I guarantee the HDMI cable will be sold for between 30 and 40 bucks.
I had to pay 60$CAD for the components cable for my Gamecube. And the store had to go through a import-specialized reseller to get it as it's only available in Japan (for some unknow reason).
You wouldn't believe how good Metroid Prime 2 looks in progressive mode via that component cable. On my Toshiba 36" CRT TV, anyway.
And the 'give us $25 more to unlock Quicktime Pro' is stupid, too.
To be fair, Quicktime Pro allows to export, re-encode, etc. I'm glad I paid for it because I import/convert things all the time.
The "stupid" thing about Quicktime is that you need the Pro version to view videos in full-screen. That feature is something that regular users need, not professionals.
It reminds me of when Rodney Dangerfield died. The Canadian show "This Hour has 22 minutes" (or was it "Royal Canadian Air Farce"? I always mix-up the two) talked about the fact that Rodney was dead and that he was known as the one with the "I can't get no respect" routine. They then went on and said something along the lines of "it reminds us of , who's comedy was appreciated by all. , you will be missed."
They paid tribute to Rodney by sort of not even paying tribute to him (talking about someone else instead), in the spirit of his "can't get no respect" routine. Some posts above did the same thing for Steve Irwin by using some of his usual sentences.
thats a good thing firewire is SLOWER than USB2.0.... 480mBit/sec vs 400mBit/sec (Comparable to ATA66)
Here we go... another ignorant anonymous coward spreading FUD.
On paper, USB 2.0 is faster than FireWire 400. In real life, USB 2.0 can't sustain 480mb/sec and is a lot slower than FireWire 400. Not to mention the CPU drain with USB 2.0 as opposed to FireWire.
USB 2.0 is soooooooooo slow... I had to move about 35GB of data via USB 2.0 yesterday and it took about 40 minutes... With capacities going ever higher, why aren't we seeing more FireWire thumbdrives?
Can't patch a console game: Console manufacturers realise that issuing patches for console games is just not possible/feasible so these games are more than likely in the Q/A cycle for longer periods of time than a PC game, which can be patched frequently.
Which is the real problem, I guess. Releasing buggy PC software is somehow seen as "ok" when it really shouldn't. PC software companies seem to view their paying customers as free beta-testers.
It's not about "loading", it's about making the player sit there and showing them "Please wait, loading".
You might want to check Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2. You'll know when it's loading but either: - you keep control of the game and the door just won't open right away (Nintendo should have added some game-themed "opening locks" with lights or something) - something is happening on the screen (no "loading, now at 10% and please wait another 45 seconds")
Yes, there has to be loading because of the media and the limited capacity of the machines, but it all boils down on how you do things. Ever seen the PSP game were it takes up to about 7 minutes before you actually start playing? On a portable system, no less?
You get 11 times more storage by using AAC@128kbps instead of the original audio (in the case of CD audio at 44.1KHz, 16 bit stereo). You get 5.5 times more storage by using AAC@128kbps instead of Apple Lossless (with the typical/average 50% compression).
And by the way CD audio is not 150 KB/sec. CD audio data is 44100 x 2 (stereo) x 2 (16 bit) = 176 400 bytes per second or 172.27 KiB/sec.
Given the way that hard disk space is increasing, I think the reasons for using lossy compressions are less compelling every day.
Not really. Even if you were able to sell a 80GB iPod nano, people would still use lossy CODECs. Taking the default AAC@128kbps as an example, you get 11 times more storage by using AAC vs Apple Lossless.
Of course, there will be a point where everyone will own enough storage capacity to store every song/tune ever made, but we'll also have other things to store, and compressing that music library to 1/11th of its size is still a good thing.
Lossy audio is crap, you say? Well, if most people were able to listen to 128kbps MP3s, then they should be ok with 128kbps AACs.
If gamers didin't care about the valve games, gta, graphics, processing power, or standard first person shooters, then yes.
Then how do you explain the success of the PS2, despite its crappy 3D? Because let's face it, except for a handfull of games such as the Gran Tourismo serie, the Gamecube is far superior to the PS2 in terms of graphics (and so was the Dreamcast, at least in terms of resolution).
As for first person shooters, I never understood how people could play these games with stupid analog sticks anyway. I predict this genre will thrive on the Wii because of the controller.
Maybe the "tilt controller" was added after they knew the whole thing was going to be delayed anyway and after seeing what Nintendo has in store (Wiimote, unknown until that point).
Between the high price of the PS3 and all its delays and problems, and the relatively high cost and problems of the Xbox 360 (along with the "Xbox 1.5" perception by most people), how can Nintendo not jump from 2nd to 1st place?
Yes, they were 3rd in the USA, but world-wide they were 2nd, just a bit ahead of the Xbox. Given their larger marketshare when you take the Nintendo DS into account (marketshare, i.e. which % of console(s) owners have a Nintendo system), you have to wonder what the future holds for Microsoft (still in the red with the whole Xbox division) and Sony (betting it all on the PS3, which seems to be a failure before it even starts).
I don't know about other games (aside from WoW) but Final Fantasy XI allows someone to switch to ALL classes any time (in a town). You do have to level each class, so basically you don't have a "level 50 character" but instead may have a character that's a level 5 warrior, level 25 thief, level 12 mage, and so on... For all the game flaws (loading every time you go to another map), this was one of the best feature.
My primary printer is an HP Color LaserJet 2550L. While the lack of built-in paper tray sucks, the print quality is simply amazing. Bought it for 400$CAD more than a year ago. It was on sale because the new replacement model was coming soon, I guess. My secondary printer is also my fax machine. An HP LaserJet 3015. I've had both for more than a year and I've had no problems so far.
Inkjet printers? Forget about those. Companies sell them at cost (or even at loss) so you'll end up paying way more than laser (even color) in the long run. I've had problems with Epson inkjet printers and I'm never using inkjet again.
If companies priced inkjet printers correctly, everybody would be buying laser printers instead (as they should). I don't know where people live, but I see B&W laser printers on sale for about 150$CAD in lots of places. I even remember seeing one (Samsung?) for 99$CAD a few months ago.
Well, first, you're on a Mac. To many publishers, that means you're part of a small demographic that isn't cost-effective to reach until your game is a blockbuster, or the revenue is higher per user... with your WoW example, they're getting the subscription fees off you as well as the game purchase.
Oh, but I didn't switch to Mac to play games. Besides, I'm still playing Diablo 2 LOD and Starcraft on my Mac, along with Gameboy Advance, Gamecube and Nintendo DS games on the consoles side.
My WoW exemple was only about the scalability of the game, which allows it to run on a crappy GPU with limited VRAM up to the newest GPUs with 256MB VRAM and more. And the best thing is, the game looked really good even at the lowest settings.
I guess that Crysis is one of those games that values style over substance, in which case I'm not interested anyway. As someone said somewhere else on the thread... Doom 3 looks amazing but is pretty much like every other Quake/Doom/UT game (aside from the "horror/suspense movie" feeling). I do know that Doom 3 is more of a showcase of the 3D engine, but still... if every new game simply tries to be a 3D show-off demo, I'll pass.
That's why I'm on a Mac and also a Nintendo gamer. I want games, not tech demos.
Slashdot Mirror
Indeed, it's funny to look at this particular chart. And it's only for 5 years, not 20 or 50.
http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=USDCAD=X&t=5y
You wouldn't believe how good Metroid Prime 2 looks in progressive mode via that component cable. On my Toshiba 36" CRT TV, anyway.
Yeah I knew that (Simpsons reference) but I was trying to be funny. I guess it doesn't always work.
What do you want? I don't get your "eht nioj" request.
The "stupid" thing about Quicktime is that you need the Pro version to view videos in full-screen. That feature is something that regular users need, not professionals.
It reminds me of when Rodney Dangerfield died. The Canadian show "This Hour has 22 minutes" (or was it "Royal Canadian Air Farce"? I always mix-up the two) talked about the fact that Rodney was dead and that he was known as the one with the "I can't get no respect" routine. They then went on and said something along the lines of "it reminds us of , who's comedy was appreciated by all. , you will be missed."
They paid tribute to Rodney by sort of not even paying tribute to him (talking about someone else instead), in the spirit of his "can't get no respect" routine. Some posts above did the same thing for Steve Irwin by using some of his usual sentences.
Don't forget to replace those 's with 's and those 's with 's. We want XHTML, not HTML 3.2
On paper, USB 2.0 is faster than FireWire 400. In real life, USB 2.0 can't sustain 480mb/sec and is a lot slower than FireWire 400. Not to mention the CPU drain with USB 2.0 as opposed to FireWire.
USB 2.0 is soooooooooo slow... I had to move about 35GB of data via USB 2.0 yesterday and it took about 40 minutes... With capacities going ever higher, why aren't we seeing more FireWire thumbdrives?
... the thigh bone's connected to the... wrist watch. Uh-oh.
It's not about "loading", it's about making the player sit there and showing them "Please wait, loading".
You might want to check Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2. You'll know when it's loading but either:
- you keep control of the game and the door just won't open right away (Nintendo should have added some game-themed "opening locks" with lights or something)
- something is happening on the screen (no "loading, now at 10% and please wait another 45 seconds")
Yes, there has to be loading because of the media and the limited capacity of the machines, but it all boils down on how you do things. Ever seen the PSP game were it takes up to about 7 minutes before you actually start playing? On a portable system, no less?
My mistake.
You get 11 times more storage by using AAC@128kbps instead of the original audio (in the case of CD audio at 44.1KHz, 16 bit stereo). You get 5.5 times more storage by using AAC@128kbps instead of Apple Lossless (with the typical/average 50% compression).
And by the way CD audio is not 150 KB/sec. CD audio data is 44100 x 2 (stereo) x 2 (16 bit) = 176 400 bytes per second or 172.27 KiB/sec.
And no, Apple shouldn't license FairPlay to RealNetworks (or whatever they call themselves these days).
Of course, there will be a point where everyone will own enough storage capacity to store every song/tune ever made, but we'll also have other things to store, and compressing that music library to 1/11th of its size is still a good thing.
Lossy audio is crap, you say? Well, if most people were able to listen to 128kbps MP3s, then they should be ok with 128kbps AACs.
As for first person shooters, I never understood how people could play these games with stupid analog sticks anyway. I predict this genre will thrive on the Wii because of the controller.
Maybe the "tilt controller" was added after they knew the whole thing was going to be delayed anyway and after seeing what Nintendo has in store (Wiimote, unknown until that point).
Between the high price of the PS3 and all its delays and problems, and the relatively high cost and problems of the Xbox 360 (along with the "Xbox 1.5" perception by most people), how can Nintendo not jump from 2nd to 1st place?
Yes, they were 3rd in the USA, but world-wide they were 2nd, just a bit ahead of the Xbox. Given their larger marketshare when you take the Nintendo DS into account (marketshare, i.e. which % of console(s) owners have a Nintendo system), you have to wonder what the future holds for Microsoft (still in the red with the whole Xbox division) and Sony (betting it all on the PS3, which seems to be a failure before it even starts).
I don't know about other games (aside from WoW) but Final Fantasy XI allows someone to switch to ALL classes any time (in a town). You do have to level each class, so basically you don't have a "level 50 character" but instead may have a character that's a level 5 warrior, level 25 thief, level 12 mage, and so on... For all the game flaws (loading every time you go to another map), this was one of the best feature.
My primary printer is an HP Color LaserJet 2550L. While the lack of built-in paper tray sucks, the print quality is simply amazing. Bought it for 400$CAD more than a year ago. It was on sale because the new replacement model was coming soon, I guess. My secondary printer is also my fax machine. An HP LaserJet 3015. I've had both for more than a year and I've had no problems so far.
Inkjet printers? Forget about those. Companies sell them at cost (or even at loss) so you'll end up paying way more than laser (even color) in the long run. I've had problems with Epson inkjet printers and I'm never using inkjet again.
If companies priced inkjet printers correctly, everybody would be buying laser printers instead (as they should). I don't know where people live, but I see B&W laser printers on sale for about 150$CAD in lots of places. I even remember seeing one (Samsung?) for 99$CAD a few months ago.
My WoW exemple was only about the scalability of the game, which allows it to run on a crappy GPU with limited VRAM up to the newest GPUs with 256MB VRAM and more. And the best thing is, the game looked really good even at the lowest settings.
I guess that Crysis is one of those games that values style over substance, in which case I'm not interested anyway. As someone said somewhere else on the thread... Doom 3 looks amazing but is pretty much like every other Quake/Doom/UT game (aside from the "horror/suspense movie" feeling). I do know that Doom 3 is more of a showcase of the 3D engine, but still... if every new game simply tries to be a 3D show-off demo, I'll pass.
That's why I'm on a Mac and also a Nintendo gamer. I want games, not tech demos.