YOU:The released information on the PlayStation Network Platform, states that a portion of the online service will be free, but not what portion. It may well be that it is just like xbox live, where you get everything but online play for free.
Umm...
FROM THE BLURB, NOT EVEN TFA:...the PlayStation Network Platform will allow players to compete online even in its free iteration...
While I agree that the law was idiotic (and I'm in Illinois), this is a just kicking the other guy while he's down. You won. You should have won, and you did. Be done with it.
If it was such an obvious no-brainer that the law was unconstitutional, then you really didn't need to spend so much money on the legal battle, right?
I just think this is a little unneccesary and just throws more gasoline on the fire (that doesn't need to be there) between the legislative types and the game industry.
While it IS a monumental effort, and quite the success... I still think this is not as cool as it could be for two reasons:
1) While running XP on a Mac is cool, and definitely can be useful for those looking for diversity in application availablity in one box, there's the question of how ALL programs run on it. I have enough problems running all my windows apps on my XP box, much less on a dual-boot system.:)
2) And, while getting XP to run may or may not help Mac users who want #1, the truth is that in a couple years, we're talking about Vista, not XP. Therefore, while this is a huge step, it's still a step behind. It says quite a bit about what can be achieved, and likely, if XP can boot on a Mac, then Vista will follow. But I just wonder if this is all THAT useful in the long term. It's still going to always be a game of catch up, IMHO.
Again, if it's because they're having a problem selling copy-protection schemes to outside film distributors or such, then AGAIN, it's a matter of "shame on your greed, SONY" as you are losing market share because instead of using a time-tested format that would not only get you the games you wanted out, as well as the films... you also have to use your own format, that is not agreed-upon, and will not be universally accepted.
I'm sorry. I still see and call GREED. Not that M$ is a saint in this area... far from it. But at least they saw the value in getting a working product out on time, making that product universally usable in TODAY'S game-space, not trying to unite the world around some new tech that they can't possibly get EVERYONE to agree to, so they can line their pockets with not only console and game money, but the actual media format cash as well. It's just greed, greed and more greed.
I understand. I just wanted to point it out, as for many people (see the other posts I've written to elsewhere in this same thread) they DON'T know how to make the distinction between belief/faith and "agenda-leading-religion", and therefore condemn before seeing all who are associated with the major grouping.
You're saying that since we heard about more black people looting New Orleans during the flooding, then the TRUE representatives of black people in New Orleans must be looters. The people who WEREN'T looting must have been some wacko minority, cuz we don't hear about them as much.
Or I guess, since we've only really heard mostly about Nazi-ism in Germany, that Germans are all really Nazis.
Or another example: Since most media descriptions of gay people are all flamboyant and funny, or over the top "girly", then all gay people must be that way, as that is the loudest voice.
I could go on, but perhaps you would like to recant and rephrase what you meant? Cuz right now all I'm getting from you is that "well, the stereotype is what I've heard the most, and they're the most vocal of the group, so regardless of how gross and evil it is, I'm going with the pitchfork-wielding majority on anything."
I do believe in the creation story as outlined in Genesis. I still don't see what you're trying to say. You are right, 100% bible-believing gives no leeway otherwise. What's your point? (I'm not trying to be offensive, I just don't understand.)
They (Microsoft, Nintendo) do use copy-protection. However, since they (SONY) are trying to move their proprietary format of discs (BLU-RAY), they are in their own trap. So, yes, their digital rights are what screwed them up, and they're paying the price for being overly greedy. I also agree that they've set themselves up for this issue, and that they deserve whatever loss of market share occurs. I'm all for higher-capacity discs and a good working standard. However, if you're the company that MAKES THE DISCS AND THE PLAYERS, and you STILL can't make your stuff work the way you designed it to, then that's your own damn fault. YMMV.
I'll be honest, I'm not one for bandwagons, but I'm starting to get genuinely scared enough by all this SONY/DRM talk. If the delays are truly because they can't figure out a way to keep their media from becoming copied, or somesuch, then we're really in trouble. I was going to wait for a price war for getting either an 360 or PS3, and now the answer is clear. While 360 has its share of problems, to be sure, I'm definitely not waiting around for a DRM/copy-protection scheme that is half-baked, so Sony can make their delayed launch date, including all sorts of potential privacy problems.
I used to consider all y'all who said SONY="privacy killa" luddites and conspiracy theorists... now I'm not so sure. PS3 just moved from "definitely an option" to "needs a killer-app to even consider".
Speaking as a full-on, 100% bible-believing Christian, I very very much would like to play this game. It's a game. It's not the real world. In that way, I see no reason to ban it, or whatever. Now, if the game claimed (which it does not) to represent the exact same structure as creation on Earth, then that's something else.
While I'm sure there will be some idiots out there who will not take a moment to review the game, and condemn it outright, I see no reason for this game to be "bad" or "threatening" to anything Christian. It's definitely NOT a booster to Evolution, in my opinion, because (1) behind it is an intelligent creator...you (2) it's very tongue-in-cheek in terms of characters, as well as colonization (3) it's very detailed for a game, of course, but compared to real life science, it's quite simplified, and (4) it's again, just a game.
So, just to once more try to deflate those who outright attack Christians because of some stereotypical pidgeonhole, allow me to be one of the first to say that I wholeheartedly endorse this game's innovative style, and will definitely be one of the first to purchase it (given that it won't require crazy-expensive upgrades to my hardware to run)!
"...Sony says it will be better than the Xbox 360's features."
That's good! I thought they might have just said "it's gonna suck" or something... Whew!
Wanna know how to make money in this business? Promise a product for years that you have no actual intention of building. Secure funding. Blow funding on employees (friends) as well as some stellar press releases. Hire some "consultants" (hookers) and make a prototype to show off at gaming expos (or just a picture of one, at least). Keep this up until you're sued.
I understand the viability concerns (you don't want spills, etc) but I'm certain that if they are making announcements about this, that it's fairly spill-resistant, and can take a fair amount of abuse!
Not to mention, this is part of that whole "wave of the future" we're all looking for. We constantly complain that the future as we expected it is not here, and that it's not developing as quickly as we imagined, but THIS is the kind of thing that would help usher that into modern existence...
All it takes is for this to catch on, then knock-off-ers start making it cheaper, then everyone has one. It's not going to replace the standard desktop, but it would make PERFECT sense to house a Media Center PC environment, running wirelessly to the television set.
Point is, I think it makes perfect sense as the next place to put a computer rig in the home. Stop complaining (about everything) and try to see the potentials. If you can only talk about fears/flaws that would obviously be addressed by launch, then you are not thinking very hard about the product.
Actually, everything I've heard about Black is that it looks compellingly attractive for a FPS. Environment detail and the fact that say, shooting a ceiling will cause it to come crashing down on your enemies in a realistic way, or that hiding behind a wooden door is no longer a way to avoid bullets of a high caliber, are two ways that I've already seen in their (playable) demos that demonstrate a desire to create a fun and inventive game that mimics reality.
Also, anyone who has actually shot the guns used in the game (myself, not included) would supposedly appreciate the detail into the guns, the sound effects, and the realistic recoils and such (from what I've seen in previews).
So instead drinking all that Hater-ade, why don't you wait and see the title before you bash it... If it sucks then, it sucks, but before then, you really don't know what you're talking about.
It's one that's a little more accessible. It's always the same timeline, and the story doesn't adapt, so it's not like a live game, but it's a good starter game by all means, as you get the ARG experience, in a short time, with quality behind it.
As a writer for the prime ARG news-source, www.argn.com, I can say that I've personally seen how amazingly quickly this genre has grown. Since "The Beast" and Majestic (technically not ARG, but the first verrrrry close "packaged game") the numbers playing have skyrocketed.
It's really a great way to meet some new people, to have a unique gaming experience, and more often than not (by far) it's 100% free to play. People are coming out with new games (quality-varying, of course) all the time, and it's still in its infancy. I'd reccomend it to anyone (really, ANYONE can play).
For info, check out www.argn.com, www.unfiction.com, www.4orty2wo.com (if you're interested in using ARG to promote your company/product/whatever), or www.immersionunlimited.com.
And a hearty "HI" to everyone who's nicknames I see every day!
Quite often, players of ARG (of which I am one) will reference this film to help new players get the feel of the interactivity and sense of immersion. (Mind you, to date, only one player has died in the course of playing ARG, and that was also "in-game" ^-^)
And by that same line of thinking, solipsism makes the most sense.
Solipsism=the belief that only I exist, and you are all created in my mind to make reality the way I wish to perceive it.
See, what you suggest is that since we cannot empirically prove time/space movement, then it cannot exist, when in fact, it only means we cannot prove it empirically.
Prove to me that you exist, and I'll believe that you can also prove that movement in time and space do not exist. Otherwise, I'll just keep on assuming you do not really exist and that you're arguing with me because that's the role I give your facade to play. ^-^
drinky, I see what you're saying. I do. But I still don't think the way to change people's minds when they're wrong is by slapping them. I tend to think that intelligent conversation is much more useful/important than pointing and laughing. So I'm offended by ignorant people on both sides.
Oh, so you're saying something so amazingly insightful, like:
See, here's someone else making a stupid argument
Is that right?
If so, it still doesn't need to be said. I could just as equally said: "Solipsists eat your heart out!" or "Matrix-fighters eat your heart out!" or "Slashdot Readers who think they have girlfriends, eat your heart out!*" All with the same meaning.
My point stands clear and unscathed: The comment is still flame-bait, trying to involve religious politics to a topic that requires nor relates to ID at all.
It's still a stereotypical post meant to incite mobbish anger and hatred towards those with a certain belief system. (Again, I DON'T think ID should be taught in schools! You're not offending me personally, regardless of the effort!) It's an ignorant post with no relation to the topic, and I don't understand how it could be modded so high in the first place. That was all I was saying, and that still holds up, IMO.
With most PC online games, you need to pay PER GAME, whereas with the Live service, you pay for the entire console. I don't see how that's cheaper, at all!
Slashdot Mirror
excellent point. MOD PARENT UP, yo! I'm convinced!
YOU:The released information on the PlayStation Network Platform, states that a portion of the online service will be free, but not what portion. It may well be that it is just like xbox live, where you get everything but online play for free.
Umm...
FROM THE BLURB, NOT EVEN TFA:...the PlayStation Network Platform will allow players to compete online even in its free iteration...
While I agree that the law was idiotic (and I'm in Illinois), this is a just kicking the other guy while he's down. You won. You should have won, and you did. Be done with it.
If it was such an obvious no-brainer that the law was unconstitutional, then you really didn't need to spend so much money on the legal battle, right?
I just think this is a little unneccesary and just throws more gasoline on the fire (that doesn't need to be there) between the legislative types and the game industry.
While it IS a monumental effort, and quite the success... I still think this is not as cool as it could be for two reasons:
:)
1) While running XP on a Mac is cool, and definitely can be useful for those looking for diversity in application availablity in one box, there's the question of how ALL programs run on it. I have enough problems running all my windows apps on my XP box, much less on a dual-boot system.
2) And, while getting XP to run may or may not help Mac users who want #1, the truth is that in a couple years, we're talking about Vista, not XP. Therefore, while this is a huge step, it's still a step behind. It says quite a bit about what can be achieved, and likely, if XP can boot on a Mac, then Vista will follow. But I just wonder if this is all THAT useful in the long term. It's still going to always be a game of catch up, IMHO.
Dude, milk just came out of my nose... don't do that! :)
Again, if it's because they're having a problem selling copy-protection schemes to outside film distributors or such, then AGAIN, it's a matter of "shame on your greed, SONY" as you are losing market share because instead of using a time-tested format that would not only get you the games you wanted out, as well as the films... you also have to use your own format, that is not agreed-upon, and will not be universally accepted.
I'm sorry. I still see and call GREED. Not that M$ is a saint in this area... far from it. But at least they saw the value in getting a working product out on time, making that product universally usable in TODAY'S game-space, not trying to unite the world around some new tech that they can't possibly get EVERYONE to agree to, so they can line their pockets with not only console and game money, but the actual media format cash as well. It's just greed, greed and more greed.
I understand. I just wanted to point it out, as for many people (see the other posts I've written to elsewhere in this same thread) they DON'T know how to make the distinction between belief/faith and "agenda-leading-religion", and therefore condemn before seeing all who are associated with the major grouping.
Oh, I see what you're saying.
You're saying that since we heard about more black people looting New Orleans during the flooding, then the TRUE representatives of black people in New Orleans must be looters. The people who WEREN'T looting must have been some wacko minority, cuz we don't hear about them as much.
Or I guess, since we've only really heard mostly about Nazi-ism in Germany, that Germans are all really Nazis.
Or another example: Since most media descriptions of gay people are all flamboyant and funny, or over the top "girly", then all gay people must be that way, as that is the loudest voice.
I could go on, but perhaps you would like to recant and rephrase what you meant? Cuz right now all I'm getting from you is that "well, the stereotype is what I've heard the most, and they're the most vocal of the group, so regardless of how gross and evil it is, I'm going with the pitchfork-wielding majority on anything."
I do believe in the creation story as outlined in Genesis. I still don't see what you're trying to say. You are right, 100% bible-believing gives no leeway otherwise. What's your point? (I'm not trying to be offensive, I just don't understand.)
They (Microsoft, Nintendo) do use copy-protection. However, since they (SONY) are trying to move their proprietary format of discs (BLU-RAY), they are in their own trap. So, yes, their digital rights are what screwed them up, and they're paying the price for being overly greedy. I also agree that they've set themselves up for this issue, and that they deserve whatever loss of market share occurs. I'm all for higher-capacity discs and a good working standard. However, if you're the company that MAKES THE DISCS AND THE PLAYERS, and you STILL can't make your stuff work the way you designed it to, then that's your own damn fault. YMMV.
I'll be honest, I'm not one for bandwagons, but I'm starting to get genuinely scared enough by all this SONY/DRM talk. If the delays are truly because they can't figure out a way to keep their media from becoming copied, or somesuch, then we're really in trouble. I was going to wait for a price war for getting either an 360 or PS3, and now the answer is clear. While 360 has its share of problems, to be sure, I'm definitely not waiting around for a DRM/copy-protection scheme that is half-baked, so Sony can make their delayed launch date, including all sorts of potential privacy problems.
I used to consider all y'all who said SONY="privacy killa" luddites and conspiracy theorists... now I'm not so sure. PS3 just moved from "definitely an option" to "needs a killer-app to even consider".
Speaking as a full-on, 100% bible-believing Christian, I very very much would like to play this game. It's a game. It's not the real world. In that way, I see no reason to ban it, or whatever. Now, if the game claimed (which it does not) to represent the exact same structure as creation on Earth, then that's something else.
While I'm sure there will be some idiots out there who will not take a moment to review the game, and condemn it outright, I see no reason for this game to be "bad" or "threatening" to anything Christian. It's definitely NOT a booster to Evolution, in my opinion, because (1) behind it is an intelligent creator...you (2) it's very tongue-in-cheek in terms of characters, as well as colonization (3) it's very detailed for a game, of course, but compared to real life science, it's quite simplified, and (4) it's again, just a game.
So, just to once more try to deflate those who outright attack Christians because of some stereotypical pidgeonhole, allow me to be one of the first to say that I wholeheartedly endorse this game's innovative style, and will definitely be one of the first to purchase it (given that it won't require crazy-expensive upgrades to my hardware to run)!
"...Sony says it will be better than the Xbox 360's features." That's good! I thought they might have just said "it's gonna suck" or something... Whew!
Wanna know how to make money in this business? Promise a product for years that you have no actual intention of building. Secure funding. Blow funding on employees (friends) as well as some stellar press releases. Hire some "consultants" (hookers) and make a prototype to show off at gaming expos (or just a picture of one, at least). Keep this up until you're sued.
I understand the viability concerns (you don't want spills, etc) but I'm certain that if they are making announcements about this, that it's fairly spill-resistant, and can take a fair amount of abuse!
Not to mention, this is part of that whole "wave of the future" we're all looking for. We constantly complain that the future as we expected it is not here, and that it's not developing as quickly as we imagined, but THIS is the kind of thing that would help usher that into modern existence...
All it takes is for this to catch on, then knock-off-ers start making it cheaper, then everyone has one. It's not going to replace the standard desktop, but it would make PERFECT sense to house a Media Center PC environment, running wirelessly to the television set.
Point is, I think it makes perfect sense as the next place to put a computer rig in the home. Stop complaining (about everything) and try to see the potentials. If you can only talk about fears/flaws that would obviously be addressed by launch, then you are not thinking very hard about the product.
Actually, everything I've heard about Black is that it looks compellingly attractive for a FPS. Environment detail and the fact that say, shooting a ceiling will cause it to come crashing down on your enemies in a realistic way, or that hiding behind a wooden door is no longer a way to avoid bullets of a high caliber, are two ways that I've already seen in their (playable) demos that demonstrate a desire to create a fun and inventive game that mimics reality.
Also, anyone who has actually shot the guns used in the game (myself, not included) would supposedly appreciate the detail into the guns, the sound effects, and the realistic recoils and such (from what I've seen in previews).
So instead drinking all that Hater-ade, why don't you wait and see the title before you bash it... If it sucks then, it sucks, but before then, you really don't know what you're talking about.
Should it be called "The 'Zon"? or maybe "ZonZone"? Perhaps "AIPOD"? What about "NOZAMA"? (made myself laugh with that last one)
Try This.
It's one that's a little more accessible. It's always the same timeline, and the story doesn't adapt, so it's not like a live game, but it's a good starter game by all means, as you get the ARG experience, in a short time, with quality behind it.
A couple of pieces of evidence to the contrary
:)
www.perplexcity.com - Commercially viable ARG
www.4orty2wo.com - Company that makes ARG for a living (behind I Love Bees, The Beast, and Last Call Poker)
(they're doing just fine thank you.)
www.gmdstudios.com (another company that makes ARG for a living)
As a writer for the prime ARG news-source, www.argn.com, I can say that I've personally seen how amazingly quickly this genre has grown. Since "The Beast" and Majestic (technically not ARG, but the first verrrrry close "packaged game") the numbers playing have skyrocketed.
It's really a great way to meet some new people, to have a unique gaming experience, and more often than not (by far) it's 100% free to play. People are coming out with new games (quality-varying, of course) all the time, and it's still in its infancy. I'd reccomend it to anyone (really, ANYONE can play).
For info, check out www.argn.com, www.unfiction.com, www.4orty2wo.com (if you're interested in using ARG to promote your company/product/whatever), or www.immersionunlimited.com.
And a hearty "HI" to everyone who's nicknames I see every day!
Quite often, players of ARG (of which I am one) will reference this film to help new players get the feel of the interactivity and sense of immersion. (Mind you, to date, only one player has died in the course of playing ARG, and that was also "in-game" ^-^)
And by that same line of thinking, solipsism makes the most sense.
Solipsism=the belief that only I exist, and you are all created in my mind to make reality the way I wish to perceive it.
See, what you suggest is that since we cannot empirically prove time/space movement, then it cannot exist, when in fact, it only means we cannot prove it empirically.
Prove to me that you exist, and I'll believe that you can also prove that movement in time and space do not exist. Otherwise, I'll just keep on assuming you do not really exist and that you're arguing with me because that's the role I give your facade to play. ^-^
drinky, I see what you're saying. I do. But I still don't think the way to change people's minds when they're wrong is by slapping them. I tend to think that intelligent conversation is much more useful/important than pointing and laughing. So I'm offended by ignorant people on both sides.
Oh, so you're saying something so amazingly insightful, like:
See, here's someone else making a stupid argument
Is that right?
If so, it still doesn't need to be said. I could just as equally said: "Solipsists eat your heart out!" or "Matrix-fighters eat your heart out!" or "Slashdot Readers who think they have girlfriends, eat your heart out!*" All with the same meaning.
My point stands clear and unscathed: The comment is still flame-bait, trying to involve religious politics to a topic that requires nor relates to ID at all.
It's still a stereotypical post meant to incite mobbish anger and hatred towards those with a certain belief system. (Again, I DON'T think ID should be taught in schools! You're not offending me personally, regardless of the effort!) It's an ignorant post with no relation to the topic, and I don't understand how it could be modded so high in the first place. That was all I was saying, and that still holds up, IMO.
*That one is a joke, kids!
With most PC online games, you need to pay PER GAME, whereas with the Live service, you pay for the entire console. I don't see how that's cheaper, at all!