I had a teacher, who, whenever a student speaking in front of the class said 'um' while speaking would say "'Um' is not a word, 'Um' is not in the dictionary.
Once when she did that to me, I opened the dictionary on her desk to the U's, and pointed out "Um: a interjection used to indicate a pause in speech" (or something like that)
Not the game itself, but the massive copy protection it's wrapped in for PCs.
You not only have a limited number of 'activations', that is, machines you can install it on and times you can install on the same machine, you ALSO need the origional disc, which has flakey software.
Last night, it failed on me again, even though I do in fact have the origional disc. So I had to download the cracked version to play.
Makes the retail version less and less desirable, who to I trust more not to screw up my machine, Sony brand DRM, or a random download? Why does a single player only game need online activation? I got it as an alternative to Steam games when the cable is out...
It's not worth it to the transaction processing companies.
I called T-mobile to complain about the 15 cent charge for a text message, which they sent to confirm they activated the phone; my real reason for calling was to test their customer service quality within the 15 day return period, but I was also annoyed that they would incur an extra fee during the activation process; it was automatically credited back by the time the bill came...
But, how much money does a Customer Service call cost them?, how much would a micropayment only company spend to support a 5 cent transaction?
Is that REALLY an effective deterrent or punishment?
It is a good way to disenfrancise folks tho, considering the relative chances, historically, of a white man vs. a black man of getting a felony conviction for the same action.
Obviosly, if your Hardware supports it, and you run as Administrator, you can get DirectX 10 level graphics from a DirectX 10 capable Video card.
But:
DX9 has a bajillion extensions, shader model revisions, and lots of flags that drivers can set to say they support HDR, or AA, or both, etc. etc. If a feature is on your hardware, but DX9 dosn't support it, you can code to the metal and get the same visual effect.
But, if you want to do it as an ordinary user, without crashing the machine, DirectX 10 is nice.
And if a video card says 'DirectX 10', and the game says 'DirectX 10', they are pretty likely to work well together, while a DX9 card might support shader model 3.0, and have 128 megs ram, while a DX 9 game might only use shader 2.0, but require 256 megs ram... eaiser to just say 'DX10' and know the the minimal requirements are met.
and, what kind of tech-support options are offered? might be hard to go online for free Linux support from the web if you can't get online. Hopefully the users will have someone in their community to turn to for help. Someone who won't insult them for not already knowing what to do.
Have you even considered that Gordon may be mute? Perhaps he has a disability preventing him from speaking, and he can't use sign language since his hands generally are carrying tools. In any case, The odds of a Headcrab knowing ASL is pretty darn slim.
Black Mesa is an Equal Opportunity Employer after all, you insensitive jerk.
Modern Macs may have few viruses, trojans, etc. (a 68000 based Mac is where I first saw a virus myself, but I know OS/X is much better.)
However, I have also never seen a unicorn with rabies.
A Mac virus won't spread via the 'net because the odds of a random connection leading to another Mac is much smaller than hitting a PC.
What I would find interesting is a multi-platform worm/virus (which would be easier with newer Macs being x86 based (are there 64 bit Macs? what's their RAM limit?)) Not something high level, like a Word-macro or Java virus, but something that when executing on a PC, keeps it's Mac payload as data, and vice-versa, maybe even using 'boot-camp' machines to cross bounderies.
I think IPv6 may do a lot to reduce internet worms; first, by eliminating non-compatible worms, secondly, by making scanning the global IP address space take about 79228162514264337593543950336 times as many probes. But address books and such will still be sources of targets.
Adblocking is stealing, Just like skipping TV commercials. the Ads are the price they put on their content, and is what pays to keep them running, providing the service. If you don't like it you should, visit other sites, and watch PBS (and donate), or pay Cable/Sat. channels and pay sites. Or just eyeball past the ads if they arn't interesting to you.
By blocking ads, you are preventing them from getting paid, while taking up thier bandwidth and other resources.
Personally, I support the adding of something like an "X-Demographics:" header to HTTP, where users can optionally list anything they like, from "age:20-30 sex:male location:texas interests:cars,babes,booze", to "Piss Off", and Ad-servers can use that data for demographics, instead of trying to guess what you may be interested in. People could easily put invalid data into the field, but, those who would would probably be the ones who would block ads anyway. No need to 'mine' for data, when most people would give it away for free, resulting in better ad targeting, cheaper, more profitable, and open, so that anyone serving a site can use it without cost, not just within the little ad boxes, but to adjust content site-wide.
I don't mind Ads that support content (as opposed to spam, which provides me nothing), but it was silly when for about 6 months I was mainly getting feminine hygene ads from some sites (being male)... and after looking up Arthritis information, getting AARP offers... Like when I saw my Grandfather recieved an offer in the mail: "If you served in World War II, you are eligible for U.S. Government Benifits!"... really?, even though he served in the Luftwaffe?...
Slashdot Mirror
Best of all, the island will never get bird flu.
I hope that MMORPG Isn't Everquest (Sony online...)
I had a teacher, who, whenever a student speaking in front of the class said 'um' while speaking would say "'Um' is not a word, 'Um' is not in the dictionary.
Once when she did that to me, I opened the dictionary on her desk to the U's, and pointed out "Um: a interjection used to indicate a pause in speech" (or something like that)
Best detention ever.
You just made my day, too bad I'm out of mod points.
You know that Steam has an offline mode, right? Is your cable ever out for two weeks in a row?
Yes, Comcast sucks, that and 70+ MPH windstorms.
Why do hot dogs come 10 to a pack, but the buns come 8 to a pack?
I always end up with leftover buns or dogs, forcing my to buy more, over and over!
It's a conspiracy!
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_350.html
Not the game itself, but the massive copy protection it's wrapped in for PCs.
You not only have a limited number of 'activations', that is, machines you can install it on and times you can install on the same machine, you ALSO need the origional disc, which has flakey software.
Last night, it failed on me again, even though I do in fact have the origional disc. So I had to download the cracked version to play.
Makes the retail version less and less desirable, who to I trust more not to screw up my machine, Sony brand DRM, or a random download? Why does a single player only game need online activation? I got it as an alternative to Steam games when the cable is out...
It's like getting a new puppy, encased in Lucite.
People don't buy 'Irradiated' foods.
People eat bannannas.
People don't want to live next to a nuke plant.
People have microwave ovens.
Once it's easier and cheaper enough, people will switch to atomic energy.
Why do you think McDonalds does so well?
It's not worth it to the transaction processing companies.
I called T-mobile to complain about the 15 cent charge for a text message, which they sent to confirm they activated the phone; my real reason for calling was to test their customer service quality within the 15 day return period, but I was also annoyed that they would incur an extra fee during the activation process; it was automatically credited back by the time the bill came...
But, how much money does a Customer Service call cost them?, how much would a micropayment only company spend to support a 5 cent transaction?
Microsoft offers three versions of Vista
No, it offers four.
There are 6 Editions, Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, Starter and Enterprise.
Or, if you consider x64 versions to be a different version. (no 64 bit Starter)
Plus the 'N' Editions, for some countries. Making up to 21 possible Editions for a given country.
If you commit a felony, you can't vote.
Is that REALLY an effective deterrent or punishment?
It is a good way to disenfrancise folks tho, considering the relative chances, historically, of a white man vs. a black man of getting a felony conviction for the same action.
Obviosly, if your Hardware supports it, and you run as Administrator, you can get DirectX 10 level graphics from a DirectX 10 capable Video card.
But:
DX9 has a bajillion extensions, shader model revisions, and lots of flags that drivers can set to say they support HDR, or AA, or both, etc. etc. If a feature is on your hardware, but DX9 dosn't support it, you can code to the metal and get the same visual effect.
But, if you want to do it as an ordinary user, without crashing the machine, DirectX 10 is nice.
And if a video card says 'DirectX 10', and the game says 'DirectX 10', they are pretty likely to work well together, while a DX9 card might support shader model 3.0, and have 128 megs ram, while a DX 9 game might only use shader 2.0, but require 256 megs ram... eaiser to just say 'DX10' and know the the minimal requirements are met.
How many are running pirated XP now?
and, what kind of tech-support options are offered? might be hard to go online for free Linux support from the web if you can't get online. Hopefully the users will have someone in their community to turn to for help. Someone who won't insult them for not already knowing what to do.
Or, they may have shuffled the colors around for different test runs, to eliminate simple color preferance.
Clothes fresh from the dryer feel wonderfully warm and cozy, but who has the time to wait for the dryer to warm up all the way?
A quick, easy solution is to pop your clothes in the Microwave for a few seconds, and Presto!, warm and fuzzy!
Just don't try it with metal zippers or buttons, nylon might melt, you might start a fire...
Have you even considered that Gordon may be mute? Perhaps he has a disability preventing him from speaking, and he can't use sign language since his hands generally are carrying tools. In any case, The odds of a Headcrab knowing ASL is pretty darn slim.
Black Mesa is an Equal Opportunity Employer after all, you insensitive jerk.
Was it a Debt Collection company?
You can have your own cousin as a parent, with the possible bonus of have 6 fingers on each hand.
But then, the Oregon courts refuse to enforce contract law, after the Sate decided it didn't want to pay it's employees their pensions.
(or so I heard from an Oregonian)
Fast, angry mice that starve to death in a short time...
Fast, angry zombies that starve to death in a short time...
Modern Macs may have few viruses, trojans, etc. (a 68000 based Mac is where I first saw a virus myself, but I know OS/X is much better.)
However, I have also never seen a unicorn with rabies.
A Mac virus won't spread via the 'net because the odds of a random connection leading to another Mac is much smaller than hitting a PC.
What I would find interesting is a multi-platform worm/virus (which would be easier with newer Macs being x86 based (are there 64 bit Macs? what's their RAM limit?)) Not something high level, like a Word-macro or Java virus, but something that when executing on a PC, keeps it's Mac payload as data, and vice-versa, maybe even using 'boot-camp' machines to cross bounderies.
I think IPv6 may do a lot to reduce internet worms; first, by eliminating non-compatible worms, secondly, by making scanning the global IP address space take about 79228162514264337593543950336 times as many probes. But address books and such will still be sources of targets.
Or you could add 2 alpha-numeric characters to an existing text password, for more than 1000 times security.
Adblocking is stealing, Just like skipping TV commercials. the Ads are the price they put on their content, and is what pays to keep them running, providing the service. If you don't like it you should, visit other sites, and watch PBS (and donate), or pay Cable/Sat. channels and pay sites. Or just eyeball past the ads if they arn't interesting to you.
... really?, even though he served in the Luftwaffe? ...
By blocking ads, you are preventing them from getting paid, while taking up thier bandwidth and other resources.
Personally, I support the adding of something like an "X-Demographics:" header to HTTP, where users can optionally list anything they like, from "age:20-30 sex:male location:texas interests:cars,babes,booze", to "Piss Off", and Ad-servers can use that data for demographics, instead of trying to guess what you may be interested in. People could easily put invalid data into the field, but, those who would would probably be the ones who would block ads anyway. No need to 'mine' for data, when most people would give it away for free, resulting in better ad targeting, cheaper, more profitable, and open, so that anyone serving a site can use it without cost, not just within the little ad boxes, but to adjust content site-wide.
I don't mind Ads that support content (as opposed to spam, which provides me nothing), but it was silly when for about 6 months I was mainly getting feminine hygene ads from some sites (being male)... and after looking up Arthritis information, getting AARP offers... Like when I saw my Grandfather recieved an offer in the mail: "If you served in World War II, you are eligible for U.S. Government Benifits!"
Game Developers can would buy it.
Insanely expensive now will be standard consumer performance over a major game platform development lifecycle.
when I was a kid, and I dumped some tabasco sauce down a friends pants...
I refrained from teasing him for crying, 'cause I wasn't a TOTAL asshole.