If you need a home computer or laptop for research/science you definitely don't need MS Windows unless you have lots of money to legitimately pay for licenses for proprietary software (yes there is is freeware) and if you are a scientist or engineer your data is still effectively owned by Microsoft and/or Vendors who push proprietary solutions. This is definitely not what a professional person wants.
The reason why "MS Windows is still the most convenient platform for consumers" is it is installed on the PC (unless you build it yourself) prior to you getting it, there is little if any choice about it. Basically when you buy a PC you get MS Windows so most people don't know any better, "convenience" and "flexibility" does not even enter into it. With regard to "performance" I have always found a *nix machine to perform better than a MS Windows equivalent.
As far as protecting content and other commercial interests that is a huge joke since if you can "see it" or "listen to it" you can copy it so DRM is effectively useless here unless it is going to be used as a huge stick to beat the population into submission. Use too big a stick and allot a Politicians are facing political suicide.
It is a rare few (unfortunately) who click "No" to the "long winded" MS Eula (my colleagues thought it was quite funny) and then proceed to put a Linux OS on it and no, I did not make a duel boot since the problem with that is there is too much temptation to go back to using MS Windows so a fresh overriding install is best. There are some excellent Linux distro's out there (OpenSUSE 10.2, Fedora Core 6, Centos..... add your own if you like) so I really don't miss MS Windows and I can do everything I want to do. I will admit Linux games are not on par with the Latest PC games because few vendors make native Linux games (that is not the fault of Linux) but if I want to play a game I prefer console games, so no loss there.
The problem I have now is what to do with MS Windows XP professional with option to upgrade to MS Vista and of course pay for the privilege. All I have is a little sticker underneath my laptop as proof of MS Windows Genuine Advantage. I suppose that is a convenience for Microsoft or the vendor, but at least I won't have to pay for any other MS products.
The costs associated with developing a game are getting more expensive because most modern games are getting to the stage were they require a Hollywood style budget. I think gone are the days when you could get a few programmers together and churn out a simple innovative game that would sell well. Now you have to think storyline, concept artists, modelers (both physical and digital), testers, managers, continuity, level designers, actors (voice and motion capture),..... the list goes on. If gaming houses don't adopt the above strategy then the game will most likely be bad or mediocre at best resulting in poor sales and this affects the company.
I could not say if 2D games are more expensive to produce than 3D games but once you take all the costs into consideration then there probably would not be much of a difference.
Like it or not the current trend of gaming is 3D and that is were the money is. It is no good saying "Microsoft or Nintendo or Sony prefers/forces the developer to design 3D games" these companies are not saying this to to be domineering they are saying this so the developer will make a game that will sell on their console and a game that sells means more revenue for said console supplier.
I still have nostalgia for some 2D games going back to the NES days but those days are over although it may be possible that some interesting 2D games can come from home-brew developers but ask yourself "would you pay for them?" and there in lies the dilemma.
Hmm sounds like like a variant of Tripwire although Tripwire does require signatures. Still I can't see the average user using this especially in their home directory (folder), since they would find it too inconvenient.
Well I live in Australia and have a PS2 so it would go something like this.
Browses massive selection of PS2. Find some very good games for half to a quarter of retail price. Go home with a collection of good to very good PS2 games. Saves myself a huge amount of money.
Or the person who is looking for a game machine for a present. Hmm! PS2 is cheap and I can get a huge selection of games for a smaller outlay of money Guess I'll get the PS2 plus some games.
Or the grandparents/parents buying for the kids. Hmm! The kids already ave a PS2 so I could get some games for them. This will save me. Hmm! Handheld appear to be popular so I will get the DS plus some (not many) game for the kids.
Even some of the cheap second hand PS2 games look attractive so why would I want to spend AU$600 to AU$750 for an Xbox360 or AU$400 for a Wii and a pack-in games.
No but you can backup to any USB, bluetooth or wifi device be it a hard drive or CD/DVD/Bluray burner. can't see HD-DVD supported but it is feasable.
At the moment no, but I think we will see a BSD port, however I cannot see this happening with any proprietary OS. Still Microsoft and Apple may allow this, after all you do have to pay them for this proposed port, but I would not hold my breath.
No but you can use a USB or even bluetooth keyboard and mouse or a printer. In fact having a wireless keyboard/mouse plus printer would make this a very functional living room computer. The biggest problem is going to be your screen which should be a minimum of 720p (of course 1080p is much better but more expensive).
Of course if you want to use your old PC equipment then you may be disappointed.
Great now we have to stop people cutting their hand off when the remote slips out of their hand. I guess it it just about impossible to make a product that is stupidity proof.
This is not to say that a good workout is a bad thing but failing around in a room that contains fairly breakable things is asking for something to be broken. How many times have parents yelled at their kids when they are being overly active in the living room.
The issue of the strap aside, I can just see the litigation coming up when someone dies of a heart attack or some other serious medical condition because they over exerted themselves because "they were just playing a game".
For those who don't RTFA you really need to look at screen resolution before you buy. The best resolution is 1920x1080 (1080i and/or 1080p) with 1280x720 (720i and/or 720p) at the lower end, however there are variants. For standard definition you have 768×576 or 720x540 (PAL) or 640×480 and 852×480 (NTSC) but there are variants.
The bottom line is if you have a 720 HDTV then you can only downscale 1080i or 1080p (if progressive scan is supported) you cannot upscale, however if the HDTV supports it you can upscale SDTV video. If you brought a plasma saying it is HD ready then you may have been ripped off, because unless you have the HDTV resolution you most likely brought a SDTV.
If you are going to buy a HDTV (IMHO LCD is better than plasma especially if you want the TV for gaming) you need to decide what size screen you want and it's resolution. A so-called sweet spot is around 40in (101cm) in that it is much harder to pick the difference between a 1080p and 720p HDTV so 720p is adequate for smaller HDTV's. Unfortunately once you go beyond 50in (127cm) then 1080p is appropriate since you will be able to pick the difference. Of course costs do play an important part in picking a HDTV but please look at the screen resolution don't get caught with a SDTV just because it is a $100 or so cheaper.
Even though I am not an American I do sympathise because other countries do have lawmakers continually trying to bring in laws for what they perceive as the "public good" (I am being nice here) even though to the average person the new or proposed law is stupid, unworkable or just another step in reducing basic human rights.
There is a saying which in many ways is even more relevant today. "The price of liberty is eternal vigilance", since the motto for some lawmakers or lobbyists is, "if at first you don't succeed then try, try again".
You are right this is very disturbing and I only think it will get worse.
Well if you like changing every 4 to 5 years ok, but I would prefer something that would last a bit longer and the PS2 will most likely be the longest running game console (6 years and still counting). This is due to the fact that there is a huge install base and new games are still being produced for it while you would be hard pressed to find new games (there are some) for the Gamecube and the Xbox.
At the moment you can see a difference between the previous generation consoles and the PS3 and Xbox360 (especially on a HDTV) but selling the next generation console is going to get so much harder since people will ask themselves "why should I change to a newer console when I can't pick the difference"
Like it or not HDTV is going to happen and adoption is going to be quicker than many will expect. while many will buy 720p sets (being cheaper) the top is 1080p but is almost 50% dearer. What will make this adoption faster will be reducing costs so in many respects the PS3 and the Xbox360 are positioned to take advantage of this. Unfortunately the Wii output is basically SDTV and people are going to see this eventually especially since higher end HDTV is getting much more affordable.
It must be noted that the "sweet spot" IMHO between deciding on a 720p or 1080p HDTV is about 100cm (40in) but this also depends on your finances. A good test of picking the resolution of a HDTV is to put 720p and 1080p 100cm (40in) sets side by side (if your retailer will agree to this) and try to pick the difference - you can but only just. Now try the same test with a 127cm (50in) and you will pick the difference. Both the PS3 and Xbox360 can go upto 1080p while the Wii can not.
Personally I hope the Wii does well since I have always played and liked many Nintendo games but I do think the Wii will have a fairly short life compared to the PS3 and the Xbox360. Still as they say time will tell.
I agree that patent reform is way overdue but unfortunately there are too many corporations who will oppose it. A simple example of how a lawyer will present his client's case to a Judge is to question what is "Obviousness" and I can see this dragging on for years until these people get sick and tired of the money they will be given to oppose fairer patents.
A good start would be to abolish any patents based on maths and logic (ie. software) but again there are far to many companies that would feel threatened by this.
I think the the following end quote from the article says it all. Read "valuable" as "mutually assured destruction".
"I don't think U.S. industry is going to stand for a huge cloud being placed on their valuable patent portfolio," said Mossinghoff, the former patent commissioner.
Linux will be used for long duration (manned and unmanned) missions such as Mars and the outer planets. The other OS will be MS Windows for short term unmanned suicide missions such as crashing into asteroids and comets.
In Sydney Australia I have rarely seen an Xbox or even Gamecube in most of the stores I have been into lately. Due to this I think the most purchased console this Christmas will probably be the PS2 because it is still well supported and and has thousands of games. Buying a small TV, a PS2 console plus a few games will hardly break the bank. I don't think you will see a smaller PS2 though it would not be cost effective for Sony to do this and in many ways rather pointless.
Even though many will say the Wii is cheap, parents who are looking at buying a game machine for their kids room will see the price and the cost of new games (similar to the Xbox360 and PS3) can run up a considerable amount of money especially if you want a decent TV for the kids room as well. Of course if the parent is an avid console gamer and has the money then they will get the game machine they want and if that means waiting till after Christmas then so be it.
As for Microsoft pushing the Xbox360 over the Xbox you have to remember that the Xbox was a massive loss (about 3 to 4 billion dollars) for them so they are quite happy to forget about it. If I had purchased an Xbox recently I would be really pissed and would be highly suspicious of the life of the Xbox360. Like it or not at least Sony and Nintendo do provide longer term support for their consoles.
The following Ars Technica story give more detail http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061116-8239 .html however it still is what is called "rubbery figures" in that it is a so called "technical estimate" which is based on something but that something is not defined, however they do have a nice shiny chart to the tune of Sony loosing $240 (about $60 difference). The best way of determining truth here is get a cost breakdown from Sony and they aren't talking not that I blame them. Personally I do think they are taking a hit per machine but in dollar terms I don't know.
When I see the following quote ""It's common for video-game console makers to lose money on hardware, and make up for the loss via video game-title sales". The article always looses credibility since it really was Microsoft who actually did this not Sony (they did make a small initial loss on the PS2 though) or Nintendo. A typical urban legend quote that seems to be dragged up a lot especially by blogger's and games writers to lend credence to their stories.
Still if you believe the article and really hate Sony and would like to make them loose money then you best get out there and purchase a PS3 after-all this is what happened to the Xbox to the tune of over $4 Billion. On a more serious note if you are going to buy a new console then which one are you going to buy since all the vendors want your money and patronage and to be brutally honest don't give a damn about you.
My recommendation to anyone is to buy the console that you can afford which has the games you like and can also afford.
Any company that maintains software that adopts "The code is the documentation" is asking for trouble. Show me a company that does this and I will show you a company that is going out of business. All companies should document their software and protocols and Microsoft is no exception, but they keep saying they have to look at the source to document the protocols so IMHO they are lying or stupid and I don't think the latter applies.
Note: I am not talking about the quick script that a System Admin may write to get a specific job done, but more complex software. If you want to see complex and elegant software that actually self documents itself then look at TeX and LaTeX this IMHO is the exception.
The EU is only asking for the protocols for interoperability purposes not the source code which Microsoft seems to be trying to convince anyone who will listen that the EU is after this as well. Basically the EU has given Microsoft plenty of time and they have now finally drawn the line.
CSIRO is a Government Organisation and is normally very helpful to Australian industry to the point of giving away their intellectual property. You have to remember that in Australia anything developed by a Government organisation is normally for the benefit of the country since it is paid for by the taxpayer (after all they do provide the funds) so the organisation is not greedy since all revenue ends up in government coffers. Of course if the Government gets greedy then that is a different matter.
Well 1,838 is not very close to 50,000 but it will be interesting to see what happens after the 17th Nov release in the US. There may be some people who will find they are not going to make a profit and they may even make a loss when the number of "suckers" dwindles.
I suppose a "scalper" can be assumed to be a "businessman" if they are well dressed.
The people who will buy these over-priced PS3 are IMHO "idiots" and they will find out they are "suckers" if they buy one and it has a problem because these machines won't have a warranty. However it is not illegal unless you don't pay your taxes on any profit you make, still the overall profit would not be that much.
Well we know there are 1827 PS3's for sale but how many are from Japan? If they are solely from the Japanese launch then this is approx 2.5% of sales (assuming 80,000). Not a huge amount but then judging the Xbox360 launch the costs are about on par. It is going to be interesting to see if this number increases when the US 17th Nov 2006 release occurs.
This is a major but fairly invisible problem all over the world and no country can claim to be squeaky clean on this but how do you reduce or even stop it? Many people who really mean well try to throw money at the problem (varying degrees of welfare) but it basically does not work, however getting rid of welfare will mean letting people starve in the streets, which is not acceptable in first world countries.
We all hear about outsourcing today but given the chance (if they could get around public opinion) many Multinational companies would quite happily invest in a country that had State run slavery if it meant a few more percent profit.
Why is Sony getting blamed here? -- Definitely insightful since it really is a media beat-up.
In any limited supply launch and it does not have to be a console you are always going to get people who will take advantage of the situation. Normally we call these people "scalpers" and some not so nice names as well, but in reality it is supply and demand. Basically there are people who will pay ridicules prices for something because they are normally too lazy to stand in-line and this is what these people are counting on.
To blame Sony for this is just plain stupid. If people did not want this machine then it would not sell and we know that is not true. What is actually good for Sony here is the fact that the IMHO "idiot" who will pay well over the market rate will most likely have the money to pay for games which is how Games Manufacturers makes money.
I think we can call this a "win" (queue sitter US$170), "win" (scalper US$???? - US$170), "win and loose" (the idiot who buys US$????) and "win" (games - approx US$30 to US$60) and "win" (Sony - percentage of games sold).
Disclaimer. It is my opinion that a person who buys a product way over the its market rate is either very wealthy and an idiot or just a plain idiot. Still without these people scalpers would not exist.
For Europe as in Australia/New Zealand the PS3 and games delay can be blessing in disguise since if you are willing to wait till after March (up to next Christmas) home theater prices are going do drop dramatically and if you serious at getting one then you will find many retailers will throw in a PS3 or an Xbox360 as an bonus. I know of one retailer who is doing this for a 720p 42in LCD HDTV and Xbox360 now although in my opinion I would rather wait for the price drop on 1080p HDTV's in January 1997 onwards.
Good rule of thumb for 40in HDTV, 720p is fine, but over 40in then 1080p is worth considering but wait for the January/March price drop. My prediction is by Christmas 2007 large HDTV's will predominately be 1080p (crystal ball gazing here) since SED and possibly laser TV are slated to come out and if you believe the hype they will cause another HDTV price crash.
Actually it is people who can afford a home theater that Microsoft and Sony are after since they will be the ones who can and will purchase movies and games. I can actually see the Wii being relegated to the kids bedroom and only put on the home theater system if the parent(s) want to play a specific Wii game.
My attitude to a delay in a game is while I may be initially disappointed I would rather the game worked without the need of bug fixes which I have seen in many PC games. Of course too great a delay then you have a problem.
I think the DVD/Blueray comparison is rather lame. One thing no one seems to cover is the fact that blank DVD's were expensive when the PS2 was first brought out so it was not cheap to copy a PS2 game. That is not to say this could not be done but what you get is a copy protection scheme which worked rather well till DVD recorders and the media drooped in price. A similar thing will occur with Blueray.
Another feature of having a DVD for the PS2 is "future proofing" by manufactures of game capacity for over time. Granted that many games could be put on a CD-ROM (and many were) but you had the larger capacity DVD to play with as well. Over time most games were actually produced on DVD. A similar thing is being pushed by Blueray.
I read that not many people have HDTV sets and many have standard definition TV's. Yes that is true at the moment but in some countries the purchase of HDTV's is increasing so rapidly that in some places you cannot buy CRT TV's since prices for 720p HDTV's are so attractive. For a good gaming experience a 20in (51cm) is acceptable although the bigger the better. Once you start to exceed 42in (106cm) then 1080p is much better option (admittedly more expensive at the moment) than 720p.
Personally I think that the gaming machine that will do really well this year is the PS2 because many people don't have the money to buy a PS3 (if they can get one) or an Xbox 360. They may have the money to buy a Wii but once you start to factor in games which will be a similar price to both PS3 and Xbox 360 games this will start to get expensive. So if the Wii is purchased as a Christmas present for the kids who will have their own SDTV in the rumpus or bedroom then few games will get purchased unless the parent(s) get interested. If the Gamecube is anything to go by similar games will remain expensive long after the other console games drop and while some parents have no idea many do.
Note I am talking about buying a game console as a present. Who buys an Xbox 360, PS3 or even a Wii as a Christmas present? The people who do this are buying for some very IMHO spoilt kids and they are in in a small minority. If you are buying a new console for yourself and use it imediately then it does not matter what time of the year you buy it, so complaining about PS3 shortages is just plain stupid. If you don't like the price of a PS3 then don't get one, just be happy with your alternative purchase.
Microsoft and Sony are after the home theater market while Nintendo is making a very half hearted effort and that is the major difference between the companies. Basically the home theater market potential is huge and in many ways Sony has done their homework better than Microsoft since they are a hardware manufacturer and the console price difference is almost non existent when compared to the cost of a home theater. People who can afford this and there are many who can will buy games and movies and this is what Microsoft and Sony want.
I don't think the PS3 will do as well as the PS2 but this is early days the machine has only come out and it is only crystal ball gazing to predict what will happen in a market that is about to explode.
Actually I think you are dead right on this. The PS2 will save Sony especially during the Holiday season, why?
1) It's cheap. 2) It has over 1000 game and can play PS1 games if you want and can find them. 3) Most games can be got very cheap (except for new premium games). 4) New games are still coming out for this machine so it still has at least 1 to 2 years life.
Not everyone can afford a Wii or Xbox 360 or PS3 (If you can get one) in fact struggling parents looking for a present for their children would find that the PS2 is a bargain in that you can get a nice but relativity cheap TV and setup the machine in the kids rumpus room or even in their bedroom. They can also afford a few games as well without breaking the bank. Of course you always have parents who will buy next gen machine for their (spoilt) kids but most can't or won't.
Now I am going to hear about how cheap the Wii is. Well yes it is relative to the other next gen machines but the prices of the games will basically be the same and if the price of the Gamecube games are anything to go by they will remain high for a long time. Parents do have a tendency to see this unless they are stupid and the majority of parents aren't.
While the initial launch of the PS3 will be low remember there are more coming and Christmas is not till the 25th December so if you are getting the PS3 as a present for your kid/wife/friend?? (hands up if you are doing this) then does it matter if you get one just before Christmas? (if you still can get one). Of course buying a PS3 or even the Xbox 360 for a present is a bit expensive. If you have a family would you buy your kid a US$300 to US$600 dollar present plus say 4 games (approx US$200) and how often would you buy them a new game?
Basically Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony want the people who will buy their next gen gaming machine to actually buy games (in Sony's case movies as well) since it's the only way they make a long term profit. The people that will do this would buy a PS3, Wii or Xbox 360 at any time of the year and for themselves.
If you really want a next gen machine and do want to save money then I would not get any next gen machines just yet and wait till around or after June 2007 when the new 1080p HDTV's come out (some are out now and are expensive but are tipped to drop 35% or more) and if you get some mates together you could negotiate a very good deal for a HDTV (42in to 50in or bigger), Amplifier and speakers, cabinet and next gen gaming machine. In my opinion if you want HD movie capability and with a HDTV you would be crazy if you didn't you would most likely get the PS3 which would be a better option over the Xbox 360 plus HD-DVD add-on. Of course this is up to you and you may prefer a dedicated Bluray or HD-DVD machine.
In Australia I have seen very good deals for good quality LCD 42 inch HDTV's (720p) plus Xbox 360 (no hard disk) very impressive watching "Dead or alive". So I would not be surprised for similar deals for the PS3 when it gets here in March and a $100 to $200 price differential is nothing. So for those people in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the UK the delay may be a blessing in disguise.
Have not seen FFX11 yet maybe the PAL version will be out soon.
Slashdot Mirror
If you need a home computer or laptop for research/science you definitely don't need MS Windows unless you have lots of money to legitimately pay for licenses for proprietary software (yes there is is freeware) and if you are a scientist or engineer your data is still effectively owned by Microsoft and/or Vendors who push proprietary solutions. This is definitely not what a professional person wants.
..... add your own if you like) so I really don't miss MS Windows and I can do everything I want to do. I will admit Linux games are not on par with the Latest PC games because few vendors make native Linux games (that is not the fault of Linux) but if I want to play a game I prefer console games, so no loss there.
The reason why "MS Windows is still the most convenient platform for consumers" is it is installed on the PC (unless you build it yourself) prior to you getting it, there is little if any choice about it. Basically when you buy a PC you get MS Windows so most people don't know any better, "convenience" and "flexibility" does not even enter into it. With regard to "performance" I have always found a *nix machine to perform better than a MS Windows equivalent.
As far as protecting content and other commercial interests that is a huge joke since if you can "see it" or "listen to it" you can copy it so DRM is effectively useless here unless it is going to be used as a huge stick to beat the population into submission. Use too big a stick and allot a Politicians are facing political suicide.
It is a rare few (unfortunately) who click "No" to the "long winded" MS Eula (my colleagues thought it was quite funny) and then proceed to put a Linux OS on it and no, I did not make a duel boot since the problem with that is there is too much temptation to go back to using MS Windows so a fresh overriding install is best. There are some excellent Linux distro's out there (OpenSUSE 10.2, Fedora Core 6, Centos
The problem I have now is what to do with MS Windows XP professional with option to upgrade to MS Vista and of course pay for the privilege. All I have is a little sticker underneath my laptop as proof of MS Windows Genuine Advantage. I suppose that is a convenience for Microsoft or the vendor, but at least I won't have to pay for any other MS products.
The costs associated with developing a game are getting more expensive because most modern games are getting to the stage were they require a Hollywood style budget. I think gone are the days when you could get a few programmers together and churn out a simple innovative game that would sell well. Now you have to think storyline, concept artists, modelers (both physical and digital), testers, managers, continuity, level designers, actors (voice and motion capture), ..... the list goes on. If gaming houses don't adopt the above strategy then the game will most likely be bad or mediocre at best resulting in poor sales and this affects the company.
I could not say if 2D games are more expensive to produce than 3D games but once you take all the costs into consideration then there probably would not be much of a difference.
Like it or not the current trend of gaming is 3D and that is were the money is. It is no good saying "Microsoft or Nintendo or Sony prefers/forces the developer to design 3D games" these companies are not saying this to to be domineering they are saying this so the developer will make a game that will sell on their console and a game that sells means more revenue for said console supplier.
I still have nostalgia for some 2D games going back to the NES days but those days are over although it may be possible that some interesting 2D games can come from home-brew developers but ask yourself "would you pay for them?" and there in lies the dilemma.
Hmm sounds like like a variant of Tripwire although Tripwire does require signatures. Still I can't see the average user using this especially in their home directory (folder), since they would find it too inconvenient.
Well I live in Australia and have a PS2 so it would go something like this.
Browses massive selection of PS2.
Find some very good games for half to a quarter of retail price.
Go home with a collection of good to very good PS2 games.
Saves myself a huge amount of money.
Or the person who is looking for a game machine for a present.
Hmm! PS2 is cheap and I can get a huge selection of games for a smaller outlay of money
Guess I'll get the PS2 plus some games.
Or the grandparents/parents buying for the kids.
Hmm! The kids already ave a PS2 so I could get some games for them. This will save me.
Hmm! Handheld appear to be popular so I will get the DS plus some (not many) game for the kids.
Even some of the cheap second hand PS2 games look attractive so why would I want to spend AU$600 to AU$750 for an Xbox360 or AU$400 for a Wii and a pack-in games.
No but you can backup to any USB, bluetooth or wifi device be it a hard drive or CD/DVD/Bluray burner. can't see HD-DVD supported but it is feasable.
At the moment no, but I think we will see a BSD port, however I cannot see this happening with any proprietary OS. Still Microsoft and Apple may allow this, after all you do have to pay them for this proposed port, but I would not hold my breath.
No but you can use a USB or even bluetooth keyboard and mouse or a printer. In fact having a wireless keyboard/mouse plus printer would make this a very functional living room computer. The biggest problem is going to be your screen which should be a minimum of 720p (of course 1080p is much better but more expensive).
Of course if you want to use your old PC equipment then you may be disappointed.
Great now we have to stop people cutting their hand off when the remote slips out of their hand. I guess it it just about impossible to make a product that is stupidity proof.
This is not to say that a good workout is a bad thing but failing around in a room that contains fairly breakable things is asking for something to be broken. How many times have parents yelled at their kids when they are being overly active in the living room.
The issue of the strap aside, I can just see the litigation coming up when someone dies of a heart attack or some other serious medical condition because they over exerted themselves because "they were just playing a game".
If you are looking at buying a HDTV then the following URL is essential first readingv ision
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-definition_tele
For those who don't RTFA you really need to look at screen resolution before you buy. The best resolution is 1920x1080 (1080i and/or 1080p) with 1280x720 (720i and/or 720p) at the lower end, however there are variants. For standard definition you have 768×576 or 720x540 (PAL) or 640×480 and 852×480 (NTSC) but there are variants.
The bottom line is if you have a 720 HDTV then you can only downscale 1080i or 1080p (if progressive scan is supported) you cannot upscale, however if the HDTV supports it you can upscale SDTV video. If you brought a plasma saying it is HD ready then you may have been ripped off, because unless you have the HDTV resolution you most likely brought a SDTV.
If you are going to buy a HDTV (IMHO LCD is better than plasma especially if you want the TV for gaming) you need to decide what size screen you want and it's resolution. A so-called sweet spot is around 40in (101cm) in that it is much harder to pick the difference between a 1080p and 720p HDTV so 720p is adequate for smaller HDTV's. Unfortunately once you go beyond 50in (127cm) then 1080p is appropriate since you will be able to pick the difference. Of course costs do play an important part in picking a HDTV but please look at the screen resolution don't get caught with a SDTV just because it is a $100 or so cheaper.
Even though I am not an American I do sympathise because other countries do have lawmakers continually trying to bring in laws for what they perceive as the "public good" (I am being nice here) even though to the average person the new or proposed law is stupid, unworkable or just another step in reducing basic human rights.
There is a saying which in many ways is even more relevant today. "The price of liberty is eternal vigilance", since the motto for some lawmakers or lobbyists is, "if at first you don't succeed then try, try again".
You are right this is very disturbing and I only think it will get worse.
Well if you like changing every 4 to 5 years ok, but I would prefer something that would last a bit longer and the PS2 will most likely be the longest running game console (6 years and still counting). This is due to the fact that there is a huge install base and new games are still being produced for it while you would be hard pressed to find new games (there are some) for the Gamecube and the Xbox.
At the moment you can see a difference between the previous generation consoles and the PS3 and Xbox360 (especially on a HDTV) but selling the next generation console is going to get so much harder since people will ask themselves "why should I change to a newer console when I can't pick the difference"
Like it or not HDTV is going to happen and adoption is going to be quicker than many will expect. while many will buy 720p sets (being cheaper) the top is 1080p but is almost 50% dearer. What will make this adoption faster will be reducing costs so in many respects the PS3 and the Xbox360 are positioned to take advantage of this. Unfortunately the Wii output is basically SDTV and people are going to see this eventually especially since higher end HDTV is getting much more affordable.
It must be noted that the "sweet spot" IMHO between deciding on a 720p or 1080p HDTV is about 100cm (40in) but this also depends on your finances. A good test of picking the resolution of a HDTV is to put 720p and 1080p 100cm (40in) sets side by side (if your retailer will agree to this) and try to pick the difference - you can but only just. Now try the same test with a 127cm (50in) and you will pick the difference. Both the PS3 and Xbox360 can go upto 1080p while the Wii can not.
Personally I hope the Wii does well since I have always played and liked many Nintendo games but I do think the Wii will have a fairly short life compared to the PS3 and the Xbox360. Still as they say time will tell.
I agree that patent reform is way overdue but unfortunately there are too many corporations who will oppose it. A simple example of how a lawyer will present his client's case to a Judge is to question what is "Obviousness" and I can see this dragging on for years until these people get sick and tired of the money they will be given to oppose fairer patents.
A good start would be to abolish any patents based on maths and logic (ie. software) but again there are far to many companies that would feel threatened by this.
I think the the following end quote from the article says it all. Read "valuable" as "mutually assured destruction".
"I don't think U.S. industry is going to stand for a huge cloud being placed on their valuable patent portfolio," said Mossinghoff, the former patent commissioner.
Linux will be used for long duration (manned and unmanned) missions such as Mars and the outer planets. The other OS will be MS Windows for short term unmanned suicide missions such as crashing into asteroids and comets.
In Sydney Australia I have rarely seen an Xbox or even Gamecube in most of the stores I have been into lately. Due to this I think the most purchased console this Christmas will probably be the PS2 because it is still well supported and and has thousands of games. Buying a small TV, a PS2 console plus a few games will hardly break the bank. I don't think you will see a smaller PS2 though it would not be cost effective for Sony to do this and in many ways rather pointless.
Even though many will say the Wii is cheap, parents who are looking at buying a game machine for their kids room will see the price and the cost of new games (similar to the Xbox360 and PS3) can run up a considerable amount of money especially if you want a decent TV for the kids room as well. Of course if the parent is an avid console gamer and has the money then they will get the game machine they want and if that means waiting till after Christmas then so be it.
As for Microsoft pushing the Xbox360 over the Xbox you have to remember that the Xbox was a massive loss (about 3 to 4 billion dollars) for them so they are quite happy to forget about it. If I had purchased an Xbox recently I would be really pissed and would be highly suspicious of the life of the Xbox360. Like it or not at least Sony and Nintendo do provide longer term support for their consoles.
The following Ars Technica story give more detail http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061116-8239 .html however it still is what is called "rubbery figures" in that it is a so called "technical estimate" which is based on something but that something is not defined, however they do have a nice shiny chart to the tune of Sony loosing $240 (about $60 difference). The best way of determining truth here is get a cost breakdown from Sony and they aren't talking not that I blame them. Personally I do think they are taking a hit per machine but in dollar terms I don't know.
When I see the following quote ""It's common for video-game console makers to lose money on hardware, and make up for the loss via video game-title sales". The article always looses credibility since it really was Microsoft who actually did this not Sony (they did make a small initial loss on the PS2 though) or Nintendo. A typical urban legend quote that seems to be dragged up a lot especially by blogger's and games writers to lend credence to their stories.
Still if you believe the article and really hate Sony and would like to make them loose money then you best get out there and purchase a PS3 after-all this is what happened to the Xbox to the tune of over $4 Billion. On a more serious note if you are going to buy a new console then which one are you going to buy since all the vendors want your money and patronage and to be brutally honest don't give a damn about you.
My recommendation to anyone is to buy the console that you can afford which has the games you like and can also afford.
Any company that maintains software that adopts "The code is the documentation" is asking for trouble. Show me a company that does this and I will show you a company that is going out of business. All companies should document their software and protocols and Microsoft is no exception, but they keep saying they have to look at the source to document the protocols so IMHO they are lying or stupid and I don't think the latter applies.
Note: I am not talking about the quick script that a System Admin may write to get a specific job done, but more complex software. If you want to see complex and elegant software that actually self documents itself then look at TeX and LaTeX this IMHO is the exception.
The EU is only asking for the protocols for interoperability purposes not the source code which Microsoft seems to be trying to convince anyone who will listen that the EU is after this as well. Basically the EU has given Microsoft plenty of time and they have now finally drawn the line.
CSIRO is a Government Organisation and is normally very helpful to Australian industry to the point of giving away their intellectual property. You have to remember that in Australia anything developed by a Government organisation is normally for the benefit of the country since it is paid for by the taxpayer (after all they do provide the funds) so the organisation is not greedy since all revenue ends up in government coffers. Of course if the Government gets greedy then that is a different matter.
Well 1,838 is not very close to 50,000 but it will be interesting to see what happens after the 17th Nov release in the US. There may be some people who will find they are not going to make a profit and they may even make a loss when the number of "suckers" dwindles.
I suppose a "scalper" can be assumed to be a "businessman" if they are well dressed.
The people who will buy these over-priced PS3 are IMHO "idiots" and they will find out they are "suckers" if they buy one and it has a problem because these machines won't have a warranty. However it is not illegal unless you don't pay your taxes on any profit you make, still the overall profit would not be that much.
Well we know there are 1827 PS3's for sale but how many are from Japan? If they are solely from the Japanese launch then this is approx 2.5% of sales (assuming 80,000). Not a huge amount but then judging the Xbox360 launch the costs are about on par. It is going to be interesting to see if this number increases when the US 17th Nov 2006 release occurs.
This is a major but fairly invisible problem all over the world and no country can claim to be squeaky clean on this but how do you reduce or even stop it? Many people who really mean well try to throw money at the problem (varying degrees of welfare) but it basically does not work, however getting rid of welfare will mean letting people starve in the streets, which is not acceptable in first world countries.
We all hear about outsourcing today but given the chance (if they could get around public opinion) many Multinational companies would quite happily invest in a country that had State run slavery if it meant a few more percent profit.
Why is Sony getting blamed here? -- Definitely insightful since it really is a media beat-up.
In any limited supply launch and it does not have to be a console you are always going to get people who will take advantage of the situation. Normally we call these people "scalpers" and some not so nice names as well, but in reality it is supply and demand. Basically there are people who will pay ridicules prices for something because they are normally too lazy to stand in-line and this is what these people are counting on.
To blame Sony for this is just plain stupid. If people did not want this machine then it would not sell and we know that is not true. What is actually good for Sony here is the fact that the IMHO "idiot" who will pay well over the market rate will most likely have the money to pay for games which is how Games Manufacturers makes money.
I think we can call this a "win" (queue sitter US$170), "win" (scalper US$???? - US$170), "win and loose" (the idiot who buys US$????) and "win" (games - approx US$30 to US$60) and "win" (Sony - percentage of games sold).
Disclaimer. It is my opinion that a person who buys a product way over the its market rate is either very wealthy and an idiot or just a plain idiot. Still without these people scalpers would not exist.
If you RTFA he is retiring at 80 having worked for Sony for 60 years.
For Europe as in Australia/New Zealand the PS3 and games delay can be blessing in disguise since if you are willing to wait till after March (up to next Christmas) home theater prices are going do drop dramatically and if you serious at getting one then you will find many retailers will throw in a PS3 or an Xbox360 as an bonus. I know of one retailer who is doing this for a 720p 42in LCD HDTV and Xbox360 now although in my opinion I would rather wait for the price drop on 1080p HDTV's in January 1997 onwards.
Good rule of thumb for 40in HDTV, 720p is fine, but over 40in then 1080p is worth considering but wait for the January/March price drop. My prediction is by Christmas 2007 large HDTV's will predominately be 1080p (crystal ball gazing here) since SED and possibly laser TV are slated to come out and if you believe the hype they will cause another HDTV price crash.
Actually it is people who can afford a home theater that Microsoft and Sony are after since they will be the ones who can and will purchase movies and games. I can actually see the Wii being relegated to the kids bedroom and only put on the home theater system if the parent(s) want to play a specific Wii game.
My attitude to a delay in a game is while I may be initially disappointed I would rather the game worked without the need of bug fixes which I have seen in many PC games. Of course too great a delay then you have a problem.
I think the DVD/Blueray comparison is rather lame. One thing no one seems to cover is the fact that blank DVD's were expensive when the PS2 was first brought out so it was not cheap to copy a PS2 game. That is not to say this could not be done but what you get is a copy protection scheme which worked rather well till DVD recorders and the media drooped in price. A similar thing will occur with Blueray.
Another feature of having a DVD for the PS2 is "future proofing" by manufactures of game capacity for over time. Granted that many games could be put on a CD-ROM (and many were) but you had the larger capacity DVD to play with as well. Over time most games were actually produced on DVD. A similar thing is being pushed by Blueray.
I read that not many people have HDTV sets and many have standard definition TV's. Yes that is true at the moment but in some countries the purchase of HDTV's is increasing so rapidly that in some places you cannot buy CRT TV's since prices for 720p HDTV's are so attractive. For a good gaming experience a 20in (51cm) is acceptable although the bigger the better. Once you start to exceed 42in (106cm) then 1080p is much better option (admittedly more expensive at the moment) than 720p.
Personally I think that the gaming machine that will do really well this year is the PS2 because many people don't have the money to buy a PS3 (if they can get one) or an Xbox 360. They may have the money to buy a Wii but once you start to factor in games which will be a similar price to both PS3 and Xbox 360 games this will start to get expensive. So if the Wii is purchased as a Christmas present for the kids who will have their own SDTV in the rumpus or bedroom then few games will get purchased unless the parent(s) get interested. If the Gamecube is anything to go by similar games will remain expensive long after the other console games drop and while some parents have no idea many do.
Note I am talking about buying a game console as a present. Who buys an Xbox 360, PS3 or even a Wii as a Christmas present? The people who do this are buying for some very IMHO spoilt kids and they are in in a small minority. If you are buying a new console for yourself and use it imediately then it does not matter what time of the year you buy it, so complaining about PS3 shortages is just plain stupid. If you don't like the price of a PS3 then don't get one, just be happy with your alternative purchase.
Microsoft and Sony are after the home theater market while Nintendo is making a very half hearted effort and that is the major difference between the companies. Basically the home theater market potential is huge and in many ways Sony has done their homework better than Microsoft since they are a hardware manufacturer and the console price difference is almost non existent when compared to the cost of a home theater. People who can afford this and there are many who can will buy games and movies and this is what Microsoft and Sony want.
I don't think the PS3 will do as well as the PS2 but this is early days the machine has only come out and it is only crystal ball gazing to predict what will happen in a market that is about to explode.
Sorry no mod points at this time but I do like it.
Actually I think you are dead right on this. The PS2 will save Sony especially during the Holiday season, why?
1) It's cheap.
2) It has over 1000 game and can play PS1 games if you want and can find them.
3) Most games can be got very cheap (except for new premium games).
4) New games are still coming out for this machine so it still has at least 1 to 2 years life.
Not everyone can afford a Wii or Xbox 360 or PS3 (If you can get one) in fact struggling parents looking for a present for their children would find that the PS2 is a bargain in that you can get a nice but relativity cheap TV and setup the machine in the kids rumpus room or even in their bedroom. They can also afford a few games as well without breaking the bank. Of course you always have parents who will buy next gen machine for their (spoilt) kids but most can't or won't.
Now I am going to hear about how cheap the Wii is. Well yes it is relative to the other next gen machines but the prices of the games will basically be the same and if the price of the Gamecube games are anything to go by they will remain high for a long time. Parents do have a tendency to see this unless they are stupid and the majority of parents aren't.
While the initial launch of the PS3 will be low remember there are more coming and Christmas is not till the 25th December so if you are getting the PS3 as a present for your kid/wife/friend?? (hands up if you are doing this) then does it matter if you get one just before Christmas? (if you still can get one). Of course buying a PS3 or even the Xbox 360 for a present is a bit expensive. If you have a family would you buy your kid a US$300 to US$600 dollar present plus say 4 games (approx US$200) and how often would you buy them a new game?
Basically Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony want the people who will buy their next gen gaming machine to actually buy games (in Sony's case movies as well) since it's the only way they make a long term profit. The people that will do this would buy a PS3, Wii or Xbox 360 at any time of the year and for themselves.
If you really want a next gen machine and do want to save money then I would not get any next gen machines just yet and wait till around or after June 2007 when the new 1080p HDTV's come out (some are out now and are expensive but are tipped to drop 35% or more) and if you get some mates together you could negotiate a very good deal for a HDTV (42in to 50in or bigger), Amplifier and speakers, cabinet and next gen gaming machine. In my opinion if you want HD movie capability and with a HDTV you would be crazy if you didn't you would most likely get the PS3 which would be a better option over the Xbox 360 plus HD-DVD add-on. Of course this is up to you and you may prefer a dedicated Bluray or HD-DVD machine.
In Australia I have seen very good deals for good quality LCD 42 inch HDTV's (720p) plus Xbox 360 (no hard disk) very impressive watching "Dead or alive". So I would not be surprised for similar deals for the PS3 when it gets here in March and a $100 to $200 price differential is nothing. So for those people in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the UK the delay may be a blessing in disguise.
Have not seen FFX11 yet maybe the PAL version will be out soon.