Personally, I think the hardcore gamers should just use consoles; they're cheaper than computers, Just Work, use less power, and turn on instantly. Use your computer for work and your game system for gaming. That's what I would do.
Unfortunately it's not that simple; if consoles really were the solution to all our gaming needs, then there simply wouldn't be any computer games. See any console vs PC gaming debate for a plethora of obvious reasons why both will always have their place, regardless of what those marketing monkeys have to say, and remember, that opinion of what 'hardcore gamers' should do most likely comes from the fact that - as you said - you are not a hardcore gamer, and therefore wouldn't really understand their need in a platform, right?
Nerds don't get laid. (i.e. the sort that scoff at the idea of making something user-friendly because it's not only its developers that will eventually use it!)
'Malware' that can be used to conglomerate zombie machines into botnets are obviously bad. However, worms that don't cause serious damage to data, regardless of whether they choke our networks and impose debts on companies, still have a good component; they force software companies to patch up the gaping holes in their software that would otherwise go unnoticed, and be exploited in targeted attacks with more malicious and costly consequences. Would you rather your bank lose a few thousand dollars due to 'freak virus activity' hampering their network, or one day lose all your money and not be able to do anything about it? Make the punishment fit the nature of the attack.
I've noticed this lately as well; considering that they haven't had the need to be as kind to superseded concepts quite as much as C++ did, there does seem to be a certain purity to the language.
However, do you know where Phobos is headed as far as 'native' (not linking back to C libraries) support for Windows GUI, or would this not be worthwhile/properly possible resulting in ugly wrappers that do little more than convert strings and whatnot?
And I think that's the biggest asset of Microsoft. When they ditch the familiar Windows UI, people will eventually start migrating to other platforms..
That's a very interesting point that goes a lot deeper. More and more it seems that Microsoft's success (at least as of late) has resulted from a lack of change; rather contradictory to the approach being preached in business schools across the world, is it not? However, it's reflected in their marketing, and reflected in their products. They seem to have convinced their continuing clients that change and variety are Bad Things, unless - of course - we're talking about to one of their 'new' 'initiatives', in which case they will try to convince us that yes, it really is a proven standard, and everybody already loves it; get on board of get left behind! (luckily that didn't quite work as planned with.NET, thank God(s)!)
Are there any statistics that show what portion of Microsoft expenditure is actually on marketing?
This may be considered redundant by many, but I might as well put forth how awsome that idea sounds; go for it!:)
Other than that, I hear that some responsiveness issues are to be cleared up in Firefox 1.1, so we'll see how that helps things.
Agreed; I've just spent the last few hours reading up on D, and I think I'll give it a shot! However, I have a couple of short questions that you might be able to answer. Firstly, are there plans for Phobos to fully implement (in some way) all major useful features of the standard C libraries, and secondly, do you know of any D interpreters planned or under development?
I'm so glad you used the term "geek", since there's nothing specific about nerd-like behaviour that would produce better lovers. As for the absence of comments about geek girls, if you replace "nerd" with "geek" in TFA, then I'd certainly be willing to testify that it's valid for the 'fair sex'.;)
The problem there is that it's all to easy to predict a trivial feature that is likely to be added in future, then sue for unreasonable amounts when they implement it.
Yes, of course there is such a thing as defensive patenting, but that doesn't justify keeping a broken system that allows so much of the patent mayhem we see today.
I agree that this is a downright beautiful idea (although, I have to admit after reading the "make a game exclusively for Linux, 'Live CD!' popped into my head too...:P), however, if this is done, careful consideration should be taken to ensure that it doesn't waste all the potential that makes PC games so popular at the moment.
For one, the ability for user-made modifications is paramount; if you ship your game on a linux live CD (ok, DVD) and see that as a reason to ditch a Windows version of the game, then you lose. I believe a better soultion would be to offer the linux live CD, offer a Windows version (we must continue to push for better and better portability, not just boycot specific platforms!) and also allow the live CD to install to a linux distribution if you have one.
There's also no reason why they couldn't provide a couple of popular distros with the game; it would cost them, what, all of fifty cents? This would allow the flexibility that has come with Windows gaming for so long to be available for those who desire it, and also give developers a damn good reason to start porting their games to Linux.
In short, I like it... if it's done right.
My solution to this problem is to realise that because of this, I simply can't safely use IE for anything else, or I'll risk the security of my Windows Update process...
By forcing me to use IE for some things, Microsoft convinced me not to use it for anything else. Am I the only one that sees the irony?
How many people who select "Christian" on census forms, or even report to be Christians in day to day life are -actually- 'real' Christians? Have a long hard think about it; there are surprisingly few...
Doesn't anybody else find the drivel that these people come up with somewhat amusing? Come on; they're trying to censor the Internet, and they think that they have some hope of succeeding! They actually think that they have a chance at infringing on our freedom from censorship! What's next; eliminating the need for warrants when raiding properties? Oh, wait...
The linked article quotes John Logsdon saying "The original decision to locate the Apollo facility on Merritt Island was a gamble with the weather and so far, if NASA was the house, the house has won. But the nature of gambling is sometimes the house loses."
Excuse me? Did I just see a parallel drawn between NASA and 'the house'? Somehow I think the more logical connection would be between Mother Nature and the house, and believe me, the house will always win in the end...
Slashdot Mirror
Various Japanese (and Korean?) devices such as faceplates for car stereos already use OLED displays, IIRC.
Personally, I think the hardcore gamers should just use consoles; they're cheaper than computers, Just Work, use less power, and turn on instantly. Use your computer for work and your game system for gaming. That's what I would do. Unfortunately it's not that simple; if consoles really were the solution to all our gaming needs, then there simply wouldn't be any computer games. See any console vs PC gaming debate for a plethora of obvious reasons why both will always have their place, regardless of what those marketing monkeys have to say, and remember, that opinion of what 'hardcore gamers' should do most likely comes from the fact that - as you said - you are not a hardcore gamer, and therefore wouldn't really understand their need in a platform, right?
And people wonder why geeks dont get laid.
Nerds don't get laid. (i.e. the sort that scoff at the idea of making something user-friendly because it's not only its developers that will eventually use it!)
'Malware' that can be used to conglomerate zombie machines into botnets are obviously bad. However, worms that don't cause serious damage to data, regardless of whether they choke our networks and impose debts on companies, still have a good component; they force software companies to patch up the gaping holes in their software that would otherwise go unnoticed, and be exploited in targeted attacks with more malicious and costly consequences. Would you rather your bank lose a few thousand dollars due to 'freak virus activity' hampering their network, or one day lose all your money and not be able to do anything about it? Make the punishment fit the nature of the attack.
I've noticed this lately as well; considering that they haven't had the need to be as kind to superseded concepts quite as much as C++ did, there does seem to be a certain purity to the language.
However, do you know where Phobos is headed as far as 'native' (not linking back to C libraries) support for Windows GUI, or would this not be worthwhile/properly possible resulting in ugly wrappers that do little more than convert strings and whatnot?
And I think that's the biggest asset of Microsoft. When they ditch the familiar Windows UI, people will eventually start migrating to other platforms..
That's a very interesting point that goes a lot deeper. More and more it seems that Microsoft's success (at least as of late) has resulted from a lack of change; rather contradictory to the approach being preached in business schools across the world, is it not? However, it's reflected in their marketing, and reflected in their products. They seem to have convinced their continuing clients that change and variety are Bad Things, unless - of course - we're talking about to one of their 'new' 'initiatives', in which case they will try to convince us that yes, it really is a proven standard, and everybody already loves it; get on board of get left behind! (luckily that didn't quite work as planned with .NET, thank God(s)!)
Are there any statistics that show what portion of Microsoft expenditure is actually on marketing?
This may be considered redundant by many, but I might as well put forth how awsome that idea sounds; go for it! :)
Other than that, I hear that some responsiveness issues are to be cleared up in Firefox 1.1, so we'll see how that helps things.
Agreed; I've just spent the last few hours reading up on D, and I think I'll give it a shot! However, I have a couple of short questions that you might be able to answer. Firstly, are there plans for Phobos to fully implement (in some way) all major useful features of the standard C libraries, and secondly, do you know of any D interpreters planned or under development?
I'm so glad you used the term "geek", since there's nothing specific about nerd-like behaviour that would produce better lovers. As for the absence of comments about geek girls, if you replace "nerd" with "geek" in TFA, then I'd certainly be willing to testify that it's valid for the 'fair sex'. ;)
The problem there is that it's all to easy to predict a trivial feature that is likely to be added in future, then sue for unreasonable amounts when they implement it. Yes, of course there is such a thing as defensive patenting, but that doesn't justify keeping a broken system that allows so much of the patent mayhem we see today.
I agree that this is a downright beautiful idea (although, I have to admit after reading the "make a game exclusively for Linux, 'Live CD!' popped into my head too... :P), however, if this is done, careful consideration should be taken to ensure that it doesn't waste all the potential that makes PC games so popular at the moment.
For one, the ability for user-made modifications is paramount; if you ship your game on a linux live CD (ok, DVD) and see that as a reason to ditch a Windows version of the game, then you lose. I believe a better soultion would be to offer the linux live CD, offer a Windows version (we must continue to push for better and better portability, not just boycot specific platforms!) and also allow the live CD to install to a linux distribution if you have one.
There's also no reason why they couldn't provide a couple of popular distros with the game; it would cost them, what, all of fifty cents? This would allow the flexibility that has come with Windows gaming for so long to be available for those who desire it, and also give developers a damn good reason to start porting their games to Linux.
In short, I like it... if it's done right.
...a Kentucky man has pioneered a bread division process he calls 'slicing'...
My solution to this problem is to realise that because of this, I simply can't safely use IE for anything else, or I'll risk the security of my Windows Update process... By forcing me to use IE for some things, Microsoft convinced me not to use it for anything else. Am I the only one that sees the irony?
How many people who select "Christian" on census forms, or even report to be Christians in day to day life are -actually- 'real' Christians? Have a long hard think about it; there are surprisingly few...
Doesn't anybody else find the drivel that these people come up with somewhat amusing? Come on; they're trying to censor the Internet, and they think that they have some hope of succeeding! They actually think that they have a chance at infringing on our freedom from censorship! What's next; eliminating the need for warrants when raiding properties? Oh, wait...
The linked article quotes John Logsdon saying "The original decision to locate the Apollo facility on Merritt Island was a gamble with the weather and so far, if NASA was the house, the house has won. But the nature of gambling is sometimes the house loses." Excuse me? Did I just see a parallel drawn between NASA and 'the house'? Somehow I think the more logical connection would be between Mother Nature and the house, and believe me, the house will always win in the end...