What's always been missing, though, is the truly freeform experience that a pen-and-paper game provides. When being chased by enemies, can you knock over a crate of apples to trip them up? When fighting an enemy on a bridge, can you grab them and chuck them off the side? Can you pay an assassin to get rid of a troublesome bad guy? Can you choose to spare the bad guy's life if he helps you overthrow the reigning king? Can you seduce, marry, and then murder an NPC so as to inherit their land or an important item?
I feel that Baldur's Gate II did a good job of capturing some of these ideas. It was obviously not as fluid as the situations you describe, but you did feel as if you were doing more than just killing monsters in dungeons. There were so many choices. So much to do.
I would really like to see an MORPG where one person can play as GM, constantly throwing interesting situations at the players, but it might not be technically feasible at the moment without having things feeling cookie cutter.
Just because I am not capable of foreseeing other's actions, it doesn't mean that it isn't possible.
There is a multitude of variables that would constitute the making of a decision. Maybe too many to even conceivably observe, but people's decisions are rooted in experience, and maybe a touch of hard-wired "personality". Every decision must have some basis, and I believe that it is possible to observe the source.
If you can observe the source, and observe changes to the experience that shape the source, then you have all the information you need to read someone's future.
I guess I take the position regarding humans as meat machines, potentially predictable as long as you know what makes them tick...it's an easy position to adopt when you're a computer scientist.;)
Sure......if you don't want your application to be available to the general public (many of whom have disabilities that need to be taken into account).
I'm just saying what I know. Having developed software for many mid-sized companies, I have never been asked to take this into consideration. I know this isn't the case for all software, but it certainly is for some.
And as far as a proprietary VM, if you're letting this hold you back, then be sure to stay away from C# and Sun's Java VM (I know there are OSS ones, but anything decent?).
No, web technologies should not be able to interact with the OS. Thus that is going to be a limitation with every web app. That doesn't mean it isn't a limitation. It serverly limits the number of "whole applications" that can be developed with Flash.
While it would be nice to have OS access, I'm sure you understand the reasons why you're prevented from doing so. I've found that the shift from desktop to web software only required a similar shift in the way I do things. I rarely, if ever, feel limited.
As far as using Flash to build apps, you really can end up producing some rich, usable software (minus the accessibility thing). Although there are still issues with the development workflow (lack of a decent debugger is a big-time setback), the apps that end up being produced would be difficult to reproduce using DHTML and AJAX. I think that consistent VM behaviour across platforms is a great selling point for many developers.
I have had requirements where Flash is the clearest choice from a development perspective, and I'm sure that I will continue to have them...and I'm not just trying to shove a square peg in a round hole.
accessibility problems
Accessibility isn't a requirement for a lot of software.
requirements for third party proprietary software
There aren't any requirements to work with 3rd party proprietary software, as many OSS development tools exist...unless you're talking about the Flash Player itself.
an inability to interact with the operating system
What do you mean? Why should it be able to interact with the OS. It's a web technology.
Besides, it really isn't usable by the general public yet. I regularly work in a computer lab where OO.o is installed, and people can't help but run into problems while using it (this are not techies). Do you really want a piece of software that non-techies don't understand to be included in an "essential" pack? I think that might make people think less of Google, and they may not download next time.
I didn't realize I was making an argument.
From what I can see, the only advantage is multiple contributors filling out a piece of news, but if all the news is coming from the same place (AP or Reuters) the wiki model doesn't add anything.
Slashdot Mirror
Correct link
With that game, I wouldn't mind when it would slow down. It's pretty hectic.
I think you meen moot.
I think you mean mean.
Whoa there. A bit overboard, don't you think?
enthralling. ;)
What's always been missing, though, is the truly freeform experience that a pen-and-paper game provides. When being chased by enemies, can you knock over a crate of apples to trip them up? When fighting an enemy on a bridge, can you grab them and chuck them off the side? Can you pay an assassin to get rid of a troublesome bad guy? Can you choose to spare the bad guy's life if he helps you overthrow the reigning king? Can you seduce, marry, and then murder an NPC so as to inherit their land or an important item?
I feel that Baldur's Gate II did a good job of capturing some of these ideas. It was obviously not as fluid as the situations you describe, but you did feel as if you were doing more than just killing monsters in dungeons. There were so many choices. So much to do.
I would really like to see an MORPG where one person can play as GM, constantly throwing interesting situations at the players, but it might not be technically feasible at the moment without having things feeling cookie cutter.
What is .NET FX?
Or when there is a good chance the data is already sorted...correct me if I'm wrong.
Have you ever had one of these?
They always happen to me after a really late night working and leaving work frustrated about some unsolved problem.
My dreams those nights are filled with circular logic and frustrating scenarios. Nothing is accomplished, and the sleep is quite restless.
Couldn't it be hollow?
In fact...it would be pretty insane for it not to be.
Just because I am not capable of foreseeing other's actions, it doesn't mean that it isn't possible. There is a multitude of variables that would constitute the making of a decision. Maybe too many to even conceivably observe, but people's decisions are rooted in experience, and maybe a touch of hard-wired "personality". Every decision must have some basis, and I believe that it is possible to observe the source. If you can observe the source, and observe changes to the experience that shape the source, then you have all the information you need to read someone's future. I guess I take the position regarding humans as meat machines, potentially predictable as long as you know what makes them tick...it's an easy position to adopt when you're a computer scientist. ;)
Not that big a deal. Any modern IDE has multi-key hotkeys, and people get by with them alright.
If you had read it, you'd feel duped too.
I'm confused, cromulent?
Sure... ...if you don't want your application to be available to the general public (many of whom have disabilities that need to be taken into account).
I'm just saying what I know. Having developed software for many mid-sized companies, I have never been asked to take this into consideration. I know this isn't the case for all software, but it certainly is for some.
And as far as a proprietary VM, if you're letting this hold you back, then be sure to stay away from C# and Sun's Java VM (I know there are OSS ones, but anything decent?).
No, web technologies should not be able to interact with the OS. Thus that is going to be a limitation with every web app. That doesn't mean it isn't a limitation. It serverly limits the number of "whole applications" that can be developed with Flash.
While it would be nice to have OS access, I'm sure you understand the reasons why you're prevented from doing so. I've found that the shift from desktop to web software only required a similar shift in the way I do things. I rarely, if ever, feel limited.
As far as using Flash to build apps, you really can end up producing some rich, usable software (minus the accessibility thing). Although there are still issues with the development workflow (lack of a decent debugger is a big-time setback), the apps that end up being produced would be difficult to reproduce using DHTML and AJAX. I think that consistent VM behaviour across platforms is a great selling point for many developers.
I have had requirements where Flash is the clearest choice from a development perspective, and I'm sure that I will continue to have them...and I'm not just trying to shove a square peg in a round hole.
um...you didn't actually say anything there. You just repeated your belief.
accessibility problems
Accessibility isn't a requirement for a lot of software.
requirements for third party proprietary software
There aren't any requirements to work with 3rd party proprietary software, as many OSS development tools exist...unless you're talking about the Flash Player itself.
an inability to interact with the operating system
What do you mean? Why should it be able to interact with the OS. It's a web technology.
Prove it.
Prove you're non-deterministic.
I believe they have bigger plans for OO.o.
Besides, it really isn't usable by the general public yet. I regularly work in a computer lab where OO.o is installed, and people can't help but run into problems while using it (this are not techies). Do you really want a piece of software that non-techies don't understand to be included in an "essential" pack? I think that might make people think less of Google, and they may not download next time.
Wow, did you ever miss the point.
I completely agree. I choked up a bit on the last scene. Even thinking about it gets me a bit choked up. :)
What is that song called? Something about "always waiting"?
Yes, I agree.
This will not happen...and if it does I'll eat my hat.
The anti mass driver crowd.
Nowhere but slashdot.
Sounds like the only one I really missed was TODO and FIXME in the task pane, which is a big relief.
It sounds as if you misunderstood my other comments though.
I didn't realize I was making an argument. From what I can see, the only advantage is multiple contributors filling out a piece of news, but if all the news is coming from the same place (AP or Reuters) the wiki model doesn't add anything.