Gabe's newspost at Penny-Arcade.com on Monday announced that they will have content available on Day One also. PA fan or not, it's a decent indicator of the sort of access Microsoft is giving those with the desire to put up their designs and whatnot for sale in the Xbox 360 Marketplace.
That said, PA is the only example I've heard of, so maybe they're just good at stroking a cock or two. There is lots of them hens and roosters at Microsoft I hear.
Yeah, from what I played in the pre-order freebie demo, Dragon Quest VIII's voice-over work sounds abysmal, as far as the "acting" goes. Then again, the over-the-top cartoonish acting somewhat matches the purty (IMO) cartoonish artwork, and totally boring by-the-book save the princess storyline. I've never played a Dragon Quest game before, but it's my understanding they are no Xenogears.
I guess I'll see when I receive my FFXII demo. Err, uh, I mean, umm, Dragon Quest VIII.
This Week in Science is a great show, if you're looking something less hardcore and more, "popular." Another favorite of mine is Australia's ABC Radio National's All in the Mind, which are similar in production to the same station's The Science Show.
I was about to point out that the gent mentioned in the summary that he already has tried spy/ad-ware removal programs you promotion whore you, then I noticed that your the fellow I got into a nice discussion with about Jack Thompson. I didn't want to seem like an mildly vindictive ass, so I refrained.
Go here and download Rootkit Revealer. If that doesn't find anything, and you've tried everything you said, you got some smart malicious rootkit-usin' virus that knows how to trick Revealer, or your system is the proto for some new form of evilness.
You should of hyperlinked the word "new" to a site that talks about how long multi-threading has been around. That actually would have done the trick quite well. Your welcome. =)
"Makes one wonder how we'll see mentally challenged people once we have a far better understanding of the brain than we have now...
Hi, I'm from the future. Our aging deity, now 2948 years old, clearly messed up on the original the user interface, yet the programming is surprisingly tidy. The mentally challenged can be considered akin to, oh dear, what was that OS from the 20th century . . . oh yes! DOS. Consider them the DOS of humanity. Not so pretty on the outside, but comprehensive from within.
That's true, but I haven't found a receiver with an 1/8th inch input that was of any outstanding quality . . . at the very least in the power and output connections departments. If he's not looking for audiophile quality, then, yes, that's a much better solution.
Duh, he could build his own Ogg Vorbis compatible car stereo receiver from scratch. Or perhaps, he could hire lobbyists to blanket the campi of the major car stereo makers and persuade them to build one. Maybe he could even hack into the computers that automatically load the firmware into the receivers and replace MP3 support with Ogg. Is building a time machine and going back to the point before the Fraunhoffer group developed MP3, brainwashing them, and then hypnotizing them and implanting Ogg Vorbis specs into their minds out of the question? I can't really think of anything else.
Oh wait, perhaps buying a reciever with RCA connectors, an RCA cable, an RCA to mini 1/8th inch jack, and an Ogg Vorbis compatible portable audio player would do the trick. I know, I'm crazy.
"And even if he's gone, there're still thousands more, eager to replace him. Each of them equally clueless."
I know what you mean, he definitely won't be the last, but really, Jack is not in some high and mighty position where people can't already co-exist with his stance in his field of, errr . . . expertise. A group of crazy people (for example, crazy lawyers) would have to be fully aware that they are crazy to be organized enough to put only one of themselves out on the playing field at a time, the rest all sitting idly-by in a orderly single file queue, waiting their turn to take a bullet.
Thankfully, I think Jack is a major exception to the rule. And hopefully one that will soon have every last shred of credibility legally ripped from him. "Gabe" at Penny-Arcade made a good point in a post yesterday though, saying that we may be better off having this guy holding the reins rather than someone who could actually do a good job. The truth is so funny sometimes.
EA CAN'T STOP THEM. If EA decides to get all legally hardass about games mods, people will just take an extra three seconds to put out their releases anonymously. If EA removes mod support from the game altogether, it will just be modded more creatively. This isn't about EA or nipples at all though. It's about the core nature of technology, software, and the distribution of information when the internet is involved. Good or bad, it just honestly can't be stopped.
Adobe and Microsoft, who have experience combating piracy for 20+ years (around 7 years for piracy that is often enabled by cracks -- or mods, if you will), and they still can't prevent people from circumventing their new fancy online validation tools. What do you expect EA to do? Not put out the game ever? Sue the modders?
I know, let's pass a law requiring the destruction of all media-related electronics. That's the ONLY thing that will ever eliminate the possibility of harmful content reaching children. Jack Thompson's reasoning would absolutely require him to sue every media and electronic company on the face of the Earth. He himself has said he is only one man, so he stays focused on one thing. But you know what? If he really had a clue of any sort, there would be 10,000 other lawyers following in his footsteps. Last time I checked (ohhh, just about a minute ago), there is zero behind him. Maybe he isthe onlysaint left among all of us crazy people.
I guess what my point is, is that even if EA didn't permit mods of any type, the game could and would still be modded. The mod we're both talking about is not provided or sanctioned by EA, and they wouldn't have any way of stopping it short of requiring server authentication and hash checks before the game will run. Oh damn, that almost sounds like a good idea (patent pending) . . . man, I'm working against myself;).
Anyhow, getting ahold of this mod is an intentional thing done by the game-owner, and assumably with full understanding of what it does. It would be created regardless of EA's official mod stance (unless my patent pending idea is put into effect, which is realistically skirtable anyhow), so be it unfortunate or even wrong, EA still really isn't at fault. Did they make it easier? Eeeehhhhh. Would making it harder stop such mods? No.
I could very well be in the dark, but I can't think of a single piece of software -- entertainment, productivity, OS or other -- for any hardware platform that I cannot legally alter in anyway I please using my own means or the help of someone else. Of course, so long as I'm not using to offer commercial services, or resell as an altered, copyrighted, trademarked, patented work that isn't mine.
Wanna make some money? Let's anonymously create a "mod" that turns Window's sound sets and themes into verbally and visually graphic assaults that would make George Carlin blush, then turn around and sue Microsoft into oblivion. Yup, that won't work. That's all I'm saying.
I form my own opinions, but some other people put it very well here. Eurogamer also has a good piece, but I suppose objective news may be more appreciated in this case. Statements from EA and Jack Thompson are quoted in this Google cached San Jose Mecury News piece (hence the IP instead of URL). Jack makes a seemingly reasonable point, saying, " . . . EA is not taking action against people for messing with its software. They need to get their game back."
Sorry, that episode was on tonight. Anyhow, when I see Sims 2: Virtual Ass (tm) offered for download on EA's website or sitting on Fred Meyer's shelves, rated Everyone or Teen, then there is an argument to be made. Frankly though, if "kids" are out looking for this stuff and know how and want to download and install it, they're probably not going to be harmed or offended by it. This isn't Sims 2: Full Penetration (tm) afterall. If EA themself was including frontal nudity in their E rated product for all the nine year-olds to see, there would definitely be a problem.
Granted, EA does support it's mod community, which consists of item creation and model skinning (no pun intended sadly), but anyone can (and will) take any game from any publisher and replace the bitmaps without much trouble, API or no API.
All that aside, I'm no hippy, but what is wrong with nudity anyway? Social conditioning? I'm sure traditional Tanzanian's wouldn't see anything wrong with Mom putting out the fire in the kitchen buck-naked while junior and friend are watching.
Jack does come off as an extremely rational person. My thoughts after first hearing the interview were exactly along the lines as yours. I was expecting, particulary with the "disclaimer" at the beginning of the interview, for Jack to be a screaming evangelical lunatic, and that of course is not the case at all.
He is a lawyer though, and he knew what audience he was talking to. I actually had a very good conversation with Alon, who hosted this interview with Jack, and he agreed that the point of the interview was to show that Jack isn't as maniacal as the gaming media and opinioners make him to be, but if you look at how he behaves outside of the spotlight, examples found here, here, and here, you can begin to gather that this guy is not a good person by any standard -- and that is removing all personal opinion as a gamer and looking at him purely as a human being.
I contacted Alon to defend Jack in a roundabout way, as his points about keeping violent media away from children's hands is very valid. I think we all agree with Jack on that. It is the basis of his reasoning for all of his actions -- profiting -- and his own conduct, that are Grade A wacko.
Excellent question. A mod to The Sims 2 allows players to view full frontal nudity in the game. Yes, a mod NOT from EA. Because of this, Jack Thompson wants EA to be shut down entirely because of a tit that isn't even in the retail package to begin with. Brilliant, yes?
+Led the campaign against the 1989 2 Live Crew album "As Nasty As They Wanna Be", and later, Ice T's "Cop Killer." +Filed with the FCC regarding the contents of a 2003 edition of Howard Stern's radio show resulted in Clear Channel Communications being fined $496,000 in 2004. +Filed, in 1999, a $33 million federal products liability lawsuit against several entertainment companies, including Time Warner Inc., Polygram Film Entertainment Distribution Inc., Palm Pictures, Island Pictures and New Line Cinema, Atari Corp., Nintendo of America, Sega of America Inc. and Sony Computer Entertainment on behalf of the parents of victims of the 1997 Paducah schoolhouse shootings. +Most recently has taken his tirade against videogame publishers Take Two (Grand Theft Auto series, Bully et. al.), Capcom (Killer 7), and EA (The Sims. Yeah really).
Really? No shit? Are you kidding me? For real? Are you sure? Really sure? Really really sure? Really no shit for sure not kidding sure not really? Damn you and your hope-crushing ways.
Slashdot Mirror
Clearly, the meaning of the word inconceivable is impossible for you to comprehend or grasp fully.
Yes, fake books are indeed real.
Gabe's newspost at Penny-Arcade.com on Monday announced that they will have content available on Day One also. PA fan or not, it's a decent indicator of the sort of access Microsoft is giving those with the desire to put up their designs and whatnot for sale in the Xbox 360 Marketplace.
That said, PA is the only example I've heard of, so maybe they're just good at stroking a cock or two. There is lots of them hens and roosters at Microsoft I hear.
Yeah, from what I played in the pre-order freebie demo, Dragon Quest VIII's voice-over work sounds abysmal, as far as the "acting" goes. Then again, the over-the-top cartoonish acting somewhat matches the purty (IMO) cartoonish artwork, and totally boring by-the-book save the princess storyline. I've never played a Dragon Quest game before, but it's my understanding they are no Xenogears.
I guess I'll see when I receive my FFXII demo. Err, uh, I mean, umm, Dragon Quest VIII.
But does it run Linux?
Oh. Well, okay then.
It appears you have not been reading all of the speculation.
This Week in Science is a great show, if you're looking something less hardcore and more, "popular." Another favorite of mine is Australia's ABC Radio National's All in the Mind, which are similar in production to the same station's The Science Show.
I was about to point out that the gent mentioned in the summary that he already has tried spy/ad-ware removal programs you promotion whore you, then I noticed that your the fellow I got into a nice discussion with about Jack Thompson. I didn't want to seem like an mildly vindictive ass, so I refrained.
Oh . . . darn. Well, I like your app. Cheers.
Go here and download Rootkit Revealer. If that doesn't find anything, and you've tried everything you said, you got some smart malicious rootkit-usin' virus that knows how to trick Revealer, or your system is the proto for some new form of evilness.
You should of hyperlinked the word "new" to a site that talks about how long multi-threading has been around. That actually would have done the trick quite well. Your welcome. =)
"Makes one wonder how we'll see mentally challenged people once we have a far better understanding of the brain than we have now...
Hi, I'm from the future. Our aging deity, now 2948 years old, clearly messed up on the original the user interface, yet the programming is surprisingly tidy. The mentally challenged can be considered akin to, oh dear, what was that OS from the 20th century . . . oh yes! DOS. Consider them the DOS of humanity. Not so pretty on the outside, but comprehensive from within.
I wonder what latin name this will be christened with? . . .
That's true, but I haven't found a receiver with an 1/8th inch input that was of any outstanding quality . . . at the very least in the power and output connections departments. If he's not looking for audiophile quality, then, yes, that's a much better solution.
Duh, he could build his own Ogg Vorbis compatible car stereo receiver from scratch. Or perhaps, he could hire lobbyists to blanket the campi of the major car stereo makers and persuade them to build one. Maybe he could even hack into the computers that automatically load the firmware into the receivers and replace MP3 support with Ogg. Is building a time machine and going back to the point before the Fraunhoffer group developed MP3, brainwashing them, and then hypnotizing them and implanting Ogg Vorbis specs into their minds out of the question? I can't really think of anything else.
Oh wait, perhaps buying a reciever with RCA connectors, an RCA cable, an RCA to mini 1/8th inch jack, and an Ogg Vorbis compatible portable audio player would do the trick. I know, I'm crazy.
I think in the name of clarity for the uninitiated, the PA guys don't fuck fruit, they just support it.
"And even if he's gone, there're still thousands more, eager to replace him. Each of them equally clueless."
I know what you mean, he definitely won't be the last, but really, Jack is not in some high and mighty position where people can't already co-exist with his stance in his field of, errr . . . expertise. A group of crazy people (for example, crazy lawyers) would have to be fully aware that they are crazy to be organized enough to put only one of themselves out on the playing field at a time, the rest all sitting idly-by in a orderly single file queue, waiting their turn to take a bullet.
Thankfully, I think Jack is a major exception to the rule. And hopefully one that will soon have every last shred of credibility legally ripped from him. "Gabe" at Penny-Arcade made a good point in a post yesterday though, saying that we may be better off having this guy holding the reins rather than someone who could actually do a good job. The truth is so funny sometimes.
EA CAN'T STOP THEM. If EA decides to get all legally hardass about games mods, people will just take an extra three seconds to put out their releases anonymously. If EA removes mod support from the game altogether, it will just be modded more creatively. This isn't about EA or nipples at all though. It's about the core nature of technology, software, and the distribution of information when the internet is involved. Good or bad, it just honestly can't be stopped.
Adobe and Microsoft, who have experience combating piracy for 20+ years (around 7 years for piracy that is often enabled by cracks -- or mods, if you will), and they still can't prevent people from circumventing their new fancy online validation tools. What do you expect EA to do? Not put out the game ever? Sue the modders?
I know, let's pass a law requiring the destruction of all media-related electronics. That's the ONLY thing that will ever eliminate the possibility of harmful content reaching children. Jack Thompson's reasoning would absolutely require him to sue every media and electronic company on the face of the Earth. He himself has said he is only one man, so he stays focused on one thing. But you know what? If he really had a clue of any sort, there would be 10,000 other lawyers following in his footsteps. Last time I checked (ohhh, just about a minute ago), there is zero behind him. Maybe he is the only saint left among all of us crazy people.
I guess what my point is, is that even if EA didn't permit mods of any type, the game could and would still be modded. The mod we're both talking about is not provided or sanctioned by EA, and they wouldn't have any way of stopping it short of requiring server authentication and hash checks before the game will run. Oh damn, that almost sounds like a good idea (patent pending) . . . man, I'm working against myself ;).
Anyhow, getting ahold of this mod is an intentional thing done by the game-owner, and assumably with full understanding of what it does. It would be created regardless of EA's official mod stance (unless my patent pending idea is put into effect, which is realistically skirtable anyhow), so be it unfortunate or even wrong, EA still really isn't at fault. Did they make it easier? Eeeehhhhh. Would making it harder stop such mods? No.
I could very well be in the dark, but I can't think of a single piece of software -- entertainment, productivity, OS or other -- for any hardware platform that I cannot legally alter in anyway I please using my own means or the help of someone else. Of course, so long as I'm not using to offer commercial services, or resell as an altered, copyrighted, trademarked, patented work that isn't mine.
Wanna make some money? Let's anonymously create a "mod" that turns Window's sound sets and themes into verbally and visually graphic assaults that would make George Carlin blush, then turn around and sue Microsoft into oblivion. Yup, that won't work. That's all I'm saying.
I form my own opinions, but some other people put it very well here. Eurogamer also has a good piece, but I suppose objective news may be more appreciated in this case. Statements from EA and Jack Thompson are quoted in this Google cached San Jose Mecury News piece (hence the IP instead of URL). Jack makes a seemingly reasonable point, saying, " . . . EA is not taking action against people for messing with its software. They need to get their game back."
But like I said, they can't.
What's next? I can't put Skittles in my beer?
Sorry, that episode was on tonight. Anyhow, when I see Sims 2: Virtual Ass (tm) offered for download on EA's website or sitting on Fred Meyer's shelves, rated Everyone or Teen, then there is an argument to be made. Frankly though, if "kids" are out looking for this stuff and know how and want to download and install it, they're probably not going to be harmed or offended by it. This isn't Sims 2: Full Penetration (tm) afterall. If EA themself was including frontal nudity in their E rated product for all the nine year-olds to see, there would definitely be a problem.
Granted, EA does support it's mod community, which consists of item creation and model skinning (no pun intended sadly), but anyone can (and will) take any game from any publisher and replace the bitmaps without much trouble, API or no API.
All that aside, I'm no hippy, but what is wrong with nudity anyway? Social conditioning? I'm sure traditional Tanzanian's wouldn't see anything wrong with Mom putting out the fire in the kitchen buck-naked while junior and friend are watching.
Jack does come off as an extremely rational person. My thoughts after first hearing the interview were exactly along the lines as yours. I was expecting, particulary with the "disclaimer" at the beginning of the interview, for Jack to be a screaming evangelical lunatic, and that of course is not the case at all.
He is a lawyer though, and he knew what audience he was talking to. I actually had a very good conversation with Alon, who hosted this interview with Jack, and he agreed that the point of the interview was to show that Jack isn't as maniacal as the gaming media and opinioners make him to be, but if you look at how he behaves outside of the spotlight, examples found here, here, and here, you can begin to gather that this guy is not a good person by any standard -- and that is removing all personal opinion as a gamer and looking at him purely as a human being.
I contacted Alon to defend Jack in a roundabout way, as his points about keeping violent media away from children's hands is very valid. I think we all agree with Jack on that. It is the basis of his reasoning for all of his actions -- profiting -- and his own conduct, that are Grade A wacko.
Excellent question. A mod to The Sims 2 allows players to view full frontal nudity in the game. Yes, a mod NOT from EA. Because of this, Jack Thompson wants EA to be shut down entirely because of a tit that isn't even in the retail package to begin with. Brilliant, yes?
Jack Thompson:
.
+Led the campaign against the 1989 2 Live Crew album "As Nasty As They Wanna Be", and later, Ice T's "Cop Killer."
+Filed with the FCC regarding the contents of a 2003 edition of Howard Stern's radio show resulted in Clear Channel Communications being fined $496,000 in 2004.
+Filed, in 1999, a $33 million federal products liability lawsuit against several entertainment companies, including Time Warner Inc., Polygram Film Entertainment Distribution Inc., Palm Pictures, Island Pictures and New Line Cinema, Atari Corp., Nintendo of America, Sega of America Inc. and Sony Computer Entertainment on behalf of the parents of victims of the 1997 Paducah schoolhouse shootings.
+Most recently has taken his tirade against videogame publishers Take Two (Grand Theft Auto series, Bully et. al.), Capcom (Killer 7), and EA (The Sims. Yeah really).
A great interview with Jack by Chatterbox Video Game Radio can be found at: http://www.chatterboxgameshow.com/jack.htm
This guy has really made himself a credible source for irrationality and brought many smiles to sane peoples faces.
Most comment points excerpted from Wikipedia.org
"Debbie Frost, spokewoman for Mountain View, California-based Google . . ."
More importantly, where have all the spellcheckers gone? That's right. TO INDIA!!!
On an offtopic aside, apparently "spokespeople" has lost it's caché. What's next? We start calling flight attendents stewerds and stewardesses again?
Touché.
Really? No shit? Are you kidding me? For real? Are you sure? Really sure? Really really sure? Really no shit for sure not kidding sure not really? Damn you and your hope-crushing ways.