I don't know how scientific my technique is, but it's practical.:)
Place both of your fingertips so that you feel the "bottom" of your rib cage, about 2 inches above either side of your belly button. Then move your fingers down about an inch, and then finally push in about an inch. Basically, you're pushing on your diaphragm. Hold for about 30 seconds. (Basically two hiccup cycles.)
I discovered it after learning musicians should be breathing from their diaphragm. Has worked like a charm over the many years.
> And it ain't the number of PS[1|2] sold, it is the number of games sold that is so staggering. It's both actually. I'm amazed at the amount of hardware sold, and even more amazed at the number of games sold !
> What is the track to get into PS development? The inexpensive way ($200), is the PS2 Linux Kit The expensive way ($20k+), is the TOOL T10K, along with Metrowerks CodeWarrior PS2, or SN Systems ProDG.
> Is there a PC based emulator that you can use for design? With 7 CPU's in the PS2, don't hold your breath waiting for an emulator anytime soon!
> Or is it something reserved for good sized software houses that requires you to learn on the Job? Usually it will be on the job, unless you had prior experience with the PS1. (Mostly because you won't have access to all the docs and newsgroups, unless you are a professional licensed developer.)
> realizing that OpenGL, while not the lib of choice for PC gaming, was used else where. A little searching showed that, IIRC, it is the basis of PS/2 development.
I'm not sure where you're getting your info, but it definitely isn't true. (If you have access to the offical newsgroup, a quick scan of sce.*.gs newsgroups would show this.)
While there is 'ps2gl' available for the PS2, I don't know of any commercial games that shipped with it (mainly because some features will *never* be supported in hardware, aka proper stencil support.) The popular choices are: their own extremely bare-metal GIF packet handling, use the low-level sceGs*() calls (which *finally* has the source provided), or use a middleware solution, such as RenderWare or NetImmerse.
> Is it used in Nintendo? No, but the API is very much inspired by OpenGL.
> Remember, the console market alone is as Big as the Movie industry...supposedly. Actually it's bigger. Sony has sold ~ 100 million PS1's, and > 33 million PS2.
> Perf vs. Price is good, when you don't have a video card to begin with. Actually, I would argue that the Perf vs Price makes sense if you're video card is performance is less then a GeForce 3. A GeForce 3, 4, or RadeOn is the way to go.
> When you already have a video card, you have to figure out what your Improved Perf. vs. Price ratio will be. Yes, I concur. An incremental upgrade is a waste of money.
> In a case like that, the Radeon 9700 Pro would probably be an ideal investment, since (off-the-cuff calculation) it would offer the best added bang to the buck. Right, since you don't want to be nickeled-and-dimed in upgrades for a small gain in performance.
I would say, upgrading the video card every 2 years is a great way to get a good bang for the buck.
You may find Chapter 1 of "Designing Object-Oriented C++ Applications using The Booch Method", by Robert C. Martin, to be usefull as well. (The rest of the book is great, but focuses more on the interfaces and implementation of the design.)
> But if you're buying with an eye toward the future then you'd be smart to buy a DX9 compliant card, whether it's the ATI 9700 or GFFx. That or buy a $100 GF4 Ti4200 now and the 9700/Fx a year or so from now for $150ish.
Yes, I' of the same opinion. In case any one is curious, here's the Bang for the Buck ratios. (Yes, I know a straight linear equation is accurate, but it's "good enough.")
> I'm sorry, but somebody has brainwashed you into believing that a GUI is easier to use than the command-line.
You've never taken a UI class before have you? CLI's are *invisible interfaces*. Using a CLI means you need to use long term memory, whereas a GUI may allow one to use visual/spatial memory.
> If you look at the current state of TERRIBLE GUIs for these players, and compare it to the simplicity of mplayer's command-line, you'll see what I'm talking about.
No, it means those GUI programmers need to learn *how* to design an interface, whether the CLI or GUI is simple is irrelevent (and depends on the user)
> The idea of the +1 bonus was for mature, experienced Slashdot posters that have a history of quality posts to get their better comments modded up quickly so that people browsing with high thresholds see them quicker.
No shit, sherlock.
> Unfortunately, people like you and the parent post come along, think that karma/post scores/+1 bonuses are all part of a penis size contest, and ignore the fact the bonus is supposed to promote good content.
Unfortunately, you make the mistake of assuming I actually care about about karma! I've been capped for years. I'm just too lazy to turn off the +1 bonus.
If you don't like people "wasting" their +1, maybe you should *do* something about it -- like change your Preferences | Comments, so it doesn't show up.
> However, so many idiots (such as the parent poster, and yourself) have the +1 Bonus and always use it that it's become irrelevant.
What? Now you have to resort to name-calling? So much for the "mature, experienced Slashdot poster" you mentioned above. LOL.
> (And why did you leave the +1 bonus on your post? If used on silly little things like that you should turn it off. You only wrote 15 'words', for fuck's sake.)
Now I've seen it all! An AC complaining about a logged in user "potentially wasting" karma. Maybe the user has been capped and doesn't care.
> There are no new games that demand a card this instant.
Try these games at 1600x1200 @ 32-bit, and then tell me a new video card won't help.
- Battlefield 1942 - UT2K3 - Morrowind
Personally, if you just got a GeForce 3 or 4, then yeah, you won't see that much difference, except you'll be able to crank up the resolution with the newer cards. For people who have a GeForce 2 (and below) (like me), upgrading to a ATI 9700 Pro, or GeForcs FX *is* a big difference.
But you are correct -- Games requiring 64-bit and 128-bit framebuffers won't be out till next year (2004). I think that's the time to pick up the GeForce FX.
Slashdot Mirror
I don't know how scientific my technique is, but it's practical. :)
Place both of your fingertips so that you feel the "bottom" of your rib cage, about 2 inches above either side of your belly button. Then move your fingers down about an inch, and then finally push in about an inch. Basically, you're pushing on your diaphragm. Hold for about 30 seconds. (Basically two hiccup cycles.)
I discovered it after learning musicians should be breathing from their diaphragm. Has worked like a charm over the many years.
Cheers
5% of /. readers are getting laid... ... the other 95% wish they were!
> they can break that constraining 4GM limit built into Win32
Speaking of Win32, why hasn't there been much news about Win64 lately (especially this last year) ? When is Microsoft going to officially ship Win64?
Actually a friend told me to check half.com, ebay.com, an/or helpfindit.com.
What is this Overnet or eDonkey you mention?
If anyone knows where I can buy this old (but great) game --- please let me know !
> And it ain't the number of PS[1|2] sold, it is the number of games sold that is so staggering.
It's both actually. I'm amazed at the amount of hardware sold, and even more amazed at the number of games sold !
> What is the track to get into PS development?
The inexpensive way ($200), is the PS2 Linux Kit
The expensive way ($20k+), is the TOOL T10K, along with Metrowerks CodeWarrior PS2, or SN Systems ProDG.
You'll find this interview interesting.
> Is there a PC based emulator that you can use for design?
With 7 CPU's in the PS2, don't hold your breath waiting for an emulator anytime soon!
> Or is it something reserved for good sized software houses that requires you to learn on the Job?
Usually it will be on the job, unless you had prior experience with the PS1. (Mostly because you won't have access to all the docs and newsgroups, unless you are a professional licensed developer.)
Cheers
> Windows has OpenGL. The only reason I can see to use DirectX is if you want the functionality that DX9 gives you that is not available in OpenGL.
DX gives you sound, input, AND graphics. DX != OpenGL. D3D == OpenGL.
Don't forget about 3D Engines List which has a lot of source available for various home-brew 3D engines.
Cheers
> realizing that OpenGL, while not the lib of choice for PC gaming, was used else where. A little searching showed that, IIRC, it is the basis of PS/2 development.
I'm not sure where you're getting your info, but it definitely isn't true. (If you have access to the offical newsgroup, a quick scan of sce.*.gs newsgroups would show this.)
While there is 'ps2gl' available for the PS2, I don't know of any commercial games that shipped with it (mainly because some features will *never* be supported in hardware, aka proper stencil support.) The popular choices are: their own extremely bare-metal GIF packet handling, use the low-level sceGs*() calls (which *finally* has the source provided), or use a middleware solution, such as RenderWare or NetImmerse.
> Is it used in Nintendo?
No, but the API is very much inspired by OpenGL.
> Remember, the console market alone is as Big as the Movie industry...supposedly.
Actually it's bigger. Sony has sold ~ 100 million PS1's, and > 33 million PS2.
Cheers
> Perf vs. Price is good, when you don't have a video card to begin with.
Actually, I would argue that the Perf vs Price makes sense if you're video card is performance is less then a GeForce 3. A GeForce 3, 4, or RadeOn is the way to go.
> When you already have a video card, you have to figure out what your Improved Perf. vs. Price ratio will be.
Yes, I concur. An incremental upgrade is a waste of money.
> In a case like that, the Radeon 9700 Pro would probably be an ideal investment, since (off-the-cuff calculation) it would offer the best added bang to the buck.
Right, since you don't want to be nickeled-and-dimed in upgrades for a small gain in performance.
I would say, upgrading the video card every 2 years is a great way to get a good bang for the buck.
Cheers
Yeas, TDoET / POET is a *great* read.
You may find Chapter 1 of "Designing Object-Oriented C++ Applications using The Booch Method", by Robert C. Martin, to be usefull as well. (The rest of the book is great, but focuses more on the interfaces and implementation of the design.)
> But if you're buying with an eye toward the future then you'd be smart to buy a DX9 compliant card, whether it's the ATI 9700 or GFFx. That or buy a $100 GF4 Ti4200 now and the 9700/Fx a year or so from now for $150ish.
...Performance Price .. Perf / Price ... 15497 .... $225 ... 68.88 .. 13464 .... $216 ... 62.33 .. 12805 .... $187 ... 68.48 .. 12122 .... $112 .. 108.23 .. 10232 .... $206 ... 49.67 ... 8440 ..... $82 .. 102.93
Yes, I' of the same opinion. In case any one is curious, here's the Bang for the Buck ratios. (Yes, I know a straight linear equation is accurate, but it's "good enough.")
Performance from: Tom's Hardware VGA Charts - 3D Mark 2001 SE
Prices from: Price Watch - Video Cards
Video Card Name
Radeon 9700 Pro
GeForce 4 Ti4600
GeForce 4 Ti4400
GeForce 4 Ti4200
GeForce 3 Ti 500
GeForce 3 Ti 200
Cheers
--
People's morality is like water going down hill - it takes the shortest path to reach its goals
- Poho
> it still requires you to keep the CD in the drive every time you want to play a game.
Two words: Daemon Tools
> The government giveth and the government taketh away.
The government may create the laws & repel them, but the people still create the government.
It seems that if a product is "good enough" (price wise & technologically wise) it will become popular with the mass-market.
Remind's me of Richard Gabriel's Worse is Better essay.
Cheers
> NTFS is a pretty good filesystem with journaling,
That's only partially true -- it doesn't journal data, only meta-data.
> I'm sorry, but somebody has brainwashed you into believing that a GUI is easier to use than the command-line.
You've never taken a UI class before have you? CLI's are *invisible interfaces*. Using a CLI means you need to use long term memory, whereas a GUI may allow one to use visual/spatial memory.
> If you look at the current state of TERRIBLE GUIs for these players, and compare it to the simplicity of mplayer's command-line, you'll see what I'm talking about.
No, it means those GUI programmers need to learn *how* to design an interface, whether the CLI or GUI is simple is irrelevent (and depends on the user)
Cheers
> Because the government provides the environment that enables that transaction to take place, the common currency that it takes place with,
They provide the earth and the resources out of it??
What other animals have we extermanted?
> The idea of the +1 bonus was for mature, experienced Slashdot posters that have a history of quality posts to get their better comments modded up quickly so that people browsing with high thresholds see them quicker.
No shit, sherlock.
> Unfortunately, people like you and the parent post come along, think that karma/post scores/+1 bonuses are all part of a penis size contest, and ignore the fact the bonus is supposed to promote good content.
Unfortunately, you make the mistake of assuming I actually care about about karma! I've been capped for years. I'm just too lazy to turn off the +1 bonus.
If you don't like people "wasting" their +1, maybe you should *do* something about it -- like change your Preferences | Comments, so it doesn't show up.
> However, so many idiots (such as the parent poster, and yourself) have the +1 Bonus and always use it that it's become irrelevant.
What? Now you have to resort to name-calling? So much for the "mature, experienced Slashdot poster" you mentioned above. LOL.
I know, I know, don't feed the trolls...
Cheers
> (And why did you leave the +1 bonus on your post? If used on silly little things like that you should turn it off. You only wrote 15 'words', for fuck's sake.)
Now I've seen it all! An AC complaining about a logged in user "potentially wasting" karma. Maybe the user has been capped and doesn't care.
See subject.
Another reason, us developers have to support older video cards -- look at what the market is using ...
Half Life Hardware Survey
I believe it is 2 years old. If anyone can confirm the year of the survey, please post a follow up.
Cheers
Framebuffers are (finally) starting to use IEEE754/854 floats instead of ints. 4 Channels (RGBA) *32Bits/Flaot = 128 Bits.
These pictures show the difference between 32-bit and higher precision. Notice the lack of banding in the high precisions car images.
Floating Point Precision Color
Cheers
--
"Question Authority!"
"Says who?!"
- Anonymous
> There are no new games that demand a card this instant.
Try these games at 1600x1200 @ 32-bit, and then tell me a new video card won't help.
- Battlefield 1942
- UT2K3
- Morrowind
Personally, if you just got a GeForce 3 or 4, then yeah, you won't see that much difference, except you'll be able to crank up the resolution with the newer cards. For people who have a GeForce 2 (and below) (like me), upgrading to a ATI 9700 Pro, or GeForcs FX *is* a big difference.
But you are correct -- Games requiring 64-bit and 128-bit framebuffers won't be out till next year (2004). I think that's the time to pick up the GeForce FX.