here are some examples:
Gimp doesn't support:
- Grouping of layers
- CYMK
- 16,24,32-bit channel support
- rollup dockable windows
- offline user manual on win32
(Note: I DO like the support that GIMP supports Subtract, and Divide layer blends, and Rearrange Colormap)
ClamWin
- no real-time virus scanning
?
- Yet to see a _good_, visual, easy replacement for InDesign.
I imagine that in about 10 years, yes, _eventually, OSS will become the better option, as it will have all the basic features, and even some of the advanced features (OpenOffice is already there), for each of the various software niches, but as of today, OSS still has a ways to go in some areas, and is making great progress in others.
The movie adaption is half decent.
> we need *MAPS* ... A new game mode isn't going to make mercy more exciting.
Agreed.
What the really weird part is, that you can _already_ play Survival mode. A co-worker (accidently?) invented a new game mode about 2 weeks ago since we were getting bored on Expert. We call it "Don's Survival Mode" after him.
Details are: After contacting the rescue mission, run _back_ to the safe house (!), and try to stay alive as long as possible as you get wave after wave of zombie and tank rushes. (We count each Tank(s) spawn as a wave.)
Recommended Difficulty: Easy
Recommended Campaign: 2nd Campaign, "Death Toll"
Recommended Map: 5th Chapter, "Boathouse Finale" (For a tougher challenge, try to hold out at the mini-gun.)
We've introduced this alternate game style to a few co-workers and they'd absolutely loved it. The best part is that it doesn't require any mods -- just "house rules" so to speak.
But yeah, we definitely need more maps -- we've checked out some of the player created maps, but they all suck. As a game programmer, I now how hard it is to design, texture, and play balance a map; can't do anything but wait...
Little bit of L4D humor: "Life Imitates Art..."
L4D Road Sign?! :)
http://www.i-hacked.com/content/view/274/48/
The real Zoey (scroll down to end)
http://hellforge.gameriot.com/blogs/Boys-Club/IRL-The-Pretty-People-Who-Inspire-Pretty-Game-Heroes
Fan Photoshoot
http://pixelatedgeek.com/2009/03/left-4-dead-photoshoot-looks-perfect/?ea
Cheers
> I WANT TO BELIEVE
You do realize Mulder's original poster look suspiciously based off a photo...
http://www.famouspictures.org/mag/index.php?title=Image:Figu_picture.jpg
--
"To say that people's consciousness can be represented as alien, and that people are afraid to face that facet of themselves, isn't too far off the mark."
> Why can't I just go about my own game without having to go repeatedly kill things to earn money?
Which is one of the reasons Wow is such a shitty game -- the ONLY way to level up is to kill monsters.
One of these days MMO's will eventually grow up and give you XP (and/or Fame) for crafting things. (Yes, technically you can get XP for exploring but good luck with that...)
--
"Wow is the McDonald's of MMOs -- millions served but still crap."
- Michaelangel007
> but, how did GM last so long to begin with,
Exactly. What other company do you know that got bailed out _twice_ ?
> equivalent to a resolution of 640x480 pixels, which is twice the resolution of each individual Nintendo DS screen.
Each LCD on the DS only has a native resolution of 256x192 (almost the same as the old Apple ][s, except 15-bit.) Twice the resolution is 512x384. So you really should say "...which is more than twice..." (I would know, since I shipped a DS game last year, and this year.)
For comparision, the Acer Aspire One also uses a 0.3 megapixel camera (which I've found to be OK.) So while the megapixel resolution isn't great, the issue is over-rated IMHO. The low resolution is party to cover up the low native resolution of the LCDs.
> There is one major difference from them and Microsoft. It's something called an operating system. I'm sure you have heard of them. Apples whether for better or worse, is distinctly different from Microsofts.
> But really, it's perceived simplicity and style that gets people all pumped about Apple.
You mean like that the fact that:
- Apple Updates actually shows you can icon next to the software if installing it requires a reboot?
- The ability to drag and drop your favorite folders in the common open/save dialog box?
- There are no Windows Genuine Annoyances when installing the OS
- I don't have ever dam app wasting screen space with its own menu, instead of just once
- Try using Expose sometime if you have still have trouble with "percieved simplicity"
Apple was _writing_ OS's long before MicroShaft even attempted one. It's the little details of _usage_ that seperates Apple from Microsoft. Let me know when Microsoft adds a "No to all" button when copying files. How many years did that take? Why does Microsoft have to constantly keep moving the users home director -- can't they get it right the first time like Unix?
The difference is that Apple isn't afraid to shaft its own customers by obsoleting its previous hardware (6502 -> 68000 -> PPC -> x86, OS9 -> OSX) because the change in the long run is better then piling hack upon hack.
Apple still sucks -- they just suck less then Microsoft.
> the hardware specs are crippled to 1GB RAM and 160GB hdd.
Eh? What are you talking about, Willis?
I use an Acer Aspire One to play Diablo 2 LOD on. With Adobe Reader, Rotate Page Left (Ctrl-Shift-Minus), Full Screen Toggle (Ctrl-L), it makes a good eBook reader. I even have Dev Studio Express and ToroiseSVN installed on it as a spare dev machine.
Amazon sells a _ 9-cell _ battery, and a spare battery charger, for $70 and $10 respectively. With Fry's now selling the Windows version for $300, I'm almost tempted to pick another one.
I haven't seen any laptops that inexpensive, portable and that lasts for 8 hours of use.
> So breaking the law is OK as long as it's for a article,
1. You're assuming illegal == immoral.
2. Go live in a country that doesn't respect Freedom of Speech. It is your moral duty to dis-obey bad civil laws, until such time they are appealed. Copyright is based on greed, and as such, is immoral. Thankfully its time is over.
> Do you see farms in Siberia and Canada? No?
Mr. Ignorance, meet Mr. Blind.
They grow wheat and other grains in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Here let me wikipedia it for you: breadbasket.
Hush. The sheeple are too stupid to understand Imaginary Property rights. Next they'll start getting the crazy idea that since they create and gave rights to the government, that the government exists to serve them.
--
Every government & civilization eventually collapses - thankfully.
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:296
> As the parent poster is probably well-aware ...
Actually I wasn't - thx for the info!
Please mod parent up.
http://imgur.com/12GEE.png
> We don't need to repeat the formation of a star, the equations and basic physics that define what happens are unchanging
That's a fallacy due to
a) assumptions, and
b) Science is vastly incomplete;
namely time, time, and time again we see things that we don't expect.
Which is still only theoretical at best - which is only 1/2 of knowledge.
You can read all the books you want on a topic, but you still won't truly "know" until you do.
> The best lossless encoders ... manage to reduce filesize by 30-50%
30%?? What CD(s) are these? FLAC does around ~50% on everything I've thrown at it.
> If it isn't repeatable, it isn't science.
Let me know when you can repeat the formation of star, or the universe. Science only uses repeatability as sufficient, not necessary condition. Just because you can't repeat something, doesn't mean it isn't worth studying.
Windows NT. Oh wait, that wasn't mentioned... ;-)
And in the real world, not everyone has an infinite budget, nor care to waste money for negligible gains.
> After all CO2 is not a pollutant ...
How the fuck is CO2 a pollutant when plants _breathe_ it in???
Actually there is a simpler explanation...
"All Fear is based on Ignorance."
Man's greatest problem is that he, is for the most part, completely ignorant of higher reality.
--
How do you even expect to understand Life if you don't even understand what happens after Death?