Wow, I think I dislike Zonk as a/. editor even more now. Before it was because of his ungeekiness-- OMG i wub t3h videogames, I must be a geek!-- now it's because he's being an overly sensitive dick. Instead of responding to any of those accusations, he turns a cheek and mods them all down to oblivion. I can't say that helps your position too much, Zonker.
Ironic how the/. editors bitch and moan so much over censorship when they abuse their mod powers like this. Clearly, they couldn't give a damn about their professed love for all things free once their egos are at stake.
My guess would be that it has something to do with blowjobs, a tried-and-true, traditional method of gaining favor throughout the world. Either that or Zonk and Roland are one and the same person.
"I'd bet "Golden Sun" 1 & 2 are considered by many "the best RPG ever" (???) precisely because of how these game(s) make them feel. I, myself, think I'm among these people."
Are you joking? Golden Sun 1 and 2 are the best RPGs ever?!?!
Those games are merely imitations (even parodies) of the 8-bit and 16-bit greats that preceded them. And no, I'm not talking about FF here, or other subpar offerings from Squaresoft. Seriously, try some Working Designs RPGs such as the Lunar series if you want a taste of what a real RPG is like.
The fact that someone would suggest Golden Sun 1 & 2 are the best RPGs ever made is almost appalling. They are great games, but are not groundbreaking in the least.
No it wasnt, have you even owned one? It couldnt even run Sonic at a decent framerate
Ahem, Sonic games on the GG were usually ports of the MS versions-- which were completely different games than their Genesis counterparts. Framerate would not be an accurate term here, since the games were not direct ports of the Genesis versions, and did indeed run at their full speed.
Guh, and what other portable system at the time could run a 16-bit Sonic game at a decent framerate? Remember, GG was competing with a 4 "color" (monochrome rather) Gameboy and a 16 color Atari Lynx. Other than the Turbo Express (a TG-16 being not much above an MS IMO), nothing even came close to it.
Perhaps you're thinking of Nomad, but that didn't come until much later.
Blah, and my PC can emulate a GG. What's your point? If I wanted a portable system strictly for emulation, I'd pick up a GP32 instead. A PSP would be overkill for those purposes.
I agree with all of your points, except I think a better comparison would have been between the PSP and the Game Gear of olde. The GG was very powerful for its time, had a better display than its competitors, was largely a dumping ground for Genesis ports and old MS games, and finally was unaffordable for most consumers. Oh, and like PSP, it also had a multimedia gimmick of its own called the TV tuner-- I believe this device allowed the GG to function as a TV, and was even equipped with an antenna.
GG's shortcomings aside, I remember it doing decently (but not overly) well here in the States. I was quite fond of it myself, and wished I had picked one up at the time. Even now, I would take a GG over a PSP anyday. PSP's games have failed to enthuse me in the least. It appears gameplay continues to take a backseat to graphics.
Come on, the kid is only 18 years old! I'm usually not the one to underestimate intelligence on the basis of age, but I think a lot of 18 year olds would have made the same decision, unknowingly.
After seeing the video, I feel even worse about it now-- especially from watching all of those Japanese teens jumping around everywhere.
Videogames are no place for physical activity. Violence, and the occasional Hot Coffee I can cope with, but I am just not ready to commit *actual* physical effort to play a game. I play games not only because I am lazy, but because they also improve my laziness.
I can see it all now; a room full of overweight/.ers rumbling like Jello to "Do the Mario!" Please Nintendo, think of the children!
Flame me if you must, but I would have been happy with some Dual Shock knockoff with gyroscopes. Even an Atari 2600 joystick would top this.
Really, I was hoping that Nintendo could make a comeback with the Revolution. Although I use to be a die-hard Sega fan, I always enjoyed Nintendo's offerings. Lately I have felt that the industry has been in dire need of innovation-- innovation that could only come from a legendary company like Nintendo.
But alas, my hopes have been trounced with the current abomination known as the Revolution. This thing is going to fail, and fail HORRIBLY here in the States. I have no doubt about it now.
I, for one, welcome our new bitchin' Sun X86 overlords. I'd like to remind them as a trusted TV personality, I can be helpful in rounding up others to toil in their underground ass-whoopin' caves.
When was it ever the private sector's responsibility to evacuate Katrina? It was the government's job, and they blew it, plain and simple.
When will people learn that large entities with too much power and not many alternatives are harmful, whether they be in the form of a government or corporation?
Your assumption that 'HDs make games faster' is a generalization that is false. Games on consoles, often with far inferior hardware when compared to modern PCs, are able to sufficiently cache and stream data such that loading times, though present, are manageable or even transparent.
And this is more efficient than reading data straight from the HD, how?
Yes, much of it depends on the programmer and how they choose to compress the data that needs to be loaded externally. But there is no denying that an HD is an inherently better solution. You would be hard pressed to find an instance when loading and caching data from a modern optical drive is faster than from a modern hard disk drive, with all else equal.
And some also enjoy command lines, Vi, and Lynx. While that's fine for them, it's not okay for the vast majority of computer users. They give added power, but complicate things greatly.
This is NOT, let me repeat, NOT rocket science (or even a *nix shell). Do you see that button that says "install"? Do not panic! Just click it. If you see any buttons afterwards that say "next" be sure to click those too.
To me, it comes off as the same type of whining that happened when game programmers switched from DOS to Windows/DirectX, and from C to C++. It's like asking "Have you seen any good games that aren't written in DOS? Have you seen any good games that take advantage of principles in OOP? Well, what is the point of then?"
It's pointless criticism. Yes, things actually do change, believe it or not! Besides, Valve will face the same (well, actually worse) problems with PCs, so they really have no room to complain.
The fact that Valve is now ill-prepared and complaining when this was all well foreseen is what's so infantile about their ramblings.
I definitely agree that this is a real issue. What I was referring to was Valve's insistence that this is a "console-centric" problem. This is shortsighted on Valve's part since the majority of PCs will eventually be running on dual CPUs in the future. So Gabe Newell's criticism of Microsoft and Sony comes off misdirected and infantile at best. The appropriate response to his rantings can simply be summed up as: DUH!
Besides, anyone here really believes that creating impressive graphics more easily will bring superior games? (OK, you might argue that more time will be for other things than graphics...but will it be really?)
Um, this has nothing to do specifically with "creating impressive graphics more easily." The problem is multithreading, which will affect every aspect of a game.
Multithreading is quite simply a pain in the ass, whether you are programming an app for a server, PC, or in this case, a console. Game programmers in particular have little experience with multithreading since: 1) Most PC games are played full screen, which allows the other processes to have a low priority-- you can't lock up the system like this with windowed apps 2) Consoles only run one app at a time-- the game! You may need a couple of threads when loading game assets from CD-ROM (same goes for PC), but that's about it.
Though, Valve's argument will be nullified once dual CPUs become a norm in the PC market. Game developers will need to learn how to program multithreaded games to get the best performance!
Also, someone else brought up how memory isn't keeping up with ever increasing CPU performance. Since threads have a memory overhead, this could become a significant problem for game programmers in the future. Ugh.
When the day arrives that I can take a brand-new & high-end PC game out of a box, insert it into the CD-ROM and play it immedietally without installation or having to customize 2 dozen settings: Yes. Till then: No.
Seeing that you can't even spell immediately correctly, you may even have a problem doing that.
The installation cuts down on load times since you're loading data from the HD, rather than from the CD-ROM when you're playing a game.
Being able to play around with video and audio settings is a good thing! I hate it how consoles don't give you any relevant options, as I have seen numerous games for the Xbox (including Halo 2) experience frequent polygon drops and slowdowns.
Playing games on a PC is not rocket science, junior. So what if it takes a little more time in the end to set up a PC game? The trade off is an improvement in performance and more options!
1. Create effortless Flash clone of popular 80s arcade game
2. Have corporate behemoth hotlink to said clone
3. Sacrifice your newfound traffic by bombarding your unsuspecting visitors with goatse pop-ups
4. Raise your arms and cackle in a bout of pure insanity as you force enraged users to uninstall their flash players and slash their wrists with razor blades
5. ???
6. Profit!!!
Slashdot Mirror
Ironic how the /. editors bitch and moan so much over censorship when they abuse their mod powers like this. Clearly, they couldn't give a damn about their professed love for all things free once their egos are at stake.
Self-fellatio then?
Um... diabetic, perhaps?
"I'd bet "Golden Sun" 1 & 2 are considered by many "the best RPG ever" (???) precisely because of how these game(s) make them feel. I, myself, think I'm among these people."
Are you joking? Golden Sun 1 and 2 are the best RPGs ever?!?!
Those games are merely imitations (even parodies) of the 8-bit and 16-bit greats that preceded them. And no, I'm not talking about FF here, or other subpar offerings from Squaresoft. Seriously, try some Working Designs RPGs such as the Lunar series if you want a taste of what a real RPG is like.
The fact that someone would suggest Golden Sun 1 & 2 are the best RPGs ever made is almost appalling. They are great games, but are not groundbreaking in the least.
No it wasnt, have you even owned one? It couldnt even run Sonic at a decent framerate
Ahem, Sonic games on the GG were usually ports of the MS versions-- which were completely different games than their Genesis counterparts. Framerate would not be an accurate term here, since the games were not direct ports of the Genesis versions, and did indeed run at their full speed.
Guh, and what other portable system at the time could run a 16-bit Sonic game at a decent framerate? Remember, GG was competing with a 4 "color" (monochrome rather) Gameboy and a 16 color Atari Lynx. Other than the Turbo Express (a TG-16 being not much above an MS IMO), nothing even came close to it.
Perhaps you're thinking of Nomad, but that didn't come until much later.
Blah, and my PC can emulate a GG. What's your point? If I wanted a portable system strictly for emulation, I'd pick up a GP32 instead. A PSP would be overkill for those purposes.
I agree with all of your points, except I think a better comparison would have been between the PSP and the Game Gear of olde. The GG was very powerful for its time, had a better display than its competitors, was largely a dumping ground for Genesis ports and old MS games, and finally was unaffordable for most consumers. Oh, and like PSP, it also had a multimedia gimmick of its own called the TV tuner-- I believe this device allowed the GG to function as a TV, and was even equipped with an antenna.
GG's shortcomings aside, I remember it doing decently (but not overly) well here in the States. I was quite fond of it myself, and wished I had picked one up at the time. Even now, I would take a GG over a PSP anyday. PSP's games have failed to enthuse me in the least. It appears gameplay continues to take a backseat to graphics.
Come on, the kid is only 18 years old! I'm usually not the one to underestimate intelligence on the basis of age, but I think a lot of 18 year olds would have made the same decision, unknowingly.
Get some perspective.
After seeing the video, I feel even worse about it now-- especially from watching all of those Japanese teens jumping around everywhere.
/.ers rumbling like Jello to "Do the Mario!" Please Nintendo, think of the children!
Videogames are no place for physical activity. Violence, and the occasional Hot Coffee I can cope with, but I am just not ready to commit *actual* physical effort to play a game. I play games not only because I am lazy, but because they also improve my laziness.
I can see it all now; a room full of overweight
Wow, it really does say Pilot Wangs. Talk about Freudian slip. After seeing the controller, I could see how that could happen.
Worst. Controller. Ever.
Flame me if you must, but I would have been happy with some Dual Shock knockoff with gyroscopes. Even an Atari 2600 joystick would top this.
Really, I was hoping that Nintendo could make a comeback with the Revolution. Although I use to be a die-hard Sega fan, I always enjoyed Nintendo's offerings. Lately I have felt that the industry has been in dire need of innovation-- innovation that could only come from a legendary company like Nintendo.
But alas, my hopes have been trounced with the current abomination known as the Revolution. This thing is going to fail, and fail HORRIBLY here in the States. I have no doubt about it now.
I, for one, welcome our new bitchin' Sun X86 overlords. I'd like to remind them as a trusted TV personality, I can be helpful in rounding up others to toil in their underground ass-whoopin' caves.
Games Should Be Like Female Orgasms
Ya know, I think you may have a point my friend. What qualifications does one need to become a /. editor anyway?
Erm... that is if you replace "Katrina" with "New Orleans" :)
When was it ever the private sector's responsibility to evacuate Katrina? It was the government's job, and they blew it, plain and simple.
When will people learn that large entities with too much power and not many alternatives are harmful, whether they be in the form of a government or corporation?
Do not fear, you will get all of the DRM-laden games you crave thanks to Sony's Blu Ray drives. Even Valve will be jealous.
And this is more efficient than reading data straight from the HD, how?
Yes, much of it depends on the programmer and how they choose to compress the data that needs to be loaded externally. But there is no denying that an HD is an inherently better solution. You would be hard pressed to find an instance when loading and caching data from a modern optical drive is faster than from a modern hard disk drive, with all else equal.
And some also enjoy command lines, Vi, and Lynx. While that's fine for them, it's not okay for the vast majority of computer users. They give added power, but complicate things greatly.
This is NOT, let me repeat, NOT rocket science (or even a *nix shell). Do you see that button that says "install"? Do not panic! Just click it. If you see any buttons afterwards that say "next" be sure to click those too.
To me, it comes off as the same type of whining that happened when game programmers switched from DOS to Windows/DirectX, and from C to C++. It's like asking "Have you seen any good games that aren't written in DOS? Have you seen any good games that take advantage of principles in OOP? Well, what is the point of then?"
It's pointless criticism. Yes, things actually do change, believe it or not! Besides, Valve will face the same (well, actually worse) problems with PCs, so they really have no room to complain.
The fact that Valve is now ill-prepared and complaining when this was all well foreseen is what's so infantile about their ramblings.
I definitely agree that this is a real issue. What I was referring to was Valve's insistence that this is a "console-centric" problem. This is shortsighted on Valve's part since the majority of PCs will eventually be running on dual CPUs in the future. So Gabe Newell's criticism of Microsoft and Sony comes off misdirected and infantile at best. The appropriate response to his rantings can simply be summed up as: DUH!
Sorry for the confusion.
Besides, anyone here really believes that creating impressive graphics more easily will bring superior games? (OK, you might argue that more time will be for other things than graphics...but will it be really?)
Um, this has nothing to do specifically with "creating impressive graphics more easily." The problem is multithreading, which will affect every aspect of a game.
Multithreading is quite simply a pain in the ass, whether you are programming an app for a server, PC, or in this case, a console. Game programmers in particular have little experience with multithreading since:
1) Most PC games are played full screen, which allows the other processes to have a low priority-- you can't lock up the system like this with windowed apps
2) Consoles only run one app at a time-- the game! You may need a couple of threads when loading game assets from CD-ROM (same goes for PC), but that's about it.
Though, Valve's argument will be nullified once dual CPUs become a norm in the PC market. Game developers will need to learn how to program multithreaded games to get the best performance!
Also, someone else brought up how memory isn't keeping up with ever increasing CPU performance. Since threads have a memory overhead, this could become a significant problem for game programmers in the future. Ugh.
When the day arrives that I can take a brand-new & high-end PC game out of a box, insert it into the CD-ROM and play it immedietally without installation or having to customize 2 dozen settings: Yes. Till then: No.
Seeing that you can't even spell immediately correctly, you may even have a problem doing that.
The installation cuts down on load times since you're loading data from the HD, rather than from the CD-ROM when you're playing a game.
Being able to play around with video and audio settings is a good thing! I hate it how consoles don't give you any relevant options, as I have seen numerous games for the Xbox (including Halo 2) experience frequent polygon drops and slowdowns.
Playing games on a PC is not rocket science, junior. So what if it takes a little more time in the end to set up a PC game? The trade off is an improvement in performance and more options!
Too bad you couldn't have done the same for "Fuddruckers." Is this some kind of burger chain in the US? If so, I have never heard of it.
"Shame! He shoulda read slashdot more often, then he would have known what to do."
Complain about the corporation to no end, and eventually devote a section icon to Fuddruckers?
1. Create effortless Flash clone of popular 80s arcade game 2. Have corporate behemoth hotlink to said clone 3. Sacrifice your newfound traffic by bombarding your unsuspecting visitors with goatse pop-ups 4. Raise your arms and cackle in a bout of pure insanity as you force enraged users to uninstall their flash players and slash their wrists with razor blades 5. ??? 6. Profit!!!
"Superiour" you say? I'll be damned.
Don't worry man-- you can still pay for Windows! Not sure about the "working" part though.