I mean, to send this guy all that junk mail... I thought my fellow slashdotters were more mature than that. I mean, nobody deserves to be harassed. Spam, be it junk snail OR e-mail, is annoying and resource consuming.
I've never seen a XBox anywhere with a Blue Screen of Death. In fact, I'm not sure it can blue screen. It does have a green error screen normally realted to disc errors, though.
I've seen PS2s and GCs do the same thing. I've bought PC games that were scratched out of the box and failed to install, too. I've also seen PCs, PSOnes, Dreamcasts, and even DVD players overheat.
Your statement, while funny, is really just FUD. The XBox isn't any more crash-prone than any of the other consoles. It's certainly less crash prone than any computer system being used for games, and that includes both Linux and Mac systems. (Mac fanatics, yes, I've seen your precious Macs crash.)
Could be. Or maybe you've already formulated a negative opinion and haven't tried to truely become acustomed to the great benefits offered by gamepads.
The PS2, GC, and XBox controller S are all three very excellent controllers.
Admittingly, the PS2 is probably the most versitile, though it suffers from a slightly less tactile responsiveness that I find in the other two. Still, it does sit as a happy medium between the Xbox and GC controllers and thus is probably better suited for the a wider range of games. It's also the best for fighting games.
The XBox controller works GREAT for driving games. It's not so hot for platformers, but it makes up for that by being by far the best of all three for first person shooters. I would dare say that using an Xbox controller instead of a Keyboard and Mouse for most first person shooters is nearly a fair trade.
The Gamecube controller is slightly cramped for me, but it's still quite usable. For some games, it works really, really well. Metroid Prime feels natural on it once you get used to the fact that Metroid isn't like most first person shooters. Games with simpler control schemes and more focus on quick reactions (Mario Sunshine, and probably Zelda as well) definately do well with the Gamecube controller. I guess one could say that games requiring quick reflexes and rapid button mashing will do best with the Gamecube controller. I could see games with more complex controlls lacking on it, though, simply because the X Y and Z buttons don't lend themselves to the same quick response that A, B, C, L and R do.
Yes, I do have all three systems. Yes, I play them all quit a bit. It didn't take me long to realize that all three systems definately have different types of games that work well with their different controllers. My personal favorite system overall is the cube, but I would definately say for most things I prefer the PS2 controller.
If you hate the XBox or GC controller, fortunately adapters exist to let you use a PS2 with either of those systems. I've found that buying a 2nd controller for each system and 2 adapters each for the XBox and GC allows one to have 4 controllers for both systems without having to buy an outrageous number of controllers. You don't have worry about trading off the "feel" of those system's native controllers since most games you'll be using them with are multiplayer and work well with the PS2 controller anyway.
And if this sounds like too much work...
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Old Age Simulator
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· Score: 5, Funny
If using this sounds like too much work, you can just put it off and eventually it will all sort it's self out in the end.
I'll just log off. Screw it. I've had many dealings with all of the possible ISPs in my area, and they all blow goat cheese. All of them. They have problems for which no excuses exist. Their employees are incompetent, their service sucks, and they bold face lie to customers.
I joined up with Telocity, went through the DirectTV change over, and have had no real problems with this service since day one (not counting minor very short down-times). I've dealt with all of the others in my area while setting up for friends and family, and had a second DSL line in this house through Bellsouth that was LITERALLY offline more than it was online.
I can do without until someone that doesn't suck comes along. I just hope Speakeasy becomes available in my area.
I guess I'll be logging off for good. I've used every available provider in my area, either first hand or second hand and I promise you NONE of them have anything near the service of DirectTVDSL/Telocity.
In fact, in this town there were only two classes of provider. All of them that suck (all of them), and Telocity which didn't.
Static IP, no PPPoe bullshit, 256k uplink (384 if you're lucky), fixed price, and they let you do whatever you want.
I've run my web-server off of their service for over a year now, and I can count the number of times my connection has failed on one hand.
I literally would rather go without an internet connection than use the alternatives available to me. And that's sad but it's true.
what would happen if the next Einstein comes along and demonstrates that cold fusion is possible, clean and safe... but is sponsored by Exxon?
Obviously, Exxon would then shift their focus to Cold Fusion, lock everone out of the industry via way of patents and bs intellectual property, and they would pretty much have a monopoly on energy production in the end.
Dispite what most people think the oil industries AREN'T out to kill all other forms of energy production. They just want to make sure that by the time the oil DOES run out they are the ones that own the new source.
The cool thing about digital photography is that all you really have to do is a flyby. You can stop, zoom, and process the captured video images afterwards.
Also, all this thing has to do is broadcast a live video transmission. Recording it can be done remotely, so you don't have to worry about either recovering the device, or taking up weight with memory or recording media. Simply fly in as far as the power source will allow then either recover the device later or hope the images you have are worth the cost of losing it.
ME: It is true that the data is written from the outside in.
STRATJAKT: but the xbox doesn't read inside out
Am I missing something here?
If it's NOT reading from the outer edges, and it's not reading form the inner edge, where DOES it read the data from? I've seen printed material that says it reads from the outer most edges for speed advantages. It may have been in err, I won't argue with that possibility.
Even the link you provided clearly says the TOC is written in such a way that it misleads the drive about the amount of data on the disc. If I remember correctly the Lead-In is on the inner most edge. The lead-in contains the Table of Contents which extends to 50 mm from center on a regular CD (as per the redbook spec). After the lead in, is the data area, but it doesn't have to extend immediately.
I have read both in print and online that the data area was stored outside of the area laid out by the TOC to make copying harder as it makes it appear as if there is less data on the disc than there really is.
Re:I'm waiting for someone to build a homebrew X-B
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Building Consoles For Fun
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· Score: 3, Informative
Actually, being written in Reverse Order does not automatically mean that the drive "Spins in reverse".
It is true that the data is written from the outside in. This is done for the said reasons of giving the XBox a speed advantage.
The Gamecube doesn't need such advantages since the proprietary DVD based mini-disc of the Gamecube has a fairly fast seek time AND transfer rate. Of the three systems (I have all three) the Gamecube load times are the fastest by a considerable amount.
As for the XBox's unified memory architecture, it's not something games have to "make use of". It's just the way the system works. I'll agree, a huge percentage of XBox games are shovelware from either the PC or the PS2, but I promise you that Halo on a PC of equal system specs to that of an Xbox is going to run like shit even if it's a PC specific port.
I'm aware of the work being done in XBox emulation, and I follow it very closely. That's why I know it's been harder than anybody initially thought. I never claimed it was impossible or that it wouldn't be done. It will, however, take more than just a little bit of software trickery.
Whether or not the DVD's can be force-read off of a standard PC DVD rom drive through direct hardware hitting is yet to be determined, but things aren't looking good.
On a side note, it is nice to see XBox controllers finally being used on the PC. See this link if interested.
Re:I'm waiting for someone to build a homebrew X-B
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Building Consoles For Fun
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· Score: 5, Informative
From what I've read, the X-box is nothing more than a PIII PC with some mods to make it "different".
Some very serious mods to make it different. For starters, it has little to no OS overhead, it's memory structure is unified and more efficient than a PC's and it doesn't waste memory managing memory since all of it's ram is dedicated to the single application (game) that is running.
If this has already been done, please post links.
Just do a search for XBox emulation. It hasn't been done, and the primary reason is that the XBox game discs are written in reverse order from regular DVDs. This gives the advantage of speeding up read access because the data is read from the outside in, but also it prevents piracy.
There are a whole slew of other reasons why the XBos isn't just a PC, and why a PC can't really just magically be turned into an Xbox without some serious software trickery. I once thought it would be possible, but after looking into it I realized it's going to be a little harder than anybody initially thought....
Now -- what I -- WOULD -- love to see is a project very closely resembling the Indreama, put together by someone who really knows a whole lot about video game consoles, and willing to take a risk on a different business model than has traditionally been used by the video game industry.
Hmm. Maybe I should post my ideas in my journal....
While that is funny, I don't think anybody who has ever used an AmigaOS back while it was still reasonably modern would ever be able to honestly complain about it's multitasking capabilities.
It was quite an efficient system. I personally ran a 10 line BBS off of a single 28 mhz computer, and it was often packed full of users that were doing a combination of playing games, chatting, uploading or downloading. The single system was running the BBS software, any of the online program files for the users were running, and hosting a very large mud game. It also had FidoNet feeds and was very frequently tossing large message packages and network mail. The system never slowed down and had months of uptime only interupted by power failures. Not bad for 28mhz and 16 megs of ram.
I have been debating buying a new PPC system to run MorphOS and or the new AmigaOS on. Not as a main system, of course, but as a neat toy to poke around with. I already run several other operating systems, and I hate them all equally. I can name less reasons not to toy with new operating systems than I can to remain exclusive to the ones I'm already using.
It's not like my other computesr are going to get jealous if I use another OS.
Well, they may be geeks, but there are non-geek diehard gamers, as odd as that's going to sound. Well, perhaps geeks in denial, whatever the case may be.
I personally LOVE real time. I'd rather have a good reflex test mixed in with a bit of strategy and a huge amount of combat variety much more so than the really shitty turn based combat that's so common in console RPGs these days.
On the other hand, even though the interface for Neverwinter Nights appears to be real-time, it's truely not since it's just a point and click battle. And then on the far extreme other side we have Diablo II's interface which doesn't leave much for either technique or strategy, and amounts to nothing much more than being able to slam potions, level up, and equip the most powerful weapons.
I think what it boils down to is that there isn't a perfect battle systems in ANY RPG yet, and with nobody willing to invent new ways of doing things, it may be a while yet still.
Most professional DJs (e.g. those with a club residency) don't buy the music.
You know, you get some, and you buy some. I've found that a large percentage of the "given" stuff isn't worth a crap. They're trying to promote a lot of up and coming artists and a lot of them won't ever be up.
Yes, there are a lot of DJ shows that I do agree aren't quite really being a DJ. They are nothing more than being a jukebox. Some shows require more work than others, and that's why some shows simply charge more.
If you're only going to be paying $100 for a night, don't expect anybody to be coming and doing any live mixing at all. Instead, you can expect some pre-mixed stuff and a few CDs of whatever type of music you happen to want played.
On the other hand, if you want lights, requested mixing, and a bunch of other stuff, well, that can be done too but the gig is going to cost a whole hell of a lot more.
You can say waht you want about the DJ business, but it is a business and ultimately it's about making money. As I said before, the business has been quite profitable so they're doing something right. They're profiting AND using more expensive equipment. I know some vinyl DJs that aren't doing that well.
(I would tell a little story about one very popular DJ in my area that I know who loves vinyl, tried to move to MP3s here lately, but was too stupid to figure out how to do it so he gave up... but I'll keep the details of that whole thing to myself...)
Right, the ones I know with the low tech equipments don't get the really big contracts with the bigger, higher profit clubs.
That's the very same scene I'm talking about. You're under the same misconception that all private DJs work on low margins and can't afford higher quality equipment, more complex lighting equipment, and full trailers for large scale productions. I assure you, there is a HUGE difference in the show you get from a $50 per night DJ vs a $500 per night. I've seen shows that go for $1100 for 6 hours. Trust me, you get a whole hell of a lot for that $1100.
(and whoever modded down my higher parent post as over-rated is a dickless little shit-bag.)
It's just not the same scratching with a mouse on a screen.
Actually, there are CD decks designed for DJs that have large rotary dials on them that you can use to similate scratches, and using various beat timers and sliders you can do a whole lot of things perfectly (without as much talent) using CDs.
So that "Matter of Time" you said it would take before hardware designers come up with the proper interface has already come and gone -- but at seveal thousands of dollars for a single CD deck, they're out of reach of most trunk-based DJs that do the dance clubs and private parties.
Actually, few DJs use records unless it's just for show (or they don't want to figure out the new high-tech equipment because they're not real bright...). Many, if not most professional DJs use purely digital equipment, to include digitally controlled lighting. It takes a bit more to learn the higher tech equipment, and of course it costs a whole lot more money but it's worth it in the end.
This is something I think I know a little bit about. For years the family business has been a DJ/Karaokee business, and quite a profitable one, too. The fact that I also keep in close contact with other DJs and KJs in the area also helps me keep an eye on what other people are doing. MP3s, MCGs, and CDs played back through professional decks occupy almost all of the DJ scene. I don't DJ personally, but I do help maintain the equipment which can be a job all it's own.
With high end CD decks, it's possible to do anything that can be done with a record, and in fact it can be done better. Can it be done cheaper, easier, and without figuring out a bunch of controls with vinyl? Sure it can. But with a CD you won't be damaging your source material when you use it and you can also do some pre-production mixing that is beat-perfect without the risk of live-show error (which is both bad for your reputation and embarassing.)
If you want the best in professional CD decks, there's no shortage of sources, but if you want some high quality MP3 and MCG players, I recommend taking a look at these guys. They can supply you with both the hardware and legal copies of karaokee songs for use in your shows. As for music, it's possible to simply rip the music you paid for the proper way, assuming you're doing it legal. (Of course you ARE, aren't you?)
If you want to keep up to speed with what's going on in the DJ Business, also try the DJ magazines...
If video game players on the PC were such a minitor, I doubt companies would have such high-end lines of gamer PCs. Alienware, for one, caters exclusively to the gamer crowd. Nvidia didn't grow from crap to the top video card chipset designer in just a few short years because nobody was playing games.
Like it or not, video games ARE the driving force behind PC sales. If they weren't, we'd all be using 486's to write our e-mails and browse the web.
And even if games were secondary, nobody is going to buy a system that isn't going to play games.
...they'll start selling the idle time on their customers computers to other customers.
After all, that Pentium IV has plenty of power left over since it's probably only running an e-mail app and web-broswer (and a virus or two, and some spyware, and probably Kazaa and WinMX...)
i feel the way this pirating community sets its rules and standards is fascinating.
Yes, indeed. Though, as I'm sure you know it's not new. Software pirate crews have been doing this sort of thing for ages. Before the internet and web-sites, though, it was large 0-10 day warez BBSs and the like.
The demo scene was/is very similar though not nearly as active as it was back in the day.
once that starts to dwindle then there OS monopoly is up for grabs.
Yeah! Because the moment they lose their Office Monopoly (which is illusionary anyway, but...) games will just MAGICALLY APPEAR on the Linux platform, causing a huge wave of gamers to switch to Linux.
You should throw out anything relating to accidents.
The logic stands something like this. Guns are dangerous. This is a given. Cars are dangerous. Being drunk is dangerous. Working is dangerous. Even sex is dangerous.
Life is full of dangers and those dangers can produce some pretty nasty side effects. When possible, risks to dangers should be reduced through the use of various safty precautions and proper education. But I think in very few cases should something immediately be outlawed because it is dangerous. If that were the case we would all be walking, none of us would have jobs, and we wouldn't be getting laid. Since someone is more likely to die in any number of OTHER types of accidents besides the mishandling of a firearm, I personally don't see how it could be rational to use acidental shootings in the arguements against guns.
When it comes to murder, anyone who intends to kill another person could just as easily beat them to death, stab them, poison them, suffocate them, strangle them, run them over, or push them into a dangerous situation (traffic, heavy machinery, pit of snakes/spikes, cage of wild animals, etc) so that leaves impulse shootings as one of the few countable dangers that remain when you tally up the reasons to outlaw guns. Since those situations when considered alone don't appear to be that much of a threat, one could say that guns aren't exactly a threat.
On the other hand, if you're going to use any possible danger that comes with firearms as an argument against them, then I think we should outlaw children. Like murders they can be planned or unplanned. They cost way more than weapons to both the owners and the rest of society. They are bad for the environment. They are becoming increasingly unpredictable and some of their owners are having a hard time controlling them. Now days they've even been known to carry guns. To top it all off, they grow up to be adult humans. Adult humans are one of the most lethal and destructive forces to ever pollute the surface of the planet.
Slashdot Mirror
I mean, to send this guy all that junk mail... I thought my fellow slashdotters were more mature than that. I mean, nobody deserves to be harassed. Spam, be it junk snail OR e-mail, is annoying and resource consuming.
Besides what did this guy ever do to... er... oh.
I've never seen a XBox anywhere with a Blue Screen of Death. In fact, I'm not sure it can blue screen. It does have a green error screen normally realted to disc errors, though.
I've seen PS2s and GCs do the same thing. I've bought PC games that were scratched out of the box and failed to install, too. I've also seen PCs, PSOnes, Dreamcasts, and even DVD players overheat.
Your statement, while funny, is really just FUD. The XBox isn't any more crash-prone than any of the other consoles. It's certainly less crash prone than any computer system being used for games, and that includes both Linux and Mac systems. (Mac fanatics, yes, I've seen your precious Macs crash.)
Maybe I'm just old.
Could be. Or maybe you've already formulated a negative opinion and haven't tried to truely become acustomed to the great benefits offered by gamepads.
The PS2, GC, and XBox controller S are all three very excellent controllers.
Admittingly, the PS2 is probably the most versitile, though it suffers from a slightly less tactile responsiveness that I find in the other two. Still, it does sit as a happy medium between the Xbox and GC controllers and thus is probably better suited for the a wider range of games. It's also the best for fighting games.
The XBox controller works GREAT for driving games. It's not so hot for platformers, but it makes up for that by being by far the best of all three for first person shooters. I would dare say that using an Xbox controller instead of a Keyboard and Mouse for most first person shooters is nearly a fair trade.
The Gamecube controller is slightly cramped for me, but it's still quite usable. For some games, it works really, really well. Metroid Prime feels natural on it once you get used to the fact that Metroid isn't like most first person shooters. Games with simpler control schemes and more focus on quick reactions (Mario Sunshine, and probably Zelda as well) definately do well with the Gamecube controller. I guess one could say that games requiring quick reflexes and rapid button mashing will do best with the Gamecube controller. I could see games with more complex controlls lacking on it, though, simply because the X Y and Z buttons don't lend themselves to the same quick response that A, B, C, L and R do.
Yes, I do have all three systems. Yes, I play them all quit a bit. It didn't take me long to realize that all three systems definately have different types of games that work well with their different controllers. My personal favorite system overall is the cube, but I would definately say for most things I prefer the PS2 controller.
If you hate the XBox or GC controller, fortunately adapters exist to let you use a PS2 with either of those systems. I've found that buying a 2nd controller for each system and 2 adapters each for the XBox and GC allows one to have 4 controllers for both systems without having to buy an outrageous number of controllers. You don't have worry about trading off the "feel" of those system's native controllers since most games you'll be using them with are multiplayer and work well with the PS2 controller anyway.
If using this sounds like too much work, you can just put it off and eventually it will all sort it's self out in the end.
I'll just log off. Screw it. I've had many dealings with all of the possible ISPs in my area, and they all blow goat cheese. All of them. They have problems for which no excuses exist. Their employees are incompetent, their service sucks, and they bold face lie to customers.
I joined up with Telocity, went through the DirectTV change over, and have had no real problems with this service since day one (not counting minor very short down-times). I've dealt with all of the others in my area while setting up for friends and family, and had a second DSL line in this house through Bellsouth that was LITERALLY offline more than it was online.
I can do without until someone that doesn't suck comes along. I just hope Speakeasy becomes available in my area.
I guess I'll be logging off for good. I've used every available provider in my area, either first hand or second hand and I promise you NONE of them have anything near the service of DirectTVDSL/Telocity.
In fact, in this town there were only two classes of provider. All of them that suck (all of them), and Telocity which didn't.
Static IP, no PPPoe bullshit, 256k uplink (384 if you're lucky), fixed price, and they let you do whatever you want.
I've run my web-server off of their service for over a year now, and I can count the number of times my connection has failed on one hand.
I literally would rather go without an internet connection than use the alternatives available to me. And that's sad but it's true.
what would happen if the next Einstein comes along and demonstrates that cold fusion is possible, clean and safe... but is sponsored by Exxon?
Obviously, Exxon would then shift their focus to Cold Fusion, lock everone out of the industry via way of patents and bs intellectual property, and they would pretty much have a monopoly on energy production in the end.
Dispite what most people think the oil industries AREN'T out to kill all other forms of energy production. They just want to make sure that by the time the oil DOES run out they are the ones that own the new source.
The cool thing about digital photography is that all you really have to do is a flyby. You can stop, zoom, and process the captured video images afterwards.
Also, all this thing has to do is broadcast a live video transmission. Recording it can be done remotely, so you don't have to worry about either recovering the device, or taking up weight with memory or recording media. Simply fly in as far as the power source will allow then either recover the device later or hope the images you have are worth the cost of losing it.
ME: It is true that the data is written from the outside in.
STRATJAKT: but the xbox doesn't read inside out
Am I missing something here?
If it's NOT reading from the outer edges, and it's not reading form the inner edge, where DOES it read the data from? I've seen printed material that says it reads from the outer most edges for speed advantages. It may have been in err, I won't argue with that possibility.
Even the link you provided clearly says the TOC is written in such a way that it misleads the drive about the amount of data on the disc. If I remember correctly the Lead-In is on the inner most edge. The lead-in contains the Table of Contents which extends to 50 mm from center on a regular CD (as per the redbook spec). After the lead in, is the data area, but it doesn't have to extend immediately.
I have read both in print and online that the data area was stored outside of the area laid out by the TOC to make copying harder as it makes it appear as if there is less data on the disc than there really is.
Actually, being written in Reverse Order does not automatically mean that the drive "Spins in reverse".
It is true that the data is written from the outside in. This is done for the said reasons of giving the XBox a speed advantage.
The Gamecube doesn't need such advantages since the proprietary DVD based mini-disc of the Gamecube has a fairly fast seek time AND transfer rate. Of the three systems (I have all three) the Gamecube load times are the fastest by a considerable amount.
As for the XBox's unified memory architecture, it's not something games have to "make use of". It's just the way the system works. I'll agree, a huge percentage of XBox games are shovelware from either the PC or the PS2, but I promise you that Halo on a PC of equal system specs to that of an Xbox is going to run like shit even if it's a PC specific port.
I'm aware of the work being done in XBox emulation, and I follow it very closely. That's why I know it's been harder than anybody initially thought. I never claimed it was impossible or that it wouldn't be done. It will, however, take more than just a little bit of software trickery.
Whether or not the DVD's can be force-read off of a standard PC DVD rom drive through direct hardware hitting is yet to be determined, but things aren't looking good.
On a side note, it is nice to see XBox controllers finally being used on the PC. See this link if interested.
From what I've read, the X-box is nothing more than a PIII PC with some mods to make it "different".
...
Some very serious mods to make it different. For starters, it has little to no OS overhead, it's memory structure is unified and more efficient than a PC's and it doesn't waste memory managing memory since all of it's ram is dedicated to the single application (game) that is running.
If this has already been done, please post links.
Just do a search for XBox emulation. It hasn't been done, and the primary reason is that the XBox game discs are written in reverse order from regular DVDs. This gives the advantage of speeding up read access because the data is read from the outside in, but also it prevents piracy.
There are a whole slew of other reasons why the XBos isn't just a PC, and why a PC can't really just magically be turned into an Xbox without some serious software trickery. I once thought it would be possible, but after looking into it I realized it's going to be a little harder than anybody initially thought.
Now -- what I -- WOULD -- love to see is a project very closely resembling the Indreama, put together by someone who really knows a whole lot about video game consoles, and willing to take a risk on a different business model than has traditionally been used by the video game industry.
Hmm. Maybe I should post my ideas in my journal....
Does that mean that they owe Janie Porche thanks for saving it?
While that is funny, I don't think anybody who has ever used an AmigaOS back while it was still reasonably modern would ever be able to honestly complain about it's multitasking capabilities.
It was quite an efficient system. I personally ran a 10 line BBS off of a single 28 mhz computer, and it was often packed full of users that were doing a combination of playing games, chatting, uploading or downloading. The single system was running the BBS software, any of the online program files for the users were running, and hosting a very large mud game. It also had FidoNet feeds and was very frequently tossing large message packages and network mail. The system never slowed down and had months of uptime only interupted by power failures. Not bad for 28mhz and 16 megs of ram.
I have been debating buying a new PPC system to run MorphOS and or the new AmigaOS on. Not as a main system, of course, but as a neat toy to poke around with. I already run several other operating systems, and I hate them all equally. I can name less reasons not to toy with new operating systems than I can to remain exclusive to the ones I'm already using.
It's not like my other computesr are going to get jealous if I use another OS.
Sony certainly isn't afraid of Palm
Why should they? They forked down a good chunk of change to own some portion of Palm's OS developement side.
Well, they may be geeks, but there are non-geek diehard gamers, as odd as that's going to sound. Well, perhaps geeks in denial, whatever the case may be.
I personally LOVE real time. I'd rather have a good reflex test mixed in with a bit of strategy and a huge amount of combat variety much more so than the really shitty turn based combat that's so common in console RPGs these days.
On the other hand, even though the interface for Neverwinter Nights appears to be real-time, it's truely not since it's just a point and click battle. And then on the far extreme other side we have Diablo II's interface which doesn't leave much for either technique or strategy, and amounts to nothing much more than being able to slam potions, level up, and equip the most powerful weapons.
I think what it boils down to is that there isn't a perfect battle systems in ANY RPG yet, and with nobody willing to invent new ways of doing things, it may be a while yet still.
Again?
Most professional DJs (e.g. those with a club residency) don't buy the music.
You know, you get some, and you buy some. I've found that a large percentage of the "given" stuff isn't worth a crap. They're trying to promote a lot of up and coming artists and a lot of them won't ever be up.
Yes, there are a lot of DJ shows that I do agree aren't quite really being a DJ. They are nothing more than being a jukebox. Some shows require more work than others, and that's why some shows simply charge more.
If you're only going to be paying $100 for a night, don't expect anybody to be coming and doing any live mixing at all. Instead, you can expect some pre-mixed stuff and a few CDs of whatever type of music you happen to want played.
On the other hand, if you want lights, requested mixing, and a bunch of other stuff, well, that can be done too but the gig is going to cost a whole hell of a lot more.
You can say waht you want about the DJ business, but it is a business and ultimately it's about making money. As I said before, the business has been quite profitable so they're doing something right. They're profiting AND using more expensive equipment. I know some vinyl DJs that aren't doing that well.
(I would tell a little story about one very popular DJ in my area that I know who loves vinyl, tried to move to MP3s here lately, but was too stupid to figure out how to do it so he gave up... but I'll keep the details of that whole thing to myself...)
Right, the ones I know with the low tech equipments don't get the really big contracts with the bigger, higher profit clubs.
That's the very same scene I'm talking about. You're under the same misconception that all private DJs work on low margins and can't afford higher quality equipment, more complex lighting equipment, and full trailers for large scale productions. I assure you, there is a HUGE difference in the show you get from a $50 per night DJ vs a $500 per night. I've seen shows that go for $1100 for 6 hours. Trust me, you get a whole hell of a lot for that $1100.
(and whoever modded down my higher parent post as over-rated is a dickless little shit-bag.)
It's just not the same scratching with a mouse on a screen.
Actually, there are CD decks designed for DJs that have large rotary dials on them that you can use to similate scratches, and using various beat timers and sliders you can do a whole lot of things perfectly (without as much talent) using CDs.
So that "Matter of Time" you said it would take before hardware designers come up with the proper interface has already come and gone -- but at seveal thousands of dollars for a single CD deck, they're out of reach of most trunk-based DJs that do the dance clubs and private parties.
Actually, few DJs use records unless it's just for show (or they don't want to figure out the new high-tech equipment because they're not real bright...). Many, if not most professional DJs use purely digital equipment, to include digitally controlled lighting. It takes a bit more to learn the higher tech equipment, and of course it costs a whole lot more money but it's worth it in the end.
This is something I think I know a little bit about. For years the family business has been a DJ/Karaokee business, and quite a profitable one, too. The fact that I also keep in close contact with other DJs and KJs in the area also helps me keep an eye on what other people are doing. MP3s, MCGs, and CDs played back through professional decks occupy almost all of the DJ scene. I don't DJ personally, but I do help maintain the equipment which can be a job all it's own.
With high end CD decks, it's possible to do anything that can be done with a record, and in fact it can be done better. Can it be done cheaper, easier, and without figuring out a bunch of controls with vinyl? Sure it can. But with a CD you won't be damaging your source material when you use it and you can also do some pre-production mixing that is beat-perfect without the risk of live-show error (which is both bad for your reputation and embarassing.)
If you want the best in professional CD decks, there's no shortage of sources, but if you want some high quality MP3 and MCG players, I recommend taking a look at these guys. They can supply you with both the hardware and legal copies of karaokee songs for use in your shows. As for music, it's possible to simply rip the music you paid for the proper way, assuming you're doing it legal. (Of course you ARE, aren't you?)
If you want to keep up to speed with what's going on in the DJ Business, also try the DJ magazines...
You would love to believe that, wouldn't you?
If video game players on the PC were such a minitor, I doubt companies would have such high-end lines of gamer PCs. Alienware, for one, caters exclusively to the gamer crowd. Nvidia didn't grow from crap to the top video card chipset designer in just a few short years because nobody was playing games.
Like it or not, video games ARE the driving force behind PC sales. If they weren't, we'd all be using 486's to write our e-mails and browse the web.
And even if games were secondary, nobody is going to buy a system that isn't going to play games.
...they'll start selling the idle time on their customers computers to other customers.
After all, that Pentium IV has plenty of power left over since it's probably only running an e-mail app and web-broswer (and a virus or two, and some spyware, and probably Kazaa and WinMX...)
i feel the way this pirating community sets its rules and standards is fascinating.
Yes, indeed. Though, as I'm sure you know it's not new. Software pirate crews have been doing this sort of thing for ages. Before the internet and web-sites, though, it was large 0-10 day warez BBSs and the like.
The demo scene was/is very similar though not nearly as active as it was back in the day.
once that starts to dwindle then there OS monopoly is up for grabs.
Yeah! Because the moment they lose their Office Monopoly (which is illusionary anyway, but...) games will just MAGICALLY APPEAR on the Linux platform, causing a huge wave of gamers to switch to Linux.
You should throw out anything relating to accidents.
The logic stands something like this. Guns are dangerous. This is a given. Cars are dangerous. Being drunk is dangerous. Working is dangerous. Even sex is dangerous.
Life is full of dangers and those dangers can produce some pretty nasty side effects. When possible, risks to dangers should be reduced through the use of various safty precautions and proper education. But I think in very few cases should something immediately be outlawed because it is dangerous. If that were the case we would all be walking, none of us would have jobs, and we wouldn't be getting laid. Since someone is more likely to die in any number of OTHER types of accidents besides the mishandling of a firearm, I personally don't see how it could be rational to use acidental shootings in the arguements against guns.
When it comes to murder, anyone who intends to kill another person could just as easily beat them to death, stab them, poison them, suffocate them, strangle them, run them over, or push them into a dangerous situation (traffic, heavy machinery, pit of snakes/spikes, cage of wild animals, etc) so that leaves impulse shootings as one of the few countable dangers that remain when you tally up the reasons to outlaw guns. Since those situations when considered alone don't appear to be that much of a threat, one could say that guns aren't exactly a threat.
On the other hand, if you're going to use any possible danger that comes with firearms as an argument against them, then I think we should outlaw children. Like murders they can be planned or unplanned. They cost way more than weapons to both the owners and the rest of society. They are bad for the environment. They are becoming increasingly unpredictable and some of their owners are having a hard time controlling them. Now days they've even been known to carry guns. To top it all off, they grow up to be adult humans. Adult humans are one of the most lethal and destructive forces to ever pollute the surface of the planet.