...and absolutely encouraging that it's SOE that's leading the charge in cheap and extensive MMO-bundling (as they're the ones who would usually be seen as most likely to try to soak as much as possible from people). If SOE does it, everyone else would be absolutely foolish not to follow.
I am curious just what deal they made with LucasArts to be able to bundle SWG in with their other games, though. I figured they might have been able to make a "Station Access Plus" pass which would add LucasArts' cut of the monthly charges on top. It's beyond my expectations that they just roll it in completely!
Actually, by that they mean you can access all the content without flipping, and use the other side for its usual cool graphics, information, etc. rather than a small amount of text in the inner plastic ring.
Accessing more content is fine too, as it could be used in different ways, not just to "fill it up with random crap." For instance, if you don't need all the DVD space for the DVD movie, the BR player could use it itself for more high-def content or just increasing the bitrate of the current content. Or they could stick on a DVD-Audio album of the soundtrack too, could they not? (Or at least "some music" if an "album" would get the RIAA up in arms.)
Regardless, it's just better. The questionable factor is cost and if their production method can be handled well alongside others.
For reference, the "7.5 million" mentioned is an average, so using the "in some scenes" case you mention with Rogue Leader, titles pushing that 7.5 million average have certainly gone much higher. I imagine Rogue Leader's average tends to be much lower as well...
I don't know if there's ever been real confirmation of "fastest poly measurement in a game"--developers tend to be very tight-lipped about that--but the PS2 can hit the same levels and more. The real question is "how long" and "how solidly" and "doing what alongside?"
If the GameCube can push more texture and better texture layers and the Xbox can toss on pixel effects onto the same poly/sec speeds... They're obviously going to be better-looking as well.
The PS2 is certainly a curious machine, but it seems to hold up well. It is, of course, about two years older, so it's no surprise that the GameCube and Xbox can push games further. I think if the machines were equalized, there'd be a lot more fight in it.;) (Of course I think that about the Dreamcast too.)
The PS3/N5/Xbox2 comparisons should be a bit more telling, though, as they all seem geared to come out in a span of 6-12 months.
As opposed to never looking for comments from those intimately involved (the letters from Bruce Horn and Jef Raskin are of much value) and never looking into the backgrounds of the people involved, the ideas taking shape from years before, or the dates of patents and papers and all the work that took place before Jobs' PARC visit? Before PARC's work itself?
Or you could actually look up more information about the matter on your own (for example here ) instead of perpetuating one of Silicon Valley's biggest myths.
How will they ever be ready in time for the November elections?
How has anyone ever expected they would be?
It seems to me the best form would involve a lot of data recursion and backups, no central control point that could be hacked or abused, and leaning on paper ballotting as well until the system looks good.
Oh, and heavy, heavy auditing of the programs and their results. Private companies trying to claim no disclusure over not just a but The matter of public concern...? Bah!
Let's be honest here, there's no doubt Lord of the Rings was also being glossed over the past two years--most notably for Best Film and Best Director--because the Academy knew they would still have the chance to reward them later. (And that it would be most appropriate to do so at their culmination.)
I must admit I didn't think they wouldn't take Best Song (excepting perhaps to make them able to tie for most Oscars), but then I don't know why they weren't up for Cinematography or Sound Editing either.
For the heck of it, I picked up the domestic box office numbers for both since 1995 (Toy Story)
In Disney Animation's camp:
Pocahontas (1995) $141.6
Hunchback (1996) $100.1
Hercules (1997) $99.1
Mulan (1998) $120.6
Tarzan (1999) $171
Fantasia 2000 (1999) $42.8
Emp's New Groove (2000) $89.3
Atlantis (2001) $84
Lilo & Stitch (2002) $145.8
Treasure Planet (2002) $38
Brother Bear (2003) $84.5
In Pixar's:
Toy Story (1995) $191.8
A Bug's Life (1998) $162.8
Toy Story 2 (1999) $245.8
Monsters, Inc (2001) $255.8
Finding Nemo (2003) $339.8
International numbers are incomplete, but I think they favor Pixar as well. Under half the films, yet grossing more total. Disney should have done ANYTHING POSSIBLE to retain their partnership with Pixar, as it's just free money to them, and a ton of franchising.
Their branding doesn't guarantee sales... THOSE MOVIES do.
The one retailer actually listed on their site for pre-orders (EB Games) that actually lists a release date puts it at 7/14/2004. o_O
It's been all over the map for a while. Nothing to see here...
Slashdot Mirror
...and absolutely encouraging that it's SOE that's leading the charge in cheap and extensive MMO-bundling (as they're the ones who would usually be seen as most likely to try to soak as much as possible from people). If SOE does it, everyone else would be absolutely foolish not to follow.
I am curious just what deal they made with LucasArts to be able to bundle SWG in with their other games, though. I figured they might have been able to make a "Station Access Plus" pass which would add LucasArts' cut of the monthly charges on top. It's beyond my expectations that they just roll it in completely!
Actually, by that they mean you can access all the content without flipping, and use the other side for its usual cool graphics, information, etc. rather than a small amount of text in the inner plastic ring. Accessing more content is fine too, as it could be used in different ways, not just to "fill it up with random crap." For instance, if you don't need all the DVD space for the DVD movie, the BR player could use it itself for more high-def content or just increasing the bitrate of the current content. Or they could stick on a DVD-Audio album of the soundtrack too, could they not? (Or at least "some music" if an "album" would get the RIAA up in arms.) Regardless, it's just better. The questionable factor is cost and if their production method can be handled well alongside others.
For reference, the "7.5 million" mentioned is an average, so using the "in some scenes" case you mention with Rogue Leader, titles pushing that 7.5 million average have certainly gone much higher. I imagine Rogue Leader's average tends to be much lower as well... I don't know if there's ever been real confirmation of "fastest poly measurement in a game"--developers tend to be very tight-lipped about that--but the PS2 can hit the same levels and more. The real question is "how long" and "how solidly" and "doing what alongside?" If the GameCube can push more texture and better texture layers and the Xbox can toss on pixel effects onto the same poly/sec speeds... They're obviously going to be better-looking as well. The PS2 is certainly a curious machine, but it seems to hold up well. It is, of course, about two years older, so it's no surprise that the GameCube and Xbox can push games further. I think if the machines were equalized, there'd be a lot more fight in it. ;) (Of course I think that about the Dreamcast too.)
The PS3/N5/Xbox2 comparisons should be a bit more telling, though, as they all seem geared to come out in a span of 6-12 months.
Is it possible to play DVD's in a CD player?
As opposed to never looking for comments from those intimately involved (the letters from Bruce Horn and Jef Raskin are of much value) and never looking into the backgrounds of the people involved, the ideas taking shape from years before, or the dates of patents and papers and all the work that took place before Jobs' PARC visit? Before PARC's work itself?
Or you could actually look up more information about the matter on your own (for example here ) instead of perpetuating one of Silicon Valley's biggest myths.
How will they ever be ready in time for the November elections? How has anyone ever expected they would be? It seems to me the best form would involve a lot of data recursion and backups, no central control point that could be hacked or abused, and leaning on paper ballotting as well until the system looks good. Oh, and heavy, heavy auditing of the programs and their results. Private companies trying to claim no disclusure over not just a but The matter of public concern...? Bah!
Let's be honest here, there's no doubt Lord of the Rings was also being glossed over the past two years--most notably for Best Film and Best Director--because the Academy knew they would still have the chance to reward them later. (And that it would be most appropriate to do so at their culmination.) I must admit I didn't think they wouldn't take Best Song (excepting perhaps to make them able to tie for most Oscars), but then I don't know why they weren't up for Cinematography or Sound Editing either.
For the heck of it, I picked up the domestic box office numbers for both since 1995 (Toy Story) In Disney Animation's camp: Pocahontas (1995) $141.6 Hunchback (1996) $100.1 Hercules (1997) $99.1 Mulan (1998) $120.6 Tarzan (1999) $171 Fantasia 2000 (1999) $42.8 Emp's New Groove (2000) $89.3 Atlantis (2001) $84 Lilo & Stitch (2002) $145.8 Treasure Planet (2002) $38 Brother Bear (2003) $84.5 In Pixar's: Toy Story (1995) $191.8 A Bug's Life (1998) $162.8 Toy Story 2 (1999) $245.8 Monsters, Inc (2001) $255.8 Finding Nemo (2003) $339.8 International numbers are incomplete, but I think they favor Pixar as well. Under half the films, yet grossing more total. Disney should have done ANYTHING POSSIBLE to retain their partnership with Pixar, as it's just free money to them, and a ton of franchising. Their branding doesn't guarantee sales... THOSE MOVIES do.
The one retailer actually listed on their site for pre-orders (EB Games) that actually lists a release date puts it at 7/14/2004. o_O It's been all over the map for a while. Nothing to see here...