I must be one of the few people who thinks that the MiniDisc kicked ass. But, being a music major in college, I had a lot of use for a handheld, cd quality recording device. (Depending on the quality of microphone of course)
These things are insanely useful to about 2% of the population.
Vivendi would have a screaming hissy fit of Valve seld the game for less on steam than in the stores. Not only would Valve be cutting Vivendi out of some of the sales profits with direct distribution, but they would also be agressively competing with their own publisher by cutting cost.
Not being able to use the flashlight with guns is INTENTIONAL. Wishing desperately that you could use both is the intended effect. You are not supposed to be comfortable. Honestly, if you could use both at the same time, you'd never turn the flashlight off!
As for multiplayer, I have 2 points. First: DOOM3 is primarily a SINGLE PLAYER game. They added multiplayer as an extra. If you bought it for multiplayer, you're stupid. Second point: Check out the maps. They're small, dark, and close quarters. (much like the single player game) 4 players is a good limit for the maps that shipped with the game. I know that limit is not hard coded, and player made stuff has already upped that player limit.
Is this still the case if it's out of the normal warantee period?
I've had my PS2 since they were first released, and living under a rock, I never knew about the proliferation fo problems till I started experiencing them about 6 months ago. Now the thing will not play PS1 games at all, (makes a wierd grinding noise at spinup) and is just now starting to give me DVD read errors. I guess I got "lucky" and got a unit that outlasted expectations. I assumed that since I was out of warantee I was SOL.
One is a video of a japanese guy doing the super mario soundtrack on a piano while blindfolded.
I'm not quite sure why people are so impressed by this. Playing the piano is very much based on muscle memory. A pianist knows where the keys are by touch. If you need to look at the keys to figure out where you're going next, you won't be able to play the thing.
Think of it this way. If you're playing CounterStrike against a guy who has to keep looking at the keyboard to find whatever key he needs next, do you think he will fare very well?
Everyone wants Jedi so they can kick everyone else's ass. Sony knows this. It's all they ever advertise.
Umm, yeah. What the hell else would anyone want to do in the Star Wars universe? They should have set the game in the same era as KOTOR. That way everyone could be Jedi/Sith and it would make sense.
The thing that most people don't know, is that the original company the debt is with (Whoever gave you the credit in the first place) is NOT bound by the FDCPA. (Fair Debt Collections Practices Act) The original lender call call you all they want, whenever they want. Most of them still follow the FDCPA as policy, but they don't have to.
I believe the limitations on collection agencies is that they can call between 8am-9pm 7 days a week, but they can only make contact (identify themselves at any given number) 3 times in 5 days. Basically, if they identify themselves to your HR dept 4 times a week, they're in violation. Also, if you submit a cease and desist order, they have to abide by it. Simply list any number they could possibly try (home, work, relatives, etc) on the cease and desist letter.
I learned all this working collections. It's been a year or two, so I may not be totally accurate.
You're giving the impression that much of western music was created "for the masses". Honestly, from the renaissance period forward most composers and musicians did work for pay. Bach would not have produced the body of work he did if he was not under the employ of the Catholic Church. The only major composer I can think of who produced a body of work without it being a source of income is an American, Charles Ives. (He was an insurance salesman, and none of his music was published until very late in his life.)
The real problem with what is happening with copyright law is that power is shifting away from the populace toward those controlling the content. Copyrighted works were INTENDED to pass to the public domain after a set time period so that the general public could fully benefit from those works. Unfortunately, the modern entertainment industry pressured the government to allow unlimited extensions of copyright. This allows a company to control it's works indefinitely.
IIRC, this started when Disney was about to lose "Steamboat Willie" to the public domain. Whats ironic is that by trying to protect it's intellectual property, they shot themselves in the foot. A vast majority of Disneys animated movies were adaptions of literary works that had entered public domain. By pushing legislation to keep IP out of public domain indefinately, there is no longer anything moving into the public domain that they can use for a project without compensating the copyright holders. They're running out of public domain material to adapt. (hence the new trend for excessive sequels they are now producing)
Copyight law was originally intended to protect the PUBLIC from content holders, not the other way around. Government has lost sight of that original intent.
In a few years that Gigabytes will become Terabytes. When one person can have a copy of nearly all music in existence, they will never spend a dime on it. It's too late. Content producers are fucked. Only niche markets will survive.
I'm not worried about the content producers. What about the content CREATORS? Your statement only applies if there is no new content coming into the system. If people don't keep paying for the same content, there's more money to go toward NEW content. More money available, means more people making new content. More people making new content = good!
If you really want to make a lasting impression, you have two paths to choose.
1) Innovate, and develop a new genre of game. (Example: GTA series)
2) Bring an existing genre to a level of maturity previously unattained. (Example: Half-Life)
That being said, there is nothing wrong with doing "another FPS" as long as it brings something worthwile to the table. Half-Life is an excellent example of this. It pushed the FPS genre to a higher level of maturity without fundamentally changing the genre.
I've been playing the game almost since release, and this kind of stuff, while somewhat evil, definitely keeps things interesting. I was honestly expecting this to be about Morbor's investment scheme. That guy fooled a good chunk of the game population with his scam that ran for weeks.
As for the trader losing his only defense to pirates... (The MWD) Well, the whining about who has the unfair advantage never stops on either side. Keep in mind that the story here took place early after release, and the writer is a bit overdramatic about things. What was true then is far from true now.
How so? Solitaire has been around a frigging long time. It's simple, but the gameplay is addictive. Flashy graphics, complex plots, etc do not make a good game. Gameplay does.
Sometimes simplicity is key. Look at the likes of Checkers, Chess, Poker and Blackjack. On electronic platforms, theres Tetris, alot of the flash games out today like Bejeweled, And who wouldn't play Arkanoid?
I agree. It's really pretty bad-ass that they're porting Half Life to the Source Engine, and packaging it with HL2. Will be great to relive Half Life with updated graphics and physics. Also nice that people new to the franchise can play HL1 without tracking it down and purchasing it seperately.
Essentially, you're getting at least 2 games for the price of one. (possibly more if CS: Source, and other popular mods are included as well) Will definitely be worth the money when it finally comes out.
Undesired effect is not subjective. It is not implying a negative or positive effect. (which IS subjective) It is simply saying an effect that is not desired.
The sticking point is who determines what is undesirable, the content producer, or the consumer.
Of course, I'm sure the effects of your typical trojan are quite desirable to the trojan's writer. So if we're drawing comparisons, then the recipient of the "product" is the one who determines if it's effects are desirable or not.
I'm sorry, is Doom 3 not advanced enough to suit your standards?
Even Carmack has stated that graphics engines are coming to a point where they have a much longer shelf life than we're used to. Look at the visuals in Doom 3, and keep in mind that they are not using the engine to it's fullest potential by any stretch. Think about how long the Unreal engine lasted, and how much more people accomplished with it long after it's release. The Doom 3 engine should last us quite a few years provided it's flexible enough for developers.
Besides, if Carmack was going to code ANOTHER new graphics engine for Quake 4, that would kinda kill his chances of selling the Doom 3 engine, wouldn't it. (Not to mention that we wouldn't see Quake 4 until 2010 or something)
Slashdot Mirror
Might want to actually READ the post then. What you mentioned is in there.
Wait till the next "director's cut" of the movie...
Infinium Labs introduces it's newest software development partner:
:rimshot:
VaporWare
I've had customers try to install a modem into a system with a spot welder.
Never underestimate the stupidity of an end user.
Hard drive -> Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal
Wow, that really makes no sense.
My eyes! The goggles do nothing!
I must be one of the few people who thinks that the MiniDisc kicked ass. But, being a music major in college, I had a lot of use for a handheld, cd quality recording device. (Depending on the quality of microphone of course)
These things are insanely useful to about 2% of the population.
Vivendi would have a screaming hissy fit of Valve seld the game for less on steam than in the stores. Not only would Valve be cutting Vivendi out of some of the sales profits with direct distribution, but they would also be agressively competing with their own publisher by cutting cost.
Not being able to use the flashlight with guns is INTENTIONAL. Wishing desperately that you could use both is the intended effect. You are not supposed to be comfortable. Honestly, if you could use both at the same time, you'd never turn the flashlight off!
As for multiplayer, I have 2 points. First: DOOM3 is primarily a SINGLE PLAYER game. They added multiplayer as an extra. If you bought it for multiplayer, you're stupid. Second point: Check out the maps. They're small, dark, and close quarters. (much like the single player game) 4 players is a good limit for the maps that shipped with the game. I know that limit is not hard coded, and player made stuff has already upped that player limit.
Is this still the case if it's out of the normal warantee period?
I've had my PS2 since they were first released, and living under a rock, I never knew about the proliferation fo problems till I started experiencing them about 6 months ago. Now the thing will not play PS1 games at all, (makes a wierd grinding noise at spinup) and is just now starting to give me DVD read errors. I guess I got "lucky" and got a unit that outlasted expectations. I assumed that since I was out of warantee I was SOL.
Think of it this way. If you're playing CounterStrike against a guy who has to keep looking at the keyboard to find whatever key he needs next, do you think he will fare very well?
Their console isn't the only thing thats vaporware...
I think it's safe to assume it would be BOTH.
The thing that most people don't know, is that the original company the debt is with (Whoever gave you the credit in the first place) is NOT bound by the FDCPA. (Fair Debt Collections Practices Act) The original lender call call you all they want, whenever they want. Most of them still follow the FDCPA as policy, but they don't have to.
I believe the limitations on collection agencies is that they can call between 8am-9pm 7 days a week, but they can only make contact (identify themselves at any given number) 3 times in 5 days. Basically, if they identify themselves to your HR dept 4 times a week, they're in violation. Also, if you submit a cease and desist order, they have to abide by it. Simply list any number they could possibly try (home, work, relatives, etc) on the cease and desist letter.
I learned all this working collections. It's been a year or two, so I may not be totally accurate.
A couple of things here.
You're giving the impression that much of western music was created "for the masses". Honestly, from the renaissance period forward most composers and musicians did work for pay. Bach would not have produced the body of work he did if he was not under the employ of the Catholic Church. The only major composer I can think of who produced a body of work without it being a source of income is an American, Charles Ives. (He was an insurance salesman, and none of his music was published until very late in his life.)
The real problem with what is happening with copyright law is that power is shifting away from the populace toward those controlling the content. Copyrighted works were INTENDED to pass to the public domain after a set time period so that the general public could fully benefit from those works. Unfortunately, the modern entertainment industry pressured the government to allow unlimited extensions of copyright. This allows a company to control it's works indefinitely.
IIRC, this started when Disney was about to lose "Steamboat Willie" to the public domain. Whats ironic is that by trying to protect it's intellectual property, they shot themselves in the foot. A vast majority of Disneys animated movies were adaptions of literary works that had entered public domain. By pushing legislation to keep IP out of public domain indefinately, there is no longer anything moving into the public domain that they can use for a project without compensating the copyright holders. They're running out of public domain material to adapt. (hence the new trend for excessive sequels they are now producing)
Copyight law was originally intended to protect the PUBLIC from content holders, not the other way around. Government has lost sight of that original intent.
If you really want to make a lasting impression, you have two paths to choose.
1) Innovate, and develop a new genre of game. (Example: GTA series)
2) Bring an existing genre to a level of maturity previously unattained. (Example: Half-Life)
That being said, there is nothing wrong with doing "another FPS" as long as it brings something worthwile to the table. Half-Life is an excellent example of this. It pushed the FPS genre to a higher level of maturity without fundamentally changing the genre.
I've been playing the game almost since release, and this kind of stuff, while somewhat evil, definitely keeps things interesting. I was honestly expecting this to be about Morbor's investment scheme. That guy fooled a good chunk of the game population with his scam that ran for weeks.
As for the trader losing his only defense to pirates... (The MWD) Well, the whining about who has the unfair advantage never stops on either side. Keep in mind that the story here took place early after release, and the writer is a bit overdramatic about things. What was true then is far from true now.
Regardless, it's still a good read.
Running an Athlon 1800+, with 512meg ram, and a Radeon 9800 non-pro.
Runs fine in 1024x768 high detail. Only stutter is when a door opens and a crapload of textures get shipped to the card. Very playable, and very nice.
How so? Solitaire has been around a frigging long time. It's simple, but the gameplay is addictive. Flashy graphics, complex plots, etc do not make a good game. Gameplay does.
Sometimes simplicity is key. Look at the likes of Checkers, Chess, Poker and Blackjack. On electronic platforms, theres Tetris, alot of the flash games out today like Bejeweled, And who wouldn't play Arkanoid?
I agree. It's really pretty bad-ass that they're porting Half Life to the Source Engine, and packaging it with HL2. Will be great to relive Half Life with updated graphics and physics. Also nice that people new to the franchise can play HL1 without tracking it down and purchasing it seperately.
Essentially, you're getting at least 2 games for the price of one. (possibly more if CS: Source, and other popular mods are included as well) Will definitely be worth the money when it finally comes out.
This situation is a public performance, not a purchased copy of the move. So fair use doesn't apply.
Undesired effect is not subjective. It is not implying a negative or positive effect. (which IS subjective) It is simply saying an effect that is not desired.
The sticking point is who determines what is undesirable, the content producer, or the consumer.
Of course, I'm sure the effects of your typical trojan are quite desirable to the trojan's writer. So if we're drawing comparisons, then the recipient of the "product" is the one who determines if it's effects are desirable or not.
Besides, if Carmack was going to code ANOTHER new graphics engine for Quake 4, that would kinda kill his chances of selling the Doom 3 engine, wouldn't it. (Not to mention that we wouldn't see Quake 4 until 2010 or something)