Why is simplicity a bad thing? If anything, keeping it simple makes it HARDER to do well. You have less to work with, and flaws are more obvious.
There is something to be said for the simple elegance of the game. More is not always better.
Again, I don't really care what you DO. I just find the bullshit moral justifications to be tiring. I'm not sure if I can restate this in any simpler terms.
It's a perfect analogy. The single book is part of a greater work. (The Lord of the Rings, in episodic format) Would one part of "The Green Mile" be a better analogy?
I never said what they did was fair, I am saying that you are not entitled to the work. (In fact, I made sure to point that out in my post) If you think it's a rip-off then don't buy it. But there is no moral justification for obtaining the work via illegal means.
Be honest. You're only talking about movies. Children aren't allowed in strip clubs. Leave the hyperbole at home. I'm talking about movies, music, and print media. None have government regulations until you hit the level of pornographic content. M-rated games are NOT in that category. (and most are tame compared to R-rated movies) Trying to compare a M-rated game to a strip club makes very little sense.
1) there is a (strong) correlation between violent video games and violence in real life Correlation != causation. All this proves is violent people like violent entertainment. I bet they watch violent movies too! *gasp*
Please keep in mind that this kind of restriction does not exist in other entertainment mediums. (Except for extreme instances, such as pornography)
If a store sells a R-rated movie to a 16 year old, is it a criminal offense? No If a store sells a Steven King book (sex and violence) to a 16 year old, is it a criminal offense? No. If a store sells a CD with a parental advisory sticker to a 16 year old, is it a criminal offense? No.
So why should selling a M rated game (Not AO) to a minor become criminal? Why the double standard?
Because it isn't needed in any other entertainment industry? There is no law preventing a store from selling R-rated movies to 10 year olds, and I don't see anyone raving about that...
If they can screw me by selling me EP1 and then not wanting to sell me EP2 in the same way then i have no moral objections when it comes to piracy. I bought 1/3 of a game and i want to play it till the end. You have no divine right to play a video game. Purchasing HL2 or Episode 1 did not guarantee that you will get future content on the same terms. Valve changed their minds. Either buy it or don't. But don't pretend that their change in pricing justifies illegal activity. That's just stupid.
BTW, I'm not saying that Valve's decision here is good or bad. But it's their product and if they want to lose business by pricing it that way, it's their perogative. Not yours. The point of 'voting with your wallet' is to show you have no interest in the product as it is offered. By pirating, you undermine that statement. Mindshare is just as important as money. Deny them both if you feel so strongly. But if you just can't survive without playing Ep. 2, then buy the damn box.
What I find funny is that the in-game vehicle control is touted as a defining, trend-setting feature in online play... but whenever someone takes control of a vehicle, it almost guarantees instant death. 1) Bad drivers are bad drivers in any game.
2) Don't get in a vehicle when the other team controls the rocket launcher.
Vehicles used well can be devastating, but there are counters to them, obviously.
I think Halo is to FPS what WoW is to MMO's. It isn't blatantly revolutionary, (Altho many features are, as previously stated) but instead it is a complete polished package. You have excellent visual design, a decent story with enough originality to keep it fresh, tight gameplay with a unique feel, and well balanced multiplayer. Halo 3 also brings player-created content to the console in a big way. Forge is simply an amazing tool.
Only billions of downloads will change the current system. It is too entrenched. Fixed that for you. Change is coming, as much as the current players fight it.
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Windows XP is actually Base-36. (Windows 1214) Which is a significant upgrade from Windows NT (Windows 894) but still falls short of Windows 2000.
Why is simplicity a bad thing? If anything, keeping it simple makes it HARDER to do well. You have less to work with, and flaws are more obvious. There is something to be said for the simple elegance of the game. More is not always better.
Because version number means EVERYTHING, and actual content means NOTHING.
Again, I don't really care what you DO. I just find the bullshit moral justifications to be tiring. I'm not sure if I can restate this in any simpler terms.
It's a perfect analogy. The single book is part of a greater work. (The Lord of the Rings, in episodic format) Would one part of "The Green Mile" be a better analogy?
I never said what they did was fair, I am saying that you are not entitled to the work. (In fact, I made sure to point that out in my post) If you think it's a rip-off then don't buy it. But there is no moral justification for obtaining the work via illegal means.
I'm talking about movies, music, and print media. None have government regulations until you hit the level of pornographic content. M-rated games are NOT in that category. (and most are tame compared to R-rated movies) Trying to compare a M-rated game to a strip club makes very little sense.
Correlation != causation. All this proves is violent people like violent entertainment. I bet they watch violent movies too! *gasp*
Please keep in mind that this kind of restriction does not exist in other entertainment mediums. (Except for extreme instances, such as pornography)
If a store sells a R-rated movie to a 16 year old, is it a criminal offense? No
If a store sells a Steven King book (sex and violence) to a 16 year old, is it a criminal offense? No.
If a store sells a CD with a parental advisory sticker to a 16 year old, is it a criminal offense? No.
So why should selling a M rated game (Not AO) to a minor become criminal? Why the double standard?
Because it isn't needed in any other entertainment industry? There is no law preventing a store from selling R-rated movies to 10 year olds, and I don't see anyone raving about that...
If I buy 'The Two Towers' am I entitled to 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Return of the King' for free if I don't like their sale price?
No.
I don't expect you to change your mind about what to do, but drop the bullshit self-justification.
BTW, I'm not saying that Valve's decision here is good or bad. But it's their product and if they want to lose business by pricing it that way, it's their perogative. Not yours. The point of 'voting with your wallet' is to show you have no interest in the product as it is offered. By pirating, you undermine that statement. Mindshare is just as important as money. Deny them both if you feel so strongly. But if you just can't survive without playing Ep. 2, then buy the damn box.
Personally, I think it's turtles all the way down.
Yes, you too can have the cleanest, highest precision tubes for your internets...
They can extend that with remote DSLAMS. But depending on population density, they may not bother.
I think it discourages bots, mostly.
1) Bad drivers are bad drivers in any game.
2) Don't get in a vehicle when the other team controls the rocket launcher.
Vehicles used well can be devastating, but there are counters to them, obviously.
MP: 3 is the best console FPS control scheme out there, altho I have no real complaints playing Halo on Xbox.
I think Halo is to FPS what WoW is to MMO's. It isn't blatantly revolutionary, (Altho many features are, as previously stated) but instead it is a complete polished package. You have excellent visual design, a decent story with enough originality to keep it fresh, tight gameplay with a unique feel, and well balanced multiplayer. Halo 3 also brings player-created content to the console in a big way. Forge is simply an amazing tool.
A compelling and interesting story. Half-life did that first, but the story is different from Half-life. It's okay to like both.
Actually, I believe Marathon (Also by Bungie) did it first.I wonder if someone could run similar numbers for CD sales? I wonder how much the take is there...
Didn't Apple give everyone working for the company a free iPhone at launch?