The Slashdot article misquoted the actual one's prices. In the article it says that the average release price is £29.99 ($52.71) and these Platnum games are going to be selling at £14.99 ($26.34) or lower. They must have just pulled '$35' out of their ass or something...lol. I got my numbers from XE.com. More importantly though, why was the article converted to US currency anyway? It's a story about Britan on a site called EUROgamer!
As long as they release it before Christmas 2006 in all the markets they still have a fighting chance. A full year can certainly earn an advantage, but if they come out just a few months later than the other guys it's not as big a deal. Also, remember Nintendo is still Japan centric, and there they only have one competition, Sony.
Well, you have to keep in mind that Nintendo sells a huge portion of their system in Japan, who don't have such legislation forcing the move yet. Also, there have been rumblings that the date for digital broadcasing may be pushed back to 2008. The HDTV resolution would have been nice in the Revolution, but it's not a necessity. They also have not said it isn't capable of HD altogether either. They may support lower end HD like 720p, but they certainly won't be requiring it from developers like Xbox360 is. Then again...if enough people complain Nintendo may change their mind at the last minute as well. It all depends on how cheaply they can build their hardware and still be able to sell it at a decent price.
Well, this is just like people could start to boycott all Coke & Pepsi products...but they won't. Should it be legal for only two companies to own 99% of the market in soft drinks? How could a small company ever dream of competing? Almost every industry is dominated by less than 5 companies, and most of them are in multiple industries to boot. The dominant "sheeple" love to give up their freedom for convenience and screw it up for the rest of us...
Exactly....Microsoft could pay them 20Billion and still keep going strong. What we need is stronger anti-trust laws...there are getting to be too few companies in charge of everything.
"...I can say that more than often, they are rude, have very little to add to any discussion, other than showing off their impressive command of the English language. I'd be more receptive if some of them made their response to the thread at hand, and did a BTW, but that's not what happens. Usually they are just have one line response that is rude, and often picking on one or two 'mistakes', and always critical of one's intelligence."
So they're just like computer geeks, but of the english language?
Seriously though, I think being taught phonix(sp? lol) as a child really hendered my spelling capabilities because so many words are spelled in ways they shouldn't...
Well, if you look back at the history of the english language it has changed and evolved numerous times, so I believe we're in a state of flux again. People are finally realizing that some of the "correct" spellings are idiotic and when need a more efficient, less excemption filled language. At least that's what I hope it is...
Me personally? I never could spell, and with spellcheck it's just getting worse...
Well, it's a stupid rule...lol. Seriously, how is anyone supposed to have serious and honest discussion of such issues without mentioning "those guys".
That's the problem when lobiest and rich men cloud the judgement of the guys who are supposed to be looking out for the people and not their own pocket books;)
The last quote you have intrigues me. I would agree that PC gaming is where most new and innovative game ideas come from. The fact that it happens on the Windows Operating System is merely just a footnote though. The only place where independent developers can have a chance at being minorly successful is the PC game market. It costs thousands of dollars just to licence your game to a console, let alone the cost of development kits...as while a small developer can go pick up a PC, grab some free open-source development tools (for example: Blender, Ogre, SDL, ODE, Audacity, Rosegarden, GCC!) and make a game on a shoe-string budget. The only reason MS still pushes for Windows gaming is because they don't want to lose this very important market to Mac, Linux or anything else. I'm sure if they weren't worried about that, they'd kill PC gaming all together and force all the developers to pay them for the chance to release a game on their system.
I personally hope it gets worse...way worse. It seems the only way to get people to take action is for things to hit rock bottom. When the mainstream PC market shrinks even more this next go round and then all the games the come out on the consoles are boring, cookie-cutter, over marketed crap..people will be dying for a little innovation, and that when the indy community will really take off.
On the top level, I can see how many developers and gamers would think DirectX has been a help to gaming...but in the large scope of things it hasn't. It has made Windows gaming on IBM/Intel architecture better, but nothing else. If people had put even half the same effort into using real standards that work on multiple platforms we might be seeing much more interesting and innovative games now. If developers would take the time to learn to use OpenGL and SDL instead of DirectX we wouldn't have to worry about MS lock-in...but they just keep taking the easy, but short-sigted way out.
Apparently you missed the crux of my argument. The fact that Linux is open source is all the reason you should need to switch. To achieve freedom and security you must give up some convienence. I've been struggling with learning Linux for over a year now, but I'm still not giving up on it.
"So what's left? Showing off the convaluted ways Microsoft Licences software?"
Actually yes...that's what got me interested in Linux. For the common cattle, it probably won't mean anything to them...but for anyone with a shred of activist in them explaining the rights they give away to have the "ease" of Windows will do the trick.
Also, just because their computer may be free of 3rd party spyware, doesn't mean their OS is free of 1st party spyware. "Trusted Computing" my ass...
Agreed....the insecurity of Windows alone brings it back down to equal with any UI or setup frustrations you would find with Linux. It's the fact that Linux is open source that really pushes it over the top.
I would agree the original post is not a troll. Not very well informed, certainly not insightful...but not a troll. They have all the right to report what their experience is, but I would be equally annoyed if they were modded positively. As they stated, Linux isn't as easy as Windows...especially if don't even give it a week. It's taken me more than a year to finally get used to the differences between Linux and my Windows upbringing.
"It is not about Linux vs Microsoft, it is about closed source vs open source. If you do not know what this difference means, you should not be allowed to vote, let alone operate a computer on the internet unsupervised."
Very well put... I've only been using Linux for a year now and constantly find reasons for frustration, but I keep trying and learning how to use it. Why? Simple...it's open, it's free (as in freedom). I can jump in Windows and do just about anything, much more easily...but I'd rather not. It's a matter of standing up for something instead of taking it in the ass as the current generation seems to love. You may not see any immediate problem, but lets see what happens when the US gov't passes another shifty bill that makes one of your everday tasks illegal all of the sudden? With MS's ties to the government, they can have spyware built in to the system and report everything you do back to them. You're probably thinking...I don't do anything wrong, I've got nothing to hide, but I'm sure the Germans felt the same way prior to certain political groups taking over. Go look up how many of today's prominent leaders have a family history of involvement with that same group.
When the US finally becomes a military state, or worse in the next coming decades. You'll know why I like knowing what kind of code I'm running. Open source software is one of the few tools we will have against the coming fascist regimes and singular world government.
*Note to Mods: If you disagree with my viewpoint or opinions, feel free to reply and discuss...but don't mod me down just for having unpopular ideas.
Slashdot Mirror
According to the article, no...they don't pay much more than we do, at least not for new releases. I've already made a post about it here.
The Slashdot article misquoted the actual one's prices. In the article it says that the average release price is £29.99 ($52.71) and these Platnum games are going to be selling at £14.99 ($26.34) or lower. They must have just pulled '$35' out of their ass or something...lol. I got my numbers from XE.com. More importantly though, why was the article converted to US currency anyway? It's a story about Britan on a site called EUROgamer!
As long as they release it before Christmas 2006 in all the markets they still have a fighting chance. A full year can certainly earn an advantage, but if they come out just a few months later than the other guys it's not as big a deal. Also, remember Nintendo is still Japan centric, and there they only have one competition, Sony.
Well, you have to keep in mind that Nintendo sells a huge portion of their system in Japan, who don't have such legislation forcing the move yet. Also, there have been rumblings that the date for digital broadcasing may be pushed back to 2008. The HDTV resolution would have been nice in the Revolution, but it's not a necessity. They also have not said it isn't capable of HD altogether either. They may support lower end HD like 720p, but they certainly won't be requiring it from developers like Xbox360 is. Then again...if enough people complain Nintendo may change their mind at the last minute as well. It all depends on how cheaply they can build their hardware and still be able to sell it at a decent price.
nope "free as in freedom" is much much more important ;)
Sorry if I don't take my Slashdot comments seriously enough to worry about things like that...lol
Well, this is just like people could start to boycott all Coke & Pepsi products...but they won't. Should it be legal for only two companies to own 99% of the market in soft drinks? How could a small company ever dream of competing? Almost every industry is dominated by less than 5 companies, and most of them are in multiple industries to boot. The dominant "sheeple" love to give up their freedom for convenience and screw it up for the rest of us...
doubtful...
Exactly....Microsoft could pay them 20Billion and still keep going strong. What we need is stronger anti-trust laws...there are getting to be too few companies in charge of everything.
"...I can say that more than often, they are rude, have very little to add to any discussion, other than showing off their impressive command of the English language. I'd be more receptive if some of them made their response to the thread at hand, and did a BTW, but that's not what happens. Usually they are just have one line response that is rude, and often picking on one or two 'mistakes', and always critical of one's intelligence."
So they're just like computer geeks, but of the english language?
Seriously though, I think being taught phonix(sp? lol) as a child really hendered my spelling capabilities because so many words are spelled in ways they shouldn't...
Well, if you look back at the history of the english language it has changed and evolved numerous times, so I believe we're in a state of flux again. People are finally realizing that some of the "correct" spellings are idiotic and when need a more efficient, less excemption filled language. At least that's what I hope it is...
Me personally? I never could spell, and with spellcheck it's just getting worse...
People didn't used to understand the purpose of using seat belts in their cars, but they eventually learned ;P
See...whatever happened to survival of the fittest? Shouldn't all of these sheeple died out long ago?
Well, it's a stupid rule...lol. Seriously, how is anyone supposed to have serious and honest discussion of such issues without mentioning "those guys".
That's the problem when lobiest and rich men cloud the judgement of the guys who are supposed to be looking out for the people and not their own pocket books ;)
The last quote you have intrigues me. I would agree that PC gaming is where most new and innovative game ideas come from. The fact that it happens on the Windows Operating System is merely just a footnote though. The only place where independent developers can have a chance at being minorly successful is the PC game market. It costs thousands of dollars just to licence your game to a console, let alone the cost of development kits...as while a small developer can go pick up a PC, grab some free open-source development tools (for example: Blender, Ogre, SDL, ODE, Audacity, Rosegarden, GCC!) and make a game on a shoe-string budget. The only reason MS still pushes for Windows gaming is because they don't want to lose this very important market to Mac, Linux or anything else. I'm sure if they weren't worried about that, they'd kill PC gaming all together and force all the developers to pay them for the chance to release a game on their system.
I personally hope it gets worse...way worse. It seems the only way to get people to take action is for things to hit rock bottom. When the mainstream PC market shrinks even more this next go round and then all the games the come out on the consoles are boring, cookie-cutter, over marketed crap..people will be dying for a little innovation, and that when the indy community will really take off.
On the top level, I can see how many developers and gamers would think DirectX has been a help to gaming...but in the large scope of things it hasn't. It has made Windows gaming on IBM/Intel architecture better, but nothing else. If people had put even half the same effort into using real standards that work on multiple platforms we might be seeing much more interesting and innovative games now. If developers would take the time to learn to use OpenGL and SDL instead of DirectX we wouldn't have to worry about MS lock-in...but they just keep taking the easy, but short-sigted way out.
And for that you use SDL
Apparently you missed the crux of my argument. The fact that Linux is open source is all the reason you should need to switch. To achieve freedom and security you must give up some convienence. I've been struggling with learning Linux for over a year now, but I'm still not giving up on it.
"So what's left? Showing off the convaluted ways Microsoft Licences software?"
Actually yes...that's what got me interested in Linux. For the common cattle, it probably won't mean anything to them...but for anyone with a shred of activist in them explaining the rights they give away to have the "ease" of Windows will do the trick.
Also, just because their computer may be free of 3rd party spyware, doesn't mean their OS is free of 1st party spyware. "Trusted Computing" my ass...
Agreed....the insecurity of Windows alone brings it back down to equal with any UI or setup frustrations you would find with Linux. It's the fact that Linux is open source that really pushes it over the top.
I would agree the original post is not a troll. Not very well informed, certainly not insightful...but not a troll. They have all the right to report what their experience is, but I would be equally annoyed if they were modded positively. As they stated, Linux isn't as easy as Windows...especially if don't even give it a week. It's taken me more than a year to finally get used to the differences between Linux and my Windows upbringing.
"It is not about Linux vs Microsoft, it is about closed source vs open source. If you do not know what this difference means, you should not be allowed to vote, let alone operate a computer on the internet unsupervised."
Very well put... I've only been using Linux for a year now and constantly find reasons for frustration, but I keep trying and learning how to use it. Why? Simple...it's open, it's free (as in freedom). I can jump in Windows and do just about anything, much more easily...but I'd rather not. It's a matter of standing up for something instead of taking it in the ass as the current generation seems to love. You may not see any immediate problem, but lets see what happens when the US gov't passes another shifty bill that makes one of your everday tasks illegal all of the sudden? With MS's ties to the government, they can have spyware built in to the system and report everything you do back to them. You're probably thinking...I don't do anything wrong, I've got nothing to hide, but I'm sure the Germans felt the same way prior to certain political groups taking over. Go look up how many of today's prominent leaders have a family history of involvement with that same group.
When the US finally becomes a military state, or worse in the next coming decades. You'll know why I like knowing what kind of code I'm running. Open source software is one of the few tools we will have against the coming fascist regimes and singular world government.
*Note to Mods: If you disagree with my viewpoint or opinions, feel free to reply and discuss...but don't mod me down just for having unpopular ideas.
That's probably who I was really thinking of ;) thanks Rakarra...