Yes but netcode can be even worse since it introduces an entirely new part to the engine. Splitscreen is basically rendering two viewpoints, handling multiple input devices and rearranging the HUD, splitscreen games aren't going to desync, lag or cause other errors network games have had over the years. Problems with splitscreen are obvious, problems with netcode can be a bitch to track down.
That wiki says that yes, infinite rotation is in the official rulebook and in an interview on PGC linked from there Hank Rogers says it's not optional, they want Tetris to be consistent between systems and infinite spin was a concession to beginners on mobile phones or something.
Off-Topic but I liked this snippet from the interview:
PGC: Because we know that you are an acquaintance of Mr. Yamauchi at NCL, we wanted to ask how you would contrast Satoru Iwata with his predecessor, Mr. Yamauchi?
HR: I wouldn't compare those two. How could you compare those two, come on? Yamauchithat's like comparingDon Corleone andwho else? I don't know. (Laughter)
PGC: So you would compare Mr. Yamauchi to Don Corleone? (Laughter)
HR: Or Darth Vader and C-3PO. (Laughter) I like Mr. Yamauchi a lot, he's like my mentor in business. I'll never be as tough as him in business, he's "the guy", he's awesome. I've got nothing for respect for him. But he's alsohow do I say?
PGC: Imposing?
HR: Yeah. I mean, if you ever disagree with him, that's it for you.
The infinite spin was part of the official Tetris rulebook at the time the game was made. Without infinite spin they wouldn't have been able to use the Tetris license.
Of course that gives him the option of installing WGA, possibly getting a false-positive and being locked out of updates or not installing WGA and being definitely locked out of updates.
I don't think anyone doubted that Spore will get released, what people doubt is that it'll live up to expectations. Black & White failed badly in that respect.
Unlike Chess, video gaming has real injuries. If you're twitch gaming for 8 hours a day, don't believe that RSI isn't coming your way. Unlike programming, you can't stand up and take a break and stretch your arms/shoulders/neck in the middle of a competitive multiplayer game.
Of course with most games that are used in competitions you are doing something seriously wrong if a match lasts for 8 hours.
One problem is that it's very difficult to get an overview of the action in most RTSes, the minimap doesn't tell you what is what and the game view will only show so much. One possible solution is to show the map along with manually added overlays that correspond to different units (e.g. a marker that says "15 marines plus two tanks") while zooming in on the interesting stuff when it happens.
The other is to play Spring which will soon enough feature symbols for the units (the engine does, the mods don't yet) that allow watching the map zoomed out and spotting what is what (sorry, I thought shameless opensource plugs are SOP on Slashdot:p).
What I've never understood is why they don't put the copy protection on the install program. I'd be fine with having to install from the original CD. Yes, it means people could trade CDs back and forth, and run it on multiple computers, but it limits it to people they actually know and trust.
Because then you can easily copy the installation to other systems. My budget version of One Must Fall 2097 has an installer that cannot be copied fromt the CD but the installed version can be copied just fine.
Re:"Failing by design" Is Proper?
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IE7 Toolbar Mayhem
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· Score: 2, Interesting
Microsoft's products already have enough situations where the software decides the user doesn't want something and doesn't give even the most experienced users the option to do it nonetheless, they really don't need more.
And I'm sure many people wouldn't appreciate not being able to install any uncertified extensions for the browser at all (which is the only way to prevent installing malicious toolbars since the browser cannot determine with absolute accuracy if something is malicious so it'd have to show the warnings whenever there is doubt). What if a company wanted to use IE 7 for some company internal stuff that involves a plugin with full system access? Telling them "We think you don't want that" certainly isn't the correct approach.
Console games don't use online activation, though. And there's plenty of PC games being made that, while offering an online mode, aren't online-only (and don't require an internet connection).
The third was the game that abolished the roads and included a much more elaborate combat system while the second was just an improvement over the first. Apparently few people liked the games that came after the second which is why they're porting the second to the DS and have remade it with 3d graphics.
There are no games I regularly go back to. I used to have some, Half-Life, Total Annihilation, Quake 3, UT 2004 but I stopped playing them, too. Occassionally I dig out some older games but not very often and usually the games go back on the shelf for a few years after that. People have top fives of games they return to regularly? I have trouble finding one.
Do you hear that Nadeo? It was your DRM that made me not play the game.
Same here, after a discussion with one of the devs who insisted that they need StarForce so people don't warez the game (so they probably won't stop using it) I decided not to buy Trackmania at all. I have bought StarForce crippled games (mostly because I wasn't aware of it) but I do my best to avoid them when I can.
The bulk of my time on my DS is spent on Advance Wars, which is so simple that it could probably run on an NES no problem (with mildly downgraded artwork and sound.
Advance Wars is the first western release of a long standing series known as Famicom Wars in Japan.
AFAIK import-only modifications are legal and in some jurisdictions (Australia, for example) even encouraged. Though when I went looking for a way to import-enable my PS2 I couldn't find any import-only chips.
Slashdot Mirror
Yes but netcode can be even worse since it introduces an entirely new part to the engine. Splitscreen is basically rendering two viewpoints, handling multiple input devices and rearranging the HUD, splitscreen games aren't going to desync, lag or cause other errors network games have had over the years. Problems with splitscreen are obvious, problems with netcode can be a bitch to track down.
Off-Topic but I liked this snippet from the interview:
Possible reference to Gunpei Yokoi?
The infinite spin was part of the official Tetris rulebook at the time the game was made. Without infinite spin they wouldn't have been able to use the Tetris license.
That ISP had enough time to make its software SP2 compatible. If they didn't it's their fault. Most new copies of Windows come with SP2 preinstalled.
Of course that gives him the option of installing WGA, possibly getting a false-positive and being locked out of updates or not installing WGA and being definitely locked out of updates.
I don't think anyone doubted that Spore will get released, what people doubt is that it'll live up to expectations. Black & White failed badly in that respect.
Yes except the difference between Peter Molyneaux and Will Wright is that Molyneaux claims, Wright delivers.
You obviously missed the sarcasm when he said MS "invented" tabbed browsing.
Yes but you can do stretches/exercise in between matches.
landing craft are bottlenecks. Aim your machine guns at the exit and voila.
Yes but what if they are unloading armored vehicles or have warships giving fire support?
Unlike Chess, video gaming has real injuries. If you're twitch gaming for 8 hours a day, don't believe that RSI isn't coming your way. Unlike programming, you can't stand up and take a break and stretch your arms/shoulders/neck in the middle of a competitive multiplayer game.
Of course with most games that are used in competitions you are doing something seriously wrong if a match lasts for 8 hours.
Yes, one:
No rocket launchers.
Which is too bad, their ratings would have gone through the roof without it.
One problem is that it's very difficult to get an overview of the action in most RTSes, the minimap doesn't tell you what is what and the game view will only show so much. One possible solution is to show the map along with manually added overlays that correspond to different units (e.g. a marker that says "15 marines plus two tanks") while zooming in on the interesting stuff when it happens.
:p).
The other is to play Spring which will soon enough feature symbols for the units (the engine does, the mods don't yet) that allow watching the map zoomed out and spotting what is what (sorry, I thought shameless opensource plugs are SOP on Slashdot
What I've never understood is why they don't put the copy protection on the install program. I'd be fine with having to install from the original CD. Yes, it means people could trade CDs back and forth, and run it on multiple computers, but it limits it to people they actually know and trust.
Because then you can easily copy the installation to other systems. My budget version of One Must Fall 2097 has an installer that cannot be copied fromt the CD but the installed version can be copied just fine.
Microsoft's products already have enough situations where the software decides the user doesn't want something and doesn't give even the most experienced users the option to do it nonetheless, they really don't need more.
And I'm sure many people wouldn't appreciate not being able to install any uncertified extensions for the browser at all (which is the only way to prevent installing malicious toolbars since the browser cannot determine with absolute accuracy if something is malicious so it'd have to show the warnings whenever there is doubt). What if a company wanted to use IE 7 for some company internal stuff that involves a plugin with full system access? Telling them "We think you don't want that" certainly isn't the correct approach.
Console games don't use online activation, though. And there's plenty of PC games being made that, while offering an online mode, aren't online-only (and don't require an internet connection).
The third was the game that abolished the roads and included a much more elaborate combat system while the second was just an improvement over the first. Apparently few people liked the games that came after the second which is why they're porting the second to the DS and have remade it with 3d graphics.
Yeah. Because totalitarianism and anarchy are the only options that exist, right?
There are no games I regularly go back to. I used to have some, Half-Life, Total Annihilation, Quake 3, UT 2004 but I stopped playing them, too. Occassionally I dig out some older games but not very often and usually the games go back on the shelf for a few years after that. People have top fives of games they return to regularly? I have trouble finding one.
Do you hear that Nadeo? It was your DRM that made me not play the game.
Same here, after a discussion with one of the devs who insisted that they need StarForce so people don't warez the game (so they probably won't stop using it) I decided not to buy Trackmania at all. I have bought StarForce crippled games (mostly because I wasn't aware of it) but I do my best to avoid them when I can.
Are you still playing the first Settlers or are you going with the second or possibly the remake thereof now?
The bulk of my time on my DS is spent on Advance Wars, which is so simple that it could probably run on an NES no problem (with mildly downgraded artwork and sound.
Advance Wars is the first western release of a long standing series known as Famicom Wars in Japan.
Yes but what if you (or a subsequent owner) scratched it so badly Gamestop won't buy it?
AFAIK import-only modifications are legal and in some jurisdictions (Australia, for example) even encouraged. Though when I went looking for a way to import-enable my PS2 I couldn't find any import-only chips.
You can format shift all you like, you just can't circumvent ANY copy protection in the process.