I have to say I agree with the review. The art and sandbox activities are great -- the combat system, not so much. I love hunting, and roping wild horses. The beauty of the landscapes honestly made me want to go out west again this year for vacation (though I can barely stay on a horse at all).
As far as combat goes, I quickly got to the point that I wasn't even bothering to use the cover system, just doing the most tactically ridiculous thing possible, usually running (inappropriately on horseback where possible) into a crowd of enemies to see if I could survive dispatching them all, which usually I could. Not only do they make it extremely easy to do naturally (you can get shot about 5 times before needing to take cover for 5 seconds to heal), but you have medicine and Deadeye at your disposal, at which point you might as well be invincible.
Setting the combat to expert doesn't help, as it simply makes combat frustrating. Aiming in free mode is impossible as the cursor moves too slowly to react. Its like moving underwater.
Its funny that you mention Oblivion, as I find myself comparing this game to another Bethesda title: Fallout 3. The scenery is similar, as is some of the weaponry. Both blatantly recycle game engines from previous titles. The two games are somewhat opposite to one another as far as what they get right and what they get wrong. The art, animation, voice acting, and attention to detail go to RDR, probably because Rockstar has more money then god to throw at art. The controls and combat go to Fallout 3: I would very much like to be able to switch to first person in combat in RDR, and VATS is much better then Deadeye, especially with its slow motion cinematic kills. With RDR you don't really get the "feel" of the gun you are using like you do in Fallout 3. In Fallout 3, the 44 Magnum "feels" a lot different then the 10mm, even on "very easy" where they both do about the same damage. In RDR, it doesn't really matter what gun you use. Some are more powerful, but the game doesn't "fetishize" the weapons like Fallout 3 does. Speaking as someone who owns some of the weapons portrayed in RDR, they missed a huge opportunity there.
Fallout 3 also gets right that you need to pay attention to your character's overall well being. Part of being in the Southwest is that the environment itself will kill you. You need water, shelter, sleep, food, etc. So does your horse. In RDR you can ride for 5 days and nights having never slept or even gotten off your horse to no ill effect; In Fallout 3, by then you would have radiation poisoning, be addicted to a few drugs, and maybe have a few crippled limbs had you not maintained yourself.
Don't get me wrong, I love both games, but it would be great if Rockstar could steal a few pages from Bethesda's playbook, and Bethesda could spend a little more attention to graphics, physics, voice acting and all the little things that draw you into RDR but you have to just try to overlook in Fallout 3 or Oblivion.
In this case why would that matter? I believe its the overpressure not the heat (I assume you are referring to the way nuclear weapons release a huge amount of heat over a relatively long period of time) that forces closed the bore. I have no idea if using conventional explosives would be feasible from an engineering standpoint, but if it comes to it, the public would be much more comfortable with a conventional explosive.
Well of course it can. I'm not say that this device could solve a currently unsolvable problem, just that it might allow for some interesting opportunities for creating electric vehicles which posses both power and fuel efficiency.
> That's why the Tesla roadster doesn't even have a transmission.
It doesn't have a transmission because it doesn't need one.
That's not entirely true. They originally planned for a 2 speed transmission. Basically "low" for 0-125mph and "high" for 125-200ish. They had difficulties building one durable enough. They decided to drop it and settle for a top speed of 125mph. That's not bad for cruising the highway, but its the slowest thing in its price range on the track.
As pointed out above, you've got your I.C.E. vs Electric Motor info backwards, however I just want to point out that this device wouldn't be useless for Electric Motors. One of the challenges with creating a transmission for a high power electric motor is that the massive amount of torque generated creates too much stress on a traditional friction based automatic transmission (or a friction based clutch). That's why the Tesla roadster doesn't even have a transmission. In the case of the Tesla something like this could allow for higher top speeds, allowing it to compete with other super-cars in both acceleration and speed.
For the rest of us that want electric and fuel cell cars, an infinitely variable transmission could allow for a smaller motor. Rather then pumping more energy into it to achieve higher speeds, the throttle can simply control the transmission, thus conserving battery power or hydrogen. More likely, the throttle would control both, allowing you to use more energy to when rapid acceleration is needed, or the transmission when it isn't.
I'm on a five at a time plan and I've had this problem too, though not quite as much as you. Generally when I get an unplayable disk its because it's been broken in half by the post office (probably about 1 in 20 while living in NYC).
I did have the skipping disk problem as much as you do back when I was relying on my original XBox 360 as a DVD player. It's since died its last death and had to be replaced (it went 4 years before being completely dead, I count myself lucky). Since then I almost never encounter disks that are unplayable unless they are in 2 pieces. You might consider a new DVD player, or a laser cleaning kit to reduce your hassle.
Hey, your post just made me realize that current Apple hardware doesn't have an Apple logo on the Apple Key. It really is the Command key now. It's not on my Mac Book Pro, and it's not on my Apple Keyboard. My Black Macbook has it though so it looks like a new change. Kinda sucks, back when I used to teach Photoshop I used to refer to it as the Apple key, as novice users would confuse the control and command keys if you called them that.
It RAISES the question, dammit. Begging the question is something else, but you could probably care less.
Depends on how up-to-date your copy of the English language is. In the current release, "begging the question" no longer refers to the logical fallacy of circular reasoning and can be used interchangeably with "raises the question" (due to updates in the usage of the verb "beg"). You should update your definitions and libraries to the newest version rather than correct other people's word choices online, as it makes you look like a bore.
My only problem with Hulu is that they don't have enough ads. Or I suppose I should say enough advertisers. It gets very annoying seeing the same double-pits-to-chesty Axe ad 20 odd times over 5 episodes of something. I have to say they have been better about it lately, though it can still be a problem sometimes.
Thats not true of most states. In most states, if your car has completely entered the intersection when the light turns red you didn't run the light.
Now on the other hand, you're right that TFA is a good example of why Florida gets its own Fark tag. Red light cameras are illegal in Florida, see here: http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/30/3059.asp of course that doesn't stop cities from putting them up, despite the fact the state legislature declared them illegal. The towns and cities that have them are now trying to treat them as civil cases between the company that installed the cameras and the person issued the "ticket". Basically you can just rip up a Florida red light ticket, they are not even remotely legal.
Another fun Florida fact is that breathalyzers are no longer permissible as proof of intoxication for DUI stops. They do a good old fashioned "walk the line" sobriety test, which if you pass, even if you blow too high, you still walk. It got that way because the company that provided the breathalyzers would not provide the code for the software that drives them to opposing council, or even the court itself.
Ballistic knife = crossbow.
I've always wondered why you don't see more crimes committed with crossbows. Imagine what this or this would do to a person rather then a dear. I suppose you only get one shot, but some of those mechanical broad heads are pretty insane.
How about 4? I know modern game systems can support more then 4 controllers, but 4 has always been pretty much the standard. Back in the day we had no problems playing a game on standard def tv split into 4. With modern HD sets you are getting about the same resolution per quadrant as we were used to getting in 1 player mode.
Effective herbal abortifacients have existed for a long time, we've had chemical "contraception" for millennia. The "Pill" is just a modern, less invasive form of chemical contraception. The change is one of culture, the technology involved is just icing. In the past contraception was often viewed as shameful whereas today thanks to the feminist movement it's usually viewed as simply prudent.
I like to joke that in the next few centuries natural selection will produce incredibly forgetful women (as the women who forget to take their daily birth control pill will be the ones reproducing), and people of both genders that are allergic to latex.
Admittedly this is a little offtopic, but why don't we have a real sarcasm tag by now? We desperately need one as people from different cultural backgrounds and different intelligence levels can very easily miss the tone of a statement made on the internet, especially if its author of said statement is not particularly good at conveying their meaning.
We should petition that a sarcasm tag be included in the next revision of HTML. It could do something simple to the font, like make it reverse italic, slanting backward instead of forward.
Its the for-profit part that I disagree with, obviously infrastructure monopolies are needed in some cases.
A more specific charter then is provided for by either a for-profit corporation or a non-profit corporation is really what is needed in these cases. A charter which specifically delineates what the company can do and what they can charge. For instance, instead of Comcast which owns the cables and also provides the content, split that up so that the cables are owned by one company (a government sanction monopoly, which sole purpose is to lay and maintain cable) and the content is provided by many others.
It looks terrible. Imagine every mountain top in California covered with thousands of the things. Then consider the maintenance, they look shiny and clean now but wait 20 years for time to take its toll. There won't be money to spit-shine the things once a week, and eventually they will look dirty and grimy. Instead of hiking or driving through mostly unspoiled wilderness, you'll always be surrounded by spinning turbines, and the land will be cut across with innumerable small access roads.
I would agree except for one thing: most of these companies are government sanctioned monopolies. That in my mind means its up to the government to dictate terms of service and pricing.
Personally I don't think that for-profit government sanctioned monopolies should exist, but who cares what I think?
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I have to say I agree with the review. The art and sandbox activities are great -- the combat system, not so much. I love hunting, and roping wild horses. The beauty of the landscapes honestly made me want to go out west again this year for vacation (though I can barely stay on a horse at all).
As far as combat goes, I quickly got to the point that I wasn't even bothering to use the cover system, just doing the most tactically ridiculous thing possible, usually running (inappropriately on horseback where possible) into a crowd of enemies to see if I could survive dispatching them all, which usually I could. Not only do they make it extremely easy to do naturally (you can get shot about 5 times before needing to take cover for 5 seconds to heal), but you have medicine and Deadeye at your disposal, at which point you might as well be invincible.
Setting the combat to expert doesn't help, as it simply makes combat frustrating. Aiming in free mode is impossible as the cursor moves too slowly to react. Its like moving underwater.
Its funny that you mention Oblivion, as I find myself comparing this game to another Bethesda title: Fallout 3. The scenery is similar, as is some of the weaponry. Both blatantly recycle game engines from previous titles. The two games are somewhat opposite to one another as far as what they get right and what they get wrong. The art, animation, voice acting, and attention to detail go to RDR, probably because Rockstar has more money then god to throw at art. The controls and combat go to Fallout 3: I would very much like to be able to switch to first person in combat in RDR, and VATS is much better then Deadeye, especially with its slow motion cinematic kills. With RDR you don't really get the "feel" of the gun you are using like you do in Fallout 3. In Fallout 3, the 44 Magnum "feels" a lot different then the 10mm, even on "very easy" where they both do about the same damage. In RDR, it doesn't really matter what gun you use. Some are more powerful, but the game doesn't "fetishize" the weapons like Fallout 3 does. Speaking as someone who owns some of the weapons portrayed in RDR, they missed a huge opportunity there.
Fallout 3 also gets right that you need to pay attention to your character's overall well being. Part of being in the Southwest is that the environment itself will kill you. You need water, shelter, sleep, food, etc. So does your horse. In RDR you can ride for 5 days and nights having never slept or even gotten off your horse to no ill effect; In Fallout 3, by then you would have radiation poisoning, be addicted to a few drugs, and maybe have a few crippled limbs had you not maintained yourself.
Don't get me wrong, I love both games, but it would be great if Rockstar could steal a few pages from Bethesda's playbook, and Bethesda could spend a little more attention to graphics, physics, voice acting and all the little things that draw you into RDR but you have to just try to overlook in Fallout 3 or Oblivion.
In this case why would that matter? I believe its the overpressure not the heat (I assume you are referring to the way nuclear weapons release a huge amount of heat over a relatively long period of time) that forces closed the bore. I have no idea if using conventional explosives would be feasible from an engineering standpoint, but if it comes to it, the public would be much more comfortable with a conventional explosive.
Knows about what? The oil spill? I'm pretty sure everyone knows that there is a really bad oil spill in the gulf by now.
Mobilization has begun. There are already crews attempting to stop the leak, and crews attempting clean up.
Perhaps you should go donate blood to the red cross. It'll make you feel better.
The torque can be limited electronically.
Well of course it can. I'm not say that this device could solve a currently unsolvable problem, just that it might allow for some interesting opportunities for creating electric vehicles which posses both power and fuel efficiency.
> That's why the Tesla roadster doesn't even have a transmission.
It doesn't have a transmission because it doesn't need one.
That's not entirely true. They originally planned for a 2 speed transmission. Basically "low" for 0-125mph and "high" for 125-200ish. They had difficulties building one durable enough. They decided to drop it and settle for a top speed of 125mph. That's not bad for cruising the highway, but its the slowest thing in its price range on the track.
As pointed out above, you've got your I.C.E. vs Electric Motor info backwards, however I just want to point out that this device wouldn't be useless for Electric Motors. One of the challenges with creating a transmission for a high power electric motor is that the massive amount of torque generated creates too much stress on a traditional friction based automatic transmission (or a friction based clutch). That's why the Tesla roadster doesn't even have a transmission. In the case of the Tesla something like this could allow for higher top speeds, allowing it to compete with other super-cars in both acceleration and speed.
For the rest of us that want electric and fuel cell cars, an infinitely variable transmission could allow for a smaller motor. Rather then pumping more energy into it to achieve higher speeds, the throttle can simply control the transmission, thus conserving battery power or hydrogen. More likely, the throttle would control both, allowing you to use more energy to when rapid acceleration is needed, or the transmission when it isn't.
I'm on a five at a time plan and I've had this problem too, though not quite as much as you. Generally when I get an unplayable disk its because it's been broken in half by the post office (probably about 1 in 20 while living in NYC).
I did have the skipping disk problem as much as you do back when I was relying on my original XBox 360 as a DVD player. It's since died its last death and had to be replaced (it went 4 years before being completely dead, I count myself lucky). Since then I almost never encounter disks that are unplayable unless they are in 2 pieces. You might consider a new DVD player, or a laser cleaning kit to reduce your hassle.
Hey, your post just made me realize that current Apple hardware doesn't have an Apple logo on the Apple Key. It really is the Command key now. It's not on my Mac Book Pro, and it's not on my Apple Keyboard. My Black Macbook has it though so it looks like a new change. Kinda sucks, back when I used to teach Photoshop I used to refer to it as the Apple key, as novice users would confuse the control and command keys if you called them that.
I think the point is that it's a challenge.
Sending an android to the moon is definitely cool. The Japanese definitely understand the rule of cool.
The realistic threat of facebook vis a vis privacy is that of your youthful indiscretions being on wide display for coworkers and bosses to see.
With any luck, perhaps it will make youthful indiscretions less of an issue, since so many people are airing their dirty laundry in public.
It RAISES the question, dammit. Begging the question is something else, but you could probably care less.
Depends on how up-to-date your copy of the English language is. In the current release, "begging the question" no longer refers to the logical fallacy of circular reasoning and can be used interchangeably with "raises the question" (due to updates in the usage of the verb "beg"). You should update your definitions and libraries to the newest version rather than correct other people's word choices online, as it makes you look like a bore.
I don't think that's really an argument that anyone makes around here. Few /.ers would attest that the body works like "black magic".
Though the Americans might argue that its difficult to get access to any of these biomedical advances.
My only problem with Hulu is that they don't have enough ads. Or I suppose I should say enough advertisers. It gets very annoying seeing the same double-pits-to-chesty Axe ad 20 odd times over 5 episodes of something. I have to say they have been better about it lately, though it can still be a problem sometimes.
Thats not true of most states. In most states, if your car has completely entered the intersection when the light turns red you didn't run the light.
Now on the other hand, you're right that TFA is a good example of why Florida gets its own Fark tag. Red light cameras are illegal in Florida, see here: http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/30/3059.asp of course that doesn't stop cities from putting them up, despite the fact the state legislature declared them illegal. The towns and cities that have them are now trying to treat them as civil cases between the company that installed the cameras and the person issued the "ticket". Basically you can just rip up a Florida red light ticket, they are not even remotely legal.
Another fun Florida fact is that breathalyzers are no longer permissible as proof of intoxication for DUI stops. They do a good old fashioned "walk the line" sobriety test, which if you pass, even if you blow too high, you still walk. It got that way because the company that provided the breathalyzers would not provide the code for the software that drives them to opposing council, or even the court itself.
Ballistic knife = crossbow. I've always wondered why you don't see more crimes committed with crossbows. Imagine what this or this would do to a person rather then a dear. I suppose you only get one shot, but some of those mechanical broad heads are pretty insane.
Wow, that's even debated? Did anyone honestly believe that the biggest search engine in the world was completely blind?
How about 4? I know modern game systems can support more then 4 controllers, but 4 has always been pretty much the standard. Back in the day we had no problems playing a game on standard def tv split into 4. With modern HD sets you are getting about the same resolution per quadrant as we were used to getting in 1 player mode.
They should switch to country western. No loss there.
Effective herbal abortifacients have existed for a long time, we've had chemical "contraception" for millennia. The "Pill" is just a modern, less invasive form of chemical contraception. The change is one of culture, the technology involved is just icing. In the past contraception was often viewed as shameful whereas today thanks to the feminist movement it's usually viewed as simply prudent.
I like to joke that in the next few centuries natural selection will produce incredibly forgetful women (as the women who forget to take their daily birth control pill will be the ones reproducing), and people of both genders that are allergic to latex.
Admittedly this is a little offtopic, but why don't we have a real sarcasm tag by now? We desperately need one as people from different cultural backgrounds and different intelligence levels can very easily miss the tone of a statement made on the internet, especially if its author of said statement is not particularly good at conveying their meaning.
We should petition that a sarcasm tag be included in the next revision of HTML. It could do something simple to the font, like make it reverse italic, slanting backward instead of forward.
Its the for-profit part that I disagree with, obviously infrastructure monopolies are needed in some cases.
A more specific charter then is provided for by either a for-profit corporation or a non-profit corporation is really what is needed in these cases. A charter which specifically delineates what the company can do and what they can charge. For instance, instead of Comcast which owns the cables and also provides the content, split that up so that the cables are owned by one company (a government sanction monopoly, which sole purpose is to lay and maintain cable) and the content is provided by many others.
It looks terrible. Imagine every mountain top in California covered with thousands of the things. Then consider the maintenance, they look shiny and clean now but wait 20 years for time to take its toll. There won't be money to spit-shine the things once a week, and eventually they will look dirty and grimy. Instead of hiking or driving through mostly unspoiled wilderness, you'll always be surrounded by spinning turbines, and the land will be cut across with innumerable small access roads.
I would agree except for one thing: most of these companies are government sanctioned monopolies. That in my mind means its up to the government to dictate terms of service and pricing.
Personally I don't think that for-profit government sanctioned monopolies should exist, but who cares what I think?
If you're in a pinch, and need a fuse, a battery or a switch fast, they aren't that bad.
Now back to the basement... I shouldn't have left it alone and unmonitored for so long! It hates that.