Yes, this is exactly what it says. This mistranslation has been all over the web today, and I hope people read some of the better versions of the conference to see what he was really trying to say.
Retro games will likely be less than this (since these new games will incur costs to make, and they won't), but that hasn't been announced. I wouldn't be surprised to see a $1/$3/$6 structure though, for NES/SNES/N64 games respectively, with other vendors consoles falling into the price range of the competing Nintendo product of that generation.
It's not that fact that DieBold won't certify the machine after the check, it's the fact that they are extorting $40,000 out of the county to make an example of what will happen to other states/counties who want a 3rd party inspection done.
There is NO WAY that the actual cost of a re-examination by a DieBold tech could actually cost $40,000. Say a week and two people to go over the thing, which seems sufficiently long, plus expenses (flights, hotels, per diem)... So we are looking at $4000 in labor costs (assuming each tech makes 100k per year, when you figure in insurance and other benefits), and $600 in per diem (that's $60 per day per person), $1200 for round trip airfare, and another $1000 in hotel costs ($100 per night per room). So $6800 in actual cost to DieBold. Double that for their profit and other overhead, so $14,000 to make an even number.
Remember, that $14k has room for $7200 in profit and other expenses, plus the cost is a pretty generous assessment. So what's the other $26k for? To scare off any future potential test of course!
It was rigged in 2000, they got away with it, and it was even more fixed in 2004. I'm pretty sure than unless something dramatic happens 2008's election has already been decided.
"I know the Revolution will support 4 controllers, but the orignal SNES only really supported 2 unless you had the multi-tap. I was just wondering out loud how the new system will handle that."
???
Your wondering how it will handle having more standard controller slots than the original? Um, the first two will be players 1 and 2 and the other 2 won't be used, unless the game was multi-tap capable, in which case it will act like you connected the multi-tap for 4 players?
I don't understand what you are trying to wrap your mind around here, it seems really pretty simple.
"I'm sure it's trivial, but I hope that if Ninentendo is going to support classic games that you can play them as they were originally intended. I've tried playing old games on emulators and the experience is very different.
Maybe I'm just being particular, but I don't think I'd want to play old games with the GC controller or the new wand controller. Like I mentioned in another post, old fighting games in particular scream to be played with the controller for which they were designed."
Again, I'm operating under the assumption they will release optional shells for the want that are shaped and behave, more or less, like the controllers for the original systems. It would be a very Nintendo thing to do. They love accessories, and jump at any chance to sell you some.
How do you figure any of this? They've already announced the wireless wand controller will fit into a shell with GameCube style controls, which will make just about any game playable (it has enough buttons, although they are laid out differently). Plus, Nintendo being the the accessories whores they are will surely release classic controller shells for all the systems they sell games for; it only makes sense.
As for supporting only 2 controllers... it's been pretty well established (I mean I'm not even really following all the Rev news and even I have seen this) that the system will allow for 4 wireless controllers. Plus it has 4 GameCube controller ports on it as well.
So, ya, don't really know where you were going with all that.
Nope, I think you are the only one. It looks like the best of ALL worlds: classic 2d style game play, with gorgeous 3D graphics (which presumably means cool game engine cut scenes, and hopefully means some puzzles that involve looking at things from a different angle), PLUS unique interfaces that could only be done on the DS (the boomerang looks like perhaps the best innovation on an old concept I've seen yet). I'm hoping for the system to take advantage of the mic a little, just to throw us for a loop on a puzzle or two and that they implement some sort of WiFi multiplayer component. A more difficult co-op option? Maybe a dungeon that you can only open with two players working together?
I'm on 10.4.4 still... and have the run safe files checked... and it doesn't do anything for me either. It tries to open in QT, gives an error and that's it. Does the same thing if I run it manually. I even tried it with an admin account and nothing.
In the article it seems to indicate that is probably.35W for a 7" screen. THen take into account that it is probably inverting the colors from how we normally view them (dark background, light text). The average page of printed text has just 5% of black text on it (at least according to printer manufacturers). Let's say 10% to be safe.
A 7" screen has an area less than 25"^2, leaving only 2.5"^2 are splitting the.35W of light. Seems like it could be reasonably bright.
I always figured one way to (help) do this is increasing the fees based on the number of patents the person or company submits in a given time period, say a year.
Currently patent filing fees are anywhere form $75 to around $500, depending on the type of patent and the status of the submitting company. I say get rid of the "small entity" category, and the various types of patent applications, and go for a unified pricing structure. Everyone gets one freebie a year. The next one in $100, and the next $200, then $400, $800, $1600, $3200, etc etc. This will make IBM or MS's 3000th patent this year (not at all unlikely for either of them) cost about $9 million... not a whole lot of money for them, something they could afford but not unless they really really really thought what they were patenting was worthwhile. Plus, small inventors would get to patent one thing free, which is good for innovation in general, and even five inventions a year would only cost them $700, not really breaking the bank.
Another thing I would do, as mentioned, is expire patents quicker. If you haven't built it or licensed it to someone in 2 years, then you're SOL.
The last thing I would change is make patent enforcement more like trademarks. If you don't defend it then you can lose it. This would stop stuff what's going on with Blackberry... how long have they been operating this service? Seems like at least 5 or 6 years, probably close to 10 though. And this company just now decides to sue them? They were just waiting till someone built up enough cash for them to get a payoff on, not protecting their "intellectual property". Bah.
I know some people don't like the micro. A lot of people do, though. The nice thing, which I think that should keep people who dislike it from biatching, is that they not only didn't discontinue the SP, but the upgraded the LCD on it. Apparantly that isn't enough to satisfy some people.
Also, regarding the GBA SP/micro rechargable battery and proprietary charger dongle... well, sure it sucks to not be able to use standard batteries, but the SP's built in battery was a great performer for me and I can't see how they would have packed as much performance into the device in the size they did with standard batteries. Plus, the SP, micro, and DS all use the same adaptor, so at least they are keeping things standard internally.
So whatever happened to the GBA2? Nintendo always said the the DS WASN'T the new GameBoy and that they were working on one... so where is it? Any rumours even? Perhaps the GBA2 will be the DS redesign? Make a new handheld that is backwards compatible with the DS and GBA?
As far as design goes, I was somehting that is like a T Mobile Sidekick. The "basic" buttons (d-pad, 4 face and should buttons) on the outside with a screen in the middle. The screen would be a pivoting/rotating/flipping deal so that the touchscreen below it could be exposed for DS play, or covered for other games that don't need it. You could alos rotate it out and then flip it down so the LCDs were facing each other, potecting them from damage. I think it would be a cool design at least.
That is utter nonsense. How can more pixels make for more engaging gameplay? The most engaging make I played this year was Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga on the GBA. That has, what, half of SD resolution? But somehow they managed to entertain me for 40 hours with just that half a megapixel or so image. Amazing.
Yes, I agree that a game needs to look good to be truly great, but looking good is more about style and vision that pixel count. Also, HTF does upping the resolution lead to more innovative interfaces? The two have absolutely no connection. In fact the ONLY major next gen console that has any innovation in the controls is ignoring HD all together.
I have an HD TV and it looks GREAT. But so does a really good 480p anamorphic DVD; not as good, but NICE. What games need (visually) are widescreen resolutions (I don't think I am alone in feeling that a widescreen image, when composed properly, looks 100x more natural and pleasing), and good quality textures with cheap (in G/CPU time terms) anti-aliasing and pixel mapping effects.
No amount of resolution will make Dead or Alive Beach Volleyball any fun, but I'd gladly play Superstar Saga on my 30" HD TV in it's original 252 line (or whatever it is) resolution.
Exactly. I don't mind if the characters are going to see a movie and it just happens to be Minsert name of highest bidding marketing firms> latest release, so long as they were going to see a movie anyways. Show the name and movie poster in the background as they walk in and even a one line "ya, I liked it" as they walk out isn't disruptive to the story; but dropping the name verbally 3 times in an episode is really pushing it.
Same goes for a car ad... if someone says "hey can I borrow your explorer?" rather than "can I borrow your truck?" it's not obtrusive, but something like "wow, this Ford Explorer (tm) really has a ton of power! and look at all that room in back!" would really bother me.
If anything I'd suspect (and hope) they are releasing it with a new form-factor based on some sort of DreamCast-on-a-chip. I'm not sure how big DC games were (those were some sort of goofy CDs weren't they? like 1.2gbs or something?), but it would be really cool to see them re-release it as a portable system or an all-in-one unit with some kind of online/downloadable game sales. Maybe a handheld that uses mini-dvds? Then they could sell you all the games you've already bought again, ala PSP!
With all the players who have tried in the portable market the last couple years (Zodiac, GamePark, Gizmodo, Sony, Nokia) it wouldn't suprise me if Sega decided to throw their hat into the ring, and handheld DreamCast might just suceed where most of the rest have failed.
Puzzle Pirates has the absolute best pay system of an MMO game out right now. You can pay $10/month for unlimited play, or you can play on a "dubloon" server. Basically, a dubloon is a quarter ( little less if you buy them in bulk). In order to unlock certain areas of the game, you need to spend between 1 and 10 dubloons for a monthly pass to those features. If you don't want to unlock those parts you can simply not pay and play the other areas (wether free areas or other pay areas). Also, the 30 day pass is in all but one case a 30 LOGIN days. If you don't play today, your pass doesn't get debited for a day simple enough. Lastly, dubloons can (must) be used to buy most things. You spend X Pieces of Eight (in game money) that goes to whoever made/crafted the item, and you also pay a fixed number of dubloons as a "delivery fee" to the developers. Anywhere between 1 and 100 for anything from a hat to a giant grand war frigate.
The point is that you can play the game for free, or you can put in a little "pay as you go money" and play casually for as long as it lasts. I've spent $2.25 in the last 5 weeks. I'll probably be dropping $2.50 on a ship next week, but that's a one time cost. I'll also have to spend $3 per 30 days I actually play for passes (badges in the game). Something like this would work wonderfully well for a MMOFPS, imo.
I predict that the PS3 will be not much more powerful than the 360, cost about the same, and will be wilding disapointing to everyone who actually believed Sony's hype. Also, I predict that "Spring 06" means that in June we will see a few units come out, with mass availability (anyone can walk into any store at any point in time and buy one) sometime around September, perhaps as late as October.
1) Calling the PSP vs DS 'undecided' is pretty hopeful, at best. Thus far the DS has outsold the PSP in hardware and software worldwide, and looks like it will continue to do so. You don't hear much about the PSP anymore, and games are coming out a trickle (not that the DS has had a torrent of games, mind). It's not over yet, but PSP is going to need a big surge of momentum pretty quick here.
2) I don't buy that "Nintendo bombed with casual gamers with the GameCube". The GC wasn't aimed at casual gamers in anyway. Maybe at kids and/or new gamers, with the easy to use control layout and abundance of party games. I also don't know how you define "bombed", but to me, a company who sells (until recently) only 2 products, and makes more money than any of it's competitors over the lasts two years (they actually made more money than MS and Sony combined, of course MS lost money, but they made nearly twice what Sony Games did) didn't have any products that 'bombed'. See here for numbers.
3) Will the Revolutions controller be the greatest thing ever? Maybe. Hopefully they will be smart and bundle a 'standard' controller cradle with every wand style controller sold. At the very least you can have a regular console controller that knows where you are pointing it. Give me NHL 2k7 where I can point where I want the puck to go when I shoot it and I'll call it the greatest thing ever.
4) My money is on Nintendo making the most money of any game company this time around. Just like last time. Sony will probably move the most units, and MS will be lucky to break even. Nintendo will quietly sell millions of systems and games, all at a profit, and will continue to make boat loads of cash.
I was hoping someone would point that out. As a "returning student" I am currently taking an into level micro-econ class, which I just got done reading the chapter on oligopolies and cartels for. The music industry, as has been pointed out before is more or a less a price fixing cartel. However, the ability to buy and sell used CDs let people escape the predestined price structure, at least to an extent. The iTunes (and all other digital music stores) scheme effectively removes your ability to buy outside of the RIAAs oligopoly. Without resale rights, you are forced to pay whatever price the RIAA cartel decides to charge.
This effect would become compounded if a "market" system were introduced to the price structure in iTunes. Maybe what would make everyone happy is if they implemented a variable price structure, but opened up a system to let you buy songs from other users who have already purchased it. You select the track you have previously bought, enter in a price you want, and iTunes lists it under a special "Buy it Used" tab in the song listing. I suppose Apple should get a cut of that, for providing the venue, but still a good deal for consumers. I know that I would stake out the new Ashlee Simpon CDs on release day just to resell them the next week once the price had doubled...
I'm sure the RIAA would throw a fit over this, but maybe someone needs to sue Apple for the 'right' to resell iTMS downloads to get the ball rolling.
although I still maintain that the PS2 controller is the greatest thumbstick controller ever to grace the earth
Blech. The PS2 controller (just a dual shock PS1 controller) is the most unoriginal, boring, and overrated controller out there. I can just see the planning that went into that one... "Hey I have a good idea! Let's take a SNES controller and an N64 controller and kinda smoosh them together into this bland generic looking thing!" Again, blech!
I remember reading that the IDE was the same as the GameCubes and that they built a (wired) Revolution controller for the GC development machines. Developers can/have been building games as GameCube games with the new controller last I heard, and will "simply" just have to bring it over to Revolution dev kits and start using all the extra graphical and computationa; capabilities. So, as I understand it, you start working on your game and just have textureless low poly count models for placeholders as you get the engine working. Then when you move to the real hardware you can start putting in real models and textures and adding more complexity to your physics and AI routines etc... that was just what I remember hearing, though, I could be way off.
That's a really interesting point. In fact I was just considering this the other day while watching the Gilmore Girls (stop laughing). There was a commercial for Smallville, which I have never watched. In this commercial they show a ~17 year old Superman who seems to have all his powers (super speed, strength, xray vision, impervious to bullets, etc) and some girlfriend who is kidknapped by an evil villian. Ok, so how exactly do you stop Superman from thwarting your crimes? Either you have to be, as you say, a super villian, and at that point why bother, or you have to hide your doings from Superman, as in this episode of Smallville. Ok, it's a pretty trite plot device (I've kidnapped XXX and you only have 24 hours to save her, but yo don't know where I am hiding! BWAHAHA!), but it works. The question is how many times does can you make this work? Isn't Smallville in it's 3rd+ season? How many times have they used something like this to make some drama for a problem Superman couldn't fix?
In any case, I think you are dead on about Superman being flawed. To make it interesting you have to have him battle super villians, and at that point, why not just have some not so super people pitted against one another so there is some chance the character is mildly (a) interesting/dimensional and (b) relatable?
I'm not sure that the statement "they are damaging Nintendo" is accurate. As you point out, MS's XBox division lost BILLIONS. Nintendo still makes billions. Sure, they are a close 3rd in the overall units sold count, but they started losing ground WAY before MS got into the market, when Sony released the PS1. Sure the Xbox might be canabalizing some GC sales, but it's tough to say wether or not the Xbox's 'success' is taking away more from Nintendo or Sony. (IMO, XBox and PS2 demographics seem to overlap MUCH more than the XBox and GC).
Except the DS. I can't remember any game from the DS launch that I had to play. I remember I was thinking about buying one, but could find any games that I just had to have. Now that I look back, I am glad I waited. It took almost the first year to get any really must play games out, but there are plenty available now, and the near future is promising a whole lot more must plays.
I think that it is a foregone conclusion that N will "win" in this generation. Not "win" in the sense they will sell the most systems or have the most games, but rather that they will sell enough consoles, controllers, and games to make a tidy profit, and hence Nintendo will be around for the next generation. That's all it's really about, isn't it? Nintendo isn't going to care whether you buy just a Revolution, or a PS3 and a Rev, or a 360 and a Rev, or all damn three, so long as you buy the Revolution.
The GameCube sort of filled this role this time around. It became the cheaper "add-on" console that PS2 owners bought for Mario Party when their friends came over, and Zelda and Paper Mario for when they were alone and no one could see them playing a game with:gasp: cartoon style graphics and no ho's to smack!
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Yes, this is exactly what it says. This mistranslation has been all over the web today, and I hope people read some of the better versions of the conference to see what he was really trying to say. Retro games will likely be less than this (since these new games will incur costs to make, and they won't), but that hasn't been announced. I wouldn't be surprised to see a $1/$3/$6 structure though, for NES/SNES/N64 games respectively, with other vendors consoles falling into the price range of the competing Nintendo product of that generation.
It's not that fact that DieBold won't certify the machine after the check, it's the fact that they are extorting $40,000 out of the county to make an example of what will happen to other states/counties who want a 3rd party inspection done.
There is NO WAY that the actual cost of a re-examination by a DieBold tech could actually cost $40,000. Say a week and two people to go over the thing, which seems sufficiently long, plus expenses (flights, hotels, per diem)... So we are looking at $4000 in labor costs (assuming each tech makes 100k per year, when you figure in insurance and other benefits), and $600 in per diem (that's $60 per day per person), $1200 for round trip airfare, and another $1000 in hotel costs ($100 per night per room). So $6800 in actual cost to DieBold. Double that for their profit and other overhead, so $14,000 to make an even number.
Remember, that $14k has room for $7200 in profit and other expenses, plus the cost is a pretty generous assessment. So what's the other $26k for? To scare off any future potential test of course!
It was rigged in 2000, they got away with it, and it was even more fixed in 2004. I'm pretty sure than unless something dramatic happens 2008's election has already been decided.
"I know the Revolution will support 4 controllers, but the orignal SNES only really supported 2 unless you had the multi-tap. I was just wondering out loud how the new system will handle that."
???
Your wondering how it will handle having more standard controller slots than the original? Um, the first two will be players 1 and 2 and the other 2 won't be used, unless the game was multi-tap capable, in which case it will act like you connected the multi-tap for 4 players?
I don't understand what you are trying to wrap your mind around here, it seems really pretty simple.
"I'm sure it's trivial, but I hope that if Ninentendo is going to support classic games that you can play them as they were originally intended. I've tried playing old games on emulators and the experience is very different.
Maybe I'm just being particular, but I don't think I'd want to play old games with the GC controller or the new wand controller. Like I mentioned in another post, old fighting games in particular scream to be played with the controller for which they were designed."
Again, I'm operating under the assumption they will release optional shells for the want that are shaped and behave, more or less, like the controllers for the original systems. It would be a very Nintendo thing to do. They love accessories, and jump at any chance to sell you some.
How do you figure any of this? They've already announced the wireless wand controller will fit into a shell with GameCube style controls, which will make just about any game playable (it has enough buttons, although they are laid out differently). Plus, Nintendo being the the accessories whores they are will surely release classic controller shells for all the systems they sell games for; it only makes sense.
As for supporting only 2 controllers... it's been pretty well established (I mean I'm not even really following all the Rev news and even I have seen this) that the system will allow for 4 wireless controllers. Plus it has 4 GameCube controller ports on it as well.
So, ya, don't really know where you were going with all that.
Nope, I think you are the only one. It looks like the best of ALL worlds: classic 2d style game play, with gorgeous 3D graphics (which presumably means cool game engine cut scenes, and hopefully means some puzzles that involve looking at things from a different angle), PLUS unique interfaces that could only be done on the DS (the boomerang looks like perhaps the best innovation on an old concept I've seen yet). I'm hoping for the system to take advantage of the mic a little, just to throw us for a loop on a puzzle or two and that they implement some sort of WiFi multiplayer component. A more difficult co-op option? Maybe a dungeon that you can only open with two players working together?
I'm on 10.4.4 still... and have the run safe files checked... and it doesn't do anything for me either. It tries to open in QT, gives an error and that's it. Does the same thing if I run it manually. I even tried it with an admin account and nothing.
A 7" screen has an area less than 25"^2, leaving only 2.5"^2 are splitting the .35W of light. Seems like it could be reasonably bright.
Currently patent filing fees are anywhere form $75 to around $500, depending on the type of patent and the status of the submitting company. I say get rid of the "small entity" category, and the various types of patent applications, and go for a unified pricing structure. Everyone gets one freebie a year. The next one in $100, and the next $200, then $400, $800, $1600, $3200, etc etc. This will make IBM or MS's 3000th patent this year (not at all unlikely for either of them) cost about $9 million... not a whole lot of money for them, something they could afford but not unless they really really really thought what they were patenting was worthwhile. Plus, small inventors would get to patent one thing free, which is good for innovation in general, and even five inventions a year would only cost them $700, not really breaking the bank.
Another thing I would do, as mentioned, is expire patents quicker. If you haven't built it or licensed it to someone in 2 years, then you're SOL.
The last thing I would change is make patent enforcement more like trademarks. If you don't defend it then you can lose it. This would stop stuff what's going on with Blackberry... how long have they been operating this service? Seems like at least 5 or 6 years, probably close to 10 though. And this company just now decides to sue them? They were just waiting till someone built up enough cash for them to get a payoff on, not protecting their "intellectual property". Bah.
Fox won't get much (any?) of the money from the movie (theatre or DVD). It was a Universal production.
Also, regarding the GBA SP/micro rechargable battery and proprietary charger dongle... well, sure it sucks to not be able to use standard batteries, but the SP's built in battery was a great performer for me and I can't see how they would have packed as much performance into the device in the size they did with standard batteries. Plus, the SP, micro, and DS all use the same adaptor, so at least they are keeping things standard internally.
As far as design goes, I was somehting that is like a T Mobile Sidekick. The "basic" buttons (d-pad, 4 face and should buttons) on the outside with a screen in the middle. The screen would be a pivoting/rotating/flipping deal so that the touchscreen below it could be exposed for DS play, or covered for other games that don't need it. You could alos rotate it out and then flip it down so the LCDs were facing each other, potecting them from damage. I think it would be a cool design at least.
Yes, I agree that a game needs to look good to be truly great, but looking good is more about style and vision that pixel count. Also, HTF does upping the resolution lead to more innovative interfaces? The two have absolutely no connection. In fact the ONLY major next gen console that has any innovation in the controls is ignoring HD all together.
I have an HD TV and it looks GREAT. But so does a really good 480p anamorphic DVD; not as good, but NICE. What games need (visually) are widescreen resolutions (I don't think I am alone in feeling that a widescreen image, when composed properly, looks 100x more natural and pleasing), and good quality textures with cheap (in G/CPU time terms) anti-aliasing and pixel mapping effects.
No amount of resolution will make Dead or Alive Beach Volleyball any fun, but I'd gladly play Superstar Saga on my 30" HD TV in it's original 252 line (or whatever it is) resolution.
Same goes for a car ad... if someone says "hey can I borrow your explorer?" rather than "can I borrow your truck?" it's not obtrusive, but something like "wow, this Ford Explorer (tm) really has a ton of power! and look at all that room in back!" would really bother me.
With all the players who have tried in the portable market the last couple years (Zodiac, GamePark, Gizmodo, Sony, Nokia) it wouldn't suprise me if Sega decided to throw their hat into the ring, and handheld DreamCast might just suceed where most of the rest have failed.
The point is that you can play the game for free, or you can put in a little "pay as you go money" and play casually for as long as it lasts. I've spent $2.25 in the last 5 weeks. I'll probably be dropping $2.50 on a ship next week, but that's a one time cost. I'll also have to spend $3 per 30 days I actually play for passes (badges in the game). Something like this would work wonderfully well for a MMOFPS, imo.
I predict that the PS3 will be not much more powerful than the 360, cost about the same, and will be wilding disapointing to everyone who actually believed Sony's hype. Also, I predict that "Spring 06" means that in June we will see a few units come out, with mass availability (anyone can walk into any store at any point in time and buy one) sometime around September, perhaps as late as October.
2) I don't buy that "Nintendo bombed with casual gamers with the GameCube". The GC wasn't aimed at casual gamers in anyway. Maybe at kids and/or new gamers, with the easy to use control layout and abundance of party games. I also don't know how you define "bombed", but to me, a company who sells (until recently) only 2 products, and makes more money than any of it's competitors over the lasts two years (they actually made more money than MS and Sony combined, of course MS lost money, but they made nearly twice what Sony Games did) didn't have any products that 'bombed'. See here for numbers.
3) Will the Revolutions controller be the greatest thing ever? Maybe. Hopefully they will be smart and bundle a 'standard' controller cradle with every wand style controller sold. At the very least you can have a regular console controller that knows where you are pointing it. Give me NHL 2k7 where I can point where I want the puck to go when I shoot it and I'll call it the greatest thing ever.
4) My money is on Nintendo making the most money of any game company this time around. Just like last time. Sony will probably move the most units, and MS will be lucky to break even. Nintendo will quietly sell millions of systems and games, all at a profit, and will continue to make boat loads of cash.
This effect would become compounded if a "market" system were introduced to the price structure in iTunes. Maybe what would make everyone happy is if they implemented a variable price structure, but opened up a system to let you buy songs from other users who have already purchased it. You select the track you have previously bought, enter in a price you want, and iTunes lists it under a special "Buy it Used" tab in the song listing. I suppose Apple should get a cut of that, for providing the venue, but still a good deal for consumers. I know that I would stake out the new Ashlee Simpon CDs on release day just to resell them the next week once the price had doubled...
I'm sure the RIAA would throw a fit over this, but maybe someone needs to sue Apple for the 'right' to resell iTMS downloads to get the ball rolling.
Blech. The PS2 controller (just a dual shock PS1 controller) is the most unoriginal, boring, and overrated controller out there. I can just see the planning that went into that one... "Hey I have a good idea! Let's take a SNES controller and an N64 controller and kinda smoosh them together into this bland generic looking thing!" Again, blech!
I remember reading that the IDE was the same as the GameCubes and that they built a (wired) Revolution controller for the GC development machines. Developers can/have been building games as GameCube games with the new controller last I heard, and will "simply" just have to bring it over to Revolution dev kits and start using all the extra graphical and computationa; capabilities. So, as I understand it, you start working on your game and just have textureless low poly count models for placeholders as you get the engine working. Then when you move to the real hardware you can start putting in real models and textures and adding more complexity to your physics and AI routines etc... that was just what I remember hearing, though, I could be way off.
In any case, I think you are dead on about Superman being flawed. To make it interesting you have to have him battle super villians, and at that point, why not just have some not so super people pitted against one another so there is some chance the character is mildly (a) interesting/dimensional and (b) relatable?
I'm not sure that the statement "they are damaging Nintendo" is accurate. As you point out, MS's XBox division lost BILLIONS. Nintendo still makes billions. Sure, they are a close 3rd in the overall units sold count, but they started losing ground WAY before MS got into the market, when Sony released the PS1. Sure the Xbox might be canabalizing some GC sales, but it's tough to say wether or not the Xbox's 'success' is taking away more from Nintendo or Sony. (IMO, XBox and PS2 demographics seem to overlap MUCH more than the XBox and GC).
That was exactly my first thought as well! If I had any mod points I'd send them your way to counter-act your undeserved -1 Troll!
Except the DS. I can't remember any game from the DS launch that I had to play. I remember I was thinking about buying one, but could find any games that I just had to have. Now that I look back, I am glad I waited. It took almost the first year to get any really must play games out, but there are plenty available now, and the near future is promising a whole lot more must plays.
The GameCube sort of filled this role this time around. It became the cheaper "add-on" console that PS2 owners bought for Mario Party when their friends came over, and Zelda and Paper Mario for when they were alone and no one could see them playing a game with :gasp: cartoon style graphics and no ho's to smack!