I think the real story here is that indie producers don't have a lot of money for PR, whereas companies like EA spend more on PR than they do on creating actual product.
In one fell swoop, a conglomerate of indie producers took some old games that are still fun, but likely not really making any money for them, and A) Made some money, B) Gave to Charity, and C) Got tons of PR for doing so.
So I revise, Win-Win-Win.
The most important part by FAR is C). In that even serious gamers like myself have never heard of most of these game or indie producers. By allowing me this opportunity, I get good (yet older) games for cheap, give to charity (so we both feel good about ourselves), and get to try out games from these indie developers that I have never heard of before. If I like them, then maybe I will pay attention to what else they are producing and buy the new stuff when it comes out.
Who ever planned this should give themselves a great big pat on the back, and the rest of the indie groups should buy him a beer.
The first "tactical" nuke, launched by artillery. The bad part about it was that the fallout from the thing exceeded its range. So that whoever fired the stupid thing would get irradiated.
So as much fun as it is to make fun of the ruskies and their carefree attitude towards their own troops, I think that one sort of takes the cake.
Don't forget Canada, we be all evil and stuff up here!
I am pretty sure you can draw a strong correlation between the fact that the average income in those countries is about 100$ compared to about 50,000$ in the USA. Last I checked a retail copy of Windows 7 is about 200$.
If your having a hard time drawing a conclusion as to why all the piracy, well your not really trying.
From what I have read the 3rd largest conventional explosion was the Halifax Explosion during the 1st world war... two munition ships basically ran into one another... and kaboom! However that is two transport ships worth of explosives... might be difficult to use, particularly a mile under water.
2nd largest was when the British tried to basically blow up an island of German bunkers after WW2 off Britain. The basically gathered up all the leftover munitions they had lying around after the war (which I suspect was a lot), dumped it on the island and set the fuse...kaboom.
The largest explosion was a test by the US military to simulate a nuclear explosion using conventional explosives. I forget the type of ordnance that is used, but it has something to do with using fuel in an aerosol like mist triggered by a conventional core. So while this would be the most compact and nuclear like of the largest conventional explosions, I am pretty sure it wouldn't work in water.
The largest ever tested was the soviets... 50MT... it was believed they also had plans for a 100MT that was never built. I think at some point the realized it was easier to pack a bunch of smaller warheads into the same ICBM for better effect.
I think they could have named the 100MT one the "Planet Cracker"....
I remember getting into all sorts of stupid shit in school and getting punished for it. Some minor, some not so much.
Detention on a 3rd grader seems a bit much, particularly for a week, and particularly for eating candy. But hey a policy is a policy.
I do recall getting the same shit for chewing gum in class or wearing a ball hat (the later they would confiscate). Mind you that was not as early as 3rd grade, but hey I hear kids are doing drugs and having sex earlier, so bring on the discipline.
Anyway I can see how the parents might be a bit peeved off, but how is this just not something that gets settled in parent teacher, and its somehow international freaking news.
I think too many parents think they have the right to interfere with the public school system simple because they pay taxes and do not agree with something. Well I got a news flash: Plenty of people don't agree on things, its kind of a pretty reoccurring problem. Go to the PTA and raise hell like normal parents. Or as someone else mentioned that no one seemed to like, there are alternatives, private and home school if you feel the public option is not for your family. If you really want to throw down, well there is also other States, other Public School systems, and other countries. If you REALLY feel that it is such a big deal, and you can solve it like normal human beings through the regular channels... Well then I guess you have to ask yourself just how important that is compared to other things in your life.
Anyway I am not a Parent. Nor do I live in the US. Nor do I live on Texas. So really I couldn't give a rats ass about any of this. I also don't know what this has to do with Geeks, Technology or Computers... Heck you can barely call the baby sitting they do in Texas, particularly in third grade "education"! Likely indoctrinating them with creationism and intelligent design at that point... jolly ranchers are the least of their worries!
I throw all my change less than 25 cents into a big jar and jokingly call it my Retirement Fund.
After a few years when it gets full, I lug it to a grocery store that has one of those change sorters.
Last time I did it I had over 150$. Over 30$ was just in pennies. That is a lot of pennies. When I was cashing it at the till I thought I might have broke a record or something, but I guess the girls at a nearby restaurant share tips and I guess do the same thing for 6-700$ a shot.
I am a heavy user, and I have no problem paying my share, provided that share is reasonable. As it is I try to monitor my bandwidth so that I don't exceed my cap, I regulate my use month to month (which can be difficult to do, as they only update your usage statistics on a daily basis). Both the Cable and the Phone monopoly is killing Canada telecommunications and is making us non-competitive with the rest of the world. I really wish CRTC which is the governments extension to regulate these industries would grow some balls and actually do something about it. Currently Canadians are getting ripped off brutally, and if the CRTC is too antiquated to handle this anymore, it should be abolished and a new regulator created to do something about it. I think it is nothing short of criminal how these companies operate, yet there is absolutely nothing a citizen can do about it but pay. We live in an age now that access to the internet is required about as much as transportation. In the grand scheme of things, long term, this stagnation of our telecommunications is going to come back and bite us as other economies will grow and ours will not because of it. I have fought this before, and sent letters to politicians, however the telecommunications lobby is just too big. They basically do whatever the hell the want to and damn anyone that gets in their way. We should have capacity. If we don't, why not? What exactly are these corporations doing with OUR infrastructure? Anything except make money hand over fist? Even if we are lacking capacity, I am fine with paying for what I use, if the rates were anything approaching reasonable. Just to get a static IP address I would have to pay twice that what I currently pay, and even that is inflated. This is a stupid idea anyway, as they make most of their "free" money off "ma and pa" email checkers and internet browsers. I likely use more bandwidth on my iPhone 3G and my data plan than these people, yet they are expected to pay through the nose for a service they barely use. So like Bell is going to want to go in that direction. There is no way in hell that is going to happen. They just want to lower caps even further, and then charge through the nose extra high fees for anyone that exceeds those caps. How is it technology seems to be moving backwards with these people. In EVERY sphere of technology, as it advances, gets better and more mature, the cost of offering said services becomes less. How the hell am I paying more and more and more. Something is wrong with the model. Problem is the people in charge like it the way that it is, as they make a killing... why would they change it willingly for anything? They need to be forced, they need to be effectively regulated. The CRTC doesn't seem to actually DO anything.
I also do the same. I also used to be a jingley mess. I still am when I throw on my car keys. I do the Carabiner and belt loop thing, and have for years. However I have myself down to one key now (house key), and don't carry the rest with me, I keep them at home. The exception of course is when I have my car keys. If I am wearing a jacket, I put my car keys in one of the pockets, if not then it goes with my house key on my carabiner belt loop (5$ cheap no load) and I jingle a bit. Though some people sometimes make fun of the fact that I have a carabiner, and a key loop, with one key on it... Of course when it is full and jingly, you are the janitor, so you can't really win.
As an aside, a funny story: As I said I have been wearing my keys on a carabiner for years. I also get used to where they are. Anyway many years ago just after University, I was having a night out with friends at the bar. We got well and fully tanked. We decided to head back to my apartment as I lived downtown and was close to the bars. We were going to continue the party and order pizza etc... fun times. Anyway it was in the second floor of an apartment complex. It was also the middle of winter in Canada. Anyway we get back to the building and I reach down for my carabiner for my keys. They are gone. I freak out a bit and we are all a bit drunk. Anyway I had a fix to the situation. I went into the snowy parking lot in the back alley, and jumped up to climb up the icy (and not so sturdy) fire escape to the building next to mine. I then proceeded to jump across to the roof just under my window (and my friends watch from the parking lot falling down in the ice). Once on the roof, I try to force the window open, and end up just kicking it in (I didn't break the pane of glass somehow, just broke off the butterfly clips that held the frame in place, it landing on my bed probably helped). Now I climb into my apartment, and I am now able to buzz up my friends through security and let them in. Once everyone is in, we get down to business which is beers and ordering pizza. Someone asks me what I want to order, and I say "hold on" as I have to check to see how much cash I have left over from the bar as I have no idea. So I reach my hand into my pocket to get my wallet and find...my keys.
You would think so, however this is all being done on the down low.
The Conservatives have done their best to keep this out of the public eye and behind closed doors, and they have been largely successful.
It has been thwarted already 2 or 3 times in the past (I mean take the frakkin' hint eh?), but they continue to try and push this agenda.
The opposition to it is strong, but small, as most of the population has no idea this is going on or what it even means. People that frequent Slashdot, Boing Boing, and Micheal Giest's Blog are likely the vocal opposition.
However for whatever reason, this issue has never made it into the major media for the last couple of years. Either they think it is a non-story, don't understand it, or don't think the public will care or understand what is going on.
Worst is the fact that the Liberals have pretty much the same stance, only the NDP oppose this. Either way it is shameful.
On that page somewhere is 310 billion reasons why your wrong and no one gives a shit.
BP will pay some trivial fine that sounds impressive to you and me, but is really a drop in the bucket (pardon the pun) to these corporations.
BP will go on making billions and billions for years to come.
This is the major reason environmental law is a joke (and corporate law for that matter). When you fine a company 50,000$ and they make 50 Million they DO NOT care. It is the cost of doing business.
You could fine them 100 million, and while to the general public that sounds impressive, it is really nothing to them. Maybe some exec doesn't get his bonus that year. Hell fine them 500 million? 1000 Million? 5000 Million? 50 Billion? 100 Billion? They made a quarter trillion dollars last year, and if you don't think they have political connections your insane. Also they likely have an army of the best lawyers at their disposal.
Not to be a pessimist, but they won't even get a proverbial slap on the wrist, and they will continue on as per business as usual. They will get some nominal fine that they don't care about, tie up the rest in court for 10 years when no one will care anymore, and then quietly settle, for another nominal amount they don't care about.
"As a general rule, less than five percent of a game's audience plays a title through to completion. I've had several studios tell me that their general observation is that 'more than 90 percent' of a game's audience will play it for 'just four or five hours.'"
I call bullshit. First of all, define gamer. I would argue that anyone that plays for just 4-5 hours, and doesn't play a game to completion ain't much of a gamer. Second, what kind of games are being talked about? If I play a good game, like say Mass Effect 2, I play it from start to end, because, you know it is a good game and I am hooked. It's the game where your WOW guild goes "WTF?" and your like "Sry ME2, my bad!". If on the other hand the game is crap, and no fun to play, then I will usually measure the play time in a few hours yes. If on the other hand the game is good, but frustrating because of bad mechanics or buggy, it may take longer for me to get fed up and and say screw it... many hours later. However much of that depends on the length of the game, Some games are 40-60 hours playing time, others are 5-7 hours. Others can be measured in minutes, and others like the all powerful WOW that eats up so much time NEVER ENDS, and I would be surprised if it ever did. Blizzard would have to have all the money available in the world by then (perhaps shortly after the release of SC2). A whole bunch of games, are also multiplayer, which is the whole point, and many people buy them for that specific purpose and have little or no intention of playing the single player to its end. Sometimes this is because the single player part that is included is so horrible. You can also lump most FPS and Sport games into this category. Also I am not sure I know any adult or youth gamers that would spend 70$ on a title, play it for 5 hours and throw it away...
SO I really fail to see how they are quantifying these numbers and attributing anything to it. In short, it is a meaningless number that should not be used to influance anything, let alone game design.
Ya this article reminded me of the Independence Day one in the Cracked list.
Jeff Goldblum how I hate you. The only thing that makes it even worse and somewhat funny is the fact they they used Macs.
I mean my Sisters Mac isn't freakin' compatible with my PC, let alone some hive mother ship computer made by aliens from some distant part of the universe.
Slashdot Mirror
Sweet, now I can finally get those airships I have been waiting for!
I think the real story here is that indie producers don't have a lot of money for PR, whereas companies like EA spend more on PR than they do on creating actual product.
In one fell swoop, a conglomerate of indie producers took some old games that are still fun, but likely not really making any money for them, and A) Made some money, B) Gave to Charity, and C) Got tons of PR for doing so.
So I revise, Win-Win-Win.
The most important part by FAR is C). In that even serious gamers like myself have never heard of most of these game or indie producers. By allowing me this opportunity, I get good (yet older) games for cheap, give to charity (so we both feel good about ourselves), and get to try out games from these indie developers that I have never heard of before. If I like them, then maybe I will pay attention to what else they are producing and buy the new stuff when it comes out.
Who ever planned this should give themselves a great big pat on the back, and the rest of the indie groups should buy him a beer.
Though my favorite nuke play was by the USA.
The first "tactical" nuke, launched by artillery. The bad part about it was that the fallout from the thing exceeded its range. So that whoever fired the stupid thing would get irradiated.
So as much fun as it is to make fun of the ruskies and their carefree attitude towards their own troops, I think that one sort of takes the cake.
It must be nice to live in a make believe land.
Don't forget Canada, we be all evil and stuff up here!
I am pretty sure you can draw a strong correlation between the fact that the average income in those countries is about 100$ compared to about 50,000$ in the USA. Last I checked a retail copy of Windows 7 is about 200$.
If your having a hard time drawing a conclusion as to why all the piracy, well your not really trying.
A job for Aquaman, Sub-Mariner, etc... and all the other lame superheros...
I bet they were just waiting around, being made fun of by all their superhero friends...
Now they can show them!
Hmmm you might be onto something there...
I bet if you stuffed a Whale into that oil hole it would plug it up but good!
I am pretty sure an air burst of sufficient magnitude would have put out those pesky fires in California.
However dealing with the political fallout would not be pleasant.
Also there would be real fallout.
"the Soviet Union used this method five times to deal with petrocalamities, and it only didn't work once."
I think the lesson that can be learned here is that you need to use 5 nukes all at the same time to guarantee success.
You know, just to be sure.
From what I have read the 3rd largest conventional explosion was the Halifax Explosion during the 1st world war... two munition ships basically ran into one another... and kaboom! However that is two transport ships worth of explosives... might be difficult to use, particularly a mile under water.
2nd largest was when the British tried to basically blow up an island of German bunkers after WW2 off Britain. The basically gathered up all the leftover munitions they had lying around after the war (which I suspect was a lot), dumped it on the island and set the fuse...kaboom.
The largest explosion was a test by the US military to simulate a nuclear explosion using conventional explosives. I forget the type of ordnance that is used, but it has something to do with using fuel in an aerosol like mist triggered by a conventional core. So while this would be the most compact and nuclear like of the largest conventional explosions, I am pretty sure it wouldn't work in water.
The largest ever tested was the soviets... 50MT... it was believed they also had plans for a 100MT that was never built. I think at some point the realized it was easier to pack a bunch of smaller warheads into the same ICBM for better effect.
I think they could have named the 100MT one the "Planet Cracker"....
I remember getting into all sorts of stupid shit in school and getting punished for it. Some minor, some not so much.
Detention on a 3rd grader seems a bit much, particularly for a week, and particularly for eating candy. But hey a policy is a policy.
I do recall getting the same shit for chewing gum in class or wearing a ball hat (the later they would confiscate). Mind you that was not as early as 3rd grade, but hey I hear kids are doing drugs and having sex earlier, so bring on the discipline.
Anyway I can see how the parents might be a bit peeved off, but how is this just not something that gets settled in parent teacher, and its somehow international freaking news.
I think too many parents think they have the right to interfere with the public school system simple because they pay taxes and do not agree with something. Well I got a news flash: Plenty of people don't agree on things, its kind of a pretty reoccurring problem. Go to the PTA and raise hell like normal parents. Or as someone else mentioned that no one seemed to like, there are alternatives, private and home school if you feel the public option is not for your family. If you really want to throw down, well there is also other States, other Public School systems, and other countries. If you REALLY feel that it is such a big deal, and you can solve it like normal human beings through the regular channels... Well then I guess you have to ask yourself just how important that is compared to other things in your life.
Anyway I am not a Parent. Nor do I live in the US. Nor do I live on Texas. So really I couldn't give a rats ass about any of this. I also don't know what this has to do with Geeks, Technology or Computers... Heck you can barely call the baby sitting they do in Texas, particularly in third grade "education"! Likely indoctrinating them with creationism and intelligent design at that point... jolly ranchers are the least of their worries!
Just be glad they didn't use the Toyota telescope otherwise it would still be going...
He doesn't know how to work an "iPods and iPads and Xboxes and PlayStations" which clearly any 12 year old can?
You sure you want this guy running the country? While George W probably played xbox and playstation all day, at least he could figure that much out!
Clearly what he is trying to say "I'm an idiot, hey look at me!"
more like a paperweight!
Thousands of Banks can't be wrong! Right?
I throw all my change less than 25 cents into a big jar and jokingly call it my Retirement Fund.
After a few years when it gets full, I lug it to a grocery store that has one of those change sorters.
Last time I did it I had over 150$. Over 30$ was just in pennies. That is a lot of pennies. When I was
cashing it at the till I thought I might have broke a record or something, but I guess the girls at a
nearby restaurant share tips and I guess do the same thing for 6-700$ a shot.
Cogeco cable already does this.
I have a 60GB cap and 1.25$/GB beyond that.
I am a heavy user, and I have no problem paying my share, provided that share is reasonable. As it is I try to monitor my bandwidth so that I don't exceed my cap, I regulate my use month to month (which can be difficult to do, as they only update your usage statistics on a daily basis). Both the Cable and the Phone monopoly is killing Canada telecommunications and is making us non-competitive with the rest of the world. I really wish CRTC which is the governments extension to regulate these industries would grow some balls and actually do something about it. Currently Canadians are getting ripped off brutally, and if the CRTC is too antiquated to handle this anymore, it should be abolished and a new regulator created to do something about it. I think it is nothing short of criminal how these companies operate, yet there is absolutely nothing a citizen can do about it but pay. We live in an age now that access to the internet is required about as much as transportation. In the grand scheme of things, long term, this stagnation of our telecommunications is going to come back and bite us as other economies will grow and ours will not because of it. I have fought this before, and sent letters to politicians, however the telecommunications lobby is just too big. They basically do whatever the hell the want to and damn anyone that gets in their way. We should have capacity. If we don't, why not? What exactly are these corporations doing with OUR infrastructure? Anything except make money hand over fist? Even if we are lacking capacity, I am fine with paying for what I use, if the rates were anything approaching reasonable. Just to get a static IP address I would have to pay twice that what I currently pay, and even that is inflated. This is a stupid idea anyway, as they make most of their "free" money off "ma and pa" email checkers and internet browsers. I likely use more bandwidth on my iPhone 3G and my data plan than these people, yet they are expected to pay through the nose for a service they barely use. So like Bell is going to want to go in that direction. There is no way in hell that is going to happen. They just want to lower caps even further, and then charge through the nose extra high fees for anyone that exceeds those caps. How is it technology seems to be moving backwards with these people. In EVERY sphere of technology, as it advances, gets better and more mature, the cost of offering said services becomes less. How the hell am I paying more and more and more. Something is wrong with the model. Problem is the people in charge like it the way that it is, as they make a killing... why would they change it willingly for anything? They need to be forced, they need to be effectively regulated. The CRTC doesn't seem to actually DO anything.
I also do the same. I also used to be a jingley mess. I still am when I throw on my car keys. I do the Carabiner and belt loop thing, and have for years. However I have myself down to one key now (house key), and don't carry the rest with me, I keep them at home. The exception of course is when I have my car keys. If I am wearing a jacket, I put my car keys in one of the pockets, if not then it goes with my house key on my carabiner belt loop (5$ cheap no load) and I jingle a bit. Though some people sometimes make fun of the fact that I have a carabiner, and a key loop, with one key on it... Of course when it is full and jingly, you are the janitor, so you can't really win.
As an aside, a funny story: As I said I have been wearing my keys on a carabiner for years. I also get used to where they are. Anyway many years ago just after University, I was having a night out with friends at the bar. We got well and fully tanked. We decided to head back to my apartment as I lived downtown and was close to the bars. We were going to continue the party and order pizza etc... fun times. Anyway it was in the second floor of an apartment complex. It was also the middle of winter in Canada. Anyway we get back to the building and I reach down for my carabiner for my keys. They are gone. I freak out a bit and we are all a bit drunk. Anyway I had a fix to the situation. I went into the snowy parking lot in the back alley, and jumped up to climb up the icy (and not so sturdy) fire escape to the building next to mine. I then proceeded to jump across to the roof just under my window (and my friends watch from the parking lot falling down in the ice). Once on the roof, I try to force the window open, and end up just kicking it in (I didn't break the pane of glass somehow, just broke off the butterfly clips that held the frame in place, it landing on my bed probably helped). Now I climb into my apartment, and I am now able to buzz up my friends through security and let them in. Once everyone is in, we get down to business which is beers and ordering pizza. Someone asks me what I want to order, and I say "hold on" as I have to check to see how much cash I have left over from the bar as I have no idea. So I reach my hand into my pocket to get my wallet and find...my keys.
I have a fat cat, you should see what she does to my keyboard when I am at work all day! Getting a single B for an M would be the least of my worries.
Had a nice lecture on TVO (TV Ontario) last week on Copyright. I watched the whole thing.
I couldn't find the lecture, but I did find the interview:
http://www.tvo.org/TVO/WebObjects/TVO.woa?videoid?50148434001
You would think so, however this is all being done on the down low.
The Conservatives have done their best to keep this out of the public eye and behind closed doors, and they have been largely successful.
It has been thwarted already 2 or 3 times in the past (I mean take the frakkin' hint eh?), but they continue to try and push this agenda.
The opposition to it is strong, but small, as most of the population has no idea this is going on or what it even means. People that frequent Slashdot, Boing Boing, and Micheal Giest's Blog are likely the vocal opposition.
However for whatever reason, this issue has never made it into the major media for the last couple of years. Either they think it is a non-story, don't understand it, or don't think the public will care or understand what is going on.
Worst is the fact that the Liberals have pretty much the same stance, only the NDP oppose this. Either way it is shameful.
I hate to poke a hole in your story but:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ExxonMobil
On that page somewhere is 310 billion reasons why your wrong and no one gives a shit.
BP will pay some trivial fine that sounds impressive to you and me, but is really a drop in the bucket (pardon the pun) to these corporations.
BP will go on making billions and billions for years to come.
This is the major reason environmental law is a joke (and corporate law for that matter). When you fine a company 50,000$ and they make 50 Million they DO NOT care. It is the cost of doing business.
BP ONLY made 250 BILLION dollars last year.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BP
You could fine them 100 million, and while to the general public that sounds impressive, it is really nothing to them. Maybe some exec doesn't get his bonus that year. Hell fine them 500 million? 1000 Million? 5000 Million? 50 Billion? 100 Billion? They made a quarter trillion dollars last year, and if you don't think they have political connections your insane. Also they likely have an army of the best lawyers at their disposal.
Not to be a pessimist, but they won't even get a proverbial slap on the wrist, and they will continue on as per business as usual. They will get some nominal fine that they don't care about, tie up the rest in court for 10 years when no one will care anymore, and then quietly settle, for another nominal amount they don't care about.
"As a general rule, less than five percent of a game's audience plays a title through to completion. I've had several studios tell me that their general observation is that 'more than 90 percent' of a game's audience will play it for 'just four or five hours.'"
I call bullshit. First of all, define gamer. I would argue that anyone that plays for just 4-5 hours, and doesn't play a game to completion ain't much of a gamer. Second, what kind of games are being talked about? If I play a good game, like say Mass Effect 2, I play it from start to end, because, you know it is a good game and I am hooked. It's the game where your WOW guild goes "WTF?" and your like "Sry ME2, my bad!". If on the other hand the game is crap, and no fun to play, then I will usually measure the play time in a few hours yes. If on the other hand the game is good, but frustrating because of bad mechanics or buggy, it may take longer for me to get fed up and and say screw it... many hours later. However much of that depends on the length of the game, Some games are 40-60 hours playing time, others are 5-7 hours. Others can be measured in minutes, and others like the all powerful WOW that eats up so much time NEVER ENDS, and I would be surprised if it ever did. Blizzard would have to have all the money available in the world by then (perhaps shortly after the release of SC2). A whole bunch of games, are also multiplayer, which is the whole point, and many people buy them for that specific purpose and have little or no intention of playing the single player to its end. Sometimes this is because the single player part that is included is so horrible. You can also lump most FPS and Sport games into this category. Also I am not sure I know any adult or youth gamers that would spend 70$ on a title, play it for 5 hours and throw it away...
SO I really fail to see how they are quantifying these numbers and attributing anything to it. In short, it is a meaningless number that should not be used to influance anything, let alone game design.
Ya this article reminded me of the Independence Day one in the Cracked list.
Jeff Goldblum how I hate you. The only thing that makes it even worse and somewhat funny is the fact they they used Macs.
I mean my Sisters Mac isn't freakin' compatible with my PC, let alone some hive mother ship computer made by aliens from some distant part of the universe.
Even more funny would be a Wargames based in the 70's rather than 80's...
OMG the puchcards machines are revolting!