"More computing sins are committed in the name of efficiency (without necessarily achieving it) than for any other single reason - including blind stupidity."
It's not perfect by any means, but (to paraphrase jwz) I generally look for the logo as an indication that the installation of the hardware won't, at a minimum, irritate the living fuck out of me. Avoiding anything with the word 'Belkin' written on the box also helps.
Agreed - I've long used the approach that if I can get my hardware working with an MS supplied driver, and it works (or at least, all the features I use work), then I'll stick to it. If at all possible, I keep the tacky install CD with its tacky dialogs with 24-bit colour bitmaps in them that don't work in VGA mode (or even fit on screen) in the case.
Classic example of this is for Creative Labs SB Live range, etc. Compare the normal MS driver experience with the total clusterfuck crapfest that is a Creative Labs sound blaster driver installation these days (well, the last time I tried, anyway). Or take a look at the ATI video card control centre (monstrous piece of.Net bloated crapware with UI from hell, but at least you can choose not to install it).
I just want the drivers, Ma'am, but it's getting harder:-(.
You're possibly thinking of this, but as you'll note, although they suspected overclocking, the MS engineers couldn't confirm it without calling up/emailing the people who had submitted the crash bugs (the stealth overclocking thing is interesting though).
Although it's possible they now assume overclocking whenever an instruction like xor eax, eax faults.:-)
Heh, was wondering when someone would point to Raymond's blog:-)
It's an interesting point though, as Raymond has previously covered the problems MS face in trying to enforce quality for such areas - when they do, manufacturers claim that MS is trying to stifle the competition, etc., so they don't have as many teeth as you might think to solve problems like this. Being MS of course, many people will believe these sorts of accusations against them (hello, slashdot). IHVs always moan that MS charge too much money for driver certification - I think some of them think it is a revenue stream for MS or something (seems extremely unlikely).
Of course, MS don't help themselves by actually attempting to stifle competition in the past (and succeeding), and I seem to remember some pretty shonky handling of the Glide/3dfx code in the past, too (mentioned in the comments on the blog entry you linked to), so it's always quite hard to feel too sorry for them.
(megabyte per second, by the way, what the fuck is it with journalists swapping bits for bytes? why don't they get their shift/capslock keys fixed?)
Because they're journalists, and don't usually know what they're talking about?
Just try reading Edge magazine - if you read it often enough, you'd believe that there are only 2 classes of problems with game on the technical front: either the game is not 'frame-locked', or it has 'clipping' problems.
The first one is easy to solve - you just tell Edge the game is frame-locked to 60Hz and they believe you (NB. you have to be Japanese for this to work, unfortunately).
If you're wondering, 'clipping problems' mean basically any other technical problem in a game, ranging from z-sorting errors to collision detection problems to whatever else they don't understand.:-)
I actually really don't like the Think Different campaigns - at least, not the ones with pictures of famous people. It always feels like a totally cynical marketing ploy (wonder why) - the accomplishments of these people seem cheapened by the underlying message that if these people had been around today, they probably would have used Macs. Because, you know, you do, and you're just as cool and creative as them, aren't you? It stands to reason.
When Apple dedicated its front page to Rosa Parks when she died, I found that even more icky. I know it was supposed to be a noble and respectful nod to the woman, but it just felt like some marketing bod said "Rosa Parks died yesterday? Cool!". Probably due to the uncontrollably insufferable smugness that permeates every goddamn piece of Apple's marketing copy. It sets my teeth on edge. It's like Apple really wants to hang out with the popular kids.
From talking to my friend the cross platform stuff just needs a lot of simplification and unification. He claims it takes much less effort to make something work in DirectX than OpenGL and that everything in DirectX, be it 2D, 3D, input, sound, etc is all done in the same way.
As a general observation, to me this screams "My friend is not a very good programmer" quite loudly. If you disagree, ask your friend to show you, say, the DirectX code needed to render a single triangle, and then the same code for OpenGL. (Note: I'm not a DirectX or OpenGL 'fan', I just recognise that neither are perfect.)
Again you come to economics. You are going to make, by far, more money on Windows than any other platform.
Maybe if your 'other platforms' are Mac OS X and Linux. If your other platforms are Xbox/Xbox 360 or PS2/PS3, then, I'm afraid, no. It's actually quite hard to get publishers to go for a PC (Windows) game because the returns are so much smaller than for console games.
For example, the new Mario Bros game for the DS sold 900,000 units in Japan in the last week. If a Windows game sells that many in total, it's a fantastic result. And that's a handheld console game we're talking about.
If you get lucky and happen to write The Sims or WoW, then yes, you will exceed those sales figures. But those games are anomalies, not the norm.
I had this book on Mac Games programming a few years ago (forget the exact title).
Anyway, the introduction explained that there was a Chapter 0, that explained a bit about programming/development basics, some Mac centric things, etc. It said that if you feel comfortable about this stuff, go straight to Chapter 1.
"If, on the other hand, you're sitting there saying 'Chapter 0? Don't numbers start at 1?', then this is the chapter for you."
Windows laptops can suck (my Zen of Laptops is: at least one feature will not work as advertised - deal with it), but the only Mac laptop I ever had couldn't do sleep properly either. There seemed to be an approximately 75% chance that it would wake up from sleep mode. It also played DVDs (a much trumpeted feature), but every 3 mins or so would skip/jerk, even when on mains power.
Cue 8 random Mac fans telling me that there must have been something "seriously wrong" with my Mac.
Slashdot Mirror
Bah, I thought the Nemo Prospect level was way better.
Well, even in English, it can be something like F:\Program Files\ - drive C: doesn't even have to be present.
Which mess will Vista fix, exactly? And how?
I'll have the boys look into that.
Or, to put it another way:
Yeah, whenever I look at the output of my optimising compiler, it's really hard to understand too. It's all in assembler, for a start.
Plus, the quality of C code generated by CFront was rubbish - unreadable.
Same with the Modula-3 compiler I tried. You couldn't work out what was going on in the resulting C code without a load of work.
Can you see where I'm going with this?
Ah, an easy one. It's the video driver's fault. Always. Applications should not be able to crash device drivers. Period.
-raises hand
It's not perfect by any means, but (to paraphrase jwz) I generally look for the logo as an indication that the installation of the hardware won't, at a minimum, irritate the living fuck out of me. Avoiding anything with the word 'Belkin' written on the box also helps.
Agreed - I've long used the approach that if I can get my hardware working with an MS supplied driver, and it works (or at least, all the features I use work), then I'll stick to it. If at all possible, I keep the tacky install CD with its tacky dialogs with 24-bit colour bitmaps in them that don't work in VGA mode (or even fit on screen) in the case.
Classic example of this is for Creative Labs SB Live range, etc. Compare the normal MS driver experience with the total clusterfuck crapfest that is a Creative Labs sound blaster driver installation these days (well, the last time I tried, anyway). Or take a look at the ATI video card control centre (monstrous piece of .Net bloated crapware with UI from hell, but at least you can choose not to install it).
I just want the drivers, Ma'am, but it's getting harder :-(.
You're possibly thinking of this, but as you'll note, although they suspected overclocking, the MS engineers couldn't confirm it without calling up/emailing the people who had submitted the crash bugs (the stealth overclocking thing is interesting though).
Although it's possible they now assume overclocking whenever an instruction like xor eax, eax faults. :-)
Heh, was wondering when someone would point to Raymond's blog :-)
It's an interesting point though, as Raymond has previously covered the problems MS face in trying to enforce quality for such areas - when they do, manufacturers claim that MS is trying to stifle the competition, etc., so they don't have as many teeth as you might think to solve problems like this. Being MS of course, many people will believe these sorts of accusations against them (hello, slashdot). IHVs always moan that MS charge too much money for driver certification - I think some of them think it is a revenue stream for MS or something (seems extremely unlikely).
Of course, MS don't help themselves by actually attempting to stifle competition in the past (and succeeding), and I seem to remember some pretty shonky handling of the Glide/3dfx code in the past, too (mentioned in the comments on the blog entry you linked to), so it's always quite hard to feel too sorry for them.
Fixed that up for ya.
Godwin Squad! Nobody move!
No problemo
I'm drinking out of a clay mug I made at school, you insensitive clod!
Like an MRI, for instance? I'm guessing it's ok.
That's not as convenient? Then guess what you're paying for.
Because they're journalists, and don't usually know what they're talking about?
Just try reading Edge magazine - if you read it often enough, you'd believe that there are only 2 classes of problems with game on the technical front: either the game is not 'frame-locked', or it has 'clipping' problems.
The first one is easy to solve - you just tell Edge the game is frame-locked to 60Hz and they believe you (NB. you have to be Japanese for this to work, unfortunately).
If you're wondering, 'clipping problems' mean basically any other technical problem in a game, ranging from z-sorting errors to collision detection problems to whatever else they don't understand. :-)
You don't understand, Marge. Those people looked deep into my heart and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined their website.
When Apple dedicated its front page to Rosa Parks when she died, I found that even more icky. I know it was supposed to be a noble and respectful nod to the woman, but it just felt like some marketing bod said "Rosa Parks died yesterday? Cool!". Probably due to the uncontrollably insufferable smugness that permeates every goddamn piece of Apple's marketing copy. It sets my teeth on edge. It's like Apple really wants to hang out with the popular kids.
It's probably just me, though.
As a general observation, to me this screams "My friend is not a very good programmer" quite loudly. If you disagree, ask your friend to show you, say, the DirectX code needed to render a single triangle, and then the same code for OpenGL. (Note: I'm not a DirectX or OpenGL 'fan', I just recognise that neither are perfect.)
Maybe if your 'other platforms' are Mac OS X and Linux. If your other platforms are Xbox/Xbox 360 or PS2/PS3, then, I'm afraid, no. It's actually quite hard to get publishers to go for a PC (Windows) game because the returns are so much smaller than for console games.
For example, the new Mario Bros game for the DS sold 900,000 units in Japan in the last week. If a Windows game sells that many in total, it's a fantastic result. And that's a handheld console game we're talking about.
If you get lucky and happen to write The Sims or WoW, then yes, you will exceed those sales figures. But those games are anomalies, not the norm.
Anyway, the introduction explained that there was a Chapter 0, that explained a bit about programming/development basics, some Mac centric things, etc. It said that if you feel comfortable about this stuff, go straight to Chapter 1.
Still makes me smile.
Cue 8 random Mac fans telling me that there must have been something "seriously wrong" with my Mac.
And so the inventor of the Book Review dies happy.
You missed out 'Ultimate'.
HTH
Wasn't that like a million people going "Ooh, an open source game...wonder what that's like! Oh...hmm" :-)