Article by PC World:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/195185/gizmodos_iphone_saga_fact_vs_speculation.html
Judging by the article, this guy did get raided, and is considering suing the police. They're still trying to figure out if he's protected by journalism shield laws.
If Apple's actually pulling the strings, there are better ways to hype your product than to get into several legal battles. The very idea that they are, is ridiculous.
This CEO says he "owns" the pipes. Fine, let's get the government all the way out of this venture. I want a reckoning of much money local, state, federal governments have put into the building and maintenance of those pipes. And if SBC's going to "own" them, they'd better cut those governments some big ass checks to compensate them for their investments, and the government can plow that into making the communications market competitive again. Otherwise, I hope the state AG's start looking hard in SBC's direction...
I couldn't agree more. This is exactly what I was thinking when I was reading the article. How can this guy NOT have gotten a return on his investment yet? I sincerely doubt he's in debt up to his eyeballs here....considering the help he's getting from the governments, and the utter TRAFFIC that goes across the pipe these days. Saying that he needs to double his money is just plain ludicrousy, but he dances around SAYING that pretty well.
I'm happy these guys were arrested. Things like this scare companies and people away from technology.
Agree 100%!! Things like this are black eyes in technology, and especially in areas where they're still transitioning. And considering how many people/companies/schools hold back from the cost of technology alone, we really didn't need problems like this lingering any longer.
Very glad to see these guys apprehended.
From the sound of it the cards may also have an impact on your online gameplay as well."
So lemme get this straight. The game is pay-to-play already, and now there's a possibility that you have to buy into a collectible card game to get the full experience? No thanks.
I completely and utterly disagree. I will ask you to recall the problems when the console gaming market crashed back in the very early 80's. PC Gaming DIDN'T SAVE GAMING. Matter of fact, it was, while minor, one of the factors leading up to the crash. PC Gaming is not an answer or solution to the gaming industry.
Granted, some of the best games out there are PC games. The Half-life, Diablo, Warcraft, Starcraft, Doom, Baldur's Gate, and many other series that have hit the PC are usually referred to as some of the best games ever created. But these games are just not hitting enough people. I have countless friends who have been avid gamers since I've known them as kids, and they haven't TOUCHED a PC title in nearly 5 years. I can't say much better! Other than throwing in games of at least 2 years ago, I don't have much luck with the new stuff. It was half the reason why I got an Xbox, and let's face it, it isn't the only problem PC gaming has. Sure, it has it's benefits. Nobody can argue with that. But a lot of people that don't have a tremendous amount of money in their back pockets can't play the newer games until they are old and decrepit, or ported to a crappy console version. What do those nice benefits earn you if you can't even afford them? Nothing.
This is why I am in support of Console Gaming. I don't think it's better. I've played my share of PC games. Hell, I grew up on them. But I play what I can play. And I can't play the newer stuff for the PC. My 8.00 an hour doesn't afford me the hardware I need to be able to handle that kind of gaming experience. And I know I'm not alone in that respect. It's pretty much, deal with what you've got. I play Doom 3 on my Xbox. No, it isn't quite as pretty as the PC version, which I have seen. But at least I can play it! How many people that post in the games section of slashdot every day can actually say that, if they're devoted to playing games on the PC only?
Anyways, it's a horrible attitude to take, and while I don't like it, it's all I really can do at this point. The point is, PC gaming is too fucking expensive for anyone to claim that it will make a comeback. Console gaming is less expensive for a reason, regardless of how you feel about that reason. That very same reason is why PC Gaming will never take over, unless drastic changes take place. The situation just sucks as a whole, quite frankly.
that's not really a good example. More of an example of the opposite, actually. What we're asking for is SMARTER AI, not an enemy with even more ability than before. Having them being more responsive to noises and more sensitive to where I am doesn't lead me to believe that they're any smarter. It just leads me to believe that the AI is cheating by knowing where I am more often. That's crap.
Have fun playing games on Live with a mod chip installed. If I had the cash for a 2nd Xbox, I'd totally mod the 2nd one, but I fail to see the point in modding if I take away my functionality.
All three companies have said that multi-platform gaming will probably come to a screeching halt in this generation. There's just going to be too many variables encountered in the process.
hey now, relax, it was a joke. I know plenty of people like soccer. I don't, but I felt like throwing that out there for fun. I wouldn't be so ignorant to run out and shout "BAN SOCCER, IT SUCKS". People are entitled to their choice of entertainment.
He's right. Do you know what animal kills more people than any other on a yearly basis? The HIPPO. Just because it doesn't want to eat you, doesn't mean it won't mind killing you to protect it's territory.
EXACTLY, the stat reset was much needed, and Bungie gives damn good excuse for it. Funny how that isn't in the posting at all.....Nor is the fact that the leaderboards are already up to around level 25 or more across the board. If they were a 30, they'll be there again within the next week. Go bitch about something else. Like Slayer Pistols, after they weakened them.....
I sincerely doubt they will do something THAT innovative. Keep in mind that each sequel they have made usually has a TASTE of the one before it, with a completely new game experience in the next. Warcraft 3 was vastly different from 1 or 2, but still had the taste of warcraft. And of course, WOW is NOTHING like the strategy series. Starcraft still burns bright in my heart, but instead of getting a sequel like I WANT, I'm going to have to suffice with an FPS on the xbox in Starcraft Ghost. Each storyline that they have made: Starcraft, Warcraft, and Diablo; have all been completely enthralling. The story pushes the games almost as much as the actual gameplay. I'm betting they're working on a new story to tell, but I sincerely doubt that they'll say anything about it until it is just as enthralling as their other 3.
BTW, where the hell IS Starcraft 2???? I want a 3d strategy sequel, dammit!! And this time it doesn't have to be overhead view!!!
precisely. I'm signed up already. I don't have a chance in hell, but what is the cost of playing? Oh, what I've been paying already to play online games on my xbox. That'll work for me. And the prize is perfect- Something that's cool, that I'd want, but if I couldn't get it, no big deal. And I get to do something that I already find rewarding in and of itself. How I could possibly bitch about this is beyond me.
If the prize was a million dollars, I'd be upset about it. In this case, I'm going to be possibly rewarded for having a good time. All other problems involved are really not worth the time worrying over.
Here's an idea for you: Don't explore cheats?
In order to explore cheats, you eventually will cheat. It doesn't matter if the game is ranked or not. If it is unranked, does that mean that it isn't a game anymore? And does a software company have to lock you out of cheating YOURSELF in order for you to enjoy a game? Since when were they responsible for your lack of self-control? Of course they're hostile with you. They're hostile with everyone who cheats. Kind word of advice: with the new patch, you would be wise to not try any of that anymore...
Is anyone questioning whether or not media violence is bad for kids? I would be hard pressed to argue against that. It's pretty much agreed that kids shouldn't have their daily lives inundated with violence, so why not just enforce the "M" ratings on mature games? Why are we so hung up on crucifying the games industry instead of enforcing policies that they already have in place?
Again, the people working here are getting paid their money whether Halo 2 has new maps or not, just like the Bungie employees are getting thier paychecks whether maps are being made or not. Microsoft makes tons of products, and the two big ones, Windows and Office, make enough money to ensure everyone working for Microsoft gets paid their paycheck and profit bonuses (if MS has these). The CD/DVD pressing plant gets its money, the printing gets its money, etc. But, they get paid for the work done at the time, not continually paid long after the fact.
Okay, #1, if the argument is that Bungie shouldn't be charging money, you need to re-read TFA. Bungie had absolutely nothing to do with charging for these maps, and originally asked MS to release them for free. #2, this "Bungie employees get paid regardless if they work on this or not", is just ridiculous. Are they getting paid? Of course they are! Are they getting paid if they aren't producing anything? No, they don't have a fucking JOB if they're not producing anything. They're hired to perform a JOB, and Microsoft doesn't really feel like hiring them out of "the goodness of their heart", they'll only do it if it will provide profit to them. Do they still have a surplus from Halo 2's original sales? Of course they do! So because they earned money off of one product, they shouldn't try to make money off of another?
And on the PC, it is largely fan driven and thriving. And while it can take some time, good mappers can put out tons of maps in a fairly short amount of time. And they get put out for free. The same for skin makers and model makers for the mod community. Hell, the most popular online game, ever, Counter-Strike is just a fan made mod for Half-Life, and was released for free to the owners of Half-Life. Valve was just smart enough to hire those guys on after CS became popular so they could them make some money off of selling a stand alone CS game disk.
What in the blue hell does that have ANYTHING to do with whether or not it costs money for Bungie to make maps for a console game? We're comparing apples to oranges, here.
The point being they aren't working for free, like many fan map makers are. They got paid their salary, period. They got paid for their work, and they're going to continue getting paid for their time at their job, even if they don't start working on more content until near Xmas. They aren't going to be going to work at Bungie for free, unless they're dumb as bricks.
The hell is your POINT? That they shouldn't be getting paid, that they are getting paid to watch TV? I don't get it.
Nothing is wrong with them making money off of the product. The product sold.
You're going by your own personal definition of what is a product. Your definition seems to point that Halo 2 is the only product we're discussing here. In actuality, we are talking about two products: Halo 2, and the Halo 2 Map Pack. Use whatever acrobatic semantics and word games that you want, it still doesn't change the fact that these new maps are part of a new product, that COMPLEMENTS an existing product. When I go buy strawberries, and then buy chocolate syrup with it to dip it in, I'm not buying ONE product, I am buying TWO products. Keep that in mind in this discussion. We are talking about whether a product should be free or not.
No, but to try and pull the "well, it cost us money to make this" bullshit is just that, bullshit. They've made well over 10x whatever they spent on making Halo back, maybe even closer to 20x (well, MS did, the Bungie people now work for their MS salary). They've made more than enough on Halo 2, already, to keep paying the Bungie people's slaraies for a good long time, and since it is still selling, it is going to be paying their salries for a long time to come.
To try and "justify" the price of maps because, yes it takes some labor hours to make them, is ludicrous. Now, if Halo 2 was a complete flop, they could justify it by saying that
yeah, because when you're making money, you should do everything you can to do bad business and lose it all, right? OR, you keep doing good business, which they are doing. Shame on them for having brains!
This seems to be spreading awefully fast. Even my two-bit company's administration has an attitude like this.
Here's a good example that people still talk about today: Bungie, Microsoft, and Halo 2:
Bungie: Halo 2 is really starting to pick up on progress, and we're starting to implement things that we didn't even have on the drawing board last year. Give us some more time, and we'll deliver one hell of a game.
Microsoft: Release the game now.
Bungie: But its not even ready.
Microsoft: We need something to boost our Xbox sales for Christmas season, release the game now.
Bungie: Fine
Now, the second part of the Vivendi/Dynamix scenario hasn't occured with Microsoft/Bungie, nor do I think it will, because unlike Tribes 2, Halo 2 sold like hotcakes (I love that word...hotcakes), but look at what Bungie is doing now...they're working on downloadable content, aka, patches and levels that probably could have been avoided and have been put in the original game. Not only that, they're already considering a Halo 3, before Xbox 2 has even issued a release date, making it a probable game for the Xbox instead. Why? Because despite how incredibly good the game is (its all I play after work now), it STILL isn't living up to what it could have been, and it could have been even MORE successful had Microsoft given them a little more time.
It all amounts to development teams running into the same problems that actors/writers/musicians/directors/screenwriters run into nowadays- publisher bullshit. The publisher makes the calls, and they only care about profit. They don't care about what they're doing to what they're selling, and they don't care about what their attitude is doing to the market as a whole (People are starting to really sod off on their gaming time these days, due to a lack of good games on the market).
Somehow, some way, game devolpment has to find a way to separate them from their publishers, same as any other artist. I personally see that as the real problem. However, I get kind of depressed when I discover that I don't have a solution. Any thoughts?
Slashdot Mirror
Great, you now took down the #1 resource for cheese with the Slashdot effect. Good going.
A Google App that collects information, even if you ask it not to? Say it isn't so!
http://www.mylocalinstaller.com/diagra2.jpg
It's the closest thing I can find. But....that's a lot.
Article by PC World: http://www.pcworld.com/article/195185/gizmodos_iphone_saga_fact_vs_speculation.html Judging by the article, this guy did get raided, and is considering suing the police. They're still trying to figure out if he's protected by journalism shield laws. If Apple's actually pulling the strings, there are better ways to hype your product than to get into several legal battles. The very idea that they are, is ridiculous.
I couldn't agree more. This is exactly what I was thinking when I was reading the article. How can this guy NOT have gotten a return on his investment yet? I sincerely doubt he's in debt up to his eyeballs here....considering the help he's getting from the governments, and the utter TRAFFIC that goes across the pipe these days. Saying that he needs to double his money is just plain ludicrousy, but he dances around SAYING that pretty well.
But Slashdotters are no fools
Agree 100%!! Things like this are black eyes in technology, and especially in areas where they're still transitioning. And considering how many people/companies/schools hold back from the cost of technology alone, we really didn't need problems like this lingering any longer. Very glad to see these guys apprehended.
From the sound of it the cards may also have an impact on your online gameplay as well." So lemme get this straight. The game is pay-to-play already, and now there's a possibility that you have to buy into a collectible card game to get the full experience? No thanks.
Oh, don't bring up I, Robot please....Mr. Asimov is rolling in his grave.....
That comment deserves a 5. Plain and simple.
I completely and utterly disagree. I will ask you to recall the problems when the console gaming market crashed back in the very early 80's. PC Gaming DIDN'T SAVE GAMING. Matter of fact, it was, while minor, one of the factors leading up to the crash. PC Gaming is not an answer or solution to the gaming industry. Granted, some of the best games out there are PC games. The Half-life, Diablo, Warcraft, Starcraft, Doom, Baldur's Gate, and many other series that have hit the PC are usually referred to as some of the best games ever created. But these games are just not hitting enough people. I have countless friends who have been avid gamers since I've known them as kids, and they haven't TOUCHED a PC title in nearly 5 years. I can't say much better! Other than throwing in games of at least 2 years ago, I don't have much luck with the new stuff. It was half the reason why I got an Xbox, and let's face it, it isn't the only problem PC gaming has. Sure, it has it's benefits. Nobody can argue with that. But a lot of people that don't have a tremendous amount of money in their back pockets can't play the newer games until they are old and decrepit, or ported to a crappy console version. What do those nice benefits earn you if you can't even afford them? Nothing. This is why I am in support of Console Gaming. I don't think it's better. I've played my share of PC games. Hell, I grew up on them. But I play what I can play. And I can't play the newer stuff for the PC. My 8.00 an hour doesn't afford me the hardware I need to be able to handle that kind of gaming experience. And I know I'm not alone in that respect. It's pretty much, deal with what you've got. I play Doom 3 on my Xbox. No, it isn't quite as pretty as the PC version, which I have seen. But at least I can play it! How many people that post in the games section of slashdot every day can actually say that, if they're devoted to playing games on the PC only? Anyways, it's a horrible attitude to take, and while I don't like it, it's all I really can do at this point. The point is, PC gaming is too fucking expensive for anyone to claim that it will make a comeback. Console gaming is less expensive for a reason, regardless of how you feel about that reason. That very same reason is why PC Gaming will never take over, unless drastic changes take place. The situation just sucks as a whole, quite frankly.
that's not really a good example. More of an example of the opposite, actually. What we're asking for is SMARTER AI, not an enemy with even more ability than before. Having them being more responsive to noises and more sensitive to where I am doesn't lead me to believe that they're any smarter. It just leads me to believe that the AI is cheating by knowing where I am more often. That's crap.
Have fun playing games on Live with a mod chip installed. If I had the cash for a 2nd Xbox, I'd totally mod the 2nd one, but I fail to see the point in modding if I take away my functionality.
All three companies have said that multi-platform gaming will probably come to a screeching halt in this generation. There's just going to be too many variables encountered in the process.
hey now, relax, it was a joke. I know plenty of people like soccer. I don't, but I felt like throwing that out there for fun. I wouldn't be so ignorant to run out and shout "BAN SOCCER, IT SUCKS". People are entitled to their choice of entertainment.
It will be even more fun when they pick an entertaining sport. :P
He's right. Do you know what animal kills more people than any other on a yearly basis? The HIPPO. Just because it doesn't want to eat you, doesn't mean it won't mind killing you to protect it's territory.
EXACTLY, the stat reset was much needed, and Bungie gives damn good excuse for it. Funny how that isn't in the posting at all.....Nor is the fact that the leaderboards are already up to around level 25 or more across the board. If they were a 30, they'll be there again within the next week. Go bitch about something else. Like Slayer Pistols, after they weakened them.....
I sincerely doubt they will do something THAT innovative. Keep in mind that each sequel they have made usually has a TASTE of the one before it, with a completely new game experience in the next. Warcraft 3 was vastly different from 1 or 2, but still had the taste of warcraft. And of course, WOW is NOTHING like the strategy series. Starcraft still burns bright in my heart, but instead of getting a sequel like I WANT, I'm going to have to suffice with an FPS on the xbox in Starcraft Ghost. Each storyline that they have made: Starcraft, Warcraft, and Diablo; have all been completely enthralling. The story pushes the games almost as much as the actual gameplay. I'm betting they're working on a new story to tell, but I sincerely doubt that they'll say anything about it until it is just as enthralling as their other 3.
BTW, where the hell IS Starcraft 2???? I want a 3d strategy sequel, dammit!! And this time it doesn't have to be overhead view!!!
precisely. I'm signed up already. I don't have a chance in hell, but what is the cost of playing? Oh, what I've been paying already to play online games on my xbox. That'll work for me. And the prize is perfect- Something that's cool, that I'd want, but if I couldn't get it, no big deal. And I get to do something that I already find rewarding in and of itself. How I could possibly bitch about this is beyond me.
If the prize was a million dollars, I'd be upset about it. In this case, I'm going to be possibly rewarded for having a good time. All other problems involved are really not worth the time worrying over.
Here's an idea for you: Don't explore cheats? In order to explore cheats, you eventually will cheat. It doesn't matter if the game is ranked or not. If it is unranked, does that mean that it isn't a game anymore? And does a software company have to lock you out of cheating YOURSELF in order for you to enjoy a game? Since when were they responsible for your lack of self-control? Of course they're hostile with you. They're hostile with everyone who cheats. Kind word of advice: with the new patch, you would be wise to not try any of that anymore...
Is anyone questioning whether or not media violence is bad for kids? I would be hard pressed to argue against that. It's pretty much agreed that kids shouldn't have their daily lives inundated with violence, so why not just enforce the "M" ratings on mature games? Why are we so hung up on crucifying the games industry instead of enforcing policies that they already have in place?
Again, the people working here are getting paid their money whether Halo 2 has new maps or not, just like the Bungie employees are getting thier paychecks whether maps are being made or not. Microsoft makes tons of products, and the two big ones, Windows and Office, make enough money to ensure everyone working for Microsoft gets paid their paycheck and profit bonuses (if MS has these). The CD/DVD pressing plant gets its money, the printing gets its money, etc. But, they get paid for the work done at the time, not continually paid long after the fact.
Okay, #1, if the argument is that Bungie shouldn't be charging money, you need to re-read TFA. Bungie had absolutely nothing to do with charging for these maps, and originally asked MS to release them for free. #2, this "Bungie employees get paid regardless if they work on this or not", is just ridiculous. Are they getting paid? Of course they are! Are they getting paid if they aren't producing anything? No, they don't have a fucking JOB if they're not producing anything. They're hired to perform a JOB, and Microsoft doesn't really feel like hiring them out of "the goodness of their heart", they'll only do it if it will provide profit to them. Do they still have a surplus from Halo 2's original sales? Of course they do! So because they earned money off of one product, they shouldn't try to make money off of another?
And on the PC, it is largely fan driven and thriving. And while it can take some time, good mappers can put out tons of maps in a fairly short amount of time. And they get put out for free. The same for skin makers and model makers for the mod community. Hell, the most popular online game, ever, Counter-Strike is just a fan made mod for Half-Life, and was released for free to the owners of Half-Life. Valve was just smart enough to hire those guys on after CS became popular so they could them make some money off of selling a stand alone CS game disk.
What in the blue hell does that have ANYTHING to do with whether or not it costs money for Bungie to make maps for a console game? We're comparing apples to oranges, here.
The point being they aren't working for free, like many fan map makers are. They got paid their salary, period. They got paid for their work, and they're going to continue getting paid for their time at their job, even if they don't start working on more content until near Xmas. They aren't going to be going to work at Bungie for free, unless they're dumb as bricks.
The hell is your POINT? That they shouldn't be getting paid, that they are getting paid to watch TV? I don't get it.
Nothing is wrong with them making money off of the product. The product sold.
You're going by your own personal definition of what is a product. Your definition seems to point that Halo 2 is the only product we're discussing here. In actuality, we are talking about two products: Halo 2, and the Halo 2 Map Pack. Use whatever acrobatic semantics and word games that you want, it still doesn't change the fact that these new maps are part of a new product, that COMPLEMENTS an existing product. When I go buy strawberries, and then buy chocolate syrup with it to dip it in, I'm not buying ONE product, I am buying TWO products. Keep that in mind in this discussion. We are talking about whether a product should be free or not.
No, but to try and pull the "well, it cost us money to make this" bullshit is just that, bullshit. They've made well over 10x whatever they spent on making Halo back, maybe even closer to 20x (well, MS did, the Bungie people now work for their MS salary). They've made more than enough on Halo 2, already, to keep paying the Bungie people's slaraies for a good long time, and since it is still selling, it is going to be paying their salries for a long time to come. To try and "justify" the price of maps because, yes it takes some labor hours to make them, is ludicrous. Now, if Halo 2 was a complete flop, they could justify it by saying that
yeah, because when you're making money, you should do everything you can to do bad business and lose it all, right? OR, you keep doing good business, which they are doing. Shame on them for having brains!
This seems to be spreading awefully fast. Even my two-bit company's administration has an attitude like this.
Here's a good example that people still talk about today: Bungie, Microsoft, and Halo 2:
Bungie: Halo 2 is really starting to pick up on progress, and we're starting to implement things that we didn't even have on the drawing board last year. Give us some more time, and we'll deliver one hell of a game.
Microsoft: Release the game now.
Bungie: But its not even ready.
Microsoft: We need something to boost our Xbox sales for Christmas season, release the game now.
Bungie: Fine
Now, the second part of the Vivendi/Dynamix scenario hasn't occured with Microsoft/Bungie, nor do I think it will, because unlike Tribes 2, Halo 2 sold like hotcakes (I love that word...hotcakes), but look at what Bungie is doing now...they're working on downloadable content, aka, patches and levels that probably could have been avoided and have been put in the original game. Not only that, they're already considering a Halo 3, before Xbox 2 has even issued a release date, making it a probable game for the Xbox instead. Why? Because despite how incredibly good the game is (its all I play after work now), it STILL isn't living up to what it could have been, and it could have been even MORE successful had Microsoft given them a little more time.
It all amounts to development teams running into the same problems that actors/writers/musicians/directors/screenwriters run into nowadays- publisher bullshit. The publisher makes the calls, and they only care about profit. They don't care about what they're doing to what they're selling, and they don't care about what their attitude is doing to the market as a whole (People are starting to really sod off on their gaming time these days, due to a lack of good games on the market).
Somehow, some way, game devolpment has to find a way to separate them from their publishers, same as any other artist. I personally see that as the real problem. However, I get kind of depressed when I discover that I don't have a solution. Any thoughts?