it really depends on the program and the company producing it, there are many software applications that have remained virtually unchanged other than their UI since they were created. Changing the UI to fit China could take as much time to do as the coding did. Or you could look at the UI as being half of the program, but I'm not sure if the Chinese government would accept that definition.
Localization shouldn't simply consist of changing the names of menus, it also has a lot to do with making the new software work with different types of input devices and making sure that the layout will still make sense to the foreign audience.
On top of all that, since this will all be government software you have to think that the Chinese would have slightly different needs than other countries do and would require some extra modification beyond the language and layout changes.
realistically, if the Chinese localization takes place in China, then the requirement that 50% of the development must take place in China has probably been met.
The more I think about these new regulations, the less offensive I find them to be(not that I really took much offense to them in the first place).
very true...I believe that the US government just did something very similar...I wish that I had time to check on it, can anyone help me out with a link?
a little more blunt than I would've been, but after seeing the information about the PS3 it's really true.
I know that the quality of games will end up being the real factor, but given Sony's track record I wouldn't expect anything but a good number of solid games. Plus the backwards compatibility will mean that the console will launch with a large number of great games anyways. I didn't pick up one of the current generation consoles (ps2, xbox) but now that I have a little more free time I think that I'll be getting one of these and from what I see my choice will be the PS3. Not only does it look to be the most powerful, but I'll be able to catch up on all of those PS2 games that I missed.
I suppose that it may restrict online play a little bit, but I think that overall playing against people you know is a more enjoyable experience. When you're playing people that you actually keep in contact with there is a level of accountability and certain expectations that you develop. I know when I play MMO's I have the most fun playing with people that I've known for a while because I know their playing styles and have some idea of their skill levels. I don't really find it that entertaining to hop online and start a game against someone who is much better or much worse than I am.
I'm not saying that being able to play only people that you have met is the best for every situation, but I do think that it will make the games that you do play much more interesting. And if online communities do spring up, you'll probably still be able to jump on and play a quick game of whatever you want anyways.
I think that they mean that their online connectivity will not have an auto connect feature. You'll probably need to have a friends list, that way the play will probably seem a little more competitive. I wouldn't be surprised if online communities started springing up allowing people to "meet" for competition purposes.
I personally think that this would be really cool, if this is the direction that Nintendo is going. And this might be just what Nintendo needs to get back into the US console market.
I really think that we need more(and better) public transportation in the US, at least here in Tampa. The public transportation that I've seen in Florida is horrible. It's basically something that no one wants to ride. If we had a better system I would probably just take the bus or the train all the time.
I think that integrating high speed rail would also be wonderful, if I could go from here to Orlando in a half hour I'd do it all the time.
I love the idea that they can transcribe polyphonic notes with such clarity. I think that being able to hear these piano masters from a real piano and not just recording would be a great experience, I wish that I could see it live.
One of the huge benefits I see is that now electronic music artists can incorporate classical pieces as done by the actual artist instead of a poor transcription. I don't know if anyone has heard tracks such as Gotti's Revenge, but I find that electronic music that integrates classical or otherwise note heavy songs has a much better sound.
...I were to be using P2P software to copy some media that I own from my computer at home to one at my cottage? Wouldn't the intentional destruction of this file by a third party be an illegal activity?
I would have to agree with one of the previous posters and say that permadeath would work best in a GTA style game. Having a game that doesn't necessarily have levels would allow a death to just change what your character had done and what they owned.
I do have to agree with you, though, and say that permadeath for most subscription based MMO's would be a bad idea. Especially due to issues such as lag. I know that I am upset when I have to make up a bunch of debt after losing my connection, but I can deal with it. If I lost 6 months of time from a connection problem I would be livid.
I've actually been thinking quite a bit about a location tracking system since I made my original post. I've been thinking about setting up a trial system using WiFi base stations and trying to use signal strength to calculate a location. I've never really looked at how location tracking is typically accomplished, but I thought that by setting up a number of antennas inside a room and carrying a WiFi device that I could determine where in the room I was using variations in signal strength. I am still not sure if WiFi is sensitive enough to be able to detect small differences in signal strength, nor consistent enough to not have to constantly re-calibrate.
By placing the receiver in known locations I should be able to calibrate the system to be fairly accurate. I'd love to be able to walk down a hallway and have the lights directly above me be set to full power, while the lights in front of and behind me faded on and off as I passed.
I'd actually love some feedback on this from someone who is a little more knowledgeable about location tracking or WiFi. Any suggestions for an alternative to WiFi would be great, especially the cheaper ones. I only thought of using WiFi because it is available and already has some code to determine signal strength, plus I'd gain the ability for the network to be used to send the location data.
Slashdot Mirror
I can never seem to get an account :(
it really depends on the program and the company producing it, there are many software applications that have remained virtually unchanged other than their UI since they were created. Changing the UI to fit China could take as much time to do as the coding did. Or you could look at the UI as being half of the program, but I'm not sure if the Chinese government would accept that definition.
Localization shouldn't simply consist of changing the names of menus, it also has a lot to do with making the new software work with different types of input devices and making sure that the layout will still make sense to the foreign audience.
On top of all that, since this will all be government software you have to think that the Chinese would have slightly different needs than other countries do and would require some extra modification beyond the language and layout changes.
but if the Chinese government were to compile that source code and compare the executables they would see a difference.
realistically, if the Chinese localization takes place in China, then the requirement that 50% of the development must take place in China has probably been met.
The more I think about these new regulations, the less offensive I find them to be(not that I really took much offense to them in the first place).
Where did these first tractors come from?
very true...I believe that the US government just did something very similar...I wish that I had time to check on it, can anyone help me out with a link?
keep in mind that China's currency is currently undervalued by an estimated 40%
I'm not sure if I should mod this troll, funny, or insightful...oh well too late now :)
a little more blunt than I would've been, but after seeing the information about the PS3 it's really true.
I know that the quality of games will end up being the real factor, but given Sony's track record I wouldn't expect anything but a good number of solid games. Plus the backwards compatibility will mean that the console will launch with a large number of great games anyways. I didn't pick up one of the current generation consoles (ps2, xbox) but now that I have a little more free time I think that I'll be getting one of these and from what I see my choice will be the PS3. Not only does it look to be the most powerful, but I'll be able to catch up on all of those PS2 games that I missed.
I suppose that it may restrict online play a little bit, but I think that overall playing against people you know is a more enjoyable experience. When you're playing people that you actually keep in contact with there is a level of accountability and certain expectations that you develop. I know when I play MMO's I have the most fun playing with people that I've known for a while because I know their playing styles and have some idea of their skill levels. I don't really find it that entertaining to hop online and start a game against someone who is much better or much worse than I am.
I'm not saying that being able to play only people that you have met is the best for every situation, but I do think that it will make the games that you do play much more interesting. And if online communities do spring up, you'll probably still be able to jump on and play a quick game of whatever you want anyways.
I think that they mean that their online connectivity will not have an auto connect feature. You'll probably need to have a friends list, that way the play will probably seem a little more competitive. I wouldn't be surprised if online communities started springing up allowing people to "meet" for competition purposes.
I personally think that this would be really cool, if this is the direction that Nintendo is going. And this might be just what Nintendo needs to get back into the US console market.
I know that you forgot a few, but what about Super Mario All-stars?
damnit! you found me out! I thought that I was the only one that knew the shift-8 trick :(
I laughed so f******g hard when I read this, my girlfriend couldn't believe that slashdot could be this funny
I really think that we need more(and better) public transportation in the US, at least here in Tampa. The public transportation that I've seen in Florida is horrible. It's basically something that no one wants to ride. If we had a better system I would probably just take the bus or the train all the time.
I think that integrating high speed rail would also be wonderful, if I could go from here to Orlando in a half hour I'd do it all the time.
that's the best game ever, I was dreading a version of tetris that only showed one dimension, but still had the same rules.
I love the idea that they can transcribe polyphonic notes with such clarity. I think that being able to hear these piano masters from a real piano and not just recording would be a great experience, I wish that I could see it live.
One of the huge benefits I see is that now electronic music artists can incorporate classical pieces as done by the actual artist instead of a poor transcription. I don't know if anyone has heard tracks such as Gotti's Revenge, but I find that electronic music that integrates classical or otherwise note heavy songs has a much better sound.
Why all this Microsoft news...where's my Apple news?
that's no troll....I found it funny, but alas...no mod points for me
I am amazed that they can actually turn this into a profitable venture with the cost of the cruise ship along with the cost of fuel and consumables.
It would be cool to build that as a pop art structure and actually form it into the shape of a flower.
...I were to be using P2P software to copy some media that I own from my computer at home to one at my cottage? Wouldn't the intentional destruction of this file by a third party be an illegal activity?
I used to work at a grocery store that used all metal carts and they would often times set the alarms off if someone got to close to the gates.
I would have to agree with one of the previous posters and say that permadeath would work best in a GTA style game. Having a game that doesn't necessarily have levels would allow a death to just change what your character had done and what they owned.
I do have to agree with you, though, and say that permadeath for most subscription based MMO's would be a bad idea. Especially due to issues such as lag. I know that I am upset when I have to make up a bunch of debt after losing my connection, but I can deal with it. If I lost 6 months of time from a connection problem I would be livid.
I've actually been thinking quite a bit about a location tracking system since I made my original post. I've been thinking about setting up a trial system using WiFi base stations and trying to use signal strength to calculate a location.
I've never really looked at how location tracking is typically accomplished, but I thought that by setting up a number of antennas inside a room and carrying a WiFi device that I could determine where in the room I was using variations in signal strength. I am still not sure if WiFi is sensitive enough to be able to detect small differences in signal strength, nor consistent enough to not have to constantly re-calibrate.
By placing the receiver in known locations I should be able to calibrate the system to be fairly accurate. I'd love to be able to walk down a hallway and have the lights directly above me be set to full power, while the lights in front of and behind me faded on and off as I passed.
I'd actually love some feedback on this from someone who is a little more knowledgeable about location tracking or WiFi. Any suggestions for an alternative to WiFi would be great, especially the cheaper ones. I only thought of using WiFi because it is available and already has some code to determine signal strength, plus I'd gain the ability for the network to be used to send the location data.