javaxman: I'd download or create ripped DRM-less versions if forced too [...] Besides, most NTSC content is acceptable anyway
If NTSC is good enough for you...why not just watch it in DVD-quality? The "low-quality" output for non-HDCP monitors is only low-quality when compared to HD; it's still excellent.
Also, most people won't be able to watch HD content on their computers anyway. You need a monitor that supports 1920x1080 resolution for true HD. I have a $440 19" Viewsonic monitor that's served me well for the past few years, and it's still better than what most people have, but it only supports 1600x1200.
Since Nintendo's not supporting HD, the Revolution only needs to put out a third of the pixels per frame as its competitors (assuming 720p HD; it's an even bigger difference for 1080i). You can have much more complex graphics if you don't need to support high resolution (or even medium, in this case). Revolution needn't be as powerful graphics-chip-wise to deliver quality as good or better than the 360 and PS3, only lower-res.
Where Revolution's graphics might fall short is in procedural synthesis (creating geometry on-the-fly on the CPU) and other streaming media, which Cell's SPE's and 360's multiple SMP cores excel at.
Hopefully, Revolution will provide enough branching oomph for truly next-gen AI, as the PPEs in the PS3 and 360 have poor branching performance and cache; they're insane at streaming media, which doesn't need branching nor cache, but are well below standard PC CPUs for AI.
Here's a cool viewing order that I read here on/.:
1. IV
2. V
~~Wavy flashback lines~~
3. I
4. II
5. III
~~Reverse wavy flashback lines~~
6. VI
Rather brilliant, I thought. Keeps the surprise in V, and you see how the saga ends last instead of partway through.
Sorry, don't remember who to give credit to.
Neopets teaches far better money management than Monopoly, Life, and similar games.
Neopets has an extensive market simulation, with over 10,000 discrete items available. There are many shops with virtual vendors, each specializing in a particular category of item. They have limited inventory, sales for special days, and you can even haggle with the vendors to try and get a lower price. In addition, players can set up their own shop and resell their items at a profit. Realistically, larger inventories require purchasing larger shops. There's also a trading post, which allows for more complex exchanges between players.
Neopets has a job system, where you can employ your pets. Successfully completing jobs adds work experience to that pet's resume, and allows your pet to take on more difficult and financially rewarding jobs.
Neopets has a business management mini-game. Different materials are available to manufacture products out of, each of a different quality and price level. The cost of workers and managers varies according to their experience and college degrees. After production, there's store quality, making sure supply meets demand , and advertising to manage.
Neopets has a bank with savings plans. Like real banks, you get higher interest rates if you have more money in the account. Also like real banks, it can take a very long time to get your return to nontrivial levels. Keeping your money in the bank protects it from robbery and inflation.
Neopets has a miniature stock market, with 41 virtual companies trading as of the time of this writing. The stock market has quite a few features of the real stock market: companies have ticker symbols, there's a "Neodaq" index, companies can and do go bankrupt. It even has broker fees.
In short, Neopets is one of the most brilliant and comprehensive money management simulations available to the general public.
Slashdot Mirror
Also, most people won't be able to watch HD content on their computers anyway. You need a monitor that supports 1920x1080 resolution for true HD. I have a $440 19" Viewsonic monitor that's served me well for the past few years, and it's still better than what most people have, but it only supports 1600x1200.
TI-BASIC.
Since Nintendo's not supporting HD, the Revolution only needs to put out a third of the pixels per frame as its competitors (assuming 720p HD; it's an even bigger difference for 1080i). You can have much more complex graphics if you don't need to support high resolution (or even medium, in this case). Revolution needn't be as powerful graphics-chip-wise to deliver quality as good or better than the 360 and PS3, only lower-res.
Where Revolution's graphics might fall short is in procedural synthesis (creating geometry on-the-fly on the CPU) and other streaming media, which Cell's SPE's and 360's multiple SMP cores excel at.
Hopefully, Revolution will provide enough branching oomph for truly next-gen AI, as the PPEs in the PS3 and 360 have poor branching performance and cache; they're insane at streaming media, which doesn't need branching nor cache, but are well below standard PC CPUs for AI.
Here's a cool viewing order that I read here on /.:
1. IV
2. V
~~Wavy flashback lines~~
3. I
4. II
5. III
~~Reverse wavy flashback lines~~
6. VI
Rather brilliant, I thought. Keeps the surprise in V, and you see how the saga ends last instead of partway through.
Sorry, don't remember who to give credit to.
Neopets teaches far better money management than Monopoly, Life, and similar games.
Neopets has an extensive market simulation, with over 10,000 discrete items available. There are many shops with virtual vendors, each specializing in a particular category of item. They have limited inventory, sales for special days, and you can even haggle with the vendors to try and get a lower price.
In addition, players can set up their own shop and resell their items at a profit. Realistically, larger inventories require purchasing larger shops. There's also a trading post, which allows for more complex exchanges between players.
Neopets has a job system, where you can employ your pets. Successfully completing jobs adds work experience to that pet's resume, and allows your pet to take on more difficult and financially rewarding jobs.
Neopets has a business management mini-game. Different materials are available to manufacture products out of, each of a different quality and price level. The cost of workers and managers varies according to their experience and college degrees. After production, there's store quality, making sure supply meets demand , and advertising to manage.
Neopets has a bank with savings plans. Like real banks, you get higher interest rates if you have more money in the account. Also like real banks, it can take a very long time to get your return to nontrivial levels. Keeping your money in the bank protects it from robbery and inflation.
Neopets has a miniature stock market, with 41 virtual companies trading as of the time of this writing. The stock market has quite a few features of the real stock market: companies have ticker symbols, there's a "Neodaq" index, companies can and do go bankrupt. It even has broker fees.
In short, Neopets is one of the most brilliant and comprehensive money management simulations available to the general public.